A Grand-MOTHER's DAY

This year Lil' Monster prepared early for Mother's Day.

First he made a card for Granmaw G.

He put flowers all over it because he knows she loves to garden.

 Then he used the format of "Roses are Red" poem and put his own words in the last part.

Because Granmaw G lives far away we sent it off in the mail.

For Mamma, Lil' Monster made these:

These made Mamma so happy!
Aren't they lovely?


We invited our adopted Grandma R for Mother's Day dinner to celebrate.

She is teaching Mamma how to perfect her crochet skill.

She loves on Lil' Monster and is so delighted with him.

 

Lil' Monster is sharing his Baby book with her.

She is real special to him,

because he doesn't share it with just anyone. 

 It is fun explaining to her all about it.

And telling her all about his life.

Lil' Monster sure loves his Mamma and many Grandmas.

Have a Happy Mother's Day!

The Land of the Free...Candy

Last year for Independance Day,

we were blessed with BEAUTIFUL weather,

so we went the Distance. (Read about it Here)

This year we stuck closer to home.

We attended the Independence Parade in our neighboring city.

We arrived early and placed ourselves at the beginning mark of the route.

Bundled up, as it was freezing.

By the end of the parade

we could hardly feel our fingers and noses were running.

 Nevertheless, our hearts and souls were warm with joy.

Waiting for it to begin.

As each float, car, or group passed us by, something or other was handed out:

such as flags, sweets, advertisements for local happenings, and more sweets.

This cute group of senior women had a dance they performed.

These deafening bikes thrilled Lil' Monster and about made Mamma deaf for an hour.

Each child received a bag to hold their treats.
Lil' Monster filled his to the brim by the end.

Pabbi and Mamma had to hold his bag so he could have free hands to chase after the candy.

We've never seen so much candy! I, along with other parade-watching Mammas, all tried to give each other their children's candy so we didn't go home with so many bags. Lil' Monster did not even care about the candy - he just liked to chase into the street to grab what was thrown.

Pabbi and I joked that this parade was easier than Halloween. For Halloween, we have to dress the up in costumes, take him from door to door (or in some cases trunk to trunk) to collect a bag full of candy. However, for this Holiday, the paraders have to come decked out and in costumes, with tricks, and they walk block after block passing the candy out....

Motorcycles, sports cars, buses, go-carts....

vehicle after vehicle.

The boy LOVED it!

Since it ended up raining we were unable to have a typical All-American BBQ post-parade.

So we settled on the next best All American meal:

Pizza.

Then we curled up together and Thanked God for our Freedom to enjoy.

We also prayed that Uncle M and his fellow soldiers currently in the Middle East were protected.

Thank you Uncle M for fighting for us.

Thanks Auntie B for your sacrifice.

Happy Independence Day!

Turkey Tails

I borrowed this cute idea from Laura at My Montessori Journey.

She has the greatest ideas and many are seasonally inspired, which is right up my alley.
It was easy to make with some felt and buttons I had already on hand.
Whipped it up in a night.
And he can play with it year after year.

 This is a great way to build skills
and
have fun at the same time.

This was also good practice in dealing with frustration.

Lil' Monster doesn't have much patience and quickly jumps into fits or avoidance.

But he persevered and look at him!

Proud as a Peacock....

I mean Turkey!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Jack-O-Lantern's Many Faces

This is actually a project I did last year with the Lil' Monster. 

I borrowed the idea from Laura at My Montessori Journey.

This is a great way for children to make their own Jack-o-Lanterns without knives or mess.

It is easy to make and provides hours of fun.

I took orange felt and cut out a pumpkin pattern, then drew some crease lines.

Took black and yellow felt and cut out different shapes for mouths, eye, eyebrows, and nose.

Made a little stem and a couple of leaves.

 (Mamma Sass's example)

Enjoying the fun.
He can't remember the fun from last year,
so it feels new and exciting this year.

Creating his own Jack-o-Lantern.

With so many pieces,

there are so many possibilities

'Tis the Season.

Happy Autumn!

Happy Halloween!

Santa in September

This Labor Day we drove north to spend some time with Uncle M and Auntie B.

Lil' Monster has been ecstatic for a week knowing we were going to spend time with his hero.

He couldn't wait to see him; it's been a few months.

He was so surprised to discover that instead of celebrating Labor Day they would be celebrating Christmas.

Uncle M is deploying very soon to Afghanistan and

wanted to celebrate Christmas with us.

Lil' Monster could not have been happier with this.

His dream came true: A true blue Monster Truck.

He also, received dart guns;
but Pabbi and Mamma had the most fun with those.

Pabbi trying to hide from Mamma on the couch.

Mamma outwitting Pabbi, who thinks she is still sitting on the couch.

And she got him too!!!

Thanks Uncle M and Auntie B for a wonderful Christmas Surprise.

Home(r) of the Brave...



Lil' Monster enjoying his Independence Dinner

Being newcomers to the area, holiday traditions are having to be reinvented and remade based on our surroundings. When Mamma was looking to plan something special she found lots of options to be explored. The cities and towns here all had something planned, it we just figuring out what to do, and what the weather would allow us to do.

So, the decision was made, Pabbi would take Lil' Monster to an early parade in the neighboring city of Kenai - while mamma prepared at home. That afternoon the American Legion Post # 18 in Ninilchik was hosting activities and an Independence lunch/dinner. After that we would drive to the farthest town south on the Kenai Peninsula, Homer, for their late afternoon parade.

When the Fourth arrived, we were astounded by the beautiful weather and couldn't wait to get out in it. The "Guys" went to the parade and collected some sweets. Then we all headed south. Instead of going straight to our destination in Homer, we stopped several times along the way marveling at the beauty of the Kenai Peninsula.

Homer Parade

Don't eat it, darling!

Trying to figure how these work.

Yeah! He did it!

Look, Mamma! Candy!!

Vehicles and candy were the favorites.

Who's coming?

 What parade is any good unless without a special guest appearance?

Santa was a highlight of the Parade.

What a wonderful day it was.

We took so many photos.

It makes living here feel just a little more like home.

My Little Easter Bunny

This year we joined a family from church who hosts Easter celebrations for several families.

The kids were supposed to be lining up with their buckets, preparing to race off to hunt for Easter treats. But this little guy saw a "car" and just had to go for a ride.

Cars or Candy???

That is the Question!

What a dilemma for my sweet bubby. Pabbi encouraging him to get ready for the race for candy instead of playing on the car. Standing to the side as the big kids are about to race off.

Someone thought it would be easier to race with the bucket on their heads.

Lil' Monster decided to join in last minute sans car.

Such contemplation...

though it also looks like he is following in the footsteps of Mr. Elskan

and

Picking His Nose!

The race is on.

I was really surprised at how nonchalant

Lil' Monster was about the whole "hunting for candy."

He wanted to play with the toy car and then...

he seemed more content to just wander around the forest.

Can you imagine the conversation going on here?

I thought it went as such:

Lil' Monster: "Pabbi you are so TALL."

Pabbi: "Do you want to stand up here?...."

etc...

But in all actuality-

Lil' Monster: Pabbi, jump! Play Wipeout. You jump and I take this stick and hit you.

Pabbi: I don't think so.

Lil' Monster: JUMP!!!

Pabbi: I think not.

etc....

I guess all's well that ends well.

No one jumped, no one was hit, and many treats were found and enjoyed.

Back at home:

The Lil' Monster discovered the Easter Bunny had dropped by while we were at the

Waffles and Egg hunt Party.

He was thrilled:

Baseball caps

and

STAR WARS figures!!

...not to mention some more candy.

HAPPY EASTER!!!