{tickles and smiles}

Grateful

June 15, 2012 2 Comments

Sunbeam lesson on Sunday was “I Have Feelings“. Funny thing about those little ones – they wanted to know which face they each were. They also helped me rename some of the feelings from the suggestions in the lesson. Angry? nope, that’s mad. Surprised is close to frightened. And I thought it was so cute that Katey thought my tired face was grateful. I guess my drawn girl looks a little too happy and thoughtful to be tired.

I also included the finger play from the lesson on the bottom of the paper. I thought they might enjoy that one – I was right. Hopefully they were able to do it at home a few times this week. One part in the manual that I loved – “it is good to show all of the different feelings we have, but we must show them in the right ways, especially when we are angry.”

When I asked what to do when feeling mad, sad or scared, Katey said you can talk to “Oh… mom or dad… or grandma or grandpa if they are sleeping over at your house.” I love her sweet little answers.

Sharing Time conversation-
Jacob (out of the blue): My dad is the greatest!
Katey: My dad is the greatest dad in the universe!
Jacob: My dad is Wonder World!!!
*end of conversation*

p.s. I’m not sure about Wonder World, but this is what Super Dad looks like:

Filed Under: {happy times}, {tickles and smiles}, {worthwhile}

Enliven the Soul

June 10, 2012 2 Comments

Favorite teaching moment from the sunbeams last week: I finished talking about noses and smelling and went on to tasting. I asked “what are our mouths for?” And sweet little Jacob F. said “Smiling!” 🙂

Here are the things we tasted as part of the lesson. They loved them all. Yes, all. Mixed in the little cups was their very favorite. 😉

Second favorite moment? Madi drawing a mushroom with a big ol’ smile… and hair, when the prompt was to draw something they like to taste with their tastebuds.

Third? All of them crowded around the magnifying mirror to see said tastebuds. How I love those little sunbeams!

This scripture from the lesson makes my heart happy:

D&C 59:18 Yea, all things which come of the earth, in the season thereof, are made for the benefit and the use of man, both to please the eye and to gladden the heart;

19 Yea, for food and for raiment, for taste and for smell, to strengthen the body and to enliven the soul.

My sister Anna and I were talking earlier about how much we love food and think it’s our love language (only partly in jest). I think the above scripture proves that one of Heavenly Father’s love languages must be food too.

Filed Under: {bonne buche}, {happy times}, {tickles and smiles}, {worthwhile}

1001 Words: the beginning

June 2, 2012 1 Comment

I’m working on having my photos tell a story. Short stories are just fine. I took this one last week.

To me it simply says: summertime.

1001 Words is a fun little series where I post (after this one with the description 😉 ) one photo + one word.

Filed Under: {1001 Words}, {tickles and smiles}

Settling in…

May 28, 2012 4 Comments

Last night before Brendan went to bed he asked what our family rules are. He is such a sweetheart. We told him we have two basic rules – 1. work hard 2. be nice. We found these from an inner city school in New York and love them. It pretty much covers everything. He nodded and then headed off. Jim Bob and I looked at each other and knew we would not have any troubles from him. (Not that we were planning on any…)

This morning our big boys set Brendan up with his very own chore chart. That way he can earn stars and rewards. When I let Brendan know he would have a chore while he was here he said “Great!” He will be sweeping the dining room and kitchen floors. I told him he is welcome to do them once a day – or after every meal – or however he’d like to do it. A little bit later he came and asked if he could please sweep morning and night. Works good. (See? No worries.)

After breakfast, scripture study and chores the boys have been together almost all of today. This morning they watched turkey vultures (first thought to be eagles) in our big willow tree from the backyard treehouse. A few video games, lots of planning and talking, some legos and cards… just time together.

This evening we went to Ben & Holly’s place for a Family BBQ. We ate delicious food, visited and played. Ben got a four wheeler not too long ago – so short, low-speed rides were in order. Multiple short, up the street and back, low-speed rides enjoyed by many.

Some of the boys were chillin’ on the trampoline eating. I asked them to make a happy face while I shot through the net enclosure. Here’s what I got:

Sillies.

Menus today:

Breakfast: Scrambly Eggs, Bacon and Canteloupe

Lunch: Nachos and Blackberry Lemonade

Dinner: Family BBQ – avocados on burgers, potato salad, green salad, chips, watermelon

Not bad for a first day. 😉 Brendan helped crack the eggs for breakfast. He politely asked if it would be okay to try cracking eggs against each other – with finesse I believe he called it. We were making plenty of eggs so why not?

What a crack-up. 😉

Tomorrow night is try-outs. Jim Bob let Brendan in on little details tonight – like how to act out parts big – most of the audience is quite a ways away. They also talked about the parts he will be trying out for and some experiences Jim Bob has had when trying out. More on that tomorrow.

Sweet dreams.

Filed Under: {happy times}, {Mormon Miracle Pageant}, {tickles and smiles}

Cheeky Kisses

May 27, 2012 1 Comment

I treasure these moments with my little one.

One of my favorite treasure quotes:

“The most precious jewels you will ever have around your neck are the arms of your children.”

I also treasure my hunny that is patient enough to get the shots that I have in my head.

Cheeky kisses to you all!

Filed Under: {happy times}, {holidays and celebrations}, {one little word}, {tickles and smiles}

Documented: the Month of Love

May 24, 2012 2 Comments

While I’m finishing up series – here’s the continuation of the month of love: week 1. You ready to feel the love?

During a lesson at church we were challenged to show love everyday for the whole month leading up to Valentine’s Day. Simple or grand, well thought out or spontaneous – show love. The other aspect was to share child-like love – whole-hearted. Cute notes on pillows, weed bouquets, prayers, hugs and big kisses… a whole month of love.

Our second week:
* shared Meri photos on Facebook w/ family and friends
* bathed and snuggled baby
* Pinewood Derby! – Jacob & Josh both rocking it – and cheering each other on 🙂
* read LOTS of books to K&C
* wished Happy Birthday to brother, mother & sister (it’s a good month! 🙂 )
* baked cookies for family and Jacob’s classroom store
* cleaned girls’ room – beauty!

{supplies here}

Third week:

* snuggled and tickled
* visited “Grandpa and Grandma Missionary”
* Pizza Friday night (first time since the baby was born)
* read Little Britches
* took black beans for a “Cafe Rio” style lunch with a group of ladies – love to me!
* made pomegranate muffins
* prayed for second cousin in the ER
* foot rubs for Daddy, Jacob and Caleb (they just lined right up! 😉 )
* volunteered to make Humanitarian Center newsletter
* JB made yummy breakfast on Saturday morning
* Autumn led story hour

{supplies here}

Week 4:

* took dinner (chili and heart shaped cinnamon rolls) to a family with a deployed daddy
* let JB sleep the whole night (baby did not 🙂 )
* made pumpkin pie for the boys (with their pumpkins grown by their aunt)
* helped neighbor clean her house for a son’s visit
* played chess with Jacob
* read Dickens & made notebooks to celebrate his birthday
* cake pops for secret snack in sack lunches
* friends day after hiatus & ham/pineapple pizza
* JB watch sick little ones during church (I took notes – Bro. Christensen’s talk on grace.)
* all pink load of laundry (with now 4 girls in the house…)

{supplies here}

My sweet friend Mandi pointed out that these are probably things that I do on a regular basis (most are…), but that doing them with intention gives the actions more meaning. It’s true. I’m thankful for this project for that reason. And for the fact that I would probably never have taken a photo of our laundry otherwise…

Filed Under: {digital happiness}, {holidays and celebrations}, {Jessica Sprague}, {tickles and smiles}

Smiles

May 19, 2012 1 Comment

I adore Purdue Avenue and all the inspiration found there. You might already know that.

I was invited to write with these girls which feels like the best play date EVER.

My post is all about future planning. Of the grandparent sort.

Learn how to simply (I promise!) turn these:

into this:

and how it will help you now and in the years to come. Happy smilin’!

Filed Under: {digital happiness}, {happy times}, {one little word}, {tickles and smiles}

Proof

May 19, 2012 1 Comment

Caleb has been here.

Want to know how I know?

It’s the purse.

He’s crazy about spiriting away his sister’s bike and her purse. And filling said purse with all kinds of treasures.

My favorite to date:

And this is, apparently, the latest in how to carry a purse.

{The first in my playings with Sarah Cornish’s lightroom presets – this set is called Happenstance.}

Filed Under: {bonne buche}, {happy times}, {tickles and smiles}

Cake and Kisses

May 12, 2012 2 Comments

Happy International Nurses Day – and Happy Birthday Florence Nightingale.

Our plans for Nurses Day, made with Paper.

My sis Anna has a blog. She’s wonderful, sweet, adventurous, an amazing baker and a nurse. We all adore her. So we are celebrating Nurses Day in her honor (wish you were here sis!).

We will read posts about nursing, a Florence Nightingale book and run around the park a little. I’m also serving a buffet, based on this collage made by Anna:

While they might be daily staples for our nursing aunt – quick and can be eaten on-the-go, most are rare treats for our children and they’re a little excited. 😉 It’s going to be fun.

Recommended posts (there are so many to love!): History of Nurses Week, Birthday Cake for Florence, Why I became a Nurse link-up (Anna’s story and a dozen others linked up), and all the Nursing Tuesday posts are great. I really like the ones on capes (who knew??), and band-aids.

There’s also a post she wrote for LA Family:

… and don’t forget her nursing giveaway (ends tonight though, so hurry on over. 😉 ).

From what I read about Florence – she was so kind and gentle. She trained nurses and worked near battlefields in Turkey. She would walk the wards at night and soothe the suffering men. They would see her “lantern moving through the dark like a comforting angel and named her the Lady with the Lamp.” She adjusted pillows and put flowers by their beds. The soldiers she cared for adored her – when she walked by some would lean out of their beds to kiss her shadow. She researched nursing throughout her life and wrote about the importance of fresh air and a quiet and peaceful ward. Florence’s Notes on Nursing: what it is and what it is not became a best-seller. After nursing, Florence continued her research and helped in many areas. She set up a training school for nurses. She interviewed each herself and followed their progress. She sent flowers and books to them – and cake on their birthdays.

Nurses – caring, beautiful, kind and sent cake for birthdays? Florence and Anna have a lot in common.

Filed Under: {happy times}, {holidays and celebrations}, {tickles and smiles}

Drewby Special

May 12, 2012 1 Comment

Two of our boys have a “special”. It started years ago when Jacob decided a bean and cheese burrito was his special. No salsa. No sour cream. Just the burrito. Not to be left out Joshua chose jell-o. Any flavor. That way he could have lots of specials… well, we don’t have jell-o that often. Which led to his request to have grilled cheese sandwiches and/or jell-o be his special. Now whenever we have those foods they announce to the whole family it is their special. It took a few years, but two weeks ago after church Andrew chose his: