Snack Can Be Fun

Cheerios is the best cereal, I'm convinced.  We decided to use them to make 'banana cookies'.  First, pour some cereal into a ziplock bag and press the air out before sealing it up.

Then take out your aggression on the bag by pounding it with your fist in order to crush the o's.

When that starts to hurt, (it will) get out a block to use as the crusher.  Continue to crush  until you have a nice mixture of cereal chunks and powder.

Add sliced bananas to the mixture.  Seal it up nice and tight!

Shake!  See why it needs to be sealed nice and tight?  One of ours wasn't.. We had a crushed cheerio explosion. ;)

Banana cookies! Yum.  Happy Friday! ☼

A Change Of Scenery

We are blessed by our location.  Behind our house is a beautiful nature filled lot that we meander through.  It ends at this little playground, tucked behind some trees behind a church.  It's a one minute walk for a great change of scenery.  Let's face it, playing in our little back yard every day gets old.

We (well, THEY) played on the teeter totter.  I am still trying to heal my bad knee.  The internet told me it would take several months, and it was right.  It's slowly getting better, but I have a terrible time doing anything that requires bending my knee past a 90 degree angle.

We had a different view of Blackmans Lake.  Sorry the photos aren't the greatest.  I took them with my phone.

I always try out the swings.  How fun am I if I just sit at the picnic table the whole time?  I've got to live a little.  Get on the swings and race one of the kids.  It feels like flying!

 NOW it's time to sit down.  I brought this magazine, if you haven't read Family Fun, it's a great publication.  Packed full of crafts, indoor and outdoor games, family friendly vacations- I highly recommend it.  They have a wonderful website here.

This is what our walk back to the back yard looks like.  First through this nice grassy stretch.  It used to be overgrown with tall wild grass and we would see deer ears sticking out.

Beyond the grass is this wonderful old fruit tree orchard in the lot behind our house.  The owner just invited me to take as many plums from these trees as our hearts desire!  Coming soon- plum jelly. ♥

See the chain link fence?  That's ours.  I love this little jaunt because we don't have to be on the road.  Thank you God for placing us where we are. Amen!♥♥♥

Add Hands

We made mouse puppets yesterday.  I found this idea on the internet (Hooray for the internet, once again!) and really liked that it included hands.  Hands add character!  I can't decide if this mouse is patiently waiting with his hands or needs to make a run for the bathroom.

Glue sticks are great.  They allow for instant play time with the puppets.  No dripping glue.♥

 Aiden is back to being shirtless every day.  He's trying out his puppet.

Her puppet is very polite I think.

The second from the left is ready for a hug, the one in the middle is saying "Why?"   We all enjoyed adding hands. ;)  Happy Wednesday!  We'll be playing in the pools. ☼

Learning About School

I love books about going to school.  There are three excited children here who will start kindergarten in September.  Their ears always perk up when we read about what it might be like.  We chose 'First Day Of School' by Mercer Mayer because we love 'Little Critter', who we think must be a guinea pig.

This book has fold open pages that keep the kids guessing.   After the story, it was time to ask the kids what their favorite part was.  Doing this individually and away from the other kids will help to get a genuine response.  Otherwise they tend to copy each other with answers. Here is what they said!

Remember, you can click on the photos for a larger view. ☺

I love how those legs are hanging out of the school bus windows.

I am just as excited to start teaching preschool again as the kids are about riding the school bus!  Happy Tuesday!♥♥♥

Fun With Fabric

There is a link to the right of this post called "Cape".  It inspired me to look for fabric to create some for our dress up cabinet.  I recently posted on my facebook page that I was looking for fabric scraps and would be happy to clear out anybodies left overs.  My handsome hubby has a cousin who could be a seamstress by trade, she has sewn clothing for her daughter and for herself and does it effortlessly.  (It's amazing!)  She brought me a bag of fabric!!

Oooh, the capes I will create! They each need to have a theme.  All superheroes have some sort of power.

I could not believe my eyes when I pulled this shiny silver fabric out of the bag.  This is PERFECT for lightning bolts or stars.

I am very excited about this.  (My smile is huge about it.)  I will post the results at a later date, but I think I might get these started today.  Thank you Angela!!

Meanwhile, every morning when I head out to snag the paper from the driveway, I take a detour in the garden.  I realized that I haven't been snipping the lavender buds off at all this summer.  It was time to create a couple of bundles.  My favorite thing to tie them with is twine. (Surprise surprise.  I use twine for everything.  Gifts, the green beans in the garden are climbing up it, vases, flowers, rolling  fabric.. it is everywhere.)  I like to place the bundles around the house.

In an old fruit box that we use as a shelf.

Tucked onto the bottom of this serving tray that a friend painted as a housewarming gift for us.

Hanging in the kitchen above the sink.  Wow- it looks like I need to scrub the side of that cabinet!  I have been dreaming of painting the kitchen, by the way.  Uh-oh.  Happy Monday!  Happy Birthday to my mom today, too! ♥♥♥

Happy Birthday Ethan

Today is Ethans 8th Birthday.  We are so blessed to have this bright boy!  He was quite a handful when he was a baby.  A GREAT sleeper, but in to everything.  On everything.  Breaking everything. Messing everything up.  Taking everything apart.  Secretly.. boy am I glad he is 8!

Here is is before he turned 1.  He was laughing because I caught him in the act of trying to empty out the Tupperware cupboard.  He was happy to see me, though. ;)

This little guy was ALWAYS active.  I remember we actually refused dinner invitations because we didn't want anyone elses stuff to get broken..  He kept us on our toes every day.  He was soo happy all of the time.  I loved how he would wake up talking and happy.  He still wakes up early and is a morning person.

Toddler years..

Preschool graduation...

Driving a car.. Well not a real one in THIS photo, but dad lets him drive on a private road in Machias.  He can't reach the gas pedal, but he can steer.

He's a creative guy.  Happy Birthday 'Bean'! ♥♥♥

Painting and Baking

Praise the Lord!  I was able to walk out into the garden this morning and pluck a beautiful zucchini out of it to make some fresh zucchini bread this morning.  The zucchini provided me with three shredded cups.  Now I have two little baggies measured out and tucked away in the freezer.  This will save me time on a busy morning with a house full of kids. ;)  Amen!

Last fall I painted the living room.  I also painted the mirror and shelf you see to the left of that door.  I don't know what stopped me from painting the doors in the room.  Maybe I thought I would just replace them?  It never happened.   Adam was out of town for the night and I decided that painting these doors would keep me busy while he was gone.

Sorry about the crooked photo, but doesn't that door look much better?

Here is our front door.  It's wider than most front doors to allow a wheelchair to enter and exit.  The previous owners of this house put in the handicap ramp leading to the front door.  I wanted to replace this door but the cost has never fit into our budget.  Time to paint.

Good enough for me!  I almost feel like it is too white, now.  Any ideas for something that will catch the eye?

Once I start painting, I can't stop.  Laundry room, you are next!

Look at this beautiful color!  It is appropriately called "Sunbeam".  I know this is the color for the laundry room.  I can hardly restrain myself, but I must for now.  (Gritting....my...teeth...)

Found this photo that Stephanie took because I left my camera in the car that day.  We stopped in Leavenworth in July and I loved the name of this shop.  I think I would be a sophisticated hippie.   One that showers.   Happy Saturday!  I'm going to see 'The Help' today.  I'm in the mood for a good chick flick.  Then off to see a live one woman performance of "Gomer" from the bible. I have not read the story, and am excited to get a visual.  It's easier to remember things better that way. ♥♥♥