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Can you believe it? The girls did such a great job! I love the curls, it only took about 2 hours to curl it all!Enjoy it!

advances in children's shows

When I was little (yes I realize I am going to date myself here) Sesame street was pretty much it for educational t.v shows for young children. Now we have shows coming out our ears! I thought I would tell you my favorite and why
Backyardigans - I love the use of music and classic dance steps. It is not overly condescending which is also a huge plus.
Little Einsteins - Again I love the use of music and the good social behavior trait they try to portray.
Nihoa KaiLan - I love the exposure to a different language that isn't Spanish. It also help to reinforce good social behavior traits.
Go Diego Go - explores the world of animal life and children learn interesting life science facts. They also get exposure to Spanish.
Special agent Oso - Teaches ordinal sequencing.
My least favorites are Wow wow Wubsy, Barney, Yo Gabba Gabba, Imagination movers,& Sesame street(shocking, I know). Most of these I find very condescending and annoying.
Coming later a list of my favorite children's movies.

kids VS. frozen foods

My children are incredibly helpful:) They make my life much easier, most of the time. Lately they have been helping in putting away the groceries. Most of the time it works out quite nicely. Last Wednesday, however, it did not go nicely. Mara didn't know what to do with the hamburger. She asked me but I was indisposed at the moment she asked. I told her if it was something that goes in the bathroom to just put it by the door. She did put it by the door. Thinking that I didn't need to put away right away... Can you guess where this is going? Nathan was the one who discovered what it was.Today when they were putting away groceries Teia decided that frozen pizza and frozen stuffed rigatoni went on the shelves instead of in the freezer. So who does the match go to? The kids, of course. Luckily, today we caught the frozen food on the shelves before they defrosted.

WEEK 2 WOO HOO!

Hello all,
I made it to week two. Man, I am so impressed with myself.
Today was a very eventful day at church. I managed to get us all there only 5 min. late(N was on alert). The minute we sat down Mara started complaining about itching. Before the sacrament had finished being passed she had hives down her arms and anywhere the dress easily allowed me to see. My very sweet VT happened to be sitting in front of me and she offered to take both my primary class and my other two so they wouldn't miss primary. Off Mara and I went to break the sabbath at wal-mart(my least favorite store) to get liquid benadryl. For any of you who don't know Liquid medicine absorbs into the blood stream quicker than pills.Once we got the benadryl life was "smooth sailing." Sadly Mara is very used to this sort of thing( she is allergic to everything).
Saturday Nathan was on alert until late evening. Poor guy will have a 12 day work week.The girls and I played host to a friend of ours who is having a rough time right now. We cleaned the house and went to the library. After Nathan got home we went to Ikea. I love that store! We were a little disappointed when they were all out of the chairs we have been waiting until tax returns to get. It is a 45 min. drive without traffic:(
Friday was spent with our friend and in piano lessons. The girls and I are having our first recital next Sunday. I am playing an extremely simplified version of "Fur Elise." I am very nervous about getting up in front of people with my elementary knowledge and yet I am also eager because I have worked very hard at the piano.As long ad I can figure out how to I will post video of the recital. Friday also brought the decision to not continue homeschooling next year. I want to be able to enjoy my children;)I feel like this massive weight has been lifted from my shoulders. Its wonderful!
Thursday was an uneventful day
Wednesday was a trip to the chiropractor and the pharmacy and the..... errands
Tuesday the girls and I went to the LDS bookstore out here and got caught in traffic for over 2 1/2 hours. It sucked big time bad!
Monday Nathan was off so we spent time catching every one's grade books up. We discovered that Mara had not been truthful when she told us she was done with her math all last week.She got to play catch-up all week. I think she learned her lesson, though, 2 lessons per day is not much fun.
I think that sums up our week. I hope you are all well.
NINA

A cheesy Valentine post

I am all fingers when it comes to blogging. I sit here trying to think of what Witty thing I can come up with this week. That is probably why I go so long in between posts. My dear sweet mother was lamenting my lack of blogging so I am yet again setting the goal to blog every Sunday.

On to more pleasant things, I thought I would open up a part of my life that is not one I talk about much, MY Husband. I have got to be the most blessed wife in the whole world! Cheesy, I know! I would be remiss if I didn't say so.Nathan and I have been married for nearly 10 years. In that time we have never had a "real" fight. Nathan is a very gentle and loving man. He does not raise his voice with me ever! In order to grow closer to me Nathan has learned many of the things that interest me ie. ballroom dancing, interior decorating, and photography. Nathan is an extremely happy person and has filled our home with much laughter. My mother likes to tease that Nathan could make a toy out of anything and it is SO true. I am so very happy that Nathan chose me. I am more enamored with him now than I was 13 years ago when we met.

Thank you for indulging me in this extremely cliche Valentines composition.
Here is a sweet Valentine quote:
Loving is not just looking at each other, it's looking in the same direction. ~Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Wind, Sand, and Stars, 1939
Until Next week
Bless and keep you all well
NINA

Here are a few pictures from Christmas and a trip to Baltimore and the USS Constellation. An old wooden ship. It is a sister of old iron sides.

So this will prove how ditsy I am, can I respond to comments on my blog and the people who I am responding to receive the response? Please help me!