Proof that "the book really is better than the movie"

The kids are old enough now (4 & 2 - almost 3) that I decided to try out reading to them before bed.  They'll sit still to read picture books but I wanted to try a chapter book.  We started with "The Littles Go Exploring", a book that I picked up cheap at a consignment sale.  They are LOVING it and after the very first night of reading they spent the whole next day playing "the littles" & talking to "the littles" through the vents & the walls in the house.  They've seen The Littles cartoons and movie before but they had never taken it the step further to actually play pretend about it afterwards.  To me, that is proof that the book is better than the movie because it awakened their imaginations!

We'll be done with this books soon & I want to find another one.

I need your recommendations of good chapter books for this age!  Help, please!

Constant Adjusting with a house full of Little Ones

With 4 little kids (including 2 babies), it seems there is a constant adjusting around here.  In the last couple of weeks we have . . .

• Put boxes of baby clothing away in crawl space storage until another baby comes our way (because they're in the nasty crawl space, the boxes had to be sealed up tight in garbage bags and tagged so we could easily see what was inside.
• Sorted & moved all small toys out of the playroom to keep it safe for the babies that are now "on the move"
• Taken additional toys out of the playroom, the ones the older kids like to play with like blocks, train sets, etc. that could be destroyed by a baby on the move so the older kids can play undisturbed
• Changed up the baby food so they are eating some things with their hands and more of table-type foods
• Put away the infant seats into crawl space storage
• Arranged the kitchen for a 2nd high chair
• Sorted out items we won't be needing for any future babies to be sold at a consignment sale in the spring
• Found a new home for the "shoe basket" that was housed in the playroom and had become Alexi's favorite new "chew toy"
• Changed up our exercise schedule since the older kids are being unco-operative (to say it nicely) in the stroller these days

This week I will be . . .

• Putting up baby gates
• Arranging bedrooms to fit a 2nd crib and the toys that have now been moved upstairs

It doesn't sound like much when I put it on paper, but added to our already busy day, it feels like we're in constant adjusting motion around here.  

Chore Chart

I've been wanting to put together a chore chart for a while now.  I remember even the cute pictures that my mom used on a chart we had as a kid and it brings back such fond memories.  While my 4 & 2 year old don't have a ton of "chores" right now, I thought it would help us keep with a routine during the day & when they are dragging their feet through activities, it helps to remind them that as soon as they finish they get to move their card on their chart.  I did a separate one for each kid but for now, their cards are the same.  I'm thinking of adding some additional cards (scripture reading, help with laundry, help take out the trash, etc.), but haven't gotten around to it yet.

Here's what I came up with:

1. The board came from Michaels and is a 7x7 size.
2. Painted the board black (didn't worry about painting the back side).
3. Printed the child's name onto a piece of scrapbook paper.
4. Mod podged the paper to the board.
5. Went over the board with a coarse piece of sandpaper to rough it up a bit.
6. Attached 2 hooks for the chore cards.  The cards sit on the left side & are moved to the right side when completed.
7. Printed & laminated the cards.  I got the graphics from a site where you could purchase clipart for a low fee.  I just LOVE this clipart & wish I could share it, but the site where I got it has closed up shop :(  I did manage to track down the artist, Carolee Jones, but her blog still links to finding her artwork on the site that has closed.
8. Used a staple gun to attach ribbon (for hanging) to the back of the board
9. Voila!  You're done!

Twins Sharing a Crib

Can someone tell me how babies can get from THIS:

to THIS:

or THIS:

WHILE NAPPING?

That little Landon (on the left) is quite the Houdini!  All swaddled like that, he is often found in a complete 180 degrees from where he was laid down.  Unfortunately for poor Alexi, that also means that she wakes up to him kicking her or with his legs resting on top of her.  Its always fun to get them up from a nap because of the anticipation to see what position they'll have wrangled their way in to!

Weight Loss: Week 8

TEN POUNDS is a HUGE milestone!  I lost 2 lbs this week, which gives me a total 10 lb loss so far & I'm ecstatic!  The great thing about 10 lbs is that its enough to see a change in the way clothes fit & even though no one else will see a difference, I can see a difference when I look in the mirror.

This week's SECRET WEAPON, is that I started a 12 week challenge where we get daily points for good eating, exercising, etc.  I had been doing great with my running and trying to eat sensibly, but this challenge has gotten me eating much better, including cutting out sweets - which I had been trying to hang on to but eating in moderation.  I have a very competitive nature, so the prize at the end isn't what is driving me, but just the competition of the whole thing.  There were many nights when the only thing that kept me from late night eating or eating the ice cream in the freezer was the fact that I knew I would miss out on a point in the competition for doing so.

10 lbs lost, 33 lbs to go!!!

Weight Loss: Week 7

Not much to post for this week.  I hate to see that scale going up & down all week long.  On Sunday morning, my scale gave me the news that I would be reporting in at the same loss as last week.  I'm happy for no weight GAIN, but sad for no weight LOSS and hoping for a better week this week.  Today, I started as part of a weight loss challenge.  There are things to do or not do each day that I can earn points for & they'll also be looking at the total body percentage lost at the end of 12 weeks.  I need things like this to help keep me accountable and I always love a challenge, so I think it will help.  I kept my to do/not to do list in the kitchen & made sure to get full points today, which kept me away from the brownies that kept calling to me!

8 lbs lost, 35 lbs to go!!

Summer of Fun: Week 1

I don't know what it is, but even though I just have a preschooler (two days a week), the beginning of summer makes for a great time to start a new routine & add in some extra fun.  Maybe its the beautiful weather or the feeling of a "new start".  Anyway, I thought I'd share a list of what we're doing around here for fun & learning this summer.  The items that are bolded are specifics or topics we're going to do every week.  I'm trying to come up with an idea for each topic for each week.  These are the things we did last week:

Movie Monday -- something we started a few months ago & will continue.  The kids love to spread out a blanket & have popcorn while watching a movie.
Kids National Geographic -- learn about a new animal each week with the details, videos & soundbites from this website.  I'm printing out a card for each animal & we'll store them in a 3x5 card file box for each kid.
Computer Games/Activities --  Mr. Roger's Neighborhood
Hooked On Phonics & Letter Writing
Outdoors -- planting seeds, played in the water (blow up swimming pool)
Games -- Red Light, Green Light

Cooking -- made, frosted & added sprinkles to cupcakes
Additional Activities -- Just Dance on the Wii