Lap.books: Pirates & ABCs

It was Pirate Week last week here on the SS Roar! Quintin and I worked through a Pirate Lapbook from In The Hands of a Child. And, Elle? Um, she was just having a blast with her dress up clothes!

A lapbook is an educational learning tool that keeps things of a similar theme together. There were coloring pages, a fun quiz, dot to dot, counting activities, writing, illustrating a story - and then they all go together in a folder to keep it nice and neat.

Quintin has been pulling it out every now and then and just sitting quietly while looking through it. There are a lot of variations of lapbooks, and some can get quite elaborate. We choose a simple style - one folder. It was a lot of fun. Here are some more pictures from our week.

Notice Riley only has two legs on the picture - Quintin told me you can only see that many from the side! :)
We even tea-dyed our own treasure maps.

Pirate Week ended with Quintin and Daddy heading to the theater to see the new Vegg.ie.Tale Pirate movie!

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Here is a lapbook I made up for Elle to introduce letters. I just bought two packs of ABC stickers and needed 2 folders and index cards. One set of stickers went inside the folder and Elle placed the other set of stickers on index card. We put half the alphabet in each folder and then made pockets on each folder to store the cards.

You sat in what?

After my date night/limo post, I thought I'd share a couple pictures of "the limo" from our wedding.

Yes, a 1936 Int*erna*tional concrete mixer. I did pho.to.s.hop out the name on the door, it doesn't usually look so blurry. This truck has been painted and lettered to match the current trucks used at the quarry. This mixer has been used for advertising and many parades!



T's brother drove, and I sat on T's lap!
And, thank goodness, we did not have a long ride. Where did we go, you ask? To a house not far from our church that has the perfect view of a lovely Lan*ast*er county bridge so we could get some pictures.

And that, my friends, is the limo concrete mixer!

Back-seat Driver - Tiny Talk Tuesday

While driving, T was trying to adjust the music so the kids' songs would play only in the back of the yukon. Nothing against their music, but it is nice to chat while they sing in the back seat!!

As he was attempting to make the adjustments, he kept turning their music off and switching it to the radio. After the third or fourth time, and having finally gotten it straightened out, Elle advises, "Now, no touch buttons any mo'!"


*****


On another family outing, Elle says, "Dad, I'm 'joying the ride."

T answers, somewhat clueless, "That's great Elle."

I looked at him and asked, "You know why she's saying that don't you?"

"No," came the response.

"How many times has she heard you say, 'Just sit back, relax and enjoy the ride!' after she's started to whine or fuss?"

We were thankful she was able to 'joy the ride before the fussing even began!!



Click over to Mary's for more Tiny Talk participants!

Friday Night - Date Night

T and I had the opportunity to have a "date night" this past Friday night.

A business acquaintance of T's invited us to dinner to a new restaurant in a town just north of us. They are older than us, as their oldest son is about 25 and they also have 3 younger children. But, T and P get along really well and we had an enjoyable time last year when we got together. T knows their oldest son - as he is involved in his dad's business and they both get into the quarry.

P told us they'd be picking us up at quarter til 7. Our niece came to babysit the children and we were dressed to go.

I was giving our niece last minute info as I hear T from the front room saying, "Look at that!"

Which was followed by, "That's not coming in our driveway. Its just turning around, right? Right?"

I come to the window to understand T's comments.

This is what we saw. (Okay, not this exact one, but I was too shocked to grab the camera!)

Backing into our driveway, is a white stretch limo.

T just keeps repeating, "P is not seriously picking us up in this. Where are we going?"

Which I then start to question, "Am I dressed nicely enough to eat in a restaurant where a limo is dropping us of?"

As I go hide say goodbye to the kids in the playroom, T goes outside to talk to P.

P jumps out of the limo in jeans - phew! - and he and his wife are there. I head out and say hello and meet their oldest son and his wife. Their oldest son was driving. He and his wife have an almost 3 year old girl and a just turned 1 year old boy!

It turns out that on P's farm, they have storage units and a friend of theirs stores his limo there. P said it can be stored based on the condition that they can use it once or twice a month!

P is a fun guy and he's all about having a great time!

And what fun we had!

As their son drove, P and T were in the very back and the ladies were up front. It turns out their daughter in law and I have a lot in common (besides, children the same age, we also share a love of Vera B purses!)

The 6 of us had a wonderful time!

This was a first for both T and me. P was surprised, he asked, "Didn't you have a limo at your wedding?"

"Nope," I answered, "We were driven in a 1936 Inter*natio*nal concrete mixer!! What else?"

What an awesome date night - I think it will be a while 'til we have another one as memorable as that one!!

Oh, and as we were leaving the restaurant, someone asked our "driver" who he brought. He answered "My friends," to which the gentleman asked, "Do you drive all your friends around in a limo?" heehee

Say Cheese!

In trying to keep with my photo-on-birthday tradition, we took the kids to the mall today to get their pictures.

Colin, age 1 Elle, age 3

Quintin, kindergarten

I couldn't believe we were in and out in an hour - leaving with photos in hand!! Daddy came along and was a huge help. I cannot believe how much they have each changed in 6 months - to see their pictures from the summer, click here.

Birthday Photos

Yes, I'm finally getting around to posting some photos from Colin and Elle's birthdays. Give me a few more weeks and I'll get some Christmas ones posted too! ;-P

The children had great birthdays and even big brother held up well watching his siblings open presents!!

Our family is blessed with loving grandparents and a wonderful friend of mine that we lovingly refer to as Grand-Sharon!!

After their birthdays, I just kept saying to myself, "I can't believe I have a 5, 3 and 1 year old! AAAHHHHHHH!!!"

Thank Goodness

On New Year's Day, we lost our electricity at around 4:30 in the afternoon.

Its always fun to watch the kids discover for themselves what will and will not work when we don't have power.

Many cute things were uttered that afternoon, but I'm recording the best one!

Quintin noticed a candle I had burning out in the kitchen and he commented "Its a good thing the candle is still burning, because that means we still have air."



Head on over to Mary's to read what other tiny ones are talking about and to sign up your tiny ones!

Wrapped in Chocolate

"Special Promises Messages" found inside a bag of D*o*v*e chocolates.





"Chocolate always loves you back"



Ahhh, yes it does! But in all the wrong places! ...sigh...







"Sleep under the stars tonight"



Can someone tell me what warmer month they moved Valentine's Day to???







"Exercise your heart today"



Does unwrapping pieces of foil and chewing count as exercise?







"Celebrate family and friends"



Would you enjoy this piece of chocolate??


Too late!







"Hug someone today"



If you are reading, consider yourself hugged!







So much wisdom found within a bag of chocolate! Who knew?

A Boy and a Girl

Its a story...
of a young girl who was head over heels in love with the boy - and she knew the boy felt the same way.

Its a story...
about a boy who proposed to the girl 13 years ago today. In Vermont, on a family ski trip to Mt Snow.

The young girl and boy left the slopes and the boy's parents early in the afternoon because the girl was getting tired. She had only been skiing since they had started dating just 3 years before. She was ready to head into the condo for some rest and hot chocolate. The boy had other plans in mind.

As the young girl and boy headed down the slope, the boy stopped as he needed a tissue. The girl watched as a ski school went past and thought it was time to go. But the boy wasn't ready yet. As the girl continued watching the ski school, she assumed the boy was putting the tissues away. She turned to the boy, who was behind her and he was on his knees. He had pulled out a box out of the pocket full of tissues. Inside the box was the most beautiful and perfect diamond the girl had ever seen.

The girl remembers hearing, "I know this isn't Colorado, but it will have to do. Will you marry me?"

Without hesitation, the young girl, just 19, said yes. She hugged the boy, just shy of turning 21.

The young couple went back to the condo where the girl ran inside to show the boy's sister (who was inside with her 20-month old daughter).

When the rest of the family returned, boy's mom and dad had a HUGE smile on their faces as they knew the boy's plans before heading out that morning.

Its a story...
of a boy and girl who got married that following year. (June 15, 1996)

Its a story...
of true love. True love...that waited.

Its a story...
of a couple - who started a family - and 11 and 1/2 years later know how very blessed they are with all God has given them.

January 4, 1995

Knit together as family

Yesterday I struggled to connect with Quintin. It was either me being hormonally-challenged or his will to push and see what he could attempt to get away with. Either way - we just didn't connect. Even bedtime was...well, just different.

I left his room and came downstairs to sit on the couch with T. I decided to grab a project to do while we sat. I chose the dishcloth I started this past weekend. As I was knitting I was reflecting back on our day...trying to discover what was different.

While distracted with my thoughts, I later noticed a mistake about a row behind where I currently was working. Backtracking with knitting is possible - but I've only been knitting 2 years and I have a lot to learn. I tried to correct my mistake with the dishcloth still on the needles, but I couldn't do it.

Now came the difficult process of removing my project from the needles and trusting that I could keep from dropping stitches while I pulled out the yarn from the row with the mistake. Often, when doing this, if I drop a stitch, I end up unraveling the entire project to start over. Last night, I was able to keep all my stitches together and slip them back onto the needle to continue on.

After I was back in my knitting groove, it hit me...I couldn't backtrack my day with Quintin. I couldn't un-do the day.

But I can take it off the needles - I can take it out of my hands.

I can give the situation to God and not worry about it. I can put my trust in Him that He will work in our lives.

I told T about the situation with Quintin, he questioned, "He's 5. Are you going to let this bother you?" I thought, no, because I am taking it off the needles and giving it to God.

Prayer For Strength and Wisdom

Grant me the strength from day to day
To bear what burdens come my way.
Grant me throughout this bright New Year
More to endure and less to fear.
Help me live that I may be
From spite and petty malice free.

Let me not bitterly complain
When cherished hopes of mine prove vain,
Or spoil with deeds of hate and rage
Some fair tomorrow's spotless page.
Lord, as the days shall come and go
In courage let me stronger grow.

Lord, as the New Year dawns today
Help me to put my faults away.
Let me be big in little things;
Grant me the joy which friendship brings.
Keep me from selfishness and spite;
Let me be wise in what is right.

A happy New Year! Grant that I
May bring no tear to any eye.
When this New Year in time shall end
Let it be said I've played the friend,
Have lived and loved and labored here,
And made of it a happy year.

--Edgar A. Guest

There is one hour left for me on Jan 1. I've had this poem in 'draft mode' for a few days and I've wanted to publish it. But, this new year has started like none other.

T's cousin is waiting in (or will soon be transfered to) a Philly hospital for a heart transplant - very sudden. And the husband, of T's sister's college roommate, is having open heart surgery at 9am Wed morning...both young men...both young fathers.

I know our God is a God of miracles and healing. What a heavy burden on these families right now. My prayer is for healing and strength - for them and their families. Healing of bodies and relationships. And, wisdom for their doctors.

I wish each of you a Happy New Year!

Tradition, tradition! Tradition!

"And how do we keep our balance? And that I can tell you in one word. Tradition!"

(If you want to hear more, click here. Its impossible for me to say or type tradition without that song popping in my head!)


Anyway...its hard to pass through this time of year without thinking about traditions - our own, our friends...so, I want to know your traditions regarding New Year's Day.

Tradition here, in PA dutch country, is to eat pork and sauerkraut for a good year. I wondered if that is a tradition anywhere other than here. So, spill it, what are your traditions? Inquiring minds want to know!! Feel free to even share recipes if you like!

Also, when the clock stricks midnight, does your town have something that drops? Like NY has a crystal ball dropping. North of us is a town that is known for bologna - guess what they drop? A bologna of course! Another town, near where my hubby went to college, has "dill" in its name and they drop a pickle (not real like the bologna though)! *LOL*

So, my curiosity got the best of me, and I just wondered if you would all share what your traditions are to bring in the new year.

As for New Year's Eve, we are just having another family over for some seafood - with our festivities ending around 10!! LOL!!

The new year will come in and I won't even know - unless I'm wakened again by some distant neighbor's fireworks!! :-)

Show & Tell: Ornaments

Its Friday and Kelli is hosting Show & Tell. Head over to her place to see more!!

I have always loved making things for family and friends at Christmastime. Last year, Quintin and I started making some ornaments. He asked in November if we were going to make them again this year. So I got our supplies and we were off. Elle was excited because she was able to help this year! I'm not sure you can appreciate the final project as well on these pictures, but in person - they look so beautiful. Quintin is much more patient than I am when it comes to swirling the paints inside the balls, he gets gorgeous colors with his! Enjoy watching the process to make them!

No Room

“No room for Him," the keeper said
That night so long ago,
"My inn is crowded, don't you see,
The rooms now overflow."

"It's just a Child," he must have thought,
"A family, poor and plain;
My inn is filled with paying guests,
How could I dare explain?"

And thus, he turned aside from One
Who chose a humble birth
To enter into human form
And save all men on earth.

But lo, the shepherds in the hills
Were called, the Babe to greet;
They followed then the brilliant star,
And worshiped at His feet!

"No room for Him," cry men today,
As through the world they plod;
"My life is crowded, don't you see?
I have no room for God.

How could I dare explain to all
My friends who question me,
That Jesus came to save my soul,
From sin, to set me free?"

0 God, forbid that we become
As keeper of the inn,
And have our lives so crowded
That we have no room for Him.

But now, may we, Thy children dear,

Unworthy though we are,
Become as shepherds long ago,
And follow now His star!

by Kathryn Slasor

I hope that each of you had a merry Christmas with loved ones and could feel God and His blessings. We had a wonderful, wonderful Christmas; full of love and laughter!

My prayer for the remainder of this year as well as the upcoming year is that I don't lose focus of Christ and push Him out. I pray there will always be room for Him in my life, my husband's and my children's. May God bless you in 2008 and may we seek to follow His star!!!