Just hangin' out

Because mother nature is not acting like May, we have done a lot of hangin' out at home lately. So, of course, I feel the need to take some pics.....and share them!
This is Isaiah---a friend's son. Isn't he the cutest thing!

He was the only boy at our playdate with-7 girls:)

.....my big girl~ Dalaina

Our cat Lovey--she has to find places that the girls won't find her. The other day, I found her in our firewood box. Which, wouldn't be all that bad, but there is also scrap paper in it, and she has been known to mistake that sort of environment for her litterbox!!!!

So, after I snapped a few pics, I shooed her away.

I never would have thought that my "girlie girls" would be into bugs~~~ but they are!

...especially snails, and we seem to have an abundance of them!

Hopefully my next post will include some outside stuff and sunshine!!

Fire Station

Early May, the homeschool group had a field trip to the fire station down the road. I was at work, so David was in charge of the group and the photos. So, I don't know what captions to put?! So, here are some pictures for you to see....

Thank you Santa Rosa Fire Station

She did it!!!!!!!

Today was rainy and cold and that warranted long pants, shirts, and of course sneakers. We have showed Faith a few times how to tie her shoes and she has tried to do it but never seemed quite coordinated enough. And, I feel like we have been flip-flop and crocs people for a while here in Ca.
-Well, we decided to take a drive through wine country today-why not- in the rain, right?! Anyway, we told the girls to get their sneakers. Faith quietly got hers and brought them to the living room. She sat down and went to work-as I sat there and watched. A few minutes later, she yelps "I DID IT!"
Shocked and curious, I look down and saw that she actually tied her shoe!

I was amazed:) I had to look it over to see, and well, the shoe was tied! So, of course, I praised her and then prompted her to do the other shoe. And, she tied that one too!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am amazed at how much she retains. It's mind blowing really. She needs to hear something once or twice and she totally gets it. ( Although, it doesn't appear that way in the moment)

After, she told me that she was so proud of herself...hahaha. I told her that I was proud of her for working at it and finally learning!(great teaching moment about perserverence)

.......It is always so heart warming to see the fruits of your labor:) You never know when that moment will be. And, it just makes ya smile!

The Alpha Bakery

I realize that this blog has mostly--ok always- been about the things that we do. As in trips and places we go. What I forget to include are all of the other things, like baking!

We love to bake~well, I love to bake:)

A while back I ordered the girls a cookbook from Gold Medal(yep, the flour people). We were learning the letters of the alphabet, one a week would be the focus. Anyway, The Alpha Bakery Children's Cookbook is great! There is something to bake for each letter of the alphabet, from A to Z :)

Today, we decided to bake the Raisin-Apple Muffins, just because. Although we are past letter learning, Faith is onto learning fractions. Where better to learn than in our kitchen, by baking up a yummy treat:)

What we (well, actually I) have decided that we love MOST about this little book is the simplicity of the recipes. You can bake any of it in just a few minutes:) It is geared towards kids so it is simple! Plus, it is not all sugar packed and the goods turn out delicious. You don't have to know how to cook and bake in order to have something that tastes good!!!!!

Like these raisin-apple muffins, there are cheerios, applesauce, raisins, and milk---not all that bad for you, right? Plus, it is all stuff that you would have in the house already! So, I don't mind feeding it to the girls~~~~and, they don't mind either!

....And, they were just perfect for this cool, cloudy, rainy day---with my cup of tea!

CUTE LITTLE CRITTER

MAY 2---My little girl's birthday!! We start every birthday by selecting a cake and making it:) This year, banana cake-lady bug shape:)

Tastes good:)- we always taste it(ie lick the beaters)

Dalaina decided on a pink lady bug---a princess like bug:) It turned out to be such a cute little critter!!

....she was very pleased with the cake and getting a new book -The Fox and the Hound!!

Birthdays usually bring many calls from the east coast. Aunts, uncles, and friends in PA, VA, and AL!!!!

After church, we went for a carousel ride, train ride, and a pony ride:) Dalaina's horse's name was Lucy and she just loved her!!!

Then came time for her party at home with her friends and sister!

We had a lite dinner and then colored princess pillow casess and decorated them with glitter, puffy paints!

Everyone had a great time with the pillowcases:) ...even the grown ups

..... Then, the cake and ice cream!

....gifts-bug catcher, markers, polly pocket and more. But, her favorite was her new Tinker Bell bike from mom and dad:)

We took it out for a spin--she was just glowing:)

...such a big girl! She is my delight, my joy:) I can't believe that she is 4 years old~~we are truly blessed by her:)