Big and Small... check

 

We finished up a unit on Tall Tales. The girls loved them and thought they were quite funny... although John Henry was depressing. Why must we always kill the black man?

 

The girls analyzed different stories and recapped events that were exaggerated.

 

 

We ended with writing our own stories. Christina's was quite entertaining. She came up with everything herself. She did a story map and 2 drafts. Loving her cursive!!

 

Lily and the Demon

Lily was the biggest, strongest and the fastest baby in Ohio. Why a house looked like a mouse to her! Lily was so extraordinary she could fly around the world! One day she was playing her version of hopscotch and she saw a demon. A disgusting, horrid, smelly, mean, big, farty demon. The green glob of goo from a book she had seen was right in front of her! Lily shouted, "Why did you come to earth!?!?!" She was mad at the demon. Before the demon could answer, Lily stomped on it until it was a green pancake. The next day the moldy pancake demon came back. He was way flatter than any pancake she had ever seen. She yelled angrily at it, "Why did you come back!?!?!" She bit him in half and surprised everybody in town with an awesome pool party. It is still going on to this day!!

 

 

We also started on something a little smaller... CELLS!!

"By small and simple things are great things brought to pass" Alma 37:6

I love being able to tie gospel principles into the things we talk about. We went over all the scripture stories we could think of where small things had great impact.... and then we built.

 

 

Was is just last Saturday?? We went a-garage-sale-ing. We found this beauty for $3. (Bookcase sans  books) Score!! It really is so much fun to go out and get junk with Joe. He becomes hyperactive, despondent, and a myriad of other emotions all within the time frame of 55 minutes. We got a lawn edger for $10 and tons of books. The Daisy Meadow Fairy series are simple, but fun. I think the girls read all 30 within 2 days.

Joe found an MP3 player for $5 that he is going to resell and I found Pride and Prejudice for $2.

The shame lies with me though. There was a George Forman grill that was huge... $5. I wouldn't let Joe buy it because we don't have room and he had already spent $17. Honestly, he's such a drug addict when it comes to these types of things. Then after 10 seconds after driving away, my addiction kicked in and we headed back. Unfortunately, it had already been swiped up.

Regrets. Oh regrets.

May Art Farts

You know what's really funny. I would say my artistic talent on a scale of 1-10 is about... possibly a .5

 

Really, it's up there with my talent for cooking. Thank you Joe.

Thanksgiving.

 

With that said though, sometimes I stare at our walls and wonder how I will ever be able to live without these beautiful treasures brightening up our home.

 

At the beginning of the month we did a brief study of Cinco De Mayo and Mexican culture.

I'm not going to lie, it was hard finding appropriate study material on Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera's lives.

 

 

We've started a series called the Sisters Grimm. It's all about the fairy tales! We're on book 4 and I think we started 2 weeks ago.

Maria did such a great job!!! (Above) She's in heaven with princesses!

 

Christina's bird. I love that he looks like a grumpy, fat old man.

 

I was please with Christina's octopus and the overlapping lines she seemed to draw with ease.

 

2 of our sweet baby birds died yesterday. We buried them. We did art to remember them.

 

Christina was doing this lizard and we were listening to classical music. She looked up at me and said, "You know mom, I could really get used to this. I could really see myself as a painter."

Reading Week!!!

 

This week is reading week at school!! Today was wear a T-Shirt with words on it. The class with the most words would get something. Maria had 350 words. The class Oooh'd and Ahhh'd... it was quite funny. I was able to volunteer today and see. One kid estimated she had thousands on her shirt and another kid said it would take their whole life to count that many words.

Cute kinders.

 

I was talking to Maria's teacher and am more than likely going to volunteer in her classroom again next year. She's going to full day kindergarten and was asking me about the art I do with the girls. I was telling her how I missed working with my mom's 4th grade students and she said she would love it if I came in. With 2 1/2 hours it's hard to squeeze everything in, but next year with the whole day, there will be time and the little ones need things like that. I felt very happy. I love to teach. I'm hoping maybe word will be passed along and I can do art lessons in Christina's 4th and Maria's 1st. But we'll see. I'm not the type to say, hey!! Let me teach your art for you.

He's just too adorable... Must. Post. Pictures.

I love his expressions.

I love his zest for everything.

I love his utter sweetness.

I love how he thinks and ponders.

I love this sweet angel boy!!!

The Little Ones Have Left the Nest....

I was at the store and Christina called me quite distraught. The birds were no longer in the nest!
Had they flown away? Had they died?

 

I was coming into the house and Joe's song came on... A Horse With No Name.

I didn't know what to expect, but I knew he was close by.

 

And sure enough, we listened and heard the chirping of 3 very healthy, well fed Robin fledglings.

 

Speckles.

Freckles.

And Spot.

 

They are pretty quick! They hop around great and even though they tripped a couple times, they picked themselves right back up! Hopefully they'll be safe throughout the night!!

My lil' Talker

 

It's possible he might end up a politician. He's a sweet talker!!

 

He is such a smarty, whenever we drive by the library he shouts library. He is constantly saying "Read book please" and today at the table he pointed to the watermelon and said "Please pass".

 

He repeats everything. He says prayers and ends with a nice firm/loud "AMEN".

 

I love how he says ambulance, it's like "ambublahblahblah". He loves doing puzzles, he's a natural at it. He can say all his puzzle animals and all the transportation puzzle pieces. He really is quite articulate and expresses himself very well. THANK YOU LORD!!!

 

If he has an ouchy he can tell me exactly where and always expects a kiss. If he does get hurt he'll cry for a few seconds and be done. He's tough. Like he'll have blood coming from his mouth still and the tears are dried.

 

He loves singing and dancing! We sing the gummy bear song to him and he'll shout out car (because there is a low rider car in the youtube video) and wave his arm up and down, just the way it bounces in the video.

 

He loves to throw and kick balls, did I mention read?, run, keep up with sissies who he calls "Giki (Marigiki) and Kisstina". He must kiss and hug them every night before bed. Recently he's started running to them when he hasn't seen them for awhile and they LOVE IT!!

 

He went to nursery for quite a while on Sunday. Of course Joe was right there with him. I don't put my kids in nursery for quite a few reasons. One, I hate the bad habits they can pick up on. Two, disease. Three, I hate the bad habits they can pick up on. And Lastly, disease. Elijah did great and loved being able to play. I guess there were a lot of screaming kids. I'm just grateful Joe doesn't have a Sunday calling otherwise I'd be doing singing time with my tot.

 

Elijah is a great eater. He loves chips. He eats salad. He really likes cheese and yogurt... specifically "Danimamamas" (Danimals) The other day we were eating and he shouted "Feta Feta Feta!!!" I couldn't believe that he differentiated that cheese. Yeah lil' Greek boy!

 

Elijah really is just a sweetheart. He's really laid back and happy... when he's fed and had good sleep which is 98% of the time. He sleeps through the night!!!! Wooooo!! Although sometimes he does wake up and call for me which isn't a big deal since I'm right next to him. We breastfeed at nap and night or whenever he needs to. He's just my sweet angel!! Love this kiddo!!

 

 

Getting bigger.... our sweet Robin babies

 

Strike a pose... Sassy Robin?

Family Shot!!!

 

I did notice that out of 4 eggs, there are only 3 babies. I checked really well around the tree and I don't think the 4th baby fell. We continue to pray they will be safe.

The Robin Babies & The Readers

 

They are so precious. Some might find them weird looking, but to us, they are absolutely beautiful. To see the mom every day sitting on them and the dad out looking for food.

Today I got a little too close and the mother let me know.

We pray for them daily. It's so special to have them in our mother willow tree.

 

These kids are constantly reading. I love it. I must admit. Yesterday was quite the miracle. It may seem small, but to me it's a huge reminder of just how much Heavenly Father loves us. I scoured online for about 1 hour one day looking for top recommended book series for kids. I checked the New York Times Bestsellers, Amazon, Barnes & Noble...... I came up with a list of about 30 series that sounded interesting.

I was getting swim diapers at Wal-Mart and had the small thought to go to Goodwill. I know small thoughts can often be the promptings of the Holy Ghost. So off I went. The kiddos were at the park enjoying time with Daddy. I went into the store and there it was.... The Unusual Suspects... Book 2, 99 cents. They NEVER have books we need. And yet, there was our blessing.

I thought, wow- what a great day!!! I headed over to Savers, would I be able to find #3?

Nope.

BUT!!!!!!!!!!!
I found 20 other books with a good 15 being on the list I had made!!! I couldn't believe it!!! I just saved a HUGE amount of money and now we have some awesome literature for the next few months. And of course, it's there when the girls want to re-read. Which they do often. Yesterday Christina was reviewing the Kane Chronicles. And today, she finished a 350 page Charles Dickens compilation from Great Expectations to Bleak House to Oliver Twist. She's also reading Hatchet.... which I just happened to find the second installment called, The River.... on my blessed Saturday Book Day. AWESOME. I didn't even know there was a 2nd book!

Hooray!!!

The Ward Talent Show... Stars!!!!!!!!!!

 

Wow! What a wonderful Friday night! We had a great day with our Yaya Sofia.

She took us for a shopping spree at Costco. God bless her!!

We are stocked on crackers, paper towels and feta cheese.... do you need anything else?

Even though she was exhausted, she came with us to the ward talent show.

Children are amazing. Every child that performed did a great great job!

 

I was especially proud of Christina and Maria. I could tell Christina was a little nervous. But they channeled their nerves really well. They did fantastic!

 

I really actually love that they struggled over the microphone. Such divas.

And of course, I do have to note their outfits. I rarely buy them new things, but there was a great sale at the Gymboree outlet and they were beyond excited for their matching attire to perform in.

 

 

 

Wild Waters... We're ready for summer!!!!

 

Wild Water's Grand Opening was just that... GRAND!!! We had a blast. The weather was perfect and surprisingly the water wasn't too cold!

 

Eli did great!! He was really mellow in the water and loved going down the frog slide. We must have gone down at least 40 times.

 

Maria was tall enough for the bigger slides, but she's working up to it. They go really fast!

 

The sandbox is my favorite. It's perfect for drying off when you're too cold and the kids could spend all day in there.

 

It wasn't too crowded and there were no lines for the slides. Me and Christina tried the new slide, The Zulu?? and raced. I got water up my nose both times!! After repeatedly telling them to hold their breath or pinch their noses.

 

It was a great day. We also got to see Amyra perform at a piano recital. She did FABULOUS!!! She did awesome on the piano and really rocked singing "Firework". It was awesome. I can't wait to watch the kiddos do a show together!!!

Mya's 3!!!!!

I think Eli could have stayed on this all day. He loved taking Joe's key and driving it.

 

Mya's birthday was perfect. It was great weather and the kids had a blast playing in the water.

It was awesome food and the best way to spend a Saturday!!!

 

Miss Mya is a wonderful little girl. She's brilliant and a super talented gymnast. She and Amyra are such good sisters to each other. Maria is obsessed with Mya. I think she likes the idea of having her as a younger sister. Happy Birthday sweet lady! No doubt she is destined for great things!!

Time is flying lil' man!!

 

Love the white guy. I desperately wish he was making a more interesting face or looking straight into the camera photo bombing.

 

Love that Jody always loves to play with the kiddos.

Eli was in heaven. He ate 2 bags of Doritos and got a horse. The party favors filled the children with joy. They are sleeping with them. We always walk by them at the dollar store and I'm always refusing to buy them, so this was extremely big and happy and wonderful. Plus they got fun water squirt toys! They also got these cool lights that they took to bed. Ram throws the best parties!!!! Soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo glad we're neighbors.... UNDERSTATEMENT!!!