Dinosaur Imprints

Found this fun little project HERE!

Finished product

Picking out which dinos to use

THIS dinosaur


I quickly remembered just how much I just lovvvvvvvve working with salt dough (sense any sarcasm there?).  I split the recipe into two bowls for the boys.  I can't even remember if I used 1/2 c water for 2 c flour and 1/2 c salt...or 1 c.  Whichever amount of water we used...it was too much and we needed to add more flour.



Ready for the oven



All baked and ready to paint

 

Oh, how the boys love to paint.  I am learning more and more every time we paint together to let go and just let the boys do what they want.  I was reminded of this when we toured Ceretta Candy Company in Arizona when the loud-mouth tour guide scolded me and gave me a look, "Mom!", when I tried to suggest where the boys should put their toppings on the chocolate pizzas they made. 

 

The boys also painted their wooden binoculars that they made with Bumpa at Lowe's. 

Happy painter



Happy painter #2!

Like I said, I am learning to let go.  Still very much working on Play-doh...you know...being okay with all of the colors getting mixed together....yeah.

Grand Canyon Revelation

O Lord, how manifold are thy works! In wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.  Psalm 104:24



Psalm 68:4



All the earth bows down to you; they sing praise to you, they sing praise to your name.  Psalm 66:4

Those three scriptures are hung on plaques along the South Rim of the Grand Canyon (at Desert View, Hermit's Rest and Lookout Studio).  In 2003, they were taken down out of fear after the ACLU sent a letter "expressing their concern" that the plaques were displayed in the National Park.  The Park Service received so many letters and phone calls of protest, the plaques were restored to their positions a few weeks later. 

A book, Grand Canyon: A Different View by Creationist Tom Vail, is featured in the Grand Canyon's gift shops.  It, too, came under fire by a group that wanted its removal.  The book remains.  The Grand Canyon itself is a testimony to God.

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.  Day after day they pour forth speech;  night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. 

Psalm 19: 1-4

For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.  Romans 1:20



What I Learned from a Visit to Arizona in July

"But it's a dry heat," is just a way for Phoenicians to feel better about themselves living in a dessert wasteland.  Ha!  It's not really a wasteland....that's just what Nick jokingly calls it.

The heat may be "dry," but the sun will kill you!

Even when the temperature is 105-110°, residents still enjoy wearing their long pants and long-sleeved shirts while they're out and about doing their shopping.  Odd.

Dust storms are cool!  As long as you know where your children are and can quickly make it to safety.

Grass is a luxury and Phoenicians get wayyyyy excited about it playing on it.

A hot tub still feels good in the desert.  For a while, at least.

There is a culture of health you don't see in our neck of the woods.  People are very active and healthy snacks are everywhere!

Three swimsuits is never enough.

The mountains are beautiful!  Especially at dusk.

Your nose will never be the same.  At least for the next week or so.  Too much breathing in of that dry air!

Airplane Survival

Hello, Blog.  It's been a while.  I'm still trying to decide if I care.  This is what a week's long vacation does to a girl.  We've been back from our Arizona trip for three days now and I'm having a wee bit difficult time getting back into reality. 

We visited Nick's parents at their new home in Phoenix.  It was a nice visit and a great getaway.  One of the best things of our trip was Popper & Cinder's poooooooooooooooool!!!!  I'm so proud of Evander who learned to swim by the end of our stay.  :-)

But, I think this is a good time to reflect on airplane travel with small children. 

The flight to Phoenix was four hours.  Before our trip, this seemed like an icredible amount of time that I was going to attempt to keep three small children happy in a confined space.  I know a lot of you take longer car trips with your kids and manage well.  At some time during the trip...I'm sure we've all felt like this:

I actually don't need to take a plane trip to feel like that, though.  :-P

The kids did pretty well.  Marin did her predictable for an almost-two-year-old "I'm going to run around and walk away from you up and down the aisle as much as I can" bit.  The boys were very excited to be on the plane. 

In addition to a bag full of favorite snacks, here are some of the more interesting things I packed for the kids:



Blank books...

...that turn into these!

Evander loves making stories.  He illustrates all of the pages, and then tells me what to write on them.  He beams with pride when he finishes one and he hands it to Daddy to read. 



Button practice

This was just something fun I made and shoved in Emory's bag.  Lots of button holes to practice pushing the button in and out.  This got a little bit of play on the airplane...but the boys seems to want to fuss with it more now that we're home.



Tongue depressor puppets

These were to serve a two-fold purpose.  Puppet play (which Emory loved!!!), but also for Emory to practice saying the "k" and "g" sound (he says these as "t" and "d").  I read online that by depressing the tongue, it forces you to use the back of your throat which is where these sounds come from.  Somehow, in my little twisted mind, I thought that by putting faces on tongue depressors, that Emory would allow me to stick them in his mouth more easily.  Insert your laughter here.  I get about two good mouth sticks at a time...but when it happens...the "k" sound happens, too.  :-)

I also found small handheld electronic games for $1 at Wal Mart.  One was a racing game, the other a pinball.  Those were a huge hit!  The boys were not supposed to open their carry on bags until we got on the plane...but they both snuck these out in the car on the way to the airport.  I felt like psycho-mom---"Those are for the plane!!!!!!"  

But, the biggest thrill, of course, was the DVD player.  Our plane heading home had electrical outlets underneath the seats, so we could watch it for as long as we wanted! 

So, I would venture to say that as long as you have plenty of snacks and plenty of power on your DVD player (or iPad or whatever you watch a movie on these days)...you'll be good to go!

Thanking God for a safe trip and for all of the resting we were able to do (that sounds funny, doesn't it?  Like you have to do something to relax) and for all of the fun we had!!!  Thank you, Popper and Cinder for having us!!!


 

Poppy Pillow

This pretty thing is going with us when we travel to see Popper & Cinder in Arizona!  Well...just the pillow case.  Gotta save room for all of my clothes.  Anyhoo...I made this for my mother-in-law to put in "my" bedroom in Arizona.  Just scrap fabric and scrap red felt pieces for the flowers with a button sewn in the middle.  :-)