Visiting the Music store- Moments to remember

This week Nanners, Daddy, Uncle DJ and I played hookie one day and visited Chicago. We decided to stop at a music store Daddy had hung out at when he was a teenager. With CDs hanging EVERYWHERE and on the ceiling, Nanners thought it was the coolest place ever. She ran around and pointed all the album covers out and saw Homer from the Simpsons and said he was the funny guy.

She also loved chilling and listening to music on huge headphones. Great adventure for a day of hookie!




  Great moment to remember!

DIY texture letters

Well I have wanted to get Nanners some sandpaper letters for awhile now. However being frugal (read: super poor) I decided to make some so she can use. I did not have sandpaper and I did not want to buy ANYTHING. I had seen some Chinese letters done in glitter glue before so I figured I could take the idea and morph it into my own.

 

 Our finished product. 

First I traced out our template.We used manilla folders cut into 8ths (4 from each side of the folder). I did not feel like buying cardstock. 

I got my outline for cursive letters from here. Find Cursive letter template I figured I would try cursive with her first as more and more I see children have an easier time with cursive than print. I did not bother printing these templates. I placed the manilla folder DIRECTLY on my laptop with the screen laying flat so I could trace it.

 

Then we colored everything in. Blue for the consonants and red for the vowels.  It matches the set of movable letters I have downloaded for when she is ready. (We have noncolor coded letters for her older brother to practice his reading/writing)

 

Then I took my hot glue gun and filled in all the letters. They are stringy and blobby which gives it a weird texture. You have to go over them slowly which makes more emphasis on the letter. 

And that's it! Simple as that! The other kids got to help me do all of the coloring and ironically our 9 year old, Beanie colored better than my 14 year old, Kota. Go figure. 

 

Plus a picture of Nanners and Beanie working together on our snaps electric board. We got it for free at the homeschool conference in Chicago and it gets used often. Nanners loves watching the older kids make fans and making things go flying! 

I am linking up to Montessori Monday!

Friends

I am making a post of all of the people I link up with sometimes.This will be updated often.

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Thankful Thursday- Crochet

Well now you know my 3rd love. It involves a hook and big balls of colorful yarn. I had always wanted to learn how to crochet or knit. Well this summer I decided it was about time I figured it out since I had found my Gama's and Mother's old hooks. I didnt really want to try knitting as it looked more complex. Plus no one needs to see me with 2 big pointy sticks. (It would be like the movie Bless the Child all over... not a kid friendly movie)

Also I'm not into looking like this.

So sometimes Nanners helps me crochet too!

All the kids have hats and such so I began working yet again on a blanket. Im using this pattern
this is my blanket

I am about a quarter of the way done. Still a lot to do since it needs to fit our king sized bed. Its a good time killer though!

Crocheting a big blanket is on my 101 in 1001 so its yet another one I can mark as started!!

Peanut butter cookies

Randy loves peanut butter. I mean he eats it straight out of the jar. I think its disgusting but its his thing. So occasionally he asks me to make his favorite cookies. So out comes the PB.

 I occasionally want to eat the cookies I may so I was forced to find a gluten free recipe. It is my favorite because it has 3 ingredients.

1 cup of peanut butter
1 cup of sugar
1 egg

Thats it. Mix it all together and pop it in the oven at 350 for about 10-12 min. As soon as they look done pull them out. They hold together nicely and store nicely.

Im thinking maybe our next batch throwing some M&Ms in there or chocolate chips. Or if you like original things you can sandwich jelly in between them. 

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Thankful Thursday- My momma

So today makes it 11 years. My mom had died of a brain aneurysm in 2001. My brother was 5. Of course I remembered it after I had seen a friend post something on facebook. I spent all of last week dreading today but when it came down to it I had completely forgotten. I felt like a horrible daughter. What kind of child would forget a day like today. I cried at work and cried when I had to stop back home for a clients folder. One thing Randy said stuck with me.
~Dont cry because you forgot today. Today is something meant to be forgotten. You still remember what she looked like and what she sounded like when she yelled at you as a kid. Remember her birthday and your parents anniversary. Remember reenacting with her and wanting to be just like her. Forget the pain of today and remember whats important.

Maybe my old hubby has some words of wisdom in him.

101 in 1001

I figured I would join in this a few months ago. I had never had my list finished until now. Yay me!
The mission: Complete 101 tasks in 1001 days

The criteria: Tasks must be specific with a result that is measurable or easily defined. Tasks must also be realistic.

Why 1001 days? Many people have created lists in the past- frequently simple goals such as New Year's resolutions. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities.

Start date: October 1, 2011
End date: June 28, 2014


Italics- in progress
Completed





Personal/Encouragement/faith
1     get a massage
2     keep my toenails painted for 3 months straight (looking nice)
3     make a 1 word challenge and stick to it (2012- faith)
4     memorize 10 verses of the Bible
5     donate 30 pieces of clothing
6     donate 10 books
7     buy myself flowers for no reason
8     bring someone flowers
9     Tie a note to a balloon and let it go
10     put an encouraging note inside a book for someone to find
11     Keep a “My Day in Six Words” journal for six (6) months.
12     read the bible cover to cover
13    finish vine tattoo
14    go to a drive in
15    not log onto facebook for a week
 16    watch the whole show of roswell in a month 
17    get my owl tattoo
 18    increase my vocab in ASL by 100 signs 
19    go to a concert  {SKILLET!}
 20    dont say anything negative for a day 
21    compliment someone every day for a week  
22    donate blood 5xs  ( Did I)
23    Blog at least 3 times a week for 6 months straight
24    Volunteer once rosies bday party
25    volunteer N.E.S.T- no empty stomachs today
26    watch legend of the guardians
27    get motorcycle license
28    read dantes inferno
29    take a friend or family member to church with us
30    donate my hair to locks of love31    pray for randy 31 day challenge
32    take 1 photo everyday for a month for a scrapbook
33    write my will
34    Pay the bill for someone behind me in the drive-thru lane
35    dont swear for a whole week
36    wear my hair down for a week
37    become a bone marrow donor
Crafty
38    crochet a dress for myself
39    make a tie dye sheet set for our bed
40    only give handmade gifts for christmas
41    crochet large blanket for king sized bed
 42    crochet large blanket for couch 
 43    learn to stamp metal
  44    make a dress
Kids
45    take the kids to a classical concert
46    take the kids to a ballet
47    night time potty train nalani
48    take the kids to a play
49    teach marshall cursive
50    get nalani hand washing station set up   
51    get nalani independent snack zone set up52    make sandpaper letters
53    take the kids to a museum
 54    get a savings account for all kids
55    go to a national civil war event
56    read with the kids island of the blue dolphin
57    read with the kids heidi
58    read with the kids there are no children here
59    homeschool the kids
60     teach the kids about the 50 states
finance
61    document all my possessions
62    pay off all library card debt
63    start a coin jar and do not open for a year
64    Complete emergency fund of 6 months living expenses
65    upkeep a credit card  
66    get a credit card  
67    build a reserve of 3 months of food. just in case.
68    buy a house
for the home
69    get a coffee table
70    plant garden 
71    can tomato sauce
 72    make pickles
73    get a fence for the yard
74    start the rent to own process on house
75    make office space more functional
76    make the office pretty
77    have professional pictures taken
78    host a themed dinner party
79    start composting
80    get rid of all paper towels in the house
81    get a new dog for Randy- OTIS
health/wellness
82    go poo free for 6 months (started 12/18/2011)
83    Go to a roller derby match.
84    go to to a gun range
85    bike the entirety of rock cut park
86    conceive
 87    have a natural birth
 88    birth at home
89    find good tasting gluten free bread
 90    find good tasting gluten free cookies 
91    breastfeed 2 years
92    Practice Kundalini prenatal yoga
93    Drink at least 36oz of water a day for 1 month
94    floss every day for a month
95     finish a half marathon  
96    get a new hair cut
97    go vegetarian for a week   
98    do yoga every day for a month
business
99    help organize a march of dimes event
100    get my own office with farmers
101    convert to career agent

Happy new year!

So today was a good day. Nanners and I went to church and did some heavy duty prayer. I feel it was needed and was a much better mama and wife after worship. Came home relaxed and then the fun began.

A little over 2 weeks ago I started nopooing. No I'm not constipated. My hair was down to my hips and was a knotted curly mess. I knew I had to do something. I had read and knew from experience that when I shampooed my hair I had to have conditioner (from experience crying because there were so many knots and pain). What I didnt know was why. To make long short, when you shampoo you strip it of all the good oils that your hair needs. So I figured I'd give it a shot. The first week was horrible with dry crunchy smelly nasty ichy scalp. Pretty gross. However I had heard it needs some time to adjust so I stuck with it. My hair is super nice now and looks the healthiest its been in forever. I also about an hour ago cut my hair. I will be shipping it in the mail to donate it to Locks of Love.

Before

After

Plus we made some good Peanut butter cookies! Today was a success!