Day 27 – Boys ONLY

Poor Isaac is always surrounded by girls.  His older sister usually directs play time and that means he plays dress up, watches Tinkerbell, gets his fingernail (yes I only allow one) painted and reads Pinkalicious.  He likes boy things too and makes time for them but it is usually on his own.  I usually don’t mind him playing with the girls things since he has a healthy addiction to everything cars and trains too but sometimes I just feel like he needs another boy to play with.

My friend who also has a boy sandwiched between two girls was also concerned so we decided to start swapping kids once in a while to let the boys play together without the influence of their older sisters.  I had the boys first today and the girls went to my friends house.  I invited over another little boy the same age too who lives nearby and it was so much fun!

I got out all the boy toys only.

Trains!

Light Sabers!

Guns! (This was at the beginning, Isaac was in nothing but undies by the end)

Cars!

The car track was not really what I wanted to do.  I found this great idea for matchbox cars on pinterest

Source: Uploaded by user via Wendy on Pinterest

But I didn’t have any masking tape and duct tape can leave a residue so I didn’t want to get it on the furniture.  Next time however, there is going to be an awesome track and lots of little cars! It was pretty much the easiest play date ever.  I was expecting rowdy boys but they were so quiet playing away.  Ahnna had fun with her friend and made friendship bracelets and rings and cookies.  Now amazingly enough all three kids are sleeping away.  What a great morning!

Day 26 – Hamburking

“Hamburking” is Ahnna’s word for Burger King.  There are some perks to living in a small town.  I get the same front parking spot at Walmart every time.  It takes 5 minutes to get anywhere, and the one fast food place with a play place is never busy.  What would describe it even better is nearly dead.  We use it as a play group spot in the winter.  Today it was just us and one other little girl and her grandpa.

Good thing it is dead too because today I swear the kids worked against me together.  First this little one.

 

She provided the distraction by grabbing my spoonful of ice cream. I was frantically cleaning her up before she got the chance to smear it all over me when I hear this guy behind me.

I heard “I’m nakey, I’m nakey, I’m nakey…” I whip around to see Isaac galloping across the room with his pants off.  If he does not have shoes on, his pants don’t stand a chance.  This one was pretty good though.

 

She made friend with the other little girl there and helped Isaac up into the play place.  She is a good little helper!

 

Day 25 – I Heart My Ulu

A few years back I got the GREAT knife called an ulu from Alaska for a gift.  This is not my picture but mine looks just about the same.

 

My parents have really sharp knives.  When they come to either my siblings or my own house they bring their sharpening stuff with them.  My mom just can’t stand to work with dull knives (I don’t blame her) and getting my own supplies is just never on my mind at the store.  They bought me this super sharp knife that cuts through beef like butter that is amazing.  Anyway, they sharpened my ulu and HOLY COW I LOVE it.  Chopping is so fast and easy and I don’t know why these things are not more popular!  I can even chop with one hand and hold the baby with the other.

Unfortunately,  it is dull again.  I used it too much. (Sigh) Maybe I will finally remember to get my own whet stone – or whatever it is you sharpen knives with… sounds like I need to do some research lol!

Day 24

I found my camera!  During the snow storm last week, Ahnna’s friend, Louesa, just three door’s down from us had a birthday party.  Let me tell you, even though it was so close, it was hard work getting over there!  I bundled up Summer and got help from Aaron to walk us down there.  Summer was so cute, I tried to get a picture while we were walking but, it didn’t do her justice.

 

It was a pirate party!  The kids had so much fun acting like pirates Argh!

 

 

I do have group photos but I don’t know how the other parents feel about having their kids photos on the internet so I wanted to respect their privacy.  Happy birthday Louesa!!  Thanks for inviting us!

Day 23

The blog that has the pretzel bites is actually a really good baking blog.  I subscribed to it and she did a post with a load of different things you can do with Rhodes Rolls. http://www.justgetoffyourbuttandbake.com

 

Yeah looks so good.  There were two on there I couldn’t decide between, the orange knots and that flower looking thing, so I decided to combined them and do orange knot ingredients in the flower shape.

Horrible phone picture but really yummy orange rolls.

Day 22

My high school senior picture

Got to play flute in church today.  I need to do it more often.  It is really my only excuse to play anymore and before I got asked to play for a Christmas program, it had been over a year since I got it out.

I don’t think I have ever blogged about my musical background before.  Honestly it is what I thought I was going to do for a living most of my childhood.   The best experience ever was being able to play in a youth symphony when I was 13.  It was separated into two groups.  The junior symphony and the senior one.  You had to try out and the senior symphony was for the really gifted kids.  I started in the junior one and there was one practice early on where I got singled out and really embarrassed because I didn’t know my part very well.  That kicked me into gear and I got to practicing.  It wasn’t too long before I got to join the senior division and by the time I was nearly 16, we moved.  No more orchestra to play with but I kicked butt at playing and got to go to state solo ensemble three years in a row and placed fourth.

I got some great scholarships to collage and didn’t have to pay at all my first semester.  However, it took me two weeks into that first semester to realize I was in the wrong major.  What really drove it home was when I seriously burned three fingers on my right hand (I really should have huge horrible scars but somehow I don’t). When I was writhing in pain on the floor right before heading to the emergency room, my thoughts were “crap I can’t go dancing,” and “YES! I don’t have to practice flute!” Yeah I would say it is a sign that burning my hand was better than enduring how much I had to practice as a flute major.  Not to mention, my flute professor was scary beyond all reason.

So then it turned strictly hobby.  Then I had kids, and it became something I sometimes might pull out.  Which, honestly, is totally fine with me.  There is a time and a season for everything, eventually I will have all the time I want to play flute and learn guitar better and do all the things I want to do.  I’m pretty sure though, when I am doing those things I will be missing my kids who will all be grown and moved away.  So I am happy enjoying them while they are young and still all mine.

Day 21

Still no camera anywhere .  This is going to mess with getting a picture a day for a year.  So you all remember my pink Walther p22.

 

The pink checkered stuff is all chipping off.  Yeah, makes me kinda mad.  It’s not even just around the barrel where you might expect some chipping.  It is other places too and you can see pink stuff flake off. Grrr… I have only put 100 rounds through it. I like the gun but I would not recommend getting the custom pink finish on it.

Day 20 – Hangin’ at my Crib

The kids were acting all quiet, which usually means they are up to no good.  When I checked on them they were both quietly occupied in Summer’s crib.  It’s the new hangout lately.

Day 19- Cherries!!

 

 

My camera is MIA, since I can’t find it in the house, I suspect it fell out of my pocket on the way back from my neighbor’s house in the snow.  I hope not because there were some cute pics on there!

I never liked cherries. I especially hated maraschino cherries.  I would sometimes try some cherry-something because it would look so good and everyone else seemed to like in but one bite only confirmed my distaste.  Fresh cherries were a little different but cherry pie, cheesecake, chocolate-covered, or flavored candy or anything like that was not for me.

I guess all my taste buds from my youth have officially changed.  Slowly I have come around and lately I have been craving anything cherry.  My last flicker of cherry-loathing was finally snuffed out when I started snacking on the dreaded maraschino cherries.

I keep looking at all the cherry recipes I can find.  Mmmm so good.

Day 18 – The Nudest

 

It is a rare occasion lately that Isaac has pants on and Ahnna actually caught it on camera here.  He puts on pants to leave the house and when he comes home he takes off his coat and shoes… and pants.  Starting today he decided he didn’t need his shirt or underwear either.  He was taking it all off every chance he could.  He was having a blast showing it all off to Aaron’s friends.  I had to threaten that if he didn’t keep his undies on, I would have to put some pants on him and it worked for now…