Fun with Jello

My kids all seem to enjoy jello, and there are so many ideas out there for things that they can do with it to make it more fun than just simply adding some fruit to it.  So, I picked up some clear plastic cups at the store and let the kids make their first, of many, cups of jello for the summer.

Setting up the cups on a tray to make them easier to transport the fridge in the garage:

We chose blue jello for this project in order to simulate blue "water:"

(Sidenote:  Look at those pigtails on Sophia!  I used to do that to Sam's hair when she was less than three years old ... it's taken a bit longer for Sophia's hair to reach that length).

Adding the water:

Stirring the gelatin to get it to dissolve:

I filled the cups and then the girls took turns loading them back on the tray:

Ready to refrigerate:

Later that day, I set out a couple of bowls of teddy graham crackers, gummy lifesavers and crushed graham cracker crumbs so that the kids could use their imaginations and create beach scenes.

Hard at work designing:

(Another sidenote: We had just arrived back from a trip down to the beach, so the girls' hair was EXTRA curly by now!)

Yum!

Midweek Randoms

For Teacher Appreciation Week, Sophia and I chose to do something similar to what we had done last year.  We baked chocolate chip cookies -- a lot of them -- and then packaged them in a jar with a bow and a little note.  Such a thoughtful and inexpensive way to thank the kids' teachers for everything that they do to help our little ones.

Rolled and ready to bake in the oven:

Sophia had two female teachers to give her cookies to (hence the PINK ribbons) and Sam was giving her jar to her male teacher (GRAY, a more manly color):

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We often refer to Jack as our "Little Worker Bee."  That kid ... he loves to work and no job is ever too large, too time-consuming or too strenuous for him.  He can be found regularly goading us along and when we aren't performing any jobs, he can be found at the neighbor's house, helping them.  I just love his work ethic.


Using his own (snow) shovel to help with the mulch for around our house:

Planning to use his own chainsaw to help "cut" wood:

Helping me prep my planter boxes for herbs:

Using the power washer on the patio:

 

 

Ha, I could hire him out full time to interested persons ...

 

 

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I had the kids make their own Mother's Day cards for Grammy this year.  It was the best idea because they used craft supplies that I already had and were able to draw from their own creativity.  We looked at a few ideas online and then fashioned them to be their very own.

 

I made a circle with yellow paint and Jack, ever so carefully, filled it in.  I have to say, I was very impressed.

 

The neighbor was over for a play date, so I had her make one for her mom, as well.  It was a wonderful surprise for Miss Tanya!

The finished cards ... Sophia's was a bouquet of flowers made by stamping a stalk of celery in red paint.  She made her own green vase and chose a purple bow (of course) to glue on.  Jack's was obviously the sun with noodles that he glued on, and Sam's was a jar of fireflies made with finger-paint.



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Speaking of Mother's Day, I was invited by Sophia to a Mother's Day Tea at her school.  I did this with Samantha and really enjoyed it.  Plus, I was looking forward to leaving the house without an infant for an hour or so (Steve stayed home with the boys for me).

Well, we were only there for about 15 minutes -- enough time for me to hear the song that Sophia performed with her class and to give me the gift that she had made for me.  It turns out that she really was not feeling well, hence the jacket on in this picture, and cried for me to take her home.  She slept for almost 2 hours when we arrived back at our house. 

My necklace and keychain.  The keychain has her fingerprint in it.  I'm going to keep it forever.

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On the morning of Jack's actual birthday (May 17th), I made the traditional cinnamon rolls for breakfast.

We stuck two candles in them and sang happy birthday to him:

And then after he blew out the candles, Sophia was right there to give him directions on how to remove them from the cinnamon roll without burning himself.  Ever the concerned older sister ...

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This three-year old had his well-child check-up shortly after his birthday and did great!  He's solid muscle all over and above average in height.  He knows his ABC's by heart, can count to 20, recognizes all shapes and colors and is very excited about starting his first year of preschool in the Fall.

 

He is registered for Mrs. Merrill's class for 3-4 year olds and will be attending Tuesday and Thursday mornings beginning in October.  He already bought his book bag (construction trucks personalized with his name on it), and he talks about it nonstop.  He is more than ready.

  

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Doesn't lunch taste better outside?  My kids seem to think so ...

Therefore, we are having lunch outside almost every day this summer, sometimes on the back deck and sometimes on a blanket in the (shaded) garage.

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Steve got this adorable moose "rug" for Jack from some of our friends before they sold it in their garage sale.  Jack loves it SO much.  In fact, one afternoon when I couldn't find him, I went down to the basement (where his room is now) and found him fast asleep on it. 

What can I say?  When you play hard, you crash hard.

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Sophia's preschool class participated in Kindergarten Graduation (Sophia received the Perfect Attendance Award!) and we volunteered to take her friend, Owen, with us to help his mom out.  Before we left, I took a picture of the two of them.  I'm going to hold onto this one, as I may need it for their wedding slideshow one day.  Or maybe just to show them when they go to prom together in about 12 years or so!  They really are great friends.

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Full Bloom

When the apple trees were in bloom this Spring, I couldn't resist taking a few pictures of Jack and Sophia out in the orchard one day when I was there.  It would have been nice to take photos of all of the kids, but full bloom only lasts for about a week or so -- it's a narrow window of time and a challenge when Samantha is in school all day and we are busy running from one scheduled event to another towards the end of the school year.

So, an impromptu photo shoot one day resulted in some cute pictures of my middle kids:

So serious:

And a smile from this one, always:

Taking a little break, sitting in the shade:

This rock that Jack is sitting on?  I remember it from when I was young ...

And the best part of the day was going to see one of the reindeer calves that had just been born earlier that week!

James is Four Months Old

James is four months old today, and what an incredibly happy and joyful little boy he is.  It only takes about 1.5 seconds to get him to smile (and he will smile at anyone, even strangers -- at least right now).  He's ticklish in all the usual places and will often giggle out-loud when you hit one of those areas.  You can't help but laugh right along with him.

There have been a few changes in the last month, including the fact that he has found his thumb.  This is only natural considering that he is constantly jamming his fingers -- right up to his knuckles -- in his mouth.  Oh, the thrills of teething ... drooling and wet fingers. 

Sitting with Papa, chewing on his bib -- another usual activity these days.  I think that we go through about six bibs a day (sometimes more!) because Jimmy soaks them.

James has also started reaching for his toys and gripping them on a regular basis.  He has even begun showing favoritism towards a couple of them in particular. 

 

Trying to decide which toy he would like to reach for now:

The "favorite toys" tend to go with us attached to the car seat when we are out and about now ...  which, these days happens quite a bit in the mornings.  I find that if we try and run at least one errand in the morning, with the promise or surprise of a trip to a park or lunch, that Sophia and Jack are much happier.  Mornings can be long for them otherwise and James is such a good baby to travel with that I don't really mind.

James has also discovered his voice in the last couple of weeks.  He babbles now with more intention and I often hear him "talking" on the monitor in the middle of the night.  There are changes in his voice inflection and tone.  And he will get louder if he is trying to get your attention.

Jimmy's sleeping patterns are pretty stabilized now (I am knocking on wood as I type!).  He is typically in bed by 9 pm, sometimes a little earlier, and will usually sleep until 6-7 am.  If he gets up in the middle of the night, he will nurse for a bit and then fall back asleep before I transfer him back into his crib.  He is taking a long morning nap (2-3 hours, sometimes) and a shorter afternoon nap (about 2 hours) with a catnap around dinnertime.  And if he doesn't follow this schedule, he is still a pretty easy-going little man.  He just goes with the flow.

It's no secret how much his older sisters and brother just love him.  They often fight over holding him and race downstairs in the morning to see him.  Race!  They dote on him all of the time and I suspect that he will end up being one spoiled little boy. 

Watching Sophia play a game:

Letting Jack help with his bath (Never mind the semi-disinterested look on Jimmy's face; Jack had just missed with his aim and dumped a cupful of water on his face):

And one of my all-time favorite pictures, I think:

I mean, I could just melt when I see the love between all of my kids. 

Do they argue?  Yes.  Do they tattle on one another?  Yes.  Are they sometimes malicious?  Probably.  But overall, they love each other fiercely, and there isn't a single thing that they wouldn't do for one another if they were asked.

Spring Pictures

As part of a Mother's Day present for my mom, Grammy, I took the kids outside one afternoon and attempted to snap a few pictures of them.  I had little expectations, as it was in the afternoon (interrupting play time) and Jack seemed to be in an exceptionally unhappy mood.  Also, since James is not able to sit on his own yet, he had to be propped slightly.

We chose a shaded spot and I set to work taking a few photos in chronological order.  Samantha went first.  Usually, she struggles to find a natural smile, but I couldn't be happier with her relaxed look.  And her hair is so beautiful ...

Sophia, my ever photogenic child.  All I have to say is "smile" and she beams from ear to ear and strikes a pose.  She has curls too, just like her Momma, but they are certainly more less loose than those of Samantha's.

Jack, a trooper, even on a day when he was just not really feeling it.  It was the best that I could get, but the picture seems to describe his personality these days.  You never know for sure what you are going get at any given time.  His mind changes frequently.  One minute, he's happy.  Another minute, he's having a meltdown.

James, my happy-go-lucky child these days.  Propped on a blanket in his bouncy seat until he can sit on his own, he smiled as best as he could, especially since the sun had now shifted and decided to shine down on him in his eyes.

And since I had all of them together in one place with semi-coordinating outfits that I pulled from their closets on a whim, I couldn't resist a group photo.

I love looking at this picture and seeing all of the personalities of the kids in it.  I also enjoy observing the similarities and differences in them -- both Sophia and James have blue eyes (I am pretty sure that James' eyes will continue to stay blue and not change), while Sam and Jack have brown eyes.  Jimmy's hair is coming in VERY light, much like Sophia's did.  Sam will probably end up with the darkest hair color of all ... and it matches Steve's hair color perfectly.  No one will have hair as dark as mine, but the girls have my curls. 

Genetics can be so interesting ...