AHA!Math

You may or may not know that I am homeschooling my overly ambitious three year old who reads at a second grade level, among other things. One of the coolest tools I've been using to teach him math is a website called AHA!Math. Ethan loves to play games on the computer so I was trying to find him more educational games and came across this awesome program.

For $10 a year you can subscribe to their online system- you can assign games based on their learning level (he's in the K-2 program) and they "play". It is an interactive way to learn math.Rather than trying to teach 2+2=4 they have the kids play games to solve the problems- it's visual learning and practical application rather than rote memorization. Ethan loves it and is learning so much. Even if you're just looking for a fun game for your kids to play you can't beat the price or the academic value, check it out!

Custom Vinyl decor

Isn't this the coolest thing ever? It's vinyl. Amazing huh? My sister makes all sorts of vinyl decorations- I've never seen anything like it- she prints all the pieces in different colors then you piece it together like a puzzle so rather than one solid colored shape it looks like the actual character.

She made these Cars ones for the boys, they were so excited running around the room while I put them up.

She also does a ton of Disney princesses and decorative phrases. I've never come across any vinyl before that layers the colors like this, it looks so fabulous on the wall and the possibilites are endless you can put vinyl on just about anything. If anyone's interested in ordering Cars or any of the Disney Princesses or anything else for that matter, just send Mindy an email: mindytaylor@gmail.com  You can buy individual characters or as a set. Her prices are as AMAZING as her creations (seriously- you will never find a better price on vinyl)!

  

Another good read...

My friend loaned me this fictional book series about an Amish girl, and I thought it would be a fun read, but she did not prepare me for how good it really would be! Just more proof that you cannot judge a book by the cover (or the title).  I was hooked from the beginning and read the first book in two days and the next two in two days. It really is a heart wrencher and tear jerker as well as interesting to learn more about the Amish beliefs and lifestyle (especially since in Kentucky we see them driving their buggy's down the road and shopping at walmart). I highly recommend it. Cindy Woodsmall, When the Heart Cries is the first book, the series is called Sisters of the Quilt.

P.S. Make sure you have something to entertain the children and a few frozen dinners on hand because you will be neglecting everything until you're finished with all three books.

P.S.S. Thanks to all who recommended Hunger Games, it took me a while to get into it, but towards the end I couldn't put it down and am looking forward to reading the second book.

July

It's been a miserably hot & humid summer here so we've been keeping cool inside. Here are a few pics from this month. Baby Grant is crawling all over the place and is starting to cut his first tooth. He is constantly eating things off the floor so I have to be vigilant about keeping it clean, not an easy task with two wild kids running around. But we've managed to save him from choking thus far, if we can just make it a few more months until his teeth make it in, we'll be good.

Tuning out...or rather tuning in...

So after reading the talk by Elder Bednar in the June Ensign I had to really stop and think about how much time I really waste on the computer, blogging, emailing, editing pictures, etc...when I could be playing with my three beautiful boys. I don't ever want to look back and wish I'd spent more quality time with them. This is my season for mommyhood and it won't last forever... so if I don't post updates as often and don't email back for a few days- I'm still here, just enjoying my little monkeys before they grow up.

  

6 1/2 boys, 2 moms

I've been slacking in bloggerland- too much time in the real world ;)  We spent Memorial Day weekend in Cincinnati and then took the boys to Entertrainment Junction- they were in heaven! Our good friends from law school live near Dayton so they drove down and their three boys and our three boys had a ton of fun running around. They had so much fun that we decided to be brave and combine forces while our husbands were out of town. I took the boys up there and we spent a great week with all six boys (and a 7th on the way- not me, her!)

There are so many fun places for kids in the area. We of course had to go to the train place again, we also went to a fun little farm and a children's museum. It was so cute Ethan and Aaron are 6 months apart and they kept hugging and saying "you're my best friend". They had a ton of fun and I got lots of great cooking and craft ideas. It's so nice having creative friends!

  

   

   

Shabby apple...

I want need this dress! As if I could choose only one... But if you hurry you can enter to win one fabulous dress from Shabby Apple!

Fun summer read

I have been looking for a really good book series for a while now. I think the last series I loved was Twilight and it's so hard to find books that captivate your attention and keep you up all night anticipating what's going to happen next. At time out for women I was determined to find a "chick-lit" book that I could just curl up with and relax. I picked out English Trifle by Josi Kilpack.

I honestly didn't have high expectations. I just wanted something to read in my down time but I was pleasantly surprised. I wouldn't say it's anywhere comparable to twilight or pride & prejudice, but it is a totally fun read and I love the recipes that are included- can't wait to try them. So if you're looking for a fun lighthearted read while laying out at the beach (sure wish there was a beach around here!) check it out.

Utah!

Wow, it's been a crazy week since we've been back. Trying to dry out our basement, document everything that was damaged and work on getting it all out of the basement. Still need to get it all hauled away and still drying out, but at least there's hope in sight.

We had a wonderful time going back home to Utah. It's been almost 4 years since we last visited and during that time we went from one baby to three babies. We drove out since our last flying with children experience was not fun at all. The boys travel really well, we did it in two days. Anthony is working on the 50 U.S. high points so we hit Nebraska on the way out and Kansas on the way back. There was a herd of bison at the Nebraska high point and the wind in both NE & KS was strong enough to knock a person over.

It was so wonderful spending time with family and friends again. It was also neat to see some of the new temples. From a park near Anthony's parent's house we could see the Draper, Jordan River and Oquirrh Mountain temples. It was also neat walking around temple square. We were marred in the SL temple 10 years ago next month. I took a few pics to hang in our home. The boys drank water from the fountains, Ethan threw up on the way home and Joshua just after we got home. Nice.

Ethan has asked every day since we've been home if he can go to Grandma & Granpda's and if he can play with his cousins. Now that he knows we can get there by car, he says "we can just drive there". And, hey, if I had a chauffer I'd go back in a second, well actually we'd have to wait until it warmed up, this snow in May stuff is insane!

Anthony did really well in the ironman. He finished in around 14 1/2 hours and wasn't as tired and sore as we expected him to be. He's already talking about his next one, crazy man!

Now I'm busy trying to get things cleaned up around here, taking a photography workshop and trying not to go crazy without my treadmill and with 1/3 of our house off limits!

and the rains came tumbling down...

So we just got back at about 3:30am from our trip to Utah and look what we found in our basement! Apparently it rained. Guess we'll find out how good our insurance really is! I'll post about our trip later, got some cleaning up to do...

  

Time out

I went to Time Out for Women again this year in Indianapolis, so wonderful! It wasn't completely an escape for me since I had to bring Grant, but I had lots of help (it is NOT a stroller friendly city so we all got a great workout lifting my massive stroller up and down stairs). I wasn't quite as captivated this year as last, but again, had a little distraction with me, but it was still wonderful to hear these speakers and the major trials they have overcome in their life and really helps put your own life in perspective.

It makes me realize I have absolutely nothing to complain about. My biggest concerns in life right now are trying to make myself get up early to exercise and deciding what to make for dinner. Makes me feel pretty pathetic for complaining about things when I hear from women who have had their eyes and breasts removed because of cancer. I love getting away for the weekend, staying up way too late, spending way too much money on clothes and having my spiritual tank refueled.

It was funny- when I got back I was cuddling with Ethan and telling him I'm sorry for not being as patient with him as I should be and he said "you need to study the scriptures, then you can be nice". I wasn't quite sure where he got that from, but the next day I was trying to get him to buckle his car seat and he wasn't listening so I was getting annoyed, he said again "you need to study the scriptures then you won't be frustrated!" Getting lecured by my three year old...

Staying sane...

I hate doing dishes. I love to cook, but I absolutely hate the cleanup. I sometimes run the dishwasher three times in a day because I despise washing dishes by hand. I hate wrinkly hands, it makes my nails soft, I hate touching yucky food- (they don't believe in garbage disposals in Kentucky)...BUT...Since Anthony started defense he's been so much busier and is rarely home for dinner, which is usually my wind-down time. Without that I start to get a little crazy (ok a lot crazy!) I discovered that I could watch BYU tv scripture discussions and started listening to those, then discovered the Family Expo programs and they were right about the time I like to prepare dinner, so I started watching them. Then I got a really crazy idea that I should try to wind down by washing dishes by hand after dinner. I could send the boys out to play and just quiet my mind and watch some of the great programs while unwinding for the day.

I've done it for 3 weeks now and I actually kind of enjoy it. Of course I don't do it on the weekends and sometimes still cheat and use the dishwasher, but it really has helped me not only to feel more connected to the "human" world but feel a little more peace in my life. And I've recently discovered that I don't have to watch all the boring programs while waiting for the one I want- I can watch any of the programs for the last 2 weeks or so by clicking on it- and all this time I thought it was live tv ;)  I even got to watch a few of my friend Tresa's husband's aunt- The Food Nanny - awesome ideas, I think I might have to try it. Who would have thought anything good could come from doing dishes?

Happy Easter

A few days ago I took the boys on an egg hunt and the Easter Bunny was there. I was really surprised by Joshua's reaction- he was so excited he fell flat on his face while running to hug him. He kept giving the bunny big hugs, would come back to me, jump up and down and then go hug him again. He kept lifting up his arms asking the bunny to pick him up. It was so funny how excited he was. We had a nice quiet Easter, it was fun to stay home all weekend, watch conference and just be together as a family.

     

Strawberry Owl Designs!

Remember that beautiful apron I posted a few weeks ago? Well I had to find a way to repay my fabulous friend- so I designed a website for her! Check out Strawberry Owl Designs http://www.strawberryowl.blogspot.com/ and become a follower to see some BEAUTIFUL creations! If I had a little girl I would be buying this adorable dress! Joshua used his little hoody towel she made up until just a few months ago- they are so cute. And I am dying to get some of the felt food- it's so fun!

Food Revolution

Did anyone watch Jamie Oliver last night? I know American's eat bad, but I was completely shocked by the class of 6 year olds that couldn't identify a single vegetable. Not even a tomato or a potato! And I don't blame the schools- where are these kids' parents that they are not providing vegetables for them??? Ever??? It helped me resolve to be even more diligent at providing healthy choices for my kids. I think we eat pretty healthy, Ethan used to say his favorite food was "vegetables" but now it's "mac & cheese"...guess I've gotten lazy for lunch...

There are lots of vegetables I don't care for that I don't often prepare for my kids. I give them some things that Anthony likes but I don't, like pickles, but I just don't think to buy olives and mushrooms because I have never eaten them. I was such a picky eater growing up and have realized that liking food is all about the way it's prepared. I enjoy so many foods now that I hated growing up, just by learning to prepare them differently.

So I've recommitted myself to exposing my boys to all types of vegetables and even making myself try some that I haven't eaten in years. My goal is to NOT raise picky eaters like I was. I've already got quite a good variety of healthy (ok and some not so healthy... balance is good right?- but I will try to lay off the sweets- after I try a few new recipes! Besides if I add whole wheat it's ok right???) ANYWAY if you want some yummy, healthy and of course easy to prepare meal ideas keep checking my food blog http://www.ldsbaker.blogspot.com/