Field Trip

Before school started back up I wanted to reward the girls for doing such a great job. They have done very well in their paces and their book/word charts! We all went on a field trip to the Seattle Aquarium. I think I took a record number of photos! It was very difficult deciding which photos to upload. It was a really neat place and I would definitely recommend visiting if your ever in the area.

 

 

 

We thought finding a place to park was going to be horrible but it wasn't. We got a space right across the street from the aquarium.

Yup, this fish had only one eye!

You had to be careful around this tank or you might get splashed with water. There was a mermaid in it that would splash water on you. Ha Ha, just kidding. It was the crashing waves exhibit.

The touch pool where you could touch the plants that grow and starfish. The girls were hard to convince to touch it though.

We did get to see a Giant Pacific Octopus but the picture came out too blurry and dark.

 

 

Jellyfish

This fish looked like it had actual lips!

Seahorses! Our favorite tank I think.

Can you find the fish in this tank?

 

It was hidden very well. The only thing we saw moving was it's eyes!

 

 

The Underwater Dome was really neat. Lilly took this picture of a shark.

 

 

 

We couldn't help ourselves being so close to one of the few Krispy Kreme's in the area. We got loaded with lots of sugar for the drive home.

 

 

Christmas Piano Recital

 

Lilly playing Jingle Bells

 

 

 

Snow Day

 

The girls had so much fun sliding down the driveway today.

The video is of Samuel's first time down and he laughed the whole way.

Olivia did a good job holding on to him.

 

Chris's mom sent us some homemade pumpkin butter

and told us it was good on graham crackers with whipped

cream on top, so we gave it a try. It was AMAZING!!

That with Chris's homemade hot chocolate made a great

snack after being outside in the cold.

 

They say the funniest things...

One thing that I really enjoy about my family is, we laugh ALOT! Sometimes I remember to write the funny stuff down and then blog about it... I hope you get a good laugh because I know we sure have!!

When Chris was in Mexico, me and the girls were bored one day and brainstorming some ideas of things we could do. It went a little something like this:

Me: "So girls, what should we do, any ideas?"

Lilly: "We should go to Walmart or the Dollar Tree and buy something!"

Me: "Well just because we're bored doesn't mean we should go shopping and buy something just to do it. God wants us to be wise with our money, besides I don't think we have the money to go spend like that." (trying to be the responsible adult, lol)

Olivia: "Well, we can just go get some money from the payers."

Me: Laughing, "Who are the payers?"

Olivia: "The people who give you money to buy stuff, of course!"


This also happened while Chris was in Mexico....

Me: "Hey Lilly, why don't you come outside and help me grass the water?"

Lilly: "Mama, do you know what you just said?"

I was going through the house gathering up all the laundry and was going crazy seeing all the toys strewn all over the house. There was a mega block in the corner, a stuffed animal peeking out from under the couch, books not where they belong (on the bookshelf when not being read!), toy trucks in the laundry basket, a doll under the kitchen table and after spending lots of time trying to clean up... I think steam started coming out my ears or something. So then what happens....?

Me, speaking in my very serious Mama voice: "Is there just a toy in every crook and nanny?"

Chris laughing histerically: "What was that Selena? Is there a crook in the house? You mean, every NOOK and cranny?!!"


I had asked Olivia to get the clothes out of the dryer for me when I hear...

Olivia: "Oh no!! Mama, you shtranked my dress!"

Me: Laughing, "I did what to your dress?"

Olivia: "You shtranged my dress? I don't know how you say it."

Me: "You mean, I shrunk your dress?"


Last week Lilly was getting ready, I was going to take her around the neighborhood to fundraise for the Girl Scouts.

Me: "Lilly, why don't you bring me the brush so we can fix your hair."

Lilly: "O.K. sure."

Me: "I know, we should put your hair in pig tails so you will be super cute and maybe people will want to buy from you even more then."

Lilly: "Oh, is that how you sell chocolate?"


This last one isn't really funny but it is OH. SO. SWEET.!!!

Olivia: "Mama, will you read this book to me?"

Me: "Sure sweet heart, hop up here on the couch and we can read it together."

After we read the book....

Olivia: "Mama, when I grow up, I want to be a Mama just like you."

That almost made me cry!

Samuel's 1st Haircut

All smiles and laughs at the beginning. 

 

 He did great when we were cutting his hair with

scissors and the trimmers.

 

 After we were done cutting his hair though, he was very upset.

I have a blog?

We've been so busy around here lately the last thing on my mind was my blog. So here is a little update about some things we've been up to...

The girls got to go to the salon to  get their hair washed and trimmed. They had never had their hair washed at the salon before and both thought it was the greatest thing ever. They didn't stop smiling the whole time.  

 

 

Olivia lost her 1st tooth! She had a loose tooth for exactly one whole day!! The very next morning she had wiggled it out. 

 

 

 

Samuel has developed a love for books, just like his big sisters. He loves to bring you books and sit in your lap or by himself on the floor and look at the pictures. He has also learned some sign language. He can sign for: food, more, please, blow kisses to say I love you and wave good-bye. He doesn't really walk, he runs! He likes to push heavy things around like chairs and carry things bigger than him like his toy basket all the while making grunting sounds as if to say "This is very heavy." He is constantly making us laugh and laugh for one reason or another.

 



 

 

It is very hard to get a picture of this little guy that doesn't come out blurry. I don't think he ever stops moving!!

 

 

 

 

From many of the fires in the area and our state the sky has been filled with smoke. We are so ready to have the smoke go away and breathe fresh clean air. Please pray for the men and women out there fighting those fires. I haven't been keeping up with the news lately so I don't know how many fires are still going. I heard that there has already been a life lost. Our air quality has been horrible but I don't think it has been as bad as Wenatchee or other places. 

 

 

 

 

We have also been busy with home school. Lilly has been reading so many books we came up with a reward system for each book she reads. For each book she gets a sticker on her chart and a small reward, when she gets to 5 books she gets a bigger reward and then for every 10 books she reads she gets an even bigger reward and then we start over. (I have 3 boxes labeled 1, 5 and 10 with fun things to choose from for the rewards.) 



 

 

 Olivia also wanted to have a chart of some kind, so since she is learning to read we made her a Word Challenge Chart. We follow the same reward system as Lilly's Book Challenge Chart. I've been thinking that when the girls finish their charts that we could do something really fun, maybe take a trip to a museum or something like that. Any ideas??

 

 

 We have also been learning about art or should I say I have been learning about art and the girls have just been having fun, :-). We got several books from the library on painting and drawing and let me just say it has been FUN!!

 

 

 

Also, Lilly not only is taking piano lessons but she has become a Girl Scout Brownie. She is working on her Pet Badge right now and so we decided to make some dog biscuits for our furry friends. You can find the recipe we used here. Olivia will be starting Girl Scouts next week!

 

 

 

 

I haven't gone into everything that we've been up to, if I did that I probably would never get away from this computer. Some exciting news I do want to share before I do finish with this post is,  I am going back to school. I'm going to Wenatchee Valley College at Omak. I'm only taking 2 classes right now and I will be trying to do most online whenever possibe. This has been something I've always thought about doing but never knew what I would go back to school for. With homeschooling the girls, I haven't had a ton of confidence in myself to teach them effeciently. So, the more I prayed for confidence the more going back to school was on my mind. After talking with Chris many times about it and sharing with him what was on my mind we both thought maybe I should go back to school. The more we prayed about it the more God seemed to open the way for me to go. I will be working on a transfer degree, Associates of Arts and Sciences to be more specific and then move on to a University Online (maybe Wester Governors) for a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies (K-8). I look forward to posting more about this BIG adventure in the future!

(my new student packet)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Who do you side with?

November is right around the corner and with that comes the opportunity to vote for President/Vice President. Will you be voting? Do you know where the candidates stand on certain issues?

I came across this really neat website/quiz while reading the news. If you have a minute I would encourage you to take the quiz to see which candidate you most side with. It really only takes about a minute and it's really neat. Just click on the link......   iSideWith


Proverbs 21:1 The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it withersover he will.

You Know You're 30 When...

* The movies that your grew up with are now considered classics and are being remade.

* You see an old pay phone and remember when you used those and when pagers came out and thought you were so cool if you had one.

* You start buying beauty products to prevent wrinkles and always buy moisturizer with the highest spf sunscreen you can find.

* You check often to see if you have any grey hairs yet.

* You get really serious about taking your multi-vitamin, eating better and exercise. (eew I don't like that word)

* When you and your friends OR husband are feeling old and you start giving each other pep talks and say things like, "It's ok, this is just the natural process of getting older" and "We are growing old together like we said we wanted to."

*  You find yourself explaining to your children what black and white movies are and why you can't just click a button and turn on the color.

* You can't even remember the last saturday (or any day) that you slept in past 7:30.

* You own a lawnmower and other things like that that you never thought you would own.

* When 10pm is waaaay past your bed time.

Hopefully you were able to chuckle along with me at the list. I'm not in any way upset that I'm 31 now, nor do I dwell on it or wish I were younger. I feel like I should be 31, it just feels right.

Anyway, I was laughing to myself in Walmart the other day when I was looking at and thinking of purchasing face wash that helps prevent wrinkles. It got me to thinking about how different things are now than when I was younger, how many things have changed over the years.

When I was younger I thought it would be horrible to "grow old" but I find it's really not all that bad.

So I leave you with this you tube clip of Brian Regan.....

to try OR not to try....

I love trying new food and recipes. So, this morning we tried Cornmeal Pancakes. You can find the recipe I used here. They were definately different from your normal pancake but pretty good and something different. Only one person didn't really like them this morning, so 1 out of 5, I would say is not that bad. They were yummy with maple syrup, were kinda crunchy in a way and a little thinner than a regular fluffy pancake. At least mine came out thin, so maybe next time I will add another egg or a little extra baking powder or something. They were also kinda hard to flip since they came out so thin. Definately worth trying if you've never had them before. The recipe is also gluten free, in case you're on that kind of diet.

Thankful Thursday *Updated*

1 Thessalonians 5:18 In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

On Thursdays I've been going over to the tiny town called Twisp (say that 5 times fast) to have a bible study/prayer time with 2 women. We've started studying through the book of Esther, starting with chapter 1 today. (bible study went GREAT!)

On the way home over Loup Loup pass, there had been a wreck/accident at a very curvy part of the road. (Omak Chronicle, info about accident) As I slowly passed by all the flashing lights, ambulances and what have you, my first thought was "Oh no, someone is probably hurt." My second thought was, "That could be me or somone I know." So as I'm praying for the unkown person/accident, I started thinking about  James 4:14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

There are so many things I take for granted each day, so I wanted to share some things I'm thankful for today...

I take for granted the A/C working in the van, which it is not doing right now...

Yes! This was the temperature when I left the office in Twisp.

I am thakful for summer and A/C in the van (when it works)!

I keep telling Chris it's against the law for me to pump gas, haha...

 He doesn't belive me, but he knows I hate pumping gas so

 most of the time he will make sure there is gas in the vehicles ...most of the time.

I am thankful I didn't run out of gas on the way back home!

Aaahh, walking into the cool A/C in the house...

I am SO thankful for air conditioning on really hot days!!!

After all the sweating I did with no A/C in the van,

 I was thankful to get home and wash up.

I am thankful for clean running water and soap!

It might seem so simple a thing...

I am thankful for fresh clean towels!

Something I think most of us take for granted...

I am thankful for ice water!!!

We do this so often, most of the time I don't even think about it.

I take for granted sitting around the table, having a healthy, hot meal with my family.

I am thankful for my family and daily bread!

 

Playing apple letters with Lilly and Olivia.

I am thankful for my children, their laughter

and being able to have fun with them!

I am also VERY thankful for friends and family who pray for me. Last week and this week I've gotten e-mails, cards, letters and phone calls from loved ones letting me know they've been thinking about me and praying for me and my family. If that's you....THANK YOU!!!

If you've just read this post...please share some things you're thankful for.