Microphone Monday!

Kids say some of the craziest things and I want to document those thoughts more so I'm starting Microphone Monday to record the musings of the past week.

I know there were more than one this week, but it's all I got documented...

Setting: Sunday afternoon sitting on the couch watching the Colts game...

Peyton: So, he's a quarterback, right?

Daddy: Yes

Peyton: Then he should have a quarter on his back.

Makes sense to me!

Snow Play

We had our first big snow this week and today Daddy came home early and the kids got to play. I ventured out just enough to get these pictures.

All three of them had a good game of tag.

Then, Peyton and Daddy found a soccer ball and tried to play through the snow.



Layla loved eating snow, hence her face is beat red and she loved being covered in it, hence Daddy played beach with the snow and a shovel.



Also, our kids love to run and jump into anything (think piles of leaves, bean bag chairs, Daddy's back, Mommy's lap) and so Daddy's ability to make a big pile of snow was a huge hit.

The kids loved it so much and I know it's good for them to get out and play. I guess I hope for more snow this winter so we can have more fun, but I am so NOT a cold weather person. I do have to say, I've been trying to take them out more this winter and we've had our fun too, (no pictures to prove it because I'm too busy playing) and it's much better with snow as opposed to just cold. If there's no snow, it's hard to tell Peyton we can't play golf or baseball because the balls might get lost, but it's just too cold to stand out there and play those nonactive sports. So, come on snow (I can't believe I just said that)...I'm changing it! Come on spring!!

Bright Snowflakes

We had a great time making these supercool snowflakes today. It took me a while to remember how to cut cool folded snowflakes and you can tell as some of these are not so great and this was after many attempts that didn't even make it this far. Finally, with the help of a website and Daddy's early arrival home we got these.

Then we followed the directions found at Roots and Wings and came up with these beauties! Layla wasn't too into it and it took a little convincing to get Peyton to the stove, but once we did he wanted to do all of them. I think you can tell which ones I did in an attempt to show them what was going on, maybe which one Daddy did (he accidentally picked up the black) and then Peyton's (he likes black and red). I just love the boldness of the color!

It was a bit nerve-racking at first to have the kiddos so close to the hot stove, but it was set on med-low so it wasn't too hot and I just explained, they listened well and no one was injured at all in the making of these pictures!

Beans, Beans & More Beans

No, it's not what you're thinking.

I made a mess of beans yesterday in an attempt to make a white chicken chili. The chili was pretty yummy. It was the first time I tried to use dried beans and we could all tell, but it was edible, I learned a lesson and I'll do better next time.

First lesson, when a recipe calls for 3 lbs of beans, you don't have to buy a 4 lb. bag of dried beans.

Second, read the alternate instructions at the end of the recipe for using dried beans rather than the instructions on the bag of beans, unless you want to have a lot of beans left over for a sensory activity with your children.

Here are pictures of Layla spooning beans, scooping beans, spooning beans into the scoop, emptying the small dish back into the big pot and continuing. After this occupied her for 45 minutes this morning, I was glad I made way, way too many beans.

Then, I really let her dig in when I hid a few "treasures" in the pot and asked her to find them.

(Sorry the picture quality is horrible. She wasn't really cooperating, but what more could I ask, she was playing very well by herself.)

We also talked about whether the beans were small or big, wet or dry, warm or cold, a few or many ;-) and smooth or rough. She did really well with all of those descriptions and then starting naming some more opposites for me.

I won't intentionally cook extra beans next time as I could have done this activity many, many times with uncooked dried beans, but if I ever have too many of something like this, I'll know to save it for a rainy day activity!

Sledding

Peyton sledding with Daddy.  Well getting ready to sled.  The only time he was excited.

(I should just apologize right now for the lack of pictures.  I almost always take extra camera batteries with me, but the almost means I didn't today and I could only get three before the camera no longer functioned.)

 Layla very excited for her first run with Daddy; her only run with Daddy and the only one she was excited about.  You see, they got snow in their faces, had a few bumps and went too fast.

They were very excited the whole way to the park, talking about the big hills.  They gleefully walked up the hill the first time, telling us the little hills were not good enough.

But, after their first runs with Daddy, we had to throw them on the sleds for a run with Mommy (no pictures of this due to dead camera) and then Daddy wanted to do the big, fast, smooth hill with Peyton and had to take off with Peyton half out of the sled to get that accomplished.  Then, this became Layla's favorite task...

pulling the sled.

We will try this again and again this winter if we have anything to say about it.  Mommy & Daddy really like sledding (Mommy could do without the cold weather required for sledding, but the ride itself is great!) and so we will keep trying until hopefully Peyton & Layla realize a little snow in your face is not going to hurt.