Baby Girls Birth and Older Sons Questions over the Phone

Older son was at my Babcia's house when I called him to announce the birth of our baby girl. We knew when she was coming. That morning mom and dad went to the hospital early and his Tia took him to school. After class aunt picked him up and walked him over to grandmas. 

He usually doesn't like talking on the phone. He is 7 years old. The enthusiasm I experienced from talking to him was so wonderful.

Here were his questions that mom had the pleasure of answering:
From the boy who doesn't like talking over the phone:...

How is the baby?

Can u take a picture of her and bring it home for me to see?

Can we print a picture for my 1st grade teacher cause she wants to see her for sure (with emphasis)!

What did she eat? "Mom's milk" I said, and he asked: "well when can she eat a banana?"

When can I meet her?

Mom - you know that song, (mumble/hum and sings) "My baby is one day old,' [Five Days Old from Laurie Berkner cd] 'mom you can sing it to her... No sing her mama's don't let ur babies grow upto be cowboys..."

Mom: "I think you should sing her all of those" - son said OK

Ok bye mom - the whole phone call was crazy happy!!

Welcome to our lives Baby Girl! 

Make mistake, breathe, reflect and Laugh.Out.Loud.

Crazy Easy No Bake Granola Bars

My dear cousin passed along this recipe. cannot even think of how many times I have made these. I am posting them here because I lose recipes and other notes all the time. . . the blog serves many a purpose. I am forever indebted to my cousin who passed this along from her co-worker. All I had to do was ask at our cousins weekly play dates.


No Bake GRANOLA BARS

Ingredients: 

2 C Oats (Quick or Old Fashioned)

½ C Chopped walnuts

2 T Flaxseed

4 T Wheat germ

2 C Unsweetened puff cereal

1 C Dried fruits

½ C Peanut butter(creamy or crunchy- add a little extra if using chunky)

½ C Brown sugar

½ C Honey

1 t Vanilla

Spray 9x13 pan with cooking spray. Mix all dry ingredients, add dried fruit.
In a pan on the stove melt together brown sugar, honey and peanut butter. Stir for a few minutes while bubbly. Pour over your dry mixture and stir. Pour into the pan, spread out and pat down firmly. Cut into bars, can be refrigerated.


Yeah - I know, so easy! 

More ways I get recipes. I just need the ingredients list and
I can figure out the ratios. . . Listed from most to least in quantity
in the recipe. Happy Eating. Yum. 

Make mistakes, breathe, reflect and Laugh.Out.Loud.

Once Upon a Time a Butterfly came to visit... landed on my purse

My grandmother lives just a hop away from my place. And in the summer when we have lotsa time, we walk over and see her pretty regularly. En route to the park, back form the park, or just to go by her place. The new spring like weather has inspired this post. I was reviewing my flickr photo hosting page, for this blog, and realized I hadn't included these photos from a few years back.

Now we all love grandma, but she can be a bit overwhelming. You think I talk a lot? HA! And we have these great little moments, when I want quiet, to observe the kids, or answer their questions - and here comes Babcia yelling from the other room the start of her story and she will continue and finish as she approaches wherever you are. 

One afternoon in late summer - baby girl was about one years old, younger son was four - we returned from the park and visited Babcia. And as we walked up the back stairs a Butterfly landed on my purse. Baby girl noticed first. We were in awe. 

We stood there observing the little creature, catching some sun, and not afraid at all. So we sat on the deck, quietly, and we didn't tell grandma we were there yet. I love grandma but she would come out all full of life and commotion and our new found friend would fly away. 

Baby girl first noticed this swallowtail butterfly that landed on my purse.

So we sat, and observed him. He opened and closed his wings just a few times, and then kept them open. Catching the warm sun rays. This was really an amazing moment. We were outside for about 10 mintutes - which when watching a butterfly are L-O-N-G minutes....but everyone was enjoying this. 

He sat thru many photos. 

And then it happened. Babcia came out on the desk. What are you doing here? Why didn't you come in? (Iam meanwhile putting my finger to my lips, ssshhhhhhhhhhh... yeah - right - liek that will work!) "Babcia Sshhhh" the kids say.  Finally she quiets down. and we point to the butterfly. She just can't understand why we are sitting and watching it. I love her but this was a quiet time.

Observing Insects before it was cool in Kids play microscope

One of the few things we keep year to year as the kids age is this microscope. Even now as we have gotten into bug collecting, the kids will take out the insect slides and learn facts and bits and pieces about the critters. here my now Older son was exploring.

Observing Insects before it was cool in Kids play microscope

Observing in my play microscope

Just to think it all started around this time - our blog has grown into a bug collecting guide. And so has our YOUTUBE CHANNEL! Please visit and subscribe.

Want more of this type of post? 

Observing Insects before it was cool in Kids play microscope

How about in video versions. . . 

Our Summer Bucket List - Northpark Nature Center and Learning about Spittlebugs - End of Summer

Last week we went on a walk at our local Nature Center, and I found these bunches of bubbles on plants. I assumed it was some sort of insect but I didn't know what it was. My daughter shouts enthusiastically now, it was a Spittlebug!! 

Our Summer Bucket List - Northpark Nature Center and Learning about Spittlebugs - End of Summer

I remember being on a trip to Wisconsin Dells and feeling these six drops of rain falling on me from under the trees. However it wasn't raining. That trip was last year when I was already paying attention to the bugs around me. I still did not know what it was, until seen this at the nature center. 

They had a handout on programs they had which included learning about spittlebugs which I assumed was this little creature. 

Spittlebugs, Learning and Summer Fun Combined, First Week on Our Summer Bucket List 2015 

Free learning at nature centers, these activities eat up our day!