Boys and Their Toys...

********************End of an Era**********

Noah and Michael have been working on Noah's last Pinewood Derby car:

****************************Cupcakes and Book Club************

Book Club time, again, for Eve's 2nd grade class. Here is a sample of the book mark I made for the kids to remind them of our meeting dates:

I used some fun graphics and alphabets from Lettering Delights .

Last week I took a box of Whole Grain Goldfish for a snack because in the book Peter goes to a birthday party where the kids get real goldfish as a present. I warned the kids to NEVER give pets as a gift at parties because the animal might be injured, or inadequately taken care of if the parent has no warning when the animal is taken home. This week I made cupcakes with homemade chocolate frosting because in the book Peter's little brother, "Fudge", celebrates his third birthday with a chocolate frosted cake with yellow roses. I decided what to make at 10:30am and had them baked and frosted by 11:45am. I put extra frosting in containers and grabbed my spatula, then off to school. When I got there I promptly banged the container into my steering wheel as I tried to exit the car. They all toppled over...not pretty. I also managed to drop my bag with the book and containers of frosting in a puddle next to my car. I grabbed the book and wiped it off, then the containers and through them in the bag. I opened the container and righted all the cupcakes. Luckily, the flavor doesn't change when the frosting is mushed. I guess the moral tale to tell is take a photo before you travel.

Michael said the frosting tastes exactly like his Granny Vone's. That is a compliment, people.

********************Piano Lessons**********

Eve and I just got back from piano lessons. Her teacher was pleased as punch that she decided to memorize all 3 pages of her recital piece. She has been trying really hard. We are pleased as punch too.

Later, gators.

Cub Scouts Vs. Aliens

I baked cupcakes for the space themed Blue and Gold Banquet tonight at church. I got the idea from a cool cupcake book my mom gave me. I used a half of a marshmallow and a donut hole to give the height for the head. Then the other half of the marshmallow for the eye. I have an edible ink marker. Michael finished the eyeball coloring for me. The pullapart Twizzlers are rather unruly, in case you wondered.








Take us to your Pack Leader:

Peace out!

Rachel Was "Out of This World"

Rachel's group went first with their skit. The idea was funny and Rachel got a couple of big laughs. She annunciated and projected. I was so proud. Here are some photos. I still have to upload the video I made of her performance.

The Rachel Taylor fan section:

Kinda of a rough crowd, apparently:

Rachel gets the giggles after she makes a gaffe during the dance number:

Stage makeup that she really wanted to get off:


This face is one any alien would be proud of:

Rachel talks to one of her elementary school teachers:


Here is Rachel with two of her camp counselors:

(I think if I keep taking her photo she will get a cramp in her tongue and her eyes will stay permanently crossed...that would please her).

After the performance Rachel requested a stop at Arby's for a roastbeef sandwich and curly fries and we complied. This looks like something we will be doing every year (this was her 2nd drama camp). She wants to join the Drama Club at our local high school, and I hope she will take part in middle school when the opportunity comes up. Crazy, but fun times.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::Cub Scout Camp::::::::

Noah finished up his Twilight Camp experience. He was able to work on several things at camp that they will award at the next Pack Meeting. The evening was the best time to hold a summer camp. He also got to perform a skit with his "patrol" and he is good at projecting, so I was proud of him too. I remembered to bring our canned food donations, finally. Noah's group won for bringing the most food. YEAH! He got a little toy surprise that he gave to Evey.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::Scout Camp:::::::::::::::

Michael and I will be driving to pick up Aaron and one other guy in his troop on Saturday morning. I bet he grew taller on me.

Take care! :)

Brave Little Girl...

Eve can now fit two straws between her teeth. She was really scared to have Michael pull the tooth, but realized that the tooth was really bugging her. He gave her two choices, either he could pull it, or she could wait to see if it would fall out. He also told her he wouldn't lie to her and that it would hurt, but the pain would go away quickly. She thought about it with teary eyes, then flung her head back and put her hand out for me to hold. Rachel held her other hand and we both caressed her hands and encouraged her. She was very excited to show her tooth to Noah who was in the tub during the tooth pulling.





Eve licking the fudge popsicle Rachel brought to her, which Rachel thought was quite odd. I think Eve looked a bit geckoish doing that:


I took Eve's tooth and was talking like I was the tooth. I said, "Thank you for using me to eat carrots. I love carrots! I had fun helping you eat." Eve thought that was a riot and wants to keep the tooth that like eating carrots.


::::::::::::Cub Scout Twilight Camp:::::::

I got to hang out with Noah's group tonight. They had water day with squirt guns and a homemade slip and slide. The boys got wet and dirty. They loved it. They also got to meet a police officer and see his car and swat vest. The boys got finger printed and a dna kit to have for emergency information. Then, they had a game where they tossed tennis balls, baseballs and foam frisbees at some pvc cut and set up like the milk bottle carnival game. Noah did pretty well. The day ended with some blue jello, popsicles and popcorn.

Later, gators!

The Guitar Man

What occupies your time? This is what Michael has been doing lately. He opens up his laptop, pulls up the tablature to a song he wants to learn and sits down for a spell. He is glad he can read music because it allows him to concentrate on the fingering. He is proud of his calluses, too.




::::::::::::::::Working on Noah's Baptism Book::::

here is the cover to the book:


_{MSA NSD kit for 2008 with items from Kate Hadfield, Emily Merrit and Jacque Larsen,
Explore Solids by Catrine,
May BOYC bee trail by Jenna Desai, Kate Hadfield's New House Doodles,
Cindy Schneider's Sweet Shoppe template for the tree, Dawn Inskip and Heather Manning's collab Evitangel for the flowers and bird nest, Alpha from Art Nation Blossom by Emily Powers (modified with white paper by Jacque Larsen), Wordy Bits alpha by Kate Hadfield and Tiff Brady}


::::::::::Weird Questions of the Day:::::

1. Have you ever laundred money?

2. Yes! If they leave it in their pockets, and I have to wash them, it's their own fault.

::::::::::Cub Scouts:::::

I'm helping out today for Cub Scout Day Camp. Noah is a bit miffed that I won't be with his group, but he is glad I'm coming. Yesterday, Noah made a really cool marshmallow gun that had a chamber for minature marshmallows so you don't have to reload after each one. He was hot and sweaty at the end of the day, but said he had a great time.

I've got to run and finish gathering the Day Camp Accoutrement: bug spray, sun screen, blankets, cooler and lunch!

Later, gators and take care! :)

It's Fun to Read!

::::::::::::::::::My Current Reading List:::::

I'm really enjoying this bit of mystery in Shangri-La. I'm a little over half way through and the book is intriguing. I really like the primary character, Conway.

...waiting on the bedside table is...


This has been, off the charts, popular so I decided to check it out from the library. I'll let you know if I'll be jumping on the vampire bandwagon.

::::::::::::::::::To The Farm::::::

Granny Alice took Rachel and Eve to the farm to play and, maybe, ride a horse. They were excited to take a trip to Alabama.

:::::::::::::::::Cub Scout Camp:::::

Noah enjoyed his day, which included leather work. His leather piece was shaped like a rocket ship. He said, so far, that is the only thing related to space they have done, but he looked forward to more of the theme to come out in the next couple of days. We swung by the store and picked him up a water gun because Wednesday is really more than just Wednesday. It is...Wet Wednesday! He came home and practiced. When Michael brought Aaron home from a few hours of lawn mowing and porch cleaning, Aaron took the opportunity to practice with Noah's water gun. Can you guess the target?

::::::::::::::::Hot:::::::::::::::::::

It was a bit steamy in HOTLANTA, today. I went for my walk at 9:30 and by 10:30 I was a bit wilted like my Butterfly Bushes. I read a chapter of my book and took a shower. The excitement never stops! Michael has set me up with some new podcasts from Astronomy Cast and Wait Wait, so I'm stoked for my morning walk.

Take care! :)

Brave Girl

:::::::::::::::::::Dentist::::::

Eve just got back from having a cavity filled at the pediatric dentist. They used orange scented nitrous oxide to prep her for the shot, and they used a mint numbing gel. She looked at me with a hesitant expression and her eyes got that glassy sheen from beginning to tear up. I asked if she was nervous and she nodded yes. She wanted to hold my hand, as opposed to me holding hers. I figure it gave her a small measure of something she could control. She rarely moved during the procedure. Her lip did slip into the little speculum that kept her jaw open and she would point at it with tears in her eyes. I was so proud of her as was the doctor. The novocaine is wearing off and she feels the pain. I can just hug her.


::::::::::::::::Cub Scout Camp:::::::

Noah is at camp for this week. It is a day camp so he goes in the morning and I pick him up in the afternoon. The theme this year is "Cubs in Space". What a perfect theme for my science guy.

::::::::::::::::Fun New Layouts::::::


<sub>Credits: Dawn Inskip's "Hush" kit, Embossed Letters (set 2)
Catrine: Laura Alpha
Font: DJB Donnar at www.thedigichick.com


Credits: Dawn Inskip's "Hush" kit, alpha from "Midnight Diamonds"
Font: CK Cursive



Credits: Dawn Inskip's Hush kit, Evitangel collab kit, Cartoon Caper kit, Make Believe kit, Typecast Alpha
Font: DJB MANDY by Darcy Baldwin at www.thedigichick.com</sub>

Take Care! :)

Meet "Carl" The Frog:

::::::::::In-Gathering Photo Excerpts::::

It's not the brass ring, but it will have to do. Rachel in her new swimming duds:




Rachel would like you to meet "Carl" the frog. She rescued him from an untimely chlorine related pool death:


This is an item from "Drama-In-A-Bag" where you have to create a skit with items found in a box or bag:


Rachel stated she was a "Wood Bee". She found this a very exciting thing:


Tie Dyeing T-shirt time:




This gorgeous hawk was hunting next to where we were canoeing:




:::::::::::::::::::::::Dawn Inskip C.T.::::::

Such fun new doodles created by Dawn:



My daughter, Eve, likes to dress up in her princess nightgown and mop my mother's floor. My mom thinks that is a grand idea, but Eve uses up all the cleaner in one mopping.
<sub>Credits:

Dawn Inskip: Cat and Mouse
Evitangel Collab
A Little Sunshine
Weather Station
Midnight Diamonds
Land of Make Believe
Typecast Alpha
NDISB: http://www.ndisb.com/store/index.php?main_page=index&manufacturers_id=58&zenid=e614c611a6d03cae2b306fb4e15b27ae

Treasures to Scrap: http://digistore.treasurestoscrap.co...acturers_id=20

ScrapScandiStyle: http://shop.scrapscandistyle.com/ind...acturers_id=43

digiscrapping.net

Darcy Baldwin: DJB SISSY and DJB Another Mandy at www.thedigichick.com</sub>

::::::::::::::::::::Summer Camp Sign-Up:::::

I am close to being finished with signing up the kids for things they wanted to do during the Summer.

Rachel: 1 week introduction to Drama
3 day Beginners Tennis to see if she wants lessons
1 week Budding Authors at Mercer University

Aaron: Scout Camp

Noah: Cub Scout Day Camp

Eve: Still up in the air, but maybe ballet?

:::::::::::::::::::::::::Book Review:::::::::::::



I, thoroughly, enjoyed going on this adventure with the Darcy's. Bebris continues her ability to weave a story that Jane Austen would be proud of, I think. Elizabeth is with child in this book and looking forward with joy and anxious anticipation to the new Darcy. The threads of the story include finding a doctor to attend Elizabeth, or use the local midwife, which is a fabulous story in itself. Another thread is finding a letter from Darcy's departed mother and it's suggestion of a missing artifact important to her. Another thread is deceit brought about for an unknown reason. Yet, another thread is a story of friendship of two woman. There is also a revealing look at the relationship of Darcy's parents.

I found this third installment my favorite, so far. If you are unwilling to let the Darcy's stay fixed in time, and yearn for another peek into their lives as they progress through time give this book a try.

::::::::::::::::::::Next Reading Book:::::::::::
This is the book I'm reading for our Friday Book Group. Every page has made my chuckle. I have never been an, official, teacher, but I have 4 kids and home schooled one of them. There is also the homework tutoring and kids at church. I was also a kid once and I remember doing some of those things or seeing other kids do what he describes. This is such a fun read.


:::::::::::::::Dentist Week::::::::

Aaron visited the dentist, yesterday. The outcome was no cavities! YEAH! But, he wants to put braces on Aaron because of the wide spacing between his teeth. BOO! Michael doesn't think Aaron needs braces. He stated that he and all of his siblings have the same spacing and they are all good looking. I did have to agree. We will still get a second opinion from Rachel's orthodontist.

Noah and Eve have appointments tomorrow. Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy!

Take care!

Take A Guess...

I saw this photo quiz on The Sweet Shoppe and decided to take it:

GuessTheSpot

You correctly answered 12 out of 16. You score is 80%
I was incorrect on #s 5,6,8,16

::::::::::::::::::Books on C.D.::::::::::

For car rides I checked out a few books on c.d. from the library. The one Noah wanted to listen to first was Indian In The Cupboard by Lynn Reid Banks. The author also reads the book. Rachel stated to me that she really likes it when the authors read their own works because the emphasis and feeling are presented the way the author intended. We are on the last disk of the 4 for this book and I really enjoy listening to Banks read her work. If you are looking for something to do in the car consider a book on c.d. I would warn you if you have small children that the "D" word is used in this work a few times.

:::::::::::::::::::The Black Hole::::

We finished reading my old copy of this book Monday. Rachel and Aaron were asking a lot of questions trying to follow characters and asking about the science of what was going on. Noah was usually falling asleep half way through and Eve wanted me to tickle her arm pit, while I was reading. (She likes to have her arms tickled...strange.)

The book is about a small group of explorers from Earth that include astronauts, a reporter and a robot. This group aboard the Palomino happen upon the missing ship Cygnus as they are about to make a turn that would take them back to Earth. They do a fly by of the Cygnus, but get caught in the gravitational pull of a black hole that appears to not have any effect on the Cygnus. The Palomino is able to escape the pull of the black hole and dock with the Cygnus. The greeting on board and the crews meeting with the famous and infamous Dr. Reinhardt is a cold and confusing one for the crew. The sinister nature of Dr. Reinhardt unfolds to the crew slowly, but is an interesting story. The mystery of what the black hole is and where it leads is fascinating even in any inaccuracies. This is science fiction, so we did not put stock in the actual book explanations behind the science. The ending to the book left the kids pondering about the state of souls, which was pretty interesting to discuss. Light reading it isn't, but thought-provoking it is.

::::::::::::::::::Swim Suit Season:::::::::::

Has rolled around again to the delight of the children. Rachel had grown out of her tankini, so we went to the mall and looked around for a new one. Our Church recommends and usually requires one piece bathing suits to activities, but many of those suits expose just as much skin as bikinis. The point, in this directive, is to cover the front of the body and rear-end. I have always hated one pieces and find bikinis equally unattractive, so I was thrilled by the solution of the tankini. Our family is very prone to sunburn,even with lotion, so the surfer type shirts and shorts work great. The shoulders and back get covered and all the other extra bits and, BONUS, when you have to go relieve yourself you can simply drop your drawers without all the twisting and dropping over your wet suit to the yucky floor. We found Rachel's suit at Land's End at Sears.


















::::::::::::::::::Homemade Chicken Soup::::::::

Michael made a double batch of homemade chicken soup with egg noodles. Half of his soup he took to our neighbor who is sick. Aaron is glad we have leftovers because he woke up with a horrible cold, actually he states he didn't really get any sleep. Since Jasper, the ferret, shares a similar immune system he is also the recipient of this nasty cold virus, but his hit yesterday. He was snuffling and whistling much of the day.

:::::::::::::::::::Cub Scouts:::::::::

Noah is signed up for Cub Scout Day Camp. He wasn't excited to go and I wasn't going to force him. I did, however, talk up the things he would get to do and he saw that maybe Day Camp would be fun, so he said he would go. He even followed up with me when he got into the car when I went to pick him asking me, "Did you remember to give her the check, mommy?" I was glad to see he was covering his bases.

I hope y'all have a great day! :)

Cub Scouts and popcorn:

It is popcorn sales time in scouting, so I made up this little card for Noah:


_{popcorn background paper and movie box by Tabby Lewis from her Showtime kit,
Word bubble from Jan Crowley's Comic Junkie Kit,
Vintage popcorn box from Mo Jackson's Birthday Party kit,
Font: DSG Stamped, Pea Angedawn, and Ligurino}


::::::::::::::::::::::

Next it will be Girl Scout Cookies made from 100% girl scouts!