Sketch Tuesday

J likes to draw and it is something I encourage because it gives him something to do and fill the time and some days I need that. I like the Draw, Write Now books and he has used some of those. Recently we discovered Sketch Tuesday and so I told him this afternoon that the topic for this week was "Leaving on a Jet Plane". I think he was able to do that topic easily as we have just spent time studying aviation. I think he did a good job on his drawing even though he was a bit jet lagged.

I think the control tower is something that he discovered this trip and so it was neat to see the way he included it in the drawing.

"Flowers" Happy Mother's Day

Yesterday afternoon a little girl knocked on the back door holding  this bunch of needles and said, "flowers". The bunch was actually bigger but I made her wait for the camera and she dropped some along the way waiting. I do have to say it was very cute and sweet. We left the flowers in the back yard.

Mother's Day - I am thankful for my mother and her example. I love my kids and love being their mom. I spent Mother's Day night with both of them sleeping or trying to sleep on me as we took the red eye home.

Thank you J & K for the special mother's day.

The rained stopped

and so we decided to go ahead and go up the Space Needle. That was the big thing on J's list of things he wanted to do in Seattle. Now before you think that I am such a wonderful teacher teaching him all about this he learned about it from one of the Little Einstein's where June loses her balloons and they go to the Space Needle and almost pop on the needle.



We got to the top and Miss K said, "down". She said the same thing when the plane took off. While Daddy and J walked around outside Miss K and I went in and found a snack and sat. Chips always make everything better. She then decided that it was fun up there. She went out and turned around giving me her best smile so I could take her picture.



One more look at the city. Well, it wasn't night and it wasn't July and I think it was colder.



It was July 7 years ago at the top of the Space Needle that my husband proposed.

Do you want to see me? There I am. I got a new camera for mother's day a bit early. We are traveling this summer and I needed a new camera.

Field Trip

One of the fun things about homeschooling is the fun field trips you get to have. Some just happen like the day we had doctor appointments, waiting, and a trip to Costco to which J says "that was a field trip". Sure we can call it a field trip. Today was a bit unplanned but fun. The Pacific Science Center. It was raining (I know that is just about every day here) and so we decided to go there. The kids had fun.



There was a nice salt water tide area where the kids could put their hands in and touch things.



It reminded me of the morning years ago that I spent with my friend, Ruth, and her family on the beach during low tide and we were able to see all kinds of sea creatures that you normally don't see.



I think she is dancing with the planets. J and mama went to see the 3-D Hubble telescope movie but we figured Miss K would not enjoy it. She was with daddy and found the tots area and was happy as could be.



It was a fun time and when we came out it stopped raining. Yeah! Now if we could get some warmer weather I would be much happier. It is cold here.

Book Review - You can be Everything God Wants you to be

This is a gift book format taken from Max Lucado's book, Cure for the Common Life. It has the features that you think of when you think of a gift book -- small in size, some illustrations, and easy to read. The book was an easy read but was challenging at different parts. This book challenges the read to explore how God has created them and to be the person that God has created them to be. "You cannot be anything you want to be. But you can be everything God wants you to be." (page 39) Max Lucado also quickly reviews how God used Paul and his drive for spreading the gospel.

"You are the only you God made." Yes, this is a good reminder to help take any the commonness of life. "You need to be you." In the context of the book, that make sense but that is one of those lines that you do not want to take out of context.

The book ends with a short list of Bible characters and the items that they had and how God use those small items. That is a good reminder to all of us that God will use what we have when we give those talents and tools over to God.

Again this was an easy book to read. Thomas Nelson suggests that it would be a "perfect gift for the graduate" and I would agree. It does help to give some thoughts for guiding and planning how you are going to life your life.

One thing that I did not like in the book was the use of multiple translations of the Bible. There were probably eight to ten different translations used. To me when authors do that it makes me feel as though they are searching for verses and words to fit with what they want to say instead of looking at what the Bible says and writing that.

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

The Zoo

We have a zoo membership. It has been nice since we live about 15 minutes from the nations first zoo. We went this morning with grandpa and grandma. With the membership I don't feel like I have to see everything in one day. A few hours and we can have fun. It is fun to take my children to the zoo where I went when I was there age. I asked my mom if she has any pictures of me at the zoo. No pictures but there might be some slides. I do remember that there was Noah's ark in the children's zoo. That is gone now and just a pond to feed the ducks.



For the next couple of months there are lego animals around the zoo. There are cards that you collect from the various places. It was fun to see the animals that they made with Legos. J decided he needs more Legos.


The kids had fun feeding the goats and the ducks. I was proud of J he brought his own money to feed the ducks and he even thought of it before we left home. We got to the monkeys as they were being fed and that was fun to watch but the pictures weren't that good as it was dark and behind glass. I think the most fascinating thing that we saw was the peacock working his hardest to attract the female. He tried and tried and shook his feathers.

It was even interesting to see him from the side.

It was a fun morning. Thanks G&G for joining us.

Favorite Cheap Dinner

Pasta with Rabe

This is one of our favorite dinners because it is yummy, cheap, and easy. Whenever the grocery store has broccoli rabe on sale usually 99 cents or even 88 cents I buy it. I buy my pasta on sale and can get a box for 79 centers or 89 cents. I use one boneless skinless chicken breast.

I cook the pasta and rinse the rabe cutting it to pieces. About a minute or two after the pasta has started to cook I add the rabe. Cook until the noodles are done and the drain everything. Stir-fry the cut up chicken. Then add the pasta and rabe with some garlic or as in our case lots of garlic with a bit of olive oil. Serve with some parmesan cheese. So for about $2.50 we have a delicious dinner. Sometimes I even use whole wheat pasta.