Two Little Tacky's

If you teach or have little ones...you must know about Tacky.  These really cute books always end with, "Tacky was an odd bird, but a nice bird to have around."  The kids love these because they are so goofy and funny!  A colleague at school directed me to this cute arts and crafts project...you know I love crafts...where you make a Tacky penguin.  I brought home the pattern and used random pieces of construction paper and scrapbook paper to make him. 

I traced all the pieces and the kids cut out the different parts that we needed.  Check out the mess all over the floor...so worth it for how cute these turned out.

For Tacky's shirt I asked the kids what kind of scrapbook paper they wanted to use.  Target has some cute Valentine's Day sheets in the dollar section...8 pieces for $1.00...can't beat that.  They both chose a heart pattern for their shirt.

Isaiah's Tacky...or it could be one one of his companions from the story...Goodly, Lovely, Angel, Neatly, or Perfect....but I think he wanted it to be Tacky.

Ava named her's Tacky too.  These are now proudly displayed on our fridge serving as a both winter/valentines decoration.

You can never have enough craft time!  My 3 Happy's are on the next post!

An exCYting Game

Last Sunday we went to the Iowa State women's basketball game.  Jody got us tickets for $1.00...another great bargain!  During football games we usually sit in the first or second row with the kids...but since these tickets were general admission...we sat in the balcony.  They loved it! 

Tim, Andy, Jody, Isaiah, Grandma, and Ava before the game

The team getting ready for warm-ups

Isaiah loving his hotdog...the kids LOVE concession stand food when we got to Iowa State games.

Ava all smiles with her hotdog

Cy coming out to cheer on the Cyclones

Let the game begin

Great Grandpa Richardson was there too...he has season tickets and is sitting right behind the man in the red jacket...the row above him, third one in next to the empty seat.

And of course the kids were beyond thrilled with the Cyclone twist ice cream.  They don't serve this at the football games so this was a real treat!

They were playing "Macho Man."  It's tradition that people flex their muscles and try to get on camera.

At half time they had dogs doing tricks with frisbees...Ava and Isaiah really enjoyed watching that!

Isaiah with Cy...Ava's picture with Cy got accidentally deleted from the camera.  The kids were looking through pictures the other day and it must have happened then.  We'll have to wait until next time.

Daddy and Isaiah...he wanted to climb up even higher in the balcony.

The Cyclones won!  We'll have to attend more basketball games...they really had fun!

My Three Happy's:

1) Seeing Miss Isabelle last night.  Ava and Isaiah love getting together with their cousin!

2) Having a few spare moments to put laundry away...the clean piles were out of control!

3) February coming up...I love doing Valentine's Day and Groundhog's Day activities and crafts at school with my class and Ava and Isaiah at home.  Plus it's supposed to be 50 degrees tomorrow!

Our First Frosty

That's Iowa for you...cold one day, warmer the next, cold one day, warmer the next.  You really never know what the weather can bring.  Yesterday after school I had a meeting and Andy picked up the kids.  When I pulled into the driveway, everyone was out front constructing our "First Frosty" of 2012.  Actually it's the first Frosty that we've even made this winter.  The snow was perfect for sculpting and the kids adore creating things!

Andy had gotten the kids carrots to use for Frosty's nose.  Isaiah couldn't resist and starting crunching on one!

Here he is...or she.  This Frosty has two stick arms, a scarf, one carrot nose, fruit snacks for eyes, and pieces of "Mr. Squirrel's corn" for the buttons.  We used what we had.  A few years back I had bought a snowman kit that came with everything you'd need to make a snowman...all the pieces were made of wood.  Who knows where that went...but we can just say that this Frosty is "more original."

Ava was so proud!  After this Ava sat in the snow and made the perfect snowball.  We have this story called Snow and at the end of the story the characters, who happen to be a little brother and sister, end up saving a snowball in their freezer for next winter.

The one on the left she made yesterday and the one on the right was done a few weeks ago (ignore the orange piece of popsicle next to the snowball...apparently I need to clean the freezer).  By the end of winter, we may have tons of snowballs and no food in there.

My Three Happy's:

1) Isaiah has really been working hard on buttoning his shirts.  Tonight he was trying to button his Tomas the Train pajamas and made me giggle.  He was breathing heavy and was starting to sweat because he was concentrating so hard.  What a character!

2) Little Miss Ava is learning so much!  Tonight I brought home some of my literacy station activities that I do with my class at the beginning of the year.  I had cows that contained short /a/ words and she was decoding them and putting them in the barn that rhymed.  She also did a sort with picnic baskets and little picnic food pictures with short /u/ words on them.  It's amazing how learning can be so fun.  The other night I hid the pieces to Isaiah's alphabet puzzle all over the house.  As he picked the pieces up he had to tell me what letter was on the piece.  He had so much fun collecting them in a bucket and then putting the puzzle back together.  

3) Just like I enjoy changing decorations in my house for different holidays or seasons, I found a fun site called Dotty Dot Dot Backgrounds.  They have TONS of free backgrounds that you can use in your blog...so you may see some changes each month.  It's kind of altered some things on the sidebar that I need to figure out how to fix...but I like how I can make the blog more festive!

Mr. Winter is Finally Here

It's officially winter time in Iowa.  I was seriously beginning to think that Old Mister Winter was going to pass us by...I should have known.  We've had a few snow flurries, some sleet, howling winds, and frigid cold temperatures.  Today we even had a 10:00 late start for school.  You know it's not nice out when school is delayed.  It actually turned out to be a decent day this afternoon.  The temperature was tolerable and I enjoyed going outside for recess duty.  The kids have basically been trapped inside for three days for inside recess and they were so excited to get out.

Last weekend the weather was nice in the morning so we took the kids outside to play in the snow.  This was their first time being bundled up with boots, snow pants,...the works!  They LOVE being out in the snow.  I think we were out for over 2 hours.  The time went by fast!

Isaiah loves brushing snow off things...the deck, the benches, the hot tub, you name it.  He was using a broom to brush the snow off the driveway...Daddy's little helper!

Ava loves to make snow angels!

Trying to make a snowball

Ready for a sled ride...on your mark, get set...

Go!  Run Daddy Run!!!  Back and forth Andy went...they wore him out!  We pulled...when I say we I usually mean Andy..them to the the park and they played there for a while.

Ava catching snowflakes on her tongue

You're never too old to catch snowflakes!

Isaiah was trying it too!

The kids went on a "Nature Walk" with Daddy.  They took pictures of different animal tracks they found in the snow.

One last cute picture of Miss Ava cuddling on our bed with Jackson...that dog thinks he's just as much a kid as they are.

My Three Happy's:

1) 2 hour late start!  Although I'm a bit behind with what a wanted to teach today...it was a nice transition into the week.

2) The 100th Day of school is on Wednesday this week.  That means 80 more days until summer vacation!

3) DVR shows!  Andy and I hardly ever have the TV on when we're home after school.  But it's so fun to look forward to cuddling up with a warm blanket and catching up on our favorite shows.  Let's see...tonight we have Desperate Housewives...I know it's far fetched...but I love it and it's in the last season, Mike and Molly, Two and  a Half Men, and Modern Family from last week.  You've gotta love Phil!

Camera Found...Now it's Time to Catch Up

Yeah!  Yesterday as we were coming home from school Ava wanted one of the toys from our toy basket in the car...and what do you think was at the bottom?  The camera!!!!!  On the way home Sunday I remember that I gave Ava the camera while we were driving so she could look at some pictures and take a few more.  She must of put it there when she was done.  I was going crazy thinking "I've lost it again." 

As mentioned in an earlier post this week, we got together with the Richardson side of the family for Christmas last Sunday.  There were tons of us there and it was so fun!  Here are a few pictures followed by a slide show of many more.

All the Richardson's...notice the kids in their new pajamas.  I think it was 12:30 or so...it's never too early for pajamas!

Great Grandma and the kids!  She gets them pajamas every year and they love their footies!

Mommy and her Bootles

Ava and Isaiah eating brunch!  They love their pineapple!

Opening gifts!  Andy opened a "man's gift" and it was a set of flying helicopters.  Isaiah was pretty excited about that.  You gotta love Aunt Jody's new Disney shirt...it says, "The Original Goof." 

Click on the link below to watch the slide show on Animoto of all the other pictures.
Christmas...in January

My Three Happy's:
1) It's Saturday...freezing outside...but Saturday!  Hummm...sound like a day for crafts, making yummy warm cookies, and movies!

2) Finding my camera!

3) A nice cup of coffee!  I always feel rushed in the morning during the week and when I get to school my coffee sometimes isn't hot anymore.  I love that I can actually enjoy it today!

What's New...

What's new...

Well to start it's "The Case of the Missing Camera Part 2."  I have lots of pictures to post...but no camera to get them from.  I know it's got to be around here somewhere.  Hopefully it will turn up in the next few days.  Lately I've been scatterbrained about where I put stuff.  I'm known for putting something down, often times in weird places, and then walking away and forgetting where I put it.  Does that happen to anyone else or is it just me?

This past weekend we actually got snow!  On Saturday we spent about 2 1/2 hours playing outside in the snow.  The kids were excited to bundle up and go "exploring" with Daddy.  Andy had been out earlier and had found some cool animal tracks.  The kids followed him around and they took pictures of things that they discovered outside in the snow.  Of course all these fun outside pictures are on the camera so I'll post them later.  We got out the sled and pulled the kids a few blocks to one of our local parks.  Ava and Isaiah loved zooming down the slippery slide in their snow pants.  At lunch time we had two hungry, worn out kids!  They both love being outside and with the first "real" snowfall this year, going out made it even more exciting.

On Sunday we had our 4th Christmas at Grandma and Grandpa Richardson's house.  My that house was full of people...we figured it was a record high.  I have LOTS of pictures that I plan on putting into a slide show...if I ever find my camera.  We ate yummy brunch food, opened gifts, and did a "Gag" gift exchange as well.  We had so much fun and enjoyed seeing everyone back together.  Let's see, who was all there...Grandpa and Grandma, Dan and Janet, Jody, Tim, and Ayden, Tim, Deanna, Brad, and Leita, Darrell, Rayla, Kirstin, and her boyfriend Joe (turns out he was one of Andy's former football players at Gilbert), and of course us. 

We recovered from the flu but the kids are now on drops for pink eye.  It never ends!  I guess I'll take a simple case of pink eye over the flu any day!  Their eyes cleared up in one day and look much better. 

Well, Andy's a pretty happy camper!  We bought a new car today.  Andy's been wanting a Camry for a while now and we found exactly what he was looking for and couldn't beat the price, low mileage, financing deal, and low interest rate.   Plus Janet works at Wilson's Toyota in Ames and helped to get us a great deal!  We ended up with a 2009 model and it really is not that much different from the 2012 models we looked at.  We love our Envoy for this time of year since it has 4 wheel drive...but look forward to using this car more in the spring, summer, and fall...it gets such better gas mileage.  Here are a few pictures that I took from the website so you can see.  The kids rode home with Andy from the dealership tonight and said, "I love this car."  I think this is the first time that no one wanted to ride with me. 

 



...and let it be known that I did not persuade Andy to get this car.  I of course wanted him to get it, but kept my mouth quiet and let him make his own choice. 

My Three Happy's:
1) Teaching only 4 days this week...we had inservice yesterday. 

2) All Valentine's Day presents for the kids are bought and hidden away.  I also got stuff to make valentines for Ava's preschool class and little baskets for Ava and Isaiah to stuff for their friends at daycare.  I've learned to buy in advance.  I always wait on things like this and when I go back to actually get everything I want, there's no selection left.  Target's dollar section had some cute things too!

3) My organizing project from last week: organize three shelves (spices, baking items) in the kitchen.  Man...I found some stuff I've never used...to the trash can it went.  Lots more room, plus I was able to hide our sugar and flour containers in this cupboard which made more counter space. 

Laughin' Good Times and a Whole Lotta' Pizza

This weekend we went to Marshalltown to visit Jody and her boyfriend Tim.  They just got back from Disney World and had presents for the kids.  We also got to see Tim's Mom again...what a sweetheart...and meet his sister Kristy.  Andy's parents came too so it was a lot of fun to get together with everyone.  The kids were beyond excited to see what Aunt Jody had gotten them...although they had a pretty good idea since they told her before she left. Let's see...Ava wanted a new princess nightgown.  She has a really pretty pink one with Sleeping Beauty on it...but wanted another one just like it but with a new princess on it.  Isaiah wanted another Simba...that makes four.  Since he's been a baby, he's gone through two Simbas from Disney.  When he started to get teeth he would chew on the tail and man...even with numerous washes and soaking that tail in soap...that smell would not go completely away. 

Before we left...this girl is so stylish.  She said, "These are my "posh" glasses."  Oh boy...Daddy's credit card will be in danger soon!

When we got to their place Jody gave them their first gift...a Disney football for Isaiah and Minnie Mouse earrings for Ava.

Yeah...Aunt Jody bought me another Simba!

I got a new Cinderella nightgown!  Thanks Aunt Jody!

Tim was helping Isaiah cut a tag off Simba.

Tim and Ava

Aunt Jody showing the kids the 600+ picture she took on her trip.

Tim's Mom, Judy, came over and brought gifts for the kids too.  Isaiah got a Goofy magnet and a Mickey Mouse stuffed animal.  How thoughtful!  They've only met her one other time before this but seemed really comfortable around her...probably because they adore her son!

Ava was showing Judy one of her dolls.

Judy gave Ava a Minnie Mouse stuffed animal and a wallet/purse set.  She loved it!

Lots of giggle time!

Ok...I had to put this picture in the post.  Jody and Tim took us out to eat at a nice little Italian restaurant in town.  While we were waiting the kids had coloring books and crayons to color with.  Isaiah and Ava were both coloring away and Isaiah said, "Mom, this one is for you."  I said, "Boo, how did you know how to spell my name...did someone tell you how to do it?"  He said, "No, I did it by myself."  I was so proud of the guy.  Ava did chime in with, "I taught him that once." 

Happy with crayons!

Andy and Tim

Isaiah munching on cheesy garlic bread

Janet and Tim's sister Kristy

After dinner we went to the mall for a little bit...and of course the kids were drawn to these silly rides.  Ava picked to ride Barney...

...and Isaiah wanted to ride Alvin and the Chipmunks.

Isaiah and Grandpa

After the mall we were getting ready to go home.  Ava and Isaiah both begged us to go back to Aunt Jody and Tim's house.  So back we went for little while longer to hang out. 

Grandma and Ava

Andy sporting Tim's new hat from Disney

Someone else had to try it too!

Cuddling on the coach playing with Aunt Jody's phone...they were getting tired so we left shortly after this.

Now a few other randoms...

It was time to give Isaiah a haircut.  Ava was the assistant to Andy and was sucking up all the loose hair that would fall to the ground.

The only time we've gone somewhere was to get his first hair cut.  He was miserable and cried the whole time.  Since then, Andy does it and it looks great every time.  We of course bribe Isaiah by letting him watch a show while Andy is cutting it and he gets a sucker.  Whatever works, right?

My Three Happy's:

1) My Dad is home from the hospital...in pain and VERY tired, but doing well.  We went up to see him yesterday and he looked great.  He told me tonight that he's been looking into the kinds of things he should be doing now.  He's only been out of surgery 4 days and the things he's been doing are the things recommended in week two of physical therapy.  He has lots of upper body strength, so I think that helps.  Hopefully he gets some uninterrupted sleep these next few days so he can catch up. 

2) I can't say enough about the weather.  Today it was 55 degrees on our outdoor thermometer but a little windy.  I can say that in the 5 years I've had Ava and the 3 years I've had Isaiah, we've never walked to the park to play in January...well maybe once in the snow.  It's so nice to be outside!

3) I'm proud to say that I am very serious about my New Year's resolution (to organize one thing...can be a big project or small each week).  I tackled our linen closet in the hallway.  It's safe to say that this was LONG overdue.  I have the before and after pictures below.  How did I accumulate so much junk?  Most of this went in the trash because I really didn't need it!  I was reading a blog about organizing the other night and it said the definition of clutter is something that goes against making your home beautiful and is not used or needed on a regular basis.  Ummm...pretty much everything! 

                     

   Before

            

   

      After

***Now all we need is a fresh paint job on the inside, more cute baskets...who doesn't love cute baskets...and updated doors.  Then it will be perfect...but for now...this will have to do!