Linky Love

Hey it is pre -spring break. The old brain is mush.

I have been checking out this zentangle thing. It is basically just doodling. Here is a link to start the madness. Here is Zentangle patterns. I am little addicted to this. I used graph paper for the one above. I was experimenting with various doodles in a seahorse shape.

Last week, I watched Waiting for Superman. This is documentary on education that has created a lot of buzz. It was definitely thought provoking. Incidentally it was conference week for us last week so it gave me a great deal to think about. I don't totally agree with everything in the documentary maybe because I married to the Secretary/Treasurer of a local union( not a teacher's union). The movie brings up some very valid points about education today.

Lastly, I have been immensely enjoying reading Teacher Tom's blog. He is a preschool teacher who just rocks.

Seahorse

The Diva's Seahorse

Today, we made seahorses. Last week the Diva was carrying her webkinz seahorse named Zendaya, all over the place. So I thought a seahorse craft would be a good idea. We used a pattern to cut out the seahorse and some of us used a net/coffee sleeve to color over to make some texture on our seahorses. Of course we had to bling ours out with some foamies.

Chuckles Seahorse

Big E's Black Seahorse

He made two black ones. They turned out really neat with the white. Chuck and I read Mister Seahorse by Eric Carle.

Big E's Wizard Seahorse and My Textured Seahorse

Ahh, Spring!

What a beautiful weekend. I mowed. We had our first fire of the season.

Who cares if the marshmallows were slightly on the stale side. Life is good.

Play Place Rules

You are too old to play at a play place IF......

1. You wear bra and have actual cleavage

2. You have a driver's license (you should drive far away from this place)

3. You think girls are hot- that is just icky at a play place

4. You have facial hair

Just some general observations as I was sitting watching my child play at one of these play places. I am just saying you would think these would be common sense guidelines.

Bunny Love

My usual suspect wasn't into crafting this week. Big E however was all over these bunny projects. I always need a partner in crafting similar to partner in crime but with glue. We made a bunny garland which also makes an awesome bunny mask.

It is similar to the heart garland I made. The idea is from 4 Kings. We also made an alien bunny. Be careful not to look the bunny in the eye.

Risk in Progress

I decided as take a risk day to reupholster this old rocking chair as Nester's Take A Risk Day. I have been putting this off. My parents gave me this really comfy rocker. Well, I made a start. I decided to use our old bedroom drapes to reupholster this. Hey, I am cheap and I wasn't sure how this would turn out. The fabric on this piece almost looks like burlap. This turned into a rather big project. All the fabric was tacked on and hard to remove. We couldn't find our electric staple gun so we ended up purchasing another. My hubby decided we needed to do the back a different way.

So here is what we got done before we ran out of steam last night. It's a start. It wasn't as scary as I thought.

Owl be Yours

Ms Smarty Pants has been volunteering at Sardis Raptor Center for over a year. She has mainly has been feeding the birds as part of her volunteering duties. She has been cutting up a whole lot of chickens and basically nothing grosses her out. She got to participate as a handler at Wings Over Water Northwest Birding event as Sardis had their birds there and were doing their presentation. This was her first time being a handler for the presentation. She did excellent. She spent the majority of presentation with the barn owl, Chilli, on her arm. Ms Smarty Pants has arms of steel.

Some of the other birds they also had there were the juvenile bald eagle, bald eagle, falcon, hawk. These programs are excellent so if you ever get a chance go. It is amazing to get up close to these birds. Here another post about seeing their program at the State Park.

Origami Yoda

Yesterday, we went to the newly opened Library at its temporary location in Pioneer Park. It was closed for 10 days. The library is right behind donuts for me. I love books and I really love the library. The Pioneer Park location is very nice and large. Probably not as cozy as our old little library but it is a good space. The parking is amazing if you know what I mean. If your a local yocal check it out.

So to honor the reopening of the library I thought I would do a little book review. Chuck and I have been reading The Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger. From the back of the book:

"... Dwight does one cool thing. He makes origami. One day he makes a origami finger puppet of Yoda. And that's when things get mysterious. Origami Yoda can predict the future and suggest the best way to deal with a tricky situation. His advice actually works, and soon most of the sixth grade is lining up with questions."

It is really cute probably not totally appropriate for a 2nd grader but Chuck is older than the average 2nd grader. The book on Amazon says best for 3rd graders through 6th. This book has been hit. In the words of Yoda, " LOVE THIS BOOK, YOU WILL."The Giant Man Child even attempted the Origami Yoda.The origami fish came out a little better. We will have practice more making the Yoda. Almost Unschoolers had a good review on this book and their Origami Yoda was terrific.

Happy St Patrick's Day

Happy St Patrick's Day from the Wee People

Linky Love

I wrote a whole post on this house that everyone knows about in our town. The local paper did an article with better pictures and exactly what this guy is trying to create.

Huge clock tower atop Ferndale home draws attention, but it's legal - Top Stories - bellinghamherald.com

This is what unsupervised time results in. I made this while watching TV last night. My lined paper is notebook paper. I am thinking of doing a modified version with the little people. I need to get better colored pencils. The idea came from Kid Artists.

I am also thinking in participating in Nester's TAKE A RISK DAY. Now I only have to think of a risk. Stay tuned for March 22.

pot of gold

Me and the little leprechauns today made pot of gold sun catchers. The idea is from Frugal Family Fun Blog. I added a shamrock cut out to the front of our pots. We needed something easy and fun as my little leprechauns were a little groggy due to the time change. Or maybe it was just me that was groggy.

We also did a gold hunt but this year the DIVA did all the clues. She did a great job. I especially loved the one attached to the toilet lid. The clue: the next clue now lets go were you go poo. That was genius with the whole rhyme thing. Here are some recaps of previous hunts:

gold hunt and lucky penny

gold hunt

Book It 2011 - March

I read Mansfield Park by Jane Austen as part of Life as Mom's Book it 2011. It is the first book I read on my Kindle. I received the Kindle as a gift. Thanks Nonna! Mansfield Park is a free download to the Kindle. I have read other Austen books but not Mansfield Park. It took me a while to get through.

The general premise is Franny Price is sent to live with her wealthy relatives when she was 10. She is basically a servant and companion. The main part of the book is centered of the coming of age of the cousins and Franny. It is the soap opera of who is marrying who and not so subtle maneuvering one does to find a mate. For a much better and accurate summary see here.

I wanted to shout at or maybe shake Franny Price several times throughout the book. I wanted her to stand up for herself. It seemed like all the other woman characters were a lot more assertive than Franny. I realize though those women could be more assertive because of their position. I actually wrote that in my notes that I like Franny Price but I wanted her angry sooner. I wanted her to stand up for herself way before Henry. Does anyone else think Edmund just settled for Franny because he couldn't have Mary? I know it is the happy ending of Edmund and Franny but it was just wrapped up a little too neatly for me.

Penguins

Penguin by Chuckles

Our craft this week was making these penguin stamping pictures. We did this over a couple of day. Chuckles has been researching penguins for his 2nd grade animal report. The idea is from The Artist Woman. We did cut the beaks and feet out from construction paper. The kids enjoyed doing this.

Big E's Penguins.

The Diva's - love the baby penguin

Squirrel Moment #1001

I got selected in a exciting new program to help me informed decisions about my energy use. (Ha, Ha) That is straight from the letter I received. It came with these great graphs. It rates you against you neighbors. See how efficient I am compared to my neighbors.

Evidently, I use 52% more electricity then my more efficient neighbors. I could of told them how inefficient I was. Have they been to my house? Chaos and destruction reigns here. INSERT DEEP THOUGHT -I know the report talks about energy but if I were more efficient in all areas of my life I would probably have a lower energy bill.

I love the little smiley guy. Reminds me of a weeble people. But all I can think when I am driving around is," Wow, those must be the efficient neighbors and look at their great landscaped yard.They probably post their report in a frame. Oh, that is definitely a hoarders house. They are way inefficient. The only thing they have tacked to their wall is a notice from the Health Department."

Hey, I got approval from Puget Sound Energy. I am GOOD. Put a frame around that. Yeah ,these are the things I think about. Squirrel moment is defined here.

Craft Tweet

Sometimes I just need to create.On Friday night I wanted to make something. It is truly a sickness.I had no supervision. So I had seen a sign created with a birds. I knew I couldn't make that in the time allotted but I had a sizzix die of a bird on a branch. So I dug through my hubby's wood scraps and cut out a bird of contact paper.This is what I ended up with. I painted the wood block green let it dry. Then applied the contact paper cut out and painted over in white. I then removed the contact paper. I sanded the whole piece and ended up with a distressed bird block. I think it turned out cute. Now I just need to figure out where to put it.

Coconut Oil Bandwagon

There has been a lot of Buzz on certain messages boards about coconut oil for your face and skin. There was a few discussion threads on two peas in a pod. I decided to give it a shot. I like it. It did seem to make some of my pores appear smaller. I have combination skin especially oil on the nose and chin and why it does seem to be counter intuitive to put oil on those spots. It did not increase breakout(seemed to lessen) nor increase oiliness. My skin was particularly dry in the eyebrow area and that was completely erased with the coconut oil.

Read Aloud

Today is Read Across America Day.(lots of reading suggestions at the link too) It is not only the Diva's Birthday but Dr Seuss too. MSN had a list of 10 best children books.

I thought I would share what Chuckles and I have been reading together. We have been really enjoying reading Roscoe Riley Rules book series by Katherine Applegate. Here is a review on the Roscoe Riley series. So far, there are 7 books in the series. I love that each book ends with a list of things Roscoe has learned from his adventure. Here are a few from Roscoe Riley Rules #7 - Never Race a Runaway Pumpkin.

Useful Things I learned at the Bookstore

1. Do not ask the bookstore lady to come to your house and read you a bedtime story. She has other plans.

2. There will never be enough books about dinosaurs, pirates, or boogers.

3. First graders are not Young Adults

4. Say "Store manager." Not Boss of the Books."

AND the last one number 10

There is a rule called Do Not Write in the Book unless you are pretty sure your Mom is going to buy it.

Nine is Divine!

Today, the DIVA turns 9 years old. This girl is spunky and smart, too. We had a little pre- celebration on Monday. Because yours truly is always ready for party. HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY. Being Nine is truly SWEET!