Indoor fort

We made this fort a while back for the kids with pvc pipes, and they used blankets to cover it up. My mom and I sewed some curtains for the walls during our Christmas break. I think it turned out great. Thanks, Mom!

Peek-a-boo!

Little bit of snow

We didn't get as much snow as some people, but the kids enjoyed it.

Building with blocks of snow.

"Snowhenge"

New doll

Thanks to G&GH. They sent Eliana her very own American girl doll. She was so surprised and loves it!!

Reading to Cousin Sam

It was quiet reading time one afternoon when the cousins were over. Here's a video of Eliana reading to Samantha.

Christmas surprise

Just love the faces on my kids when they open gifts!

Annual Christmas cookie painting

The kids really enjoy "painting" cookies every year. We make lots of plates of cookies to give out and they enjoy decorating each cookie for a specific person.

Here's a few little ones to start.

Icing is ready to go.

The kids worked hard for a couple of hours and got a lot done. Notice no Karis - she was sleeping!

Joanna

Caleb

Eliana

Mmmm. Yummy!

Candy Cane Lane

We drove down a local cul-de-sac that goes all out with the Christmas lights - They've called their street Candy Cane Lane.

This is Caleb's favorite house - notice the runway!

The reason for the season!

If you give a mom a muffin

If You Give A Mom A Muffin

If you give a mom a muffin,
She'll want a cup of coffee to go with it.
She'll pour herself some.
Her three-year-old will spill the coffee.
She'll wipe it up.
Wiping the floor, she'll find dirty socks.
She'll remember she has to do laundry.
When she puts the laundry in the washer,
She'll trip over boots and bump into the freezer.
Bumping into the freezer will remind her
she has to plan for supper.
She will get out a pound of hamburger.
She'll look for her cookbook
("101 Things To Do With a Pound of Hamburger").
The cookbook is setting under a pile of mail.
She will see the phone bill, which is due tomorrow.
She will look for her checkbook.
The check book is in her purse
that is being dumped out by her two-year-old.
She'll smell something funny.
She'll change the two-year-old's diaper.
While she is changing the diaper, the phone will ring.
Her five-year-old will answer and hang up.
She'll remember she wants to phone a friend for coffee.
Thinking of coffee will remind her
that she was going to have a cup.
And chances are... If she has a cup of coffee,
Her kids will have eaten the muffin that went with it.
~author unknown

http://stepbystepcc.com/poemsformoms.html

Little cousin fun

We got to spend some time with cousin Katie this past week. She's about 4 months older than Karis. (Karis won't be able to catch up in the hair department!) These little girls had a lot of fun playing together. They were busy, busy, busy.

Eating their apples together.

Playing in the sand together.

Just playing.

They both enjoyed Grandma's little rocking chair. We had to tell them to take turns. One time when Katie was nowhere to be found, Karis sat down in the chair and informed everyone, "My turn."

Fun at the beach

We had some fun at the beach this past week. The sand is so white & smooth!

Karis had fun in the bucket

Caleb

Eliana & Aunt Sharon

Joanna digging the big hole.

Joanna, Eliana, Aunt Sharon & Karis

Karis loved the beach. No relaxing for us cause she would go straight for the "wa-wa."

Karis had fun chasing the seagulls. She did get a little frustrated at one point because the seagull wasn't going to let her catch him.

Eliana

Joanna

An Operetta

Grandma, Grandfather & Joanna went out to see Ruddigore by Gilbert and Sullivan. They had a great time. They said it was really good and funny.

Double digit girl

Happy Birthday Joanna!

Joanna turned 10 today! We had a yummy chocolate chip cookie cake along with the traditional pumpkin and apple pie.

704 bags!

Our homeschool group went to the Food Bank for a tour and to put together bags of food for kids for the BackPack Program . These backpacks are filled with food that children can take home from school on the weekends. The kids all did a great job on the assembly line and ended up getting 704 bags ready to go!

Here's our assembly line - Look at those busy workers. The kids enjoyed switching places and putting different food in the bags.

Joanna ready with some animal crackers.

Caleb at the granola bar station.

Eliana getting ready to put in some fruit cups.

Eliana at the front of the line.

Caleb working hard at getting the food in the correct spot.

Karis being herself - wanting to explore and climb. Karis & I didn't contribute too much to the number of bags filled!

Top bunk!

Eliana is now sharing a room with Karis so Caleb can have his own room. Caleb is very happy to have a boy room and Eliana is very excited to be able to sleep on the top bunk!

Eliana's first night in the top bunk.

She loved sleeping up by the butterflies Grandma made when Karis was a baby.

Messy girl

Karis enjoyed an ice cream cone from McDonalds - in the car!

The car seat didn't get too dirty.

But it's time for a mid-day bath for her.

The Raptor Center

Today our home school group visited a "Raptor Center." It's a place where they take care of wounded birds -- mostly owls and eagles. We're getting ready to dissect some owl pellets and thought this would be a great trip. (Don't worry -- owl pellets are not owl poop.)

There were several different kinds of owls. The screech owls were the smallest. They were hiding in a box hanging on the wall. When the owner opened the box, they sat there and blinked at us with their owl eyes. Their eyes got so big when they got their mice. Then they waited for him to close the door before they started their meal.

This is a barn owl. These are also known as monkey-faced owls, heart-faced owls, and a farmer's best friend (because they eat thousands of mice per year).

Caleb got to pet the barn owl - very soft.

The great horned owl was named Templeton.

The owner - getting yet another dead mouse ready. Templeton definitely likes mice.

Bet ya can't eat a mouse faster than Templeton can!

This is an example of an eagle's nest. According to the owner, this would be a small one. Some real eagles nests can weigh several thousand pounds. Caleb is behind the nest with one of his friends.

Molly and Joanna

An African Eagle Owl. The center has only had this one for 2 months. He was the biggest owl there, and he had two very orange eyes. Owls can't move their eyeballs like we can -- they have to turn their heads.

Karis peeking through a slot in the eagle barn.

Here's a video of Wazoo the bald eagle eating a mouse - You may not want to watch this right before dinner!