Cookies with sprinkles?

March 12: Day 72

My sweetie girl, during an afternoon break, snuck down stairs and pulled out her Easy-Bake Oven and began a project.  I love how determined she is because she got most of the way through a creation while following the wrong recipe.  Luckily, you can't mess up these recipes too easily, so we remedied the mis-measure and voila, sugar cookies frosted with pink sprinkles.  Well done Isabelle!

Snug as bugs in a rug...

March 11: Day 71

Daddy had to travel for a few days for work, so after the girls and I got cozy for bed, we hopped in mine and watched a bit of America's Funniest Home Videos.  It's one of the few programs that we like to watch as a family.  And nothing is more comfy than Mama's bed, the fluffy blankets, the bazillion pillow.  It's safe and warm and a great place to cuddle. 

Volcano!!!

March 10: Day 70

Another soccer Saturday at the park.  This time, we were there to watch Macky play.  While sissies are playing, Sarah usually finds her friend Vee (short for Veronica), who seems to spend as much time at the fields as we do, and play.  In this case the were playing volcano.  They would find as much dirt as their little fingers could manage to scratch up, stack it on top of this very volcano-looking rock and pour water over it from a used, yet rinsed out Coke can or Zip-lock bag.  Very creative, indeed. 

She's not that heavy...

March 9: Day 69

I guess I shouldn't be surprised that after 7 years of sitting in the backyard and enduring sun and rain, one of the swings finally gave out and broke in half.  Lucky for Isabelle, she was just slowing down and preparing to stop when it let go.  We had a pretty good laugh over the whole thing, though.  Especially since no one was hurt. 

PJ day at the PLC...

March 8: Day 68

For home schoolers, this isn't as exciting as it probably is for traditional schoolers.  The girls take a class or two on Thursdays at the Personal Learning Center and we found out the day before that it was pajama day!  So, luckily, laundry was done and the girls picked out their most comfortable and school-appropriate pajamas and off they went.  Of course, since we do plenty of school in our pajamas every week, it may have been more challenging and memorable if it was "come-to-school-fully-clothed" day.  Ah, the joys of home schooling. 

A haircut and ice cream!

March 7: Day 77

Macky and I headed over to see Miss Lauren today to get our hair cut.  It's so fun having a little special time with one of my girls.  We have a tradition that when we get a haircut, we head across the street for a scoop of Baskin Robbins ice cream!  Lucky for me, I have three girls so it's three times the ice cream! 

My girl likes to mop...

March 6: Day 66

Now that's what I call a hard worker.  I love when the girls take it upon themselves to help out around the house.  Each week, each girl has three chores to complete for a small allowance on Friday.  Isabelle had to sweep the kitchen floor, but she took it a step further and mopped too!  I love it!

Two birds with one stone...

March 5: Day 65

Having dinner at Cost Co with Daddy, then doing my weekly Cost Co shopping is glorious!  You probably think I'm crazy, but I don't have to cook which means the kitchen stays clean, the kids don't complain about what they have to eat, and Mike is there to distract them while I get all my shopping done!  It's like I'm shopping on their time instead of mine!  It's great!  A special treat on this trip was running into the Hanson family.  We rarely make it to Cost Co after dark, but two out of the the three times we've done this, we've run into our favorite Valley Center gang.  It was great getting a little catch up time while all our many girls got to play around and admire the tutus in the clothing section.  What a good life. 

Feliz Cumpleaños Abuelo...

March 4: Day 64

We celebrated Mike's dad's birthday at our absolute favorite Mexican food restaurant today; Casa de Bandini. You can see his misery. What I spared you from is seeing the girls devour this birthday flan with their hands shortly after the candle was extinguished. Grandparents let grandchildren get away with murder sometimes.

A-okay!

March 3: Day 63

If she is on the soccer field, everything is always A-okay!  I'm not sure what Sarah enjoys more; soccer or playing to the crowd.  Whenever she runs past us on the side lines, she waves and smiles and usually has a score update.  May she be this enthusiastic in all areas of her life. 

Crochet anyone?

March 2: Day 62

Another beautiful day at the park.  Have I begun this blog with that exact statement before?  It's the truth.  A few of the girls like to get together on a picnic blanket and do projects.  This particular Friday, our dear friend Emily (in the green) led the girls in crochet lessons.  I am so thankful for the diverse talents of each child.  We are so richly blessed.  

Yet again...

March 1: Day 61
I was on a role this week.  I again let a whole day go by without snapping a shot.  Well, this was an unmentionable day.  School, bang trim, dinner, the usual. 

Snow, snow, snow, snow...

February 29: Day 60

 Do you remember in the movie White Christmas, all the characters are sitting around a dining table when Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen are trying to convince Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye to come to Vermont.  As they decide to go, they of course break out in song.  Bing sings the word "snow" while each of the other characters takes his or her turn harmonizing the same word.  That's all I could think of the whole day while playing at Palomar Mountain on this most perfect Leap Day! 

I am so thankful for our group of friends that could take the day and make it up the hill.  There was plenty of snow and the kids were able to slide down a couple great slopes.  Sarah fully enjoyed her first trip to the snow. 

The first of many...

February 28: Day 59
It finally happened.  I missed a day of photo taking.  So goes our life and the business of it.  We had a great day in school, our best friend Rachel turned 10 and I decided to beg my sweet mommy friends to ditch school the next day and head to the snow!  So stay tuned for our day of fun in the snow!

A good book in front of the fire...

February 27: Day 58

We had a cold snap today, so we decided to curl up in front of a warm fire, eat some popcorn and read The Magician's Nephew.  Ah, this is what winter is all about.  Of course, you can see by Isabelle's mischievous face and Macky's irritation that it's not always as peaceful as I'd like to remember. 



Blowing off steam...

February 26: Day 57

We were wiped out the day after Awana Games, so we stayed home and had an all family pajama day.  On days such as these, I like to make special iced mochas and afterward I empty the remaining water in the holding part of the espresso maker by allowing it to escape through the steamer.  The girls couldn't resist coming over and blowing the steam around in swirling ribbons and billowing puffs. 



Awana Games has arrived...

February 25: Day 56

Today was the big day!  The girls have spent the last 6 Saturday mornings and Wednesday nights practicing for this Olympics of sorts.  Awana Games are relay-type races on steroids.  It was so very intense and I am so proud of my girls!    

Our club from Tri-City Church took 2nd overall in all of San Diego County.  And, Macky's Sprint Relay team (above) broke a record that we hope won't soon be broken. 

Dum-dum...

Februay 24: Day 55

This was another beautiful day at the park.  We got to celebrate one of our Friday Friends birthday's and devour a few treats.  We have such a big group that almost every Friday is some one's birthday and every birthday calls for treats.  Sarah chose one of her favorite candies of all time, the classic Dum-dum.  Yum, yum!

Wii before bed....

February 23: Day 54

Who says homeschoolers don't get enough exercise?  As you can see we are already dressed in pajamas getting ready for bed, but it's never to late to burn a few calories.  

February 22: Day 53

Even when we are running out the door to Awana Club meetings Isabelle finds a minute to practice just a bit of piano.  It seems most piano practice occurs in this "last minute" manner.  It may not be the best way to get our piano in, but at least we're trying. 

This picture is for Anna Hanson...here it is!!  Anna, posted a picture of sweet Valentine's activities that she and her girls did on the 14th, and after I saw her Grace's hair in the shape of a heart, I had to give it a shot.  Sarah was patient enough to participate and pretty excited about the results.  It was a big hit at Awana Club, even if it was a week late. 

10 am snack break...

February 21: Day 52

How do you spend your morning break?  This is a common sight at our house.  Often the girls will be given 15 minutes (which inevitably turns into 30) for a snack break around 10 am.  When the sun is out and the classroom is freezing, they will set up a "fort" in the driveway and play whatever their creative minds imagine.