An A-MAZING time!

If you haven't done a straw maze with your kids before, I highly recommend it! We had soooo much fun running around this thing at Tricity Nursery in Kaysville. We went around noon on Saturday and there were only a few other mazerunners so it was the perfect speed for our kiddos.

The first time we just ran around exploring. Then we discovered there were hidden clues with different shaped punches for a punch card. So we had to go through the maze two more times to find every single one of them. (prizes await!) We ran, we walked, we climbed, we crawled--sometimes through complete darkness--to discover every clue.

Along with the maze, there were slides, cart races, a bean pit to dig ping pong balls out of (turn them in for a treat!) hoppy horses, and a tractor ride! Hours later, after sampling it all, we came home tired, but happy, and warmed up with some yummy hot chocolate. It was a super fun family Saturday.

Here's the gang at one of the clues.

wealth banks and doing NOW

Over the summer, I decided that it was time to start giving an allowance to my kids. I wasn't planning to give them much, and the main purpose I had in mind was to help them learn a little simple money management, as well as have a little spending money so I wouldn't have to get them a treat every time we went anywhere.

To that end, I looked around the internet for divided piggy banks. I needed something for them to keep their money in so it wouldn't get lost and it had to serve the purpose of helping them know what money was for which purpose. There were certainly a lot of commercial options but none seemed quite what I was looking for. I really liked the idea of the moon jar but I needed two of them and it was beyond my meager budget.

In my research, I ran across this article about creating wealth banks, as opposed to piggy banks, as a means for teaching children about money. One key here that was missing completely from every single commercial version was that a wealth bank needs FOUR compartments. (easy peasy to divide a dollar into 4 quarters. not so much in thirds) That was it. This was definitely what I wanted to do, so now I would have to DIY it. Positive that I did not have the items on hand that I would need to do this project, I had nearly decided to put the whole thing off for another day (which usually turns into another year, with me), when I came across this quote:

 Do what you CAN with what you HAVE, NOW 

So I started looking around my house and do you know what I found? I found 2 empty Stephens hot chocolate cans that I had been "saving" for something. "These will be perfect," I thought. But I needed 8 such containers. A little more digging, and I discovered a baking powder can that had only 1 tsp. left. I found a can of cornmeal that was several years past its expiration date. I found an empty couscous container. So now I had five . . . where would I get another three? Just so happened, there was another couscous container and two more hot cocoa ones. So what if they were full, that is what ziploc bags are for, right? I couldn't wait, I was doing NOW. 

And that is how the wealth banks at our house came to be. I cannot claim that we are using them to the utmost but when I remember to give out the allowance, we love dividing it up into each can. And it is nice to have a repository for holiday and gift money as well.  But the real gem that I got from this project of months ago is living on each day when I think to myself "do what you can with what you have and do it NOW."

So instead of putting off that visit for lack of a "get well" gift, I'll bring something from out of my garden. Instead of waiting to pack up those too-small clothes for lack of a plastic bin, I'll gather them into a garbage sack. And so on . . .

. . . And preschool

First day! 

I know it is a little late and all the hoopla and excitement over school starting is pretty much over. But my little man blew me a kiss yesterday as I dropped him off at preschool; unexpected, but truly the highlight of sending him off every other day for his 2 1/2 hours. 

After his first day, he told me "We don't get free play time but it was a lot more fun than I thought" 

And that is why I love preschool- it is learning through playing. 

In the first 3 weeks he's made cookies & apple crisp; created a paperbag bird puppet, a Johnny appleseed pan hat, an "all about me" book, finger paintings, and more.

It is a true blessing that my first pick for preschools didn't pan out and I had to scramble at the last minute. Another blessing that he got one of only 2 spots that became suddenly available in all my scrambling.

Yep. It's gonna be a good schoolyear for my boy. (hope those kisses keep coming :)

First Grade

I've too long neglected the blog here so I wanted to bop in on the first day of first grade for my very first first grader.

She was super excited and just couldn't wait as she reminded us frequently over the past few weeks. As we were driving home last night, she commented. "It is so busy out. Everyone in the whole world must be going to [name of school]!!"

I've been waiting for the "break" that full time school will bring to me as a mom but I forgot what that actually means about being apart for so much of the time. I already miss her! I'm glad today is a short day. 

I am so proud of her and excited for all that she will experience this year and in life. I pray that I will be the right kind of mother for her to help in the hard times and celebrate the good times. Now I better go get busy with the other two. There are things to do around here :)

Here's to the First Day of School everywhere!

She's walking!

Zoe is walking and loving it! 

On Friday I was working in the kitchen and turned around just in time to see her walking across the kitchen floor like nobody's business. 

She had been practicing standing up in the middle of the room for a few days and she was already a turbo with her walker toy. 

Now there will be no stopping her.

Spring brings birthdays!

I can't believe that my baby is already ONE! 

Seriously, where did that year go so fast? 

Zoe is such a joy. 

She has been the mellowest baby- so happy and content. 

She has a really obvious sense of humor and has even already learned to tease. (she pretends she's gonna share her food with you, then last minute pulls it away :) 

She truly enjoys her big sister and big brother. All three of them love playing together. 

 It is a wonderful blessing to have our sweetheart Zoe Sarah in our lives. 

To us she is "Zo Zo" and "Bo" and "Zo Zo ma go" and "Zosa" and "Little Missy Ma Goo Goo" 

I put her to napper doodle doo at least once a day.

Spring means gardens!

I love my garden boxes!

I love my husband for making me these gorgeous garden boxes. I am so excited to fill them up with all sorts of yummy food. 

So far I've planted spinach, chard, carrots, lettuce, beets, and peas. 

Planning so much more!

I really am hoping that square foot gardening is as great as it is hyped up to be. So far I am enjoying it.