lets clear this up alittle.......

Okay so based on questions from my last post here is the run-down in brief.


JIU is Jones International University, an on line university that I attended to get my M.ed.  Masters in Education that is.  I finished my classes at the end of August 2009, and will be part of the "official" graduation June 25 2010. A web cast from CO. I have had my diploma since September or October, not sure which.  I graduated magna cum laude with a 3.87 GPA.  




The State of PA has decided that I need another Math class in order to receive a teaching certification. (This is NOT the same as a degree.)  The state of WI  says I need to take a class in teaching reading with phonics. (Yeah, they never met my kids.)  


The VA is not being real helpful on the paperwork aspect of the whole issue.  I have arranged with JIU to take the needed class starting May 2 but need the VA to do their part.  And yes these are the same people who are now in chare of your health care.....OH  HAPPY DAY!

Graduation.....

So how does one do an on-line graduation?  I got this in my e-mail:

Congratulations on completing your JIU degree!  We are very proud of all the hard work and dedication that allowed you to reach this milestone.

You will be a part of the graduation ceremony taking place June 25, 2010.  We encourage you to get involved and contribute to this exciting celebration. 

 So any clues?  I think waiting almost a year for the "official ceromony" is a little silly. I finished my last class at the end of August.  I  have a copy of my diploma already too, so I don't actually walk across any stage or shake any hands. I kinda like that graduation was walking to the mailbox.  I didn't even do that, DH brought in the mail that day.  

my daughter made me cry

For those who have not yet heard we are babysitting for a local mom who works second shift.  Her son, we will call Curly is a few months younger than Dimples.  Those boys have had  BLAST the past few days, I think they are working on a path in the carpet running between Dimples' room and the living room with cars and trains of every sort. So cute.
 On his first night here Buggy showed just how sweet and wonderful she can be.  At bedtime she helped tuck him in, she sang "You are my Sunshine" for him and blew him a kiss.  She treats him just as she does her brother. What a great kid.
A few minutes later she came out to make sure he was okay.  The next day she asked if Curly had a good "half sleepover."  For those of you who are unaware  half sleepover is when you go to bed at a friends house then go home in the middle of the night. 

"Anyone can do his work, however hard, for one day. Anyone can live sweetly, patiently, lovingly, purely, till the sun goes down. And this is all that life really means." - Robert Louis Stevenson

I made this! magnetic paperdolls

In past issues of Sew Beautiful Magazine there were paper dolls as part of the center insert thingy.

Buggy likes her paper dolls with the plastic clingy clothes (kinda like colorforms) so maybe she would like these.
Here is my issue with them, the little folding tags that hold the clothes on.  I remember they ALWAYS ripped off.

My solution, magnet sheets. They make thin sheets of magnet that you peel off the backing and stick on whatever you want to make into the magnet.  I got mine at Michael's the last time we were in town.  I know that Joann's and OTC carry it too so look around.
I peeled off the backing and  stuck the dolls on.  Then added a layer of clear contact paper, just for fun,and a little less wear.
Cut out around them and VOILA!  Paper dolls.
The clothes come off if you shake them a lot but they work great on the fridge.  Not really a Dimples friendly toy, so they stay in Buggy's room.

These could be kinda fun in the car on a cookie sheet, or a magnetic easel.  Buggy played with them for hours while Dimples napped. 
You really don't need pre-printed dolls, just cut some sheets from a coloring book.....Ohhh an idea just came to me! check back to see if it works!

Flashback Friday

Side by side comparison......yup both cute....

 and hungry......

at least you brushed after. Can I have my toothbrush back now?

Clay Play

We went with an old standby today, salt clay. Yup, more stirring and flour, more mess. Outside this time, it was beautiful out there!
Recipe 1 cup flour,1 cup salt,and some water easy peasy no need for a craft store.
Lots of cookie cutters and rolling pins and you get a morning full of crafts and sunshine.

  We used a little food coloring too.  Kinda pretty.  The blue hands were clean again by the end of the day.

Some sandbox time, lots of running around, and you get this....ahh naptime.  Is it my turn?

Remind me to tell you the story of Buggy as "Sleeping Beauty" another time.

wordless wednesday

Tasty Tuesday

So the other day I was going to make pretzels with the kids, easy enough with the bread maker. I measured and poured and dumped everything in the bread maker and turned it on. I watched to make sure it was going to be a pretty little dough ball, and as it was running noticed something odd.  Nothing is moving.  The flour, sugar etc was just sitting there.  I reached in with a spoon and found the little paddle thingy was missing.  I hadn’t checked for it before dumping stuff in because I store it in place, it lives in the bread maker.  UGGH!  Well, after a frustrated call to whine to my parents I wound up dumping it into a bowl and changing plans.  It turned into cinnamon raisin bread.  There was no way my hands could handle that much kneading.  A few quick changes and it was pretty good bread.  It took my family less than 24 hours to eat both loaves.

Today we made more for our morning activity. I took pictures to go with the recipe this time.  For those of you on diets confine yourself to 1 slice, (the size of that slice is at your own discretion.)

1 ½ cups warm water

3 ½ cups flour (we used a mix of white and wheat)

 4 tbl granulated sugar

2tbl oil

4tbls buttermilk powder

2 tbls yeast

Cinnamon

Sugar

Raisins

Glass bowl, wooden spoon and 2 eager kids….

Measure and pour ingredients into the bowl…make sure you take turns.

Buggy thinks the yeast is “pretty and brown”

She remembered that we use yeast to make the air bubbles in the bread, Dimples likes trying to say fermentation…too cute.

Dump in the flour, taste everything as you go, even the flour, which is not nearly as tasty as the sugar.

Knead it and “make it all flat.”  Then spread the cinnamon and sugar on it, don’t forget the raisins. (I forgot them last time; boy did I hear about THAT!)  Roll it up “like a fat snake” then divide it in two and put it in buttered pans.  Let it rise while you play tent in the living room and Mom cleans Dimples.  (“I need wash hands” is an understatement).

Bake it at 375 until toasty brown and smells good.  It will sound hollow when you tap it.  Let it cool then eat for a snack, and have more after dinner, and more for breakfast tomorrow….

ENJOY!

wordless wednesday

stealing content/blessings

There are lots of warnings out there about stealing content from others. I just don't see why someone would want to. Most of the blogs I have read are personal experiences and journals. That would be stealing someone's memories, don't you prefer to have your own?
I am watching Dimples play in the sandbox. So quiet and content. It is always amazing to me how focused he can get. His hair gets lighter in the sun.
I have to remember to get sunscreen. He has very light skin like the rest of his family. We burn easy,and fast.
Buggy is dancing on the deck her favorite thing to do, dance. She is wearing a skirt I made from some fabric I received from a friend. Thanks Stacey it is cute enough to wear anywhere but she love the flow of it for dancing.
I am truly blessed, Thanks God for my wonderful family and the chance to spend this time with them.

Flashback Friday

Easter Egg Hunt 2008.Looks like she got one.
What are your favorite traditions? How did the Easter bunny stop at your house? Were there gifts or candy or both?
We talked about Easter and the reason for the holiday, kinda like Christmas there is more than the "stuff" involved. She knows there is more to it but will understand better as she gets older. Somehow Christmas is easier, most kids understand birthdays, few get an early exposure to death, and none to a real resurrection. Ah, well we do as we can and relate as best we can.
She is pretty sure the cat will come back when she dies, we are working on that one.
I made Buggy's Easter dress this year. It is the sunny blue floral one in a earlier post about sundresses. I found a polo shirt to match it in the store for Dimples, B was surprised at how well they matched. I am not really, if you get enough shades of the same color together one of the is bound to match. Watch for pictures in later posts.