Snapshot Sunday

How it began.

Steph's up.

Sadie's taking a turn today!

Sunnymama is here.

Gina's joining in.

Heart Rockin' Mama is here!

Here's Rinnyboo.

And Kyre.

Ramblings is joining in today.

I am so glad spring is finally here.

Do you remember Paul Potts?

Paul Potts was wonderful . I teared up the first time I watched him, though that was mainly from the beauty of the song being beautifully sung.

This lady, though... I've watched this video three times and I'm still tearing up when I watch it. She's cringe-worthy, then adorable, then stunning, then adorable. So sweet.

Snapshot Sunday

Embroidery bags.

Poetry (Jellicle Cats) on fridge.

How it began.

I Candy is up.

Kyre's up!

Ramblings is up.

Heart Rockin' Family is up.

Sunny's up.

And here's Ashley, joining us for the first time!

Gina's up!

Bird-watching.

Yesterday we were in a funk. The girls were a'fussin' and a'feudin' and Gray was teething. I dug around in my stash of emergency distractors and found a book on identifying Idaho's birds that I'd gotten about a month back. I'd meant to stick it in a field bag, but I haven't gotten around to making one yet. I grabbed it out, went into the room where the girls were sniping at each other (understand that their sniping was them feeding off of my on-edge-cabin-fever-my-poor-baby's-in-pain energy), sat down on the couch and started flipping through it.

It took all of seven seconds for them to be on top of me, asking what I was looking at. About ten minutes later, the sun came out for the first time that day, the wind died down to a breeze, and we headed out to see what birds we could find (expending energy was a nice side-effect). I looked over at Hannah as we were walking along and had to snap this picture.

We found a Yellow-Headed Blackbird which was a surprise this early. They usually don't show up until a few weeks from now when the cattails are starting to grow. They're pretty birds and we'll see them by the hundreds in the summer.

We heard a really pretty call, which I'd always assumed was the Yellow-Headed Blackbird, but the book said that their call is "low, hoarse, raspy, or metallic" - definitely not what we were hearing, so we went on a bird-hunting mission. We followed the cry and found this guy - a Western Meadowlark. His yellow breast and black necktie were really clear. Our book organizes birds by the most prominent color, so we flipped to the yellow section and there he was, singing his heart out. I think I'm kind of addicted to this now. I wish my camera battery hadn't died - I could have gotten some pictures.

I went back and compared our owl pictures and hawk pictures to the birds in the book, so we're adding Great Horned Owl and Red Tailed Hawk to the list.

Today Hannah and I went to town to vacuum the car and she brought the book. She might be hooked too. Today we added Rock Pigeon and Red-Winged Blackbird to our list. Whee!

About the puppy... he's getting along like a house on fire here. He's very intelligent which has made training easier than expected - I'm used to working with Border Collies (she says in a snobby voice) - and he's got a really pleasant personality.

The first week he was here, he thought that the cats were fun to chase. Aradia and Gandhi quickly decided that ignoring him was the best option and he quickly decided that getting a claw in his nose for trying to make them notice him wasn't so much fun. The kittens took awhile longer to get the "he's really not a danger" message, but once they got it, he got willing playmates. That gray kitten will sneak up behind him and claw him in the rear and then sit there letting the puppy run in a circle around him, popping him on the nose every few seconds just to keep him interested. The orange and white kitten stalks him constantly but doesn't decide until the last minute whether to attack or caress. It's fun to watch them play together.

Ains (upon getting in a hot bathtub): "Hot Tamayees!

Hannah:
(sadly) "When will I ever grow up?"
Well, you're in the middle of growing up right now. Why do you want to grow up?
"I want to see what my flock of children will be like."

Ains:
(to Hannah, pointing to two different computers) "You pay 'puter game, me pay 'puter game"
Mother: Where will I play a computer game? (there are only two computers, after all)
Ains: "No Momma. You do dish!"
Nice.

Painting Princesses

How to Draw Princesses and Ballerinas. My niece Jay owned this book and Hannah pored over it. When we got home, she asked me to get out her watercolors and her painting paper and she drew princesses and ballerinas.

The first had a beautiful ruby crown and .... duck feet?

The second had a very "esspressive" face and distinct fingers.

The third had a ponytail and discernible facial features. And big toes.

Some firsts for her here. Phalanges, facial features, different hairstyles. Fun stuff.

Right this minute...

we're playing our first outside game of hide-and-go-seek in over five months.

The best picnic ever.

Hannah worked hard on this, "The best picnic ever in the history of the world. Including all of Idaho and Arizona."

An hour of work, precisely placed dishes, teacups, and flowers. Her presentation was slightly marred by a younger sister trying to help pour the water from the teapot (hence the water spills on the blanket and floor), but she was too excited by the possibility of hosting 'the best picnic ever' to care too much.

She thought of everything.

Including enough food for the puppy.

And we enjoyed ourselves very much.

It truly was the best picnic ever in the history of the world, including Idaho and Arizona. And, I daresay, Hawaii.

I'm not the only one who can't wait for it to be summer.

Snapshot Sunday

We were out of town over the weekend, taking my niece home, so these are up late. If you've posted and I missed you, comment and I'll add you.
















A picture Hannah made for me from an old book slipcover and a broken frame. It sits on my desk.

How it began.

Sunnyday is here.

Heart Rockin' Family is here.

Amanda's joining us for the first time today!

I Candy is up!

Kyre's up!

Cabin fever begets floury fun.

They say it's spring. And so it is. I've always associated spring with growth and warmth coming smoothly in after winter. Now I've started to accept that spring comes in more like my children's teeth, popping in and out a few times before it actually decides to stay, causing fevers, sleeplessness, and crankiness until it's here for good.

Today was our fourth straight day of cold and wind with house-bound children, so it was a busy day trying to dispel the energy that builds up in those situations. Making play-dough was on the list. It takes a lot of powerful kneading to get a smooth play-dough with good color.


They had a lot of fun. Take note of the flour bucket to the left there.


No explanation necessary for this picture. They had a lot of fun.


Between this fun, the Choconut Chip Cookies, the hot dog roasting, and the Dressing of the Lambs, it was a wonderful, memorable day.

We got a Chihuahua.

We were at Wal-Mart and Hannah saw some dog outfits. Chihuahua dog outfits. Jackets, track suits, sweaters, pants, and the ultimate - a pink and orange frilly swimsuit. I kid you not.

So began the "I want a Chihuahua" begging. It lasted all the way down the aisle. "No, your father hates tiny dogs." All the way back to diapers. "I'm sorry sweetie, but we can't just get a dog so that you can dress it in cute clothes." All the way to the checkout. "No. We aren't going to get a Chihuahua." All the way to the car. "Talk to your father." All the way home. "Look, I *know* you want to dress a puppy in a swimsuit. Why don't I get your swimsuits out and you girls can pretend you're at the beach? Good? OK. Here they are."

Ten minutes later -

"Are you girls having fun in the tub?"
H- "Mother, she's not a girl, she's my Chihuahua. See? She's in a pink and orange swimsuit. And she's so cute. She's so tiny, she fits right into my lap."
A - "Yah. Me WAHWAH!!"

OK then.

We have company for about a week - my cousin's daughter. Very cool girl. See what homeschooling allows? You get to go spend a week on a farm! Sure, you don't get to go outside because it's so cold and the wind's blowing 50 mph, but it's a farm! So you do what you have to do to stay entertained in the house.

One of those things today was to make fabric shopping bags. We got everything out and set to work cutting out the bags. The girls got bored and started playing with scraps. The puppy got bored and chewed through the sewing machine cord that I had thoughtlessly left laying on the ground. Luckily I hadn't attached it to either the sewing machine or the outlet, so he didn't pull a machine off the table or fry himself. Stay tuned for how on earth I'm going to get these bags finished now...

Back to our guest. She took some scraps, some safety pins, and some ribbon and set to work.

After trying to make skirts, capes, and headbands, she finally hit the jackpot with aprons. The mother of invention truly is boredom.

Make him stop growing up.

At least slow it down a bit?

Little man's trying to walk.

Momma's trying not to sob.

Puppy's trying to chew on my sock.

Little man's giggling hysterically.

All better.

Snapshot Sunday

How it began.

Visit the following blogs for their shots - very, very cool shots this week from everybody. Must be something in the air.

OLM is up here.

Heart Rockin' Family is here.

Sunnyday is here.

Ramblings is here.

Stars Green, River Black is here.

You know those days?

The ones when your toddler climbs onto the counter, opens the cupboard, gets out a new bag of brown sugar, opens it, dumps it all over the living room carpet, and dances on it?



It's one of those days.

Where the Wild Things Are.

Did you like the book?

If so, you might just like this.

So I say to her,

"You need to either fix your hair or put on your hat to come to the post office."

She did a little bit of both.

Keywords and snapshots.

Every so often, I search my recent keyword activity and alter any blog titles or entries that could be attracting unwanted attention. You wouldn't believe how many different ways nasty people look for nasty stuff. They don't find it here, but I don't even want them looking here. *sigh* Here are some fun searches from the past few days.

"how do i make a simple leprechaun trap in five-ten minutes"
- I hope I helped.

"how do leprechauns get into houses"
- We have no idea. Something to do with fairies, I'd think.

"is violence a genetic component or a home issue?"
- Um, I'd say a little of both, plus a big dose of not dealing with the issues created by being subjected to both. I have both the 'genetic component' and the 'home issue' (from my childhood) and I'm doing my damndest to not pass that onto my children. Whoever you're studying can beat the odds with good books, a great support system, professional help and the desire to do so. Change the family tree, so to speak. ((Big shout-out to my support system. You all know who you are. My children wouldn't have the life they have without you.))

"cute piggies"
- Aw, you're sweet.

"spider release hundreds of babies"
- Yeah, that was pretty cool.

"the best way to clean a house"
- I did not expect that search to bring you here. I'm sorry for the misleading post title.

"the proper way to clean an house"
- Oh, I am so sorry.

"the best way to clean a house quickly"
- Really? Oh dear. ... ... ... Well, maybe try it my way. Let me know if it works for you.

And I had to edit my sock stick horse tutorial once again. Seriously people, it ain't alluring. Go away.

The snapshots for the day.

Ains playing with Hannah's birthday present from her Grandpa. Tons of fun.


Hannah and I brought my saved stash of dress-up clothes up from the cellar. We didn't even get them into the living room before she started trying them on. Like they needed anymore dress-up clothes.

Of course they did. You always need more dress-up clothes.


Ainsley in my pantry at the grocery store. (Cool hat courtesy of a cool uncle.)

In like a lamb, out like a lion.

March, that is.

Yesterday was beautiful! It was so warm that after our bath (hence the wet hair on all the kids), we were able to bask.

Grayson played while I read Peter Pan to Hannah.


Hannah had 'very important work' to do while she listened to me. Stenciling cannot be procrastinated.


And here's the child who hasn't been still a moment since she was born - throwing the ball for the puppy.


We went for pony rides and fixed animal pens and inspected the garden and hung the first spring laundry on the line. *contented sigh* Nothing beats hanging laundry for relaxing me.


When we went to bed last night, a storm had blown in. This morning the rain turned into snow and it became an inside day. For the girls, this meant yoga,




dancing with each other (or with dolls if sisters got too cranky),


puzzles,


pretending ("Mother, I just got married and I've already had so many children. ((big sigh)) I have so much laundry!"),

and chess.


For me it meant deep cleaning my computer desk. That took all morning and afternoon. It was very bad. And I kept taking breaks to play with kids. They're a bad influence.

This evening they talked their dad into roasting hot dogs in the fireplace and playing Magical Creatures (their own rules, naturally). When he tuckered out, they played with the puppy and then set up their sleeping bags behind me on the floor. So I'm here, learning the names of muscles in the body while my sleeping babes are nestled around a sleeping puppy.


My risorius is stretching my lips into a smile. Risorius. Muscle responsible for smiling.