Summer Reading with Bennet

This summer Bennet is 4 1/2. While she is too old to need a daily nap her younger sisters still need them for survival. While I'd love to do a craft project with her everyday during this time sometimes that's just too much work.

I came up with the idea of reading a book to her during Quiet Time. Not the classic bedtime picture books but a chapter book. I wasn't necessarily looking to teach her to read but searching for something to keep her occupied and perhaps make her think a little.

Each afternoon we snuggle up on the couch or in our bed to read. It's become a special time for just the two of us. Sometimes we'll read a couple of chapters and then nod off to sleep for a couple minutes.

We just completed our first book, Charlotte's Web by E.B. White. Bennet would often stop me to ask questions. "Mom, what's a sheepfold? What's axel grease? Who taught Charlotte to spell? Why is Avery taking a shotgun on the school bus?" (Not kidding about the last one- pg. 7. He grabs a doughnut and his shotgun and then boards the bus. Only in 1952.)


Once we finished the book I got the movie from the library. My favorite comment from Bennet during the movie was "Mom, Charlotte died. But look- her babies will keep Wilbur company and he won't be sad anymore. Isn't that nice?"

On a side note I have to once again praise our local library. I am a voracious reader and am hopeful my children will be as well. Being able to utilize our library for books, storytimes and videos is such a wonderful thing.

I think our next book will be The Boxcar Children or Stuart Little. Any other suggestions?

TGIF Crop @ ScrapFreak

The last Friday of every month is a TGIF Crop at ScrapFreak! These are OUR crops, for MEMBERS to run, doing it OUR way!

It's a dedicated time every month for you to get together to be creative, challenge one another, and get that scrapping done.

I am hosting a challenge this month inspired by the backbone of the ScrapFreak Kits- EMBELLISHMENTS!!

I used 6 different types of embellishments on this layout-

• Buttons
• Brads
• Chipboard
• Pearls
• Thread
• Twine

My challenge to you is to use at least 3 of the above embellishments on a layout. Post to ScrapFreak by 6 PM (CST) on Sunday, August 1. I will be sending out a RAK to a random winner.

TITLE: (no title)
Journaling: It's a girl thing & a Scout thing. A little girlish frill paired with tomboy touches
Product: Cosmo Cricket paper, October Afternoon paper & label, Scenic Route chipboard, American Crafts brads, KaiserCraft pearls

WooHoo Wednesday- Backyard Camping

We have had a very wet summer. It seems like every other day we're dealing with thunderstorms, tornadoes, storm damage, power outages and flooding. So when I saw that we may actually have 12 hours without rain I jumped on the chance to have a Backyard Campout for this week's WooHoo Wednesday.

I checked out a couple camping books from the library for the occasion.

We did our camping 2010 style. Complete with power for the fan, baby monitor and laptop so we could watch a movie. I know the laptop is way out there but it calmed them down a little bit before bed. I'm still scared by The Blair Witch Project so I picked much more age appropriate movies- Charlotte's Web and The Goonies.

I loved Bennet's commentary during Goonies. "Mom- that boy is going to dance and then the bowling ball is going to come down. Watch. Then the sprinkler. Here comes the door"

As we were falling asleep Scout asked to go inside to her bed because she was scared. I pointed out that it was exactly the same in the tent. She had her pillow, blanket and Rhino plus the bonus of me in the middle. Once she was reassured she was out like a light.

Bennet kept wanting to look for stars in the sky. I was wishing we had an air mattress without a leak because I'm just too darn old to sleep on the ground (ouch!!)

Wordless Wednesday- Ours is a Friendship of the Heart

Eleanor Margaret at 6 Months

Our 'littlest apple' is 6 months today. It's crazy to think that half of her first year is already here. Time flies by even quicker with the 3rd child. We continue to just be smitten with her. I just don't have the words to describe what a wonderful addition she's been to our family. When I see her smiling face in the morning it just makes my day.

*Weighs 18.6 pounds according to our bathroom scale. And she's long. I have to keep reminding myself she's only 6 months old.
*Is packing away the food. I overheard someone at my parent's cabin say- "That sweet girl never skips a meal" Too true! Bananas are her favorite!
*Is just a happy, smiley baby.
*Wearing 9 month clothes (getting snug) and size 3 diapers (same here)
*Still sucks her thumb and fingers. I wonder if she's working on teeth.
*Scout loves to go into her room in the morning and say "Good morning Goose"

*Bennet loves to pick out her food at mealtime- "Hey mom- how about squash for lunch?"
*Scout is still her BIGGEST fan. There is rarely a moment of peace for Ellie when Scout's around. Constantly talking, touching and basically getting in her face. Not fun- but we're working on it.

Hit the Road- ScrapFreak August Kit

Scrapfreak continues to amaze with this months kit- Hit the Road. Look at all those goodies!!

Hit the Road


TITLE: Love with all my heart
Journaling: Just look at my 3 girls. How did I get so lucky?

(Not in the kit: Jillibean Soup patterned paper & brown alpha, cardstock)

TITLE: S
Journaling: Our honeymoon suited us so well. Saw some sights, drank good beer, took naps and just enjoyed the start of Mr. & Mrs.

(Not in the kit: Cosmo Cricket patterned paper, Basic Grey alpha)

TITLE: Life is Sweet

(her shirt has the same words)
Journaling: Springtime flowers gave you hearts in your eyes. You would pick every flower you saw. Even the ones you weren't supposed to. From dandelions to lilacs the case in our kitchen was always filled with the colors and scents of the outdoors. With you

(Not in the kit: October Afternoon patterned paper, Basic Grey alpha, buttons)

TITLE: Our Getaway
Journaling: Our first trip to the cabin as a family of 5. The first of many to our favorite getaway. May 2010

(Not in the kit: Cardstock, patterned paper)

Friday Fill ins

1. This is what life does. It lets you love more than you ever thought possible.

2. I do my best to live in and appreciate the moment

3. Upon reflection I may not have gone quite so short with my latest haircut

4. Bennet and Scout are off to MN for Camp G&G for quite a long time. (ok- only a couple days)

5. Later, you wake up and wonder where the days have gone so fast

6. I love my family to the far and boundless sea.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to an evening out with Nick to celebrate my friend Jess's birthday, tomorrow my plans include dropping Ellie off at Mark & Sara's so Nick and I can head to Madison for our friend Brett's wedding - no kids!! and Sunday, I get to sleep in

WooHoo Wednesday- Hot Rocks

Last night we ended this week's WooHoo Wednesday with a fun, easy project that I found on the eighteen25 blog.

I've been looking for suitable rocks for a month without any luck. While we were at the cabin last weekend I saw some nice, flat rocks that would work perfectly. Thank you Poor Lake!!

Supplies:
Flat rocks
Crayons
Pot holders

Instructions:
Bake rocks in a 350degree oven for 15 minutes.

While the rocks are heating up get the crayons prepped by peeling off the paper.
Using hot pads transfer rocks to a work surface. (We used cardboard from a diaper box)

I love that even Scout is able to participate.

My rock. Of course both Bennet and Scout had to help with Mom's rock. Super quick, easy, affordable and FUN project!

WooHoo Wednesday- Hot Sun = Hot Fun

Bennet has been asking to go to the "pool with the dolphins" better known as Memorial Pool for a couple weeks. Today the Kiwanis sponsored free admission for kids to the 3 local Wausau pools. Perfect timing.

I get all three kids through the parking lot and walk up the hill to the gate. Of course I forgot that I'd have to pay admission for myself. A whole whopping dollar. Did I bring my wallet? Nope. Schlep the kids back down the hill so I can get my wallet. Only then do I remember this conversation from earlier in the day- Me: Scout, what are you doing? Scout- Taking your money from your wallet for my piggy bank. Me: Ok.

Needless to say I had no cash or change in my wallet. And I was only able to scrounge up 95cents in the car- with pennies. Unwilling to re-load the kids in the car to drive to an ATM I figured they'd just have to take what I had. They happened to have an extra nickel- whew!!

Bennet jumped and jumped and jumped. Our daycare provider Amy's twin daughters Madison and Bailey came to join the fun.

Scout is all about the snacks.

Scout and Bailey

Bennet and Madison (I'm proud that I can tell them apart)

Ellie dipped her little toes in the water and then promptly took a nap.

The next stop this week was Dessert First (which I stole from my sister-in-law Sara). The girls were soooooo excited. I'm a stickler on earning dessert and usually have to fight with them to get them to eat so this was a huge treat. Off to DQ we went. Mint Dilly bar for B, Chocolate ice cream cone for Scout and a Raspberry Lemonade Chiller for me.

I think she liked it.

We got home and had our last part of this week's WooHoo Wednesday- Hot Rocks. Will post that tomorrow!

Wordless Wednesday- Ellie Goose

WooHoo Wet- Wednesday Movie Night

It's been a dark dreary day around here. Thunderstorms and tornados. We had a crazy afternoon downpour- 2 inches of rain in 1 hour. We always have flooding issues so Nick was quick to get the gutters clear and we kept an eye on the basement.

Since our backyard was a pond we kept it simple tonight. MOVIE NIGHT!! Last night the girls and I watched Spiderman. Bennet asked to watch Spiderman 2 tonight.

Here is some Bennet commentary-

Dad- that's the Green Goblin. He died in Spiderman1- this is Spiderman 2

Hey wait- I've seen this before. A long time ago. I remember those pizzas

B- Hey Dad- what's his name? (Pointing to Bruce Campbell)
His name is Bruce.
B- I'll call him Red Mark as a nickname
(thinking thinking). No B- his name isn't bruise it's Bruce.

Shoot your webs Spidey!! Shoot your webs. Whew!

Hey Scouty- that's Doctor Octopus. He's the bad guy in this one.

Ellie- look at those rolls. This kid never skips a meal.

Scout- "Mom- I'm scared." Then she peeked through her fingers anyways.

Don't Just Live- Shine

I lifted 100% of this design from a layout in the June issue of Scrapbooks, Etc. I lifted the title from a billboard for Marshfield Clinic. I used it once before on a layout of Bennet. I just love it.

This was a really fun technique. I used various border punches of kraft paper and put it on kraft paper. A little tone on tone action. And in rare form I didn't do any journaling. I thought the picture could stand on it's own.
Product: Bazzill Kraft, Cosmo Cricket patterned paper, Pink Paislee chipboard alpha, Heidi Grace alpha

No Words

I just love this photo of Ellie. I took it Easter morning as she was looking at her big sisters. how adorable!!

TITLE: No Words
Journaling: Sometimes I look at you - that face & my heart just swells and there are Product: Making Memories paper, October Afternoon paper, alpha and journaling spots.

WooHoo Wednesday- Delayed

Our regularly scheduled WooHoo Wednesday was delayed due to the sickies. We were scheduled to go to the Wausau Woodchucks game with our friends Jess and Trevor but that had to be put on hold.

Scout had a 103 fever on the 4th of July. Yesterday morning our niece Molly spiked a fever. Yesterday afternoon Bennet started to feel hot and complain of a sore throat. Scout was still a little warm. I asked Nick to stay home from golf so I had reinforcements. Then last night Nick started to ache. It's making the rounds.

So today we had morning craft time to make up for the loss of WooHoo'ing yesterday. We made Tissue Paper Tinfoil Art. I got the idea from the Eighteen25 blog. The instructions can be found at the link. We substituted ModPodge for the glue.

I cut up some old Priority USPS boxes as bases and wrapped the tinfoil around. Secure to the back with tape.

Hard at work.

I am constantly reminded that glitter is a pain in the keester. But the girls love it so I conceed.

Here is the finished product.

I made one too.

4th of July

The 4th of July is my favorite holiday. This year we were lucky enough to spend 4 days at my parents cabin on Mille Lacs Lake in MN. To make things even better my entire family was there. We ate, drank, rode bikes into town, swam, went to the beach, played cards, napped, chased kids. . . it was the perfect getaway. Ellie

Bennet. Doesn't she look like a 1920's Flapper in this photo?

Scout diva

Well Worn- FreakyFriday

Each Friday at ScrapFreak the Team hosts a FreakyFriday challenge. It's a great opportunity to stretch your scrappy wings :)

This week Kim and I are hosting the Storytelling Challenge.

*********************************

For some reason summertime makes me reminisce about my life and childhood more than any other season. I find myself remembering all these weird random memories. Call my sisters saying, "You remember how Grandma always wore fushia. It was her signature color" or "I remember our dog Mandy always doing three spins before laying down. Her signature move"

This weeks Storytelling topic will be 'Your Signature'. The story behind your signature recipe, article of clothing, or style. The story behind a familiar tradition or haircut. It doesn't have to be about you personally. Think about your extended family, kids, pets, and so on.



Here is my sample all about my signature comfy outfit.

Leaving in a MiniVan

We're off for vacation at my parent's cabin in MN. I just can't wait!! A couple days to unplug from technology and spend time together as a family. We get to see my sister and BIL who we haven't seen in a long time. Just what we need.

If I can help it I don't like having posts without photos. So here are two recent layouts I created at the TGIF Crop at ScrapFreak.

TITLE: Ring Around the Rosie-We all Fall Down
Journaling: Ah! To be 2 1/2 & carefree. Round you go with your new friend Brett. Summer 2010
Used a Sketchy Thursday sketch. Product: Scenic Route Garden Grove paper, Scenic Route alpha

TITLE: Berry Patch
Journaling: Our first time picking berries. You both dug in like old pros & we came away with a flat of red, plumb berries. june 2010

I cut and pieced the big strawberry together. I wish the glittery yellow letters showed up better but oh well.

Product: Cosmo Cricket paper, Jillibean Soup journaling spot, Doodlebug Designs alpha, Colorbok alpha