Snakes, frogs, fish and salamanders… we saw them all – and everything BUT the fish was fed – ok fish were fed TO the snakes! The boys were in heaven… the nature centre is now their new favourite place second only to Grandma’s house and the “store with water in it” (I am PRETTY sure that is the pool back in the town where my mom lives but not 100% sure!).

When we go to the nature centre there was also a group of Brownies there enjoying the educational lesson. The girls were so helpful – showing the boys some of the fun activities and things to see, making sure they could see and get a chance to touch the snake (all 3 of the boys touched the snake! Go figure!!), and that we had all the craft supplies to make the session’s craft – a frog handpuppet!

Emanuel Touching the Snake!

Ken took each of the boys off to check out the bees who were much more active than our last visit. I think the beehive is Ken’s favourite part of the whole centre. Although the next time we go – if the weather holds as soon as the middle of this week – we are planning on checking out the hiking trails. So here’s hoping this FALL weather holds and we DON’T see more winter right away.

The girl in charge of the session was great with the kids and had a ton of wonderful facts and information about each of the individual animals (including the rather overweight salamander who had the nickname Chunky Monkey). She also passed along the info about the sessions for the next two months which has my mind reeling with possibilities. Not only for the nature centre but the John Walter museum we went to on the free admission day – they are only open on Sundays 1-4 but there are sessions each Sunday and many of them are interesting to me! Not only was there information on those two places but other activities and events so now I just have to see if I can interest other friends and homeschoolers to join us!

After the nature centre we had our weekly run to H&W… they had a sale on lemons (3 for 1.00) and limes (6 for 1.00), not sure what I am going to do with them, but I am going to find something fun! Of course more apples, bananas and carrots… and this time a cantaloupe since they were only 2.00 a piece and huge, so half in the freezer, half in the kids.

I have managed to basically finish my gift stitch. I am VERY happy with the result and debating whether or not to post the pattern up here before it is gifted. The next pattern I should be able to post as I stitch it. It is hard to do something I simply can’t show off, but it was obvious what it was pretty much from the start!

The tutu is completed I think – pom poms have been carefully glued on with fabric glue and the effect is quite satisfactory. I do so love making these, I just wish it was cheaper to buy tulle around here – to make a profit I would have to sell them at at least 25-40.00 depending on size… but making them for my own little girl and friends and family is fun too. That is not to say I WOULDN’T make them for someone else, just that I am not seriously debating ADVERTISING doing it.

Our gaming for tonight got cancelled… Chris and Chris were busy all day and one of them was feeling under the weather so I have taken the now open evening and crammed it full of crafting, cleaning and cooking (the 3 C’s!). In a stroke of genius… ok in the wake of a craving for cinnamon buns… I drug out my breadmaker cookbook and searched through to find a recipe. Talk about YUM! AND everything I needed was already in the house! Bonus!

Cinnamon Rolls using Breadmaker

1 cup milk at room temp

1 lge egg

4 tblsp butter

3 1/3 cup flour

3 tblsp sugar

1/2 tsp salt

1 1/2 tsp bread machine yeast

FILLING:

1/4 cup butter, melted

1/4 cup sugar

2 tsp ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp ground nutmeg

1/3 cup chopped nuts (we left out)

use dough setting on breadmaker

1. Add milk, egg and butter

2. Add flour, 3 tblsp sugar and salt. Tap  to settle dry ingredients, then level ingredients, pushing some of the mixture into corners.

3. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients; add yeast. Lock pan into bread maker.

4. Program for dough. Start bread maker. When done, unlock pan from bread maker. Place dough on a floured surface. Knead for 1 min, then let rest about 15 min.

5. Roll dough into a rectangle, about 15×10 inches. Spread 1/4 cup melted butter over dough to within 1 inch of edges. Then sprinkle 1/4 cup of sugar, the cinnamon, nutmeg and chopped nuts evenly over dough. Roll dough up tightly on long side. Press edges to seal and form into a 12 inch long, evenly shaped roll. With a knife or 8 inch long piece of thread or dental floss, cut roll into 1 inch pieces. Place rolls into greased 13×9 inch baking pan. Cover and let rise in warm, draft free place until double in size, about 30-45 min.

6. Bake in preheated 375 F oven for 20 to 25 min or until golden brown. cool in pan on rack for 10-15  min, then drizzle with powdered sugar icing made by combining 1 cup powdered sugar with 1-2 tblsp milk and 1/2 tsp vanilla. Blend until smooth. Cut apart and remove from pan.

(Pictures to follow tomorrow but trust me Ken did an…. interesting…. job with the dental floss cutting them!)

The craft part I have already covered with the tutu and the stitch… the cleaning… well it is more of an ongoing attempt at order among chaos than a cut and dry clean and done. The homeschooling corner has grown and morphed into some sort of clutter, avalanche inspiring mess… so I am cracking down on it and sorting EVERYTHING. You would be amazed at the amount of construction paper I have! My intention is to basically take stock of everything and then plan some activities around the supplies with excess and have the kids go nuts. I refuse to do a before and after picture BUT here is the shelving where I HAVE made some semblance of order!

Ken’s birthday is next weekend – the 23rd actually – he will be 32! It will be the traditional Ken celebration – computers, beer and pie. Thankfully all pretty much in range of the budget… though I am hoping people bring some beer as presents as that is the one item that makes me cringe price wise.

Because of the lack of budget everywhere with the stressful situation we are in I have not had the ability to buy him anything – an issue he reminds me does NOT bother him. Of course it bothers me! So the boys have decided they want to make him something (every year they make him AT LEAST a card) and I am debating whether or not I could simply bead up something complicated I KNOW he wants and have him iron it on his birthday and put it together – something he enjoys or attempt to iron myself. He is such a pro I hate to do it myself and have it not be uniform. What he REALLY wants is a D20 dice… of course I have NO idea how to even start with that one! I guess search online and then go from there. Hopefully someone ELSE has thought of it first!

I have a pretty strong promise that I SHOULD have my patterns ALL up by tomorrow night. Ken is still working on things in regards to Paypal. I am looking forward to having ALL the examples of our work up so I can start properly advertising and gathering interest.

Well with church tomorrow (Sunday School for the twins) and 3 Colours and Shapes Lapbooks to complete Sunday is going to be busy! Add to that the Insect lapbooks, my stitching to do and of course family photos on Tuesday and I will be keeping busy. But then when am I NOT busy?

Emanuel, Gavin and Zander

Gotta Check Out Those Leaves While You Can! (Gavin)