Happy Memorial Day!

A few things about me:

1. I love to be right. I usually am too.

2. I love to win. Perfect example: I just won this book from Callapidder Days. I am participating in the Spring Reading Thing over at the Callapidder Days blog and was so excited to win How Sweet It Is by Alice J. Wisler. The story looks like my kind of book lovin', especially since it has some cake decorating in it! How cute is that?!? Perfect for me I think!

I'll let you know what I think when I am done with it. Speaking of the Spring Reading Thing... I am probably not going to get my whole list done, but I knew that going in. I had several choices on my list and have read 2 or 3 that were not on my list. I didn't have anything to read for about 2 weeks becuase I was waiting for a book for my MOPS bookclub that was overdue at the library. I didn't start anything new because I kept thinking it would be in any day. I was able to get it a few days ago and should be done with it this weekend in time for bookclub next week.

3. I love (good) surprises! Today I was the lucky recipient of a good surprise in the mail from my bloggy friend Nikki at WhiMSy Love. I got some super cool-e-o goodies from her Whimsy Love Etsy Shop! Hooray for surprises!

As I opened my package, I was a little disappointed as I realized that it wasn't graham crackers. You know I love a good snack. But, what was inside was even better!

A little gnome man and 2 toadstools for the moss terrarium I have been wanting to make for a long while! They are gonna look so spankin' cute! Check out the ones Nikki made here.

And to top it all off... a cute as pie vintage button ring from her shop!

Thanks, Nikki- it was a great day for good surprises!

Our Worm Farm

I have seen info on making a worm farm in several places. One day while playing out back, we found several worms. I told the kids we would go make a worm farm so this was what we set out to do.

We used a plastic tub the size of a shoebox to layer our sand and soil. I discussed with the kids how a worm's job is to mix the soil. After a little more digging, we were able to collect 10 in all. It was lots of fun!

(and yes, that is a wrestling singlet that B is wearing!)

May Day was full of surprises for many of our friends and family in town. All of the tots here colored several cups and we used pipe cleaners to make the handles. We stuffed them with popcorn, goldfish, fruit loops, jelly beans, m &m's , smarties, and suckers.

B and his friends had a great time taking them up to the doors and then running away back to the van!

Letter of the Week Series- H

This week we worked on Letter H. We used

foam happy face stickers and did H is for Happy!

A Mother's Day interview with B

I've seen this on a few blogs and I thought I would join in...B and I took a nap together this afternoon and I asked him these questions about me when we woke up.

What is your moms name... Amber
How old is your mom... 33 (I'm 30)
What is the color of your mother’s hair... brown
What is her favorite color... Pink
What is her favorite thing to do around the house... Clean
What is your mom’s favorite drink... Milk
What is her favorite thing to eat... salad (umm... big no.)
What is her favorite TV show... Mario Kart
What is her favorite thing to cook... Macaroni and cheese
What is your mother’s favorite candy... chocolate
What time does your mother get up... 9:00 (If only!)
What time does she go to bed....10
How long does it take for your mom to get ready... 13 minutes
I really love it when my mom.... loves me
My mom likes to wear..... a dress (like never ever has he seen me in a dress!)
My mom always tells me.... be nice
The best thing she does is .... clean the house
It makes her happy when I..... be good
My mom loves to relax by .....sitting down
When shopping, my mom likes to buy... curtains (what?!?!)
My mom’s favorite thing to do around the house is ..... clean (Yeah, right!)
If she could go on a trip, she would go ... to the warehouse (oh, yes, I go there all the time)
I love my mom because ....she’s cute! (oh, so sweet!)

Mother's Day Gift

I was inspired by one of my very favorite magazines, Family Fun to create this hanging bird bath or bird feeder for our Mother's Day gift.

If you don't get Family Fun magazine and you have young kids, you are just ... well you don't even want to know what I think you are. Each issue is jam packed with ideas that are so fun. We always make at least one thing and sometimes several of the ideas they show.

We used a grapevine wreath, terracotta saucers, floral wire, and twine. Optional items were paint and a sealer to spray over the paint.

The grapevine wreaths were just a little big so I used the floral wire to secure a base across the wreath. I thought adding the handprint added a great touch to personalize the gift for the grandmas for Mother's Day.

I tied the twine in three spots around the wreath and knotted them all together at the top to create a spot to hang them from a tree.

This could be used for a bird bath or a bird feeder!

My Life. In Pictures- MEG style

Today Meg assigned the theme of "something in your city" for her photo challenge.
We had such a beautiful day today. It was warm with a nice breeze. I took the tots to the park for a picnic and then some time to play. We were joined by my mom, my grandma, my great aunt, and a friend with her 4 kids. It was such a great day to enjoy lunch outside.

Our town has a beautiful park. It has a very pretty lake, several play areas, an outdoor ampetheater where there are shows every weekend in summer, and trails.

Be sure to check out Meg's blog for more on the photo challenge and what others have found in their town!

Mother's Day Gift

The tots and I have been working on a project the last few days for their mommies. I painted terracotta pots with white spray paint. The kids used sponges to decorate each pot for their mom. They were able to choose what colors or how many colors they wanted.

Earlier this week we went to pick out flowers for the pots. The boys picked out some striped petunias that were white and purple.

I used black paint to write "Happy Mother's Day 2009" along the top of each pot.

After the paint was dry I used a clear gloss spray to seal the paint.

Since I don't like to post pictures of my tots on here, enjoy this rare pixelated photo of all of them together! They were just so proud of their flower pots!

Somewhere out there Kathy is 50

I had an order for 2 cakes tomorrow. The lady who ordered them lives clear across the state. She is ordering them for her sister who is turning 50 as a surprise to her work. I guess she also called the secretary and asked her if she would hang up some black over the hill type decor in their lounge as well.

Here is what I came up with:

My Life. In Pictures- MEG style

Today Meg gave us the theme of "Helping Hands" for the My Life. In Pictures Photo Challenge. I had such a great time when I ran this photo challenge in April that it has been fun to be able to play again.

Meg has had some great shots posted to her blog for this challenge. Be sure to check them out or join right it!

Today the daycare tots and I were working on some gifts for Mother's Day (more on this later). It was a beautiful morning and even though the sun was shining bright, we had a few sprinkles every now and then.

We obviously were painting and as I started to wipe off all of the chubby little fingers and messy hands before we came inside, the idea for my "helping hands" shot came into my head!

I might blow this one up and frame it for our daycare area. :)

My Life. In Pictures- MEG style

Today Meg asked us to find something Green. As I looked around, I found several things or ways I could have found a shot to use. As my eyes settled on this little green vase, I knew I had my picture.

This tiny little stem vase is only about 3 inches tall. It was my great-grandma's. It is usually found on the back of my stove. Since it is so small, it only holds one single little stem at a time. B got a blue daisy in one of his May Day baskets so it is now sitting on our dining table proudly holding the flower in honor.


I present to you... my "something green"..........







Tomorrow the assignment is to find something to show "helping hands". Hmmm, I 'm gonna have to think a bit to figure out what I want to do for this one.

Be sure to check out Meg's blog and see what others are doing.

Painting with Dandelions

Today we read the book Dandelions- Stars in the Grass by Mia Posada.

After reading the book, I let the kids go outside and find 3 dandelions that they wanted to paint with.

The supplies we used were: cardstock, yellow paint, dandelions. That's it.

They dipped their dandelions into the yellow paint and made some beautiful artwork.

My Life. In Pictures- MEG style

Meg at My Edition of Gab had so much fun doing my photo challenge, she is hosting one herself this week. I think all of us had a blast with my last one, so I was excited to join in on the fun again.

Honestly, I forgot about it until I read her post today so I had to pull something out of my files seeing that it is nearly 10 PM.

The theme she selected for today was: a place where you feel most at peace. Well, since I can't photograph my new local Target store... I do feel so at home at peaceful there...




This is my sweet little boy (who is not so little anymore!) delivering a May Basket to a friend from preschool's house. I love love love being able to do these mini moments with him. Even though, I would not say that since I do daycare my days are peaceful.... I do feel most at peace doing these special things with him. I am so blessed and happy that I have the opportunity to be with him each day and that we are able to create so many memories together.

Stop over to her blog... see what other's are doing for the photo challenge, jump in and play, and see the themes for the rest of the week.