2012 September

Spotlight: Caleb

September 24, 2012 1 Comment

Josh: I love that Caleb is sooo hyperactive and has such a giggly laugh.

Mommy: Who’s next?

Caleb: Meeee! (slightly excited)

Jacob: I love that Caleb is smart and imaginative.

Josh: Yeah, he pretends his bed is a banana tree.

Andrew: I like Caleb because he plays with me a lot.

Katey: I love Caleb because he loves me and he hugs me.

Caleb: I love Katey hugs me real tight! Hey – what’s that? (checking out the Children’s Encyclopedia)

Daddy: A Viking boat.

Caleb: Can the people all fit?

Autumn: I love Caleb because he loves to read books and sometimes he even makes up the words in his book. He likes motorcycles and said he’s going to ride a green one with Dad someday.

Caleb: No!! It was a blue one. We’re going to ride a blue one.

Katey: Or a scootcher. (complete with peddling actions)

Daddy: I love Mister Caleb because he lets me listen to his prayers at night when I tuck him in. He also loves to read my motorcycle book in bed and dream about riding bikes.

Caleb: The blue one!

Daddy: Yep – he loves that chopper.

Caleb: Mommy reads books in bed! A big chunk of one. With a light on. Hahhaaaahahaha.

Mommy: I adore Caleb’s vocabulary. He can explain so much of what he’s thinking. It cracks me up. Today he was carrying something to the table and he just talked to himself about everything he was doing and thinking along the way. So silly and cute.

Caleb is a sweetheart in preschool too and wants to do everything his big sister is doing. He sings, says prayers, does the Pledge of Allegiance like a pro (well, almost), has the 2nd Article of Faith memorized (because he is 2! – and reminds us all the time), knows his colors, adores Signing Time, and sits through long stories. Today he pretended to be a horse for hours. He neighed all over the house and licked Katey’s dress. She didn’t like that part – but that’s what horses do. Caleb is amazing, and silly and can’t wait to ride a motorcycle (steel horse according to Daddy). Obviously.

Filed Under: {*spotlights*}, {tickles and smiles}

Everyday #2371

September 23, 2012 2 Comments

This is Drewby’s latest drawing. I love the Christmas scene – tree in the window, snowflakes falling, festive red roof. The worm in the hole on the left makes me giggle. (We think it’s all about perspective – showing the cutaway underground.) What makes me really smile is the snowball storage in the basement. Complete with two fans to keep those snowballs cool. Brilliant.

p.s. While talking with Andrew the next morning he informed me that the worm is getting ready to hibernate. 🙂

Filed Under: {capturing everyday}, {happy times}, {one little word}, {tickles and smiles}

Flecks of Gold

September 22, 2012 Leave a Comment

{credits}

This here reminder is printed on Red River’s River Linen paper (one of my favs) and displayed on our piano. It coordinates with my treasure theme for the year. I absolutely love this quote from Elder M. Russell Ballard:

“Great things are wrought through simple and small things. Like the small flecks of gold that accumulate over time into a large treasure, our small and simple acts of kindness and service will accumulate into a life filled with love for Heavenly Father, devotion to the work of the Lord Jesus Christ, and a sense of peace and joy each time we reach out to one another.”

I love that the little things I do each day – for my family and others are like flecks of gold. It’s nice to imagine all that treasure building up, fleck by fleck.

The beginning story part of Elder Ballard’s talk was made into a Mormon Message:

His whole talk from General Conference can be found here.

Elder Ballard’s beautifully worded sermon is a treasure.

A fun little side note. The gold flecks on my poster?

Those are cupcake sprinkles – sweet, no? 😉

Filed Under: {digital happiness}, {happy times}, {Jessica Sprague}, {one little word}, {worthwhile}

Drewby Love Stories

September 15, 2012 3 Comments

{credits}

Sugar lips and fingers at 2 years old were common. Andrew was into everything. Sticky sweetness all wrapped up and topped with a grin. At 6 years old he is even sweeter – but it’s his personality that is now the {icing on the cake}.

As direct proof – here’s one more Drewby love story:

{credits}

Drewby asked to help make sandwiches for lunch. His first time and he did great – with a little help from his younger siblings. Come to find out – they were J & J sandwiches. Apricot and strawberry jam – tasty!

Filed Under: {capturing everyday}, {digital happiness}, {happy times}, {Jessica Sprague}, {storytime}, {tickles and smiles}

Challenging? Indeed.

September 4, 2012 5 Comments

You may know that our family LOVES Usborne books. You may know that I sell them – in order to get more educational and entertaining books for our family and to share them with others. (Did I mention we love these books?)

Do you know that I have accepted a challenge to book 24 Usborne book shows in 24 hours? Eek! 🙂

For booking your show with me in this 24 hours you’ll be entered to win a $100 shopping spree with Usborne. We have a new catalog for you and your friends to shop from and our host bonuses in the next months are wonderful! Please comment or send me an email (becky @ usborne.us) to be one of these preferred hosts.

I’m booking dates between now and Thanksgiving – the Fall and Holiday shopping season. 🙂 For my out-of-town family and friends – e-shows also count! I can set up a specific website for you to have open for 1-2 weeks. You can share the link with family and friends and based on sales you earn free and discounted books. 🙂

Feel free to browse around my website to see all the wonder-filled books that Usborne has – for all the children in your life. And for children of ALL ages. ;): http://usborne.us/

My challenge ends tomorrow at noon.

Thanks for your help everyone!

{Katey and Caleb are lovin’ on the Wipe Clean books in the photo. Some of our new favorite books! Sturdy and Reusable – 2 of my favorite words. 😉 They have the Ready for Writing and Mazes ones out in the photo. There are also ones for First Letters, Numbers, and Alphabet.}

Filed Under: {reading reverie}, {Usborne}

2 of my favorite circles…

September 3, 2012 3 Comments

p.s. That is a Birthday Cake Oreo. Sprinkles on the inside = happiness. Happy 100th Birthday Oreo! May you have many, many more.

Filed Under: {bonne buche}, {capturing everyday}, {tickles and smiles}

Secret Ingredient

September 1, 2012 1 Comment

Love these sisterly fun times, so I’m capturing and preserving them.

Autumn & Katey made “strawberry jam” together. They combined raspberry & strawberry yogurts, frosted sugar cookie pudding, lemon juice, fresh strawberries & a “secret ingredient”. They had so much fun & claimed it was super yummy.

My favorite part? The cute ribbon packaging.

{credits}

Such fun, silly girls:

Jam mustaches:

That secret ingredient? Raisins.

And perhaps a little sisterly love.

Filed Under: {capturing everyday}, {digital happiness}, {happy times}, {Jessica Sprague}, {photography captures}, {tickles and smiles}

Story Stones

September 1, 2012 3 Comments

{credits}

Love the idea of these! This is my first set – all about schooling and exploring. Inspired by story stones over at red bird crafts.

Turn over one random stone at a time to make “mystery stories”.

Place in a row to make a story. What’s happening here?

Take turns selecting stones and telling the next part of the story.

Use to prompt memories for family history storytelling and capturing.

So many possibilities. Even more ideas here.

Now, what for my next set? Fairytales? Carnival? Recipes? Wouldn’t it be fun to make a music note set? Draw a staff in the dirt and write a song with stones.

If you see someone gathering rocks everywhere they go – that would be me.

Please say hi. 🙂