Outdoor Adventures!

This is considered a limo ride around here!
The kids convinced the neighbors to bring them to the Beaver Dam!

The Beaver never came out again...but we got to see his home!

Beavers are super interesting animals!
I am excited to take the kids to the library and have them get some books about Beavers.
The are brilliant animals!

It is so fun that this little Beaver home is in our backyard creek!

Same day...more fun!
Uncle Chris brought a snapping turtle!
This brought lots of excitement!

What a cute little fellow...

Learning Together!

Last night I was reading a book about the unschooling method of teaching children.
I haven't finished yet, but the main idea is using the child's interests and concerns to teach them. The only resources needed are what surrounds the child!

As I was reading it...I thought that I would apply these concepts to our daily lives,this summer, here at home, and see what the kids could learn, just by allowing them to expand their minds!

So this morning I woke up and Luke was playing animals with the doll houses.
For some reason, Luke likes kitchens.
He gets really bothered when the kitchen is not complete.
So he was worried about the play house he was using, because it did not have a refrigerator or a stove.

I decided to apply what I had read, and asked him what he thought we could do to create a refrigerator and a stove.
He thought we could make one out of paper.
He got some typing paper, and realized it was too flexible!
So he got some colored card stock!
He went in the kitchen examined the refrigerator and the stove and then came back and gave me instructions on how he thought I should make them!

It was unbelievable!
I did the work this time...but he designed them and told me what to do!
I am excited to have him do the whole process!
The problem is he is not able to cut very well yet...but he knows what he wants!

He is 4!
I was seriously amazed!

I am excited to see what the kids can do, with a little encouragement from me!
Brooke and Chelsea use to make paper houses with all the details.
But this idea goes way beyond refrigerators.

I am going to enjoy their questions and seek answers with them!
Together I think we will learn a ton!

Summer Birthdays!

She is my July baby!
Just because there is not school, doesn't change the fact that she wants to share her birthday with her class!

We brought beach cupcakes....to Welcome Summer and Wish Brooke a Happy Birthday!

I was so proud of these..that you get two views!

Super Easy!
Frost half blue..top with blue crystal sugars!
Other half white...top with crushed graham crackers!
Piece of gum for the beach chair
gobstoppers for the beach ball
gummy bear to sit in chair...if you want!
to finish...umbrella!

Luke asked Brooke if he could have a bite...she said, "NO"...
and then turned to tell her teacher something...

I thought that lick was classic!

Hidden in the Blue ocean...(Blue colored white cake mix)
I hid a swedish fish!

You can get this idea and others from Family Fun!

Just to give a clue of how easy these were to make...
I was making Brooke's when a friend of mine stopped by, and said,
"My daughters birthday is today too, I should have made her some cupcakes!"
I said, "Let's make her some!"
She said "okay"
I looked at the clock and we had 1 hour!
I did it!
I made 25 more cupcakes in 1 hour!
From top to bottom!

That makes 50 beach cupcakes in all!

Every Moment Passes!

Brooke is growing up!
I love all she has become...
I learn every single day from her...she is an example of pure love!
She chooses the right...even when it is difficult or not popular!
I am so PROUD of her!

But I am still NOT ready for her to grow up!

As a mother of 5 kids, there are many moments in life that are hectic!
For me...bed time can be a bit crazy!
Every single night, for as long as I can remember, Brooke has given me a hug and kiss....
or two or three...and then whispered in my ear,
"Mom, will you come lay by me?"
I always tell her I will if I get all the kids in bed!

Usually by the time the little ones are asleep, Brooke is already sleeping, and so I miss my opportunity!
Every night I think....tomorrow I am going to make sure I lay with Brooke!
Nights come and nights go...and she continues to ask, I continue to try , and I continue to miss my opportunity!

Last night I lay in bed...feeling the tears well up, just like I did the day I took her to kindergarten...because for 2 nights in a row, Brooke has given me one kiss, one hug, and then gone to bed.
She did not ask me to lay with her!
I can't believe it...it has been the same for years.
I knew eventually she would stop...but I'm NOT ready!

I am going to make sure I lay with her for at least 5 min. a night until she tells me to "Please, get out of her bed!"

I DON'T WANT TO MISS THESE MOMENTS!!!!

Enjoying Nature!

The Best Part of NOT having TV...
Is the kids play outside!
They explore...discover...share..and learn together!

This has been a new favorite..
Maybe this is home to smaller beings?
The kids are able to imagine and create their own stories.
We found this beauty while walking!

What have they found now?

Hard to find...frog!

Another treasure?

Caterpillar?
Do you know what kind these are?

Have Fun this week....Enjoying Nature!!!

This is What I'm Talking About!

I'm talking about seasonal toys....
Used year round!

I'm talking about the love of brothers and sisters...and cousins...
As they Push and Pull to try and give each other a ride!

I'm talking about using the opportunity to play with the kids and squeeze in a workout...
of strength training and aerobic!

I'm talking about the kids running up the hill...so they can get another ride!
(Luke is Annika's dog )....Love it!

I'm talking about pure 100% joy and excitement for everyone!


If you are having a tough time fitting in a workout between all the mommy moments...then make your kids play time into your workout!
They are usually the hardest! =)

Every Day Is Mother's Day!

I never got around to posting the adorable Mother's Tea Party that Chelsea's First Grade Class did for ALL the mothers!
It was so special!
So today...as I sat enjoying motherhood, I thought I am going to post this Tea Party and try and get all you mothers pumped up for the Greatest Summer Ever!

Kid's Love their Moms!
Even those teens...they may try and act like they don't...but they do!

(They sang to us)

(Gave us gifts, homemade magnets)

I think Mother's Day is a great time for the kids and Dad to take the time to say Thanks...but I also think it strategically falls right before Summer!
Right before we have the kids home 24/7!
It's a wake up call to all Mothers...to get ready....and to prepare to be the Best Mom!

Kids need us!
WE need them!

So I say, let's give our kids the best Summer ever!
That does not mean spend the most money!
It just means ....get excited!
Be ready to LOVE them...
So when the summer is over, they know one thing for sure.....
"MY MOM LOVES ME!"

Everyone does it differently....there is NO comparing!
Some like outdoor activities...others like crafts....some cook...some read together!
It all works!

I can't wait to hear about all your ideas!

Our First Tree!

Brooke brought this tree home from school....to plant...in our backyard!
There was only a page about how to plant the Bur Oak....I needed a gardener!
WE HAVE NEVER PLANTED A TREE....or anything else...successfully!

In 4th Grade they have to write a report about their tree and the care they gave it!
Ummmmmm....that means....we had to do this!

First we found our spot....not too close to anything, since the Oak will have LARGE roots!

Brooke decided to dig the hole...
well, it wasn't doing much...the shovel wouldn't go into the ground...
(And yes, the ground is wet...it has rained for 3 days straight)

They decided that Brooke would hold the shovel and Chelsea would use her body weight to push the shovel into the ground!

Note: Body Weight must be greater than Chelsea!

How about Ashley JUMPS on the shovel????

Nope...that did not work either!

This picture is out of order, Annika did not make the hole...but she did cover it up!

After we convinced Dad to come help us!

Question?
How many people does it take to plant a small tree?

Answer!
10

We had so much fun...the kids are ready for flowers!
Maybe this year they will last the season????

Family Night...Good at Being Me!

For Family Home Evening I read the kids this book...it tells about a little bird, and how the bird compares itself to other birds who can fly high, fly fast, and is not sure what makes him special!
Then he realizes that he sings beautifully, and that God created us all SPECIAL!

Then we talked about what talents the Lord has given each of us, and that we are each special!

After, I had them make special birds that represented them!
We used scrap construction paper!

This is Faith Bird!
She is 3!

Luke Bird!
(I love the detail...he is 4...his bird is on a tree, with flowers below, and next to him is a nest with three eggs ready to hatch)

Chelsea Bird...7
Hers has a 3D nose!

Brooke Bird...9
She did lots of colors to represent all the sports and activities she likes to do!
She put Large lips on because she was born with Large lips

Fitness Challenge

We finished 2 sessions of 6 weeks of Fitness Challenge!
I have loved every minute...I know the second one I did not do as well, but it kept me thinking about it!
Thanks to all you who did this with me!

I hope you all keep trying to eat well...
It is good for families to have a HEALTHY MOMMY! =)
Our winner for this 6 weeks was JUDI....Congrats!


Now for the answer to the previous Bonus Question:

The Wonderful Miss Kooky won!
It is Brooke's lips...how she got them to look like that seconds before this above picture...I will NEVER know...but it assisted in keeping the peace at our long dinner!

Eating Out Is Fun!

As you all know, eating out with 5 little ones can be a chore....
especially when the restaurant is running behind!
This time it took us 1 hour to get our food...my kids were starving!
Luckily Chelsea had her glasses, (that she bought from the Mommy Store with her Mommy Dollars!)
They created just enough entertainment to keep peace until our food arrived!

We all made funny faces....

Even Annika joined in, and was able to stay calm...that's saying something for a starving 2 year old!

Luke and Chelsea are great at this game...
They had a ton of winners!

I had some pretty silly ones...but decided to post the serious thinking one!
(The others...were rather....scary!)

Brooke is NOT so much my CRAZY girl!
She just went for the traditional smile!
Which she has a beautiful one!

What do you do to keep your family calm while eating out?

Here is a Bonus Quiz from my kids to YOU!
What is this?

Storybook Comes Alive 3 of 3

My neighbor always offers to take the girls to scrub the streets!

Aren't they all so cute?

From scrubbing the streets we had to hurry to the girls spots, so they could march with their classes!

On the way Brooke got a 2 pointer....one for yellow car...and one for cool yellow car!

The last day I got all of us dressed up and we marched in the Baby section!
Luke was so glad to be a part of the festivities...he was feeling left out!

There we are...I can't believe Annika is wearing Chelsea's outfit!

It's so fun to have Kim here this year...and to stay!
YIPPEE!!!

Brady's first...and he is in Luke's outfit...
They are all growing up!