Historic Home tour

Today we took a little field trip to Kimberly Crest. It is an amazing estate, almost castle like that has a ton of history. Tonight when the girls were telling their Dad about the house here is what all three girls thought the highlights were:

The main occupants of the home over several generations were three women. 

The front door is really the back door. 

They have fabric on the walls instead of wall paper.  

There is a bell under the dinning room table to call the servants to come. 

There are HUGE Koi fish, frogs and turtles on the ponds.  

Lucy also mentioned the large bowl of jelly beans.  

It was interesting to hear what they remembered and thought were the highlights.

I snapped this photo because I have noticed that my girls tend to line up in order of age subconsciously.  A few month ago a man at church commented to me that every sunday I walk in with my "3 little ducks" behind me.  He said that they are always lined up by age and asked me if I had them do that.   Are you kidding me? I am making sure no one is sneaking in worms or lady bugs and that everyone has underwear on, the least of my concerns is what order they are waling in .  But since his comment I have noticed they do this all the time. 

The girls loved the grounds with all the flowers and ponds. They kept striking poses and asking me to take their photo.  This photo below is so deceiving,  the house is really large. 


Tonight after dinner Haley said "Mom, thanks so much for taking us to Kimberly Crest, that was really cool".  I must say they enjoyed this historic home tour a lot more then I ever remember enjoying stuff like this when I was a kid. 

Spring Break

Spring break has officially started so we headed to LA for the day with some friends. 

1st we went to the LaBrea tar pits and the Page Museum.  Even the stinky smell of the tar could not ruin the beautiful weather. There were a few schools there in field trips and they were filming too so it was a little crowded, but not that bad.  While Ruby and Lucy were just looking at everything Haley was reading all the descriptions and stories.  I need to take her back, she really loved it.

"Rancho La Brea is one of the world’s most famous fossil localities, recognized for having the largest and most diverse assemblage of extinct Ice Age plants and animals in the world" Description stolen from their web site.

Columbian Mammoth

Ancient Bison

After we left the Museum, we went to lunch at Andre's Restaurant (6332 W 3rd St, LA).  Then walked across the street to the Farmer's Market for dinosaur shaped donuts at Bob's. 
The kids were all tired and ready to had home, but we couldn't help taking a long detour to go by M&L Fabrics in Anaheim on the not so way home.  As a result of this detour we ended up in horrific evening traffic, so we decided to stop by our friend Jackie's new house on the way. Even though we got home super late and everyone was tired and cranky, overall we had great day.

Easter Sunday

Talk about a bad photographer... I did not take any photos of the girls in their dresses before church and all the photos I took of the egg hunt at Ken and Natalie's are terrible. So just to document that we did do an egg hunt here are a few photos.

Today Lucy discovered that if you take one of those punch balls (balloons with a large rubber band on them) and place the rubber band around your waist under your dress then position the balloon at the rear of your dress you can run around for hours talking about your big bootie! 

Busy Saturday

My life is pretty much consumed with softball right now.  With both Haley and Ruby playing we have four practices each week along with an average of two games a week.  So this morning was all about softball, both girls had game and both teams did great.

I take tons of pictures at the games but our last name and city where we live is plastered all over the hats and shirts, so with a little retouching here are a couple of photos from today.
What does Lucy do during their games?  She gives random children rides in her wagon.  After the game she pulled Haley and Ruby all the way home. That little Lucy has serious muscles!
After we recovered from our hours in the sun we filled the rest of the day with easter crafts.

We blew out some eggs and hard boiled the others.  The hard boiled eggs dyed with regular egg dye. The hollow eggs we painted colorful tissue paper on and filled with colored rice to make confetti eggs.  Grandpa Ken was a good sport as I think we had most of the confetti eggs thrown at him!

Haley has loved weaving in her art class at school, so after we finished all the eggs Haley made a loom out of cardboard and started weaving.  
After all our art projects we made the Resurrection cookies right before bed. The girls were so into it, I could not believe how well it went.  Although when I let them taste the vinegar to see what they gave Jesus when he was thirsty, Haley would not taste it at all. Ruby thought it was disgusting and needed water right away. Lucy brought the bowl back to the table and kept licking it off her finger... she won't eat strawberries but likes to drink vinegar? 

Easter activity for TONIGHT!

Grandma Natalie called me today with this Easter activity and we are planning on doing it right before bed. I wanted to post about it now to give anyone else the opportunity too.

Annie's "Resurrection Cookies" 


~Also known as Easter Story Cookies~

This is a great recipe to teach your Children the REAL story of Easter. That the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior is not dead but has Risen. We serve a Risen Savior......

You will need:

1 cup whole pecans 


1 teaspoon vinegar 


3 egg whites


a pinch salt 


1 cup sugar


a zipper baggy


1 wooden spoon


scotch tape


Bible

Instructions:
These are to be made the evening before Easter. 

Preheat oven to 300F.*** (this is very important --- don't wait until you are half done with the recipe).

Place pecans in zipper baggy and let children beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces.  Explain that after Jesus was arrested.  He was beaten by the Roman soldiers.  Read: John 19:1-3

Let each child smell the vinegar.  Put 1 teaspoon vinegar into mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross He was given vinegar to drink. Read: John 19:28-30

Add egg whites to vinegar.  Eggs represent life.  Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life. Read: John 10:10&11

Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand.  Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl.  Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers,and the bitterness of our own sin. Read: Luke 23:27

So far the ingredients are not very appetizing.  Add 1 cup sugar.  Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us.  He wants us to know and belong to Him.
Read: Psalm 34:8 and John 3:16

Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Explain that the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. Read: Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3

Fold in broken nuts.  Drop by teaspoon onto waxed paper covered cookie sheet. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid. Read: Matthew 27:57-60

Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and
turn the oven OFF.

Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door.
Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed. Read: Matthew 27:65-66

GO TO BED!
Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed. Read: John 16:20&22

On Resurrection Sunday (Easter) morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie.  Notice the cracked surface and take a bite.  The cookies are hollow!  On the first Easter Jesus' followers were amazed
to find the tomb open and empty. Read: Matthew 28:1-9

St Patrick's Day

We had a great St. Patrick's day!Artwork by Ruby

I loaded the girls lunches with green food and dyed the water in their water bottles green (I can't believe I didn't take a picture).

Then for dinner we had green fettuchini, peas, salad, green jello and of course more green water.
After dinner I gave the Family Home Evening lesson using Alma 37:6.

I showed them how small the bottle of food coloring was that I had used to make EVERYTHING green by just using little drops. We talked about how a few kind words can completely change the environment of the home and how each of us...even though some are relativity small can have a huge influence on our family.

Then of course we headed to Mc Donald's for shamrock shakes!

Lilly Lane

I received my super cool pendant from Lilly Lane and I love it!

I wore it to Young Women's (a church thing) and all the girls were oohhing and aahhing. I had a hard time getting a photo that shows the detail, but each letter is separate and 3 dimensional.
The back has a quote that I love because it reminds me that I need to just do it instead of waiting until I feel like it. This is exactly what I need to remind myself everyday of my goal to "remodel".
You can order your custom pendant here. Their items are extremely reasonably so hurry and place your order before they realize they need to raise their prices!

THANK YOU LILLY LANE!

Say what?

3/2/08
Ruby: "I am going to save up lots of money, because I want to have
a dog when I grow up."
Haley:  "You can't say that."
Dad:  "Why can't she say that?"
Haley:  "She doesn't know."
Dad:  "What do you mean she doesn't know?"
Haley:  "Well, she may not make it."
Dad:  "What do you mean she may not make it."
Haley:  "She may get sick and die or something."
Dad: "Haley, I am sure she will make it."

2/1/08 "You should just get your boobs cut off"- Eric while studying Mammography book.

2/9/08 "Where is my hooker?... I can't find my hooker anywhere!" Ruby while looking for a hanger.

2/12/08 In a small waiting room full of people Lucy asked me "Mom, is there a baby in your tummy?", I answered no. Then Lucy proceeded to poke her finger into my muffin top and say "Yes there is, look how big your tummy is!"