In which Valentine's Day is a nice break from the monotony.

As I made my way up to the register to purchase these friendly barnyard Valentine friends, I came this close to making the trip back to the seasonal aisle in the back of Target to place them back on the shelf. The incessant mooing and oinking from the pair of cows and pair of pigs were drawing stares from my fellow shoppers, and I could only imagine my house with the noise of four children AND four farm animals. But I decided to keep them because I know how my children love annoyingly loud trinkets. And of course the pig and cow poop candy. Another plus.

The smiles the farm animals brought this morning were worth the annoyance, and I will endure the mooing and oinking until I can endure it no further at which point two cows and two pigs will surely mysteriously disappear to find their place in the also mysterious Annoying Toy Heaven.

As I mentioned in my last post, our homeschool year has been quite uneventful. Things are moving along just as they should be. Kids are doing their assigned work. I keep right on assigning. They keep getting it done. I really can't complain. But I'm a little bit bored. I'm sure they are too.

I haven't done much "cutesy" stuff this year. Partly because the older they get, the fewer cutesy options there are. Also, I'm lazy. I need to stop being lazy and start planning and executing more exciting activities. So...I am planning. I have some fun things in store for next week. As for this week, though, I am thankful for the fun little break in monotony Valentine's Day provides.

The kids woke up this morning to some Valentine surprises. Yes, candy. Lots of candy.

I also had good intentions of making heart-shaped pancakes, but the only large heart cookie cutter I have is covered in red paint. As my own Valentine pointed out, it was probably made in China, and the paint is probably full of lead. It didn't seem such a brilliant idea, then, to have it sit on a hot griddle.

So I made chocolate chip pancakes smothered in powdered sugar with a sprinkling of color. So long as it's sweet and unhealthy, the kids really don't care what shape it comes in.

 

During school we learned about the various legends that compose the history of Valentine's Day. We also had a little word fun by seeing who could make the most words in five minutes out of the phrase "Happy Valentine's Day".

After my heart failure at breakfast, I redeemed myself at lunch by creating heart-shaped potatoes to eat with our leftover chicken wings.

And then it was cookie time! Valentine's Day, like Christmas, must include a cookie decorating session.

I did not have the time today to be all fancy with multiple colors and decorating pastry bags, but like I said, if there is sugar and it is unhealthy, they don't care if it's fancy.

And this one? She did enjoy decorating cookies and eating them. It's just that she's a teenager and hates to have her photo taken. You see...this is why I have a completely unbalanced number of photos of the Princess.

I love her anyway. Happy Valentine's Day!

Linking up with Ashley for Photo Scavenger Hunt.

In this post, you will find candy, kisses, pink/red, love, and smiles.

Also linking up with Kris at Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers for her Weekly Wrap-Up.

Photo Scavenger Hunt, Vol. V

I had this post all written and scheduled today, came in this morning to link up, and found it had disappeared! How strange! So I'm just going to give the photos to you without much explanation (well, as much as I had before). Phew! What a relief for you, huh?

1. Something Tiny
I have a few tiny things around the house because I think tiny things are cute. Here is an itsy-bitsy tube of toothpaste Mark got on his flight to Germany a couple weeks ago:


More tiny things:




2. High Key
Times Square is definitely high key.


EDIT: After seeing some of your photos, I clearly did not understand this prompt. But whatcha gonna do? Not reshoot it. Right now anyway. Because I am comfortably planted on my couch in front of the TV. Not moving right now. Even for the camera.

3. Bedroom
Nothing special about our bedroom in our rental house, so here is the view from our hotel bedroom last weekend:


A better view the afternoon we got there:


And the same view but with the morning sunshine casting such a different look:


4. Off in the Distance
This is a stretch for this prompt, but this photo holds special memories for our family. Can you see it? Do you see anything off in the distance?


You can't? Well, the kids really, really, really wanted to go see the Statue of Liberty, but it was just too stinkin' cold to get on a boat. But when we were on the flight deck of the Intrepid, the kids were very excited because they were the first to spy our Lady Liberty waaaay off in the distance. Maybe this will help. A little. Maybe.


5. Stripes
Not 10 minutes after I saw this week's prompts last Sunday, I looked out our hotel window and saw this. I just love how the light plays with the shadow of the buildings to create stripes on the road. Not to mention the stripes that are painted on the street as well as the stripes created by the rows of the windows on the buildings.

Photo Scavenger Hunt, Vol. IX

1. Decay (old/abandoned)
When I saw the parenthetical explanation of this prompt, I immediately thought of the buildings I often drive by. I have been itching to photograph them, but in my drive-bys, I either don't have my camera, or it is just too stinkin' cold to exit the car. But Sunday was sunny, the temp bearable, and I knew I'd be driving by to pick Michael up from a bday party.




Alex came along, and she even willingly let me take some pictures. She obviously is not old or abandoned, but I grab the photos when I can!




2. In the Kitchen
When I saw the suggestion for this prompt to do a self-portrait, I almost choked on my Starbucks sweet iced tea. Unless there is a cake to bake or a mess to clean up, the kitchen is not really my domain but my husband's. He does the cooking for our family.

Of course, since he is often gone, I am forced into the kitchen...more often than I want and definitely against my will. I do have a responsibility, though. At least I assume when I birthed these children, I signed some sort of unwritten document stating that I would keep them fed.

It's not that I don't know how to cook. I do. Sort of. There is just a huge gap between my husband's skills and my own.

He cooks gourmet. I have no problem whatsoever with dumping the contents of a box into a pan.

He can make something extraordinary out of whatever is on hand.

I have to follow a recipe right down to every teaspoon and dash.

He finds cooking relaxing and claims it as a hobby. Cooking stresses me out.

He will whip up a 6-course meal just for him because it was something he felt like eating. I will throw some Rice Krispies and milk in a bowl and call it dinner just to avoid actually cooking something.

3. & 4. Groups of 3 & "Me" Time


AFAQ (Anticipated Frequently Asked Questions)
Are you wearing glasses in these photos? Because I don't remember seeing glasses in any other photos of you.
Yes. I decided to give you the real me. And when I am watching TV, reading, or working on the computer, I wear glasses or I get a killer headache.

Why do you have theater chairs in your living room? Most people put a couch or sofa in their living room.
Yes, well...we had a nice little theater set-up in our house in Georgia. We do not have a nice little theater set-up here. AND we came to CT with one less couch than we had in GA because our second couch had been abused enough by wiggly, jelly-smeared children that it seemed wiser to leave it behind. They are very comfortable and even have a cupholder. Maybe I'll start a trend.

Is that plastic I see on one of the theater chairs? What are you, an old granny or something?
There are actually 4 theater chairs, and yes, 3 of the 4 still have the plastic on the "foot" part. We thought it prudent since we put our dirty feet on them! The plastic got ripped on one of them, so off it came.

What's with that blanket? What are you, an old granny or something?
I am cold. Always cold. Especially here in the Arctic.

Are you trying to strangle that cat?
I assure you, no animals were harmed in the making of this post. I shot that middle shot 3 times, and she was none too happy with being jostled about as I re-set everything.

5. Things that make you go hmmmm...
I am pulling from the archives for this one. A couple of years ago, we vacationed with some friends in Panama City Beach. We were out one evening playing mini-golf, and I noticed this sign over a motel right down the street. It was too funny to leave alone, and of course the kids all thought it was the funniest thing ever.

Photo Scavenger Hunt, Vol. VIII

1. Imperfection (with Scripture & a Snapshot)
Because of this:


and this: Romans 6:23 - "For the wages of sin is death..."

I am so happy for this: "...but the gift of God is Eternal Life through Jesus Christ our Lord."


And what a comfort to know that, "For it is by grace you have been saved through faith--and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Because if it was up to me, the way I often live my life, and the many, many times I really mess up, I'd be in big trouble!



2. Shoes
Are these not the cutest shoes EVER?

They are a new acquisition for the Princess' little feet. I have to admit, I looked for a size 8 1/2 too. They are a Payless treasure because, well, when you have to put shoes on 4 pairs of growing feet, you go to Payless, not Stride Rite.

Of course, the shoes look even cuter on sweet little feet.


And those sweet little feet look even more adorable when you see them as part of the cutest five-year-old in the world.


3. Camera Phone
Audrey is still absolutely loving her gymnastics class. With every activity she does, this adorable little grin spreads across her face, and she attacks the activity with enthusiasm. The one thing I do not like about gymnastics class is that parents must stay out of the room and behind the observation glass. I "see" a million adorable, perfect photos during the hour I sit behind that glass. I will wait for a few more sessions to pass, but eventually I will just tell them that I MUST be permitted to spend a few moments capturing my baby's happy, adorable moments. (Have I mentioned adorable yet?) Until then, this iPhone photo will have to do. Keep in mind, it is taken from some distance and from behind the glass. I had a terrible fight with the reflection of some mom wearing a very bright white sweater (doesn't she know she is not supposed to wear white yet??).


4. Chair
We have a lack of interesting chairs in our house - I think because, at least in this children-jumping-on-furniture-and-building-tents-out-of-the-cushions phase of life, we don't invest a whole lot in expensive sofas and couches. In fact, I think the chair with the most personality in our house doesn't even belong to us but to the people who own our rental home. It sits on the porch and has been fairly ignored since we arrived here just in time for Cold. But Thursday our temps struggled up into the low 60s so that I didn't feel like I might die standing outside long enough to snap a photo. I even added a soda bottle to give it a summer-y feel.


5. Camera
Well...this didn't turn out exactly as I saw it in my head. And I have some ideas on how I could improve it, but honestly between homeschooling, cleaning, running an online class, freelance editing, being a single mom while my hubby was on a trip, and caring for 4 children, I just didn't have the time to try to perfect it. So...I hope you'll at least appreciate the idea and the attempt!

Photo Scavenger Hunt, Vol. VII

We went on a little field trip this week to Pennsylvania and saw the sights in Hershey and in Amish country...but mostly in Hershey - by the kids' choice, not mine as I would be happy to move to Amish country. I have loads and loads of pictures to go through, but here is a sneak peak.

I guess we have to start at the beginning:

1. Welcome to the Jungle
I can't leave on vacation unless my house is clean because I hate coming home to a messy house, so I did a lot of laundry before our departure. It's my never-ending cycle of Crazy Jungle!


2. Square Crop

The plan was to go to Hershey one day and Gettysburg the next. You know, so we could do something academic. I have never seen such little enthusiasm for an outing as I did for Gettysburg, though, and I guess I can't blame them: except for a crash course on the topic last week, we haven't officially studied Gettysburg yet. So we opted for a second day of Hershey. We did Chocolate World two days and The Hershey Story museum the second. This photo is from the museum.

3. Under
On our way to Day Two in Hershey, we took a brief detour to visit a cave.

The other cute little jacketed boys are friends of ours who traveled with us - made for a much more enjoyable trip.

I also loved this shot of the train going under a walkway:


And, finally, this one just cracked me up. The kids hadn't posed, all 4 of them, for a picture the whole week, so while we were waiting for our buggy ride at the Amish place, I asked them to pose under the covered bridge. This is quite a pose, don't you think?

And, no, I did not tell them to stand equidistance apart with their arms down at their sides!

4. Vanishing Point
It took me a minute to figure out how I wanted this photo to look, what I wanted to capture. But when I got the idea in mind for railroad tracks, I couldn't let it go. I spied some tracks on our trip to PA, but I was caravanning with my friend, and I realize my photo obsession isn't shared by all (ahem - my children!), so I didn't pull us all over at that time. However, when we went to the caves, we crossed some tracks when we came in, so I did stop on the way out...and held up some traffic for a minute, but whatcha gonna do, right?

I love the combination in this photo of the RR tracks and the power lines.

5. Calm
And this is how we all feel. OK, this is how I feel; the kids have been cooped up in a car all day and, while they are supposed to be in bed asleep right now, I still hear them chatting upstairs. Hopefully, soon they will look like this: