Hi!

Hello?

HELLO!

Is anybody still there?

I haven't posted in so long I wouldn't be surprised if nobody sees this! lol

What have I been doing? Well I've been busy you see. Making things, going places - life. But really - what I have been up to can be summed up in one picture:

But because this out-take (photo shoot for Tuan's b-day present) is so dang cute you get two pictures!

Our Bookshelf

The Perfect Pony

Emma loved this one and asked for it a lot. Just a nice short story about a girl finding the perfect pony for her.

One Potato Two

This is such a fun book! I enjoyed it each time we read it. The ending is so pleasantly surprising.

Mrs. Gaddy and the Ghost

This book had Emma and Daniel cracking up. The pictures are old fashined and quirky. The somehow modest naked ghost had me cracking up.

Our Bookshelf

Adele and Simon in America
I really liked this one. Two children travel across America with their aunt - Simon losing an item in each spot. It was a fun "learn about America" without the annoying Dora styles "you're a great counter!!".

The Black Dog Who Went Into the Woods

The kids never actually read this one but I did and really liked it. It is a very peaceful, gentle story of a dog who went into the woods beause he was old and ready to die. Just a really nice story that helps children understand and animals death without smaking you in the face with clouds and "doggy heaven"

Froggy Gets Dressed

This one got requested a lot! Our library recently got a selection of really large, oversize books. The kids grabbed this one and I read it to them. I found the small size that you can actually check out for them. There are lots of sound words that are great to do with kids.

Grandmother, Have the Angels Come?

Emma liked this one. The pictures were beautiful even if the story was a bit halting.

The Other Dog

I liked this one. Emma listened to the whole story, but we lost Daniel to "bear hunts" (worthy of a post all on its own) with Daddy. It's cute - the dog is the author. Reading the authors note at the end makes it sweeter.

That's it for this week! Hope you enjoyed a look at our bookshelf.

Snapshot Sunday

Every now and then the library shows a movies in the kids area. Guess what movie we happened to show up for? Now Emma loves the ninja turtles (Leonardo is her fav).

And I think I'm going to be making these - what do you think? :o)

These are just as cute and probably faster though.


Where was I? Oh yeah, Snapshot Sunday.
Slowly, slowly we are making progress.

They each get a ribbon and certificate after each gymnastics session. I love putting them on the fridge. I can't keep my fridge clear - as hard as I try.

There are 4 carriers up there. And yes - I absolutely need all of them! lol

I love that there are always fresh flowers on our table during this season.

Our Bookshelf

Just one from this last week. We re-newed all of our favorites to read again.

A Dark, Dark Tale

"Once upon a time there was dark, dark moor. On the moor there was a dark, dark wood. In the wood there was a dark, dark house". Young listeners will be kept on the edge of their seats as the journey continues up dark stairways through hidden passages, around sharp corners and behind windblown curtains.
This was on my sister's bookshelf and my niece excitedly showed it to me and then "read" it to me! I saw it at the library and grabbed it. Without ever having heard my niece (3 yrs) read it, Daniel started "reading" it to me! (each thing from the previous page is then mentioned on the next page) It's just a really great book!

Snapshot Sunday

I think you will notice a food theme to this edition! Beth took a mammoth nap (2 1/2 hrs!! for Beth that is mammoth! lol) on Tuan's shoulder this afternoon and I cooked up a storm in the kitchen.

soaking, dehydrating and roasting peanuts for peanut butter and sunflower seeds for snacking.

My first ever batch of kimchi!

My first ever batch of sourkrout!

roasted banana ice-cream. Yum!!

The weather here has been gorgeous! An impromptu picnic in the tee-pee outside.


Puzzles! this has been a snapshot of every day around here for a week! lol

Our Bookshelf

So we live a 5 minute walk from our city library. Nice - but because it's so close we actually don't get there as often. So I'm trying to put it into our schedule just like gymnastics and dance. I also thought it would be fun to have a regular post with the books that we really liked that week. Let's see how it goes, eh?

The magic of spider woman
A Native American tale that I grabbed mostly because it's title intrigued me and I thought it would draw Emma and Daniel in. It did and Em requested it several times!

A Sweetheart for Valentine
We first got this one back in Feb and the kids LOVED it! A simple tale of a Giant baby adopted by a small town that becomes her family. Daniel found it again and they both request it lots! Who-da-thunk.

More pies
The Paperbag Princess
Two Robert Munsch faves. Did you know that you can listen to him read lots of his stories here?

Cherries and Cherry Pits
Music, music for everyone
These are both by the same author. D didn't have much interest but Emma liked them both. They are just - peaceful I guess stories.

George, the Dragon and the princess
I loved the pictures - very fun. Em loved the switch-er-roo type story. George is the mouse, btw.

The Super Hungry Dinosaur
I grabbed this one for Daniel. He never read it though! Em however got a big kick out of it. lol

Honkers
I picked this one up purely because the picture on the front (a prairie water color scene) appealed to me and I hoped it would appeal to Emma. She didn't notice it until nearly the end but enjoyed the young goose-girl story. Bonus points for the little girl being 'almost six' - "just like me Mother!"
ETA - go figure - the one cover I really wanted you to see and I an't find a pic anywhere! bugger.

Where’s the Dragon
The best for last! Emma but especially Daniel absolutely LOVED this book and so did I! You can see that amazon has it for cheap and the next time I get some book $$ I will be buying it. The pictures are very clever and keep the kids finding hidden faces and dinosaurs everywhere!

Hope you enjoyed a glimpse at our bookshelf!

Emma had lots of fun with this little frog mind teaser.
http://funstufftosee.com/frogleaptest.html

Just a really fun clip

Snapshot February

I LOVE watching them at their gymnastics class!











Emma crocheted a garland (I made the hearts) to decorate for Valentines day.




My bulk grains come in a box full of packing peanuts. So I rounded up some random things from around the house and made an I Spy game with it.





Can't eat beans right now - what to do with all of the extra? Paint them and use them for crafts!


Took our first Spring bike ride to the park.









I made a knew hat for Beth and tried to get a good picture of it. LOL







We heart-attacked Tuan





Happy New Year!