Up and Running Again

Whew!  Yes, I have not posted in over a month mainly due to PC problems.  My wonderful brother built us a new computer and we are faster than ever.  Now I need to get my pics loaded and stories shared but that will have to wait until another day.  I am feeling under the weather and trying to keep up with the kids drains what little energy I have right now.  So, stay tuned for a massive update...

Mother's Day

I woke up to the smell of coffee.  P had already brewed a pot and there sitting in front of the machine was a new Winnie-the-Pooh mug.  I had broken mine weeks earlier.  E was there to see it happen and was very concerned since that is the mug I used most mornings.  I told her we had plenty of others but she offered to buy me a new one.  She asked if we had a mug store here.  :)  I guess she and Daddy searched the web and finally found the exact match.  It was a sweet surprise. 
I had already ordered my own Mother's Day gift online - six peonies!  They are beautiful!  I can't wait for them to arrive.  Then I can have my own bouquet every year.
Dinner was fantastic.  P grilled  delicious steaks and also some asparagus.  I threw in some baked potatoes, rolls and fruit salad.  The best part of the meal was there was no WHINE!  Most meals someone is fussing but not last night.  It was the most peaceful meal I have eaten in a long time.  When I thanked everyone for such a delightful meal E reminded me it was Mother's Day.  I guess that was part of the gift.
Since I am subbing in the one year class until we find teachers I thought I'd better have a Mother's Day project for the kids to take home.  I like to have a sample project before doing crafts with little bitty ones.  I'm so glad I practiced on my own kiddos first.  The stamps I have don't wash off little hands all that well.  It's one thing to stain your own child but I didn't think the Mommies would not be very happy about it so I used crayola washable markers on them.  (Yes, I'm sure now they think it is okay to color on their hands.  Ooops!)  Here is the card we made.  The ones for the kids at church just had one flower on it but I wanted all three of my sweet little ones involved.

The bee is E's thumbprint.

E's crafting

E is having Grandparents' Day at her school this week.  Since our families live too far away she decided to invite our neighbors.  Here is her creation:

Thanks to My Pink Stamper for the challenge to make something with a child.  Cross your fingers #196 is picked then E and I will be shopping at Custom Crops!

The Smell of Money

E's class had a field trip to the dairy today.  Since P's job is in the dairy industry he made it a work trip and joined us for the outing.  The dairy we visited has around 12000 cows!  They milk about 4000 each day 3 times a day.  You might wonder how that would even seem possible.  Well, the cows are treated to a ride on the "carousel" while they are being milked. (Yes, I have pictures of that too.)  It is quite a production.  We toured the maternity ward too while there.  That turned out to be a VERY educational and vivid experience!  We helped welcome a new calf into the world. 

Thankfully the mother cow had no problems delivering but we were there for all the after birth experience as well while we waited for each of the kiddos to take turns feeding the other day old calves.  E chose stay near me and C.  K went in with P and got to pet some of the calves and help hold the bottle.  I think Mrs. S got pictures of all that. 
It was a VERY, VERY blustery day.  The hay ride that took the kids around was blowing hay everywhere!  If you remember the story of E and the wind you will realize this was not a good situation.  She was loaded on the trailer with her classmates but before they could leave she was in tears not wanting to go.  She has been on many hayrides and loved them all.  But that was before the wind trauma. Luckily we were able to ride in the SUV and still see the entire dairy.  If you want to know E's take of the place, and this is one of the cleaner dairies, just look at the picture...

More Giveaways...

For yet another chance to win a Cricut Cake machine go to My Pinker Stamper.  She has lots of prizes to offer.  Hurry though - the drawing will be held Monday morning!

Come on random number generator.... pick lucky #12!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Caleb crawls

Caleb has figured out this crawling thing. I thought I had video of all his unique techniques but apparently I don't. If he happens to do a few of them again in the near future I will be sure to grab my camera! The video below is a few shots of the progression of his normal crawl. (Sorry the first part is so dark.) These were taken in the course of the month. His quickest means of mobility is the inverted v followed by the twist to the bottom roll. That's my favorite. The camera is just never nearby when I need it for that one but I'll keep trying. Enjoy!

Win it!

Go to this blog and leave a comment for a chance to win a Cricut cake machine. For more chances to win just follow the rules. GOOD LUCK!

http://cuttlebugchallenge.blogspot.com/2010/04/what-is-red-velvet-and-silver-and-youve.html