My Sentimental Hoarder Wanna Be

Michael and I took the front door off to sand it, re-stain, and replace the hardware. Noah wondered out to the garage (he must have been incredibly bored). He asked what we were doing and I explained it to him. He saw the old hardware sitting on the work table and asked if he could have the old knob and we told him no.
Fast forward to this morning. I was relating the story to Rachel. Noah heard his name and came into the living room. Rachel rolled her eyes at the story and she was not surprised. Noah stated boldly, "It was an awesome door knob, and we were all used to it!"

Be afraid...very afraid.

Shiny Things!

(Paislee Press, Oscraps, and font called Pea Our Best Bites)
The kids were thrilled to make their own glass flowers on our vacation.

Rachel creates a glass flower at The Holdman Gallery at Thanksgiving Point in Lehi, Utah:



I will upload photos and video of the boys tomorrow. I tripped the breaker, on purpose, but didn't realize my computer was on that particular breaker and I was working on some photos of Noah.

***********Hanging with Eve*****

Eve has been sick since yesterday and has turned the corner this evening. Her siblings have been getting her water, cool damp wash clothes, fresh towels, and sitting with her if I had to step out for a moment. I was able to finish painting our bathroom during a Rachel covered break. It was nice having such willing help.

***********Bathroom Renovations*****

Rachel well tell you I lack a bit of creativity. I found a color I really liked and a style, so I used it for both of our bathrooms. I went with white painted bead board on the bottom of the wall with a chair rail, and white crown molding. I am pleased as punch with the color I chose from Home Depot's primer paint in one. The color is "Crystal Waters." I just need to throw on another coat of white on the crown molding in both bathrooms and one on the bead board in our bathroom to finish the painting. Michael and I will get the vanity sometime this week. FINALLY!

Smiles!

"I Love to Laugh...Loud and Strong and Clear...

Last night after family reading time Rachel asked Michael, "Do you know how a Venus flytrap closes?"
To wit he replied, "Quickly?"
Rachel says, "Ugh... I didn't ask for an adverb!"
She went on to explain how the cells on one side grow to twice their normal size, then close up overlapping the meal.




(After this point is Rachel writing. I was going to just write and pretend that I was mom, but it's too weird to write in third person...)
Noah recently had his 11th Birthday and while he was laying down on the floor in mom's room and he said "The skin on my hand is really dry and peeling off." And because Noah is especially fun to mess with I responded,
"Noah, you're going through your eleven year molt! Ahh... I remember my eleven year molt. Cleared it away before you knew about it had to keep it a secret." And then mom began playing along and it was much fun!
Rules of the eleven year molt:
*It happens overnight when you are eleven.
*Much like pulling teeth the parent clears it away and leaves behind a dollar under the pillow.
*It happens to everyone. Much like puberty. ;D
*You can have it pulled, but it hurts.
* Kids below eleven aren't allowed to know about it until they turn eleven.
(Going to put some money under Noah's pillow now!)

The Wheels on the Bus...

Rachel likes to ride shotgun in Pippi:





(digital pieces from Cinzia Loosemore's Celebrate Life, template by Paislee Press, and Word Art piece by Kate Hadfield)

It Makes a Momma Proud...

...when her ten year-old asks for help on coming up with a jingle for class about suffrage. First we watched this for inspiration:



He made it clear that we could not plagarize anything (proud, again!)

When we asked for Michael and Rachel's two cents they broke into this song, separately:

This was the final product:

You trust us with your house.

You trust us with your kids.

So you should trust us to help the government.

:::::::::::::::You are What You Read::::::

I was in the waiting room while Aaron had his dental cleaning yesterday and picked up the January 2011 issue of The simthsonian and was introduced to the painter Guiseppe Arcimboldo. I was surprised and intrigued by his use of still life objects...fruits and vegetables to great portraits. He used other objects, such as, sea creatures and books. I am completely enamored with this one:



Time for Girl Scouts...later, gators!

Naivete...Taylor Style

Adventures in Conversations with my kids:

First:

Noah came in after watching some show we picked up from the library and started explaining how someone might survive a fall from 100 stories. It entailed standing on top of a plank of wood and jumping up at just the right distance from the ground to avoid a deadly impact.

My response: "Your superhero days await you."

Noah's reply: "I wouldn't try it...I'm not sure what a survival distance from the ground is?

Michael then explained to him that no one would survive a fall from that height. Apparently, Noah couldn't figure out how he would be able to jump up from the board during the fall.

Second:

We will be selling Girl Scout cookies by the end of the week and I was picking Rachel's brain for some ideas for the annual ad. I thought a retro, or vintage style ad may be fun. Eve was hanging out with us by the computer.

I said: "I need to find a vintage Girl Scout picture."

Eve matter of factly: "Go to vintagegirlscout.com"

Rachel quipped: "Like that would work."

I googled the terms and got a link to vintage girlscout.com.

Eve said: "I told you."

Snow and Ice(ing)

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Noahism of the Day






There is a tradition at the kids' elementary school to create Dicken's inspired snow villages. Rachel made a beautiful inn she called "The Out Inn" when she was in 5th grade:


While sitting at the table Noah lamented that he couldn't use this box design that he created on Sunday for his snow village:
Noah said, "I guess they wouldn't want a Fusion Reactor Core Generator at School."



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Haley's 13th birthday

Rachel was invited to Haley's birthday party held at an awesome place in Senoia called Cutie Pies and Cakery;


The girls decorating their cake boxes. Each girl iced and decorated their own cakes:





Rachel loves to design with circles and the color blue:














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These are photos from the day before Thanksgiving when the girls baked and decorated cupcakes:









Here is a mash up of two of my favorite pics of the cousins:


Off in a little bit to take photos of this year's snow village.

A Pinch of This and That:

The tree lot has been set up since the day after Thanksgiving. The proceeds go to pay for a portion of the boys' camp costs. Pippi has garnered a lot of attention on her trips around town, so Michael had her hang out at the tree lot to help get some attention for the tree lot.

Aaron next to a load of trees:


Eve helped unload trees because she loves to help with stuff like that (cleaning her room is a big NO, but she is eager to carry trees):


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Zoo Atlanta with my sister, Tracy, nieces, Jessica and Haley, and with the Taylor kids:







Noah wanted to be helpful by reading the map:

The birds were very skittish. After 10 minutes, Jessica was the only one who could get a budgie to eat from the seed stick we bought:


Eve loves to hang out with her big girl cousins:



Rachel and Haley...Beautiful:


Komodo Dragon:


Komodo Dragon and a boy that probably tastes like chicken:


Dead mice...nom...nom...nom:



Jessica gets a close up:


Eve gets to pet a hedgehog:



The second time around the budgies are a little less skittish:

Rachel worries that mom is not around to get the photo. (Oh ye of little faith):


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Baking Braided Christmas Bread:

Sister Weiler pouring salt. (I love how the salt granules are suspended in the air)


Rachel was an enthusiastic participant:










This song kept going through my mind as the girls worked the bread:



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Music education

Rachel was busy switching channels when I heard this amazing voice throw out a few words and made her go back. I love the voice of Lou Rawls and this song makes me remember listening to the radio as a kid, so I offer this great youtube video (it also uses the word "need", so I see a running theme in my own twisted way):

Mornin'

The background to this is that several mornings I would make Noah cinnamon sugar toast and Rachel didn't get any. I would usually make her oatmeal, or a blueberry bagel, but she longed to be included in each sugary breaded breakfast treat.

I asked the kids, "What do you want for breakfast?"

Rachel responded, "Are you making anything special for Noah?"

Me: "Yes, because I like him best."

Rachel: "I'll have that."

Another successful interaction with my children to start the day.

:::::::::::Book Club::::::::

Today is the last session of Book Club with Eve's 2nd grade class. They are smart kids and quite silly. I baked them cupcakes for our last treat.

Remain Calm!!!

Noahisms:::::::::

Yesterday Eve was acting like a maniac with a pair of safety scissors. She was threatening her moon project by saying, "I will cut you!" I was trying to get everyone to calm down to say a blessing over breakfast, so as they promise that they are ready I look up at Noah who has his arms crossed like Bela Lugosi and has his eyes rolled back in his head. I start snickering, but try to get on with the prayer.

Rachel said, "Mom you obviously lack self-control."

Noah quipped, "She lacks all kinds of control."

Pot to kettle, my friends!

A few minutes later Rachel meets me in the hall to relate the next Noahism. She said she had stolen a piece of his cinnamon sugar toast and popped it in her mouth. Noah told her, "That acid will burn through your sarcophagus!"

Rachel: "My sarcophagus?"

Noah: "Yeah, your sarcophagus, you know, that thing in your throat."

Rachel: "You mean my esophagus?!

Of course, I wrote these things down to wit Noah said, "I'm very quotable today!"


:::::::::::::::::Last Minute Science Projects R US:::::

Now to help with Rachel's project where I can!

Later!

The Heart of the TARDIS is...

made of yellow cake, marble cake, and buttercream frosting. Who knew?

Time And Relative Dimension In Space

Michael uses a square fondant cutter to make the windows of the police box.

He places the window panes of white fondant into the blue walls.

Rachel observes her dad's handiwork.

I printed the Police Box signs on my computer.

I suppose we could have done a cake to look like fishsticks and custard, but we nixed that idea in favor of the big blue box.
Happy 13th Birthday, Rachel!...and many more!!!