my creative one

she took most of these pictures her self, i especially love this one

Never a part of the room untouched with one of Erika's projects.  creativity is her middle name, love that in her.  these are only a few of her crafts in just the last couple weeks.  limitless.  what a gift.

Who Knew?!?!

You have to check out Tim Hawkins on YouTube, he is so funny! I was supposed to go to a convention with a couple friends and he was going to present one night, but unfortunately I'm ditching my friends. Rob won a trip for work and I get to tag along, yeah! Anyhow, here's a good laugh--- by the way- we're breaking the trend on this homeschool thing!

Letting Go

Ellie made this picture for her neighbor, Riley, that recently moved to California. She misses her so much and it seems like everytime she wants to skype with her, the times just do not coordinate with California time. They write back and forth a lot, but with this warmer weather, all ellie can think about is riding down the street to see her friend, Riley. She asked me today if she could just go sit on Riley's empty swingset to help remember her friend.

Neighborhood swim at Riley's house

Their last day together; Ellie, Lily, and Riley, neighbor friends, lots of memories together.  They were all newborns when us mommies met, they have been together for the last 6 1/2 years.

skyping together across the United States

Love you, Erika!

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Love you, Em!

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Happy Valentine's Day, Ellie!

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Journey Back in Time...

We had a bit of cabin fever and needed to break out of our house for a change of scenery, so we headed to SunWatch Indian Village.  The girls took an Indian Weaving class, while I sat outside the room and shhh... read.

It was our fist time there, and as we drove along what seemed like a desserted path that followed along the Great Miami River, we came across an 800-year-old American Indian village.   

This is a mini replica of the village that is actually re-constructed right there at SunWatch.  We learned that the indians devised planting and harvesting schedules through a complex astronomical system charting the sun's alignments.

Erika was thrilled when she saw this display, because she had actually seen how scientists do this on "How It's Made." (below- I took her picture a couple weeks ago, because I thought I would walk in and see her watching i-carly or something lame, but instead she was watching the Discovery Channel, yeah!--- so I had to take a picture!  Who knew that she would see an example of what she watched and apply it to something we are learning about!)

They traveled back in time by examining the villagers' tools, houses, customs, games and other aspects of their everyday lives.

They explored the fundamentals of archaeology and saw original artifacts unearthed during the site's excavations.

i know, don't ask what's on em's head... you gotta love her!
I hope the girls walked away after they shared in a culture that helped shape this region while they broadened their knowledge of American Indian traditions.

Lazy Days

I love Sundays like this...

bring it on, groundhog! i'm ready for spring!

 

The only thing better than watching my nephew for the night is having three "little mommies" helping me!  The girls were ecstatic when my sister Katie let us keep Landon for the night.  It was like playing house with a real live baby!  They fed him, read books, made a fort, gave him a bath, and even changed him!  The best part of the night was cuddling all night and just feeling those little baby feet snuggle up next to me.  Can't wait until next time!

Vegas Style

Nothing like taking pictures with your phone in Las Vegas for my girls.  I promised them pictures.  What kind of pictures do you take in Vegas for your girls to see?!  Well, here is what I gathered:  I still had a lot of explaining to do, and they didn't even see anything!  So here is my verbiage to the girls: 

"Eeeew, what is that?!"
"Well, that's a snake, and people paid that man to have their picture taken with it."

"That's the Eiffel Tower, sort of."

"That's Elvis, not really."

"Look at the ceiling/sky- there's going to be a thunderstorm in a minute, sort of."

H&M is one of Erika's favorite stores in Chicago, so had to take a picutre for her

"This is kind of like a waterfall on the side of a hotel...."

"This is our giant sundae we ate without you"  (tears)

"This is a giant white chocolate lady" (more tears)

"Just some glass on a ceiling in a hotel."  (trying to sound like I'm bored)

"Feeling very guily at this point: "Um, Daddy took me to his favorite restaurant, Smith and Wolenski's." (sobs)

Erika: "Is that Kelly?!?!"

"And Mike?!?!?!?"

 

"The end.  So, yes we had fun, but do you believe me girls, that I missed you?"