Palligators etc. by Anna

It's Been a While...

2025-01-10T13:52:00.000-08:00

I opened up the blog because I was getting messages about things shutting down. Has it really been 3 and a half years since I posted on here??

One thing recently is that I reinstituted the 1 hour rest/break time. This should mean that I get time to do just that. Until then, take care. aj

First Snow Fun

2021-11-12T06:24:00.008-08:00

First snow is so much fun! The kids had to get out the shovels and do some work. Then they found the sled.

They promised to wave to Ph in the window. We watched together with much excitement.

The sledding "hill." :)

Peek - a - Boo

2021-09-09T13:03:00.001-07:00

Happy Belated Birthday to our newest teenager! We're sorry, we didn't get you on the date, but thought this would be a fun little clip of your cousin to make you laugh. You can pretend he's saying, "Oh, we missed it again!" ...or... what he's really saying is, "Peek - a - boo." Love you E!

Life School

2021-08-29T18:33:00.000-07:00

Mn was looking at the packaging of this toilet seat when we arrived home from errands. "You can take it out and see if you can put it on." "Really?!"

Me: "Look over and smile."

Him to Ph: "I'm laying on the toilet."

Ph 5am song

2021-08-27T04:57:00.005-07:00

Early one mor-orning, the sun wasn't even shining,
I heard the baby cry-ying and he wouldn't go back to sleep.
We snuggled downstai-ai-airs unti-il he was snoozing,
I laid him on the floo-oo-oor and he wouldn't go back to sleep.
He started to play-ay-ay with his fa-avorite toy-oy-oy,
It was a small drum sti-i-ick, and then he went back to sleep.

Rhubarb BBQ

2021-07-03T08:39:00.003-07:00

Year 2 of AIP is in full swing. This week, I learned to disassemble and prepare a whole beef heart for the first time, but I'm also doing so repeats from last year. The main seasonal task is making rhubarb barbeque sauce to freeze. We made a quintuple batch!! Still, I'm considering if I should make a bit more. 15 jars for 12 months??

Floor Bed for Babe Ph

2021-04-28T18:54:00.004-07:00

I've a babe that doesn't like to sleep independently. Consequently, our crib is a storage spot and we only took out a pack and play to try to get ready for a trip...it worked for a few nights a few hours each...we won't be packing it.

Recently, I acquired a crib that was going to be thrown away (because it's drop-side). I had the idea that I'd make it into a Montessori floor bed - if you look it up, they have low railings, sit on the floor and sometimes one of the railings swings open like a gate. I thought the boys might enjoy that in their room (when they start rooming together).

Well, they're not rooming together yet. The adults are rooming with the babe. For the most part we enjoy this journey, with our sweet Ph! But...wouldn't it be nice for him to sleep a bit longer in his own space?? Yes!!

Today, I found this website: Sharing a Room with a Montessori Floor Bed - Quirky and the Nerd And you know how the couple days before vacation prompts you to rearrange furniture, wash everything, build something, start and complete a sewing project, etc? Well, this was it:

I dismantled the heirloom crib, stowed the pack and play, found homes for all the stuff that was homeless, and set up a safe space for Ph. He's been sleeping there for about an hour. I'll update you when the time arises.

Surprise!

2021-04-15T12:03:00.008-07:00

Grandma came today. Adults knew, Aunt R instigated, kids were oblivious. Right now Mn has her in his room playing Legos. Just before lunch, Mn and I went outside to pick up sticks in the yard. Then, we took pictures of our neighbors' spring flowers, then we followed the mail-lady down the street, "but we're going to stay on {__} Street." We saw a grey car turning around, looked like Grandpa J in his car. A few moments later, another grey car drives by (Grma), but it couldn't be because it was stopping in front of the next house, not travelling on to our house.

Grandma gets out of the car and walks around. Mn: "Grandma's here!!! Does she have luggage?!" Before a hug he looks in the front seat window, then he looks in the backseat window. Still not seeing any, he climbs into the back seat and pulls down the center armrest and then opens the secret door to the trunk. "THERE'S LUGGAGE!!" He climbs out excited, but gets ready to climb back in for a ride down the street. "But can I get a hug?" says Grandma.

She parked around the block and walked around to the backyard to see the girls. I was in the kitchen by then and in a high excited voice Kj exclaims, "Curl Grandma's here!!!" Hugs all around.

After Mn had gone to fetch the car and unload it with Grandma (this boy is always up for a job). Job complete he takes off his jacket and boots in the kitchen, under his breath I hear him whisper, "She's a tricker." Relaying the story to Aunt R, she claims, "Next time...I'll hide myself in the trunk..." :)

Flare-up

2021-03-04T18:55:00.003-08:00

I signed up for email updates from Christina Tidwell last year when "autoimmune disease" became a real item in my family's life. She has had encouraging and timely (God is good!!) posts and this is one of them.

Flare-up was our last couple weeks ("I feel like 2019." ~KL). The above linked post made me realize we're making our way out of a flare-up. I've had a lot of people ask me "how are you doing?" and I've been trying to be honest, but there is no concise answer right now... I'd say though that today we're "better" (but not back to 2020 good). These are great toolkit ideas if you have 12 minutes to listen.

SUMMARY

1. breathing in and out

2. focus on what you can control

3. eating healthful foods that will heal the body - NOURISH

4. sleep and rest - rest more than you think you need

5. calling on your care-team and support team

Zoo Day

2021-02-25T12:35:00.001-08:00

We made it to the zoo today. I got a little extra sleep last night and I think it was just enough (along with the sunshine) to get the idea in my head...and L's! Being right after lunch, we had the zoo nearly to ourselves.

Isn't this giraffe beautiful? We couldn't remember seeing one sitting before. We didn't see zebras today, but this bongo was in the viewing area. They must take turns.

Funny to us that the camels are out, but it's too cold for the penguins. About the time we got our zoo pass the penguins were finishing up their outdoor time. The kids have enjoyed watching them out of doors, but I haven't had the pleasure. Looking forward to that this spring. (BUT just so you all know! It's only February. Not Spring. Snow will most likely return and be just wonderful.)

Six Months!

2021-02-23T13:04:00.005-08:00

Can you believe it!? This boy child is 6 months already! Oh, we love him! He's sleeping like a newborn, but rolling, laughing, eating, loving and loved!

A billboard I drove past had a picture of a cat next to the note: "The best 10 lbs. I ever gained." I had to do my own version. This is "The best 16 lbs. I ever gained." ...I mean, along with the siblings of course!

We've started foods a little differently with each child. This time around, he's getting egg yokes, chicken heart, salmon, sweet potatoes, avocado, banana and basically what we're eating. If it's simple enough, we'll let him test it. He won't be having our store-bought chicken tortilla soup for a while...we don't consider that simple foods.

He didn't get a whole lot off of this sweet potato wedge, but he was able to practice grabbing, chewing, and it kept him contentedly occupied so we could all eat together!

Laughter

2021-02-23T12:46:00.007-08:00

Sometimes you just need to laugh together, so this mama with long hair and her sweet boy child had a few laughs while the others were getting ready for bed!!

Art

2021-02-06T14:27:00.000-08:00

Art for us comes in spurts. This week was a strong spurt in the drawing and painting department.

Posies -- I found this art video on Pinterest...we used the abbreviated version and worked off and on for a few days. Letting layers dry before going on to the next part.

One point perspective -- After a private lesson on drawing faces by Cousin EH for L, Uncle Z came online and to show L (and eventually Kj and Mn too) how to draw a Zen garden using one point perspective. Thank you to family for sharing your talents!!

Light Box

2021-01-16T19:12:00.003-08:00

The kids have been tracing using the dining room window for school the last couple weeks. We decided to research and purchase a "light box". Found that they had slim boxes that were reliable and sturdy and slim. We had one in the cart...then an artsy friend said her mom made one. She found a simple plan to make one and talked us down. So, we tried this...if it is used often and long we'll probably invest in the reliable/sturdy/slim variety, but for now, we'll go with free! Even has a solar powered lamp!!

Camping!

2020-06-04T19:33:00.000-07:00

Ahh, we really enjoyed this get-away. It took me until the last moment (night before) to be fully certain that I would really want to go! Gradually, starting to widen my horizon after a long time (I'm not counting/lost track) of staying-at-home has been interesting...

Heading to Oakwood was a great decision. We checked ahead of time how they cleaned the cabin and we just went for it. Oh, it was beautiful!! We might have to switch our end of June campout to end of May! We actually made it around this island/peninsula loop without swarms of mosquitoes. We were really able to enjoy the journey!!! And the wildlife...

Fires. The kids did some scavenging and we were able to have a late-afternoon to bedtime fire AND an all morning fire. Our main meal this time around was not our typical burritos, but Cari's favorite...hobo meals. Diced up a load of veggies and some sausages and ate until we were fully satisfied, and maybe a bit more. Really though, that is what you want when camping...it's terrible still feeling hungry while camping. We didn't pack any fun desserts, but the kids enjoyed wrapping baby carrots in the used tinfoil and eating roasted carrots. Something about having their own inventive treat was enough to not even ask about s'mores.

Mn was allowed pocketting of a pocket knife. He brought it out under supervision and enjoyed being able to say he had it in his pocket and use it now and then. Below: more wildlife. Can you spot it?

Prior to the campout we found that E.Nesbit didn't just write The Railway Children. She was an author of fantasy! Kevin started reading this book to them of short dragon stories. We found one in picture book form at the library and Mn's been re-enjoying that one since.

Another loop at the park had a lovely open area with trees and spaces to play frisbee/soccer/run. It was all our own for about an hour before we headed away from the park altogether. Last stop, a little spot in the woods the kids and K had explored while I read in a chair in the open spaces.

Our lovely take-home...a tick! Extracted with the help of Nana and the internet, because apparently the hot (not burning) match on the tick body is an old wives tale...

My Boy!

2020-04-24T11:49:00.000-07:00

Ah, the Lego creation of the week: a cherry picker. As far as I can tell he made this contraption all on his own! I'd say that it's the most elaborate of all his thus far. It comes complete with a moveable bucket and chainsaw.

A neighbor brought over some fabric that she had lying around. I requested one piece that would be more boy-friendly so that Mn could make something. He's been wanting me to make him a cape for some time and so after the fabric was quarantined for several days we lay it all out and he chose his piece and decided what to do with it! He had a plan: cut here, put button here and hole there. I helped him fine-tune it and then we got out his little sewing kit. He stitched around the collar and then added buttons on the shoulders as well as the button that would be used for a closure.

Mid-week, daddy got off work an hour early and we packed a picnic and went hiking. It was a much needed unwind! This week has been the hardest of all the quarantine weeks we've experienced. Not that it was different from any other, but...we're breathing easier and interacting better after some time in God's beautiful creation!

We played a game of Carcassonne and afterwards were putting things away and enjoyed a good laugh setting up this photo for Grandma..."Your red meeples and your Mn are missing you today." ;)

Thursday, during my supper prep hour the rest of the crew went on a 6 mile bike ride! They came back warm, tired and happy!

This morning Mn finished his cape and showed it off for the camera and sharing. He's worn it most of the day so far. He only took it off when he realized that he was rubbing his lunch pb on it.

The writing/drawing assignment today for school was to write about something you did this week or what you want to do next week. L was writing about taking the bus to Grandma's and Nana's and making a plan for that in her journal. They then decided that they should pack...it was all-inclusive packing...undies, pjs, swimsuits, a few books and activities... Then, they headed out to the bus-stop (the swing in the driveway). I looked out a bit later and they were GONE!! Gazed out a little longer and saw that they were coming back from the corner. They are now spending some time moving L's mattress into Mn's room. We'll finish up our school reading...later. We'll savor this excitement.

Mn's plan of what he wants to do next week:

Bike Crew

2020-04-23T19:17:00.000-07:00

Thursday afternoon, the kids and Kevin went on a long bike ride. 6 miles!!! They arrived home tired, but really happy! Kevin hadn't been feeling well Monday morning so had taken 2 hours off to "recover", then the rest of the week he had 2 other hours to take off. Wednesday was the mid-week picnic and then this day...off an hour early to bike with the kids. Back afterwards for supper and a concert.

Bandaids

2020-04-23T09:34:00.000-07:00

Are you missing someone today? We used a few "bandaids" to relieve some of the missing. Mn called Grandma this morning on the phone. Then, a bit later he tried to Face-time Bumpa. Bumpa was at the farm so had some time with Nana. Another "bandaid" take a silly picture and email it..."Your red meeple and your Mn are missing you." Hope it makes you smile Mom! Love you all!!

Mid-Week Retreat

2020-04-22T19:11:00.000-07:00

This particular Wednesday was a hard one for our family...mostly this mama... Kevin took off work an hour early and we packed a picnic. There are 2 state parks quite near to each other and we frequent one and only go to the other every few years. We thought we'd try the less frequently visited one. We did find a quiet parking lot to picnic near, but the hiking areas were packed. So, we started at one park and headed to the other.

Forgot to get a pic of our picnic view until we were in the van about to head to the next park...

Off the main trail hiking has been our specialty before the mosquitos reign. :) Found some trees to climb in and hills to roll with.

Just before we returned to our van, we pulled off the trail for others to pass. Then we decided to stay a while and draw in our nature journals. It was a lovely evening. Yes, it took the whole of it for this mama to lighten up, but it worked! God is good!!

Weekends at Home

2020-04-20T18:33:00.000-07:00

This video was Easter weekend, but just had to share! Maybe a futures student of our friend, TK, an enjoyer of snowboarding.

For 3 weekends we've had a pretty sweet schedule. Saturday AM decide on a hiking location. En route to the hike, or upon our return we would make a series of drop-off/pick-ups, then, hike at a nearby nature area. Saturday afternoon, we would work in our backyard. The last 2 weeks had been working to make 2 raised garden beds and a compost container/system. This weekend, we started a chicken coop. All the wood has been from around the house and garage, including an old wood storm door. We still have some work to do and then chickens to acquire...but we have a possible offer. It will be a summer-only endeavor and possibly only this one summer. After that, as most of you know, we'll have a new babe and I have long ago decided that we wouldn't have chickens and crawlers/toddlers at the same time. Just with the hands to mouth factor.

Sundays have been a long morning before 10:45 church, lunch, nap, then outdoor something...biking, more yard enjoyment, snow play... This week, because Kevin was on the worship team and I had just received a box of dresses from my sister-in-love, we both dressed up. :) Including slippers, house crocs, and a sneaker. Haha. Enjoying this journey! Note to grands: you might have to travel to us first...we really enjoy this schedule and the lack of road time!!

Weekday Mornings

2020-04-17T13:29:00.001-07:00

Mornings here start with breakfast, chores, instruments, math, and a bit of reading before we convene together for Bible Study + snack and the rest of school at 10 a.m. One of L's daily chores is bringing down and sorting the dirty laundry. She's fashioned a new method of carrying it out.

Kj plays piano and violin each morning and L piano. It's a lovely soundtrack to my chores! They've, this week, voluntarily added Typing Instructor, as well.

Mn and I try to have some reading time together before 10. We've just finished One Minute till Bedtime and are now going to work our way through The Real Mother Goose, interspersed with other picture books.

Also, our view of Kevin, at times sitting, at times standing, with his sword at the ready. Mn and Kevin take daily 1-minute-breaks for dueling down the hall, down the stairs, around the living room and back to work. It's lovely to have 2 knights at home through the week.

Saturday...But Sunday is Coming!

2020-04-11T19:27:00.002-07:00

Spring is a wonderful time to go hiking here! No ticks or mosquitoes, still get to wear jackets... Taking the less traveled paths also seemed appropriate for this "shelter at home" or "quarantine" time. These paths through the ravine to the river we wouldn't have found on a summer or fall day. It was lovely.

Found 2 sets of tracks by the river's edge!

We've been bringing a small nature journal backpack along on our hikes and taking a little break to draw a little. Ly and I did this time, while Kevin, Kj, and Mn climbed a hillside on a fallen tree.

Kj discovered this really cool looking thing. We weren't sure what it was, but she found it on a juniper tree. The following pictures are of it broken open and then pinched between my fingers...maybe not smart, but I didn't think of that until midway through the pinching. I looked it up this evening and found that it is a gall. A growth, a disease. Thankfully, it was really hard to find another one...feeling like we should go back and dispose of others though.

Returned home for lunch and work on our garden beds. The biggest in the forefront we put together last week. Today we made the 3-section compost area and the tiny garden bed in the middle of them. It's been fun over the years in our house to add improvements to the yard and garden. The boards over the top are basically to keep the straw from blowing away until we get the plants and such in.

The finale of the day was "nice cream" and the 2nd half of Mary Martin as Peter Pan. Even Kevin was able to have it! Just didn't add any m&ms to his portion. This batch was salted caramel nice cream with caramel sauce. Mmm! Kj eats "nice cream". If you know Kj she WILL NOT eat bananas, she tastes them in everything that their put in, but for some reason this works. She won't have seconds, but will eat a full portion! Win-win here!

But Sunday is Coming!!

Some Fun At Home

2020-04-10T18:46:00.000-07:00

I secretly made brownies one evening. Kevin admitted after the kids' bedtime that he thought he smelled something like that...but it worked! It wasn't until 2 days later that I shared my indulgence with the girls (the boys went outside and we had a snitch...to be fair, the boys can't eat them, so, we were hiding them for their sake!).

L got a skip-it for her birthday last year and it came out again this spring.

Mn prepping for our friends to deliver some "sunshine" for our garden. Their term for the manure.

Mn and his oatmeal. He will take what he can and add it to the oats. There was a seasoning that I didn't let him have today (sort of rationing...he has no concept of portion size), so, he pulls out the turmeric. Yep, he added it...just a little today, because he didn't want it to make his oatmeal smell. Haha. I'll have to let you know if he keeps up the turmeric bit. Otherwise in the bowl: oats, raisins (I portioned some for him), honey, (said no to molasses), coconut, walnuts, coconut oil, cinnamon, (said no to ginger and ____?), peanut butter (I portioned that this morning as well)… I think that's all. AND turmeric!

Masks

2020-04-09T07:13:00.001-07:00

I made a mask for Kevin a couple weeks ago. It was really his idea, but then he wouldn't wear it until this week. This week, I made one for my mom and sister. Yesterday, Mn asked if I could make him one too. I happened to have some mustache fabric, so, I made it out of that...with some flannel sharks on the inside. He was pretty excited, "Now I get to go out with Daddy!" Well, actually, bud, they don't let kids into the stores anymore...you'll have to stay home still. "But where will I wear it?" Umm...if you bike with daddy to pick up that new math book, you can wear it while you wait outside... Pattern here, if you are interested. Mn's is proportionally smaller compared to my face. Also, I had to shorten the elastic on my mask, although Kevin's seemed just right.

Picnic Lunch

2020-04-07T12:48:00.000-07:00

Playgrounds are "caution-taped" off, but hillsides and open park spaces are still available. We decided to bike to a park about a mile from home for a picnic over Kevin's lunch break. We brought lunch (obviously), frisbees and a scoop-ball set. It was lovely!