First Snow Fun

First snow is so much fun!  The kids had to get out the shovels and do some work.  Then they found the sled.

They promised to wave to Ph in the window.  We watched together with much excitement.  

The sledding "hill."  :)  

 

Peek - a - Boo

Happy Belated Birthday to our newest teenager!  We're sorry, we didn't get you on the date, but thought this would be a fun little clip of your cousin to make you laugh.  You can pretend he's saying, "Oh, we missed it again!"  ...or... what he's really saying is, "Peek - a - boo."  Love you E!   

Life School

Mn was looking at the packaging of this toilet seat when we arrived home from errands.  "You can take it out and see if you can put it on."  "Really?!"  

Me:  "Look over and smile."

Him to Ph:  "I'm laying on the toilet."

 

Ph 5am song

Early one mor-orning, the sun wasn't even shining,
I heard the baby cry-ying and he wouldn't go back to sleep.
We snuggled downstai-ai-airs unti-il he was snoozing,
I laid him on the floo-oo-oor and he wouldn't go back to sleep.
He started to play-ay-ay with his fa-avorite toy-oy-oy,
It was a small drum sti-i-ick, and then he went back to sleep.

Rhubarb BBQ

 Year 2 of AIP is in full swing.  This week, I learned to disassemble and prepare a whole beef heart for the first time, but I'm also doing so repeats from last year.  The main seasonal task is making rhubarb barbeque sauce to freeze.  We made a quintuple batch!!  Still, I'm considering if I should make a bit more.  15 jars for 12 months??  

Floor Bed for Babe Ph

I've a babe that doesn't like to sleep independently.  Consequently, our crib is a storage spot and we only took out a pack and play to try to get ready for a trip...it worked for a few nights a few hours each...we won't be packing it.  

Recently, I acquired a crib that was going to be thrown away (because it's drop-side).  I had the idea that I'd make it into a Montessori floor bed - if you look it up, they have low railings, sit on the floor and sometimes one of the railings swings open like a gate.  I thought the boys might enjoy that in their room (when they start rooming together). 

Well, they're not rooming together yet.  The adults are rooming with the babe.  For the most part we enjoy this journey, with our sweet Ph!  But...wouldn't it be nice for him to sleep a bit longer in his own space??  Yes!!

Today, I found this website:  Sharing a Room with a Montessori Floor Bed - Quirky and the Nerd  And you know how the couple days before vacation prompts you to rearrange furniture, wash everything, build something, start and complete a sewing project, etc?  Well, this was it:

I dismantled the heirloom crib, stowed the pack and play, found homes for all the stuff that was homeless, and set up a safe space for Ph.  He's been sleeping there for about an hour.  I'll update you when the time arises.  

Surprise!

Grandma came today.  Adults knew, Aunt R instigated, kids were oblivious.  Right now Mn has her in his room playing Legos.  Just before lunch, Mn and I went outside to pick up sticks in the yard.  Then, we took pictures of our neighbors' spring flowers, then we followed the mail-lady down the street, "but we're going to stay on {__} Street."  We saw a grey car turning around, looked like Grandpa J in his car.  A few moments later, another grey car drives by (Grma), but it couldn't be because it was stopping in front of the next house, not travelling on to our house.  

Grandma gets out of the car and walks around.  Mn: "Grandma's here!!!  Does she have luggage?!"  Before a hug he looks in the front seat window, then he looks in the backseat window.  Still not seeing any, he climbs into the back seat and pulls down the center armrest and then opens the secret door to the trunk.  "THERE'S LUGGAGE!!"  He climbs out excited, but gets ready to climb back in for a ride down the street.  "But can I get a hug?" says Grandma.  

She parked around the block and walked around to the backyard to see the girls.  I was in the kitchen by then and in a high excited voice Kj exclaims, "Curl Grandma's here!!!"  Hugs all around.

After Mn had gone to fetch the car and unload it with Grandma (this boy is always up for a job).  Job complete he takes off his jacket and boots in the kitchen, under his breath I hear him whisper, "She's a tricker."  Relaying the story to Aunt R, she claims, "Next time...I'll hide myself in the trunk..."  :)  

Flare-up

I signed up for email updates from Christina Tidwell last year when "autoimmune disease" became a real item in my family's life. She has had encouraging and timely (God is good!!) posts and this is one of them.

Flare-up was our last couple weeks ("I feel like 2019." ~KL). The above linked post made me realize we're making our way out of a flare-up. I've had a lot of people ask me "how are you doing?" and I've been trying to be honest, but there is no concise answer right now... I'd say though that today we're "better" (but not back to 2020 good). These are great toolkit ideas if you have 12 minutes to listen.

SUMMARY

1. breathing in and out  

2. focus on what you can control

3. eating healthful foods that will heal the body - NOURISH

4. sleep and rest - rest more than you think you need

5. calling on your care-team and support team

Zoo Day

 We made it to the zoo today.  I got a little extra sleep last night and I think it was just enough (along with the sunshine) to get the idea in my head...and L's!  Being right after lunch, we had the zoo nearly to ourselves.  

Isn't this giraffe beautiful?  We couldn't remember seeing one sitting before.  We didn't see zebras today, but this bongo was in the viewing area.  They must take turns.  

Funny to us that the camels are out, but it's too cold for the penguins.  About the time we got our zoo pass the penguins were finishing up their outdoor time.  The kids have enjoyed watching them out of doors, but I haven't had the pleasure.  Looking forward to that this spring.  (BUT just so you all know!  It's only February.  Not Spring.  Snow will most likely return and be just wonderful.)

Six Months!

Can you believe it!?  This boy child is 6 months already!  Oh, we love him!  He's sleeping like a newborn, but rolling, laughing, eating, loving and loved!

A billboard I drove past had a picture of a cat next to the note:  "The best 10 lbs. I ever gained."  I had to do my own version.  This is "The best 16 lbs. I ever gained." ...I mean, along with the siblings of course!  

We've started foods a little differently with each child.  This time around, he's getting egg yokes, chicken heart, salmon, sweet potatoes, avocado, banana and basically what we're eating.  If it's simple enough, we'll let him test it.  He won't be having our store-bought chicken tortilla soup for a while...we don't consider that simple foods.

 He didn't get a whole lot off of this sweet potato wedge, but he was able to practice grabbing, chewing, and it kept him contentedly occupied so we could all eat together!  

Laughter

 Sometimes you just need to laugh together, so this mama with long hair and her sweet boy child had a few laughs while the others were getting ready for bed!!

Art

Art for us comes in spurts.  This week was a strong spurt in the drawing and painting department.  

Posies -- I found this art video on Pinterest...we used the abbreviated version and worked off and on for a few days.  Letting layers dry before going on to the next part.  

 One point perspective -- After a private lesson on drawing faces by Cousin EH for L, Uncle Z came online and to show L (and eventually Kj and Mn too) how to draw a Zen garden using one point perspective.  Thank you to family for sharing your talents!!

Light Box

The kids have been tracing using the dining room window for school the last couple weeks.  We decided to research and purchase a "light box".  Found that they had slim boxes that were reliable and sturdy and slim.  We had one in the cart...then an artsy friend said her mom made one.  She found a simple plan to make one and talked us down.  So, we tried this...if it is used often and long we'll probably invest in the reliable/sturdy/slim variety, but for now, we'll go with free!  Even has a solar powered lamp!!