Better than Pumpkins

It is pumpkin season around here but I have been over the moon about some new book shelves. For years my children's book collection has been in boxes, under the attic stairs, and generally a mess. For Mother's Day, husband promised to build me bookshelves in a little nook behind the attic. (If you have been to my house you know how quirky it is!)

Well, I'd like to present my bookshelves. I love them! My books are out where they can be read. I have lots of space and we even have a sensor light that comes on to let us get a close look at the books.

I know is it October, and my Mother's Day present is 5 months late but better late than never. I love them!

View from the kids room into the computer room. Did you know every room in our house has 3 doors except the babies room and the bathroom?

View from the computer room (usually this door is closed).

Standing in front of the bookshelf, the camera can't take it all in.

The top two shelves
 

A work of art I tell you...I love our new little book nook!
Kirstin

Funny for the Day

Is this not the funniest photo? This shirt is Child #1's dad's old shirt. It is from a famous family photo where all the kids had matching outfits! I used this photo to custom create a birthday card for his dad. I just had to share it! Have a great week-end!
Kirstin

Summer Camps and School

Summer Camps are expensive and long! Most around here all day long and all week for $300+. I don't want to spend that much money and send my son away from home for that long. But I do want us to keep busy and have learning experiences. So I came up with idea of creating camps at our house. Last week, I did a Teddy Bear Picnic with child #2 and friend. This week I did a Lego Camp/Lego Play date with Child #1. It turned out wonderful! Here are some photos from our Lego day.

 

 

Dumped out our Lego collection and the kids had a contest creating something from all these Legos.

Child #1 made a fleet of Lego vehicles.

We colored and created our own mini figures.

 My favorite part of the Lego play date was when they came in, I gave them a bag of Legos.( I purchased 4 identical Lego kits from the local toy store.) Then they had to figure out how to put it together without directions. After about 10 minutes, I handed them the directions and they finished it. It was fun and I was so grateful that our local toy store had 4 identical Lego kits that weren't too expensive.

Another idea I had was to do school each morning. We haven't been as consistent with this but today was a good "school" morning. Child #1 did a reading activity from a workbook I had and then created 3-D shapes out of marshmallows and Child #2 used scissors and cut out things from her Kumon Let's Cut Paper book.

3-D Shapes with sticky marshmallows

Cut out food from the Kumon book. It helps develop scissor skills in a fun way!

 

 

While it has been a great morning (Child #3 sleeping since she is still recovering from her shots yesterday), I am in my pajamas and must get myself ready!

 

Kirstin

What We Have Been Doing....

This post is more for me to really remind me that we are doing things this summer. It is already July 11 and I feel like the summer is slipping away without doing lots of awesome things. It has been a mellow few weeks. My parents were here visiting and with naps and now a bit of sickness, we have been staying home a lot! But home means reading, crafts, and imaginative play (and of course, lot of TV!)

Here are a few photos of what we have been doing....

 

Some sea glass but not much as I haven't been out running as much as I should be!

CA Academy of Sciences with good friends!

Christmas crafts we found in our "craft box".

I hosted a little Teddy Bear picnic/party for Child #2 and her friend. It was fun to dress up, have a tea party and even take a walk with our stuffed friends! Next week we'll do a Lego Party!

If you hope for it - they will come!

So I got this jar free (it had pasta in it) and I thought it would be perfect for sea glass.... not that I had any sea glass coming in. Since the baby's birth, I haven't been to the beach as often as I'd like. I occasionally check the beach from the bluff but often it is smooth without a stone insight.

 

The next day I went running and ran to a part of the beach I don't often visit and ta-da! There was a small patch of rocks and glass. It made my day and there were some lovely pieces. My favorites were a deep aqua blue piece and a light green piece of pottery. I'd like to think I'm back in business but we'll see!

Happy summer!

Kirstin

Snapshots of Time

I just wrote a post for the Mothers' Club that I am a part of and thought I would copy my idea by posting some photos of my life right now... So get ready for a peak into my wonderful, crazy, blessed life! Kirstin

Baby #3's room/closet

Child #2 Loves Angelia Ballerina (she took this photo)

Child #3 pretends books are ipads!

Child #1 inventing something (a boat?) and testing it in the bathroom.

Child #3 Sleeping in my arms. I love it!

Notice the doll collection in the baby swing? And the many, many books?

Fridge Art!

Pretend Birthday cake. Actually hummus and pretzels. Thanks Child #2

Baby gift that Child #2 fell in love with and played with for days. Minnie Mouse Socks!

One of Child #2 dolls. Her name is either Sadie or Hailey. It changes. 

I have no idea but it is one of the many, many photos I find on the camera that documents our crazy, wonderful life!
Love these kids!

Whale Watching

I've seen whales growing up in Alaska. They are amazing, awe inspiring creatures. But it has been a while since I have seen them in the water. (The last one I saw was dead on the beach). My husband sees them frequently, but I never seem to be looking in the right place when they come up.

This morning was the right day! I was still in bed enjoying the fact that I didn't have to get up - it is Saturday! My husband went out to check his crab pots (on his surf board, his new hobby) and when he came back he told us that their were whales right in front of our house. I still laid in bed.

Finally, I got up, made breakfast, ate breakfast, checked e-mail, had Child #1 get ready for T-ball and then made muffins. When husband came back (he had two crabs in his pots) he said the whales were still there. Sure I wouldn't be able see them, I grabbed the binoculars and took a look.

THEY WERE STILL THERE, JUST HANGING OUT. It was so awesome to see their heads come out, to see their fins and body's surface. It reminded me Child #3 when she just lays on my lap looking around, enjoying the moment. I watched and watched out our front window (in my pajamas for all the early morning walkers to see me:).

Suddenly, I dashed into the kitchen, I realized I forgot the muffins! I pulled them out a little darker than they are suppose to be, but they are still good. What a great way to start the day (and it doesn't hurt that it is Child #1's b-day!)

Kirstin

PUMPKIN CHOCOLATE CHIP MUFFINS
1 2/3 c. flour
1 c. sugar
1 T. pumpkin spice
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
2 eggs
1/2 c. melted butter
1 c. canned pumpkin (I like to puree my own pumpkins)
1 c. chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Stir 6 ingredients. .Mix in eggs and melted butter and pumpkin puree. Add to dry ingredients. Stir in chocolate chips. Spoon into mini muffin cups. Bake 10-15 minutes. (Use a timer if you're whale watching at the same time!)