Wednesday, October 22, 2008

DId You Know???



What we have been learning lately.....
The monkey and gorilla info was sparked from the question, "mom, what do gorillas and spider monkeys eat?, we need to look it up."
The turtle and frog were reptiles we learned about at the Ft. Myers Imaginarium.




Spider Monkey 


The diet of spider monkeys consists of about 90% fruits and nuts. They can live for long periods on only one or two kinds of fruits and nuts. They eat the fruits of many big forest trees.  Most feeding happens from dawn to 10am.

Spider monkeys have a unique way of getting food: a lead female is responsible for feeding. If she cannot find enough food for the group, it splits into smaller groups to find food easier. Caeden also learned from the Naples zoo that mokeys, poo in the water, because they don't want to get their islands dirty.



Gorillas    
What gorillas eat depends on what their habitat provides and on the time of the year. Mountain gorillas mainly feed on green plant parts, whereas lowland gorillas eat a lot of fruit. However, in the dry season only a few juicy fruits are available and so the animals have to eat more seeds and tree bark instead. Usually, fruits grow on trees; gorillas of all ages climb these trees to harvest them. Although western gorillas eat a higher percentage of fruit than of leaves, stems, pith and shoots, they still eat markedly less fruit than do chimpanzees and orangutans.




Alligator Snapping Turtle      

The inside of the turtle's mouth is camouflaged, and it possesses a worm shaped thing on the tip of its tongue used to lure fish. The turtle hunts by lying motionless in the water with its mouth wide open.

The Alligator Snapping Turtle possesses extraordinary bite strength, and can be quite aggressive when cornered. 





Bufo Toad    
The Giant Toad (a.k.a. Marine Toad or Cane Toad) is the largest of the Florida frogs and toads. When this non-native species is threatened, it secretes a highly toxic milky substance from its large parotoid glands in the back of its head. This secretion will burn eyes, may inflame the skin, and can kill cats and dogs if they ingest it. Originally released in sugar cane fields to help control rats and mice, it now is commonly found in South Florida yards. It breeds year round in standing water, streams, canals and ditches. The call is a low-pitched trill which sounds like an idling diesel engine. The other two defense mechanisms are bloating really big so he is too big to swallow from predator snakes, and squirting water out of his rear.

See you next week, we are going to Virgina for a VACATION!!!


Monday, October 20, 2008

What I need


















After talking to Laura, I was even more interested in creating a boys tee, like the wonderful onesies that were made for Libby.  I found  This site and I am excited to know that an IRON ON TRANSFER PENCIL exists in the craft world.  Now it will be even easier to start the embroidery projects that I have been putting off because i have no idea how.  The lady traced a picture on any paper, turned it over and ironed it onto the fabric.  Then she stitched the outline to make an adorable embroidered scooter.
Craftiness, here I come.

This is also a really great site that sells embroidered art like below.

A Call To Die


A Call to Die by David Nasser has been an eye opening book for me.  The subtitle is  "a 40 day journey of fasting from the world & feasting on God."  Mike and I are reading it together and are expecting great things from GOD.  The author asks that the reader commit to spending an hour a day in the WORD for 40 days and also to fast from something (food, tv, computer...etc) for 40 days.  It is day 9 and my eyes have already been open to the rottenness in my heart.  The propensity for daily slothfulness, selfishness, bitterness, and disobedience have made me disgusted.  Today, I am on my 3rd Bible Memory Verse.  

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believes in him, should not perish, but have everlasting life."

Isaiah 26:8 " Yes Lord, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you, you name and renown
are the desire of our hearts."

Galatians 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life i live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."

I have never been a good faster, I enjoy food way to much; but God has been faithful and shown me that I have tried to reign in too much control and not trust Him enough.  I don't enjoy pain, hunger, fatigue, and interruptions from my daily routine.  He has gotten me through 2, 24 hr fasts and I am on my 3rd today.  I have been forced to rely on God for literally getting my body through each meal and still having patience with my little ones, while I my stomach is crying in hunger.  
Thank You Lord, for having the tenderness to teach me despite all my refusals to listen.

Friday, October 17, 2008

Nordstrom Grand Opening

I got a flier in the mail talking
about the new Naples Nordstrom opening on
Nov. 7th at Waterside Shops.
 I could go wild in that store if I
were allowed, but since that will 
never be allowed I am even more excited for a possible Nordstrom Rack.  Great deals and super cute finds like the fireman boots for C and the blue vans for O.  
Let's hope for the sake of my budget, that it isn't too close to my house.

Master Bedroom

Here is the bedroom.
The baseboards are not painted, nothing is on the wall, the lights are not hung, the furniture doesn't match, but my cheap IKEA curtains are up , and i am liking it!
Mike is supposed to build a computer cabinet and it will go in the corner where the dresser is.
We both decided on bright, modern, look with a feminine touch.  The curtains are black and white with teeny tiny orange flowers on them.  The floors are from IKEA also.  
i love almost complete projects!

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Food Gawker
















If you haven't checked out this Food Site yet, you are missing out!!!!!
Thanks Danielle for opening my eyes to this feast!

Food Gawker.com

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

what my kids are loving right now




What my kids are loving right now............

1) Monster Trucks 


2) Smoothies



3) Projects with DAD





4) Playing outside especially if they get wet and dirty




5) LIONS


6) All thing related to Firemen........
fire trucks, fire dogs, fire engines, fire hoses, fire stations



7) Lawnmowers, or "mamowers" according to Owen







Monday, October 13, 2008

Fun Finds @ Etsy.com

Etsy is one of my favorite sites on the Web.  I get sucked in easily and so i thought that i would post some of the great finds that i would love to purchase.  So here is my wishful thinking list.


1.  I saw Carly's pick of favorite things and then found this Etsy store.  It is so cute and since my similar necklace that i have from American Eagle has tarnished, this would be a good replacement.


2.  How can you not love any tee or onesie that has a vintage trailer on it?
Maybe it is just the trailer park roots inside me that adores the tee from  this Etsy Store

3.  I was browsing for some artwork with black, white, and orange in it.  This Etsy Store  
has a collage of prints that i really like for our bedroom.



4.  Jewelry,  i love this cuff from this Etsy Shop

5.  I adore this pendant from this etsy shop

6,  Super Cute earrings over at this Etsy shop

Thursday, October 9, 2008

Library books

It has been a while since I have listed any library books because I haven't been that impressed with the ones we have brought home from the library lately.  These books about wild animals, trucks, tractors, and cars have not disappointed.  Our kids are enthralled in books once again and I am loving the quality time spent reading to them.


Digger Man










Wednesday, October 8, 2008

James Taylor




I have had a borders gift card burning in my wallet and this is how i spent it.
I love James Taylor. I hope this CD is just as great as all of his classics!



I also wanted to buy this
but i could only find it on Amazon and not on Borders
As well it starts at $50 
that is outrageous!
It looks like a great CD for kids sung by Bob Dylan, Sting, Paul McCartney, Elton John and a bunch of others.  for now, i will still have to try to learn Veggie Tales Songs.

Monday, October 6, 2008

costume changes












Just showing a few of our costumes lately. Mike's skit clothes from his Youth Pastor days have provided a lot of laughs for our kids.  Owen can't keep the hats on long enough to get a good picture, but surprisingly he does like to walk around with a bucket on his head. :)
Caeden is a clown and personal trainer in these pictures, and Sammie even got in on the fun.
Playing dress up has never been so much fun