water::proof

Here is a quick video of the progress made in the swimming department this summer. At the beginning of swimming lessons they didn't want to jump in...they didn't want to get water in their ears...they insisted on holding their noses...they were too rigid to float. Now look at them! Two weeks of swimming lessons plus one long day at the pool with friends each week after lessons were over (friends that can swim and are fearless) and I've got two kids that can swim. It's just the beginning, my friends. The beginning of swimming. There is so much more to learn and enjoy. Summer days are winding down as we prepare for a new year of school. But, what a wonderful summer it has been. Happy Tuesday! xo ANG

fun versus fear

waiting in line - observing others - working up the nerve

enjoying the ride - making a big splash - conquering fear

fun wins!

happy weekend xoANG

swim sisters

The girls have enjoyed their first week of swimming lessons this summer. It's been fun for them to be in the same class. Every summer it's almost like starting from scratch because we only go to the pool on vacation. So that's not very much reinforcement of their new water skills. I have found though, that they are encouraging each other to do more and to be more brave. I caught this sweet moment the other day when they were practicing back floats. They have a difficult time letting their little bodies relax enough to see that they can actually float unassisted...but holding your sister's hand sure does help.
happy hot weekend! xo ANG

thankful thursday

In ordinary life we hardly realize that we receive a great deal more than we give, and that it is only with gratitude that life becomes rich. -- Dietrich Bonhoeffer

one - Although we really need a little rain right now, I am thankful that the girls' swimming lessons didn't get rained out. Today was the last day and we had a lot of fun!

two - afternoon walks with the girls - there are lots of pets in our neighborhood so the girls like to see how many we can find...we saw this little guy on our last walk and he was kind enough to smile for the camera!

three - fun at the playground - since we were completely without our normal routine these past two weeks we took advantage of the extra time in between and after swimming classes to join our friends at the playground...lots and lots of fabulous fun with friends!

the good, the bad,....

...and the disgusting!

Oh, let's start with the good!
+THIS IS MY 100th BLOG POST!!!! Can you believe it?! Who knew I had so much to say? Well, my husband knew because evidently I talk a lot. You don't mind my yammering on and on do you? I mean, that is what blogs are for, right? As we head back into the swing of things with homeschool this year there will more "meat" in my writing. I must say, I have enjoyed blogging so far. And there are some really great, talented, wonderfully nice bloggers out there that I have "met". Woohoo! 100 posts!
+The girls have really been enjoying their swimming lessons. So they're not as comfortable in the water as I would like them to be, but they have certainly come a long way. And...tomorrow is family day so I get to join them in the pool-yippee! I may help them a little with overcoming that fear of being submerged :o) They'll never be able to race me in the pool if they don't relax a little and learn.
+My friend Kim was sneaky the other day while we were at the pool. She got a picture of me and E trying to convince O to go under the water. I promise, I'm not making a mean face. It's my 'come on you can do it, just give it a try' face. Funny that E is making the same face while adding in her 2 cents to the pep talk....she wouldn't put her head under the water either. Little stinkers!! So as I was saying...the picture is great, then Kim added some nice details...thanks Kim!
+My blog friend Zoe gave me an award! It's a blog award. Pretty exciting really...it's my first one! She's so sweet! You should really go check out her blog. She's always got some kind of sewing or craft project in the works. Thanks so much Zoe...I promise I'll follow the rules...soon!
+Finally the beads are dry! We got to string them yesterday. The girls really enjoyed choosing which beads they wanted to use. Of course they whined and bickered over a few of them, but after all was said and done, they were happy with the results. Oh, and by the way, play-doh beads are a lot heavier than polymer clay beads.

Now, onto the bad.
-Is it just me or is there a lot more whining going on these days? There really is no excuse, it's just sin nature...but I loathe seeing it in my own children. Don't get me wrong, my girls are really well behaved the majority of the time. But every once in a while it's like the floodgates are opened and I have to remind them of what it means to obey, refocus their hearts, and realize that they aren't perfect..and neither am I.
-Okay, this is more annoying that bad, but our Walmart is in the midst of remodeling. I can't find anything! When I do find the general area of the items I need they are usually out of stock (or the stockers can't find where anything goes so they just don't restock the shelves) Either way, it resulted in a really disastrous meal!

I can't think of anything else bad (yippee) so now we're on to the disgusting.
~It has been a really long time since I have made a meal that is bad enough to throw away. It has probably been 6 or 7 years really. I'll admit, right here and now, that I am not the greatest cook in the world. Quite frankly, I used to be a really bad cook. I'm not sure why....I just was. I've never been one to whip up a meal without some type of recipe or framework to follow. I'm a recipe follower, I can't help it. After I make something once, completely by the book, the next time I make it I might tweak it a little, but never on the first go round. So last night I made chicken enchiladas. A recipe that I have used many times always with delicious results. Oh so yummy! It's a staple on my menu. We hadn't had it for a few weeks so it was time. We were all craving it. Oh wait, let me back up a little. When I went grocery shopping there was no enchilada sauce left...the kind that I like anyway. I bought a different brand thinking...it's enchilada sauce, they should all be kinda the same. But, oh I was sooooooo wrong!!! Okay, so I make a big pan of enchiladas, all the while thinking the sauce smelled different, a little funny. But it was a different brand, so no big deal. Whilst that was baking and getting the cheese all melty I made something new. I made polenta. Polenta? yeah. It's a corn meal side dish that was supposed to be good...oh man, I was wrong again! So I get the enchiladas out of the oven and the sauce looks like tomato paste. Weird, the other brand never looked like that. Okay, so now I have to taste it...it's weird, gross, indescribable. Maybe I'm just paranoid. So now I taste the polenta that has cooled and...eewww, that's pretty bad, too. What is up? I followed the recipe. Okay so maybe the enchiladas are salvageable. We wait for Tim to get home and taste them...not even he can hide his dislike, distain, disgust. Believe me, after almost 14 years he has gotten good at pretending that something "isn't really that bad". But not last night. The time in the kitchen...wasted. The food that I purchased and baked...wasted. The money spent on ingredients for a normally anticipated dish....wasted. Ughhh. It was really, really, really DISGUSTING! Into the garbage it went. So what did we eat? Tim had leftovers from a much more successful meal, the girls enjoyed a delicious sunbutter & banana sandwich, and I had a delightful bowl of raisin bran. Let's hope tonight's dinner is more edible successful!

so, sew happy!

I can't believe it's Monday already. My poor little blog has been neglected all weekend. It's not that we were super busy or anything, we were just hanging out. Oh shoot! I just realized that I didn't do Muffin Tin Monday today for lunch...totally forgot. Maybe I'll give it a try at dinner tonight.
So let's see...let me give you a quick update on a few things. Friday there were no swimming lessons, it's a make-up day in case it rains. My girls were kind of glad to stay at home...as was I. They were fighting a little cold anyway, so it was good to get a little extra rest. I got the laundry done, some housework done, and I managed to squeeze in some sewing time :o) Meanwhile,Tim found a yellow jacket's nest in our yard (which has since been dealt with-we are yellow jacket free) that was very close to the clothesline which the girls like to play around while I'm hanging up the laundry. So the girls were limited to playing on the porch and driveway. Not fun they thought. However, while they were playing on the porch they came across some spider webs and little bugs, which kept them happy and occupied. Miss O said "I blew a big bug off the bench." (there's a bench on the porch) Then she said "Hey, that sounded cool, did you hear that Mom? I said 'I blew a big bug off the bench'. Most of those words start with the letter B!" Seriously people, I promise I had not previously shared with her my love of alliteration. But guess what, she thought it was great! You know I had to have a little language arts lesson right there with pile of clean wet clothes in one hand and some clothespins in the other. Can you guess what happened next? Go ahead, guess. Yeah, she started coming up with lots and lots of alliterations-hehehe- and little sis had to join right in! Oh, my little whippersnappers, they had so much fun with that. It's a teacher's dream come true! Okay, now onto the sewing. A while back, like maybe six months ago, my Grandma gave me a whole bunch of calico fat quarters that someone had given to her. She's not a quilter. She likes to make clothes when she sews...all the rest of her time is spent crocheting. Anyhoo,

THIS BOOK

PLUS THIS FABRIC

EQUALS THIS APRON!

I followed the pattern for the "Orange Crush" apron designed by Erin Harris. I made it a little shorter in length and since it was supposed to be lined I decided to just make it reversible. Not too shabby for my first one. Okay, so it was all squares and rectangles, which only requires sewing straight lines, but still I made it, I love it, and I'm ready to make another one. I've never really been an apron wearer. I'm a messy cook so it makes sense that I should wear an apron, and since it has the loop for the towel I won't be hanging it over my shoulder getting my shirt all wet either.
Let's see what else have we done lately. Oh, I know...we got a book from the library a couple of weeks ago called A String of Beads by Margarette S. Reid. Actually, Miss E picked it because she loved the cover...smart girl. We've read the book several times and learned about all sorts of beads as well as a quick and simple history of beads and their uses and purposes in different cultures. Quite interesting really. So, you know we had to make some beads, right? The only thing we had to work with was Play-Doh and, knowing how hard it is when it dries, I thought it would make great beads. Getting over the mixing together of the different colors is a whole other thing, but I survived. The girls and I had a ball rolling and shaping the beads. I used a needle to poke a hole through each one, now we are just waiting for them to harden all the way. It's taking longer than I thought it would, but the girls have been checking them every day by gently squeezing them. Soon, they'll be stringing the beads to make a necklace or something.
Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy! As I am sitting here writing this extremely long blog post, Tim brings in the mail. Not just any old mail....my prize from the Dress-up Giveaway! I'm so excited! Okay, hold on a sec while I open it......alright, I'm back. Hurrayic is the blog that had the Dress-up Giveaway. You should drop by there sometime. She's got all kinds of great stuff going on. So here is a picture of all my goodies, plus she threw in some bias tape and some lace...and a nice note. Now I must go and figure out exactly what to make for the dress-up box so I can fulfill my part of the giveaway. Naptime is over anyway...gotta go!

****apron update****
It was brought to my attention that there is no picture of me wearing the new Orange Crush apron. So here it is! Please excuse the wrinkles, the junk under the girls' bed, and the finger prints and face prints dirty mirror. I really should have the girls clean that off again.

thankful thursday

Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. Colossians 2:6-8
one - old friends - I got a call from an old friend the other day and today she came by for a visit. We live near each other but never seem to find the time to hang out. I'm so glad she came over..it was nice to see her again.
two - new friends - Because we have been at the pool every morning this week for swimming lessons our normal routine is a little out of whack. If you know me, you know I thrive on routines. However, I have had the opportunity to make some new mom friends that have little ones like mine, are homeschooling like me, and generally are really nice women. I have enjoyed the time I've had with my "old" mom friends at the pool, but we all have made new friends.
three - swimming lessons - I can swim and have tried to get my girls to be comfortable in the water but I haven't had the chance to really push them into learning more. Boy, oh boy, these swimming lessons are so great. They are having fun and learning a lot. Both girls have reached the milestone of putting their heads completely under water. This is HUGE people! I mean, seriously, I still struggle with hair washing sometimes because they don't like water on their faces. Now, I can't guarantee that they'll do it again, but at least they did it and I caught it on film memory card camera. Oh yeah, you know I did!

how do you read?...

...for pleasure or knowledge?

Well, as you can see on the sidebar, I joined the Summer Reading Groupies. My goal was to read 3 books by the end of August. Now, let's be very clear, the general rules did not require the reading to be novels. The reading could be magazines, novels, anything....just find time to enjoy some reading. Okay, so I started the book called The Innocent Man by John Grisham. The story is a true one about an unsolved murder in a small town then the wrong guy sent to jail. Well, now that I am a mother, I have a hard time reading about, hearing about, or watching anything that has to do with some one's untimely death. I know, complete wimp. It's just that the victim is always some one's baby. So, needless to say (but I'll say it anyway...the whole accountability thing), I did not finish that book. There were just too many details for me. Had it been a fictional story maybe I could have finished it. I do have the newest book by Barbara Kingsolver on hold at the library so I should have a regular book to read soon. What have you been reading? you ask. Oh, I've been reading. I generally like to read for pleasure, pure entertainment really, but lately I've been engrossed in some great books that are all for the sake of gaining more knowledge and skills. I am so glad that my library is so great...here are the books that I have been taking with me everywhere I go.

This book has been so helpful. There are all sorts of great techniques and tips on how to better use the camera you have so you can take wonderful, focused, pleasing-to-look-at photographs. I hope it's not on reserve, because I'd like to renew it again!

I've also been reading these two books.

Okay, I love this book! Sew U has so much great stuff. Since I have been sewing a lot more lately, and have more questions than answers when it comes to the details, it has been very, very helpful. It also has some patterns in there so you can try out your new found skills. Oh, one more thing...it explains how and where to measure yourself so you can make clothes to fit you just right every time!
So now the finale! I absolutely love this book! It's full of fabulous aprons...and the patterns to make them all! I think I will be an apron wearer. I always make a mess when I cook or wash dishes or do laundry. Aprons just might be the thing to help me not ruin my clothes. Plus, they are super cute. I've got some fabric just screaming to be a cute apron! I am so thrilled that the library had this book. They just got it and I was the first one to check it out. I'm not returning it yet, but when I do, I may have to wipe the drool off first :o)
So there you go...the books that I have been reading. I have learned a lot, I have been able to apply what I've learned, and have seen some great results. Now, I'm just waiting for the library to get a book called Sew What! Skirts. I can't wait to get my paws on that one!
And yes, the girls had a fabulous time in their swimming lessons today. After the lessons we stayed at the park and had a picnic with our friends and then went to the playground. Lots of fun...but maybe poor planning...the hottest day so far....104 degrees! Note to self: take more water to drink so my little delicate flowers don't wilt in the heat.

two little fishies swimming in the pool

"Mom! I TOTALLY swam!!!"...

were the first words miss O said to me after her first swimming lesson. Why didn't I do this last summer? I don't know. I didn't even think about it. I can tell you this...the girls will be having swimming lessons next summer, too. I love to swim (in a pool). I love to race my husband and any other willing participant (in a pool) because I usually win. There aren't many things that I win, but race me in swimming...come on! Okay, so it's not the prettiest swimming to be seen, but it's fast. Oh, wait, this post is supposed to be about my girls. I am thrilled that they are loving their lessons. The instructors are great! Encouraging, yet not wimpy. They have really gotten the girls to overcome their natural fears. We aren't around pools much unless on vacation so it is nice for them to gain some confidence and some skills. Putting their faces in the water...even dunking their heads in the water....practicing some kicking....learning to relax enough to back float. Oh the fun they will have when they are swimmers. The girls are not in the same class, which I thought might be a problem for miss E, but she's been doing great! Initially, on both days, she said she didn't want to get in the pool, but when I walked with her to the area where her class would be she let go of me and got right in the water with her instructor. Yippee! Miss O never missed a beat! She couldn't wait to get in. At the end of the two weeks of lessons I hope they have a love for the water....and a want to learn more. I've tried on several occasions to help them relax in the pool, relax enough to float or to try swimming...they've always enjoyed it, but remained a little tense and apprehensive. As much as I hate to admit it, I think it helps them to hear it and learn it from another person...a "real" teacher as they like to call them. Hey, as long as they learn to swim, I'm happy...as long as they don't learn to swim faster than me!

Aaahhhh...summer! Don't you love it?

Seventy-five percent of our planet is water - can you swim? ~Author Unknown