Magic Moments

The best thing about preschool is that the most important things just happen to be the most fun. Unlike college where the most important things are boring like technical writing, citing in APA, or some super hard class like Math 505, in preschool the most important things are crafts, cooking, sensory activities and the like. This month our theme has been "Apples" (no surprise) so we've done apple math, apple crafts, apple paintings, read apple books, and today for snack we made apple smiles. I saw this recipe and was instantly sold. I needed only three ingrediants (1 being marshmallows which made it so great for a marshmallow love like me) and they were fun to make and very appealing to kids...or at least my kid. ;) First gather your ingredients. Apples (sliced), Peanut Butter (or you could use marshmallow cream), and marshmallows: Be sure to sample to marshmallows. ;) Spread peanut butter onto the apple slice. Then stick the marshmallows onto the peanut butter. Next,...

I'm not so sure I am....I stumped by questions daily. :) "Mama, do frogs hibernate?" "Mama, what do owls eat?" "Mama, what does 'benefit to society' mean?" "Mama, if Jesus made a house for us in heaven then why aren't we dead yet?" "Mama, since tigers swim how come lions don't swim? What about cheetahs? Do they like the water?" Inquisitive minds just want to know! Just for fun! So thankful the boys do all this work twice per year so that I can loaf on the lake. ;)

. Summer fun is all but done the leaves in the breeze on all the trees will soon be old and gone Warmth may stay, but soon go away as lower sinks the sun birds make way and go astray grouped together as one South they fly in the sky so high catching the wind on their wings soon they'll find a paradise to perch and rest and sing The sky will gray the green will fade and the ground will be covered white so inside we'll stay with fire to aid while the day grows shorter than night Why things change is all a wonder yet those thoughts don't concern me because today I'll lie in the cool, green grass and soak in the end of summer -Buckles Comic Strip, Star Tribune, Sept. 2011 No more boat rides til May....but maybe, just maybe we'll have a few more campfires like these.

Health Nut Blueberry Muffins....I was skeptical at first, I really was. I thought they would taste like cardboard. But with the excellent reviews I thought I'd give them a whirl to go with the quiche I made for dinner. Oh my! They are every bit as good as the reviewers said. Ingredients 3/4 cup all-purpose flour 3/4 cup whole wheat flour 3/4 cup white sugar 1/4 cup oat bran 1/4 cup quick cooking oats 1/4 cup wheat germ 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 cup blueberries 1/2 cup chopped walnuts 1 banana, mashed 1 cup buttermilk 1 egg 1 tablespoon vegetable oil 1 teaspoon...

Poor Sage! Aiden has entry after entry of my pregnancy thoughts, feelings, emotions, and complaints. And sweet little Sage has almost nothing. I've written him a couple letters, but nothing else. To be honest, I'd be more concerned if I were having a girl. I highly doubt my two boys will want to go back and read about their mother's pregnancy, but you just never know. I feel bad just the same. So, at 30 weeks, I thought I'd reflect just a bit. To get the complaints off my chest first, this pregnancy has been far more painful that Aiden's. I've felt ligaments stretch that I didn't even know existed and I have certain joints that have separated making simple things like rolling over in bed, getting dressed, or getting on the floor very painful. I've even been to the physical therapist to try and cure the fact that too much relaxin has caused a joint to separate too much, but bless her heart, the PT didn't really help at all. I pretty much just...

How preschool should be...

Apple Jack Orchard. We've been going since before we had kids. It's one of my favorite places. And here's why...... My Minnesota Grown baby in 2008, 2010, and 2011 (evidently I missed the picture opportunity in 2009...BUMMER!) Sage 2011 Fall Raspberries! We all had apple spice donuts and apple turnovers....but what little boy would pass up a M&M cookie on a stick? It was chilly this year...the perfect apple picking weather. I highly recommend packing a picnic (or getting food at their yummy deli) and eating behind the barn right by the Crow River...it's beautiful!

Happy Birthday, Tom! What more could I ask for? Thank you, Tom for all you do for us. Thank you for teaching Aiden to throw a football and hit a baseball. Thank you for teaching Aiden that we love God and people above all else. Thank you for working everyday, for supporting all my interests, for crawling around in the dirt with a flashlight trying to find the necklace that I lost, for not setting anything on the floor because you know I can't bend over to pick it up, and for feeling sorry for me when I voice all my pregnancy complaints. Thank you for the example you set for Aiden and everyone else. You always take the high road, walk with integrity, and do it all without complaining even when you don't reap any benefits. Thank you for keeping your priorities straight and being an ever attentive Daddy and Husband. We are SO blessed to have you....aside from everything you do for us we love you just because you are you! We love your silly humor, your play on words, your ...

I just can't let this moment go with only pictures. I signed Aiden up for AWANA tonight and who knew I could have so many emotions about something so seemingly insignificant? First of all, I just can't believe that Aiden is old enough to go to AWANA and be a part of an organized club. Where on earth did my baby go? I am SO. EXCITED. for him! Overall, I think AWANA is an excellent program and Aiden will thrive and learn so much....so much about God, so much about making friends, and so much about making his way without me by his side. I've also been pretty nostalgic all day as I can remember my mom signing all of us up for AWANA every single year. I went all the way through 8th grade so I've been taking a trip down memory lane most of the day. In fact, I have been humming the AWANA theme song. ;) I have even had all those "it's AWANA night" feelings for most of the day. Mostly that means that dinner was simple....I so remember simple d...

Preschool....need I say more?

We soaked in what may be the last of the Summer warmth with our friends. The prediction is Apple Orchard weather will be here by midweek.

1. I have my first batch of homemade chicken broth in the freezer just waiting for a chilly day to be made into soup. 2. Yesterday while I was at work Tom vacuumed the whole house, put away laundry, organized his sock drawer (!!!!!), took out the air conditioners, went to the pharmacy, took Aiden to the library, and got me a new phone. I LOVE that man. Maybe I should go to work everyday. ;) 3. Our first day of school was fun! And it went well! Here's to a great rest of the year. 4. Yesterday at Verizon the conversation between Aiden and Tom went like this: "Daddy please, please, PLEASE can we go to Dairy Queen?" (Aiden spotted the DQ right next to Verizon) Tom: "Aiden, we will talk about it later. I need to look at phones first. Please don't ask again." Aiden:"Daddy, I WANT to go to Dairy Queen!" And the begging continued...so I'm told. Tom finally said: "Aiden are you continuing to beg because you know that I can't get ma...

There are a few things I've bought lately that are worthy of passing along...especially if you are a mama or mama-to-be. 1. Coconut Oil. When I was pregnant with Aiden I tried all lotion type products on my belly. I even tried that cocoa butter stuff they sell at Motherhood. None of it helped. I didn't expect any of it to prevent stretch marks (none of them did) but I thought at least lotion would improve the skin condition of my belly...but nothing did. I was still itchy, dry, stretched out, uncomfortable, and at 41 weeks I had my share of stretch marks. Now enter the coconut oil....I don't know if this will prevent stretch marks (I am hopeful that it will) but my skin condition has improved 100%. Even Tom agrees with this. Don't buy the cheap stuff. You can save a few bucks getting it on amazon. Do bake with it as it's delicious and SO healthy for you. If you are a preggo, go buy some and thank me later. Coconut oil has all kinds of benefits and uses......

Don't think I'm so disillusioned to think that birth is actually going to go according to plan. I know I speak for many women when I say that Birth Plans can get thrown out the window in a heartbeat during labor. Anything could happen. With Aiden my plan was no plan. I watched too many Baby Story episodes where the mother ended up crying tears of disappointment b/c her birth plan didn't work out. I didn't want that so I decided to go with the flow. After that experience I decided I'd rather deal with the disappointment of a birth plan that didn't work, than deal with the disappointment of having no plan and therefore no say in how birth went. With that said, I'm planning a natural birth. I'm very aware that half way through labor I might scream for an epidural, but having an epidural and pitocin worked against me last time I'd rather not go down that road this time. I think medical interventions during birth are amazing when used appropria...