Model Trains

On the 23rd the college here was hosting a model train type show. The boys brought home info about it from school. Supposed to help promote reading and all things fun. So we figured why not, it's trains so I knew that 2 people in this house would be beside themselves with glee about it. So off we went. Of course I was picturing in my mind this HUGE display with all sorts of trains and train people milling about. It was at a college campus of course....yeah....about that.......let's come back down into the real world and remember where I live. Yep.....Anyway...after driving around the campus (it wasn't that big....really) we finally figured out where we were going (a little tip Cochise College.....SIGNS....yeah I said it, you need some signs....oh and fire your cartographer....s/he can't draw a map to save his/her life!). It was in the commons area of the library and it was 1 display from the Cochise Co, train group. And that was it. There was a table where the kiddies got name tags, a bag and a book all donated. Cool, we are off to a good start. So then we head over to the display and watch as the main guy tells about all the different trains and how to make the landscapes, etc. Dan and Keegan got involved right away. Paige and Seth were only mildly excited about the whole thing. Seth really isn't into trains the way Keegan is and believe me when I say that Keegan was in his element. He just stood there and watched as the trains went round and round and round. After the show the leader of the group rounded up the kids for snacks. Popcorn, granola bars and punch or hot cocoa. That was fun. 50+ kids with snacks....yeah..a whopper of a mess afterwards. But amazingly enough they were all quiet and pretty well contained to a single area. Then we headed off to another room where they had a craft set up. Making a train out of toliet paper rolls, pretzels, and enough glitter, glue and crayons to even make a kindergarten teachers dream (or nightmare as the case may be). Everyone got to decorate their trains and when they completed that we headed out for family time. It was really fun and now Dan has even more grandiose ideas about a future train room for the house....but only if I get my craft room!!!

I just thought the rain falling off the side of this building on campus was neat looking

Paige has her bag and is headed over to the display.

oh yeah, this boy is in HEAVEN!!

Seth, the ever social butterfly (can you say that about a boy????), ran into friends from school. i swear that boy bumps into someone he knows everywhere we go!

snacks, yum!

after snacks the kids got to share the books they picked with each other

craft time!!

happy kids making messes!

this was the entire group of kids

Making your own fossil hand prints

We did this today for our preschool co-op. Really fun and the kids had a great time getting their hands into the gooey mess!! The letter of the day was H and I thought making hand prints would be a fun activity. Hopefully they'll harden in a couple of days and the kids will be able to discuss it at home... we also planted "grass" (actually chives because I couldn't find grass seeds) for the letter G. Fun fun fun!!!

Fossil Mix
1/2C salt
1 C flour
1/2C brewed coffee
1C used coffee grounds

and anything you want to fossilize (rocks, play dinosaurs, seashells, bones, etc)

Add ingredients to bowl and stir until mixed. Turn dough out onto a large sheet of waxed paper and knead it until smooth.

Break of pieces large enough for the imprint you want to make, roll it into a ball and use the heel of your hand to flatten it out.

Press the object you wish to make a fossil imprint of firmly into the dough. You can use more than one object if you like. Carefully remove the object to leave the imprint behind. Let your fake stone dry overnight and you have an imitation fossil!!


This made enough to do 3 small hand prints, you may need to double the recipe if you plan on using objects...

Since this recipe uses coffee and we don't drink it in my house I had fun trying to find a small amount to use and not spend an arm and a leg!! So I found a box coffee singles at Target for $1. It worked perfectly!! So for those that don't drink coffee you can find it there for cheap!!

But I can't really complain because now it smells like i've brewed a pot and I LOVE that smell! (wierd I know) but it reminds me of my grandma's house and I miss her tons, so the smell can stay as long as it wants!!
If I could figure out how to put that smell into a candle I'd do it in a heartbeat!

Have fun!!!!

Bunco

I was invited to play my first round of Bunco. Having no clue what it was other than a game, I said yes. Wahoo!!! It was a total blast and I'm totally looking forward to next months round. Lots of food, fun, and TONS of laughter!!! Jenn hosted it and we all brought a door prize. She made navajo tacos (YUM) and there was cake and pie for dessert along with cookies on each of the tables!! Hello gut fest!!!! But I had a ball and spent about an hour after I got home trying to explain it to Dan...didn't work...ug...but I really did have a great time. My prize (for being the last person to get a Bunco) was a snazzy 3 wick vanilla candle in the shape of a cake. :) So thanks ladies and looking forward to it next month!!

2nd quarter awards

The school held an assembly for awards. Both boys got one and we are extremely proud of them!! Seth made honor roll this time and Keegan got one for not missing too many days of school. We are hoping for perfect attendance and honor roll for both next quarter. Keegan missed honor roll by a couple of points. No biggie. They were both very excited to get up in front of all the students and their parents to get their awards. Way to go boys!!!

Dr. Snyder-our principal

Mrs. Blades - Keegan's teacher

Ms. Zimpleman - Seth's teacher

Swordplay

Seth got a giant sword for his birthday so now there are plenty for taking turns. So what better way to spend a Sunday afternoon than sword fighting. Notice the princess in the mix too, she's tough!!

Here are a couple of pictures from mema and papa's last day visiting us....very sad to see them go!

wicked weather

I just had to post the weather forecast for our area tonight. This rainbow has been present all day. This is a picture of it from our backyard. Probably gone by now with all the winds and rain that are currently beating against our house....should be a long, fun night!

The forecast: WINDS...SOUTHERLY
WINDS WILL BECOME SUSTAINED AT 25 TO 35 MPH
WITH LOCALIZED GUSTS OF 50 TO 60 MPH BY 2 PM MST. THE
STRONGEST WINDS WILL BE THIS EVENING AND TONIGHT WITH
SUSTAINED SPEED OF 35 TO 45 MPH AND FREQUENT GUSTS TO 65 MPH.
HURRICANE FORCE WIND GUSTS FROM 70 TO 80 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE
NEAR MOUNTAINS AND IN HIGHER ELEVATIONS THROUGHOUT THE DAY AND
TONIGHT.

Hurricane
Level F1 - 73–112 MPH

Yeah you read right.....hurricane force winds throughout the day and night. awesome.

look what I made!

I tried my hand at making one of those boutique style hair bows (or corsages). It turned out super cute!! A little bigger than I thought, but I love it none the less and so does Paige. I guess this is one that we can share!!
here's the tutorial!

Trip to Tombstone

Since Margot and Lynn have never been to Tombstone we decided to take a trip out there. The weather was nice and so we made an afternoon of it, once the boys got back from golf. It was nice and I think they really enjoyed it!!

poor thing fell asleep with the straw still in her mouth.

similar to the black mariah hearse, but not the same one.

this is the saddle kurt russel rode in the movie tombstone.

nothing like surprising your child by taking his picture while he's picking his nose....awesome.

ganging up on papa because he has the fudge!

yes girls, he is taken, sorry (not really)