A few random pictures…

do you like my picture?

Do you like my picture? There are geese flying south (dark blue Vs), monarch butterflies (brown Vs), wind, clouds, I forget what the light blue Vs are, cars, a tree with falling leaves, a street sign, a sun (I think, just above the street sign), and a stop sign. I love his artwork!

sleeping kids

This is how we found the kids one night last week. Doesn't it look like they were trying to get to each other but fell asleep mid way? Silly sleepers :)

lex's papers

Comments like these are why I love the Friday folder :)

pirate eve

Eve went to a pirate party this weekend (one of three birthday parties my kids attended this weekend!)

sweets

Look at all the sweets options available at this kids party?! Crazy. There was a whole other table of crackers, cheese, fruits, and veggies. All for a mid-afternoon party. Wheee! The options seemed endless.

glasses

"Sunglasses on my glasses?!? That's CRAZY!"

eve

Eve. What more can I say?

my trip

This came home in the Friday folder recently too. :)

apple picking

Eve went apple picking with her class today and I got to chaperon! I was so excited.

apples for applesauce

Apples for applesauce (see the sad outcome below, posted earlier this afternoon)

Four posts in one day and I’m officially caught up! Off the camera anyway! In life, well details are fleeting. My weeks are fleeting. I have a big post-it note on my dayplanner saying “Over scheduled, over tired, over eating!” I’ve started canceling social engagements this week because I can’t keep up. Rough life, eh? This was supposed to be the week I hit lifetime at WW, but that won’t happen. After six weeks of failing at maintenance I’m a few good pounds over my goal weight. Because I’m so busy and don’t have time to take care of me. I should say not MAKING the time to take care of me. Next week will be calm, right? Next week. If I make it so. In the meantime I will grab every lovely moment I’ve got with my little monkeys, with or without the camera. We had a nice afternoon today (applesauce disappointment aside) and I will make sure there are many more such afternoons to come.

Leaves: They are upon us again

raking

Raking, raking, raking

diva raking leaves

She looks like a little diva raking leaves.

in the air

This is an odd photo, but kind of beautiful too.

leaf hat - p1

Can you guess what's causing this silly face?

leaf hat - p2

A hat full of leaves, of course! :)

paparazzi

Paparazzi in a tree!

These were taken one day last week when the sun was shining and the leaves were dry. It has been raining ever since. We now have a lawn full of wet, mushy leaves. I’m going to break down and pay the guy to clear them away again.

A super easy craft project

This might be one of the easiest craft projects ever and it took me forever (years, really!) to get around to doing it. (this one is for you Julie!)

Take some pasta, any shape will do as long as it has a hole in it. We used whole wheat penne pasta because that’s what I had in the cabinet.

In a little plastic bag put 2t vinegar, 10-12 drops of food coloring, and 1/2c pasta. Seal it well and shake. A lot. This was Eve’s favorite part. Repeat as needed for as many colors as you want to make.

Let the pasta sit in the dye for five minutes, shaking occasionally. Or a lot. Whatever.

Dump the pasta out onto newspaper to dry. We made four colors and I tried to put each one in it’s own corner, but I let Eve help and therefore many of the wet noodles touched, causing pretty streaking patterns.

Let dry for 15 minutes then turn the pieces over. This sounds very precise. I dumped them from one piece of newspaper to another (dry) piece. Lots of mixing occurred at this point but they were dry enough that it didn’t matter much.

Let sit for awhile longer (we left them for about 4hrs until after school) then grab a string and go to town! Eve made a necklace for her classmate :) You can also use them for gluing pretty pictures on paper, or counting and sorting, or countless other random activities.

Have fun!

pasta necklaces - p1

pasta necklaces - p2

pasta necklaces - p3

Applesauce :-(

image

I’m feeling like the world’s worst mom right now! Eve went apple picking with her class today (I got to chaperon!) and when she got home she wanted to make applesauce. We worked so hard, side by side, but while it was cooking I got distracted (darn cellphone games!) and burned the applesauce! I feel awful! She was going to bring it to school tomorrow to share with her class. Sob.  She is so sweet and she keeps consoling me and saying it’s okay. That just makes me feel even guiltier! Ahhh…  parenting is tough.