The Critter of the Week...

Though this critter is certainly not as big as the Praying Mantis last week, it just may be as long! The boys played all day with this lizard. As you can see he is brown, but by the end of the day when he was Freed he was bright green.

Praying Mantis... what amazing creatures.

Yesterday the boys found the biggest Praying Mantis I have ever seen! Gage was so sad when I told him that he had to let it go! He really wanted to show our neighbor Mr. R but we weren't sure when he would get home. Before going to bed, the boys opened the door of home (cage).

First thing this morning they raced outside to check on "Pray"and he was still in the home. I guess it was warmer in there then out in the open. The boys held him for a while and then put him in the tree right outside the living room window so they could watch him all day, without having to go out in the cold.

I guess we will study Praying Mantis for school today. Of all the creatures in creation this is one that intrigues me the most. It is so amazing.

Sushi Night at our house!

Brian came home last week telling me he wanted to have a Sushi Night. I immediately thought "GROSS, I am NOT eating raw fish". He reminded me that Sashimi is raw fish, Sushi is stuffed rice rolls wrapped in Seaweed. So, I was OK.

Saturday night we started by making Thai Spring Rolls with Rice paper. They were so good and the kids had a blast making them. Once we used up all the ingredients we moved on to Sushi.
The kids were not impressed with the Seaweed Paper, they thought it was rather gross. But they made a few rolls and had a blast.

We had so much food we ate Sushi for lunch the next day too.

Brian perfecting the seaweed roll.
















Hayden making faces through his rice paper.

Gage getting ready to dig in.

Levi eating his favorite part, the noodles.

Crazy Weather...

We have been loving the gorgeous warm weather here!! On Thursday it was almost 90, it was awesome! Well today the high was in the lower 50's! What a HUGE jump in temperature. I even put jeans on in the evening! Not cool!

Kitchen Disaster!

I love to cook.
I love to try new recipes.
I am usually a good cook.

But last night I had a kitchen disaster and it took me back to the days where I was just learning to cook.

I was cooking a new recipe that called for 6 slices of bacon. So, I decided that I would bake the rest. It would help season my new stone.

So as I carried on with the rest of the dinner I managed to burn everything! My house was filled with smoke so I opened all the windows and doors to try to clear the smoke. After I turned all the burners off I realized I had burned the bacon too. I decided to take the pan of bacon right outside to the patio so it wouldn't add to the smoke I was all ready dealing with. As I pulled the pan out of the oven a blast of hot air hit my eyes and jerked away, spilling bacon grease all over the floor and my foot!

I took the pan out to the patio. My foot was not hurting so I thought maybe it just got a few splatters. I decided I need to clean the floor so the kids didn't' walk in and slip. As I was finishing cleaning the floor the pain started to kick in! OH MY!! It was much more then a splatter of grease, I had poured the grease on my foot and it ran off to the floor.

I was so frustrated I turned off all the burners and just walked out of my kitchen, determined not to ever enter in it again! I spent the rest of the night applying ice to my foot. I tried all kinds of things to help relieve the pain but nothing worked. I tried Benedryl in desperation and within 5 minutes I was pain free!

As for our dinner, it was not as burned as I thought it was. Just a lot of smoke! It was actually really good. And my awesome husband cleaned the kitchen for me so I didn't have to go back in to the war zone.

My foot is doing much better then I expected. I am not sure how I am going to put shoes on but at least I am pain free!

A Day at the Beach...

Give the boy some sand, surf and some sun he will be happy! If you remember a few weeks ago we went to the beach and Levi spent the ENTIRE day in a blanket because it was cloudy and he was afraid there would be a Thunderstorm. But this time the sun was shining bright and Levi went straight for the water and had a blast! I was amazed at how quickly he learned to Boggie Board.



























Gage just loves the water and he NEVER wants to get out!

Hayden is making leaps and bounds in his surfing! He stood up a couple of times this week. It is so fun to see him!






















This is my man!! Love him!

My Auca Warriors...

The last three weeks we have been reading a book about Nate Saint traveling into South America to reach the feared Auca tribes. At the end of the book Nate Saint along with 4 other men were killed at the hands of the Auca's. Nate's wife Marj continued to pursue the Auca's and show them forgiveness. Because of this, many Auca's have given up their lives of killing for a life of forgiveness in Jesus Christ!

On with my story...

Today the boys came down stairs to attack me! They were all dressed, or should I say not so dressed, as Auca Warriors complete with headdress. They did such an amazing job using bandanna's to cover their privates, feathers and paper for the headdresses. Well, as my little Warriors turned to run back upstairs I saw the rest of their costumes! I saw each of their little hiney's running away! They were truly dressed like the Auca's! After a good laugh I sent them back upstairs to cover their hiney's!!

Talk about Creative Play!!

My Auca Warriors...

I am not sure who loves this house more,

the boys or their Daddy!!

The other night after dinner Brian disappeared into the garage. I thought he was working on something. So, after I was done with the kitchen I went in search of him. He was outside rollerblading all by himself having a blast. It was so funny!!

We have been so blessed with all the space and freedom!! The boys (All 4) love it here!! and so does Mommy!

The October 1st Bet

Hayden and Gage have always shared a room and they have a special bond between them. As we moved into our new house we decided that it was time for Hayden to get his own room. He was very excited about this UNTIL the first night he had to sleep in his room, alone. He cried and cried until he couldn't cry any longer. Then he went into a fit of rage because he doesn't want to grow up! It was so heartbreaking for me. I wondered if I had made the wrong choice.

So, I decided to make a bet with Hayden. I told him to give it a couple weeks and if on October 1st, he still didn't like having his own room then I would do his chores for him on that day. If he does like having his own room he needs to make supper. He kind of giggled and asked if he could make pizza and mac and cheese. I told him he could make whatever he wants, Oh good was his reply. I think he knew he would loose the bet.

It actually only took ONE night for him to appreciate having his own room. I think he also realized that having your own is a privilege not a punishment.

Today Hayden is thankful he lost his bet and he will be making dinner tonight!