Fun with Frogs

Christian did so well with learning about the catepillars that turned into butterflies and the unit we did on that subject, so I figured we would attempt another topic that way.  It seems he does better learning when I throw a few letters and numbers for review in with whatever topic we are focusing on.  He is really interested in tadpoles and frogs, so that is how I came to the idea of 'fun with frogs.'  I found out too, that is so happened that was what Ava was learning about in school too.  She even brought home a book on tadpoles and frogs and so part of our unit was for her to sit and read her book to Christian.





I did some research on the internet and found some fun crafty templates that he could use green finger paint on and then once they dried, he could cut out the shapes, glue them together to make a frog.  I looked up some fun froggy facts to read to him while he was concentrating on painting and though he was distracted, he seemed to be able to remember later some of the things I had read to him.  :)  Guess his retention was better than I had anticipated.  We also put together a small diagram showing the stages of a frog from egg to mommy frog.  Then we worked on sequencing stories, which is something we are to be working on anyway in general.  He got confused sometimes cause he is like me and jumps ahead of himself in the stories he tells.  ( I do the same thing)  He did however, seem to enjoy our craft ideas and showed them to his pappy and daddy with much pride.  We also read another book on tadpoles and he then "pretended" to read the book back to me, remembering many of the details on each page from what I had just read to him.  Another fun thing we did was pretending we were tadpoles and squirmed on the floor and then we were jumping frogs.  He got lots of energy out on that one. :) We also looked up some you tube videos on tadpoles and frogs.   Below is his pictures of his final finished projects.

In the blurry picture, he was practicing jumping like a frog. :)



Ava's First Official Note from a Friend

Okay, so earlier this year, which is only a few months in already. :)  But anyway, Ava had this friend on the bus that must want her to come over for a sleepover.  She kept coming home after school all excited because this friend asked her to come over TONIGHT at 7:00 for a sleepover.  I told Ava that I didn't know where this girl lived, so the next day she said what the road was.  Then I told her I didn't know who she was so she came home and told me her name.  My excuses were not holding up. . .and then it happened.


Here is the letter that we received, and Ava was ALL smiles when she handed it to me. 

Dear ava's mom
I invidid your doter to a sleepover at 7:00 I will have a presint for Ava. from. Kayley

*** Silom rode

Ava was so so so excited and started packing right away.  We had to explain to her that even though this was a nice invitation, that we still needed to hear from the mom and dad.  She was crying because she was sure her friend was waiting at her house and would be really upset that Ava never came over to see her, since she was "invidid."  The night was emotional but we made it through.  She went to school the next day and gave her friend our phone number so her mom could call me and we could set up a real play date. :) I am posting a picture below of the adorable note. :)

Ava's Kindergarten Valentines Day Party

I loved Valentines Day as a kid and getting all the cards from friends at school.  I secretly loved the ones I got from boys because I would pretend they were TRUE valentines and that they liked me. :)  I know, but hey, now we know where my daughter gets it.  One thing I don't remember though is getting as much candy as my kids did this year as valentines, but maybe I don't remember it because I wasn't the parent dealing with the hyper activity that follows. :)  Anyway, so I decided a few weeks before valentines day, that we would do something homemade. 
We seem to have a TON of broken and mixed crayon pieces laying around our house so I have been collecting them and saving them.  The first step was to peel the broken pieces and set them aside in a heart shaped Tin.  The fun part for me was finding which colors would look good together. :)  I think this was the most fun for the kids too.  Ava did NOT like the peeling part so I got to do the majority of that, which takes a LONG time. :)

Once we enough crayon pieces in the tins, we would pop them in the oven for a few minutes to let them melt and mold together to form a perfect heart.  Then when they came out and after they cooled, we would wrap them in Saran wrap and Ava wrote the names of her classmates on them.  This was perfect for her and her handwriting.  She had so much fun since this was something SHE was doing for herself.

 

The finished Product. . . . Numerous hours invested and 22 heart shaped crayons later.  She was so very proud.  I was excited that I felt this idea would be a pretty original one.  I was wrong.  Ava has a really cool student teacher that Actually had the same idea and hers turned out so pretty.  Ava came home and said, "mom, look.  My teacher did these too."  :)  I thought it was funny.

The Attack of the Brain

Yesterday, Christian came wondering out from his bedroom to find me.  He had just woken up so his voice was a bit crackly.  He was holding his right ear and I asked what was wrong.  He had a sad face and said, "mommy my ear is bumping and hurting. . . my brains are bumping into my inside ear!!!"  I wanted so badly to be a caring mommy but I couldn't help myself.  The brains part struck me funny and I got the giggles.  Luckily, he stood there and laughed with me, even as he was holding his BRAIN BUMPING EAR.  :) Love that boy.  Never a dull moment.

Bumbaugh Donut Day - 2012

The tradition continues.  We met at my in laws house to make fresh yummy donuts.  This was a fun year as it was the first time our nieces and nephews started bringing their dating friends. :)  We of course usually start out the day with the rising donuts and then frying them.  Then we glaze them or powder them or cover them with peanut butter icing or chocolate coatings.  I think we all eat so much that our guts hang out an inch further than usual.  The older cousins help keep the younger cousins occupied, because their attention span is not very long and they eat enough to fill their bellies and then run away to play. Uncle Troy brought Ty too and he and the kiddos played on the trampoline for most of the day.  

I always really enjoy the tradition and look forward to it each year.  They plan it when the kids are off school so they can all experience it too. . . and then we all take donuts home to our family and friends.  Ava was excited to take some to her teacher this year, but what she brought home was gone before the next day for school.  Wonder where they all went?  It happens to be a pretty nifty set up we have going and it works each year.  This year, we covered the floors with paper, so the glaze wouldn't get all over the wood flooring and the linoleum.  This was an awesome idea and made clean up so much easier. 

Kindly Canine Reading

Ava Beaner LOVES Dogs.  She loves them and wants one so badly.  However, she knows she has a mommy and a brother that have pretty serious animal allergies and her daddy doesn't even like dogs, so this is not a small issue for her convince her mommy and daddy of.  She thinks she MUST have one and prays all the time that she can get one.  She does love Simba, her pappy and grandma's dog, and she does a fabulous job with him when she is there and helping to take care of him. :) 

The other week, I noticed on the library calendar, that they were having Canine Reading.  I called her cousin Kelsey and her mom signed her up while I signed Beaner up.  She was a little nervous on the way in to the library.  She asked me, "what if I mess up while I am reading to the dog?"  I assured her she wouldn't mess up and even if she did, the dog would be watching her pretty face and not realize she messed up.  She thought that worked.   It was a little busy and they had numerous dogs.  Some of the dogs' parents had cards they handed out with the dogs names on them.  I wasn't sure what she would think but in fact she LOVED it.  Her cousin helped her with words she couldn't figure out, and Ava was not ready to leave when the time to leave came.  I was very impressed with out the dogs did. 



This little Doggie was named Matthew.  He was the first one she read to and she read two books to him.  He was quite attentive.




The doggie in this one was a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and her name was Lexus.

She read to a few other dogs within the hour and then when it was time to go, she ran over to hug this dog named Moonpie.  Moonpie was a Lab Mix, who she had not had the chance to read to yet. :)  She really was in her Glory. :)

Tranformers + Christian = Quiet Afternoon :)

So, Christian loves Transformers.  I got a call from a friend the other week asking if I wanted some of her boys transformers.  She was getting rid of them and wanted to know if I thought Christian would like to have them.  I knew he would, so she said she would get them to me at Church that following Sunday.  I told him I had a surprise for him, but he had to come home from church, put his Church clothes away, get in his P.J.s and eat lunch before he could get the gift.  He was really hurrying through my list of "Have Tos" so he could get his surprise.  Finally it was time for quiet time in their rooms and he had in fact accomplished all of the above.  I told him to climb up on his bed and then I dumped the bag.  You would have thought he just won the lottery.  He was so excited.  He played QUIETLY for a long time and finally I heard no more clinking and clattering, I peeked into his room and this is what I saw.  Priceless!!!

"Be My" Valentine Party with Connor and Camille

 Things don't always work out the way we plan, but as long as the kid are having fun, and making memories.  . . .it is well worth the time.  So, our dear friend Michelle Flohr planned an adorable little party for her kids and they got to invite over a few of their friends to join in.  There were fun games, decorations, and crafts to be done.  The kids had good food,which made them a little bouncing off the walls (all the more fun) and they even exchanged valentines.
This was scheduled a few weeks in advance but the hardest part was the sicknesses being passed around.  It ended up Brianna and the two babies couldn't come so we took Reece with us so he could join in on the fun.  Just look what he would have missed if he hadn't come along. :)  The kids had fun running around, playing with toys, and making their craft.  The Train table in the one room was a huge hit for the boys.  The girls spent more of their time batting at the balloons we used for the games.

Our very own LOVE Triangle. . . . Connor looks defeated in this one.

Michelle had some fun games planned and it consisted of throwing balloons into a big basket for prizes.  The kid had fun but were a tad crazy.  Crazy energy was the theme for the day. :)

Christian - My Very Own Cookie Monster

Well, I have thoroughly enjoyed this year with Christian being home and Ava being at Home.  Don't get me wrong, I miss her so much.  What I meant was that I really love the way Christian and I have conversations now and he has time to answer the questions I ask him before they are quickly intercepted and answered by his helpful sister. :)  Some of the fun things we do are just sitting and having reading time, or drawing, coloring, watching movies, and baking.  Baking is most definitely Christian's favorite activity and that is for one reason and one reason only.  HE LOVES to TASTE TEST everything.  
This particular day we decided to make chocolate chip cookies with my new mixer. I was trying to help him measure and add the ingredients.  He was really very happy about the idea of making these cookies.  Here is how our conversation went for the process of making of the batter.

Christian - "Can I taste it mommy."
Mommy - "Yes, I guess, here is your bite."
approx. 2 minutes pass
Christian - "Can I try it?
Mommy - "No Sweet heart, just wait."
approx. another minute or so pass
Christian - "Mmmm, that looks good, can I taste it mom?"
Mommy - "no Christian, it doesn't taste any different than when you tried it a few minutes ago.  The ingredients have not changed and we haven't added anything since."
Christian - "Can I have some now?  I love cookies. I want to eat them!!! Please.  Can I taste it?"

and this is the format of the conversation that went on the rest of the process. I did finally reward him with cleaning off the beater for me. :)  He cracks me up.

Can Animals Read?

Micah had some time off work earlier this year and he decided to build a fort for the kiddos, across the little wet weather creek we have behind our house.  I was quite excited about this because I knew this would be something the kids would help him with and really enjoy spending time in and playing with.  Memories outside and not inside in front of a T.V.   Yayy Daddy!!!!

So, the fun starts. . . .Micah went to Lowe's and bought some plywood for the walls.  He knocked a small tree over and placed it across the little creek so the kids could have a small bridge.  Then he tied a rope near the bridge so they could have something to hold onto as they crossed over the bridge.  He spent an entire day carrying the plywood pieces over the little creek and up the hill to set up the tent.  He placed a tarp over the one end to help provide a little shade for some of it, and he built in a small door for the kids to enter the fort.  It is a great place for them to hang out. Below are a few pictures of the children helping him choose the perfect spot to place the fort.

Christian was home to help since he didn't have school, so he was out there with his daddy.  It was later verified to me, that just as the above picture portrays, he was not helping as much as he was playing in the dirt and leaves. :)  Ava on the other hand, cried when she got on the bus, because she wanted to HELP daddy with the fort.  :)  She did as soon as she got off the bus too. Our Goal is to get some time to get out there this summer and paint the plywood with the kiddos and decorate the place up a little. 

We did have to go and get the kids rain boots so they could cross the bridge and "fall in" with their rain boots, so as not to ruin ANOTHER pair of shoes.  Seems they always "fall in" and then they stay there and splash around awhile. . .coming inside a big muddy yucky fun mess.  The best part of the fort was when he finally finished and we were cleaned up and sitting on the couch to have devotions that night.  We were thanking God for our fort and then after we were discussing what to name it.  Ava decided it should be named, "Ava & Christian's Fort" and Christian thought that was a great idea. Then Micah was talking about how we had to put a sign on the door saying, "KEEP OUT!"  Ava got this look on her face as she pondered a thought for awhile.  Then she said, "why, can animals read?!?!"  This was a funny moment for us as we tried to wrap our minds around what she was thinking in her little head.  We were thinking a sign for a for that says, "Keep out!" was just what you do for a fort, and she was thinking it was for the animals so they would keep out. :)  Love my kids.

Date Night With Daddy

I always love when daddy's take their little girls on Dates.  What a great way to teach your daughters how they SHOULD be treated by a boy, and to make them feel special and beautiful.  I think that so many issues in this world would be solved if every little girl had a daddy that loved her and adored her just the way she was.  I think that Ava is so lucky to have this precious gift of a fantastic daddy that wants to spend time with her.  In fact, she has gotten to the place that she NEEDS his words of affirmation or approval on what she is wearing rather than MY approval.  Sometimes, she will pick out an outfit, put it on and then nonchalantly wonder out and prance around in front of her daddy.  Sometimes, I have to clue him in on what is going on and then he will comment on her outfit.  Usually he gives me a quick discreet glance to see if I approve and then will go from that.  When he looks at her and say, "oh Ava, you look so nice," or "wow, that is so pretty on you." Her face literally glows with pride and confidence just radiates from her.  Micah really does a great job at  complimenting her often.  This is also a way to have Christian observe how women should be treated. I have noticed lately, when Ava gets ready for school or church, he sometimes will walk up to her and say, "Ava, you look pretty in those jeans" or "Ava, I like your prettiful hair today."  He has a great model to watch in these situations.

Okay, so the theaters are playing "Beauty and the Beast" in 3D and so Micah decided to take her to the theater to see this movie.  She was so excited all day and then when she realized the showing was until 8:00 that evening, she was ready by 5:00 and just chomping at the bit to go.  She insisted on wearing her Belle princess dress and though daddy did try and talk her out of it, she was sure that was what she was going to do. 

Micah called his brother to see if he wanted to take his girls to the movie too.  He did and he brought his other daughter, Bri too. :) They sounded like they all had fun and Ava talked about the date night for awhile that night after they got home.  I loved seeing her so excited to spend time with her daddy and I was so glad her daddy didn't mind seeing a girly movie with his little girl.  I can't lie, I do think he liked the movie, because for a few days after, I caught him singing  the songs from the movie, while in the shower.  :)

Movies, Mustaches, and More. . . . .

New Years Day, we went bowling with our Bumbaugh family.  Then Kelsey and Renee came over to our house to spend the night.  We made popcorn and started a movie that, for all we could see, was going to be a pretty good love story / chic flick.  We were wrong.  The movie had BAD acting and we couldn't stop laughing and making fun of the actors and their horrible lines and acting.  At least the popcorn was good, but I will say we stuck it out and watched the whole movie, because we kept thinking, "this has to get better?" right?  It didn't.  Very cheesy. 

We did have fun laughing at each other while trying to wax our mustaches.  The girls would count for us while Renee and I tried to RIP the hot wax off of our upper lip.  The worst part was that the wax got stuck on Renee so she was squealing and we were laughing hysterically.  We offered Kelsey and Ava, but they were not interested.  They just loved to watch us as we claimed, "BEAUTY IS PAIN!!"  while torturing ourselves.

We also did play Zumba and Just Dance 3 on the Wii.  This was a great exercise and we couldn't stop laughing at the dance moves.  However, Jamie Blue Eyes really got into throwing his arms around while watching us dance to the wii. 
I do love spending time with my nieces.  They always lift my spirit. :)

Handprint Butterfly Project With Christian

I love this boy and I love this picture of this boy.  He is so funny. I love that he is so excited.  He doesn't really take much to make him happy.  Usually he loves to be in whatever room I am in. I asked him if he wanted to go play on the swing set yesterday and he said no, because Ava wasn't home yet.  I guess he is def. not a loner. :)  He likes to be around people. 

So instead of doing the preschool curriculum I did with Ava and him last year, I decided to check him on his letters to see where he was.  He surprised the living life out of me as he knew and recognized almost all of the upper and lower case letters.  He even knew that little "c" was for cat, and big "C" is for Christian.  I decided, since he had seemed to absorb more from last year, than I had expected, I would do a few new things with him, and just experiment. 

My first adventure of an object lesson, we decided to study butterflies.  We got construction paper and traced his hands numerous times.  I cut them out and then he glued them on the blue paper in the form of a butterfly. I helped with the placement but for the most part, he did this.  While we were working together, we talked about butterflies and how they start out and how they go from caterpillars to butterflies.  He was really interested. I then looked up a few you tube videos of  a Caterpillar turning into a butterfly and he was hooked.  We went to the library the other day and got a few books on the topic and he is constantly looking at them and talking to himself about how they turn into a chrysalis.  It was a fun craft and educational at the same time. :)

I plan to end this week with an object lesson about our transformation from sinners to God's children. 

The Butterfly is a universal symbol of change, resurrection, transformation, celebration, young love and the soul.  So, I plan to explain to him that the caterpillar represents our birth and when we are growing up as children.  Then the Chrysalis represents our death to this world and even dying to ourselves.  Finally I want to point out to him how the beautiful butterfly represents our transformation into new Christian's and children of God after we ask Christ into our hearts and transform into the beautiful creature God intended us and created us to be.  I need to figure out a way to explain it, but that is how I will end the lesson on butterflies.

Guys Night Out = Girls Night In

Micah, Jason, and Matt decided to get a few guys together to go out and have some fun at Texas Road House.  I really wanted Micah to take our camera and take some pictures of the fun group of loud and crazy guys, but he looked at me and said, "NO WAY."  Guess he didn't want to be THAT guy who's wife makes him take pictures of every event he is involved in. :)  So, I let him slide, knowing I would then use the camera for us as we had the Girls Night In. 

Callista and Courtney came over to hang out with us and Westin stayed with us so we could hang out and have a crazy night ourselves.  We did all sorts of fun things.  We watched Thomas movies, Drew a big track for our trains on a huge piece of paper and then played trains.  We also drew lots of people, houses and sort of made our own little town for the train to drive through.  We had mac'n'cheese for dinner along with applesauce and peaches.  The kids ran around playing and dancing and just having fun. 

  Westin had fallen asleep by the time the guys got home and then we got him up and sent him home with his daddy.  Callista and Christian were cuddled up on the couch but not sleeping. :)  Fun times and fun memories. :)