Land of a Million Sprinkles

The icing bags were filled and ready to be squeezed.

While the cookies sat drying
No one was at ease.

The children were bouncing
pony tails flouncing.
Little fingers waiting to start to squeeze.

At last, the time was here!
The waiting had ended.
The sugar high was near.

Squeeze
Squeeze
Squeeze
The frosting was flowing.
Little children's eyes were glowing.

Details were added with tender care.
Some even ended up in little girls hair.

Then, Out came the sprinkles

Adding more joy to the day!

Cookies
Frosting
Sprinkles

Bouncing every which way.

Yes, it was a good day!

TTT- Little Ones & School

School can be challenging with little ones under foot. I find it beneficial to have various activities only allowed during school time. The purpose of not allowing the activities other times throughout the day is to keep them 'special'. If your children could play with them at any time, the activities would soon be like all their other toys.

I've posted several times on this topic before, click the pictures to go to my previous posts for many more activities & ideas.

Magnetic Dress Up-Dolls & Pop Beads


A box of Rice & Beans


Noodle Necklaces


Quiet Time

Friday

It's been another busy week.
At one point this week we had electricians, roofers, and carpenters here, at the same time.
Let me tell ya, it's a challenge to find a place to nap children when there is banging on the roof, electricians going in and out of the main floor and basement, and carpenters pounding on the walls.
I know I will enjoy the end results, however getting there is always stressful for me.
And for some reason, we always have a big project going on when I am in my final months of pregnancy.
I will admit, last time it was far worse, we were putting in Geo heat and air. They had to redo all the duct work in our 100 year old farm house. Basement to 4th floor. It was quite the homecoming after giving birth :)
But, I survived.
I know I'll survive this as well.
It's all in my perspective.

On another note, my kids crack me up.
I am so thankful for each one and their unique personality.

The almost two year old talks non-stop. Her communication skills and comprehensive skills amaze me. Yes she wears me out trying to translate her rapid chatter, but her sweet humor is irresistible. Plus, she likes my hair. Yes, she tells me this multiple times a day. Too cute.

My 4 year old is clever, witty, & sharp as a whip. She doesn't miss a thing. On our way to the big city this week she asked to play the spelling game. She told me to close my eyes while she spelled a word and then I would tell her what the word was. I responded by telling her I couldn't close my eyes while driving. Without skipping a beat she replied, 'I'll watch the road for you mom. Are your eyes closed yet?'
My father in law (let me tell you he is one good man!) took two of my children out for dinner last night to a Chinese restaurant. He blesses me like this frequently when my husband works loonngg hours. My 4 year old was very concerned she wouldn't like China. Ends up, she 'loves China', or at least Chinese food.

My 8 year old is the most tenderhearted, giving, willing to help anyone, boy I know. He has stepped up this week as oldest child because my 12 year old is at camp. He ate 7 mini pumpkin muffins, and a large, unpeeled, raw carrot for breakfast this morning. He shaved, used deodorant & sang quite loudly while doing it. He just makes me laugh.

My 12 year old has been at camp since Sunday. He will get home tonight. I have missed his help and our conversations greatly! I am looking forward to hearing about his week, listening to him sing, as he walks around the house, in his off key adolescent changing voice, and having him back under our roof.

Yes, the Joy, or lack of, in being a mom is found in perspective.
My Perspective.

In fact, I'd say, the Joy, or lack of, in life, is found in perspective.

The 4th

was filled with...

Family time
Friends
Food
Fun
which was apparently too much for this young lady.

2010 Recap in Pictures

January
We vacationed in warm, sunny, Florida. We visited Disney, Sea World & Busch Gardens. Busch Gardens was voted 'Family Favorite.' One child threw up twice in route. The baby had a blow out as we were parking at Disney.
Lovely.
Gabrielle turned three!

February
Braden turned 11. Ashlynn fell in love with the Jonny Jumper. The secret service {otherwise known as tiger the cat} took his new assignment very seriously and didn't allow Gabrielle out of his sight while she was outside. Snow forts and tunnels became the new neighborhood clubhouse.

March
Dixie cups became a common sight around the house. I found a precious bundle of pink on my door step. Sledding, snowboarding & tubing were our daily exercise.

April
Tyson turned 7. He received a frog habitat for a gift which included a free tadpole, {plus 9.95 shipping}. We made kolaches and gum for the first time ever!

School Fun
Intrigued by the newest game show, Minute to Win it, we set up our own games and had a blast playing them.

May
The weather slowly began to warm. We were elated!! Most of our afternoons were spent swinging, running outside and planting. Gabrielle thought Ashlynn needed a few more cheerios and ended up giving her the entire box, one scoop at at time.

June
The lloonngg awaited words 'lets go swimming!' were spoken. Many afternoons were spent swimming with friends, relaxing on the beach and eating popsicles. Gabrielle mastered jumping off the board and swam the length of the pond several times each time we went swimming {resulting in fabulous naps!!}

Summer
The lesson of 'hot air melts cold popsicle' was learned. Little critters {bugs} were captured daily. The boys played baseball and t-ball.

July
We roasted hot-dogs and toasted smores on a day that was SO hot our chocolate melted before ever being touched by a toasted marshmallow. The boys saved up to buy a new trampoline. Tyson & Gabrielle improved their swimming skills at swimming lessons.

ONE!
The Ashlynn turned one.

August
Upon arriving at a zoo, 2 hours from home, I realized I forgot Gabrielle's shoes. Due to our schedule, we couldn't run to a store and buy some. Therefore, we purchased snake socks which have since become her favorite pair of socks.Giant sweet potatoes were dug from the garden. We hosted the 9th annual company BBQ in our backyard.

September
School resumed. A little girl painted with white out all over her room. The same little girl brought me flowers. My parents & sisters' family visited the Omaha Zoo.

October
Corwin & I celebrated our 14th anniversary. He took a day off work {as he has done for the past several years} We spent the day as a family enjoying a pumpkin farm, corn maze, lunch and shopping. Ashlynn discovered the joy of sitting in things. Hikes replaced swimming. We attended family camp.

November
Much time was spent in the kitchen as we prepared for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Braden started basketball. Ashlynn experienced playing in snow for the first time.{I think this was really December :)}

December
Christmas arrived lasting 4 straight days for our family. Competitions were had, new PJ's were worn & more pink invaded our house. Braden shot his first buck.

Goodbye 2010.
Hello 2011!
I look forward to what you have in store for our family.

A little of This a little of That, I need a Kleenex

Yip, another dish.
She pulled it out of the 'Tupperware' cupboard, can ya tell?
Notice the penguin sitting with her?
It is her FAVORITE stuffed animal.
She LOVES it!
She has latched on to THREE penguins.
Each purchased by a different child in the house at a different zoo.
Nothing can bring a smile to her face quicker than one of her penguins.
So fun.

We were boogieing to 'Go Fish' on a cloudy day last week when I snapped this.

It is so her.
Carefree and happy.
I love this little miracle girl.
You can read about how God placed her in our family here.
Someday I will write the next chapter, which will include the miracle kissing my nose in the picture below.

10 years of infertility and God blessed us with her.
Isn't He good!!!
I am humbled by the way God hand picked each one of my children and placed them in my arms.

'Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you.' Jeremiah. 1:5
'Just as you cannot understand the path of the wind or the mystery of a tiny baby growing in its mother's womb, so you cannot understand the activity of God, who does all things.'
Ecclesiastes 11:5

Ecclesiastes 11:5 speaks volumes to me. I will forever be in awe of the way God perfectly forms each baby in his mothers womb. It is so complex, so delicate, so intricate. I cannot wrap my mind around how each organ, toe and eyelash are formed. In the same way, I will never be able to understand the ways of God. He, in all His splendor and glory will continue to amaze me until the day I die.

I wonder

do they make fish dishes big enough for me?
I think I'm missing out on some fun.
Because...
She keeps going back to the cupboard
digging it out
and sitting in it.
Her new thing is rocking it like a boat.

And...

Sometimes she gets it going
a little to much.

Don't worry
all is well
she pops up smiling.
Then...

Back in she goes.

I. Love.This.Age.

Happy Friday!

It's just more fun

to play in a dish that looks like a fish.

::MONDAY::

::TUESDAY::

Hummmmm a bucket.

No, it's a hat.

I think we have a problem

Teaching Tip Tuesday, Little Ones

How do you keep little ones busy?
Isn't that a question we all have asked at one point or another in life? Whether you are homeschooling or just have little ones under your roof, there is always a need for fresh ideas and activities. I am continually brainstorming and searching for activities for my children, non-plug-in-battery-operated type things. I keep a closet stashed with Rubbermaid boxes that only I am allowed to get out. Why are they only for me to retrieve? Because if my children could play with them any time they desired, the activities would lose their appeal. Each item has many different 'parent directed activities' which can be played. What do I mean by 'parent directed activity'? Remember our tub of beans and rice? Instead of letting free play happen every time I open the box, I will scoop out a cup and have have my toddler sort the beans/rice into ice cube trays, ask her to make a design on a piece of paper, or give her a funnel with jars and tell her to fill them.

Letter stamps are fun to practice spelling words and matching capital letters with lowercase letters. Magnetic letters can be used for spelling simple words off of a piece of paper, or can be put in ABC order.

Geo Shapes are great for problem solving skills, color recognition, shape recognition, sorting and creativity.

I use the pack-n-play daily for my 1 year old. She is given a few toys and books to look at. It is amazing how long she can last playing with a few items. Children at her age love dumping things and putting them back in. Below she is filling a cup with toys, for the sole purpose of shortly dumping them. She also loves board books with flaps to open.

Two additional activities are a magnetic doll and Poppy Beads. My 3 year old likes to 'dress' the doll in different clothes. The Poppy Beads can be sorted by color/shape/size, snapped together to make a necklace or snapped together in a pattern.

How do you keep your little ones busy?