Feeding Ducks . . . . . Something that didn't work

Here is Gypsy Girl--she loves the freedom of running!

Luke: I can hardly get any good pictures of him--I love this action picture!

The boys together!

One reason for the walk: tire Gypsy Girl out. She begged, yes begged to go to bed at 8:00.

My favorite bird.

Everything was fine until . . . . .

the ducks starting coming out of the water wanting to be fed. Then a squirrel came up for some food! The boys started screaming at the top of their lungs. You would think they saw an alligator, instead of ducks and a squirrel.

We quickly went back to the car--and I remembered one of my terrifying duck feeding stories.

We were in Idaho visiting my cousins--we went to the park for a picnic. They had a little duck pond, and I went with my bread in hand and started to feed the ducks. Then I ran out of bread--the entire pond of ducks started to chase after me--I think it was one of the scariest moments of our life.

My boys like the story.

My boys, ever the problem solvers, came up with some pretty good ideas about duck feeding.

If I want to go feed the ducks, I need to go while they are in school. Although they weren't so sure that Gypsy Girl liked feeding the ducks either. (So maybe I need to go and feed the ducks by myself???)

The other rule: only go duck feeding when Daddy is home. A great idea!


Have you ever been chased down by a flock of ducks?

I love it when things work!

Sunday Stations!

It actually works!
(Well for my oldest child, the other two have no interest which is fine.)

Mike goes to church before us, so getting ready for church is often chaotic, stressful, and it does not feel any different than getting ready for school.

We read a cute story in the Friend Magazine, where before church the mom had set up Sunday Stations. We decided to try it: Luke loved it, Anakin did not, and Gypsy Girl was indifferent.

Even though Anakin does not participate, it was nice because we have Primary songs playing in the background, and it felt different than any other day. Luke goes through all the stations, and Sunday is so much easier!

This last week our stations included: computer time (playing at the Friend Magazine Sight), decorating a thank you card, drawing a picture from the Gospel Art Kit, (above), looking at scripture story books, and doing a temple dot-to-dot. We've done it three times, and each time it's worked. (I won't mention how the reverence tent didn't work, but I'm sure you get the idea!)

Anakin came home with this picture in his backpack. Our family by the swing set! I especially love Gypsy Girl in her swing--it's perfect!

Tonight we did a repeat Family Home Evening. Sometimes the boys ask: "When are we going to do this again for family home evening." We talked about 1 Nephi 8, made a rod (out of rope) blindfolded the kids, and had treat waiting for them at the end of the rope!

They love the activity.

We need a couple more of these fun ones. Anyone have any ideas? (We've already done the parable of the pickle.)

Muffin Tin Lunch

I got this great idea from Shannon and Susette. The kids loved them!

Another bright note: I got an A on my latest paper. My graduate project still has not been graded--so I am still waiting.

I'm still need to write a couple of papers because of a test that I bombed. (For those of you who know me, it means I got a B.) I am disappointed, but I keep reminding myself that at least one child woke up each night the week of the test. Mike was gone the week of the test. (Mike is always gone, so that is not abnormal!) Our toilet overflowed an hour before we were supposed to walk out the door (I even got most of the towels in the laundry before the test.) My son threw up in the babysitters living room as I was dropping him off and going to the test. My nice babysitter kept him, but I was still worried about him during the test. It's a B, and I can raise the score by interviewing teachers about Round Robin (my teacher is on a mission to abolish the practice in the United States), Shelley--can I call you? Or reading a chapter in a book and write about it! I found a great book: Classrooms that Work. It's a great read for any teacher: classroom or home school. So I probably need to turn my attention to my papers. Only a few more weeks of school! I can't wait!

I'm not caught up, but I thought I would blog anyways!

Went to Carthage and Nauvoo with 1st and 2nd Cousins!

Built a fort and started The USA Fort Club!

Found lots of candy filled eggs in our back yard!

Had fun posing for pictures.

Played at a school night!

Cooked for real!

Cooked for real, again!


(The boys love making up their own recipes. Ingredients as follows: four eggs, brown sugar, oil, peeps, chocolate syrup, strawberry syrup, m&m's.)

I still have a paper to write, lots of homework to grade, and laundry to get caught up on--

BUT, these things are so much more fun than grading, laundry, and papers!

I'm on vacation--from blogging that is!

I have way to much to do, so I'm taking a break. I'll be back when I get caught up. I will miss everyone!

Thankful Thursday

1. Naps: I got in three this week. It's a luxury to have a nap.
2. After tomorrow, only one more test!
3. My boys play so well together. They have so many games and wonderful imaginations.
4. Being a mom: last night I was working with Luke on his homework. He got very discouraged and wrote F all over his homework. We turned his "F" writing activity into a little game, and by the end of the game he was writing A++. It's moments like those that I know I am not doing this on my own. I would have never thought of turning it into a game. The idea came outside of myself, and am thankful for that guidance!
   
5. April Fool's Day. The boys love this day, and even though they don't quite get it, they have smiles the entire day!
6. General Conference weekend. Can't wait!
   
7. This season: I love talking about the last week of Christ's life with the boys. I am amazed at how much they remember from last year!
   

April Fool's Day

My kids love this day. This morning in the car, Luke says, "My winter croc fell off my left foot!" "I'm sorry!" I reply. "April Fools!" Then Anakin in the back of the car holds up his stocking foot and asks, "Mommy which foot is this?" I reply, "Your left." "My croc fell off my left foot! April Fools!" (I don't think he quite gets the concept, but we all laugh anyways!)

They love this holiday, and it is fun for a day!

I really can't think up good pranks, but others in my family can think them up and willingly I comply.

This is one of the scenarios:

I'm in third grade, my older brother Joseph is in fifth grade. We grew up in a small town (our elementary school had two grades/class k-6), and our entire family went there from kindergarten to sixth grade. April fools rolls around, and my brother had been sick. It was probably strep throat, something that I never experienced, but he always had. In those days you sent a note to school after you were better. But that day, I brought in the note to his teacher.

My mom wrote up the note:

"Joseph is seriously ill, and we had to take him to the hospital last night where he was admitted." The note continued with all sorts a maladies that he had. My brother is one of those charismatic individuals that people just love right away. He was probably this particular teacher's favorite. I deliver the note to the teacher and wait because I am supposed to bring home his homework. As she reads the note, she continues to become more distraught. Then she turns the note over and she reads, "April Fools."

Thanks to my mom (who later became school board president of this same school district), and my brother, I got to deliver a great April Fool's joke. One that I would have never thought of on my own!