the one who chases and the pool lounger

The other night right after bath time, Bee was looking out the window to the backyard and spied 4 rabbits in the year. Seriously! 4 stinking rabbits.  They've eaten the first two or three plants in each row and all of the green beans and carrot tops.  I wrapped the kids in towels and ran to the backyard. 

With camera in hand, I chased all 4 rabbits out of the yard.

This is how they are getting in.   Our awkward gate.  Before they fattened up this summer they could fit through the chain-link holes.  Now they just go under the fence.  I can't patch this up, it's our only way in.  I do encourage Lou to pee by it and have lined it with hubby's hair after a haircut.

There's the door buddy- now get out!  While I'm chasing the rabbits around the yard in my bare feet, yelling at them and clapping a lot (because that's how you scare a rabbit), where is our cat?  Where is our outdoor cat whose job it is to catch mice and bunnies and maybe scare birds out of the blackberries? 

Hanging out by the pool.  He was watching me chase rabbits while he rested on the rim and let one paw dangle in .  It's his favorite spot this summer.  Who needs rabbits when you have a pool.

Here's a warning to the rabbits.  Stay out or the cat I will get you!

yard sales and my grandmas

Last weekend we decided to go to my Grandmas house.  It was a last minute trip but we all always enjoy going.  Lou wanted to take in some Lincoln sites while we were in Springfield.  He loves to get Lincoln books at the library.  We thought about going to the Lincoln house, but I don't think we can trust his behavior enough to go.  They have strict rules there.  Lock you up in jail if you touch the carpet kind of rules.  I like Lou too much to let him go to the big house.

We went to the cemetery to visit his grave site. You know how I feel about frolicking about in cemeteries.   This is the largest cemetery in the state of IL and also where my Grandpa and stepmom are buried.   It's a really pretty spot as far as cemeteries go.  There is however a children's section.  I try to avoid driving by that part, but forgot this time. 

If you've not visited here before, it's good luck to rub the nose of this head.

As luck would have it, my grandma's neighborhood was having a yard sale while we were there.  What luck.  Bee bought a praying bunny for 25 cents.  Lou bought a perfect sized basketball with his 50 cents.

I found a dozen things that wouldn't fit in the car.  I've been keeping my eye out for a twin sized headboard for Lou's bed and found 3 on Saturday morning, none of which made it home.  I did end up with this picnic basket for $2.

We found a teacher's house yard sale, which always end up being my favorites.  This toy was $1 and a steal.

They are little starburst like shapes that fit together to make designs and shapes.  They'll be fun at our house and to take into preschool.

Also at the same sale was this wooden set.  The pieces fit together with little wooden screws and nuts and bolts.  Another $1 well spent.

I spied these 8 cloth napkins and needed to grab them up for $1.50 total.   I've already made something really fun and summery out of the orange and yellow flower fabric.

This was not a garage sale find, but it's the kids favorite toy at my Grandma's house.

Hannah and I both collect things while we are visiting.  Bee collected a few empty ring boxes.  When we got home and I went through her things to unpack, look at what I found.  She had written bible verses from memory on papers and tucked them inside.   1 Jon 4:6 seems to be her favorite.  She writes it on lots of things.

We always enjoy a trip to my grandma's house.  I wish I could stuff you all in the car with me and take you too.  She'd find a place for everyone to sleep and serve some dessert.  Rumor has it her freezer is full of treats and baked goods.

itty bitty baby dress (and diaper cover and bonnet)

I need more babies to sew for.  Girls especially.  Seriously, after I finished up this little outfit for a baby shower gift last week, I have been so excited to gift it.  I was very pleased with the three patterns I worked with to complete this set.

This dress was made using Rae's (free!) Itty Bitty Baby Dress pattern.  I did leave out the piping in the dress but added some extra top stitching and buttons.  I didn't have any matching piping on hand and wasn't about to wait until I went out shopping.  This fabric is Henry Alexander's Farmland Orchard.  The dress is the bigger size, the 1-3 month size.  She also has newborn 0-1 month. 

 

This precious diaper cover was made using Dana's (FREE!) Diaper Cover tutorial.   I made the tiniest size 0-3 month.

Then, after scouring the internet for a free baby bonnet pattern, I bought Rae's Peekaboo Bonnet Pattern.  I made the smallest size and left out the piping because it was a last minute addition.   I made the tiniest size she offered.  I think it was 0-3 months.

I can't wait to see little baby in this dress.  They know the name but aren't telling anyone.  Stink heads.

car trip = project done

We took a car trip this weekend to see my Grandma. Road trips mean that I get some handwork done in the car.  I finished this baby blanket that I started in the winter.  It's called a slanted shell stitch.  Now I just need a friend to have a baby girl so I can gift it.

It's not a hard stitch but sure looks different than a regular DC, which was my old go-to for a blanket. 

Row 1:  Created a chain for the length of the blanket. Slanted shell is done in multiples of 5 (+2).
Row 2: 3 DC in the 3rd chain from the hook, Skip 3 chains, single crochet in the next chain, *chain 3, 3 double crochet in the next chain. Skip 3 chains, single crochet in the next chain. Repeat from * for the width of piece.
Row 3: Chain 4, 3 double crochet in the 3rd chain from the hook. *Skip the 3 double crochet, single crochet in the chain 3 space, chain 3, Work 3 double crochet in the same chain 3 space. Repeat across from * for the width  of piece.
Continue with row 3 for the preferred height of piece. 

dinner games

Here's a game we play at the table sometimes. It's called What's changed?  Everyone looks around the table and then closes their eyes.  One person moves or changes 1 thing (although we usually do 3), then the others try to guess.   

Here it was Bee's turn. 

Ok, open your eyes.  Can you see the three things she changed?

  I think she flipped the blue circle lid over, moved her pink silverware at the bottom on the photo from one side to the other and she moved her cup about 3 inches.  She's a tricky gal.  

We also play What's Missing, where 1 or 2 items are hidden.  I like to do this when it's time to clear the table.  They must hide the item by the sink.  They end up clearing the table for me and they think it's a game.  It is a slow way to clear the table though.

pinapple bread

When I saw this pineapple bread from Flour Me With Love, I new I had to make it. 

Oh my goodness, this cream cheese and pineapple filling was delicious.  Rich and wonderful and delicious.

You should not wait, put the ingredients on your shopping list now.  Make it this week.  You'll be glad you did.

the art show

Here's something else to do with all that kid art work that gets collected.  I keep so much, I display a lot, I save others, but there's still a lot of art work gathering around the house.  I hate to have to throw it out.  So the kids came up with the idea of an art show.

We displayed some of the available artwork on a hallway wall using painters tape.  Many relatives were in town for Lou's birthday so we had our show over that weekend.  Each item was priced at 25 cents a piece.

At the end of the show, most of the artwork was in new hands and the kids had a few quarters in theirs. 

We've decided that the art show will be an annual event. The grandparents better start saving their quarters because Bee and Lou are already saving their art.

we teach ebook

If you're here from We teach, welcome!  If you are, I assume you would be most interested in my posts about preschool.   One of our ideas was featured in the We Teach Summertime Learning eBook. 

If you are an educator of little people or a parent or caregiver of little people you might be interested in the We Teach ebook full of summer learning activities. You do have to join the We Teach forum to download it, but it's free and fast and easy. We teach is an online forum of parents and teachers.  I'm pretty new to the forum myself, but hope to delve in a bit more this summer.

Here's a whole list of the talented contributors this summer and my weekend reading list:

MaryLea Harris, http://www.pinkandgreenmama.blogspot.com/
Amy Mascott, http://teachmama.com
Candace Lindemann, http://naturallyeducational.com/
Maggie Woodley, http://www.redtedart.com/
Stacie Nelson http://www.amazingmess.com/
Laura Eldredge, http://www.theseedsnetwork.com/
JDaniel4’s Mom, http://www.jdaniel4smom.com/
Alida B. Bunder, http://www.two2read.com/
Julie Long
Erin Wing, http://www.smalltypes.com
by Elizabeth, http://tinyreader.blogspot.com/
Michelle Breum, http://beginningreadinghelp.blogspot.com/
Nicole, http://activitymom.blogspot.com/
Loralee Leavitt, http://www.candyexperiments.com
Heather Kauffman
MaryAnne, http://mamasmiles.com/
Rachel Miller, http://quirkymomma.com/
Maureen Wagner, http://www.strongstart.blogspot.com
Kate, http://www.picklebums.com/
Julia, http://roots-of-simplicity.blogspot.com
Dawn Little, http://literacytoolbox.com/literacytoolbox/
Beth M.  http://www.mamabeefromthehive.blogspot.com
Jackie Higgins, http://readysetread2me.blogspot.com/
Deb Chitwood, http://livingmontessorinow.com/
Jamie, http://www.handsonaswegrow.com/
Cathy James, http://nurturestore.co.uk/ Wondering what idea of mine was included?  It was the summer zoo trip cards.