Check out some more beautiful faces at I ♥ Faces.
-k
Married to my knight in dirty camo, raising our 3 beauties, and living the military life, home is where the US Air Force sends us! This is our way of sharing the everyday chaos and joy with our family and friends♥
Monday, September 26, 2011
I Heart Faces- People’s Choice
I love this picture of Ruby Lane. It shows so much of her personality. The focus is a little off on her face because she is, literally, always on the go. She is like a tornado, hurricane, typhoon, and an earthquake all rolled into one. I kid you not, she is a force to be reckon with. She’s almost always smiling, loving on her family, and playing passionately. She doesn’t do anything without putting everything she has into it. We just love her so much!
Check out some more beautiful faces at I ♥ Faces.
-k
Check out some more beautiful faces at I ♥ Faces.
-k
Monday, September 19, 2011
Sadie Starts Preschool
I've decided that since Sadie is going to preschool we needed to start working on some "school" activities so that when she starts pre-k or kindergarten she isn't step behind. Thanks to the internet and google, I was able to find and print dozens of activities for her to do while Lilly is at school. She really loves it, so much so that she has Lilly wanting to do more when she gets home from school.
We honestly think Sadie is smarter than she lets on. We'll ask her questions and she'll say she doesn't know the answer, but if it's on her terms she knows the answer to the question we asked. Her only weakness is her fine motor skills. I made her a notebook with activities, paper, and folders so that all her work is in one place. My only problem with it is that I can't find my 3-hole punch, ha! Other than that it's working well.
She is ambidextrous, which is so apparent from starting the "schoolwork". Instead of being able to focus on one hand and improving on it, she does twice the work. When she's working, she'll start with one hand and then she'll switch. You can even see it in the photos- she uses both hands.
The only thing she doesn't like is coloring. I know! What kid doesn't like coloring? Apparently mine. Lilly loves coloring, always has, Sadie not so much. She'll pick an activity to work on and ask my what she needs to do. The second I say color she goes and finds another one until she finds one that doesn't say color.
We're really happy that all 3 kiddos want to learn as much as they can. It's been pretty easy teaching them. Almost makes me want to homeschool. Ha! Almost. Ruby has wanted to be involved to, but she mostly wants to color on top of what Sadie or Lilly is doing. You can usually find her trying to eat the crayons though. Gross! Hopefully she grows out of this stage fast.
Lilly has been enjoying school. She's often tired from it but she pushes through it. She was so excited to actually have homework. She comes home with homework Monday through Thursday but it is so beneath her. A few nights she has come home with papers to write her name. She's been writing her name for over a year now so not impressed with the homework. I know some of the other kids in her class are probably not where she is, but I do not want to hold her back any. I'm in the process of putting a notebook together for her so that she do some work that is a little challenging. I know it is still the beginning of the year, so they are starting slow. But I figure I can do more with her when she comes home from school, she likes a it and it'll be on her terms. If she wants to relax instead, that's fine. Whatever keeps her in a good mood :)
But so far so good. I'll just have to keep up with them and find some more things for to do. I'll keep you updated :)
-K
We honestly think Sadie is smarter than she lets on. We'll ask her questions and she'll say she doesn't know the answer, but if it's on her terms she knows the answer to the question we asked. Her only weakness is her fine motor skills. I made her a notebook with activities, paper, and folders so that all her work is in one place. My only problem with it is that I can't find my 3-hole punch, ha! Other than that it's working well.
She is ambidextrous, which is so apparent from starting the "schoolwork". Instead of being able to focus on one hand and improving on it, she does twice the work. When she's working, she'll start with one hand and then she'll switch. You can even see it in the photos- she uses both hands.
The only thing she doesn't like is coloring. I know! What kid doesn't like coloring? Apparently mine. Lilly loves coloring, always has, Sadie not so much. She'll pick an activity to work on and ask my what she needs to do. The second I say color she goes and finds another one until she finds one that doesn't say color.
We're really happy that all 3 kiddos want to learn as much as they can. It's been pretty easy teaching them. Almost makes me want to homeschool. Ha! Almost. Ruby has wanted to be involved to, but she mostly wants to color on top of what Sadie or Lilly is doing. You can usually find her trying to eat the crayons though. Gross! Hopefully she grows out of this stage fast.
Lilly has been enjoying school. She's often tired from it but she pushes through it. She was so excited to actually have homework. She comes home with homework Monday through Thursday but it is so beneath her. A few nights she has come home with papers to write her name. She's been writing her name for over a year now so not impressed with the homework. I know some of the other kids in her class are probably not where she is, but I do not want to hold her back any. I'm in the process of putting a notebook together for her so that she do some work that is a little challenging. I know it is still the beginning of the year, so they are starting slow. But I figure I can do more with her when she comes home from school, she likes a it and it'll be on her terms. If she wants to relax instead, that's fine. Whatever keeps her in a good mood :)
But so far so good. I'll just have to keep up with them and find some more things for to do. I'll keep you updated :)
-K
Sunday, September 18, 2011
I Heart Faces- A Touch of Sun
-k
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Kids Say the Darndest Things
We try to use kid friendly cleaners around the house because the kids and the pets put everything in their mouths. We usually make a vinegar/water spray and use it to clean tables and the counters. Sadie walked into the dining room and Sadie, "Hey! It smells like chips in here! I want some chips now." Can you tell one their favorite kind of chips are salt and vinegar? It must be because they're English ;)
One of the things we brought home from the states are some old American Girl dolls that we got when I was like 8. Steven and my dad searched high and low in the basement for them and all their accessories. And since the day they got them, they have played and dressed at least once a day. Sadie was sitting on the couch trying to dress her Felicity doll into a hospital gown, and asked me for help. Since I try not to get sucked into dressing their dolls because it's a never-ending cycle of taking one outfit off to put on another one, just to take that one off 2 minutes later. I told her, "I'll give you a hint. The arms go into the arm holes." And she perks up, "Oh! That's what you have to do! I think I can do that, put the arms in the arm holes."
When Steven arrived in the states in July, the girls had a plethora of things and stories to tell him. These things ranged from what we did without him to random crazies to how much they missed him. Well one night Lilly, out of nowhere, says "Dad, you know sometimes you screw yourself." And Steven who is learning patience with them and to ask what they are talking about before punishing her, looked at me half laughing/half mad and says, " What do you mean Lilly?" And she explains, "You know when you are hanging stuff on the wall and you put the screw in your finger instead of into the wall, you screw yourself in the finger." One word- PRICELESS.
We got rid of Ruby's binky as soon as she was over the croup. The only reason she kept it over the summer was that we wanted her to have it for the flight to and from the states. It was just easier on everyone involved that she keep for the long flights. We didn't have any problem getting rid of it at all, we just did the same as we did for the other two. We threw them all way and told her that little babies needed it because she's a big girl now. Now she doesn't stop talking. The worst part is that she parrots everyone, all the time. She follows movies and stories and understands what's going on. When she sees vehicles she shouts, "Drive, drive, drive!" But when she sees cats, she goes NUTS. She screams "kiddies!" at the top of her lungs and when the cat is bad she screams, "Kiddie! Bad kiddies. Kiddie bad!" over and over and over and over and over and over again. It drives me bonkers! I love that she's talking a lot more now but man I wish you could install a filter on her.
We went to the BX after school one day and noticed the Halloween costumes were out. For those of you who don't know, when there is something at the BX who want, need, or even think you may need you have to buy it right there on the spot. If you don't and you go back even just later in the day, it more than likely won't be there anymore.
Small base + Overseas = Not a lot of stuff. The girls picked out the princesses costumes obviously :) Lilly will be Ariel, Sadie will be Belle, and Ruby will be Cinderella. Ruby went to her new go to word of the day, cute. She just kept screaming, "Cute! Cute! Cute!" Lilly asked Daddy what he wanted to be and he said nothing the costumes were for them. Ruby says, "But cute!" meaning but Daddy you'll be cute. Her talking is getting better and better everyday.
We were looking around the toy section and we stopped at the puzzles. They have been pretty much obsessed with them since Yiayia got them some to do over the summer. They found some Disney ones that were 300 pieces and they were amazed by all the pieces. Lilly picks one up and says, "Oh Momma! What kind is this one?" I told her it was a Diary of a Wimpy Kid puzzle and she says, "Oh a Diarrhea of a Wimpy Kid puzzle! Cool!"
Maybe Ruby is going through a growth spurt or I don't know what, but every time Steven or I go into or even near the kitchen Ruby starts screaming, "Eat! Eat! Eat!" and runs to her seat at the table. Sometimes she actually eats other times she just plays or tries to feed the dog.
We've been watching "Only in America with Larry the Cable" and the girls like Larry is just awesome. They figured out that he's the voice of Tow Mater and now they think he's hillarious. They had the DVD of the show at the BX and Sadie screams out, "Hey Mom! They have that Cable Guy here!!!"
The weekends here have been about sitting with/on Daddy. They love the days he's home with them!
-K
One of the things we brought home from the states are some old American Girl dolls that we got when I was like 8. Steven and my dad searched high and low in the basement for them and all their accessories. And since the day they got them, they have played and dressed at least once a day. Sadie was sitting on the couch trying to dress her Felicity doll into a hospital gown, and asked me for help. Since I try not to get sucked into dressing their dolls because it's a never-ending cycle of taking one outfit off to put on another one, just to take that one off 2 minutes later. I told her, "I'll give you a hint. The arms go into the arm holes." And she perks up, "Oh! That's what you have to do! I think I can do that, put the arms in the arm holes."
When Steven arrived in the states in July, the girls had a plethora of things and stories to tell him. These things ranged from what we did without him to random crazies to how much they missed him. Well one night Lilly, out of nowhere, says "Dad, you know sometimes you screw yourself." And Steven who is learning patience with them and to ask what they are talking about before punishing her, looked at me half laughing/half mad and says, " What do you mean Lilly?" And she explains, "You know when you are hanging stuff on the wall and you put the screw in your finger instead of into the wall, you screw yourself in the finger." One word- PRICELESS.
We got rid of Ruby's binky as soon as she was over the croup. The only reason she kept it over the summer was that we wanted her to have it for the flight to and from the states. It was just easier on everyone involved that she keep for the long flights. We didn't have any problem getting rid of it at all, we just did the same as we did for the other two. We threw them all way and told her that little babies needed it because she's a big girl now. Now she doesn't stop talking. The worst part is that she parrots everyone, all the time. She follows movies and stories and understands what's going on. When she sees vehicles she shouts, "Drive, drive, drive!" But when she sees cats, she goes NUTS. She screams "kiddies!" at the top of her lungs and when the cat is bad she screams, "Kiddie! Bad kiddies. Kiddie bad!" over and over and over and over and over and over again. It drives me bonkers! I love that she's talking a lot more now but man I wish you could install a filter on her.
We went to the BX after school one day and noticed the Halloween costumes were out. For those of you who don't know, when there is something at the BX who want, need, or even think you may need you have to buy it right there on the spot. If you don't and you go back even just later in the day, it more than likely won't be there anymore.
Small base + Overseas = Not a lot of stuff. The girls picked out the princesses costumes obviously :) Lilly will be Ariel, Sadie will be Belle, and Ruby will be Cinderella. Ruby went to her new go to word of the day, cute. She just kept screaming, "Cute! Cute! Cute!" Lilly asked Daddy what he wanted to be and he said nothing the costumes were for them. Ruby says, "But cute!" meaning but Daddy you'll be cute. Her talking is getting better and better everyday.
We were looking around the toy section and we stopped at the puzzles. They have been pretty much obsessed with them since Yiayia got them some to do over the summer. They found some Disney ones that were 300 pieces and they were amazed by all the pieces. Lilly picks one up and says, "Oh Momma! What kind is this one?" I told her it was a Diary of a Wimpy Kid puzzle and she says, "Oh a Diarrhea of a Wimpy Kid puzzle! Cool!"
Maybe Ruby is going through a growth spurt or I don't know what, but every time Steven or I go into or even near the kitchen Ruby starts screaming, "Eat! Eat! Eat!" and runs to her seat at the table. Sometimes she actually eats other times she just plays or tries to feed the dog.
We've been watching "Only in America with Larry the Cable" and the girls like Larry is just awesome. They figured out that he's the voice of Tow Mater and now they think he's hillarious. They had the DVD of the show at the BX and Sadie screams out, "Hey Mom! They have that Cable Guy here!!!"
The weekends here have been about sitting with/on Daddy. They love the days he's home with them!
-K
Friday, September 16, 2011
Cindy's House
After the Air Force museum we headed to Auntie Ninny's house! Cindy lives about 15 minutes from Dover so it was great to head down there afterwards. We got to see some baby piglets and a huge garden. They do pig roasts every summer so they raise their own pigs and a couple mommy pigs had liters this summer. The last set had only been born a few days before so we only got a small glimpse of them. The girls love animals so they were ecstatic.
A few years ago they renovated part of their big house and made an apartment out of it. They have some really nice tenants and one is a gardener. At the beginning of the summer, Jose planted a plethora of fruits and vegetables. They grew big and produce so many great veggies and some huge watermelon. We had a lot of fun picking things to bring home.
Poor Sadie was sitting inside watching a movie because she was so tired. She wasn't very happy about leaving the couch when it was time to go. We were sad to go. The girls were really going to miss her, as was I. So we turned the car around and went back and brought her to Pennsylvania with us! We love you Aunty Ninny!
-k
A few years ago they renovated part of their big house and made an apartment out of it. They have some really nice tenants and one is a gardener. At the beginning of the summer, Jose planted a plethora of fruits and vegetables. They grew big and produce so many great veggies and some huge watermelon. We had a lot of fun picking things to bring home.
Poor Sadie was sitting inside watching a movie because she was so tired. She wasn't very happy about leaving the couch when it was time to go. We were sad to go. The girls were really going to miss her, as was I. So we turned the car around and went back and brought her to Pennsylvania with us! We love you Aunty Ninny!-k
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Dover's AMC Museum
One thing that we love about Dover is the Air Mobility Command Museum. It's a museum about the Air Force's past and present. They have static displays of all kinds of air crafts and exhibits about World War II and the beginnings of the Air Force. We've made a few visits in the past 6 years and we have fun everytime we've gone.
We had a lot of fun and when we were done we headed to Auntie Ninny's house. But I'll save that for another post- there's a lot of pictures!
-k
We had a lot of fun and when we were done we headed to Auntie Ninny's house. But I'll save that for another post- there's a lot of pictures!
-k
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Queso Recipe
I first learned this recipe years ago from Steven's mom- Hi Memaw! Over the years I've tweaked it here and there depending on our current tastes. Especially since my taste buds have changed drastically from pregnancy to pregnancy. When I was pregnant with Lilly, there wasn't anything that was spicy enough. Now I can't take much heat at all. This variation is one that I made a couple of time's at my mom's house this summer. There are two things I love about this dip. One, it can be spicy or not. Make a pan of it and then add hot sauce or chile peppers to individual servings. Two, you make it as a meal or an appetizer. We usually make it as a meal because it's definitely not the healthiest thing around. And it's so easy to tweak to your tastes.
This recipes makes a lot. Make it for a party, or freeze half for another day, or eat it for the days :)
Ingredients:
2 lbs. ground turkey, beef, sausage or a mix of these
3 tomatoes
a bunch or two of green onions
1-2 green peppers
1 packet of taco seasoning
1 lg and 1 sm boxes of Velveeta
2-3 bags of tortilla chips
In a stock pot, cook meat. While meat is browning, cut the Velveeta in cubes. Drain the meat, return to the pot and add taco seasoning. Add the Velveeta and turn down the heat to medium. Dice the green onions, peppers, and tomatoes and add once the Velveeta is almost completely melted. Let the dip combine and warm for about 10 minutes. Then serve over chips while it's hot. Enjoy!
Next time I make this I'll take photos of the process. When I try new recipes I usually like to have some photos to go along with the recipes.
-K
This recipes makes a lot. Make it for a party, or freeze half for another day, or eat it for the days :)
Ingredients:
2 lbs. ground turkey, beef, sausage or a mix of these
3 tomatoes
a bunch or two of green onions
1-2 green peppers
1 packet of taco seasoning
1 lg and 1 sm boxes of Velveeta
2-3 bags of tortilla chips
In a stock pot, cook meat. While meat is browning, cut the Velveeta in cubes. Drain the meat, return to the pot and add taco seasoning. Add the Velveeta and turn down the heat to medium. Dice the green onions, peppers, and tomatoes and add once the Velveeta is almost completely melted. Let the dip combine and warm for about 10 minutes. Then serve over chips while it's hot. Enjoy!
Next time I make this I'll take photos of the process. When I try new recipes I usually like to have some photos to go along with the recipes.
-K
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Lilly's First Day of Kindergarten
I seriously have no words. When did she get this big?
Oh and she's not really "big" by any means. She was only shoulder height to all the other kids in her class. So small, in fact, that we thought she may have wandered off for her class' line because we couldn't find her. She was in the middle of the line and all the other kids were much taller than her so we couldn't see her from the back of the line. Yup, she's tiny, like itty bitty for her age.
As they started to walk into the building to start their day, and I saw Lilly start to choke up. I didn't see her actually cry. When we got home this afternoon she told me she got upset but she was able to hold herself together and calm down. We're so proud of her for that because she occasionally has panic attacks. But she worked this one out on her own and avoided it.
She had a great day, but she was so tired. Poor thing woke up early, like 6am early. She was so excited that nap time in kindergarten is much shorter than pre-K. She saw some old friends for pre-K and made new friends too. I made her favorite for lunch which she was so thankful for- a salami, cheese, and mayonnaise sandwich. When we got home we had some popsicles for a snack to cool off and vegged for a little bit. She does get homework and her assignment this week is an "About Me" sheet that she started while I made dinner.
I think she is going to have a great year. Oh and Sadie and Ruby missed her today. They made sure to give her a hug and a kiss when we got home. All day Ruby kept saying, "Bear Bear cool."- She calls Lilly bear bear. She would come up to me every few minutes and tell Lilly was at school.
Now all I need to do is find some fun. learning activities to keep Sadie-Mae busy! Any suggestions?
-K
Oh and she's not really "big" by any means. She was only shoulder height to all the other kids in her class. So small, in fact, that we thought she may have wandered off for her class' line because we couldn't find her. She was in the middle of the line and all the other kids were much taller than her so we couldn't see her from the back of the line. Yup, she's tiny, like itty bitty for her age.
As they started to walk into the building to start their day, and I saw Lilly start to choke up. I didn't see her actually cry. When we got home this afternoon she told me she got upset but she was able to hold herself together and calm down. We're so proud of her for that because she occasionally has panic attacks. But she worked this one out on her own and avoided it.
She had a great day, but she was so tired. Poor thing woke up early, like 6am early. She was so excited that nap time in kindergarten is much shorter than pre-K. She saw some old friends for pre-K and made new friends too. I made her favorite for lunch which she was so thankful for- a salami, cheese, and mayonnaise sandwich. When we got home we had some popsicles for a snack to cool off and vegged for a little bit. She does get homework and her assignment this week is an "About Me" sheet that she started while I made dinner.
I think she is going to have a great year. Oh and Sadie and Ruby missed her today. They made sure to give her a hug and a kiss when we got home. All day Ruby kept saying, "Bear Bear cool."- She calls Lilly bear bear. She would come up to me every few minutes and tell Lilly was at school.
Now all I need to do is find some fun. learning activities to keep Sadie-Mae busy! Any suggestions?
-K
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