Chemistry???

Today in science class the girls started learning about the periodic table. Believe it or not they were truly excited about it. They definitely have their daddy's genes in them! LOL!

A Day in the Life of....

EMMA!!! This little four year old is so amazing! Everyday she does something that just makes me smile.

She started off her day by writing a story. I caught her sitting on her little bed, talking to herself as she wrote about Belle and a little bird being caught in a cave. She has such an imagination. Her big sister, Grace is always writing stories and it seems Emma has joined her.

Next she decided that she just must play Grace's violin. If you look closely you'll notice her music book is actually a story book! LOL! We were surprised that we noticed a couple of notes from "Twinkle, Twinkle"....

After her bath it was time to do a little building. This she did without any help. She obviously gets this talent from PaPa who's an engineer.

After all the happenings (and costume changes) what's a girl to do but curl up with her best buddy and head off to dreamland.

God has certainly blessed our lives with this little angel...and all 3 of our little ladies. I'm glad I can share many days in their lives.

Mother Nature

Today wasn't exactly perfect weather, but it was still absolutely beautiful. Isn't it funny how when nature is throwing the worst things at us we still can't help but be in awe. Today we have a front coming-rain and colder temperatures. Here's a bit of what we saw... (normally this water is almost flat)

Garter Stitch Doll

I'm so happy to have completed this doll for my little ladies (yes, they have to share her! LOL!). This pattern was SO easy-even the little dress. Of course it should be simple considering it came from a children's knitting book! Her name is Ginger because she kind of looks like a gingerbread doll. I sewed a little heart button where her "heart" is and filled her full of love with each stitch. I think she's just adorable!

Flower Models

(Mary's is blue and Grace's is yellow)

Science class "away from home" was canceled for today which isn't so bad considering the weather is awful outside (pouring rain now and thunderstorms for this afternoon and tonight). The girls were terribly disappointed, but we managed to do our own project at home. We're using Jeannie Fulbright's "Exploring Creation with Botany" book for science at home this year. It's a fabulous book-lots of colorful pictures, easy to understand lessons and plenty of projects (our favorite!). Today the girls got to build a clay model of a flower. Simple, but something about forming the calyx, carpel, etc makes it easier to remember what these parts are.

Since we have tons of time today, next they'll be preserving a fresh flower. I can't wait to see how this turns out. Now we can keep a Valentine rose from Daddy forever!

Simple Embellishments

Check one more thing off my to-do list! I had bought this plain white pillow case for Emma a couple of weeks ago. Finally today I sat down and embroidered her name on it and sewed a little rick-rack around the edge. I love how something so fast and easy (not to mention inexpensive!)can totally change the look of a project. Now, what's next on my list...

Park Day

The Making of FriendsLife is sweet
just because of the friends we have made
And the things which incommon we share
We want to live on,not just for ourselves
But because of the people who care
It's giving and doing for somebody else
On that all life's splendor depends
And the joy of this world,when you've summed it all up,
Is found in the making of friends.
by Edgar A. Guest

The weather has been so gorgeous lately that we couldn't resist a park day with some of our buddies.

Sunshine, flowers and friends-we can't wait for another day like this!

Cell Models

Last week's science class was all about making cell models (animal and plant) from CANDY!!! What a clever teacher! After making the models the girls gave an oral presentation explaining what each piece was and what it's job is. Once again, science class was a hit!

A Day Outside

"For we are an overwrought generation, running to nerves as a cabbage runs to seed; and every hour spent in the open is a clear gain, tending to the increase of brain power and bodily vigour, and to the lengthening of life itself. They who know what it is to have fevered skin and throbbing brain deliciously soothed by the cool touch of the air are inclined to make a new rule of life, 'Never be within doors when you can rightly be without.'"~Charlotte Mason


We had another gorgeous day today in the south! It was about 70F, sunny with a little breeze. The girls and I stayed outside all day! We went down to the boat house to read "Beautiful Girlhood". We're really enjoying this book-enough to read it on a Saturday! While we were there we were entertained by some friends.Five pelicans were fishing in the creek. A lone blue heron flew by a couple of times too. These are such beautiful birds. I've seen them hundreds of times but still am amazed at them.

While walking around for a bit just observing all the wonderful things God has placed around us, the girls spotted the perfect tree for a fort.

The big girls started the construction work on the fort leaving me and Emma to do a "natural" craft. We decided to pick up some shells to paint from our oyster shell drive. She and I both had fun painting pictures on the shells. Grace even joined in. A few days earlier we had painted on leaves.

The sun's going down and we're all tired, but very content. We can only hope that tomorrow will be as lovely.

(our big kitty-Lizzie Beth)

A Stitch in Time

Today for free reading Grace read from one of her American Girl books-Samantha. This story is set in 1904. In this particular story Samantha was sewing a sampler. After reading about this, Grace wanted to try her hand at this too. We found some fabric, thread and a hoop and she got started. She was enjoying it so much, that Mary decided to join in too. What a nice way to spend a Friday afternoon.

(Grace's)

(Mary's)

Pretty in Pink

My friend Lisa gave me a wonderful idea for the girl's bathroom. She's going to do this in her children's bathroom too. I took down the 2 old towel bars. I replaced those with 3 rings-one for each girl. I gave them all bath and hand towels for Christmas that I had monogrammed their names on. The bath towels now hang on the rings. Above this are 3 silver frames with their pictures in them. A friend gave me these for Christmas-each one has their name engraved on it.

I already love their little bathroom-it's bright, pink and just girly. Now it's even cuter with this little change.

Happy Valentine's Day!

(little brownies for our friends)

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil by rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trust, always hopes, always perseveres."

~1Corinthians 13:4-7

I love Valentine's day! It's just another opportunity to show those closest to me how much I love them. Today was science class for the big girls, so our day got started early. Last night I set the table with the pink camelias, red candles and pretty embroidered vintage napkins. I got each of my girls a long stem red rose, small bags of chocolates and a card. In the center was gifts wrapped with heart printed paper containing American girl puzzles. First thing this morning I got up before the girls and fixed bacon, heart shaped pancakes and bowls of strawberries. The girls were all so surprised when I woke them up and called them to breakfast.

For science class the girls wanted to take the heart shaped brownie that I had made them to share. After class we went out for a "fancy" lunch with our buddies. Thanks Morgan for choosing the resturant! This afternoon was spent visiting with both sets of grandparents and exchanging valentines.

(brownie to share)

Unfortunately, my big sweetheart is out of town. The girls and I hid his valentine in his luggage before he left. We were very surprised when a Mrs. Field's heart shaped cookie and a large bouquet of balloons arrived! The only thing that would have made today more perfect is to have him home with us.

(cookie from Dad)

(balloons from Dad)

Freebies

I love getting free things-who doesn't? Today the girls and I lucked up. Our library had a whole table of free children's magazines (back issues). We've all (even me) had so much fun reading through them this afternoon.

Our State Flower

Today was such a lovely day that the girls and I could not stay cooped up. It was over 70 degrees, bright and breezy (with severe storms of the way). We couldn't resist stopping to smell (and pick) the...camelias! There were beautiful light pink and white camelias blooming every where.

Emma helped me arrange them-2 vases and 1 bowl (for all the ones she picked a little too short! LOL). We all love fresh flowers around the house-especially in the middle of winter.

Grandma's Apron

This year for Christmas I made several of my friends aprons. I found a sweet vintage pattern and tried my best to find what looked like vintage fabric. I was really pleased with how they turned out.
Here's such a nice tidbit about aprons that Cheryl (aka Pamela) sent me:

Grandma's Apron
The principle use of Grandma's apron was to protect the dress underneath. But along with that, it served as a holder for removing hot pans from the oven; it was wonderful for drying children's tears, and on occasions was even used for cleaning out dirty ears.
From the chicken coop the apron was used for carrying eggs, fussy chicks, and sometimes half-hatched eggs to be finished in the warming oven. When company came, those aprons were ideal hiding places for shy kids; and when the weather was cold, Grandma wrapped it around her arms. Those big old aprons wiped many a perspiring brow, bent over the hot wood stove. Chips and kindling wood were brought into the kitchen in that apron. From the garden, it carried all sorts of vegetables. After the peas had been shelled, it carried out the hulls. In the fall the apron was used to bring in apples that had fallen from the trees.
When unexpected company drove up the road, it was surprising how much furniture that apron could dust in a matter of seconds. When dinner was ready, Grandma walked out onto the porch, waved her apron, and the men knew it was time to come in from the fields for dinner. It will be a long time before someone invents something that will replace that "old-time apron" that served so many purposes.

I can't wait to start sewing vintage aprons for me and the girls (that's on my very long to-do list!). Here's the pattern I purchased for ours:

All that's left to do is actually SEW them! Wish me luck!

Simple Gesture

I received this card in the mail the other day from a dear, sweet friend.

I love getting cards, but what made this one so special was that she had hand painted it. Isn't it beautiful! The nice thing is that the words she wrote inside are even more beautiful than the painting. She's such a talented lady with a lovely, lovely heart. I'm so blessed to have her as a friend.

Simple Sewing

Here's my latest project:

We were cleaning the sunporch/playroom/schoolroom the other day and Emma mentioned she would like a table cloth. My first thought was that I didn't have time. Then I decided I could make time. After all it wouldn't take that long. I gave her 2 choices of fabric. We also decided to make cushions for her little chairs. This was something I meant to do so long ago. It took less than 30 minutes to measure, cut fabric and sew the table cloth and 2 cushions. Emma smiled from ear to ear when she saw the finished product. It was so worth it to take that little bit of time to give her such pleasure.

New Wheels for Emma!

My girls love, love, love to ice skate, but...we're kind of lacking in ice around here! Lately we've gotten back to roller blading. I was bored with the cardio part of my workout routine. Instead I decided to skate on the days I normally do cardio. It's been so much fun! We open up the barn, turn the radio up loud and skate for at least an hour.

We only had one small problem-Emma just had little "kiddie" plastic skates. We made a visit to Target and got her some brand new PURPLE skates! She feels so grown up with "real" skates. Now everyone's happy and exercising at the same time. Sometimes it's just the simple things that make your heart smile!

Laissez les bon temps roules!

Our family is not big into celebrating Mardi Gras, but the area we live in celebrates almost daily for weeks! This year we attended a few parades-one of which was right in front of my father-in-law's house. The weather was beautiful and we caught tons of things! Plus we enjoyed the time spent with family and friends.

"Mardi Gras (French for "Fat Tuesday") is the day before Ash Wednesday, and is also called "Shrove Tuesday" or "Pancake Day". Mardi Gras is the final day of Carnival the three day period preceding the beginning of Lent, the Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday immediately before Ash Wednesday (some traditions count Carnival as the entire period of time between Epiphany or Twelfth Night and Ash Wednesday.[1]) The entire three day period has now come to be known in many areas as Mardi Gras [2]. Perhaps the cities most famous for their Mardi Gras celebrations include New Orleans, Louisiana; Mobile, Alabama; Venice, Italy; and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Many other places have important Mardi Gras celebrations as well. Carnival is an important celebration in most of Europe, except in the United Kingdom where pancakes are the tradition, and also in many parts of Latin America and the Caribbean."