Saturday, December 29, 2012

Bead ornament


Harlee made these whale ornaments as a Christmas present this year.  I seen the idea on pinterest but the instructions where in dutch and there was quite a bit that was lost in the translation so I made it up mostly by looking at the pictures.  First we picked out a couple of cookie cutters, set them on parchment paper and Harlee very meticulously added the beads.  Then I poured oil in the cookie cutters.  Then I baked it in the oven at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.  You could bake it for a less time to keep it looking more like beads or bake it longer to make it more smooth. As soon as they where cool enough to touch we popped em out.  I drilled a small hole in the big one for the tree hanger but the little one had a small hole in it from the beads not spreading out 100%.  This was a fun thing for Harlee to make and with millions of cookie cutters and bead colors out there I'm seeing a lot more melted bead ornaments in our future.                                     








Monday, December 17, 2012

Not quitting, just changing tactics



Harlee has been in guitar since September and she is doing really well for a four year old.  I'm very proud of her.  She is really enthused about it and works hard.  She loves it. 

There is just one big problem.  Her guitar teacher.  She is like 150 years old and doesn't seem to know a thing about young children.  She has this really awful habit of grabbing Harlee's fingers and moving them for her.  Not just helping her put with placement but playing a whole song...with my daughters fingers.  I kept telling her to let Harlee play and she would stop but it would be long til she was doing it again. 

About two weeks ago she did it and Harlee's face fell.  She instantly went from "I love guitar'' to ''I don't wanna be here ever again''.  She looked like a wild horse that had just been broke.  Her spirit that was crushed.  I pulled her teacher to the side and told her to NEVER touch her again.  She said she would but it would make teaching her harder. 

The next lesson Harlee was very upset before we went.  I talked to her and told her that her teacher said she wouldn't touch her anymore and if she did I would stop her.  But her teacher did it again and even though I told her not to right away the damage was done.

Last weeks lesson she didn't touch her but Harlee didn't even want to look at her.  Practices at home have been ruff to say the least and normally she practices very well at home with me.  After a long conversation it was obvious that the problem was the teacher, not guitar.

As much as I want to to finish the semester to teach her that sometimes in life we have to deal with people we don't like, I also want her to love music.  I want to teach her not to quit.  I want to teach her how to be the bigger person. 

In the end it came down to she is only four and that lady is breaking her spirit and I won't take it anymore!  There will be many more times in life to teach her that she needs to deal with people she doesn't like.  I told her we weren't going back to that teacher again and I was rewarded with a giant hug and kiss.  Then she asked if we were still going to practice at home and if I would be her teacher and I said yes, once again I was rewarded with a giant hug and kiss.  Then I reminded her how we will get her a new teacher after we move and for the third time I was rewarded with a giant hug and kiss. 

I can't wait to see how guitar practice goes for us tomorrow!  

UPDATE: Guitar practices are going well. She is happy and working hard again!










Sunday, December 16, 2012

Finally snow!!

I can't believe it was December 14th before the first snow of the year that lasted longer than an hour. Naturally the girls had to go and play in it.





Someone got snow thrown in her face.

They had to eat some!
 All in all it was a great first time in the snow.  Now the kids are asking to go sledding! Bring on the snow.

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Holiday Rum Slushie

Nothing says the holidays like some rum slushie.  No really, nothing else does.  Just try this and you will see what I mean.






1 can lemonade concentrate
1 can orange juice concentrate
3/4 Cup sugar
4 Cups water
2 Cups VERY strong tea
4 Cups pineapple juice
4 Cups Rum



Mix everything in a giant Tupperware til the sugar is dissolved.   Pop that baby in the freezer.  Once frozen spoon into glasses and cover with  lemon-lime soda. 

Optional: Top it off with 1 shot of vodka for a 'turbo charge'.

This recipe came from my Nana, I don't know where she got it but that woman is a genius.  True story.

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Bunny birthday party

Wow. I can not believe time has flown by so quickly.  Here my 'baby' is two years old already.  Cheyenne isn't much of a baby anymore.  She runs around spouting full sentences, learning colors, numbers, and shapes, and trying to do everything her big sister  does. 

The first thing I did was run to pinterest and found these bunny invitations, they turned out perfect, and really set the mood for the rest of the party.  I would post a picture but it would be like deja vu if you click on the link...and they have my address on them.

Decoration time!  Normally decorations are my favorite part but this time it was hard.  Most bunny stuff is also Eastery and this is not Easter! I was able to find most things I needed from Oriental Trading and a few key items from Amazon.  These bunny plates, cups and napkins were the only non Easter ones I found. Good thing they are perfect! And this bunny foil balloon is just the cutest thing ever. 

The pinata was the hardest to find. It's sold out now which is a huge bummer. I think I bought the last one.


Birthday Girl!!



Another view of the cake with the carrot silverware and napkins.


Duck tape on water bottles = cute!




I love this cake.  It was VERY easy to do and I love the little bunny tail.

"Bunny juice" I didn't want to call it carrot juice because I wanted kids to drink it!  It's 2/3 tang and 1/3 strawberry lemonade.


This party turned out perfectly.  Most importantly Cheyenne loved it. 

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