Just Pics

And a note....they dressed themselves so I take no responsibility for the horrificness of their attire. But, they're happy and we were having fun!

7 Days of Creation Craft Project

I intended to do this as each day was created but after having problems with blogger and not being able to access the blog for days on end the whole thing got a little behind. So here we are at days 1-4.

The messes of creativity

After searching the world over for a fun project and not being able to find anything that was close to what I had in mind this idea was born. This was based on what we have on hand everyday so we didn't have to buy anything for it. Free and fun.

Day 1: separation of light and dark

Day 2: separation of sky and water

Day 3: separation of land and water, and creation of vegetation

Day 4: creation of birds and fish

Pics of Day 5: Creation of sun, moon and stars

Day 6: Creation of man and woman and all animals. We sprinkled dirt around the edges like glitter to symbolize man being made from dust....which we have plenty of. And yes...painted animal crackers were eaten during the making of this project. Apparently fingerpaint is entirely non toxic and safe to eat. Not that I would just go around handing out painted animal crackers for daily snacks....but I guess a day's worth isn't lethal.

Day 7: Day of rest...still to come.

Day 1 finished project! - Ivye was napping

Day 2!

Day 3!

Day 4...despite the fact Gavin's fingers say 3 and Ivye's say 5.

Finished projects of days 5, 6 and 7 still to come.

It helps to have everything prepared so that once kids are at table everything's ready to go...and they're not waiting on you to make the cut outs from the template needed that day. Don't ask me how I know this fact.

Garrison's and Grant's version of day 4. Grant has a fish jumping into a clump of fish while Garrison's is jumping into a "school" of fish. Both turned out pretty comical.

Once each plate/day is completed we punch a hole in the top and string yarn through. They are then tacked to the ceiling of their bedrooms to dangle. I was a bit amused by the 4th day into it and how may plates we were using. I figured it up and with 8 kids doing 7 days each we had managed to support the axing of no less than about 80 trees in the grand state of Oregon and Washington. But hey....every child we have...down to Ivye...can now tell you exactly what was created on exactly what day of creation.

All supplies needed for completed 7 day project:
- glue...as in....you're probably going to have to spend your life savings on it
- cotton balls
- fingerpaint
- scissors
- more glue
- construction paper in brown, yellow, black
- macaroni noodles
- green food coloring
- goldfish crackers
- old magazines
- yet more glue
- scrap fabric
- buttons, yarn, lace, beads, sequins, and any other fun free stuff you can come up with to decorate
- bird feathers
- small achievement star stickers
- craft pom poms
- animal crackers
- hole punch (optional)
- yarn (optional)





Day 1 supplies needed:
- paper plate
- construction paper light bulb cut outs (bulb cut from yellow, base cut from black) I just googled light bulb coloring sheet and printed one out for my template.
- half moon shape of black paper cut outs
- glue

Day 2 supplies needed:
- paper plate
- colored macaroni noodles
- blue finger paint
- cotton balls
- glue
(macaroni noodles can be colored by mixing 1/4 cup of isopropyl alcohol with about 15 drops of green food coloring. Mix and shake to evenly coat in Ziploc baggie and then let sit for awhile....like, maybe overnight. But my impatient self could not wait that long so our's set for a grand total of about 30 minutes tops. Once color is attained...the longer they sit the deeper and richer the color....spread out on paper towel covered cookie sheet to dry. They dry really quickly)

Have kids paint 1/2 of plate blue for sky. I drew a "do not cross line" for the younger ones. Place cotton balls on wet paint or if too dry, use glue. Glue colored noodles onto unpainted half for water.

Day 3 supplies needed:
- paper plate
- blue finger paint
- continent cut outs (I googled "continents coloring sheet", picked a suitably sized template, printed and then cut the 9 needed from brown construction paper)
- any vegetation your kids can come up with from your yard - variety makes it more fun. This part quickly becomes a nature hunt.
- glue

Kids fingerpaint the entire plate blue. Stick continents to wet paint or use glue. Glue vegetation on last.

Day 4 supplies needed:
- paper plate
- bird feathers - we used chicken...imagine that. You can also have any of your BB gun shooting kids take one out and then pluck it's feathers. Or you can just buy a cheap package in the arts/crafts section at most stores. I like cheap...and free is even better....so we chose chicken)
- goldfish
- glue

Glue everything.

Day 5 supplies needed:
- paper plate
- half moon shape of black paper cut outs
- moon cut outs (googled "moon coloring sheet", found an easy to cut quarter moon, and used yellow construction paper)
- yellow fingerpaint (for sun)
- achievement star stickers (in the office section of Wal Mart as "Avery Foil Star Labels")
- glue

I traced the the natural circle on each paper plate so the younger ones could easily paint a round sun. The outer ribbed edges of the plate were used for rays. We then glued the black half moon shape paper over 1/2 of plate and it became night for moon and stars.

Fingerpaint sun and rays. Glue and sticker everything else.

Day 6 supplies needed:
- paper plate
- old magazines
- animal crackers

- finger paint - all colors
- scissors
- cup of dirt
- glue

Cut out magazine pics of people. Glue people and crackers to plate. I let kids paint the animal crackers. Spread glue on small portion of plate and then sprinkle dirt. Shake excess away.

Day 7 supplies needed:
- paper plate
- fabric scraps nightcap cut outs
- craft pom pom balls
- glue
- yarn, buttons, rhinestones, beads, lace, sequins, anything else fun to embellish cap with. Always use caution and don't let your younger ones choke on any of this crap.

Cut base of a large triangle from fabric scraps the width of middle of plate. Glue most of nightcap on, leaving only the top portion loose to fall back over plate. Glue pom pom onto tip of cap. Use glue to decorate cap with accessories available.

Day 2's water

They figured out it's all fun anyway...but it's really amazingly fun when you can eat what you're supposed to be gluing.

What happens when you paint and attempt to do craft projects naked

When his plate was done Gavin decided he wanted to have a "green day" so moved on to paint green paint on green construction paper. It was just more than a little monochromatic.

Her version of separation of sky and water...I think I see it. She just glued her green noodles on her green water once this part was done...and painted her clouds green too. But she was seriously proud of her creation....literally.

What babies do while we work

Busily creating.

More pics to come. Playing catch up right now.

Daybook

I'm in the mood to blog...yes, it's a mood....but the time to spend any real effort on it does not currently exist. So, once again I fully intend to cheat and crap out with this excuse of a filler. But, it's fun and kind of addicting, though it has no real deep meaning. One certainly will not walk away from this in a deeper relationship with the Lord, a better homeschooling parent, a better parent at all, really, or be any wiser in life. I'm quite certain we'll all be better people after I post this.

Outside my window....wind through the trees. Soft wind mimics sounds of waves lapping the golden shores of Hawaii. Oneday husband and I will listen to that sound together and sit wrapped up in each other's arms for hours on end.

__________

I am thinking......that every person in the United States should watch "The Business of Being Born".

________

I am thankful for.....

sleeping children, bubble baths, vanilla cupcake body wash and spray, girly shaving gel, new razors, a shimmering golden bottled tan, and a bottle of wine. Quiet darkness with my 4 little flickering votive candles playfully bringing bubbles to life as they dance on hot water. The absolute loyalty of the dog laying on the bathmat. Open window, summer night breeze on wet, exposed skin, sound of wind through trees. The simple indulgence of life.

__________

I am wearing.....

a white tank top, pink pajama pants....and pink toenails.

_________

I am hearing.....

"The Mission" soundtrack by Ennio Morricone and "Out of Africa" soundtrack by John Barry

_________

I am remembering.....yesterday afternoon.

__________

I am going.....to rise before the sun and go run in the cool of the morning. And I am going to get to run once again with my husband next week. My running buddy, my partner, my motivation to push farther and harder than I ever do alone. And I am finally going to get to P90X again since studying husband will no longer spend every waking hour of the day secluded within the playroom in which I use to P90.


__________

I am reading....."Heaven is for Real" by Todd Burpo

_________

I am hoping....and fervently praying that Brad will place 1st overall as he finally takes the Lt's test this Friday after months upon months upon months of being away and spending time buried in books. 5 months of diligent studying away from the family as he has worked two jobs and poured his heart and soul into what it takes to pass this test and place 1st over 35 other firefighters. We went through this last year also and he scored highest on the test but due to being a civil service dept and the guys getting 1 seniority point for each year on the dept the guy that scored 5 points lower on the test scored higher overall, taking the place of 1st. Brad scored a 93 on the test and had 5 seniority points to his name. Other dude scored an 89 and had 10 seniority points, scoring Brad with a 98 and other dude with a 99. Only 1st place promoted this past year. Praying so fervently and desperately that this will be the last year we ever do this and that there will be great reward for all of his diligence, selflessness and determination as he has focused so intently on what it takes to accomplish this massive feat in life. Praying that once May 20th is over we can finally resume some sense of normalcy again.

___________

On my mind....that I am feeling overwhelmingly sentimental as I watch my children grow. That this 5'5 man child that sleeps down the hall was my roly poly, bowling ball headed baby but just a short while ago. That he was my 4 year old out dancing and bringing all of Billy Bob's to a roar as he tore up the dance floor. And he now stands almost as tall as me, that his features are changing, his look more masculine and losing the signs of any little boy left, his voice deepening. The heart wrenching transition as he leaves the little boy behind. And I wonder where it went. If I used all of my days wisely with him. If I captured as much of the time as I could...because 13 years goes by so fast and it sifted through fingers like sand. I naively thought 13 years was forever as I stared into his newborn face....but 13 years was only tomorrow. And I know these babies are that close to being grown. So I hold them, I smell them and I savor everything about them. I hug my children close and I laugh with them and dance with them and sing with them and I listen to what they all say.....because I know I only have a little bit more time. I wish that I could just make time tick a little slower....pause the incessant, merciless ticking and unrelenting pace of the pendulum. In the moment, in the chaos, 13 years seems like forever, but when looking back it was only but a heartbeat.

__________

Noticing that....it is an absolutely amazing thing to watch children 2, 3 and barely 5 years old quote Scripture and have the ability to retain entire chapters of the Bible. What a delight it is to watch 3 year old Gavin recite entire passages of Scripture as he laughs and plays and it is made real to him in his everyday little life. There honestly is no greater joy than to know that our children walk in truth. To see that the Lord is using them at such early ages as vessels He can pour through as He raises them up to their fullest potential. Oh, that they would know who he is at such an early age, learn the sound of His voice, heed his urgings and rise up to be the righteous people that we study and pour over each morning. I pray that they will never come to accept or become content with mediocrity, apathy and an average state of existence. I pray that they will push forward until they find the key of life and live exercising the wisdom of Proverbs. That their spirits and young hearts will house a fire that only the Lord can ignite and one that they will act upon in reckless abandon.

__________

Pondering these words....

Ivye..."I have a hade ache, mama."

Grant..."Ivye, you only have a headache cause you ate too much sugar since you ate the whole box of cookies!!!"

_____

Grant griping in a very whiny voice about it being a school day: "Oh....I hate it being a school day. I have to get dressed. I have to clean up. I have to brush my teeth. I have to do chores. I have to read. I have to eat." After a long pause suddenly a light bulb seems to go off and he continues on in total sincerity and great excitement, "Wait!! I love to eat!! It's a school day...I get to eat!!!! Maybe I do like school days!!"

Contrary to popular belief we do actually feed our children on the weekends.

_______

Evye: "Mom, do you think the only time Daddy has ever worn a really nice suit was on your wedding day....except for other times too?"

Ummm......Evye????? If anybody's the blond one....it's definitely her.

________

From the kitchen....a bottle of wine and Jr Mints

_________

Around the house.....10 sleeping children, the rhythmic clicking of a ceiling fan, the dog laying on my feet...

________

One of my favorite things.....my husband.

__________
From my picture journal.....

Evenflo Trailtech. We've had one of these since Evye was little. It was such an amazing piece of baby gear that we completely wore our first one out 9 years and 7 babies later. We replaced it with one we found at a resale store last year for a mere 17.00. It's the only way Brad will ever wear a baby. We also love it for outings due to the fact it can stand on its own. It's our all time favorite for eating out with babies that are still too little to sit in restaurant highchairs yet have graduated out of infant seats...or just don't prefer to be in infant seats. And being as cheap as humanly possible I found this 2nd one on Ebay too. As much as I love the Ergos they can get very hot in the summer. This works really well for keeping everybody cool since baby is not laying directly against parent and body heat does not become an issue. We haven't had one baby that's disliked this backpack. And, without fail, everyone stops to comment on it when Brad wears it. All of our crew have loved being piggy backed within it.I won this one for 31.03, which was higher than I anticipated paying for it since our last one was purchased for a mere 17.00. I figure that's still pretty good given the fact they retail new for 79.00. One of my all time favorite pieces of baby gear.

Gavin hitching a ride on daddy's back in San Antonio

Hanging out at the restaurant while we ate

The new one!

So There Was This Dog....

And since our family seems to be the current animal shelter we seem to inherit every stray thing that exists in our county. Since we already have 3 dogs all tipping the scales at 80 lbs and over I was most definitely not in the market for a new canine. This girl has been running around town as a stray for 4 wks now. And given how very tiny our town is there was no question or doubt as to whose home she came from. After our children finally rounding her up and winning her trust over they quarantined her within welding husband's shop. I had visions of a flea infested, tick ridden, mangy, malnourished, scoundrel dog that we had neither time nor funds to deal with. Children took off for owner's house in which they denied all ownership of this girl. Contact was made with GSD rescue friend. Arrangements were made to either transport her to Dallas and, if all else failed, tote her off to the pound. After spending some time with her though, we discovered that there was not one flea or tick to be found on her, she is extremely intelligent and knows many commands, has manners that rival what we work on instilling within our own kids, and as gentle and loving as they come....along with being amazingly housetrained. She tolerates cats, loves our other 3 massive dogs and quickly won over everyone's affection....including not so entirely dog partial husband's admiration. So, to make a long story short...she's the newest member to our menagerie. We're up to 4 dogs, 6 cats, the few hundred pet chickens, and 2 horses....as we're now boarding mother's horse as well.

The crowd's cheered as the final ruling came down that we could indeed keep her. And, since not too lenient daddy allowed them to keep her...and, in fact, in the end was actually siding with kids and trying to convince me why we should hang onto her....he was given the honor of naming her. Her previous owners bobbed her tail for some awful reason so he christened her......NOTAR. And yes...it's supposed to be all capitalized. It's the aviation term for No Tail Rotor on helicopters. So lovely. And so fitting of a name he'd come up with. So, NOTAR it is....pronounced no-tar.

And since I'm on my way out the door to town, this whole entire post is going to be cut short. I've only been trying to post it for 4 days now. It was supposed to be a lot longer and funnier but I can't even begin to think for the baby in my lap, the 2 yr old flopping around behind me in the same chair I occupy, the 3 yr old trying to squeeze in with the three of us in the same 12 inches of space all while playing with baby in lap, the incessant talking of a 5 year old, the 70 lb dog laying on my feet, the begging of a 6 year old to bring home crap from town and the fighting between the handwashing dishwasherer and the dryer he's been assigned. On a side note....I'd like to say my children wouldn't ever dream of fighting and be this super amazing wondrous mom that has the anwer for all sibling rivalry....but they do, I'm not and I don't and if I said that's the case it just wouldn't be reality. So, the end.

It didn't take long to make herself at home

The children have an affinity for doing dishes with babies...and babies have an affinity for falling asleep while in tow.

What they do when older ones are doing school and I'm out talking business with town residents. The white on the left would be all natural sea salt, in which Gavin ate a heaping spoonful...or 2, and the brown on the right would be Rapidura, the all natural sugar, in which Ivye was all to eager to spoon in....and play in.


The Rapidura eater

And yes...we do have more kids than just this one....but she happens to be inseparable from the dog and always around when the camera was out the last few days.

They learn early around here. And he's the baby with no teeth yet...while his twin has 4. Guess his brother's been teaching him.

Once he started crawling...not much stops him....including his twin. Jiu jitsuing husband says they were born for the mat.

His 1st tooth. Growing up so fast.