tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2466627801216766322024-03-13T13:56:49.576-05:00Pink Haired MommaPink Haired Mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09351316968047246222noreply@blogger.comBlogger626125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246662780121676632.post-1663443853443537062013-01-01T12:40:00.003-06:002013-01-01T12:40:30.658-06:00Happy New Year 2013Holy Crappers! It sure has been a long time since I have been a bloggin'. Funny how that happens. We all go through spurts. Blogging has always been an outlet for me to to connect with friends, share fun stuff in my life and channel being a mom into something "adult". You know, you can only win at Candy land so many times before you go a little loony and start eating the candy land pieces. Writing a post and getting feedback from other adults is fabulous and makes me feel like a big grown up.<br />
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So, here we are on the first day of 2013. Also known as my 34th Birthday. Yes, friends I am old. Yes folks, I am cool with that. I have a great husband and great kids and a pretty darn swell life. Sure, we have our ups and downs. But, overall my life is going pretty darn good. And 2013 is only going to get better. WE have the power to control our life. Even when bad things happen and are out of our control, we have the power to decide how to cope and make it our own. Always keep that in mind through life.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NfjzAmquZoE/UOMtdrnkWBI/AAAAAAAACu4/yJk3LdLMQG0/s1600/alberto+new+years.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NfjzAmquZoE/UOMtdrnkWBI/AAAAAAAACu4/yJk3LdLMQG0/s1600/alberto+new+years.jpg" height="320" width="191" /></a></div>
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I am not setting resolutions this year. But I am setting a goal. And this goal is to remember to be an adult. We always hear how we should be "more childlike" and have fun with life and live in the moment and yada yada yada. Well, I have that part down. I love thinking like a kid and doing things for and with my kids on their level. I love capturing the fun of the day with them. BUT, this year I plan to add in some fun for me. I need to remember to let my kids go play on their own and then take half an hour to enjoy a book for ME, to write a blog post for ME, to send my kids to a sitter and spend a few hours a lone with my husband. This part of life is just as important and seeing butterflies and making sure my kids laugh as smile as we chase them.<br />
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And that is it. One overall goal that can interject itself into all aspects of my world. I am going to take adult time this year. For real. And love every second of it.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/234/5C51E61333DE8000D95643AE73CECD92.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>Pink Haired Mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09351316968047246222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246662780121676632.post-20549968037929609302012-06-07T10:04:00.000-05:002012-06-07T10:04:00.401-05:00Choo ChooI can not believe it has flown by so fast, but it has. My fantabulous husband has met the one year mark with the railroad. YEEEEEEEE!!!! He longer has to wear the obnoxious "orange hat" that singles out all the new hires. He longer feels the terror of being the "new guy" every day as he journeys off to the unpredicatable day on the job.<br />
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I can't express how proud I am of him. He took a leap of faith, at my coaxing, and made a drastic career change. He embarked on a territory he had never considered before. He allowed himself to see the world in a new light, and after all is said and done, He likes it. And that makes me happy.<br />
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A big thanks to my hubby for taking a chance, and sending our family down a pathway that keeps our family thriving. And keeps Big Sis DIVA entertained. "choo choo daddy, choo choo momma" Words we hear round the clock now.<br />
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/234/5C51E61333DE8000D95643AE73CECD92.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>Pink Haired Mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09351316968047246222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246662780121676632.post-72091041302835281672012-06-06T09:55:00.002-05:002012-06-06T09:56:31.662-05:00Vegetable Co-opWhat is a Vegetable co-op?<br />
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In my own words, it is a group of folks who split the cost of GOOD nutritious foods. This enables members of the co-op to receive fantastic nutritious foods at a super fabulous LOW price.<br />
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One of the things I really enjoy about a co-op is the variety. You never really know what veggies and fruits are going to be in your haul each week. Some you might be totally familiar with, some you might not. Some you might have never even heard of. That is the beauty of a co-op. You get to explore food. Challenge yourself not only in providing your body with a more nutritious intake, but with devising ways to prepare nutritious meals.Take risks. Learn. Explore. In the few short months I have been a co-op member, I have expanded my cooking skills and my consumption skills. :)<br />
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Examples of unfamiliar vegetables being Beets, Eggplant and Scalloped squash. These three veggies are not something we would normally have in out kitchen. I was a little nervous but thanks to Pinterest and a willingness to learn and expand my horizons, my family has now enjoyed and added some new scrumptious dishes to our repertoire. (and a couple of gross ones too)<br />
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Beets:<br />
Juiced and roasted work out great. But <a href="http://www.food52.com/recipes/3381_minted_beets_with_cumin_lemon_and_pistachios" target="_blank">This</a>
salad was delicious and a great way to utilize beets for a yum cool treat here in the summer.<br />
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Eggplant:<br />
I won't lie to you. I do not like eggplant. My husband does not like eggplant. But the beauty of the co-op is, we received a large supply of eggplant. And we are hungry a lot, so I had to figure out something. And I did!! <a href="http://www.alexandracooks.com/2011/09/29/eggplant-involtini/" target="_blank">This</a>
fantastic recipe was amazing. And it freezes great and when reheated tastes wonderful. So anytime we have eggplant I can make a few batches of this and we have freezer meals ready to go!I haven't tried <a href="http://pinchofyum.com/cheesy-baked-eggplant-pizza" target="_blank">This</a> but it sure looks good. We plan on this being on our table later this week.<br />
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Scalloped Squash:<br />
WTH?? Cute little squash. What to do what to do? Several ideas were brought to my attention thanks to Pinterest. Our favorite was <a href="http://justhelen.net/2011/08/scalloped-squash-yumminess/" target="_blank">This</a>
one.<br />
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Enjoy. If you are faced with a food you are not familiar with, take a chance, try something new, challenge yourself. And enjoy the food and enjoy knowing your are learning and expanding your horizons.<br />
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<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/234/5C51E61333DE8000D95643AE73CECD92.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>Pink Haired Mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09351316968047246222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246662780121676632.post-83507114351170952012-05-26T10:00:00.000-05:002012-05-26T10:00:01.167-05:00Sucked that cucumber DRY!!I really love my veggies. I am also enjoying being in my veggie co-op. One thing the co-op is teaching me is how to make my veggies stretch. For example, let us take a look here at the cucumber.<br />
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Fancy, huh?<br />
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First, I juiced this little guy. I really like to drink cucumber juice. It is refreshing and when mixed with orange juice or beet juice can be quite scrumptious.<br />
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After I juiced the cucumber, I then took the pulp and mixed it with yogurt. Resulting in a fabulous spread for my pita lunches this week. A sprinkle of dill yielding a fancy cucumber dill pita! YUM-O<br />
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I also took some of the pulp and froze it into ice. Now I have a supply of cool cucumber ice to add to my water as we embrace the 90 degree daily temps we will see for the next 4 months.<br />
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Not a bad stretch for a food that cost me about a quarter.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/234/5C51E61333DE8000D95643AE73CECD92.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>Pink Haired Mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09351316968047246222noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246662780121676632.post-30648709473360290252012-05-22T11:00:00.000-05:002012-05-22T11:00:08.644-05:00Stinky DishesBig Sis DIVA has taken a real liking to washing dishes. This is fantastic for ME!!! I only can dream that this will last past her 4th birthday and into the teenage years, right?<br />
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Well, Big Sis DIVA also has a very sensitive nose. Recently while she was performing her daily duty of getting are dishes cleaned for the dishwasher, she voiced some choice opinions on the smell of our garbage disposal.<br />
"I cant wash "ish" mom because it is too STINKY in there." Points down to garbage disposal and runs off away from the sink.<br />
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Shit. I can not let this happen. Very quickly I have become accustomed to this new found help in the kitchen. I am sure not about to give it already. So, I do what all women these days do when they are faced with a domestic problem to solve. I consulted <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a>.<br />
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I found this great <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/167759154839814344/" target="_blank">link</a>
to an idea. (Now, when I clinked the actual link it told me the file was longer to be found, but the picture pretty much was all I needed. So, Thank you to whoever originally posted this) An idea that we are all well aware of but if you are like me, have never thought to put two an two together and put it into practice.<br />
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<a href="http://s1014.photobucket.com/albums/af262/Pinkhairedmommablog/in%20the%20kitchen/?action=view&current=vinegarice.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="vinegar ice" border="0" src="http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af262/Pinkhairedmommablog/in%20the%20kitchen/vinegarice.jpg" /></a></div>
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Vinegar and lemon ice cubes. GENIUS. And I just happen to have a surplus of lemons on hand from my vegetable co-op this week, so VOILA. We now have a fabulous collection of vinegar lemon ice cubes living in our freezer, ready to use at any time to freshen up the stinky sink.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6LBG6o4n1A8/T7KrUUU9VHI/AAAAAAAACts/oK2IdIxUx1E/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="244" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6LBG6o4n1A8/T7KrUUU9VHI/AAAAAAAACts/oK2IdIxUx1E/s320/002.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Now excuse me as I sit back and watch my 3 year old wash some dishes.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/234/5C51E61333DE8000D95643AE73CECD92.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>Pink Haired Mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09351316968047246222noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246662780121676632.post-17182429141893457912012-05-12T21:04:00.000-05:002012-05-12T21:04:25.922-05:00Yes, I do serve Ice Cream for breakfastI am dead serious. I serve ice cream for breakfast. 1 ingredient ice cream that I make, from scratch. HAHA And it is fabulous. AND has no refined sugar or anything else funky or chemically for that matter. My kids can honest to God have ice cream for breakfast and I won't have to shoot myself a nasty look of distasteful judgement in the mirror for serving it either.<br />
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Would you like to serve ice cream for breakfast too and be elevated to the Rock Star level of fabulous mom I currently stand at? Well then, here is what you need.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
A freezer</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
A blender</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
A peeled frozen banana</div>
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Step one: Peel Banana and Freeze. Originally I was told to let it only freeze for 2 hours or so, then whip it up. I, however, have two kids and Facebook to deal with and I forgot about little frozen banana for a day or two. Oops.<br />
<a href="http://s1014.photobucket.com/albums/af262/Pinkhairedmommablog/in%20the%20kitchen/?action=view&current=FrozenBanana.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Frozen Banana" border="0" src="http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af262/Pinkhairedmommablog/in%20the%20kitchen/FrozenBanana.jpg" /></a>
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Step Two: Take frozen banana out of freezer and plop in blender.<br />
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<a href="http://s1014.photobucket.com/albums/af262/Pinkhairedmommablog/in%20the%20kitchen/?action=view&current=blendingbanana.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="blending banana" border="0" src="http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af262/Pinkhairedmommablog/in%20the%20kitchen/blendingbanana.jpg" /></a>
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Step three: Blend Banana until it forms an "ice cream like" texture. I will be totally honest and tell you the only reason I attempted this treat was because I thought it was bullshit and that this frozen banana would not turn into ice cream. Well, I have been proven wrong. Low and behold after some blendage took place, the banana all of a sudden whipped itself into an ice cream like form. Who knew?<br />
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Step four: Call children to the table for breakfast and tell them you are the most awesome mom in the world because you are going to "let" them have ice cream for breakfast. Never reveal it is just a nice healthy banana! Nothing more. Bask in the glory of being totally cool to your kids.<br />
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<a href="http://s1014.photobucket.com/albums/af262/Pinkhairedmommablog/in%20the%20kitchen/?action=view&current=ameliaeatingicecream.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="amelia eating ice cream" border="0" src="http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af262/Pinkhairedmommablog/in%20the%20kitchen/ameliaeatingicecream.jpg" /></a>
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Step Five: Serve "Ice Cream"<br />
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Step Six: Enjoy being the greatest mom EVER, all day long. Perhaps even repeat tomorrow for breakfast.<br />
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PS this works on husbands too.<br />
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<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/234/5C51E61333DE8000D95643AE73CECD92.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>Pink Haired Mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09351316968047246222noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246662780121676632.post-56041723971550278692012-05-04T14:37:00.001-05:002012-05-04T14:37:35.611-05:00Sprinkles and IcingMy baby is 1 today. <br />
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I find myself wondering how did the time fly by. Was it not just yesterday that I fell asleep while feeding tiny tot and woke in a panic thinking I might smush her in the bed? Was it not just yesterday that it took me ALL day to get out of the house and into the car with 2 kids, only to then realize we missed the play date and then I spent all night getting us back into the house? Was it not just yesterday that she learned to smile? Was it not just yesterday she completed our family?<br />
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The last year has brought us lots of joy and adventures. Princess Pork Chop and Big Sis DIVA together with H4L, make me the happiest person in the world. We never have a dull moment around here. I am so thankful for that. And today we celebrate 1 year as a happy family of four!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">H4L and his ladies!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-667Ph_wrTmw/T6Qsnw2BpMI/AAAAAAAACsI/3budX6mX5dU/s1600/068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-667Ph_wrTmw/T6Qsnw2BpMI/AAAAAAAACsI/3budX6mX5dU/s320/068.JPG" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Picking out her first ever Sugar (cupcake)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q0ooxubb_-E/T6QssS9_PcI/AAAAAAAACsQ/-zDylAITges/s1600/069.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q0ooxubb_-E/T6QssS9_PcI/AAAAAAAACsQ/-zDylAITges/s320/069.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting Princess Pork Chop's First cupcake</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9IsAUMNs8YU/T6QsxP9aq_I/AAAAAAAACsY/_JNjX9xn0KQ/s1600/074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9IsAUMNs8YU/T6QsxP9aq_I/AAAAAAAACsY/_JNjX9xn0KQ/s320/074.JPG" width="179" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Big sis DIVA not impressed it is not HER day</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fCYP4XZO3ac/T6Qs2YuzRRI/AAAAAAAACsg/y_fuDSwc0Z4/s1600/079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fCYP4XZO3ac/T6Qs2YuzRRI/AAAAAAAACsg/y_fuDSwc0Z4/s320/079.JPG" width="179" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hello there</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LjSIcPeUAd0/T6Qs7Y-wNWI/AAAAAAAACso/j28kU6m2AL0/s1600/084.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LjSIcPeUAd0/T6Qs7Y-wNWI/AAAAAAAACso/j28kU6m2AL0/s320/084.JPG" width="179" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh my</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XypNO9bc3s0/T6QtAchl_0I/AAAAAAAACsw/Y67FnF8sqkc/s1600/093.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XypNO9bc3s0/T6QtAchl_0I/AAAAAAAACsw/Y67FnF8sqkc/s320/093.JPG" width="179" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is AMAZING</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3GNc2nE877I/T6QtFj6DdgI/AAAAAAAACs4/QzptdroBU14/s1600/101.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3GNc2nE877I/T6QtFj6DdgI/AAAAAAAACs4/QzptdroBU14/s320/101.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daddy, you got to try this!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lPfWBAushTg/T6QtKjzt6eI/AAAAAAAACtA/4xq6KEYIgwg/s1600/107.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lPfWBAushTg/T6QtKjzt6eI/AAAAAAAACtA/4xq6KEYIgwg/s320/107.JPG" width="179" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nothing like toes and icing</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mf9Nqvq_SyI/T6QtPkAHeEI/AAAAAAAACtI/rlAocouGBCg/s1600/109.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mf9Nqvq_SyI/T6QtPkAHeEI/AAAAAAAACtI/rlAocouGBCg/s320/109.JPG" width="179" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can I be 1 everyday?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--K8WsDlodGM/T6QtRl5_zTI/AAAAAAAACtQ/qi_syOqfYfQ/s1600/122.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--K8WsDlodGM/T6QtRl5_zTI/AAAAAAAACtQ/qi_syOqfYfQ/s320/122.JPG" width="269" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daddy and his baby girl</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mom, Here have some</td></tr>
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Happy FIRST Birthday to my baby girl Scarlett!!!<br />
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Bittersweet.<br />
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/234/5C51E61333DE8000D95643AE73CECD92.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a>Pink Haired Mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09351316968047246222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246662780121676632.post-52482393632660231372012-04-25T08:00:00.000-05:002012-04-25T08:00:10.409-05:00Sick dayWe have had more colds and flu's this year than I think I have had in my entire life. Thank you preschool! It is insane and very annoying. But here is a look at what a "sick day" looks like in our world.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These little guys got us our daily exercise when Momma just couldn't do more than hang on the couch!</td></tr>
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What do you do to cope through a mommy sick day??<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/234/5C51E61333DE8000D95643AE73CECD92.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>Pink Haired Mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09351316968047246222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246662780121676632.post-68939984861659531352012-04-24T07:46:00.000-05:002012-04-24T10:29:18.131-05:00Beet RoastDo you like Beets?<br />
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We don't. I use them to juice. I will toss one in because I know it is good for us and provides nutrition and good stuff for our livers, but I can not really stand the taste. H4L flat out refuses to drink or eat anything with a beet in it.<br />
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Well, what are we to do when our vegetable co-op brings in for the week, more Beets than one family should possibly ever see?<br />
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Toss them in the compost bin? My H4L's suggestion.<br />
Juice them all? I could never drink 50 beets this fast.<br />
Roast them? hmmmm. My mom suggested and showed me how to do just this, and my oh my these gross little vegetable became quite delicious.<br />
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So here is what to do if you ever find yourself drowning in beets.<br />
1. Wash them real good.<br />
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2. Dry them real good.<br />
3. Cover them in a light coat of cooking oil (we used canola)<br />
4. Dash them with good salt.<br />
5. Place them in a pocket of aluminum foil (or in my case my clay baking pot)<br />
6. Cover and roast at 400 degrees until a fork inserted goes in smooth as pie. (maybe an hour or two depending on beet size)<br />
7. Remove from heat and cool.<br />
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8. Peel skin off, it just comes right off, pretty cool learning for the kids actually<br />
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9. Eat the now delicious used to be yucky vegetable!!!!<br />
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So easy. I was really surprised and very happy we did not have to waste a whole bunch of beets.<br />
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*I have also heard rumors of using beets in a chocolate cake, therefore making said chocolate cake healthy. hmmmm I will be exploring this soon.<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/234/5C51E61333DE8000D95643AE73CECD92.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>Pink Haired Mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09351316968047246222noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246662780121676632.post-3858264400059798622012-04-23T09:00:00.000-05:002012-04-23T09:00:30.324-05:00Backyard Science<div>
Every morning we try and hit the backyard for some fresh air and exploration time. Sometimes we fail and we just look through the window at the exploration possibilities as we rush off here or there, but I really try to get this time in. We never know what we are going to discover or encounter, but it is always something amazing.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flowers climbing over the fence from the neighbor's yard.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A little backyard fishin'.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Big Sis DIVA's Beans. Now they live where they can climb!</td></tr>
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One amazingly beautiful morning this week, I opened the back door and let in the fun. We rushed out and found so many unplanned fascinating things to discover.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of our Backyard Science Tools. </td></tr>
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Big Sis DIVA loves flowers. We have a beautiful Gerbera daisy plant growing that she loves. On this specific morning, we had the privilege to be witness to a bug in "action". A real live bug sipping on some nectar from Big Sis DIVA's favorite flower. It was really cool. I personally have never seen a bug "Eating" on a flower, live, so it was a real experience for me too.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-31t0EiDjZBE/T5MXUEV6hkI/AAAAAAAACp4/6_nN17kYHtc/s1600/019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-31t0EiDjZBE/T5MXUEV6hkI/AAAAAAAACp4/6_nN17kYHtc/s320/019.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bug having some Breakfast!</td></tr>
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We talked about the flower and the bug and flower nectar and dirt. I just kind of guided the conversation a tad and then let the questions flow from my tot. This invited us to explore more plants and flowers in the yard. On this adventure we came across snails hiding on leaves and snuggled down tight next to pretty purple flowers. We also happened across a REAL hatched egg and feathers.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X4-Q_by8slU/T5MXPO99x9I/AAAAAAAACpw/Ei4EKWydhHk/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X4-Q_by8slU/T5MXPO99x9I/AAAAAAAACpw/Ei4EKWydhHk/s320/004.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Big Sis DIVA LOVES "baby eggs" so this was a real gem.</td></tr>
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I love that we have a "classroom" right outside our backdoor. A place we can go and learn unstructured, un-planned, un-censored. Just soaking up nature and knowledge and life, together.<br />
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/234/5C51E61333DE8000D95643AE73CECD92.png" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a></div>Pink Haired Mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09351316968047246222noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246662780121676632.post-87749613814899839822012-04-22T09:00:00.000-05:002012-04-22T09:00:24.450-05:00A flower is an educated weed.A quote I ran across recently, really sums up our lessons this last week. Thank you Luther Burbank for letting me borrow "A Flower is an educated weed."<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g4vF9zPoC_U/T5ML4LFGOCI/AAAAAAAACpg/wouucqb2aOY/s1600/051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g4vF9zPoC_U/T5ML4LFGOCI/AAAAAAAACpg/wouucqb2aOY/s320/051.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Growing from within the "Earth"</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b7MIAFdrb-Q/T5MLuAbUk7I/AAAAAAAACpY/OStPJZeq944/s1600/050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b7MIAFdrb-Q/T5MLuAbUk7I/AAAAAAAACpY/OStPJZeq944/s320/050.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Learning best in the "Earth"</td></tr>
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I know my kid is only 3 years old. I know she is not in school. I know she has a short attention span. I know the majority of her learning at this age is through playing and experiencing. When I talk about our lessons, please know I'm not strapping my kid down to a chair and demanding she read a novel and write a short story. I do not expect her, nor do I want her to be at a level that far surpasses her age. We are simply spending 5 to 10 minutes here or there throughout a given time of day in what we call "school time". All electronics are turned off at 9am and we "play" and "learn" through many different mediums for the next 3 hours. Many times I do not even think my kids pay attention to the "lessons" I have for them. But I chug along because the most important thing I want them to gain at this point is routine, a passion for knowledge and the skills to absorb information and learn. Oh and I really enjoy spending this uninterrupted time with m kids too. For me and them.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Learning letters at breakfast</td></tr>
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That being said, it always makes me so happy to see when my Big Sis DIVA has actually paid attention and in fact IS absorbing the information I am teaching and not just gaining skills to use her mind later. This week we learned about Earth. I talked to her about it and she would respond here or there or give me that blank 3 year old stare. We just continued on and I hoped for the best. Then at my parents over the weekend, Big Sis DIVA noticed a glass clear globe, an Earth. She looked at it from across the room and without be provoked and shouted, "Earth". Then proceeded to tell her Gah that Earth was a planet. I was tickled that she had learned AND retained the knowledge of the week.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cT949OlBAPY/T5MJeDUsZyI/AAAAAAAACoo/skESAe-o_tQ/s1600/024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cT949OlBAPY/T5MJeDUsZyI/AAAAAAAACoo/skESAe-o_tQ/s320/024.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Learning to sort Trash, courtesy of <a href="http://www.classroomfreebiestoo.com/2012/03/sorting-trash-earth-day-lesson.html" target="_blank">Classroom Freebies Too</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ibf_trd-hAE/T5MJVHLzsEI/AAAAAAAACog/_pCU-PZ4kng/s1600/018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ibf_trd-hAE/T5MJVHLzsEI/AAAAAAAACog/_pCU-PZ4kng/s320/018.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I printed a <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/167759154839497791/" target="_blank">Stash</a> of play dough mat's a while back. This one fit perfectly!</td></tr>
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We are spending two weeks covering the same theme. Earth, Recycling and Nature. You might can see why; that is a ton of topics and could go on forever. I wanted to cover earth day in our lessons, but I also wanted Big Sis DIVA and Princess Pork Chop to be introduced to Earth as a planet and to get out and see some nature. So, I structured the 2 week period to encompass all of it.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tY7nCejRWsA/T5MLmN1-ZZI/AAAAAAAACpQ/QtQV0N51Xy4/s1600/048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tY7nCejRWsA/T5MLmN1-ZZI/AAAAAAAACpQ/QtQV0N51Xy4/s320/048.JPG" width="179" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">While out strolling in nature, we were lucky enough to watch a nasty storm roll in. Complete with impressive clouds and noise. Part of "Earth's" activities.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TsY0AQiAwHc/T5MLWvwICpI/AAAAAAAACpA/73ZVPh0OrIc/s1600/022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TsY0AQiAwHc/T5MLWvwICpI/AAAAAAAACpA/73ZVPh0OrIc/s320/022.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We had to taste the rain of course!</td></tr>
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This week we looked at the Earth in all its forms. Pictures of the planet Earth. Dirt, by looking into the sky and discussing where we are. you name it. If I could fit Earth into the conversation I did. We talked about recycling and not being wasteful. We also spent a lot of time outside playing in the dirt, becoming one with nature. Honestly we did not have a lot of classroom time this week. We explored more out in nature and discussed life as it happens. I think that is the best way to learn, personally.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eDq713AArC8/T5MLdjLRvpI/AAAAAAAACpI/cISTmfNYYHI/s1600/039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eDq713AArC8/T5MLdjLRvpI/AAAAAAAACpI/cISTmfNYYHI/s320/039.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We found a small ant hill and watched as the ants worked in the "Earth"</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bLYkvYKHj8k/T5MMCXu7JsI/AAAAAAAACpo/7NI2HvBCpPQ/s1600/054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bLYkvYKHj8k/T5MMCXu7JsI/AAAAAAAACpo/7NI2HvBCpPQ/s320/054.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This little guy snuck up close to Big Sis DIVA's foot. He caused quite a scare and was deemed the "scariest monster" ever.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-W89IOKAjHWE/T5MJgGWkCeI/AAAAAAAACow/8RlQv1uz-Rs/s1600/025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="94" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-W89IOKAjHWE/T5MJgGWkCeI/AAAAAAAACow/8RlQv1uz-Rs/s320/025.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We are hanging this one in our classroom this week to accompany our lessons, thanks to <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Earth-Day-Mini-Unit-Freebie" target="_blank">Teachers pay Teachers</a></td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/234/5C51E61333DE8000D95643AE73CECD92.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a><br />
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</div>Pink Haired Mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09351316968047246222noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246662780121676632.post-70353301466534312152012-04-14T07:47:00.010-05:002012-04-14T10:29:30.110-05:00I have a Princess...theme week<p align="center"><a href="http://s1014.photobucket.com/albums/af262/Pinkhairedmommablog/Momma%20School%20blog%20posts/?action=view&current=036-2.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af262/Pinkhairedmommablog/Momma%20School%20blog%20posts/036-2.jpg" /></a></p><br /><br /><br /><p align="center">Big Sis DIVA and I at Disney on Ice!<br /></p><br /><br /><br /><p align="left">Big Sis DIVA has never been a girly girl. She has never showed a real interest in the Princess side of being a little girl. She prefers to flip the carriage over and inspect the wheel base to see if it was built properly. We go with it. Individuality.<br /><br />A few weeks back, Big Sis DIVA awoke from nap and our world changed. She was all princess. She now wants to wear princess dresses, princess shoes, princess hair. She has a baby doll she has to cuddle and love and feed and dress. She wants make-up and purses and pretty girly things. This is a huge change. I have no idea why or where she found this change, but we roll with it.<br /><br />I found this great <a href="http://www.1plus1plus1equals1.com/PreschoolPackPrincess.html" target="_blank">Princess Lessons</a> theme pack a while back for momma school. I saved it but figured Big Sis DIVA would not ever be interested or repsonsive to it, and thought perhaps I would pull it out of Princess Pork Chop at a later date. I was tickled pink when Big Sis DIVA developed her passion for purple tutu's and all things girly, because I knew we could use the Princess Theme pack. It is the small things that make me happy. :)<br /><br />I chose "Princess" as our theme for this last week for several reasons. One, it was right after Easter, so I knew I would have lots of pinky pastel things leftover to princess"ify". Two, we had already scheduled a fabulous play date field trip to <a href="http://disney.go.com/disneyonice/" target="_blank">Disney on Ice</a> for Friday. What better way to end Princess week, right? And lastly, I really wanted to take advantage of Big Sis DIVA being on a girly kick, and have fun with it.<br /><br />Here is a pictorial rundown of our week: </p><br /><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://s1014.photobucket.com/albums/af262/Pinkhairedmommablog/Momma%20School%20blog%20posts/?action=view&current=009-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af262/Pinkhairedmommablog/Momma%20School%20blog%20posts/009-1.jpg" /></a><br />Here we are, playing "Cinderella".<br /><br /></p><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://s1014.photobucket.com/albums/af262/Pinkhairedmommablog/Momma%20School%20blog%20posts/?action=view&current=017-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af262/Pinkhairedmommablog/Momma%20School%20blog%20posts/017-1.jpg" /></a><br />Rapunzel Pork Chop in her "tower"<br /><br /><a href="http://s1014.photobucket.com/albums/af262/Pinkhairedmommablog/Momma%20School%20blog%20posts/?action=view&current=002-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af262/Pinkhairedmommablog/Momma%20School%20blog%20posts/002-1.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="http://s1014.photobucket.com/albums/af262/Pinkhairedmommablog/Momma%20School%20blog%20posts/?action=view&current=004-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af262/Pinkhairedmommablog/Momma%20School%20blog%20posts/004-1.jpg" /></a><br />Thanks to <a href="http://www.1plus1plus1equals1.com/preschoolpacks.html" target="_blank">1plus1plus1equals1</a>, We have great Princess lesson material which I have printed, laminated and prepared for use each day during our class time.<br /><br /><a href="http://s1014.photobucket.com/albums/af262/Pinkhairedmommablog/Momma%20School%20blog%20posts/?action=view&current=026-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af262/Pinkhairedmommablog/Momma%20School%20blog%20posts/026-1.jpg" /></a><br />Reading Library books. We had 3 trips to the library this week. :)<br /></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="left"><br />It was a pretty easy lesson week. We used the letter "P" and the colors Pink and Purple. We also spent time working on our first and last name again. The spelling and proper way to say it. We also worked on our phone number, the date, etc. We spent a lot of time outside this week just exploring the backyard using backyard science, and playing, playing, playing. The weather was beautiful, so we wanted to soak it all in. Because we were outside so much this week, we didn't do any crafts. But I did have some planned. We just ignored them and played in the sunshine instead.<br /><br />Princess week was a success. I did not use all of my prepared materials, so I think we might have Princess week again in month or two because we had so much fun with it. And the possibilties for lessons are endless, so, some more pinterest princess hunting might be in order.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/234/5C51E61333DE8000D95643AE73CECD92.png" /></a> </div>Pink Haired Mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09351316968047246222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246662780121676632.post-33283049805115102592012-04-10T11:33:00.004-05:002012-04-10T11:36:15.063-05:00"Momma School"I have made a decision. I am about 97% sure I will be homeschooling my tots. I have come to this decision after doing a good amount of research on the process of homeschool, the outcomes, the how and the whys. I am by no means done with my research, nor will I ever be, but at this point, this is the path we are going to take. (Before I get attacked by anti-homeschool folks, please know we are keeping our options open and still applying to the local schools just as we would if homeschool was not a possibility.)<br /><br />I am also not an ignorant parent. I do know that this path is not for everyone. Lucky for us, I have found this option early on and I am willing to do it by choice, not necessity. Big Sis DIVA is not even allowed to enter kindergarten until 2014 based on her birthdate. So, we have the next 2 whole years to practice homeschool on a preschool level. I mean really, if we can master a good working environment for learning at the preschool level, we can master anything. So we have merged our lives into this plan.<br /><br />The last few months I have been testing the waters. We have set up a solid routine for "momma school" as it has been rendered by Big Sis DIVA. I spend a little time each week preparing a "lesson plan". This is not a rigorous outline that rules our day by any means. My kid is 3. Play still centers our world, but this is more of a nice list of activities and ideas that I can reference to keep us structured. It acts as a guide to keep me on track and to help when I need a little something to entertain a tot a quick notice. I have a box prepared each week that coordinates to this lesson plan. Inside the box I place all the supplies needed for the exercises and activities on that weeks lesson plan. This can be worksheets, art supplies, printouts of songs and games, etc. At any point during the week we can hit the box and our supplies for any given fun learning are there at our fingertips.<br /><br />I am slowly implementing a strict time routine. I want there to always be free thinking and learning, but I also believe that there is a designated play time and a work time. Granted, at this young age of 3 our "play"time is far greater than work time, we still are going to adhere to a schedule. Schedules work well for us in other areas and by having a schedule those around us who do not homeschool can understand our time restraints with ease. We have 3 hours a day that are specific for school. Currently, from 9am to noon. We don't have lessons this whole time, but we are engaging in learning with each other during this time. No cell phones, no TV, no Internet unless it is for a lesson. These 3 hours are for momma and tot uninterrupted learning and playing time.<br /><br />4 days a week we have guided mommy school. At 9am the TV is shut off until after dinner and we start our lessons. Some days find us outside doing backyard science, some days find us in the playroom being architects with Lego's, and some days we have actual worksheet lessons and some other days find us on field trips to playdates for social skills or other places we visit to see and learn in our community. It varies from day to day, lesson to lesson, as I seek out what works best for us. But we do stay on track and from 9am to noon each day we are learning and engaging in something with each other.<br /><br />Although the day to day activity can vary, we do have our "Daily's" that stay constant. We also have a theme each week which helps solidify the conglomerate of learning we have each week. Our "daily's" open each day with a check of the weather outside that we report on a weather chart in our classroom. We discuss what day of the week, the month, the date, the season, the year it is. We also go over our first and last name for phonics and spelling, and our address and phone number. And we do a letter of the week now, so we work on words that start with this letter or draw the letter on the chalkboard. I also have started doing a concept each week for life skills. Such as table manners or bathroom hygiene. Simple things we already know but I just emphasize them and expand on them as needed. And we also work on a academic concept throughout the whole week. Such as left versus right, or spacial understanding. The latter two are used throughout the whole week and whole day, not in structured learning but rather as they came about in the daily happenings.<br /><br />I found in my research that the state of Texas has no real regulations for homeschool (I do plan on keeping substantial records and have been looking at ways to do this), but they do require studies in 5 areas. I'm working on structuring our preschool to coincide with this structure, so that transition to school age learning flows right in. Right now, we work on science/math, reading/language, arts/crafts, life skills, and outdoor play. Some days we hit all 5 areas, some times we work on only one area all week. Over time we will gradually switch to areas that are more similar to what the state requires.<br /><br />So that is what has been going on here in my world in regards to school and education. I welcome any input or thoughts or resources you might have. I am learning and new to this and would like to gain all the knowledge and know how I can, so that I may provide my children with the best I can give them.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/234/5C51E61333DE8000D95643AE73CECD92.png" /></a>Pink Haired Mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09351316968047246222noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246662780121676632.post-3105829118716096922012-04-10T08:30:00.000-05:002012-04-10T08:30:02.143-05:0011 months old???<p align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3JuxokQUTw0/T4GQ985N9lI/AAAAAAAACmE/T6zwo-F4-i0/s1600/002.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 204px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729019594984519250" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3JuxokQUTw0/T4GQ985N9lI/AAAAAAAACmE/T6zwo-F4-i0/s320/002.JPG" /></a></p>How the hell did this happen?<br /><br />Princess Pork Chop is only 1 month shy of being an entire year old. An ENTIRE YEAR OLD!!! It is insane! I just can not believe it.<br /><br />So up to date Princess Pork Chop is eating like a normal little human. There is nothing this child wont eat. We do not make her special food. Whatever we eat, she eats, just in smaller bites. But I tell you, she can put away some food. She eats more than Big Sis DIVA by plates. She has 8 teeth right now possibly working on a couple more, if the drool indicates anything. She sleeps through the night. Bed time is 630-7pm and she sleeps until 630 ish the next morning. Now, she will wake up around midnight some nights, but it is only when she is cutting a tooth or takes a big nasty dump in her sleep. I know TMI, but it happens.<br /><br />What else. She says Mama, Baba (bottle) and has a full range of other words that we have no idea what they are. Grunt was not offered as a foreign language back in my day. I have no idea her weight but she is wearing 12 month clothes. And she refuses to drink ANYTHING but formula. She only uses a sippy cup as a chew toy and will not drink anything BUT formula from a bottle. So unlike her sister who willingly, actually demanded to give up a bottle at 6 months old. She hates all juice and hates water and hates cows milk and hates other milks. So, formula in a bottle it is for some time yet.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ORUAEe--zcs/T4GQ-Rnc3CI/AAAAAAAACmQ/8EYJ1MWNwUo/s1600/037.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 180px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729019600547142690" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ORUAEe--zcs/T4GQ-Rnc3CI/AAAAAAAACmQ/8EYJ1MWNwUo/s320/037.JPG" /></a></p><br /><br />11 months old. How is it possible???<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/234/5C51E61333DE8000D95643AE73CECD92.png" /></a>Pink Haired Mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09351316968047246222noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246662780121676632.post-50988604790140751662012-04-09T08:48:00.003-05:002012-04-09T08:48:01.032-05:00E is for Easter, and Eggs, and Everything!!!<p align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D619BSsgybM/T4GfT0YtlzI/AAAAAAAACoU/TRyn--O788U/s1600/118.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 146px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729035363820607282" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D619BSsgybM/T4GfT0YtlzI/AAAAAAAACoU/TRyn--O788U/s320/118.JPG" /></a></p><br /><br /><br />Last week in mommy school we had an Easter theme. Who didn't? I mean, holidays make curriculum planning super easy. This last week I did something a little different than we have been doing in previous months. Instead of using a different letter to learn about each day, I chose to keep the same letter the whole week. And it worked awesome. It simplified preparing for the week and made those spur-of-the-moment lessons less intimidating.<br /><br />All week long we followed activities and lessons that centered around Easter and/or the letter E. And of course a few other topics as we encountered them.<br /><br /><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Rio-vdw5zJU/T4GfTZDz3CI/AAAAAAAACoI/KREl-rkU23I/s1600/115.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 248px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729035356485180450" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Rio-vdw5zJU/T4GfTZDz3CI/AAAAAAAACoI/KREl-rkU23I/s320/115.JPG" /></a></p><br /><br />Getting into the Easter spirit, we planted magic beans, thanks to Pinterest for linking us to the blog, <a href="http://cjaneblog.blogspot.com/2010/03/cutest-easter-tradition.html" target="_blank">See Jane Blog</a> idea.The Easter Bunny just had to sprinkle the magic beans with a bit of Easter magic so our beans could grow in to magic candy sticks! My kid is 3. After we planted the beans she lost interest and never looked back. I will try this again next year.<br /><br /><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0FttMGXSOCM/T4GfTPdDSFI/AAAAAAAACn8/ylLa6TS761w/s1600/112.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 269px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729035353906694226" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0FttMGXSOCM/T4GfTPdDSFI/AAAAAAAACn8/ylLa6TS761w/s320/112.JPG" /></a></p><br /><br /><p align="left"><br />Gah came over for an "art" lesson in how to Dye Easter eggs. Taught by the famous Big Sis DIVA of course.<br /></p><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6aZC9STfklA/T4GeFC20mGI/AAAAAAAACng/RC4jUbYjj4U/s1600/084.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 210px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729034010495326306" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6aZC9STfklA/T4GeFC20mGI/AAAAAAAACng/RC4jUbYjj4U/s320/084.JPG" /></a></p><br />We learned about the letter "E" in conjunction with our Easter theme. Surprised? A lot of Excitement was had all week long.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MdW_G0VaW4s/T4GeFj4xR8I/AAAAAAAACnw/POsIzAt0hi0/s1600/109.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 278px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729034019361867714" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MdW_G0VaW4s/T4GeFj4xR8I/AAAAAAAACnw/POsIzAt0hi0/s320/109.JPG" /></a></p><br /><br />"E"lmo helped us a lot this week. Princess Pork Chop and Elmo are really great friends!<br /><br /><br />We started the week off with a science experiment. We made "E"ggshells disappear. This particular exercise takes several days so it also helped us work on one of our life skills, "patience". We dropped an uncooked egg into a mason jar filled with white vinegar. I recall this experiment from my childhood, but if you would like directions, <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/136233957448061543/" target="_blank">here</a> is a good source. Immediately the egg begins to bubble. This is very exciting for a 3 year old. Big Sis DIVA checked in on her egg many, many times throughout the day to see it "hatching" as she called it. By the end of the week we had a wonderful egg with out a shell that resembled a rubber ball. WEE were able to see the inside of the egg too. I like this exercise because it can reach a wide variety of age groups. We will be able to repeat this many time at many different educational stages to gain very different perspectives of the experiment.<br /><br /><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X6j0nqyKFs4/T4GbFVooXrI/AAAAAAAACm0/Iha_q4rsE8g/s1600/017.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 175px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729030717001195186" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X6j0nqyKFs4/T4GbFVooXrI/AAAAAAAACm0/Iha_q4rsE8g/s320/017.JPG" /></a></p><br /><br /><p align="left"><br />Throughout playtime I try and work our letters and our theme of the week in at various points during the day. During morning Lego time, we made super big letter E! </p><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dkpLAc4TBk8/T4GbFB92A8I/AAAAAAAACmk/o_NY8mYlfZU/s1600/019.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 180px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729030711721460674" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dkpLAc4TBk8/T4GbFB92A8I/AAAAAAAACmk/o_NY8mYlfZU/s320/019.JPG" /></a></p><br /><br /><p align="left"><br />As a Family, we have made the choice to live better and eat healthier. We are really big into juicing our veggies and living healthy and trying to teach the girls about this. Well this lifestyle change has also entered our playtime. I found the girls and daddy making a "pig" juicer during Lego time! </p><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r_WgR3I6HbU/T4GbEbfhIdI/AAAAAAAACmc/u_WY_GvzWDo/s1600/028.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 180px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729030701393715666" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r_WgR3I6HbU/T4GbEbfhIdI/AAAAAAAACmc/u_WY_GvzWDo/s320/028.JPG" /></a></p>Princess Pork Chop has her own social circle developing. She attends a weekly playgroup all of her own, without Big Sis DIVA. This week, in Egg theme, I put together balloons filled with various sensory items. Flour, sugar, rice, beans, etc. I was so proud of myself. But the babies just wanted to eat the balloons. FAIL!!!<br /><br /><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YrM7u4MnBn4/T4GeE-mTcxI/AAAAAAAACnU/aMtwLa9JGCc/s1600/038.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 257px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729034009352303378" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YrM7u4MnBn4/T4GeE-mTcxI/AAAAAAAACnU/aMtwLa9JGCc/s320/038.JPG" /></a></p><br />These were a ton of fun. We made these cracked eggs, or Dinosaur eggs. I got the idea from <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/167759154839316879/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a>. They were really easy and looked so awesome. Still didn't get Big Sis DIVA to eat a boiled egg, but Princess Pork Chop and H4L had no problem packing away the dinosaur eggs.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JFirebTV-i0/T4GeEa6hkaI/AAAAAAAACnM/ATSkGufwOXg/s1600/004.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 316px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729033999773438370" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JFirebTV-i0/T4GeEa6hkaI/AAAAAAAACnM/ATSkGufwOXg/s320/004.JPG" /></a></p>And no week is complete without coloring. I honestly do not remember where I found these coloring sheets. Somewhere on pinterest I am sure. I just printed out a few and we colored throughout the week.<br /><br /><br /><br /><p align="center"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 205px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729033992875294386" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sHkcEXAdBOk/T4GeEBN4PrI/AAAAAAAACnA/qz_17kpk4KU/s320/030.JPG" /><br /></p><br /><br /><p><br /></p><br /><br /><p>Mommy School is always developing here at Pink Haired Momma's. We try to have science, math, reading and life skills each week. How we work these areas into our daily world varies and grows right along with my tots. Learning never stops, and never does our mommy school. We are always striving to learn more!<br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/234/5C51E61333DE8000D95643AE73CECD92.png" /></a><br /></p>Pink Haired Mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09351316968047246222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246662780121676632.post-50938666980293904292012-04-02T15:13:00.007-05:002012-04-02T16:05:27.242-05:00Growing flowers, Year by YearA few weeks back we took our annual Texas Bluebonnet pics. And since my new blog facelift includes our Bluebonnet pics, I wanted to share this years photos and a couple of oldies. I can not believe how big my babies are getting!!!<br /><br /><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3Dr3p5bxZv0/T3oJ9pGzm_I/AAAAAAAAClU/uGFKxz5p_dk/s1600/sisters.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 214px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726900830766078962" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3Dr3p5bxZv0/T3oJ9pGzm_I/AAAAAAAAClU/uGFKxz5p_dk/s320/sisters.jpg" /></a><br /></p><br /><br /><br /><div align="center">Sister Love<br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vYn7hk7LOWQ/T3oJ9AjT9QI/AAAAAAAAClI/GHNS1Ue4iL8/s1600/scar%2Bpushing%2Bmia.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726900819879785730" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vYn7hk7LOWQ/T3oJ9AjT9QI/AAAAAAAAClI/GHNS1Ue4iL8/s320/scar%2Bpushing%2Bmia.jpg" /></a><br />I got you Big sis DIVA!<br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-s5krD8HuPQk/T3oJ9DN2_wI/AAAAAAAACk4/tt1jj_N0kB8/s1600/cheese%2Bmia.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 214px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726900820595113730" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-s5krD8HuPQk/T3oJ9DN2_wI/AAAAAAAACk4/tt1jj_N0kB8/s320/cheese%2Bmia.jpg" /></a><br />Big sis DIVA CheesEEE!!<br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--1jqBr1CT24/T3oJ8qwIu7I/AAAAAAAACkw/8KFVXltFQzs/s1600/035.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 270px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726900814027996082" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--1jqBr1CT24/T3oJ8qwIu7I/AAAAAAAACkw/8KFVXltFQzs/s320/035.JPG" /></a><br />Sweet Girl<br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uvMW2NEqopg/T3oJ8L_QuQI/AAAAAAAACkk/L4gXugT2EpA/s1600/002.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 180px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726900805769935106" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uvMW2NEqopg/T3oJ8L_QuQI/AAAAAAAACkk/L4gXugT2EpA/s320/002.JPG" /></a><br />Princess Pork chop!<br /></div><br /><br /><br /><p align="center"><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u8skLxVajhc/T3oNo6YhktI/AAAAAAAACl4/btvV1cMtfck/s1600/amelia%2B2009.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726904872673055442" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u8skLxVajhc/T3oNo6YhktI/AAAAAAAACl4/btvV1cMtfck/s320/amelia%2B2009.jpg" /></a><br />Big Sis DIVA 2009 6 months old!<br /><br /></p><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KBxYL6inieo/T3oLkNzV-nI/AAAAAAAAClo/bV9obvE1kSA/s1600/4-4-10%2B3.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 214px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726902592963213938" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KBxYL6inieo/T3oLkNzV-nI/AAAAAAAAClo/bV9obvE1kSA/s320/4-4-10%2B3.jpg" /></a><br />Big sis DIVA 2010<br /><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Mn3YJoQ5n7Q/T3oLj8rWCjI/AAAAAAAAClg/_t_9z8PdSN4/s1600/4-4-10%2B2.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726902588366260786" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Mn3YJoQ5n7Q/T3oLj8rWCjI/AAAAAAAAClg/_t_9z8PdSN4/s320/4-4-10%2B2.jpg" /></a><br />Big Sis DIVA 2010<br /><br /><br />Sadly, we have no pictures from 2011. If you recall Princess Pork Chop was womb bound and kept me hospital bound on <a href="http://www.thoughtsofprincessmar.blogspot.com/2011/03/big-hello-from-hospital-bedrest.html" target="_blank">bed rest</a><br />during bluebonnet season. :(<br /><br /></div><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/234/5C51E61333DE8000D95643AE73CECD92.png" /></a>Pink Haired Mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09351316968047246222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246662780121676632.post-56504921082322511482012-03-31T21:58:00.006-05:002012-03-31T22:31:22.794-05:00FACELIFTs and ConfessionsNotice the changes? You like?<br /><br />I decided that since my life has had some big changes over the last year, that my blog should have a change too! And I LOVE the change.<br /><br />First, I have a bit of a confession. I did something I am a little ashamed of. I have corrected the problem, so we are A-okay, but it happened. I allowed myself to fall victim to judgment by folks I associate with my life. <strong><span style="font-size:180%;">What??</span></strong><br /><br />Yep. The condescending glares and whispers that followed me as I strolled through a hallway filled with fellow moms finally got to me. Under normal circumstances I could have cared less, but as a Mom, you often have to learn how to be political for the sake of your kids. It is one of those things they do not teach you about in Mommy school.<br /><br />It was not one place in particular. It was not one person in particular. It was a build up over time and a little insecurity on my own part that led me to give up...my Pink Hair. Silly right? Something so trivial. But the hair caused a lot of questionable behaviors of others that seemed to impanct me and my kids, or so I thought.<br /><br />Funny thing is, in chaning to "fit in with the crowd" I learned to NEVER listen to the crowd and to leave my own footprints. I learned that there is nothing wrong with me bieng me. My kids love ME, so that is who I should be and who I should fit in with.<br /><br />I lost a bit of my identity by changing my hair to "fit in with the crowd". I lost a bit of my spunk and drive that keeps me going when I feel insecure or unmotivated. I found that even blogging was a hardship because I was no longer "Pink Haired Momma". So I took it as a cue to get to know myself and figure out why I allowed myself to fall victim to this negative behavior. What was going on that made me clutch the identity so tightly.<br /><br />Well, I came out on the other side of this self discovery a vegetarian, homeschool mom in training, DIY domestic Queen <strong><span style="font-size:180%;">with Pink Hair</span></strong> and a smile. I gained quite a bit on insight and realized that in some ways my hair might be part of my identity, but more importantly it is just me being me. Me expressing my "Bright" passion for life and a not so subtle way for me to be a little different in a structured way.<br /><br />So to those people that think I am too old, or that moms shouldn't have pink hair, or who do not want my kids playing with your kids because I have pink hair, please know that while you are being so judgmental of a <em>HAIR</em> color, I am rolling down hills in the grass with my kids, dancing in the rain with my husband and seeing just how colorful and fun the world is. And I wouldn't have it any other way.<br /><br />My blog not only has a flashy new face lift, but my content is going to reflect my new perspectives. I would love for you to follow along as I venture through the transformation of myself and my family into a full vegetarian, homeschooling funny farm! <br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/234/5C51E61333DE8000D95643AE73CECD92.png" /></a>Pink Haired Mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09351316968047246222noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246662780121676632.post-22865210524807001702012-01-16T13:27:00.007-06:002012-01-16T14:30:15.360-06:00The momma box<div align="center"><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3HSD6OegfIY/TxSDqkH-VeI/AAAAAAAACiw/mQmveKySlZU/s1600/010.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698324195805386210" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3HSD6OegfIY/TxSDqkH-VeI/AAAAAAAACiw/mQmveKySlZU/s320/010.JPG" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><br /></div><br /><p align="left">I really do try and teach my kids daily, entertain them, sing to them, dance with, get creative with them and show them the world. But honestly I am just human. I am just a fluffy pink haired momma who also is a wife and a woman and daughter and many days I find myself at a loss for what to do to engage my little sponges of knowledge. I find it extra hard to figure out a plan of action when it is say raining or too cold to go outside (not that this has been a problem at ALL here in Texas lately), and my kids are going bonkers while I try to rummage through the thoughts of my frustrated mind for something to do. Insanity and time outs usually follow, and really?? what is the fun in that.<br /><br />In order to try and keep this scream fest from rearing its ugly head, I spent the tail end of 2011 putting together a plan of attack for 2012. NOT A RESOLUTION. Just a "Tool" to help me as a momma, be better at what I do: Raise and teach my kids while having fun everyday.<br /><br />Thanks to <a href="http://www.oopseydaisyblog.com/mommy-school" target="_blank">Oopsey Daisy Mommy School</a> and <a href="http://homeschoolcreations.com/index.html" target="_blank">Homeschool Creations</a>, and many others I will mention as their help is revealed, I found tons of great theme packs. Each came with a skeleton of a plan/idea for me to get started. I took these fantastic plans, spent some time on pinterest and devised a weeks worth of crafts, educational lessons, songs, books, foods etc. corresponding with the specific theme and jumbled them all together in my organized momma box. Now, each week I can pull a file from my momma box and have at my fingertips more than enough activities, not only to work on with my kids daily as learning exercises, but also to use as a magic tool when the screams are flowing and my brain is gone and I NEED to re direct the mind of a 3 year old and 8 month old.<br /><br />We started our first week with Robots and had a marvelous time. We built a robot "botty" out of formula cans and boxes. We enjoyed a snack of marshmallow robots and we learned all about the letter "R" with this lovely <a href="http://homeschoolcreations.com/robotpreschoolpack.html" target="_blank">Robot theme pack</a>. Going in to each week I know we have more than enough activities to do. Therefore if a day goes by and we do nothing from the momma box but instead hit the park, that is okay. Come the end of the week the file gets placed back in the momma box and ready for action when needed. </p><br /><p align="center"><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TRik32vImPw/TxSDrMxrW8I/AAAAAAAACjU/C7YIOzbpu08/s1600/005.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 180px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698324206717721538" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TRik32vImPw/TxSDrMxrW8I/AAAAAAAACjU/C7YIOzbpu08/s320/005.JPG" /></a> </p><br /><div align="center">Princess Pork Chop showing off her robot skills too! </div><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RcbJUyP2ig4/TxSDq4SWiZI/AAAAAAAACjI/1ojQYb715cY/s1600/006.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 180px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698324201217624466" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RcbJUyP2ig4/TxSDq4SWiZI/AAAAAAAACjI/1ojQYb715cY/s320/006.JPG" /></a><br />"Teching" out our robot<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5nRlzMPY3js/TxSIJ-QrnMI/AAAAAAAACjg/Jhv6x6MCdo0/s1600/001.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 180px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698329133443685570" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5nRlzMPY3js/TxSIJ-QrnMI/AAAAAAAACjg/Jhv6x6MCdo0/s320/001.JPG" /></a><br />Marshmallow Bots<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-C4frGN5WCxs/TxSDqtWKpOI/AAAAAAAACi8/5SVFPYj6QOM/s1600/015.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 180px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698324198280832226" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-C4frGN5WCxs/TxSDqtWKpOI/AAAAAAAACi8/5SVFPYj6QOM/s320/015.JPG" /></a><br />"Botty" spent a little bit of time in time out because he wouldn't turn on. Our tots live in a TECH generation man!<br /></div><br /><div align="left"><br />I really like having this tool on hand. It helps me feel more structured and keeps me focused in providing my children with fun learning experiences no matter the day or time. I also notice that the mental stimulation is helping keep my 3 year old from driving ME bonkers on any given day. And more importantly, I find myself enjoying watching my daughters learn and grow right before my eyes. </div><br /><p align="left"><br /><br /><br /></p><br /><div align="left"><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/234/5C51E61333DE8000D95643AE73CECD92.png" /></a> </div>Pink Haired Mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09351316968047246222noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246662780121676632.post-72058324329131874232011-12-10T09:37:00.000-06:002011-12-10T09:37:00.975-06:00The Hunger GamesHave you read <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0545265355/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=thouofaprin-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0545265355">The Hunger Games Trilogy</a><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; MARGIN: 0px; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thouofaprin-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0545265355" width="1" height="1" /> ? Can I just say AMAZING! From the very first page of book 1, I was captivated. And I might have possibly let my baby swing a little too long in the swing and the other kiddo make a giant mess with play dough just so I could finish the next chapter!<br />Going into this book I had no expectations, no idea what the book was even about. It was chosen as a read for my book club, and until that point, I had not even heard of this trilogy. I am so glad it was chosen however. It is a great read.<br /><br />Can not wait until the movie comes out next March!!! I just hope it is as good as the book.<br /><iframe height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/OgssLmsOa2s" frameborder="0" width="560"></iframe><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/234/5C51E61333DE8000D95643AE73CECD92.png" /></a>Pink Haired Mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09351316968047246222noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246662780121676632.post-77454026941191594092011-12-09T09:32:00.004-06:002011-12-09T09:32:01.267-06:00Christmas Wrapping<div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZYOp0l-sZx0/TuBMt8FRmtI/AAAAAAAACiU/h6FZoDm0r8U/s1600/024.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 180px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683627081847642834" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZYOp0l-sZx0/TuBMt8FRmtI/AAAAAAAACiU/h6FZoDm0r8U/s320/024.JPG" /></a> </div><br /><div align="center">Evil Princess Pork Chop vs. Christmas</div><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z5j7EwgDcUs/TuBMs2GLINI/AAAAAAAACh4/-dz34_JvjOg/s1600/012.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 180px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683627063060930770" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z5j7EwgDcUs/TuBMs2GLINI/AAAAAAAACh4/-dz34_JvjOg/s320/012.JPG" /></a></p><br /><p align="center">Yes?</p><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F3gGFEIz5QI/TuBMs8RVhMI/AAAAAAAAChw/zb5t3sCijhw/s1600/004.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 180px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683627064718361794" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F3gGFEIz5QI/TuBMs8RVhMI/AAAAAAAAChw/zb5t3sCijhw/s320/004.JPG" /></a><br />Is my Hat on straight?</p><br /><p align="center">This is what we do while Big Sis DIVA is at school!</p><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/234/5C51E61333DE8000D95643AE73CECD92.png" /></a>Pink Haired Mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09351316968047246222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246662780121676632.post-61267560432221195092011-12-08T12:00:00.001-06:002011-12-08T12:00:03.394-06:00Christmas OverkillI am the Griswald of Christmas. Not with the lights and such because I do not particularly love being outside on a ladder hanging stuff, but with the Christmas spirit. My family and my house are beginning to drown in tinsel. Oh well, get over it. NEW TRADITION!<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">I blame Pinterest!</span></strong><br /><br />On top of The Elf on the Shelf, the daily activity advent calendar sponsored by Elf, watching Christmas themed movies and shows at least once a day, wearing Christmas theme clothes every day, and taking red and green baths, I have decided to add in yet one more "tradition".<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Cuj3V6WEnm4/TuBQ6OiRoxI/AAAAAAAACig/cXZ82dgn2jw/s1600/032.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 180px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683631691006059282" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Cuj3V6WEnm4/TuBQ6OiRoxI/AAAAAAAACig/cXZ82dgn2jw/s320/032.JPG" /></a><br /></p><br /><p align="left">I wrapped up 12 new books. The first book is the Polar Express, since you know, We became Train people this year. And starting on December 12 we will do our own version of 12 days of Christmas by opening 1 book every night until Christmas EVE (and rest assured all while participating in the 50 other "traditions" I have assigned to our family this year). On Christmas Eve I have chosen a simple board book that ends with the simple phrase, "Now it is Christmas time". I am really excited about this adventure.</p>Our wrapping paper this year is simple. Brown bag paper decorated with a pretty cutout letter of the first name of the recipient. Following in this theme, I cut out the numbers 1 -12 and wrapped each book to coordinate. Now they are laid under the tree just waiting for little hands to tear them open and stimulate some minds.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/234/5C51E61333DE8000D95643AE73CECD92.png" /></a>Pink Haired Mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09351316968047246222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246662780121676632.post-39828114640743674742011-12-07T09:10:00.002-06:002011-12-07T09:10:00.835-06:00We saw Santa<p align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QmtRHUlAmaY/Tt7hQbVlbtI/AAAAAAAAChg/_xI28lAwYrU/s1600/018.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 180px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683227452120592082" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QmtRHUlAmaY/Tt7hQbVlbtI/AAAAAAAAChg/_xI28lAwYrU/s320/018.JPG" /></a></p>We saw Santa and it went down like one might expect a 6 month old and a 3 year old to entertain. Princess Pork Chop was oblivious and could have cared less. Big Sis DIVA was all about Santa until Santa was actually there. She clung to me with a death grip, so I joined in for the 2011 Santa pic. Have a look.<br /><br /><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lGTxGEyfry4/Tt7aBBysT4I/AAAAAAAAChA/gCZG4iqwyQw/s1600/196.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683219490983923586" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lGTxGEyfry4/Tt7aBBysT4I/AAAAAAAAChA/gCZG4iqwyQw/s320/196.JPG" /></a><br />Check out those "HAPPY" babies! :)<br /><br /></p>It makes me laugh how kids despise Santa in the flesh but adore him throughout the whole season. Our Elf, Desmond, brought us special paper from the North Pole one morning to write Santa our letters on. Big Sis DIVA was very happy to participate in this activity and "helped" Princess Pork Chop write out her list.<br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UK4UcQ6cLCo/Tt7hP8wsqjI/AAAAAAAAChM/jZkKL5AVT-I/s1600/013.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 180px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683227443912813106" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UK4UcQ6cLCo/Tt7hP8wsqjI/AAAAAAAAChM/jZkKL5AVT-I/s320/013.JPG" /></a><br /></p><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aPBWxpIbB2g/Tt7hQHgdkiI/AAAAAAAAChY/sBH1wlUrJV0/s1600/017.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 180px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683227446797505058" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aPBWxpIbB2g/Tt7hQHgdkiI/AAAAAAAAChY/sBH1wlUrJV0/s320/017.JPG" /></a></p>Every where we go Big Sis DIVA looks for and talks about Santa and her Elf Desmond. She loves it all, but put an old bearded man in front of her and watch her run!<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/234/5C51E61333DE8000D95643AE73CECD92.png" /></a>Pink Haired Mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09351316968047246222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246662780121676632.post-83323745430679161452011-12-06T20:33:00.008-06:002011-12-06T21:00:25.971-06:00Have a "Colorful" HolidayThanks to our fabulous <a href="http://thoughtsofprincessmar.blogspot.com/2011/11/using-my-elf-for-naps.html" target="_blank">Elf advent Calendar</a> , Big Sis DIVA and I riddled our way into making gifts for her classmates today, to give them at the holiday party. We found some super snazzy silicone pans in shapes of snowflakes and Christmas tree's in our Elf supply bucket after nap. Big Sis DIVA helped me prepare crayons we snagged at the dollar store for cooking under the Elf's instruction.<br /><br /><div><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mr9_sgt7ZZA/Tt7VnYZzSAI/AAAAAAAACgo/bgZdMfRcCEc/s1600/051.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 286px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683214652330428418" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mr9_sgt7ZZA/Tt7VnYZzSAI/AAAAAAAACgo/bgZdMfRcCEc/s320/051.JPG" /></a></p><br /><div>I think they came out splendid. I just hope Big Sis DIVA's fellow 3 year old classmates will be dazzled!<br /></div><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VT2nRdyv1Ik/Tt7VnZ-AmyI/AAAAAAAACgw/E2041DP_DDQ/s1600/046.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 180px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683214652750732066" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VT2nRdyv1Ik/Tt7VnZ-AmyI/AAAAAAAACgw/E2041DP_DDQ/s320/046.JPG" /></a><br /></p><br /><p align="left">Now you might be thinking, "why didn't you use Christmas colors?". Well, what preschooler only wants to color with red and green?</p><br /><div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/234/5C51E61333DE8000D95643AE73CECD92.png" /></a></div>Pink Haired Mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09351316968047246222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246662780121676632.post-8503099210637559342011-11-29T13:34:00.005-06:002011-11-29T13:48:45.690-06:00Using my Elf for napsI REALLY, REALLY, do enjoy it when my kids nap. Really. So I came up with a brilliant idea to get us through the holidays WITH naps. <br /><p align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kAbXW1XSFEU/TtU2GnP3QhI/AAAAAAAACf0/ugYG-9VbLqk/s1600/078.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 180px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680505992240382482" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kAbXW1XSFEU/TtU2GnP3QhI/AAAAAAAACf0/ugYG-9VbLqk/s320/078.JPG" /></a></p><br /><div><br /><br /></div><br /><div>Enter Desmond, our Elf. Our little critter is quite the character. Stealing candy, making messes by dumping out laundry baskets full of clean clothes. You know, mischievous, like my 3 year old. Well, he got crafty this week. Desmond grabbed a whole bunch of toilet paper rolls, and YES, we do have them just laying around. He covered them in scrapbook paper and strung them together with some twine. Inside each roll he placed a little riddle. A riddle that describes a special assignment for us to do. Perhaps he might have shared one with me. "Snap! Crackle! Pop!" indicating it is a day to make rice krispie treats. </div><br /><div><br /><br /></div><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nPsRddNstbA/TtU2GjIpilI/AAAAAAAACfs/KSDzj_G7hm8/s1600/086.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 126px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680505991136381522" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nPsRddNstbA/TtU2GjIpilI/AAAAAAAACfs/KSDzj_G7hm8/s320/086.JPG" /></a></p><br /><div>25 little riddles inside a fun little advent calendar crafted by our special Elf Desmond. But, just as we have been told the rules of our elf, we must not touch him and he must not speak to us, SANTA's ORDERS, this assignment advent comes with rules too. We may open the calendar every morning and read the riddle. However, we must continue to be good all day long and only AFTER our nap will the tools and supplies we need to complete our assignments appear with Christmas magic from the north pole.</div><br /><div><br />Will it work? I don't know. But it sure is going to be fun!!<br /></div><br /><div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/234/5C51E61333DE8000D95643AE73CECD92.png" /></a></div>Pink Haired Mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09351316968047246222noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246662780121676632.post-2627085495618185062011-11-26T09:53:00.003-06:002011-11-26T09:53:00.673-06:00Desmond the ElfHave you heard of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0046OVJ9C/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=thouofaprin-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=B0046OVJ9C">The Elf on the Shelf</a><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; MARGIN: 0px; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thouofaprin-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B0046OVJ9C&camp=217145&creative=399373" width="1" height="1" /> ? Well, until last year I hadn't. But I thought is was so fabulous and couldn't wait until this year to get it going with Big Sis DIVA.<br /><br />If you are not familiar with this tradition here it is in a nut shell. A little doll elf that sits on the shelf. Comes with a fantastic little story book about Christmas magic and how said elf reports to Santa each night. Elf lets Santa know if the members of the house are naughty or nice. So basically this crazy little doll keeps your kids in check all season long.<br /><br />Our family Elf is named Desmond, and he arrived last Monday night, just in time for pre Thanksgiving meltdowns. "Desmond is watching for naughty little children!", but I would NEVER say that to my kids. Nope! HA!! I do not like doing Christmas anything before Turkey day, but Big Sis DIVA found Desmond's "Elf Mobile" aka his box and book and desperately wanted to know what it was. So his arrival was early. In the case of a 3 year old who is naughty a lot this is a good thing!<br /><br />We have been having a blast. Big Sis DIVA eagerly hunts Desmond down every morning to see what mischief he has found himself in. Throughout the day if she knows she is up to no good, she will stop and point to his perch on the hanging light above our kitchen table and tell me, "Desm and wating". Her speak for Desmond is watching. LOVE IT!!!<br /><br />Here are a few snapshots of Desmond's recent mischief.<br /><br /><br /><br /><p align="center"><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-J4zvBILkEQA/Ts3FrzoYheI/AAAAAAAACfI/vGCQIEumv_0/s1600/078.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5678412061568697826" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-J4zvBILkEQA/Ts3FrzoYheI/AAAAAAAACfI/vGCQIEumv_0/s320/078.JPG" /></a> </p><br /><br /><br /><p align="center">Good ol' Desmond pulled all Big Sis DIVA's baby photo albums off the shelf for a look!<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-55McKtBYsAY/Ts3Gff50c2I/AAAAAAAACfk/Ov0VJcHm3UQ/s1600/039.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5678412949626319714" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-55McKtBYsAY/Ts3Gff50c2I/AAAAAAAACfk/Ov0VJcHm3UQ/s320/039.JPG" /></a><br />Desmond stole a cookie and even ate some!</p><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dcisxLZM8-U/Ts3GfFlsVyI/AAAAAAAACfU/2kIyNUgxu3o/s1600/061.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5678412942562580258" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dcisxLZM8-U/Ts3GfFlsVyI/AAAAAAAACfU/2kIyNUgxu3o/s320/061.JPG" /></a><br />Before Big Sis DIVA's Birthday party, Desmond swiped the candles!</div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/234/5C51E61333DE8000D95643AE73CECD92.png" /></a>Pink Haired Mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09351316968047246222noreply@blogger.com0