March Unedited

A post about March...

It was fun to have a house full of 4-H kids and parents...
After the meeting and presentations, the kids decorated clovers for the St. Patricks Day parade...
In the basement...
Maya and Daddy enjoying the evening...
With the warmer weather, the kids have been taking Lita outside...
Love these two!
We saw our first robin earlier this month. Randy snapped this picture below. We are starting to hear the birds sing there early morning songs now. Love, love, love that!
Anther reason my days are always good days...
Grandpa Larry came to visit for a few days!
There was lots of visiting going on. Farming, sheet-rocking, wiring, weather, traveling, heavy equipment, engineering, camping, hunting, and fishing, lots of fishing. They also got a lot of work done too! I missed a picture of them tearing apart and rewiring Colter's room downstairs!
We enjoyed our traditional Irish meal (corned beef, cabbage, potatos, soda bread and Irish Applesauce cake by Kyla), with Grandpa Steve and Grandma Judy joining us...
Grandpa enjoying a story read by Colter...
Thanks Grandpa for the Kendama's! They are a hit! And we enjoy them too. And Melita still loves her ball. She calls it "Bop, bop!" Her favorite toy by far!
The beginning of Spring break started with a low key, play games Friday evening. Later we played "hands down" and "Memory"...
The last part of March saw us through a couple weeks of sickies. And just when I thought Maya and Melita were getting better, they both relapsed with nasty ear infections. After several days of antibiotics, I think we are headed in the right direction!
I couldn't resist picking up these beautiful tulips at Costco one day...
The month is almost over! Were did it go? Spring Break is almost over! Were did IT go?

Have a wonderful weekend!
Alison and family

Nights and Days

Sleepless Nights

make for

some

Sleepy Days

It's because of those nasty molars trying to poke about in her sweet little mounth and because of another cruel ear infection. Bahhh!

Here's hoping for a good sleep tonight and a better day tomorrow!

Goodnight,

Alison

Fotoflexer and Befunky

A BIG THANKS for helping me find some great, free, easy, online editing software. The collage I did above is from a program called Fotoflexer.com and so far I'm happy with it. I like it that I can do collages for online use.

The three pictures below are edited on a program called Befunky.com. It has a ton of artsy stuff on it. Check it out...


I still have my good ole Photoshop but I really like the fast, easy approach of these online programs.

So, it looks like I'll have plenty to keep me busy. So long Picnik!

Here's a little of what's going on here...

-We've been having snow and cold the last few days. It is only March after all...
-We've had a bit of sickness again at our house. Maya really got it this time! She's been home all this week so far.
-Grandpa Larry was here for the weekend and will return tomorrow night on his way back home.
-We're looking forward to spring break next week and time spent with my family! Yay!!!!!
-And in case you're wondering... I've been staying true to my New Years resolution to have no chocolate this year. Almost 3 months down, 9 months to go...

Happy Wonderful Wednesday,
Alison

Words and Wheelers

Here's a little of what Colter's been up to lately. Above is a great and fun way to study spelling words. We try and fit in a few words every evening. Now Maya is doing it too with her words. Who said homework can't be fun?!

And Tuesday evening Colter did his first 4-H presentation on the parts of a 4 wheeler...
Colter drew the picture for his poster and Randy helped him put his poster together on Saturday. Then he practiced his presentations Saturday, Sunday, Monday and lastly on Tuesday evening before supper with his final critic Kyla.
We got to host the 4-H meeting on Tuesday evening at our house. Here he is in the living room giving his little presentation to a packed room.

These technic lego's are a big favorite of his!

And who knew what a piston was, or sprockets, or what the chain is for anyway? I certainly didn't! Thank Colter!!!

Alison (the Mom)

Lessons Learned From My Children #9654

I love our afternoons. Usually Lita has had a good long morning nap, we've had a good lunch together... toasted cheese, banana and milk (today), and then it's time to get busy exploring, playing, and exploring and playing some more. After a good rest and a good meal, I've noticed her happiness and contentment. It really would be better described as pure joy! She is so much more responsive and open to correction during these times. When I tell her "no" because she shouldn't be playing with something, she just holds it out to me, smiles, and moves on to doing what she's meant to do... explore and play and learn some more.

When I thought about his today, I realized that I can apply this to myself... spiritually. When I'm near the Shepard, well rested and fed and nourished with all the good things he has for me, I too know this happiness and contentment. Pure joy in fact. And it's much easier to take the correction he offers which is always for my good. And, what a glorious feeling to give up the things I hold on to so tightly and just move on! One thing is clear... I must continue to "rest in his care" and "feed upon the bread of heaven."

Have a great week everyone!
Hugs, Alison

Jamberry

...one berry, two berry, pick me a blueberry...

Here is another picture from the past. This was sometime in 2005. It make me smile and turn a little weepy eyed. In 2005 I see picture after picture like this. The love and tenderness between these two. The admiration in little brothers eyes, watching his sister. Her love and patients for him.

Now-a-days... they have a few differences and they do get on each others nerves once and a while. Sometimes they have to be reminded to get along. Sometimes they need to be reminded how lucky they are to have each other. But for the most part they are very close, just not "laying on the couch and looking at a book together" close.

After Kyla learned to read she would read stories to Colter and then Maya too. I can't believe that all three of them are reading now, all by themselves. How fast time goes by and things change... mostly for the good. But I miss these days a lot.

Happy Saturday,
Alison

Explanation

In my post yesterday I asked a couple of questions.

In the first question, I asked if anyone knew of any great blogs that they enjoy and would like to share with me. The reason I asked this odd question is this... I have had a small handful of blogs that I follow regularly over the years. These are random blogs, separate from my other list of favorite blogs of my friends, family, various acquaintances and otherwise interesting people. These blogs have been fun and inspiring and mostly share interesting ideas, beautiful pictures and entertaining descriptions of life in other neighborhoods. Same small world but oh so beautifully different!

Lately however, I think every one of these blogs (or bloggers) has written books and their goal has become to sell their books to their large blog audiences. Many have also become wrapped up in a cause. This is great! I have nothing wrong with writing a book (I'm writing my own book of life, every day) or having a cause (I have several of my own) but these blogs have become much less enjoyable to me when I hop on there to read a new post. There is always a blaring message in every post to buy a book, or give to a worthy cause, etc. It's over, I'm done... remove, remove, remove...

Regarding my question yesterday... I love blogs and people who share their lives with me. I love to see the seashores of Florida, the cities of New York, the rolling hills of Wisconsin and the farm land of North Dakota and Wyoming, and the desert sands of California. I love to travel to Ireland and Australia, and China. I love to see it all, to enter into life all over this world. More than anything, I love to see the the faces behind the lives and to know you, just a little, through the outpouring of your heart on your blog. Life is short, and someday, none of this earth will matter. But for now, I intend to enjoy this awesome life I've been given. Thanks for sharing it with me.

The second thing I asked yesterday was for comments. I know... that was kind of strange and weird! Most of the time I don't think much about whether a viewer leaves a comment or not. Asking for comments seems a little bit like asking for compliments, or pats on the back or something like that. Plus, if I'm mostly bad about leaving comments myself, why would I expect others to leave comments for me.

But every once and awhile, I'm just plain curious and I want to know WHO you are. And WHY. And WHERE. Stuff like that. For example... Who are you?(in all due respect) Can I come and visit you someday? That would be awesome! Why do you come to my blog? Where do you live? Do you have a blog? Do you have a dog and a cat? Do you enjoy Coffee or Tea? What's your favorite hobby? Can you do a handstand? Do you keep Ramen noodles in the cupboard for sick kiddos or do you eat Ramen Noodles for lunch? Do you do laundry every day or all in one day? Or do you try and do it in one day but it doesn't happen and ends up stretching out over 4 days, like me? Do you have light carpets and a muddy driveway? Do you live on the 17th floor? Can you play the harp? Does your address end with St., Rd., Dr., Way, or Ln.? Or none of these? Does your baby eat everything off the floor? Or do you actually vacuum on a regular basis? Are you happy when you finally get the last kid out the door for school and then can't wait all day to go and pick them up? Do you refuse to think about the day your kids will leave home for good? Or have your kids left home for good? Are you coping well?

Explanation over. I'm done.

Most Sincerely,
Alison

Oh, Nothing...

"How do you do Nothing?" asked Pooh, after he had wondered for a long time.

"Well, it's when people call out at you just as you're going off to do it. 'What are you going to do, Christopher Robin?', and you say; 'Oh, nothing', and then you go and do it."

~A.A. Milne

The House At Pooh Corner

Last week my computer was sitting on the floor and Melita went over and started playing on the keys. She nearly erased my entire picture memory from 2011. It was the only place I had any of 2011 pictures saved. Can you imagine? The year of the new baby in our house? The year of so many things to remember? Gone at the click on a single button, leaving us with nothing from 2011. NOTHING!!! Eeeek! It was totally my fault and I was very upset with myself. Luckily that one button didn't get pushed but that very evening I backed up all my picture files from as far back as 2004! Now we have them in 3 places! Whew!!! That was to close!

Needless to say, I've been enjoying all of these sweet pictures of the kids from past eight years. The above pictures of Kyla and Colter were taken in March of 2006, shortly after we moved into our new house out in the country. The feelings of anticipation, eagerness, and freedom come flooding over me as I look at them and remember our excitement to have a new place to call home and... we were all sharing in it together. I'm so thankful, so VERY thankful!

I am not so thankful that Picnik will no longer be available to edit my pictures in the near future. Very, very sad in fact. Picnik has been like a good friend to me and I don't see how I can go on without it! Does anyone know of any other great, easy, free (or inexpensive), fast editing software that has, like, SO MANY wonderful editing options?!?! Do tell!

Uhhmmm, do you have a blog you'd like to share with me? Your blog or a friends blog or just a blog that inspires you with creativity or inspiration? I would like to know about it because sometimes I go on blog journeys and it would would be fun to look into some new ones that I don't already know about. Thanks so much! And... I am trying to be better about leaving comments. Please leave me one today and make me smile... :)

Happy "nothing" day,

Alison

Bread and Cream

This posts sounds like it's going to be about the two yummiest things (besides chocolate) that get in the way of my efforts to lose weight. But it's not about that. It's actually about Kyla and her latest projects... a project about bread and a project about cream!
These pictures are from her Science Fair Project this year. Her purpose was to find out which of 4 different breads molded fastest. She found out that the her samples without preservatives molded much faster than her samples with preservatives. One brand of bread never molded in the entire 18 days of her experiment. That's some preservative in that bread! It turned out to be a fun, interesting experiment and project. She presented it to her class, at the school science fair and at the county science fair last week...

***

Then for her 4H meeting last week, she did a demonstration on how to whip cream. Ahead of time, we made 4 graham cracker crust, chocolate pudding pies (the easy way). Then she whipped the cream at the meeting, giving details of the best method to use and tips for the best whipping success. Then she served the pies with her freshly whipped cream on top. Very Fun! We even had an extra pie to bring home and share with our company at home. Here is a picture of Kyla doing her presentation with our wonderful 4H leader Suzanne, holding her poster...

That night at 4H, we also watched a demonstration on 'tips for using a sewing machine', 'how to sharpen a knife', and 'a history report on Abraham Lincoln'. I've said it before and I'll say it again... I love 4H! Where else can you find such a practical, useful, and fun way to engage your kids in real life learning in such a non demanding way? It's just that!

As a side note... We finished Little Britches by Ralph Moody the other night with wet eyes. Thank goodness we could pick up the next book and continue reading... Man of the Family. I've never read this continuation of the series and am enjoying it along with the rest of the family. It is very refreshing to read true, life stories of people that lived in difficult times and situations and came out better for it. The back of the book says...

An affectionate portrait of ranch-town folk who knew how to help without humiliating, and a warm but ungushing tribute to a remarkable woman who deplored her inability to give her children everything, yet gave them much. Man of the family is everything that Little Britches was, a heart-warming, frank, completely delightful narrative. Some readers may even like it better. etc, etc...

If you are interested in knowing all the other books in the series, you can find out about them here or here.

A One-derful Birthday!

We couldn't get her to smile for the camera. This was all very serious business!

Here is a slide show of Melita's party...

And a couple of cake-eating videos. That brought a smile...



The presents were also a lot of fun! Thanks everyone!
Can't believe our smiling baby is one now!

Here's to another wonderful year with all the love our hearts can hold,
Alison

Ahhhhhhh.....

Last week I put pigtails in Lita's hair for the first time. I'll try not to go on and on about how cute she looked in pigtails...
But they were pretty cute and we just kept looking at her and exclaiming how cute she was and how we couldn't stop looking at her. But I'll try not to go on and on about it...
But they were so cute that we put her hair in pigtails again on Sunday and enjoyed another day of looking at her and saying how cute she looked.

And I realized they can be kind of distracting when I'm trying to tell her "no". I'm sure the pigtails already have me wrapped around their little finger.

I think we should refrain from doing pigtails every day. They are so very cute. So, anyway, I'll try not to go on and on about the cute pigtails...

Wearing pigtails is like having a party on your head!

Yes, they were cute and I'm thinking we'll have to tone down the excitement over the pigtails before she gets too much older and knows were talking about her and her cute pigtails.

But we are enjoying them for now.

Okay, I'll really stop going on and on about it now.

Happy Wonderful Wednesday,
Alison

A Happy Valentines Day 2012

♥♥♥Party♥♥♥

Thank You Auntie MaryAnn for the party and the bag of cute Valentines stuff! Thanks Caitlyn for helping with the party and the sweet gifts for the kids. Thanks everyone else for the neat cards and gifts. We♥you!

Valentines celebrations started early here and I think it's going to go late too. That's okay with us...

♥♥♥Alison♥♥♥

Mod Podge Coasters and Pinterest

I had seen this idea one time on a blog somewhere and filed it mentally in my brain so someday I could make them. But my brain doesn't always remember things very well, so in December, I was ready to make some of these for gifts, and I began my search for them and couldn't find the post or the blog anywhere! I did a quick google search and luckily there were many places that had tutorials on how to do these. Now I want to share them with you...

These would be great gifts for anytime. Here is what you will need...

tiles(Lowes for around .17), felt, foam brush, mod podge, tacky glue, gloss sealer(optional) and pretty cardstock

Begin by cutting cardstock squares that fit the top of the tiles, leaving a small edge around the perimeter...

With the mod podge and your foam brush, glue each piece of cardstock to the top of each tile...

Glue down(with the mod podge) any edges and corners and then let dry...

With the foam brush, apply mod podge to the surface of the tile and around edges. Smooth and let dry. After each layer is dry, apply another layer until you have six layers...

Now, cut the felt into square pieces to glue to the bottom of each tile coaster. Glue down with tacky glue and let dry. Make sure to glue down any loose edges and corners...

This makes a nice finished, no scratch back to your coaster...

In the end I decided not to use the glossy sealer on these. I tried it on one of the coasters and I just didn't like how it turned out. But FYI... If you don't use the sealer, it's important to let the mod podge cure for 17 days before using it for hot stuff.

These turned out to be great teachers gifts too. I really liked using mod podge. Hmmm, what can I do next?

So I was invited to join Pinterest a long time ago and really wanted to use it. I knew it would help me keep and organize all these fun ideas and yummy looking recipes that I see and want to try. My brain isn't very dependable at times. Anyway, I finally figured out how to get signed up without having a facebook account. So, I'm "pinning away"! So many fun ideas, so little time, eh?

Happy crafting,
Alison