A week in review

 These two are plotting.  They started getting measuring spoons and peelers out then decided they needed a recipe.  Who needs a cookbook, not these boys!  #4 grabbed a pen and paper and was "writing" down what they were deciding to make.

 My 3 older boys at the science center.

 Watching the cars below.

 Really intent on watching the cars below.

 #3 made a canoe for school.  Realized we were out of construction paper but had this very bright, unrealistic in color, printer paper so we made do;) 

 Hamming it up for his shot.  He wanted to make a butterfly.

 #3 made a plane and wrote a sweet note.  I like this shot but asked him if we could try again because he looked sad.

 Love his freckles and his beautiful eyes!

Favorties this week

You know those chain letters that always come around in email or on facebook these days?  With lists of things for you to fill in the blank of what you like?  Yep, only once in a blue moon have I filled those out and passed them on.  Figure if you really wanna know you should just ask me ;)  But thought I'd share 2 of my favorite things from this week(hmm, is it a blue moon?).
  One I've been  thinking about since I've moved here and started drying things outside.  In Hawaii we didn't have the area to dry outside, I had a really small space I'd dry diapers but nothing bigger than that.  But I have decided I really, really like it when I crawl into bed and the sheets have spent the day outside.  They smell sooooooo good! 
Then Saturday I made Orange Chicken.  A little secret around here is we love Panda Express.  Panda Express is not in the budget right now but I have this book called Family Feast for $75 a week by Mary Ostyn.(I give the book a thumbs up).  She has a recipe that she claimed was like Panda Express Orange Chicken.  We agree.  We will be adding this to our regular line up.  In fact we loved it so much that the little bit of leftovers I had disappeared before lunch the next day.  I warmed the pan up but when eating I discovered that some child(apparently it was the elusive "not me") picked off all the chicken, so I was left with veggies and rice in orange sauce(which was still yummy but had me laughing).  I will admit I didn't follow her recipe to a "T" as I had to sub an ingredient or two and maybe next time I'll actually measure so I can share:)

What are your favorite smells or tastes?  And yes these can change depending on your day, mood or memory!

Gratituesday-children

 It's Gratituesday again.   Woke up to a cold rainy day today.  #2 wanted to bake cinnamon rolls and make hot chocolate.  Since it is fall break this sounded like a fine idea to me.  So today I am thankful for these moments with my children.  Time spent baking in the kitchen with my kids and drinking hot chocolate while taking in a movie.  I'm so blessed!

Fall Break

It's fall break for the kids, not for me.  For me I think it translates to add more work to my schedule!  

Today we went to Mastodon State Park.  Had a great tour guide named Mike.  #1 was really into everything and the others drifted in and out.  We were the only ones in our group and it added a special touch to the day(although when the little ones were done with everything I was wishing we could get lost in the crowd! A certain child of my who shall remain nameless *cough #4 cough* started rolling on the ramp inside and opening the back door to the building, fun times I keep telling myself...)  It is a small museum but when you have a guide they add so much interesting additional information!  Had nice little hike in the park after the inside stuff to allow some boys(and girl) to get some energy out.

Plan to share more of our adventures(or misadventures) as they unfold this week.

Gratituesday

I've been thinking(!) of all the blessings in my life.  Sometimes they get overlooked by the unpleasant things.  Since we should feed what we want to grow my thought was I need to link up with The Heavenly Homemaker and join her(and others) on Gratituesday as we can all share the positive things going on in our lives.

This week I am thankful for nice weather.  I have to admit, it is chillier than I prefer but it is just right for drying the laundry outside.  You see I have no dryer and no way to change this right now so I am so happy to be able to easily  dry the laundry at  home and as a bonus have that nice outdoor fresh smell!  There's also that thankfulness of having all the kids that have all the clothes to get dirty:)


ps shh I know it's Wednesday, I'm a work in process!

You might live in Missouri if....

Overheard at the park yesterday:

Two men talking.
Guy one:  We got an invitation to so&so's wedding, it's on the opening day of deer season.

Guy two:  Well you aren't going of course....

Guy one: We have to go(it's some sort of close relation to him).

Guy two:  I can't believe they would schedule a wedding for the opening day(tone of voice has me shaking with laughter).

Guy one:  I might be able to go hunting after the wedding...


I can tell you I never heard conversations like this in Hawaii!  Nor did I grow up in a hunting family so I would not have know to schedule my wedding date around these things LOL!

Peeks of Home

The Boys cleaning the house because they had thrown mud on it.  But take a closer look at their feet!  Not sure how helpful their cleaning was!

 We have been saying the Pledge of Allegiance when school starts.  Everyone likes a turn holding the flag:)

We were able to celebrate sweet #2's birthday in the new house.  I've got two in double digits now!

Enjoying a beautiful day.  Kids  have been playing outside with the neighbors all day(the neighbors have the nerf dart guns, which seems to be a huge hit with all the kids).  We also got a lawn mower-the reel kind.  I love it!  Mowed the back yard myself and the older three all took turns testing it out in the front.  I now know where all the troublesome spots will be, because the yard isn't completely flat but enjoy watching the grass fly by girl power(or kid power as the case may be).