Sun Masks

We've been studying the sun in Preschool - Day 4 of creation.

Thursday we made sunshine masks.

Our Garden

This is our garden this year.

My sister helped the girls put up fences at the end of the trailer to keep the goats from an early salad.

We've got tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, squash, cantalope, 1 watermellon ... and some marigolds which are suppose to help with bugs.

We've got some lettuce and pumpkin seeds - but it has taken so long to do this part, I'm not sure we'll get everything put in this year.

The girls have worked very hard pulling the weeds and digging the compost dirt. Joel tries hard too. We got him a cute pair of yellow gardening gloves.

I'll get some better pictures up soon.

Joel's first Trip to the Barbar shop.

This was about a month ago - but I've only just got them off of Tim's cell phone!

He was so excited.

Easter Pictures ... Finally

A New Kind of Puzzle

Did I ever tell you that Joel LOVES puzzles?

Any kind of puzzle?

My best friend has a set of geometric shapes and cards. Hers are magnetic, but Bethie had the magnet board. Joel saw what Bethie was doing and wanted to do it too.

He was mesmerized and did several before we had to put them away.

I found a set of foamy pieces for his birthday. Plus a book that I will be able to copy so he can make his own pages/cards.

But I couldn't afford to buy cards too. Oh well.

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BTW! Birthday Party Alert!

May 23.

Probably in the afternoon up here at our house.

For Matthew and Joel.

Joel wants a Nemo party, and Matthew a green train party. Hmmm.

I'll be working on his wishlist over the next few days on Amazon. There is a link at the bottom of the blog to it.

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BUT FIRST,
we have a party for Valarie who is turning 1.

And Tim is turning ** on Sunday!
Aaron has a birthday sometime soon too - 6 I think?
H***** is turning 4.

And I think there are a few others in there too.

What a lot of birthdays.

Three Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed

For close to 45 minutes, our three little monkeys happily jumped and sang.

Three little monkeys jumping on the bed.

One fell off and bumped his head.

(at which point they all 3 dived off the bed to "hit" their heads on the floor.)

Then it repeated again!

Wish I could post the videos!

Snowman Balls

In Preschool, we are studying Day 4 of creation ... and right now the focus in on the sun and how it works. So we have been talking about the SEASONS!

On this day, we were talking about Winter. Now down South here - there ain't much. Winter that is.
Bad English, I know, but people still talk like that here. :)

We did have a slight snow last year ... but most of these kids find the winter section really confusing. We actually wear anything from coats and hats to shorts and sandles during our winter. And what is a snowman anyway? Sledding? Can you do that in the sand?

The Horizon book suggested making popcorn balls and using candy to make snowmen - but it's missing a recipe.

We found one using corn syrup.

But the balls hardened within seconds - and they found decorating to be impossible. So they just ate their snowmen without decorating.

Next time, we're thinking to use rice crispy balls or something. Maybe we can use my mom's cake pan that makes ball shaped cake?

I'm open to ideas!

Long after the other children were happily munching away, Joel still was trying to stick his pieces onto the popcorn ball. You have to admire his diligence!

16 Week Checkup

Yesterday, I had an appointment with our midwife. I don't drive, so a friend took Joel and me to the appointment.

I don't know why I get so worried about check-ups, but I do much prefer the midwife over a doctor any day. Joel was so good and sat quietly while we hunted for a heartbeat - 150 bpm. She had to chase the baby because it would kick the doppler and wiggle away. OF course I was all grins. So the baby sounds healthy and active.

Next up was to check my blood pressure, which was 160/90 at the 12 weeks .... amazingly it is down to 123/62. I guess sitting in the sun does help! Also I've been eating a very careful diet, NO dairy, NO sugar, and mostly meats and veggies - very limited breads, potatoes, or rice. I guess it's working!

Everything looked fine - back in 4 weeks.

I do need to get my 12 week blood work done STILL! Yikes. We are hoping to get on Medicaid - it won't pay for the baby, but it will pay for these required tests.

We're also hoping to have a sonogram after the 20 week checkup - there is a big question on when the due date should actually be ... Hmmm....

I suppose if I were younger and less .... rotund? ..... I would now put in a nice 16 week preganancy picture .... but just sufice it to say, I'm noticing my tummy a LOT these days as I bump into kids and cabinets, and find formally tight fits to be blockades. Getting into the girls room is getting to be a chore -- have to get pass the laundry room!

On the plus side - I've had more energy this week and been able to handle more housework. The girls are happy about that! BUT I'm still finding cooking to be a hurdle as my stomach turns at the least expected moments. I'm very glad that both of the girls are great cooks.

Clay Play

Joel found the clay adn made a clay man. You can't tell much here, but the face has eyes, hair, nose, mouth and ears. This little fellow really pays attention to details!

But wait ... I think you forgot something Joel.

So he's off to fix it.

Dad bedder?

Yellow urms!

And feet and hands too!

Silly boy.

Setting My Place

When the girls were little, we made a set of placemats to help them learn how to set the table for supper each night. They were just construction paper with very thin laminated seal - but the girls had great fun making them.

For years now, they have been sitting in the pile of placemats unused.

Joel found them and asked, "Wud's id fur?"

So I explained it to him.

Several hours later he wanted to eat an apple, but first ... he set his table!

Next I suppose I need to teach him what a table is!

Baking Cookies for Poppa

Joel had a Cubbie assignment in his Cubbie Character Builder book to make cookies for somebody.

Since Poppa loves Oatmeal Raisin Cookies - and he does a LOT for us around here, including letting us live here, we decided to make the cookies for him.

Joel had great fun - so did both of his big sisters.

And of course he HAD to sample it!

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My computer problems are hopefully fixed for the moment. So I've got a ton of stuff to post while Tim is in Virginia for the week for classes and orientation for his new job.