Happy Leap Day

Well, we are having some wild weather.  We had a little overcast and a little snow.  It is a wild ride of a Leap Day

Surf Report

Mrs Epi and I spotted this juicer/reamer while out thrifting

Just thought I would share some linky love. 

I LOVE and want to find this cache pictured in the embeded video.  This one is in the state I live in so I really hope can do this one soon.


Technology and Schools - Teacher Tom has a really interesting and thought provoking post on this.

Last but not least, there has been a lot of discussion on what the changes to the DSM-V criteria for Asperger's and HFA.  I have not idea how or if this affect his diagnosis HFA . Here is some of the commentary.

Joseyln Gray - Why I'm Not Freaking Out About the Autism Diagnostic Changes.
Children's Seattle Part 1 and Part 2

Stongehenge

I tell you what we take our kids to the most exciting places.  We are all about cheap cultural enrichment. Today we hit Stonehenge or should I say the geocache Stonehenge.  #1 Son was so impressed he asked me to take a photo. 

Yes, it was a circle of concrete barriers. It was a cold and wet one this morning but we managed to find 13 geocaches. We hope to find our 229 cache on Wednesday the 29th.

Printmaking with Recycled Materials

Big E's Army Men

I have a huge stash of Styrofoam egg crates. (Don't ask)  Doesn't everyone have a huge stash?  I saw this great tutorial link though Learning through Art on making prints with Styrofoam.  So, we gave it go.  I cut out the top of the crates into squares.  The kids and I made drawings with pencil into the foam. 



Then we used a foam roller to apply acryllic paint to the Styrofoam. Then we stamped.  I have to say it worked pretty well.  The kids were less impressed.  They didn't quite get that your writing had to be backwards on the stamp.  It wasn't a complete failure.  We got some interesting prints.

Diva's Print

Project Life - Week 6

Still enjoying doing this type of journal.  I do find sometimes I have lots of words or lots of pictures. It only takes me a couple minutes to assemble a page once I have the pictures developed. I only have 9 slots so I have to edit what I am going to print and share.  This means these are truly the little bits/stories  I want to share.

Got Bag

The Diva made this picture last week for the Haggen's Reusable Bag Contest. Haggen is a local grocery chain. I thought she did excellent.  You can vote via facebook until February 22nd.  Details are here.

Happy Valentine's Day

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!!

Give your Sweeties a Hug!

Sending out special wishes to my parents -

Happy Anniversary!

2012 Valentine Cards

This what I came up for this year's Valentine card.  It is based on the longest line/continuous line project that I did earlier with the Diva.  This project involved ALOT of coloring.  I had coloring cramp after all this.  I finally switched to twistable crayola colored pencils.

Later #1 Son came home with this awesome longest line project that he did in his art class.

Book it 2012 - February

Check out Life as Mom to see what everyone else is reading. I did a little bit of reading this past month.  I read Elizabeth George's, "In the Presence of the Enemy."  The book is part of Whatcom Reads with is a program with the whole county reads the same book.  The author is usually someone from the Pacific Northwest.  Of all the Whatcom Reads books I found this the most enjoyable.  It was a great mystery that had me guessing to the very end.  For my more complete review see here.

I also read No One You Know by Michelle Richmond.  This was another mystery.  Here is the blurb from Amazon
All her life Ellie Enderlin had been known as Lila’s sister—until the day Lila, a top math student at Stanford, was murdered, and the shape of their family changed forever. Twenty years later, Ellie is a professional coffee buyer who has never put down roots. When, in a chance meeting, she comes into possession of the notebook that Lila carried everywhere, Ellie returns home to finally discover the truth about her sister’s death—a search that will lead her to Lila’s secret lover, to the motives and fate of a man who profited from their family’s grief, and ultimately to the deepest secrets even sisters keep from each other.
I think on the deeper level this book is about the story we live.  This book reminded me of a quote in my house that says " Make your Life a Story worth Telling."  In Ellie's incident a book about who supposedly murdered her sister defines her life.  I found this book really hard to put down. Math is actually discussed in this book but not in a off putting way. I also think the imagery the author uses about coffee will make you want to drink a cup of coffee with this book. The main character, Ellie, is a coffee buyer.

Project Life - Weeks 4 & 5

week 4

week 5

I seem to get behind on posting these. However, I am really enjoying this way of documenting.  If you look at week 5.  There is a small preview of the type of Valentine I sent out.  I hope to post more on that.

Free Loader

I think my cat is a little too comfortable.  I need to start cracking the whip around here.  I've got nothing but a lot of free loading animals.

Rough Road

I keep driving past this sign on the way to drop off my son at school.  I keep thinking to myself.  I wish "Life" came with that sign.  It seems if you know things are going to be rough you could brace yourself.  You might have emergency supplies.  It wouldn't be a surprise. You are prepared. You would also know that this is only temporary. 

Ironically, the City decided after our recent snow storm that the road was rough or in a political move they placed the sign to get people to vote for their road levy.  However, that stretch of road has always been rough and filled with pot holes .  Strangely after I took that picture, a rainbow appeared ahead.

That is my deep thought for the day.  That is all I got.

Remailing Your Valentine's From the Sweetheart City

I like to remail my Valentine's from Loveland, Colorado aka The Sweetheart City.  It is a tradition for me. Your Envelope gets stamped with a special cachet (pictured above) which is different every year and postmarked from Loveland, Colorado. I have been known to send out more Valentine's than any Christmas Cards.  Just follow these steps. (more details here)

Place addressed envelope with proper postage in larger envelope addressed to

Postmaster - Attention: Valentines
446 E 29th St
Loveland, CO 80538-9998

Make sure there is proper postage on the larger envelope. US destined mail must be received by Feb 9th.  Treat your Sweetheart to an extra special Valentine!

Valentine Decorating

OK, I like Valentine's Day A LOT!  I can't help it.  My parent's anniversary is on Valentine's in Loveland, CO and I lived my childhood in Loveland, the City of Love.  It is ingrained.  I actually send out more Valentine's then Christmas cards.  On to my decor for Valentines.  These are my shelves all dressed up.

The printable bird design is from the web. See previous post on embroidered tree. Hanging in the dining room is a valentine garland with dollar store heart dollies that I added construction hearts to.  I think it turned out cute.

Below is a different heart garland I made.  Directions can be found here.