Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Lost in Books

We have all been lost in the books we got Friday from our trip to the library.  I got stuck in a novel and ended up finishing it in 2 days, but when I finished I felt like I needed to know the rest so I went back to the library and got the next book in the series. 
The boys have been reading and enjoying their free time.  I haven't been big on finding them things to do cause as they say "Boys will be Boys".  I figured that they could use some time to be boys. 
We will be doing some activities the rest of this week for the 4th of July.  We will be camping all weekend and going to my mothers house for a family cookout.  This should be a great weekend.

Monday, June 27, 2011

Weekend Fun

We didn't do much this weekend due to the fact that Mark had to work.  We went for a bike ride to the library Friday and went Saturday and Sunday night.  It was great, the kids had a blast. 
Saturday night we dicided to have a fire.  It was a very relaxing way to spend the evening.
Today's project for the kids is doing some worksheets and getting the house clean.  It isn't really the funnest day but we don't want them losing everything they learned and we always take at least one day every week to clean the house so we have time the other days to play and it is a perfect rainy day to do it.
We also have to stat planning Marshall's 5th birthday and get things ready for the 4th of July parties coming up. 

Saturday, June 25, 2011

Lazy Saturday

Yesterdays bubbles went very well though I have to remember that I have boys and that everything seems to magically break in their hands.  Within the first 10 minutes the big wand was busted and nobody knew who did it or how. 
You can use just about anything you can think of for bubble wands, but I prefer to save the ones from all the bubbles the kids have gotten from school and friends.  I just used soap and water for their bubbles yesterday, which works great but I have a recipe for better bubbles(I was out of one ingredient).

Magic Bubbles
2 tablespoons regular dish soap
1 cup distilled water (for cheap way boil water then let cool to room temp)
1 tablespoon Karo syrup

I got everything prepared for my pond yesterday, now just waiting for dirt to put in.  I have to go in search of some today.  This should be fun with 4 boys(but they may like the idea to get dirty). 
I don't have an idea for the kids today, maybe we can think of something.  I don't plan the weekends cause I never know what we will be doing.

Friday, June 24, 2011

Rainy Days Indoors

     With this crazy fall weather we have been having this summer, I have to be very creative to keep the 4 boys from fighting too bad and destroying my house. 
     One idea we did was to have a puzzle day.  We took out all the puzzles in the house and tried to put them all together.  It worked in that all the kids had to help each other.  The younger two can't put the larger puzzles together so the older ones helped them. 
     We have a question box in the house.  With all these boys, we have a lot of questions that we just can't seem to answer.  So every time I hear one of these questions, I jot it down on a piece of paper or have the older two do their own.  We go to the library once a week but before we go we look in the question box, for questions to answer.  When we get to the library we try to find books that will answer all these questions.  We answer two a week so as not to overload them this is summer vacation after all.
     I have planned trips for the boys but haven't seemed to find the time to go.   These are planned for the weekends when Mark is home for family time, but we always seem to find other things to do.  I was planning a trip to Tim's Hill for this weekend but Mark came home and informed me yesterday that he has to work this Saturday.  Hopefully we can plan this trip for sometime in the near future.
     Today we are going to be spending the day outside since it is finally sunny.  We have lots and lots of BUBBLES!!!!  Plus I'm strongly hoping that I can get my pond in this weekend so that the kids can sail the boats they are making next week.
     Yesterday we made pictures with colored sand.  (this is not a project for people who don't like mess) 

What you need:
Construction paper
Small paper plate
Glue
Paint brush
Plastic spoons
Colored sand (Walmart does have it)

What you do:
1.  Give each child a piece of construction paper, a paint brush and a paper plate (two kids shared a plate).
2.  Put a pile of glue onto the plate and have the kids paint one part of their picture.
3.  Have them use the spoon to put the colored sand on the glue.
4.  Dump the extra sand back into the dish.
5.  Repeat with different colors until they are done.

     I will post pics at the end of the summer.  Right now all their projects are being saved for their end of the summer art show and cookout.

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Who we are

     With our crazy lives, we barely have time to talk with everyone.  I am currently off with the kids for the summer and have decided that this may be a neat way to let people know what we are up to.  I love reading all the blogs that some of my family have already started and being able to stay in touch. 
     Right now we are all adjusting to a new life here.  Our lives have all been going through some changes. 
     I have a job that I can be home with the kids during the summer, which I love, plus I am doing what I wanted to do ever since I was 5.  I got the call for an interview the day before we got married and started the next month. 
    Mark finally has a first shift job.  Ever since we got together 6 years ago, he has worked second shift.  I got use to it but most days I felt like a single mom with a weekend man.  He started this job at the end of May so we are still getting use to him being home at night.  He doesn't like that he is still in a factory, but lets face it, this day you can't be too picky.
     Our oldest son Xavier is now 10.  It is hard to believe that he is going to be starting middle school this fall.  He enjoys art, drawing, telling stories, and archery.  He is a great help around here, a great big brother, and always seems to put a smile on our faces.
     Ares is now 7, and is still keeping us on our toes.  He has his own way of doing things and that is final with him.  He will be going into the 2nd grade and enjoys telling jokes, playing wii and going to Granny Didey's.  Ares is a very independent boy but gives the biggest hugs when he wants to.
     Isaac is 5 and just recently came to live with us full time.  He has a great smile and loves to help in everything we do.  We are still learning everything that makes him tick, but love having him with us more than before.
     The biggest handful of all Marshall is 4.  He will be 5 next month.  He loves to keep us busy.  Every 5 minutes he will need something from one of us in the house.  Everything in his life is exciting, to him nothing is dull.   He loves baseball (softball when hes with Auntie Moni), terrorizing his brothers, and making new friends.
     Isaac and Marshall will both be off to Kindergarten in the fall which should be fun. 
     I have been trying to keep all these boys busy this summer and have come up with a few ideas that have worked.  Our project for today is sand art.  This should be fun!!!!
     Our lives are pretty calm right now but wait till fall.  My crazy, busy, never dull life will begin.