Sleeping Beauty in Pink

We bought Princess a new comforter and shams set. This is her first comforter and shams set. She has always just used a quilt or blanket. It has worked just fine but since we were getting ourselves a new mattress and giving her our old one we firgured "Why not go all out and buy her some new bedding to go along with her 'new' bed."

But true to form we couldn't wait till she had the new bed to open and use the new bedding.

I took these pics the morning after her first night with the new bedding. My Princess all wrapped up in a sea of pink was too much for me to resist.

Even in sleep she was beckoned by the click, click of the camera.

And though her eyes were just too heavy to open she was still in perfect form for smiling.

Bridget

Watching Them Learn

One of the biggest blessings of homeschooling is getting to witness so much of my children's lives.

And it is really amazing when you can actually see them learn.

The joy of learning really is contagious. And children seem to have it in abundance. I also believe that one way relationships are built is through shared experiences. I love getting to share these small experiences with my children. And I especially love hearing them tell me how much they enjoy it.

Bridget

The Dresser

We found Princess a dresser. It is old and beat up and someone tried to do a green paint and glaze effect.

I love it.

We paid $65 for it.

I have fabulous plans for the top. I'm purchasing the materials this weekend and hope to have it done by the end of next week. I can't wait to show you. I love the lines of this dresser. The simple details. And I am totally leaving the green, glaze, funky treatment.

I am changing the knobs, however. And it's on wheels. Which is going to be very handy once I get done transforming the top. Plus, because it is up off the ground I can stash a couple of baskets under it for Princess' shoes.

Perfection. I'm also transforming the insides. Actually, I've already transformed the insides, but I don't want to show them until everything is done. It was all about having a nice clean drawer for Princess' clothes. I just couldn't put them inside without doing something and I was very ready to get her clothes out the the wire baskets they were in and into a bonafide dresser. So I got right on fixing the insides.

Plus, I moved the wire baskets to the laundry room and am loving the extra storage.

Bridget

It's February!

People!

It's February!

And it's been over a week since I last blogged!

And there's really no need for me to keep writing individual sentences and using exclamation points!

But I can't seem to stop!

Kidding! =)

Seriously now. After Ice Age 2010 blew in we were without power from the afternoon of Thursday, Jan. 28th till the early morning of Wednesday, Feb. 3rd. Thankfully my parents in chicken Town had power and cable and a willingness to let us crash with them. We ended up staying with them until Friday the 5th because Hubs had work in the area and there was really no reason to do all that driving back and forth.

And unfortunately some people in our area are still without power.

However, we are really glad to be home now and getting back into our routine.

I have some posts scheduled for the rest of this week so come back often. And Princess' room is still under construction but I have hopes to have it mostly done by this weekend and fully done by the end of next week.

It's pretty awesome!

Bridget

Ice, Ice, Baby

Last Thursday we were visited by a winter storm. A big one.

Wednesday evening we drove to Chicken Town because Hubs had some appointments in the area over the next few days. He didn't get to have any of those appointments. Thursday morning it hit.

However, we are so glad we came up here because we only went without power for about 2/3 of a day. A-town is still without power.

It's day four without power for the whole town.

And it doesn't look like it's gonna be back on for another day or two.

Yuck!

Friends and family are staying warm with wood burning fireplaces and gas heaters and stoves.

And it looks like we'll be in Chicken Town for a few more days.

Bridget

The Myriad Garden Crystal Bridge Fire Alarm Drama Ending. Finally.

After hanging out outside for about 15 minutes we were allowed to go back inside. Still not sure exactly what caused the alarm to go off. The fire dept. came and checked everything out. The kids loved seeing a fire truck and real firemen. Sorry the story isn't more interesting than that but not really.

Here we are back at the entrance. Have you seen Night at the Museum, Dumb-Dumb? We forgot the gum-gum. One great idea that came from the curriculum I used this year is to take clipboards on field trips and have the kids sketch things they see or experience. I only bought three clipboards at the beginning of the year so Princess usually has to wait for a brother to finish before she gets a turn.

Bear found a place to sit while he sketched.

Each kid was required to choose one plant, tree, or flower to sketch.

Bobo decided to remain standing.

Remember: you can click on the pictures to make them bigger. The Crystal Bridge has a really cool pirate ship. We know it's a pirate ship because a silhouette of Peter Pan is on the top of it. There is a ladder inside for the kids to climb to the upper deck. And, yes, I saw the the sign that says 6 years and older, and I know that Princess is only four. I'm a rule breaker, baby. Popeye. Peeking through the window. Princess decided she didn't like the upper deck. Thank goodness for big brothers. When she got down she discovered an unused clipboard and she got after it. I could eat her up right now. I love how her precious little legs dangle over the side. She looks so big and so small at the same time. And she's so proud of herself. I think the boys would have spent the night on the pirate ship if they were allowed. The loved it. Princess kept sketching. Popeye checked on her. And she kept sketching. Look at those beautiful flowers. It was a wonderful time. The kids said it was the best field trip we have been on.

Bridget

Treasure Chant

The clues to find treasure are in this pirate chant:

"Ye start at Ranchard's Cove and then yer adventure would begin. Then ye sail off to Altast Grove to find a haunted inn.

Then say 'What if skulls and bones do remember tones of the voices they used to own!' Then ghosts will appear. Ye ask for directions, one ghost pulls out a map and points to a spot and says, 'It's here.'

Thanks go 'round and then ye head off away from the ground.

When ye hit shore on an island called Lafloore, ye will climb the tallest palm tree. There ye may find, bigger than a whale's eye, a coconut, well actually three.

Ye take them down, then crack them without a sound and find treasure in them. When ye have gone ye will be richer than King Lafcon."

The End
Bobo