Learning to Ride a Bike, Cooking, Outdoor Play Kitchen and Ice Cream

Around here every day is different. Although I may have a plan when I get up in the morning there are still so many unplanned moments and fun things. As well as some not so fun things. But . . . it's never boring.

Michael got a bicycle for Christmas and loves it. But for the past few months he's mostly been pushing it around the yard. Occasionally he would push it to the top of the hill and then coast down. But today he was ready to start trying to pedal. He was so proud of himself! And I was very proud of him too.



Austin made Tortilla Pizzas for lunch and they were really good. He added a very small amount of pizza sauce, spread on the tortilla before the cheese mixture. He also added pepperoni too about half of them.

When I was outside with the kids this morning I was walking around looking at some of the random things that were left here by the people who lived here before we bought the house. There was a small pile of cinder blocks. There was also a pile of boards. A lot of the boards had been there so long they were starting to rot but there were also some that were in fairly good condition. I was wondering what good use we could make out of some of these things. I've also had it in the back of my mind that we would soon set up a little outdoor play kitchen for the kids to play in. So I decided to make a makeshift "kitchen" for the kids to have fun with. Austin and Amanda helped me stack blocks to make three short pillars, then we put a few boards across the top. Add some dishes and containers, put a little table nearby and Viola! - a kitchen.

This evening Doug brought home ice cream, a variety of toppings and soda. So we had an impromptu ice cream party. It was a good end to a good day.

Five Question Friday 3.04.11

It's time for another fun edition hosted by My Little Life.

Have you ever forgotten your child in a store or at school?

I've never forgotten my child in a store or at school, but I did leave and her at home once. I quite a few kids with me that day and didn't realize that she hadn't gotten in the van with the others. About half a mile down the road we realized she wasn't with us so I quickly turned around and went back home. I was imagining her all upset and scared and crying. But when I got home she hadn't even realized I had left her. She had been playing outside and heard me call the others. Thinking that I wanted them to pick up the toys in the playroom, she decided to stay where she was until I came and got her. And there she happily played and until I came looking for her in a state of panic. It wasa lot harder on me than it was on her.

Where did you go on your very first date?

To a church youth activity.

What's your silly fear?

The dark. I have a very hard time making myself go outside alone in the dark. And I don't like it completely dark in the house, not even when I sleep.

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Confrontation: Do you cause it, deal with it as it comes, or run far far away?

Definitely run far far away. As fast as I can. Confrontation gives me a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach and makes my palms sweat.

Wood floors or carpet?

Carpet in most of the house. Two of the upstairs bedrooms have wood floors though. I wish the playroom had something other than carpet because it is so hard to keep clean.

For more fun Five Question Friday posts visit My Little Life.



Fill in the Blank Friday

1. The phrase or punctuation I overuse most is - Seriously?!?!?!. Usually when someone has done something that totally ticked me off.

2. Today I am thankful for - sunshine, coffee, my kids.

3. My best friend is - my husband.

4. A quirky thing about me is - I'm scared of the dark.

5. This weekend I - am hoping to go out to eat since it should be an otherwise quiet weekend.

6. Something that worries me is - something happening to our cat, Scout. We would all be sad but my daughter would be absolutely devastated.

7. On my nightstand you would find - The book Refrigerator Rights: Creating Connections and Restoring Relationships by Will Miller and Glenn Sparks, my phone charger, my laptop charger, notebooks, pens, and other assorted miscellany.

To read more fill in the blank answers and to join in the fun visit The Little Things We Do.

Imagine

Imagine a world where everyone is treated with love and respect.

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Imagine a world where everyone is fed.

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Imagine a world where there is clean water for all.

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Imagine a world where every child has a family.

Imagine a world filled with happy laughter.

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Imagine a world where each one prays for their neighbor.

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Imagine a world full of beauty.

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Imagine a world where hearts are shared with no fear of judgment.

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Imagine . . . .

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And then . . . .

Do more than imagine.

Reach out.

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Touch.

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Love.

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Pray.

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Laugh.

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Lend a hand.

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If we all worked together

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Just imagine!

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A Small Space of Quiet

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In music the term rest refers to the pause in a piece of music. It is a small space of quiet. A pause between notes. Without those pauses, those spaces, the music would simply be a lot of noise. But the small moments of silence, rest, help to create the beauty of the song. We hardly notice these spaces and yet they are an integral part of the composition of the song.

In the song of my life I also must add pauses, moments of silence, small times of rest, or my life song simply becomes a lot of noise.

My moments of rest will come in the form of small things. A quiet prayer of thanksgiving. A cup of coffee while watching the birds. Listening to a favorite song on repeat. Taking a minute to enjoy the view of the mountains from my back yard. Small pauses between the notes that make up the music of my life - integral parts of the composition of song.

For more posts on the subject of rest visit Faith Barista.

What I Learned in February

Each month Amber Strocel at Strocel.com writes about what she has learned that month and invites others to join in.

Even though it is the shortest month of the year February always feels so long to me. The holidays are over. The first surge of enthusiasm for a new start in a new year has faded somewhat. I always begin to get cabin fever in February.

I learned that a week of nice weather in the middle of the month can go  a long way toward relieving the cabin fever.

And when that lovely warm spell comes a pizza picnic in the back yard is a perfect way to celebrate.

I learned that one walnut tree can produce an unbelievable number of walnuts. I also learned that walnuts have quite a few health benefits.

I learned that even though my daughter now has 35 Webkinz she still needs more. Also that is possible to remember the names of everyone of those Webkinz, in what order she bought them and whether she bought them alone or with another one. But memorizing division facts is agonizingly difficult.

I learned that if I make a new recipe, love it, eat too much of it, and then get hit with a stomach virus that night, I will not want to even think about that particular food anymore.

I also learned that cell phones don't like coffee as much as I do, and if I accidentally drop the poor phone into my cup of coffee, it will rebel and quit working.

And I'm really beginning to learn, with new clarity, how much I love this life of mine. January taught me so much and February has been a continuation of that learning. Things don't always go smoothly, sometimes it's hard work to maintain balance, but it's a wonderful life all the same.

Wordless Wednesday - The View From My Back Yard



In This Moment

I call it "my time." I talk about how I use "my time", or how I waste "my time." I write about how I schedule "my time." 

And yet, in moments of being still, I realize with startling clarity, the arrogance of those words "my time." For in those moments I feel the Presence of One who transcends all time. The One who moves through time and yet for Whom there is no time. 

He pauses near me, or is it I who pause, and in the being still am able to recognize His Presence. And time stands still. 

For in Him time becomes irrelevant.

In it's place comes clarity.

And I begin to see what really matters.

Not the hands on the clock, the numbers on the screens.

But the touch of hand,  the caress of the breeze, the ray of light through the trees.

The moments.

The now.

The rocking of the crying baby, kissing of the bruised knees, listening to stories and dreams,

sharing a moment.

Let time move on without me.

I choose to be here now.

In this moment.

And He is here with me.

A Dr. Seuss Birthday Party - A Day Early

Today we had fun celebrating Dr. Seuss' birthday. It was a day early but that certainly didn't keep us from enjoying it.

We colored coloring pages based on his books that I printed from Seussville.

The kids had so much fun playing with the balloons and noisemakers that Lauren's mother brought for everyone.

And at snack time we enjoyed the yummy cake, also provided by Lauren's mother.



And we read six Dr. Seuss books - three at circle time this morning and three more at afternoon storytime. I printed a picture of Dr. Seuss so the kids could put a face to the name and they were really fascinated by it.

Thank you, Sarah, for a great idea and for helping to make this a really fun day.

Kids in the Kitchen - Austin Made Simple Lasagna with Impossible Pumpkin Pie for Dessert

Today was Austin's day to fix a meal and chose to make lasagna and pumpkin pie.

To make the lasagna he followed the Simple Lasagna recipe.

It turned out absolutely delicious and I had to get some quickly and put it aside for Doug's lunch tomorrow bofore it completely disappeared. Austin thought it was complicated to make but worth the effort. I have a feeling we're going to be seeing this recipe on the menu again soon.

He also made this Pumpkin Impossible Pie for lunch and it turned out really yummy too.

Daycare Schedule March 2011

6:30 - 8:00 - Quiet time with books and music. Kids who stayed overnight are often still asleep and sometimes very early arrivals have fallen asleep again.

8:00 - Overnighters get up and get dressed, put away mats

8:30 - Breakfast

9:00 - Circle Time, Games, Color Theme Book, Snack

10:00 - Outdoor Play or Free Play (free play includes a wide variety of play options in the playroom as well as playdough or art supplies at the kitchen table)

11:45 - Quiet time with books and music, wash for lunch

12:00 - Lunch

12:30 - Quiet time with books and music

12:45 - Story time

1:00 - Naptime

2:30 - Wake up from naps, put away sleep mats, snack

3:00 - Outdoor play or free play

5:00 - Inside, Quiet time with books and music, wash for dinner

5:30 - Dinner

6:00 - Free Play (if there are evening kids who missed out on morning circle time and activities we will often have circle time and color in our theme books again)

7:15 - Pickup

7:30 - Snack

7:45 - Storytime

8:00 - Bedtime

Book Review - The Complete Guide to Getting and Staying Organized

Chapters

1. Being Organized Means Being Prepared

2. Finding Your Organizational Personality

3. Kicking Out the Clutter

4. Maximizing Efficiency in Every Room

5. Combating Overcommitment

6. Taking Control of the Clock

7. Putting Paper in Its Place

8. Menu Planning and Shopping Strategies

9. Now You're Cookin'!

10. Maintaining Your Home's New Order

11. Taking It Home, Making It Yours

Appendix: Recipes and Forms

Yesterday I finished reading The Complete Guide to Getting and Staying Organized by Karen Ehman. This is a book I've read before and enjoyed. It is full of common sense and sound advice. I especially enjoyed the chapters on menu planning and dealing with paperwork.