Princess For the Day!

Happy Birthday Annika!

A full day of ROYAL treatment....can be exhausting! =)

Giants!

Theme of the Week:
Giants!!

We read "The BFG" as a family...and the kids loved it...all of them!
They decided that Giants would be a great Theme...
The kids came up with a ton of creative "GIANT" ideas!

The BFG is 24 ft tall.....The other Giants are 50 ft tall!
If all the kids stand on each others shoulders, they are only 18 ft. tall!

We made a Giant the size of our driveway...and it was only 36 ft....
It was a CUTE 36 ft!

We found these BEAUTIFUL - "GIANT" TREE...we had to all join hands in order to reach around it!
(Even DAD and I are joining hands...it was BIG!)

What if we were a giant, and were invited over for dinner?
How many bites would it take to eat a triple decker ice cream cone?

3!

Peanut butter cookies are a favorite around here!
It takes a GIANT a lot more Peanut Butter Cookies to be satisfied!
(We just used chocolate chips for the kiss in the middle...too cute!)

GIANT hopscotch!
With contest of who could do it the fastest!

We also decided to sneak into the BFG's cave...and taste his lunch!

The Frobscottle was delicious!

It even made the kids float or jump in the air!

While watching the movie...THE BFG...
they ate a GIANT popcorn ball!

The BFG Stands for Big Friendly Giant!
We got the teeny tiny treat ideas from the American Girl Magazine! =)

History Comes Alive!

This has been our first week of HOME SCHOOL!
It has been wonderful!

One of the Subjects I have wanted to teach my kids is American History!
I ordered this little book called...
American History Stories You Never Read In School But Should

After all their curriculum is done, then we sit on the couch together and read about our American History!
The kids love it....I love it!

Monday we read about what caused the Revolution....
Taxation without Representation!
and about the unfair Stamp Act!

When Dad got home from work, I heard the girls tell him that they were going to tax him 10 cents every time he said "the" or "and".
Of course he was confused...

"What do I get" - Dad
"Nothing" - Girls
"This is not fair" - Dad
"It is just how it is "- Girls
"Do I have any say?" - Dad
"NO" - Girls

As his marks continued to go up... he started to "rebel", and not talk....

After they got 10 marks, and had each earned a dollar, they explained ....
Taxation without Representation

I was very impressed the way they acted out what we had learned in their own way....
How they put themselves as England...and Dad as the Colonies!

I could tell that Dad knew something was up...and he played along perfectly!
This was as much fun for me as it was for them!

I Left My Wallet...

At Target...
For 2 days!

I just knew it would be gone....
Instead, it was returned with everything still inside!

All the gift cards...

Money!
I don't usually carry cash, but I happened to have a little...
and it was All there!

It is always fun to see HONESTY alive!

No Regrets!

I try to live life with NO regrets!
But...
One of my greatest regrets is not going to see my sister and her family more....
while they were close!

We have always lived relatively close...
So when she moved 5 hours away...
It was far enough that I only saw her two or three times a year!

I figured they would always be near!

Now they moved to Florida...

It was an 20 hour drive for me...
and a 10 hour drive for her!
So we can meet up for the day!

I miss her, I miss her kids, my kids miss her, my kids miss her kids!
I am soooooo glad we got to spend 1 day together!

Tip of the Day:
See your family often...they may not always be near! =(

The Best Job Ever!

"A mother has far greater influence on her children than anyone else, and she must realize that every word she speaks, every act, every response, her attitude, even her appearance and manner of dress affect the lives of her children and the whole family. It is while the child is in the home that he gains from his mother the attitudes, hopes and beliefs that will determine the kind of life he will live and contribution he will make to society." N. Eldon Tanner

I love this quote, and think of it often, as I attempt to be the best mother I can to the beautiful children that I have been allowed to raise! I often find myself on my knees, pleading with the Lord for strength and inspiration as I feel inadequate for the role. I think it is the adversary that wants mothers to feel like they are failing! He wants us to compare ourselves to others and to feel less accomplished in the home! The truth is that their is No "right" or "wrong" way to parent, in fact, there is not the "best" or "better" way. As long as we are Loving Our Children, Unconditionally, TEACHING and LIVING Christ like attributes, and doing our BEST...that is PERFECT! I believe the Lord wants us to rejoice in our opportunity to mother...and to help each other along the way! This is one of the main reasons I blog....to pass on what works for me! I know I am not fancy or perfect....and I don't try to be. I just try to be ME! I also really appreciate all the great information and ideas that I get from other blogs!

Today I was hoping to have each of you comment and leave a "mother" tip that has blessed your home!

My tip:
I always try to be at the door when the kids get home from school! It seems that the older they get the more they need to know I am there! At this moment it seems that I am able to sense how the entire day was for them. Sometime they want to share experiences....But they love to know we are there. There are some situations that do not allow the mother to greet the child, if this is the case, I would try and come up with an alternative idea! Maybe, if they go to a sitters house after school, send them with a small snack, and a note from you! So after their long day, you are the first message they get, and they can refuel with your love!

okay I have one more!

Bed time is when my girls seem to want to talk! It is often the hardest time for me, because I am tired and I have many smaller children who need me. I have found that if I pass on this opportunity to listen, then I miss the stories that they want to share.

I can't wait to hear your ideas...they will bless my home!

Road Trip Fun!

I always try to bring fun activities for the kids...something out of the ordinary!
This time I decided I would help them think of others...instead of wondering when the drive would be done!
They spent their time making dozens of signs.
Each time we stopped they would leave a sign behind...to cheer up someone!
They left them on bathroom stalls, (just taped, so it is easy to remove), picnic tables, swings, and other fun spots.

At parks they would leave chalk signs!

Out of all the creative ideas I have brought....
this may have been a favorite!

If You Ever Get The Chance!!!

Make sure you go to Lambert's...The Home of Throwed Rolls...
DO IT!!!

Everytime we drive through Missouri we want to stop..but it is never time to eat!
This time...on our way home form the BEACH...we were all ready for Dinner...
AMAZING!!!!

The whole atmosphere is Fantastic!
This guy walks down the isle and asks if anyone needs a roll....

Then he chucks the rolls...see it mid air....these are not wimpy throws!
They must only let professionals throw their rolls!
He could throw it any distance and make it plop in your hands...even Annika's hands!

These may have been the best rolls I have ever tasted!
DELICIOUS!
PLUS...when they throw them...they are STEAMING HOT!!!!

Summer To Do List!

The Beach was on our list!
Originally when we put it on the list, I just thought we would go to one of our local "beaches"...but with all the flooding...we NO longer have any beaches!

I really thought we weren't going to make it!
20 driving hours later...we got to go to the beach!

Brady's first time!

The other kids were in heaven!

I love the beach, because it is free...and with 5 little ones, tourist activities can really add up!
We gave in...when it came to the trampoline jumping!

Everyone took a turn...Brooke and Chelsea got two turns!