Boredom Killer

I am guilty of slacking off about making the kids go outside this winter.  Maybe it's because I don't have a rambunctious group right now and we do go for two walks to the bus each day.  I thought it was funny last week when I finally did encourage them to go out and play and ...

 Aiden brought his DS and just sat there and played it.. Not my idea of good outside time.

They gave me some gruff.. a little bit of cranky complaining... but I had just the tool to stop it in its tracks.

 Miracle bubbles to the rescue! There is something magical about bubbles.  They have the power to stop an argument in its tracks.  Just blow and watch the faces transform.

Bubbles=boredom killer.

They stuck with their outside time until it started to get dark.  This time I blew the bubbles for them so they wouldn't have freezing wet hands.  We had success!  The kids got some fresh air.  Happy Tuesday! I am so thankful for the noise in our home this morning. ♥♥♥

Song for today is We Own The Sky by M83. ♫♪

Polar Bear Mask

Hooray for winter!  We made some polar bear masks.  To make this project, you will need 2 paper plates per person, one old applesauce or fruit cup container, white paint, hot glue gun, black paper, white tissue paper squares, glue stick, and either some yarn or some elastic lace.  We used elastic lace, but yarn is shown above.

Prepare your paper plates ahead of time to save time.  Cut out two eye holes.  Cut out two ears from another paper plate and staple them into place.  Finally, use a hole punch to punch a hole on each side of the plate for elastic lace or yarn.  Now you are ready!

Have the kiddos paint the outside of the fruit cup white.  We use Crayola washable paint. It has a nice thick consistency.  You could glue white paper onto it if you don't have any paint.  When the outside is covered, set it aside to dry.

Next, time to glue on some polar bear fur.  We used white tissue paper squares.  Encourage the kids to ball or wrinkle up the papers so it looks like fur. 

Let them glue as many or few pieces as they like.  Encourage them to fill the plate.

When they have finished gluing tissue papers, use a hot glue gun to glue on the painted cup where the snout should be.  Have the kids glue on a construction paper nose.  We cut ours to look like hearts. Now the mask is ready to dry.  We let them dry for a few hours.

Add your elastic sting or yarn and then watch out for bears!  This project was a hit for sure, and it took up some time.  I'd give yourselves at least half an hour, not counting dry time.  Happy Monday!

We enjoyed our sloppy rain walk to the bus this morning!  Song for today is Stand In The Rain by Superchick. ♥♥♥

Beautiful Escape

Once again this blog has been taken over with sub par iphone photos, sorry.  It was a beautiful day yesterday!  A cool 45, the sun was shining and we escaped down the street to the park.  I thank God all of the time for our location.  We are so blessed to be in walking distance of beauty. 

We noticed our tree, undressed for winter.  This is the same one we return to during the different seasons.  We note the changes.  It's like magic.  God magic.

This is one of my favorite places to swing.  We have a couple of resident eagles to look for, too.  Lately they have flown over us at the bus stop- always shocking us at their massive wing span.  I should start carrying the camera with me.

Aiden was concentrating.. lol

Ethan enjoyed the swings.

Also the rock wall. ♥  We practically live here in the summer. 

It's a rare thing in the winter to find the playground toys dry.  The kids were able to enjoy them yesterday without stopping at the halfway point down the slide.

She enjoyed talking into the voice tube.

Stephanie was on the other side, keeping her entertained.  She's such a great kid!  Teenager or not, she's never "too cool" to play with the kids.  I love her to pieces.  I see her being a great mom someday. ♥

Song for today is Good Lovin' by The Rascals.  Happy Friday!♥♥♥

Blank

This morning I am drawing a complete blank.  I've got nothin'.  I've been feeling a little unorganized while adjusting to having a little one in the house.  (Under one year)  It as an adventure!  Back to cold coffee.. lol  My guess is that it will get lost.  Would somebody please volunteer to give me a call and just tell me to check the microwave?  I think it may be a week before I get my ducks back in a row, meanwhile I am so thankful that God has allowed me to continue working.  I was really scared I would have to close.  Nope.  This must be what I am supposed to be doing! Thank goodness because I just restocked the construction paper.  Happy Thursday!♥♥♥

I think what I need is an Emergency Dance Party!  Song for today is Sweet Dreams Are Made Of This remix, originally sung by Annie Lennox. ♫♪♫

Stickers

Stickers are such a helpful motivational tool.  I have a special sticker envelope tucked inside of the group time basket to reward the kids when they remember something I have been trying to teach.  Stickers are just so ordinary, yet the kids really try HARD to remember things if they see that I am holding that envelope.  It's the same thing with potty training- we use a sticker chart.

This little one traced her name each time JUST to see the sticker that would be stuck above it.  Whatever works- sign me up.  I love stickers- and if any of you have any laying around that you need to get rid of- I will gladly rescue them from you.  Happy Wednesday!♥

Song for today- Crazy Beautiful by Chasen.  All of you are crazy beautiful, just perfect the way that you were crafted by God. ♥♥♥

Hearts

I had the morning to myself yesterday and decided it was time to dress our playroom tree in hearts.  I know I am repeating myself, but I like to change the decorations for each month if possible.  Just a few little somethings to cause the kiddos to notice that something different is coming. 

♥♥I love window clings! ♥♥  These are great for children to play with, too.  If you have a sliding glass door, or even the front of your oven or dishwasher makes the perfect surface for window clings.  I usually find my clings on large sheets at the dollar store.  Easy, clean fun.

 The "What We Did Today" chalkboard gets dressed, too.

 This candle looks festive!  Thank goodness that Valentines Day allows me to keep my red candles out from Christmas.  That allows me three full months to burn my pillar candle. 

 Meanwhile, that Koolaid playdough we made a while back is still moist and smooth!  It is holding well in the ziplock bag.  I will definitely use this recipe again.  ♥  Happy Tuesday!  I have the day off today and will head to the library with my little guy.  He has a funky school schedule this week.  I hope you get the chance to have some one on one time with your children or grandchildren.  It's a great way to make that child feel loved. ♥

Song of the day today is Datura, by the one and only Tori Amos.  If I were forced to be alone on a deserted island and had to choose one musicians CDs to bring, I would choose Tori. ♥

Great Magazines

Good morning and happy Monday!  I love Mondays.  I find them refreshing.  Monday brings out the best in me- I have had a break, I'm now ready to go!  I thought I'd highlight my favorite magazines today.  One of them is Family Fun Magazine.  They have a wonderful website as well, so easy to explore. 

 I love this magazine because there are always fabulous ideas tucked inside.  I think I've been subscribing to this one for about 10 years now-  my first subscription being a gift from my Grandma.  What a great gift idea- I use each issue to pieces and even keep them to reference later.

Next up- Taste Of Home Magazine.  What a great way to inspire me to branch out of the usual meals we prepare here.  The recipes are usually simple, with a few ingredients we haven't tried before.  That has been fun for my husband.  He loves food and especially enjoyed eating capers.   I have used this magazine for hors d'oeuvres  the most.  (Did I spell that right?)

I saved the best for last.. this is my favorite magazine of all time.  Country Gardens Magazine.  I would love to jump inside of every page and wander around.  This magazine is full of horticulture, planning, helpful information and tips, beautiful scenery and stories about people enjoying their gardens.  Sign me up for life!  My favorite thing about this magazine is that they usually feature at least one garden shed just like the one on the cover above.  My goal is to have one someday. 

This was a great article about the garden of the author Beatrix Potter.  Boy would I love to wander that path!  Once there was a neat article about antique garden tools, I am now on the hunt for some to hang on the wall in our living room.  The rustier, the better.  What magazines do YOU like to read?  there may be some gems out there that I wouldn't want to miss out on.

Song for today is The Perfect Occasion by RJD2.  That's what is playing at Henle House right now. ♥♥♥

Goodbye Snow, Hello Cold

And by cold, I mean the kind that hurts my head..  After being in the house with the family, my son shared his cold with me.  Thanks for sharing, snug pie, mommy loves you. ♥  I am so glad he is feeling better now, and I am on the mend myself.  We had a family slumber party last night to help the handsome hubbys family out- they have just learned that their power is back on, and are heading home now.  I have to say how blessed I feel to have family that enjoys being together!  I love just hanging out with family- watching tv, playing board games, chatting.. we are blessed so much by this.  In a world of dysfunction, this is truly a gem.   ♥  I am so very ready to be back at work now.  We have missed an entire week of preschool!  I am also looking forward to my two new enrolled children.   Henle House will be full once again!  (With six as my maximum number.)  Thank you God, I knew you had things worked out in your perfect timing.

Song for today- Caribbean Blue by Enya.  Something gentle for my pounding cold headache.  Happy Saturday!♥♥♥

Family Time

This may be old news by now, but it is STILL snowing here in Western Washington.  Parts of our state are now being covered in freezing rain, crippling everyone who dares to go out.   Here we are, all of us, still tucked into our home.  The power has been on and off consistently over the last two days.  Adam and I have not been working.   (This is scary.. but God will fix it somehow.) 

Chippy has made an appearance.  I'm glad he found the bird seed and corn!  We love finding his little footprints in the snow.  I tried to move the feeder out of the snow, but it is frozen solid.

This morning there is a plump bird at the feeder.  ♥  My nesting/feeding everyone phase has not gone away!  I must save everyone from cold and hunger while it is snowing.  Animals included.

Look who else decided to cook up a storm this morning?  The handsome hubby made hashbrowns, eggs and bacon. 

I whipped up a banana bread loaf to bake before we lose power again.  Look!  An egg in the shape of a heart.  Proof that this banana bread was made with love by mom.

I am having a hard time with all of the snow gear taking over the laundry room.  I want to clean it, but it has to be there in order to dry for the next outing.  Coats, gloves, hats, boots, and snowpants are in piles.  They will be heading out again this morning.

We have been enjoying so much family game time!  I recommend having a family game night plugged into your calendar schedule at least once per week.  We used to do this years back with the kids, and have recently started up again.  Since the snow storm began, we have been playing games together every day.  It's great bonding time! I love that our kids are old enough to play for themselves.

It's a nice alternative to video games and tv.

But I had to snap this photo of our kids the minute the power went out yesterday.. They rushed to grab their battery powered electronics.  As if on the same team, plopped themselves down for a power outage video game session. ♥  Happy Thursday!  I have a feeling school will be closed tomorrow as well, since it's only a half day anyway.

Song for today is Dead or Alive by Bon Jovi.  Yes I still have my 80s poster of Bon Jovi safely tucked inside of a tube in the attic. ♥♥♥

Snow Storm

We invited some family to come over yesterday and hang out.  It was the perfect time to take the kids sledding.  Luckily for us, there is a beautiful hill just beyond our usual nature walk trail.  It took a couple of minutes to walk there from our back door.

It was so quiet.  So peaceful!

I stationed myself at the halfway point so in an attempt to capture the smiling faces on the way down the hill.

We had some "catchers" positioned at the bottom to avoid crashing into the fragile fence.

The lake looks beautiful in it's snowy attire. ♥

Cold, but very happy. ♥  It is still snowing right now, and something of note has happened.. cherry cheesecake for breakfast.  I already feel guilty after being on such a strict diet that IS working.  It's that snow, it makes me want to feed everyone and then my own cravings fit into all of that, too.  Everyone else had hot pancakes this morning.  I chose cheesecake...

We will be heading out again to create a new sledding trail at Hill Park.  We are so grateful that we have a warm and cozy home to come back to and thaw out in.

Song for today is You And Me by Dave Matthews Band.  Happy Tuesday! ♥♥♥