Summer Fun!

Ok, it's my turn. After stealing most of my ideas from Melissa and Shelly (thanks girls!) here is my list of summer fun activities that we'll be trying to do.

Mojave Narrows Waterpark
Play on a slip-n-slide
Watch "Cars 2"
Go to the beach
Have a water day with friends complete with a water balloon fight
Swim Day
Art Day
Swim lessons at home
Tap and Ballet Class
Gymnastics Class
Art Class
Watch fireworks
Take a hot air balloon ride
Fly kites
Build a sand castle
Go bowling
Go miniature golfing
Have a pajama fun day
Go horse back riding
Go to Disneyland
Buy ice cream from the ice cream truck
Make homemade bathtub paint
Put up glow-in-the-dark stars on Avi's ceiling
Have a dance party
Feed the ducks
Go to the fish hatchery
Wade in the Mojave River
Make s'mores
Eat donuts for breakfast
Go get frozen yogurt
Make popsicles
Make homemade ice cream
Make slushies on our new slushy maker


We are also starting up Family Fun Nights this week! Here are some of my theme ideas:

Curious George
Tangled
4th of July
Dogs
Cats
Toy Story
Strawberry Shortcake
Carebears
Cat in the Hat
Water Play
Dance theme
Peter Pan
Circus theme
Bugs
Ice Cream Parlor
Take me out to the ballgame


It should be a fun summer!

School This Week

We only did school one day last week. I'm still trying to get us on a schedule!

We chose the book "Blueberries for Sal". If you haven't ever read this one, it's a must! A classic children's book.

In the book, Sal picks blueberries with her mother and puts them in her pail. As we read, Avi put her blueberries in a pal too and we made listened for the "Kuplink, Kuplank, Kuplunk".

She ate a few too, just like Sal!

Next we colored the picture of Sal and her mother canning blueberries for winter. This week was easy but fun!

Who says Princesses can't have bad days too??

I really don't think this one requires any words....

Financial Responsibility

The Bible tells us to be good stewards of all that God has entrusted us with, money included. Brian and I have not always been financially responsible and I'm sure we'll make many more mistakes in our lives when it comes to money but we are trying hard to teach our kids about financial responsibility. About a year ago, we started using Dave Ramsey's plan for financial peace. It is a tedious process but one that I believe will pay off. Using one of his suggestions, we decided to get Avi 3 piggy banks. One for Saving, one for Giving and one for Spending. She only gets $3 a month right now and puts $1 in each piggy bank. She enjoys it and I'm hoping that, as she gets older, a message about finances will be clear.

Yesterday, we cleaned out her Savings piggy bank and took it to the bank. She was so proud to give her money to the teller!

Great job my girl! As you grow, be smart with your money and faithful to God's commands and He will bless you. I can't wait to see how you will choose to give your money this year!

Little Learner's Club - Rainbows!

Ahhh, how I love rainbows. Not only are they cheerful and beautiful but they are a constant reminder of God's love and faithfulness.

This last LLC had rainbows as it's theme. We started out mixing red, blue and yellow ice cubes to make different color combinations.

Avi looks really intrigued, doesn't she?

Then the kids colored Rainbow books.

Avi's project is ongoing...

Then, the best part, snack time! We had rainbow jello cups (I stole my friend Melissa's idea), PB & J, rainbow fish crackers, rainbow fruit cups and animal cookies with rainbow sprinkles. Do these kids realize how lucky they are?!

They really were good even though you wouldn't know it by looking at Lauren's face!

We finished off the day with the story of Noah and the very first rainbow.

What a great day! 

To all the LLC moms:

I am so blessed to know all of you. Thankyou for caring for your kids and going above and beyond their general well-being by getting involved in things that strengthen them socially, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. You are all an inspiration and I'm so happy to be part of your lives and the lives of your children.

Disneyland Trip

My girl loves Disneyland! As she gets older she's getting more and more exposed to Disney movies and toys and is falling more and more in love with everything Disney. I don't tend to share her passion but it is exciting to see her excited. So, for her third birthday, we chose to forgo a party and opted for 3 days at Disneyland instead! Whoa, was that a lot of happiness! We were all ready to come home by that third day but it was a great trip! Here are some highlights:

The Buzz Lightyear Ride is her favorite:

Here she is with the big guy...and Buzz!

She also loves looking at all the overpriced toys! "Looking" is the key word here!

Happy Birthday Sweetheart!

Dear Brian,

This morning started out with Millie and I smiling at each other in bed. Then Avi peed successfully on the potty and we had breakfast together. Avi and I did school together and learned another catechism. It was such a beautiful day out that we played in the water, rode her bike and built sand castles together in her sandbox. We came in for lunch and are now enjoying rest time. This afternoon I'm preparing for Little Learner's Club tomorrow by making rainbow jello cups and getting craft supplies together. I'm hoping some friends can come over for dinner tonight for BBQ chicken and dessert.

I'm telling you all of this because I need you to know that because of you, wonderful days like this are a part of every week for me. I LOVE being able to stay home with our children! Teaching them, playing with them, caring for them and loving them are my purpose right now and I couldn't be happier about it. Being a stay-at-home mom is a lot of hard work but I would never change it. As I sat there reading to Avi today and coloring with her, nursing Millie and smiling back and forth, I found myself thinking that I can't imagine letting some stranger at daycare have these moments with them instead of me.

You have a very difficult, dangerous and demanding job. I'm glad you love it but I also know that it is a lot of hard work. You risk your life daily for complete strangers and you go do this job happily every morning for us. Because you are willing to work hard, I get to raise our children and be part of beautiful, funny and amazing moments each day. I'm sure there are days when you wish you could be the one at home but I'm so grateful that you allow me to do it.

Taking care of you and our babies is one of my great joys in this life. You mean so much to all of your girls. We love you. We appreciate you. We feel safe with you.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for letting me have this amazing job.

I love you.

M

Potty Training

Anyone feel sorry for us after just reading the title?? Well, that's what we've been doing this past week. It's a one step forward, 3 steps back kind of process. We're still working on it but here is the big girl in her panties.

My girl turns 3!

Avi turned 3 on May 13th and I still can't believe it! Here are some of the fun things we did:

We greeted her at her door with a rousing rendition of "Happy Birthday" followed by playing with the balloons we filled her room with the night before.

Then a special breakfast. There are chocolate chip pancakes underneath the mountain of whip cream, strawberries and sprinkles!

Then it was off to the park to play and share cupcakes with friends!

After a nap, we had a wonderful family dinner complete with pizza, ice cream cake, presents and a ride on her new trike!

A few things I want to remember about 3 year old Avitol Mercy Moler:

• You are full of energy and a spunky personality which I love...we just need to channel it a little!
• Your singing - favorites right now are songs from Tangled, Peter Pan and He's Got the Whole World in His Hands
• When you are being so sweet and say "Oh thanks Mommy!" or "Good job Dada!" or "That would be a good idea, don't you think Mommy?"
• You are so funny and I find something to laugh about that you have said or done everyday
• You love other kids, especially your sister, you just don't know about personal space yet! You ask to "pet" everyone.
• How you always say "a big one?" after every request to have more of something
• Your love for ice cream. You definitely got that one from your mommy!
• How you get excited about the simplest things like taking a walk or putting clothes in the laundry. You have a zest for life!
• You are so smart! You know how to count to 20, shapes, colors, alphabet and you are learning letters quickly - "J" seems to be your favorite!
• You love to read and be read to
• You still love to cuddle and you always say "Mommy hold you?" when you want me to hold you
• You include anyone in playtime and you haven't met a kid yet that you didn't want to be friends with. I hope you never stop doing this.
• Disneyland is your favorite place in the world and recently you've been singing "Ho yo ho yo a lirate's pife for me". I'm not sure how that got mixed up but it is cute!
• Recently you've started yelling "I'm back!" when you come out of Recovery (which you visit frequently - reference the first thing I love about you)
• You are just the cutest, friendliest, sweetest 3 year old girl and I love you more than words can say!

Happy Birthday my sweet girl!

Little Learner's Club - Gardening

Our first LLC meeting in May was a Gardening theme and I think it was a hit with everyone!

First the kids planted seeds or potted their own plants.

Then we headed inside for a cupcake flower craft.

After that, everyone's favorite part: snack and story time!

Happy Spring!