Monday, January 31, 2011

Book Review – God Gave Us the World

picture from Barnes and Noble.com

God Gave Us the World is a wonderful book about little bear and learning about the differences in the world. Little bear is always so curious to why something happens, or why something is someway.

In God Gave Us the World, Little bear wants to know if all bear tongues are the same and this leads to a discussion about why God created different types of bears, different locations and homes for the bears and why each individual bear loves what they have.

I read this book to my group of 2 year olds and they were in love with little bear and the pictures of the other bears. I also read this with a four year old and we discussed alot of the questions that were in the book and also more related to people and the differences between individuals.

The illustrations in the book were very cute and brightly colored. This is a great addition to our home library.

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review

Day 29 - Cupcakes

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Cupcakes for Valentines day with the girls…….This picture is from Friday as Saturday I headed to a 60th birthday party at the casino – and guess what – No pictures in casinos (LAME). Oh well. This will have to do.

Day 28 – Sledding with Nolan

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Nolan Joined us to sled on Friday.  So much fun.  He even went down the big hill with his mama! 

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Day 27 - Sledding

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The weather today was amazing.  We borrowed some sleds and headed out to the “Big Hill”.  The girls were so excited about getting to go sledding.

We attempted to head up the big hill, with two 2 year olds in tow on one sled, one empty sled, and a four year old pulling another sled….we only made it half way up.  The girls went down that hill once and we decided to move to the other side where their is a bump at the bottom of the big hill.  The girls could climb up this bump and pull their own sleds and then go back down. 

We were out there for about and hour and a half.  Even mya started to get into the sledding and lost her fear.  Rylee loved it.  Loved loved loved it.  Madeline was a little fearless big kid that even went down on her belly head first.  They didn’t want to leave.

Day 26 – warm up

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The weather here actually warmed up this week and we headed outside to play on numerous occasions. 

My husband willingly shoveled a path from our back deck  to the swing set…..this meant shoveling through 3 or 4 feet of snow for about 50 feet.  What a great husband I have……Or I should say, what a great daddy Rylee has.

The slide is super fast with a little snow on it but the landing is soft at the bottom.  Regardless of what we are doing, the kids are more then happy to make snow angels, march through the snow, and throw snow balls.  We can’t wait till spring when we can be out every day!

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Day 25 - Innocence

 

We had a busy day today.  We had story time at the library this morning, ran home for a quick lunch and rest and headed out to the children’s museum for the afternoon.

I am always amazed by watching the innocence in these little girls as they play at the museum.  They just run and pretend, and imagine, and create and just flat out enjoy every minute that they are there. 

We have been going at least once a week since the museum opened with a few weeks skipped for major events like holidays, surgery, etc.  I really expected the girls to get bored with it, as they only have one changing exhibit and most of the time that one is filled with artwork.

Yet, they don’t get bored.  They don’t complain.  They get overly excited when I tell them that we are heading to the museum.  They run around with smiles on.  They are just plain happy.

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Rylee was pretending to play the recorder, or trumpet, or kazoo, or anything that makes a noise.  She is always pretending to play some sort of instrument these days….Maybe I have a future musician on my hands.  Regardless, I love the determination and emotion that she puts into the pretend play.

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And speaking of determination, this little girl was full of it.  She was attempting to place a piece of Velcro on the corresponding strip to measure how high she could jump.  She didn’t quite get the “jumping” aspect, however she reached as high as she could on her tippy toes and stuck it to the strip.  I love this picture. It’s one of the first “mirror images” that I have been satisfied with.

Monday, January 24, 2011

Day 24 – Sleepy times 3

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What are the odds that 3 two year olds will be sleeping at the same time?  Well chances are if you roll into our living room between the hours of 1:15 and 3 you just might find that happening.  Of course a busy morning consisting of breakfast, playing dolls, mom’s club play-date at the coffee shop, and a yummy lunch may be required before achieving any sort of closeness to this miracle that happens. 

I must say I was amazed to see all 3 sleeping today.  Rylee and Mya have not been taking a nap during the week.  We have either been just too busy or we just rest.  I must say that I enjoy no nap days because that means bedtime is easy and early….But some days naps are just warranted. 

Day 23 – Static Electricity

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Rylee and I headed over to the girls house for a couple of hours so their mom could go work out.  When the girls would sit on the couch we noticed that there seemed to be quite the amount of static electricity going on.  I took pictures of Rylee’s crazy-standing-on-end-hair too but here magic didn’t show up as well because of her brown hair on the brown couch!

I am also thinking that I could have titled this “Little Beaver” given Mya’s expression in the picture.  What a nut!

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Day 22 – Peek – a - boo

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If you haven’t noticed, we spent a ridiculous amount of time at the children’s museum this week.  We keep pretty busy during the week between Gymnastics, library story time,  Open Gym, Play-dates, Craft times and now Museum Story Time and Museum Activity Day.  We also try to make a one day Museum play day and also weather permitting, play outside.  The days stay pretty busy and the kids usually go home happy and tired.  I’ve noticed the days we are cooped up in the house all day are not as enjoyable for anyone.  So we go.  We go go go.

When the museum announced the new story time and activity time, I knew we would be taking advantage of these days.  They are free to those with a membership so we were all ready to jump on the adventure.

We also stay for a little while each day to play and explore in one or two of the rooms.  This day Haven had fun on the slide.  She is a cutey and  very photogenic! 

Day 21 - Rockstars

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My little Rockstars.  Or so they think they are.  I must say that I love the Guitar Hero Guitars – as they don’t make any noise but they still give the kiddos hours of fun rocking! 

And this picture just shows what the floor in our house looks like on a daily basis.  With Four or Five kiddos 4 and under here each day, it looks like a toy box threw up in my living room, kitchen, toy room and bathroom!  The only room’s safe from the mess of toys is the bedrooms!  So don’t mind the mess…..It’s always a fun day when the floor has a mixture of lucky ducks, tractors, balls, blankets, and kids on it!

Day 20 – Little Man

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I love this picture of the little man.  He is handsome and chubby and lately full of NO smiles.  His mama’s work schedule changed and was a major benefit for their family….however for us – well we don’t get near the amount of smiles and giggles that we used to.  But he is pretty content and cuddly still which is always a good thing! 

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Day 19 - Chatterbox

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Daddy would say she takes after her momma!  First thing she picked up at the museum was the phone. 

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Day 18 – Pink Cheese

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Haven is such a cutey – The instant you say haven look – She turns and says Cheese!  I love the blue eyes! 

Monday, January 17, 2011

Day 17 – Fun With Boys

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We had some visitors today.  A friends boys spent the day playing at our house since there was no school.  And since the weather was beautiful – well as beautiful as it can be in January in the midwest – we headed outside to play.  It was mid 30’s so we had fun without getting too chilly too fast. 

This little guy, or not so little any more, used to be in my preschool class when I worked at daycare.  He is such a well behaved guy that it’s really easy to have him and his brother over during the day.

I must say I need to give Bethany at Hissyfits Photography a Shout-out for introducing me to Actions.  I haven’t purchased any yet, but I am taking full advantage of some free ones.  I am hooked.  I love the ease of them and the results!  Thanks Bethany!

Day 16 – Game Day with Grandma

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Grandma Briggs was here to visit this weekend and Rylee took full advantage of this.  She played lots of Don’t Break the Ice, lucky Ducks, Dinosaur Train, and Snap and Style Dolls with Grandma.  So much Fun

Day 15 – Close Up

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Close Up of a Cutey!  No Other words needed!

Sober Face – Day 14

This little man was having a day on Friday.  Not many smiles were shown as he was pushing through two teeth and just not happy to be over.  Separation Anxiety has set in and with him only coming over once a week now he just isn’t too convinced that it’s such a great deal.  Regardless, he still makes a pretty cute little model, sober face and everything.

Miles Sitting

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Playdoh

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Simply put –

Playdoh = Winter Savior = Fun for Hours. 

We have played with playdoh for at least an hour every day this week and last.  Such a easy activity and while some would say its messy, wood floors make this bearable.  Just let the crumbs harden and sweep up! 

We have a couple of the fun factories, but the favorites seem to be the plastic forks, cups, letter stamps and crazy creature pieces (similar to mr. Potato Head Pieces).

Hard Workin’

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So totally cheating today….This picture is from today, not yesterday, but the pictures I took yesterday just were not doing it for me today, so here it is…..Day 12.  We headed to the children’s museum with the Mom’s club – Did I mention I joined the Mom’s club?  It’s great.  Well anyways, we headed there and this is my friend’s daughter M.  She is such a sweety and we love her.  She was working hard building with the sticks and bolts and made sure she had her hard hat on.  What a cutey.

The kids all had a great time at the museum as they usually do.  We can easily stay there for 3 hours and not get bored and we go almost once a week.  So convenient to have the membership for the year.  We will be purchasing that one again.  It’s a great energy release during the winter months.

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Ele-FUN

Rylee received a lot of games for Christmas.  Ants in the pants, Don’t Spill the Beans, Dora Memory, Lucky Ducks, but her favorites are definitely Don’t Break the Ice and Elefun.  She could play these games all night if we would let her. 

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She was amazed when she actually caught one of the little butterfly thing in her net.  Normally she waits and watches as they fall to the ground and then she scurries around to pick them up and place them in her net.

I think we are going to have to break out the big girl games – candy land and uno.

Monday, January 10, 2011

Concentration

It takes a lot of concentration

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For a 2 year old to string pony beads on to a pipe cleaner.  But she’s a pro at it and made herself a very pretty randomly colored bracelet……or sometimes its a balloon if you ask her.

Day 10!  Still going strong!

Sunday, January 9, 2011

Pops

 

Rylee and I made some cake pops for the pops in a post challenge, and it just happens that these 2 pictures are going to be my day 9 pictures. 

Rylee is really into helping in the kitchen these days.  She loves to be up on a chair, watching, stirring, or helping.  Now if only her mama was better at baking we would be in business.  We won’t say too much about the failed caramels at Christmas time or the failed rice crispy treats tonight.  Yes I managed to mess up rice crispy treats. 

None the less, my baking ability doesn’t hinder her love for helping in the kitchen.  Next I’m just going to put her at the sink and let her wash dishes.

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Bright

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So this is sorta cheating, but a picture is a picture and this is my favorite picture from the day on Saturday.  I had a few to choose from, mainly Rylee being silly and winking, but I just wasn’t satisfied with the way any of them were turning out.  So this my friends, is picture number 8.  Painting with bright, fun, exciting and pretty colors.  All lined up!

Valentines Day Pops

 

Tonight, Rylee and I made some Valentines Day Pops.  I have some experience making pops, but by far not an expert in any area of making them.  I had made some “Pops” for Christmas…Both Oreo Pops and Cake Pops.  For Rylees 1st Birthday we had made cupcake shaped cake pop.  Each time I really struggle with getting the finished, decorated product to look very good.  Either the ball itself is oddly shaped or the candy coating is not smooth.  Sometimes it runs and drips, and sometimes the sprinkles don’t fall right.  But regardless of the looks, when you get a bunch together, they still look cute and they taste remarkable.

Tonight we tried peanut butter rice crispy treat pops.  We made a batch of PB rice crispy pops and dipped them in Red Wilton Candy Melts that were melted in the Wilton Chocolate Pro and sprinkled them with Wilton Valentines Day Sprinkles.  Easy enough for me and my baby girl to do together….Oh yea, My husband chose to help make one too.

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I must say I like the fact that the Chocolate pro keeps the candy melts consistently melted…Which is nice.  However they don’t melt to a point where they were easy to dip.  The candy melts were more spreadable then dip-able.   In the end, they still tasted good, which is the point right!

I had previously pre-registered for the Wilton Pops in a Post Contest and received a Wilton Pops Kit free for being one of the top 40 to register.  Some of the products used in the production of the pops were received from this kit.  Other items, although still Wilton brand, were purchased by myself. 

Friday, January 7, 2011

Crawl

 

He is almost ready to crawl

Miles Crawling

Almost….

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Snow Fun

Today, the weather was beautiful, considering that there is snow on the ground and it’s winter here…But we did reach low 30’s which meant that we could play outside and the kids had so much fun.  Snow angels, snowmen, snow castles (similar to sand castles) and just plain trudging through the snow.  fun fun fun!

our day 6 photo is a close-up of Rylee, while making a snow angel.  She surprised me with how well she liked the snow.  Maybe we will try sledding soon.

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Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Tough

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tough is what my little girl is.  today was a long day as most days that we have doctors appointments are.

we had a follow up appointment with dr. k. – rylee’s ent. 

lately i have had a lot of friends/cf mama’s that are experiencing the dreaded toddler fearing doctor situation right now.  it’s tough.  it’s hard to watch your child scream in fear of the unknown, the fear of getting a needle poke or throat swab, the fear that starts when you enter the parking lot of the clinic.  it’s just tough. 

but the remarkable and real thing with it is, that it gets better.  or at least it did for us.  rylee screamed at the scale, at the measurement place, when we walked in the small patient room, when the nurse came in, when the dietician came in, when the doctor came in.  she screamed and cried and then she screamed and cried some more. 

but today……

she smiled.  she gave five to doctor k.  she showed him her dora book.  she let him look in her ear. 

she was tough

tough during a tough situation.

she is my hero!  my pumpkin!  one of my favorite things in life!

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Milky Way

 

rylee coined the term “milky way” from dora the explorer.  dora has one episode where she talks about the milky way, constellations, space, etc. she really has no idea what the real milky way is, however she seems to think she knows.  i must say she is pretty close, and maybe knows more then i think.  she points a flashlight at the ceiling and says “milky way”.  she is fully aware she is using a flashlight, yet the light on the ceiling is what she is referring to.  

here she was proceeding to show me the milky way.  i am just satisfied with her knowledge at this point in time and will delve deeper into the “milky way” at some point, but today i will just enjoy her curious eyes, and astonishment as she looks at the milky way on the ceiling. 

DSC_3598 day 4 – finding the milky way

Monday, January 3, 2011

day 3 – just a cute 2 year old

 

yea, i may be biased, but i sure think she is cute!  it’s very rare that this little darling will flash me a smile without blinking, winking or making a goofy smile at the camera. 

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Sunday, January 2, 2011

Rylee Jean

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Love, Love, Love

Saturday, January 1, 2011

picture perfect

that pretty much sums up my thoughts about these two.

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they are picture perfect in every thought in my mind and i love them more then anything!

2011 - New Year - New Goals

Alternative Title - Day 1 of Breaking my New Years Resolutions!

Resolutions to me are always silly little tidbits that seem to get broken by day 5 of the new year, if not day 1. This year I am setting practical goals that I hope to achieve instead of the typical resolution to lose weight, plan meals better, be more organized, etc.
Goal #1
Since I really enjoy photography, my number 1 goal is to take at least 1 picture each week to edit and post. I would love to think I could do 1 picture a day to post, or that I could really do more then 1 per day, but I would be setting my self up for failure. Some days it's just not practical. Like today in which we have sat around in our pajamas all day long watching tv, surfing the internet, and playing, only really moving long enough to walk to the bathroom or make something for lunch. We have been lazy, and no pictures were taken, nor would we want to really captur our laziness on camera.
Goal #2
Post at least 1 time per week. Hopefully by taking 1 picture each week and editing it, I will at least have 1 post each week. Seems like a given huh.
Goal #3
Become more contious of our health - Both physical and mental. For this I would like to excersize more, eat better, and make time for myself, time for Rylee and I, and time for our whole family. I could set my self up for instant failure by choosing to set a goal of working out 5 times a week, or eating only healthy foods this year. I know I would instantly fail at that. I really hope to just become more aware of it, which in turn I hope will lead to me being more ambitious about working out. In other words, I am going to try to work out more, eat better, and stay sane, but we will see how it goes :)
Goal #4
Continue to focus on my Rylee. While I had the first 2 years to spend just with her while my husband worked, I am fortunate enough to be able to make an income while allowing her to play now. I really loved our time together - Just the 2 of us, but it was time for change, time for growth. I hope I can still manage to take advantage of those little times with just the 2 of us and cherish every little minute of those moments that we get.
Goal #5
To focus on my relationship with my husband. Don't get me wrong - we have a wonderful relationship. I just want to keep it that way. :) Somedays I tend to shut down at 5 when he gets home or after the kids leave for the day. I, in reality, sometimes feel like I could be so much of a better wife! So we will work on it!
And thats all - Of course my number one priority above all of this, is to keep my precious 2 year old healthy all year and happy. I want her to continue to grow and learn and achieve wonderful things this year!