Oso pardo, Oso pardo Que Ves Ahi?

I'm super excited with how nice my stick figure puppets came out for the book Oso Pardo, Osos Pardo Que ves ahi?

Last year this book was used in the Spanish class that I volunteered in and I feel in love with the book. I want to kids to get a good hands on experience with the book so that they will really cement the animal names and colors into their memory.

My set has been laminated to add to it's durability  The kids set won't be laminated, but are on card stock so they should last through a lot of play.

I traced the animals from the back page of the book. I needed to make a few changes because even tracing them mine didn't turn out looking as good as the book. I then cut them out, colored then, laminated them with my Purple Cow laminator I got from Costco a few months back and finally taped them onto the large popcicle sticks.

We've already learned out colors, so the new words this lesson will be the animal names. I'm excited to bring my bag of animals to help us learn their names and to have the kids say the animal color and name. We'll use my animal puppets during the lesson until they make their own.

I really like having the kids bring home something to show their families what they are learning, and then for them to turn around and teach their families.

We got some white stuff!!

We have had such a mild winter here in Iowa. I don't mind not having alot of snow, but come on we need some to make the cold temps bearable. Today we finally turned white again with freshly fallen snow and it was absolutely beautiful. 

School was cancelled for the 4" we got because yesterday we were in the upper 50's and had thunder and lightening. The rain that came down yesterday turned to slippery ice under the snow, so they thought it safest to keep the kids home. Too bad the Recreation department didn't feel the same way, so Rebecca and I still had to head out for swim lessons. The roads weren't actually that bad, but that's probably because the plow had just gone down our road minutes before we left and we have a very main road 2 streets away that gets a lot of attention because of a big hill on it.

I found face masks for the kids for $4 at Walmart a few months back. Ammon has been living in his this winter. It got so stinky and he kept wearing it, so I finally had to take it away to wash it. I love how bright his eyes are in this picture. He was loving the snow, but not loving helping shovel it so he could go play in it.

Rebecca is warming up to her swim lessons. While she's in her lesson I went and walked on the treadmill in the exercise room for 20 minutes. It's nice to get some exercise in somewhere other then our basement!

A cold week in Iowa

It's been cold here. Really cold. Too cold to be outside playing. 

So there's been alot of indoor playing going on.

We've had some electronic game time. Some cooking time. Some movie watching time. Some reading and cuddling time. Some game playing. Some warm baths and pj time.  Some sickness. Some cookie time.

And some piles of blankets to keep the frozen air out and the warmth in. 

Project Life 2012

In 2012 I used Project Life by Becky Higgins to keep our family scrapbook.  I did a great job keeping up to date for 6 months with a picture and journaling card filled for each day. Then the next 3 months I did half daily pictures/half weekly pictures and most of the journaling is done. The last 3 months of the year I used a weekly pictures and have the pictures in, but I still have most the journaling to finish.
I don't have it completely done like I was hoping to, but I do have all the pictures printed and in the album. That is a huge task in it's self. Since I take all my pictures digitally I forget so often to print any, so they are stuck on my computer. This album forced me to print them and now we can look at them in the album.
This year I'm using another blog to put my daily pictures and journaling on. I'm enjoying the ease of moving the picture straight over to it without printing it out, but I'm also missing seeing them printed and in an album that anyone can see. At the end of the year I want to print it out in a book so we can look back and see our year.

Twinkle Toes

Oh my sweetness look what started today! 

Rebecca absolutely loves to dance. We catch her dancing to music or dancing to her own signing at home all the time. She was so super excited to get dressed in her dance clothes and start class back up today.

Pinkalious Rebecca

Seriously this little girl melts my heart! She's growing up so fast and I so want to find the pause button and push it for a good long while. But since I haven't been able to find that pause button I do my best to soak up her (and the older kids) and take lots of pictures so I can always remember these special times when they're young.

Today Rebecca was our Pinkalious Girl. From head to toe, she had something pink on. Her overalls had pink flowers on them. I love that this pink princess hat is finally fitting her just right and it looks so cute on her. Her shoes are pink converse I got over year ago on a huge clearance at Target.

Lately Rebecca after getting her hair done, or putting on an outfit will ask if she looks pretty. I tell her she looks pretty in whatever she wears, but that she's also very pretty inside too. She's pretty because she loves thers, she gives us hugs and kisses, because she shares, cares about others, plays with us, laughs, is kind, loving and friendly. I've been trying to tell her everyday what things she does that make her pretty on the inside so she doesn't start to think that beauty is something just on her face or clothing choices.

Corrine's 1st Viola Concert

Corrine has been excited and nervous for the day for weeks.

She's been playing the viola since September and has really learned so much. We just love the sound of her playing. She enjoys playing it and it has helped her to learn the piano also since she can read music easier.

Tonight they combined 4 different schools, both beginning and advanced groups, for the concert. It was a packed house with lots of people standing in the back! This picture is only half of the group.

Rebecca and I went to Costco today and picked her up some flowers. Rebecca picked the brightest ones she could find! The bunch was so big that we only brought half of it for Corrine and the other half is at home hiding.

Corrine was excited to get the flowers and has already made sure we know that they are her's and she'll be putting them in her room!

We love you Corrine. We are so proud of you for getting out of your comfort zone and learning the viola, and then getting up in front of so many people are playing!

Letter L Preschool

Today was letter L day at preschool. We had such a fun time! I really love preparing the lessons, Rebecca loves learning the lessons and she loves playing with her friends. A complete win-win situation!

We started by reading a few books with L words in the tittle and story. We read a few extra while we waited for all the kids to show up.

Elmo Loves You and Big Dog, Little Dog being the favorites.

Then we played a game. I took a paper plate and wrote Ll on it.

I had a bucket with some toys in it. The kids would pull one out and we would say what it was, then make the beginning letter sound. If it started with the letter L, then it went on the plate, if it didn't then it went on the couch.

The kids enjoyed the game, but I think they got the biggest kick out of me making the "L" sound and the toys beginning sounds over and over each time.

We then worked on a worksheet. The kids colored the 4 items on the top and then some tried out writing the uppercase and lowercase Ll's on the bottom of the page.

The worksheet can be found here: http://www.kidzone.ws/prek_wrksht/learning-letters/l.htm

I have an app on my tablet where the kids get to trace the ABC's with their fingers and then the picture comes to life. All the kids got a chance to do that and wanted to do it again! I think that makes a great educational app if kids enjoy doing it and want to do it more while they are learning.

Our craft was making lamb and lion masks. I cut the inside part of the plate out for the kids faces to look through. I painted Modge-podge on the plates for the glue. We used cut up pieces of brown construction paper for the lion masks and stapled brown ears to them. For the lamb masks we used cotton balls and stapled white and pink ears to them.

The kids had a great time making these. One little guy who is always the 1st one done with crafts, was the last one done with his lion mask and he wanted every brown paper just right.

We ended preschool with a large chunk of playtime. I think playtime is also very important for kids. Rebecca and a little boy C played babies in her play house, while P & K brought them food and took care of them. It was very sweet. I love what their imaginations are coming up with during playtime.

The Lasagna

The last few days we have so strongly felt the Lords hand in our lives. Let me explain-
Last Monday for Family Home Evening we had a lesson on The Good Samaritan and  giving service to others. We talked about when we raked leaves for 2 neighbors this fall. We had such a neat experience doing this, both while we raked and when she found out (not sure by who still) who raked her leaves.
We talked about being the Lords hands here on earth and how it makes us feel when we help others. We talked about how our burdens are lighter, the day seems brighter, and our hearts happier when we serve others. We also talked about how Heavenly Father looks out for us in our hour of need.
Fast forward to this Monday night. Ammon and I were making lasagna for dinner. As we were finishing up ours for dinner we had decided to make the extra ingredients into a smaller lasagna we'd freeze for another night, when we got a phone call. It was a friend calling to ask me if I could check on another friend who she heard was having a hard time. I told her I'd call, but neither of us knew if she would even answer the phone. I gave her a call and she picked up right away. In talking with her I could hear tiredness and worry in her voice. I asked her if she had dinner plans yet. She told me she was just starting to think about dinner, but had no idea what they were going to have. I told her perfect because I had an extra lasagna and I'd bring it over for their dinner that night. The girls drove with me to deliver dinner and a hug to this sweet friend.

Tuesday at school Corrine was given an envelope at her Viola lesson. (She told me she thought she might be in trouble since she was the only one in her group to get one.) When I opened it I found an answer to our prayers. Inside were 2 free family passes to all the kids concerts for the 2013 year.

We were surprised to get them, and knew right away that we knew that our prayers and concerns were being heard and answered through the hands of another.
We could see without a shadow of a doubt that the blessings that went both ways when we serve another. This experience has helped me in so many different ways. I have been feeling alone and somewhat forgotten, this showed me that I am not forgotten in the Lord's eyes. I have been wanting ways to serve others, with this friend in particular, I have been wanting to do something for them and have been struggling with how do go about it, the Lord saw this and sent another to give me the swift kick I needed to pick up the phone and call them. And it reminded me of that wonderful feeling I get when I serve others, and to try more often to serve others so I can feel that wonderful feeling more often.
I'm so grateful for these experiences and how they bring us closer to the Savior.

Ice Skating on Plastic

Yep you read that right-plastic. Tonight a friend and I took the older 3 kids ice skating downtown on an outdoor ice rink. It was a free event put on by the city's Art Festival. When we got there and looked at the rink it was obvious that it wasn't ice, but we couldn't tell what it was. When you looked at it you could see the spots were the pieces were fit together.

It looked wet and there were what appeared to be shavings (ice possibly) on top of it. When you skated on it, you didn't glide so much as stick, and it sounded like you were walking on plywood.
We asked a man in charge about it and he told us there was no ice at all on the rink, and that it was indeed plastic sheeting with a chemical sprayed on top to make it slick. The neat part about the rink is that you could ice skate in the summer on it because it doesn't melt.
The kids had a great time skating. Simeon happened to have 2 friends get in line right in front of us, so the 5 kids skated together. Ammon took some time to warm up, but once he did he was off and had no desire to be done skating, even after being out there for over an hour and  half. Corrine was excited to get some ice skating practice in before an ice skating birthday party tomorrow. She took a good fall on her rear right at the end and came up pretty sore!

It was a nice warm 50 degrees outside so we weren't cold as we skated and people watched.

She LOVES her babies

Rebecca LOVES her babies so much. Today she had a stay in jammies while taking care of babies day.  She came out of her room with a baby in her sling. After the kids went to school she rocked her baby to sleep in her new rocking chair. 

This afternoon it was nap time for her and her babies. She got them all tucked in by her. She told me the baby sleeping right by her is a boy and the others are girls. 

She spends hours each day taking care of her babies. It's so fun to watch and a good workout walking around and over all the strollers, car seats and babies all over the house!

A Weekend of First's

I wanted to call this blog post "A day of first's", then realized that I'd leave out a very cool 1st from yesterday.

Yesterday's 1st 

Corrine went skiing for the 1st time. She said she really liked it and it was easier then she thought it would be. Corrine & Simeon went to Dubuque for the weekend with The Children's Cancer Connection. This was Simeon's 3rd time going, so he was a pro at it. Corrine knew only one other girl, Mikayla going on the trip. When we got to the bus, Mikayla and her brothers weren't there, which made Corrine nervous. They ended up meeting up with the group at the lodge where they were staying. Both the kids had a great time and are already talking about next years trip!

Corrine is the one by herself in the front of the group at ski lessons.

Today's First's

1. Rebecca went to her 1st full day of Sunbeams Primary class. I get to be her teacher so I get to see the sweetness of those little kids 1st hand! We had some tears from 2 kids and some clinging to mom with Rebecca, but they all warmed up and had a wonderful 1st day. 

I took some pictures of the kids with their crowns on. My mom took a picture of me on my 1st day of Sunbeams and I still have the picture. I need to dig it out. I also need to dig out the pictures of the other kids on their 1st day of Sunbeams. It'd be so cute to see them all side by side.

2. Ammon got to go to his 1st day in the Senior Primary. It's a big deal to him to be in the older group of Primary kids. Now we have 3 kids in the senior primary and one in junior primary.

3. All 4 kids are in primary now. They'll all be in primary until May when Simeon turns 12 and graduates from primary and goes into the Young Men's.

4. We got to go to our 1st Priesthood Preview night with Simeon. He'll be 12 in May and will be getting ordained with the Aaronic Priesthood and will get to pass the sacrament. It was a great night learning about the Priesthood.

5. Simeon is now a 1st class Scout!! He'll get his official pins and badges on Wednesday night. Tonight he had his board of review along with 5 other boys. There are going to be ALOT of advancements at the Court of Honor this Wednesday night.

Look what I found

Today while we were re-arranging our room I was going through a stack of papers and found a gem of a find. I came upon a picture drawn by one of the kids for me.

Obviously the kiddo who drew this for me loved  me very much and spent alot of time drawing hearts all over the paper so I would know the love they have for me. Too bad it doesn't have a name on it, so I can thank the artist and let them know again (I'm sure I told them when I got it) how much I love it.

I found the perfect spot for it-right next to my bed where I can see it everyday and remember that the kids love me even when I'm not their favorite person.

*I think Ammon drew this when he was in kindergarten, but he doesn't think so because it has too many hearts on it, and he wouldn't draw hearts all over the paper and flowers either!

2013 Goals

It's January 1st, so it's time to document where the kids are now and set some new goals for 2013. We also included a review of our 2012 goals, so we know how we each did and where we need to continue to work.

                  Rebecca

Favorites: Baby dolls and cooking food in play kitchen
Stats: 27.8 lbs, 3'0" Shoe size 6

Goals
Learn more words in Spanish
Brush my teeth by myself
Moms goal for Rebecca-
Learn to write all the alphabet letters
Start to learn how to read
Learn to swing on her own


2012 Review
Rebecca grew 3", put on 3.5 lbs and went up 1 shoe size. Looking back at last years goals-she knows almost all her letters and can tell us what letter words start with, and even write a few words. She became quicker on her Strider bike, but still doesn't like to lift her feet using it.


                         Ammon

Favorites: Legos, riding his bike, hunting
Stats: 46 lbs, 4'2"
Shoe size 1

Goals
Read 5 Harry Potter Books
Earn my Temporary Black Belt or Black Belt
Learn to do a Media kick




2012 Review
Ammon grew 3", put on 3.5 lbs and went up one shoe size. He read many Magic Tree House books, but tired of them, so he moved onto other books. He learned to make scrambled eggs, and is still working on getting dressed quickly without getting distracted.


               Corrine

Favorites: Horses, running, Horse Lego's, softball
Stats: 70.6 lbs, 4'8" Shoe size 6 (kids)

Goals
Become a better swimmer
Improve my reading
Keep my bed cleaner

2012 Review
Corrine grew so much in 2012! She grew 3", gained 10 lbs and went up 3 shoe sizes! Corrine started to get into reading, and read the 10 books she wanted to read, but not all were Junie B Jones. She's working on strategies to help with her spelling and it's improving. She ran a 5k in 27 mintues. So close to her 25 min 5k goal. She is still working on stopping to suck her thumb at home.



             Simeon

Favorites: Reading, sports-archery, baseball, play Skyrim
Stats: 70.6 lbs, 4'10" Shoe size 6 (kids)

Goals
Become a Life Scout
Hit the ball into the outfit minimum 20 times
Pitch 3 games in baseball
Read 5,000 book pages

2012 Review
He grew 2 1/4", gained 4.5 lbs, and went up 1.5 shoe sizes. He blew his goal to read 10 books out of the water! Gained the 4 pounds to get to 70 lbs, learned to cook a few more things, and wants to help in the kitchen more. He earned his Faith in God Award (and his Arrow of Light). He's trying to get along better with his siblings, but it's still a work in progress.




                      Kari

Goals
Stay to the budget
Exercise more
Spend more individual time with the kids
Stay on top of laundry better
Take pictures for 3 other families
Get 2012 Project Life album done
Update kids school albums & Christmas Album

2012 review- 3 of my goals dealt with physical activity and becoming healthier. 2012 was a hard year physically for me with injuries to my ankle, wrist and hip/back, so I sadly didn't meet any of those goals. I am feeling blessed to be able to walk and stand up and have energy to take care of my family so I'm alright with not making any of those goals. I got my recipe book organized better, but it still needs to work. I felt like I kept the house cleaner, especially the kitchen cleaned this year, even with our dishwasher not working for a few months. I kept in better touch with family and got cards or presents to everyone until the last few months of the year. I felt more positive in some aspects and not as positive in others. Many of my 2012 goals are still a work in progress.


                            Johann

Goals
will add later



2012 review- Johann did good with visiting the YM. We sent out Christmas cards to his clients rather then birthday cards. The physical and healthy goals were also hard for him this year.




                            Family

Goals
Go on a week camping trip this summer
Family Home Evening weekly
Calmer/less busy year of activities

2012 Review
We started out strong with family prayer, but life got busy and we didn't keep it up. We have made it a point though to have individual prayer with each of the kids every night. That has been a very neat experience to hear the kids prayers and to help them to say more meaningful prayers. We started reading the Book of Mormon, but stopped pretty fast. We need to figure out a better system to keep us reading it. I feel like this was our most stressful, busy, crazy year. We got some good systems going, and then schedules changed. This will forever be a work in progress as the kids get older and activities increase and change.