Showing posts with label play. Show all posts
Showing posts with label play. Show all posts

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Lego Box of Awesome




I honestly think I could hear my mom's heart breaking, despite the two time zones and 2,500 miles that separate us.

She was on the phone discussing upcoming Christmas gifts with our 9 year old and I only had to hear her answer, to know the question ..

"No, Gramma. I don't even like princesses OR Disney Princesses.  I like cars and guns and legos and robots and helicopters ...."

That answer, in and of itself, pretty much sums up our girls and our lives.
They're as happy as can be - living life as little, redneck tomboys.
It's nice, because I actually prefer them to be rough n' tumble versus frilly n' froofy.

Fast forward to Valentine's day .. 

our fourth grader had a fabulous idea for this year's Valentine's box.
She wanted to connect a few boxes to create a huge, three-part Tyrannosaurus Rex; complete with giant head, tiny arms and a tail.. :)
Cute.
ambitious and elaborate, but still cute.
I really did love her idea, but I knew it wouldn't be within the classroom guidelines.  So, I decided to innocently peruse pinterest for another idea that maybe, just by chance she'd like.

Within a minute or four, I'd stumbled upon the original lego box of awesome (ok, that might not be the actual title of the original post that inspired us.  sue me.)

I showed her the idea and she got so excited about making this, instead - that I actually thought maybe she had forgotten about the T-rex. 

until ..

"One day, mom, when I'm a grown-up and don't have a teacher to tell me how big my Valentine's box is; I'm going to build a HUGE T-Rex and you'll have to stick your hand in his mouth to give me my Valentine's card."

she smiled and laughed as she walked away to gather materials.

I didn't have a chance or the heart to tell her we don't build Valentine's boxes, as adults.
Then, I figured she already has to grow up too fast in this world.
So,  I'll save that, for another time. ;)

I also found it ironic she should mention robots in her answer to my mom;
considering her last years' Valentine's box .. lol - my kids RULE! <3 :)

supplies for our Valentine's Lego box of Awesome
a box, box-cutter, spray paint and six 'dixie cups'



I commissioned the local, hot handy man to cut holes into the box - about the same width as the middle of the cup. 

we also placed some tape onto the box, holding the cup up from underneath .. just in case.

we taped the top of the box shut, sprayed on a couple coats of paint
voila !




Thursday, April 12, 2012

THIS is the LIFE ..

I know, now, why my mom was so tired and grumpy at the end of our family vacations.
It is an exhausting, stressful, hair-raising adventure that I can't wait to repeat .. lol

we drove 800 miles to San Diego 
this FedEx plane made me laugh - looks like it's scraping the top of the trees

we watched the sun set on the water ...
this is a million times prettier, in person

we visited Shamu and friends
I loved the whales - they were so huge but so graceful


we got to explore TWO different submarines  





AND a pirate ship that was in the Pirates of the Caribbean ..

made some new friends at the zoo ..



we played in the sand at the beach ..

mmmm fresh seaweed !



we watched some more sunsets on the water .. 

saw a cheetah run, full speed, 3 feet away ...


and got to go 'on safari'



I tried to 'keep it down' on the 'taking a photo of everything'
.. but that didn't work out so well.

5,096 is the number of pictures a crazy woman takes on a week-long vacation

clearly not all of the other 5,079 pictures .. but more of our vacation pictures will follow, later.

In honor of our epic vacation ... I made a printable or two or three ...

I made this one, because I am blessed to know that THIS is the life
THIS is where I want to be .. THIS is where I am happy





flip flops and seagulls .. very much in theme with my vacation



I love us .. more than anything; I LOVE US!

and ending it on a green theme ..


Saturday, February 4, 2012

winter is a four letter word ...

I reserve the word hate for a select few things.
winter is high on my list of stuff that's H bomb worthy.
it's cold .. it's gloomy .. your fingers are frozen .. your nose is runny
Ew.
winter is just plain gross
 
'waaaayyyy too cold' North Dakota was home for years.  I've seen enough blizzards, six foot snow drifts and forty below zero to last me and my kids a lifetime
Ew.
.. my point .. 
these days - we avoid winter at ALL COSTS

we're so dead serious about that - we moved to the desert.
lol .. that's us - we're hardcore. *flex*

our friends in Denver & Salt Lake have been getting inches on top of inches of snow
... our condolences ... 

the sunshine spent all morning beating against the red rocks
we went at noon ant it was still radiating warmth

In the sunshine, it peaked in the mid 60's ...in FEBRUARY !! :)
  
it was SOOOO gorgeous, I almost felt guilty .. 
pfftt .. I kid I kid.
no guilt here .. just pure sunshine appreciation.


the four legged friends agree .. sunshine <3




when we started it was a little 'brisk' and we all kept our jackets on ...
















but within 20 minutes, the jackets were off