everything we need to know we can learn at the ZOO...provided you've packed an adequate lunch

today I packed a lunch & we headed to the ZOO

it was a great day for the zoo

it was a great day for running

it was a great day for a picnic

it was a great day for learning

i packed a little mediterannian pasta from the night before...nuts...& dehydrated papaya

chaucer digs papaya

m just couldn't eat sitting down

& the boyz

well they took off before i could take the lens cap off of the camera

after our bellies were full we headed over to see

these beautiful birds

the children were enchanted

the habitat contained mostly flamingos {32 in fact}

a couple of ducks {2}

and one beaut of a swan

after we had observed them for awhile I thought i'd try this whole teaching thing again

"how many flamingo's ?"

the answer like rapid fire

"32"

"how many ducks"

quicker still

"2"

"what else do you see?"

"one swan"

"so how many birds are in this exhibit?"

"35"
cool

"how do you know they aren't all flamingo's ?"

"the ducks have shorter legs, wider beak & smaller bodies"

"the swan has a wider beak & shorter legs"

"the flamingos have really long legs and beaks that look like a hook"

cooler

"how do flamingo's bend there legs?"

"they have a knee like us"

"except their knee doesn't look like ours"

"really, what is different about it?"

"well...... it bends backwards"

coolest kids

fun day fun lunch fun learning

in which we see the CARVAJAL's in EASTER BEST

I hope your EASTER celebration was a blessed remembrance of our SAVIOR


While ironing the children's new clothes, I spoke with our Children about the symbolism of a "NEW" Easter clothing

I have been reading this book and realizing that we don't know the WHY in a lot of our traditions. I spoke with my young ones about the symbolic putting on of new "perfect" clothing and its relation to the resurrection & the putting on finally, eternally of our perfected bodies. Oh what a joy it was to hear Jaxson's excitement as we entered the chapel..."I wonder what my teachers are wearing?....to the lay observer I am sure this questions seems a bit on the silly & on the worldly side..but to me I heard in his voice the sound I imagine will ring in the land as the morning of the resurrection occurs...."where is my mother, aunt, uncle, friend........etc..and what does their perfected body look like" to those who know someone who's body has been ravaged by cancer, disease, sickness, or accident..I know you will join me in your desire to see what they are wearing Resurrection morning.

After our Easter week dedicated to learning of our Savior I am grateful for my life..my love...my posterity...and most of all the older Brother to whom i am so indebted.

I have been very hard on myself this week..noticing every short coming...crying over my incapability's...and finally realizing that for this was he come into the world...to take the burden of my short comings & failing...and for this if I can but obey I can be relieved of my sorrows & sins.

***Grandma sent the kids BEAUTIFUL EASTER clothing so, I made a goodwill run and came up with some "matching" clothes for the Mr. & I ****

in which something lost was found.....or something forgotten was relived

After General Conference the Mr. and I decided we could definitely do BETTER

in our TEMPLE attendance.

So we agreed that alternately every Thursday one of us would attend.

This is his week.

It is nothing new to me of course because

As most of you know he was working {full time} & attending BYU {full time } for the better part of 7 years and 4 children.

The thing is....it's been about a year since we choose for him to be away at night.

Yeah he's worked late here and there

BUT

Satan didn't work on me those nights--not really a surprise

This evening as I was placing dinner on the table, greeted with a fair amount of boo's and hiss's from our resident foodies { really they always love everything I cook...just when they are tired..you see...nothing sounds good when you are an over tired..1..3..4..or 6 year old} I realized I had been agitated since the morning...something about knowing I was in it for the long hall I guess. I felt the anger/resistance/tiredness/patience less and decided NOT to give in which you all probably KNOW is VERY VERY VERY difficult.

I GRINNED big and passed the tofu...to which they all grinned and scarfed down every single BITE.

Next baths, jams, books, prayers, & kisses.

After all the above were satisfied and I was cleaning the kitchen it struck me...i kinda missed being the only one..the one to kiss, pray, & read with each of my blessings...i don't do that very often any more Dad is always actively taking care of MOST of those little treasures....I really missed it..i did...funny how one decision can turn the night around..my lovies are asleep...my Prince has yet to return...and i am going to finish up my bread bags...

LIFE IS SWEET

{because i am a MOTHER}

and i almost forgot it

Gotta run ...

this.........isn't me but I fancy this is what I look like {LOL} in my pj's

We'll catch up soon...I'm in the midst of embroidery on my bread bags!

in which we disclose our funnies this MONDAY

the funniest thing{s} happend today

the first being a "new" word carvajal style

a

SniSS

{ a sneeze and a kiss}

would you like your children to laugh out loud for hours well try a sniss the only problem being that you must be ready to kiss your little one's belly while sneezing.......LOL this just happened today..then happened again..and again...i mean it every time I went to give the babes a razz an involuntary [are there any other kind??] sneeze arrived and bless me it set the house off !!!

next if you have yet to experience this song

you must

the giggles are endless...if you fail to giggle whilst listening imagine little M very seriously in a deep voice bobbing her head while singin' i like 'em big i like 'em clunky.....

now your turn

you go

try it

couldn't resist

in which spring arrives just in time for the Families first annual SPRING CELEBRATION

we started a new tradition in our family....it's called spring celebration or bunny day...this is when the "Easter Bunny" comes

this day happens the Saturday one week prior to EASTER

We explained to the kids that the Easter bunny comes for us a different time than it comes to others...it didn't seem to ruffle any ones feathers...the fact that candy was allotted 8 days in advance seemed to bode well for the little ones

{we did this because of THIS great book, which begins Palm Sunday and continues until Easter Sunday...we just want the bunny & the Resurrection to have separate days}

so the bunny came he left his treasures...just in time for General Conference...hooray for art supplies ( thanks Bunny aka Gramma) the kids had a great sugar high and on such created terrific art work!!

in between sessions we took a picnic to the lake beach

the boss and M had a grand ride around the lake

they may be getting the hang of riding together...now Liam has joined the bi--cycle riding world with the speed and accuracy necessary to forgo the trailing experience

the boss has found a seat, although I do feel a bit sorry for him I know it is safer for him to ride a la trailer I do sense he may miss the comfort and visual stimuli the back pack provided

with much appreciation we thank spring for joining us in our celebration of her

balls were kicked...wading was accomplished......welcome spring
THANKS FOR a BEAUTIFUL day in which TO celebrate YOU

in which a guided tour through our mini school is given

In which the youngest hits a milestone

How many kids do you know {yourself as a child included} Are without a
"sleeping in your food "picture

don't you just love the rice and bean induced coma... the best part is
that the other children tried very hard to keep him from the peace you
see here...each attempt was greeted with a poliet smile full of sleepy
wonder....que RICO{ delish:: for all those non Spanish speakers} !!!!!

in which i try some new things with the homeschoolers

Convinced that the people are the only safe depositories of their own liberty, and that they are not safe unless enlightened to a certain degree.....

--Thomas Jefferson to Littleton Waller Tazewell, 1805.

so each Friday a simple spelling "test" is given to check the students knowledge of the word

then new words are given...unless some of the old words have yet to be learned then a mix of new and old are given

SPELLING gives my kids the perfect opportunity to work on penmanship so each day after our devotional they take their trusty pencils out and write down the spelling words for the week {3 times}

well this week i thought that i would change it up a bit ( you see they are now coping the articles of faith for handwriting)

Friday each child showed they had mastered the weeks words and were allotted new ones in their place

then they were given the option

they could write each word 3 times { as usual) or they could write it...then sew it...then create it with pipe cleaners or magnets

they were eager to get to work Jax's pillow will be on his bed tomorrow next to his previous sewing creation and Liam had a grand time with the pipe cleaners & magnets.......ahh life is grand

even M got into the action during her Phonogram time

gotta love pipecleaners

****note from the author*****

....the pink boa on M's head is her substitute for long hair....she loves this thing & has it in two colors (hooray)....i am actually shocked and a bit surprised it hasn't shown up in more blog pics...guess i got lucky...anyhow there it is in all its glory and should you visit you may be asked to wear the purple one..but only if she really likes you....just a heads up refusals will not be allowed...you should see the Mr.'s face when i am wearing one upon his homecoming...

~~funny monday~~

.......the other day...the Mr. and I were out farm shopping he leaned over

and said " so if we buy this place, could I tell people " I bought the farm" ...hee hee

*************

my man is always devising ways to make others laugh

your turn

now you

come on

go ahead

I just HAD to add

today the boss decided he would remove his diaper....rinse it in the toilet( because that is what you do when you are done with a diaper)...then bring it to me ...three rooms away dripping wet...yet all I could do was rejoice with him...the delight in his face overpowered any cleanly worries i had....... and at that moment he had done the best thing ever...yet when i was cleaning the subsequent mess...his delighted face was nowhere to be found..huh

In which Monday is nothing short of manic

4 youngster...swimming suited...pool cravin'...water dreaming...

The above is the state we found ourselves in upon arriving at our pool
only to find the pool was closed due to some sort of chemical
imbalance....

A few thoughts later water coloring in the tub seemed to ease the pain
of an evening swim missed

In which the Children become pirates

The kids found this old book gramma gave them... This books comes
complete with general dress-up ideas & instructions...we were lacking
the materials needed to become cow folk...so pirates it was & I must
say I feel it was a good choice considering those who were to wear
them...

In which the boys learn to sew

If you have not yet checked this blog out you should...she also wrote
a book called the Creative Family: How to Encourage Imagination and Nurture Family Connections & has a new book called Handmade Home: Simple Ways to Repurpose Old Materials into New Family Treasures!! One
of the greatest ideas in the book was to have you children draw a
picture, then embroider it!! My boys love it...jaxson spent around 3
hours working and ultimatley finishing his, it will become a pillow
for his bed today....hooray for great ideas!!!! { jaxson says he will
start another picture pillow today}

In which we see how the children eat

Lunch was good

In which a little peice of organic heaven arrived at my front door

For a mere $30 a week local organic produce will be left on my door
step upon a Tuesday!! Life is good all is well ....the cilantro is in
the process of filling my home with it's divine smell...I am
happy...can the smell of organic produce make my day...oh yes....yes
it can!!

Funny Monday
The thing about my only daughter...the only girl from my gene
pool...the little lady in my life...well I'm am a close third in the
line for here affection...well I'd like to think it's close...see
GRANDMa is most definitely A--#1---Premium--first choice...Daddy
claims all her daily affection---then yours truly...now that we see the
order this funny Monday should make sense....Emme saw Chaucer in the
whilst i prepare dinner back carrying device & decided that she
too needed to be relocated to a position upon her Father...he gladly
accepted and the result was quiet a funny looking three year- old-in-
moby &

the most Joyful duo

and I am embarrassed to admit...a little bruised mommyego...it could have been me...i carried her for 9 months inside and another 9 (at least)externally..huh..this really isn't funny...sorry maybe you have something to add that is indeed FUNNY MONDAY material!!

Fwd FRIDAY: Simple Economics

i am often forwarded many interesting emails...sometimes they make me cry sometimes they make me laugh those i would like to share here...some i delete upon reciept...i hope you enjoy fwd Friday

Understanding Economic Systems a simple explanation Traditional Capitalism You have two cows. You sell one and buy a bull. Your herd multiplies, and the economy grows. You sell the herd and retire on the income. Socialism You have two cows. You give one to your neighbor. Communism You have two cows. The State takes both and gives you some milk. Fascism You have two cows. The State takes both and sells you some milk. Nazism You have two cows. The State takes both and shoots you. Bureaucratism You have two cows. The State takes both, shoots one, milks the other, and then throws the milk away.. Surrealism You have two giraffes. The government requires you to take harmonica lessons. An American corporation You have two cows. You sell one and force the other to produce the milk of four cows. Later, you hire a consultant to analyze why the cow has dropped dead. AIG Venture Capitalism You have two cows. You sell three of them to your publicly listed company, using letters of credit opened by your brother-in-law at the bank, then execute a debt/equity swap with an associated general offer so that you get all four cows back, with a tax exemption for five cows. The milk rights of the six cows are transferred via an intermediary to a Cayman Island company secretly owned by the majority shareholder. He sells the rights to all seven cows back to your listed company. The annual report says the company owns eight cows, with an option for one more. You sell one cow to buy a new president of the United States, leaving you with nine cows. No balance sheet provided with the release. Then the public buys your bull. A French corporation You have two cows. You go on strike, organize a riot, and block the roads, because you want three cows. A Japanese corporation You have two cows. You redesign them so they are one-tenth the size of an ordinary cow and produce twenty times the milk. You then create a clever cow cartoon image called "Cowkimon" and market it worldwide. A German corporation You have two cows. You re-engineer them so they live for 100 years, eat once a month, and milk themselves. An Italian corporation You have two cows, but you don't know where they are. You decide to have lunch. A Swiss corporation You have 5,000 cows. None of them belong to you. You charge the owners for storage. A Chinese corporation You have two cows. You have 300 people milking them. You claim that you have full employment and high bovine productivity. You arrest the newsman who reported the real situation. A British corporation You have two cows. Both are mad. AHH...SO THAT'S HOW IT ALL WORKS...huh

I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around [the banks] will deprive the people of all property until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered. The issuing power should be taken from the banks and restored to the people, to whom it properly belongs. Thomas Jefferson, (Attributed)3rd president of US (1743 - 1826)

in which I rejoice in my childrens love of whole grains

Whole Grain & Soy Pancake Recipe

1/4 cup soy flour

1/4 cup cornmeal

1 cup milled whole grain flour

2 Tbls honey

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp baking powder

3/4 tsp baking soda

1 egg ( can sub flax seed)

2 cups vanilla yogurt

2 Tbls olive oil

ENJOY !!

my kids think these taste like cookies & will happily eat them without syrup

in which i see a spy

this a.m. it was requested that i make pancakes...the thing i know about the mornings i make pancakes is that the amount of time consumed making them is just too much for the kids to handle...see they awake hungry, no that is too gentle a word i think in this case RAVENOUS is a palabra better suited for my children's A.M. sentiments

after threatening a few times that i would never make pancakes in the morning again if they didn't stop.......{insert anything they know they shouldn't be doing, if you fail to think of anything insert hanging on the ceiling fan.........ugh} I noticed that I was being watched......then the sweetest voice called out PEEK-A-BOO and the shade parted...i took a picture and well i may consider making pancakes again......maybe next time i will provide the natives with an

amuse-bouche

In which the Author forgets a green filled holiday.....however thanks to the world wide web is reminded just in time

HAPPY ST PATTIES

i am off to create some kind of celebration for my young

i think i'll start with this

FUNNY...you know the rest....

so this funny Monday may require a bit of a back story

our "home"

came with solely three locking doors

the front door ( as can be expected)

the general bathroom

and the

master bathroom

hmmm....

do you see that there is an important door lacking lockage???

yes the master bedroom door was without the necessary equipage to keep the queen & king of the home safe from unwanted or unexpected visitors in the occasion......well that being said

the Mr. swapped the handle from the master bath to the master bed door

upon our pilgrimage to what we affectionately call " M201"

now we find ourselves in the present

...yesterday

after tucking my babes in for a long Sunday nap

I relieved myself (pardon the full disclosure)

and upon

exiting...well trying to exit

I found that the door would not open

now I know as well as you that the master bath has no lock on the door

so my heart began to race

I tried the door again

nothing

so

I did what any wife in my situation would do

I called out to my beloved to release me from the room to which I found myself confined

no sooner did I call out than the door knob turned

the door flung open

and I found my dashing Husband

rolling on the floor...laughing with such vigor I felt the babes may awake from the slumber to which they had so recently been sent

and then I realized......

in a related incident

I took Jaxson out on a date the other evening, there he informed me that after he is babtized he will no longer tease.....well maybe a little, said he.....just like my Dad!

The post in which it becomes clear...the repercussions of napping whilst the eldest boys remain awake!

"look what game we just bought on the wii Mom" these are the words
which awoke me from my mid-afternoon doze...now the tricky part of
motherhood, you see I love super Mario bro 3...I used to play daily on
this new fangeled contraption they called a Nintendo when I was a wee
lass {a little of the Irish in me is sneaking in...I think it has been
brought on by my failure to dye my red roots back to midnight...but I
digress} so when I awoke my first statement was of course was very
"good mom" ...you know you shouldn't purchase games without asking,
and such... Then I saw what game it was that had ALREADY been
purchased via my visa...and I...well in the interest of full dis closer
I played for a...well let's just say I still got it...it was great..my
young cheering me on ..awed by extensive knowledge of the In's and
outs of each level....I guess what's done is done right...why not
enjoy...(and remove my saved credit card info, just to protect myself
from any more '90's throw back purchases.. You know what I mean;))

The post in which I profess my love for sushi {land}

Today just the six of us ventured out in our somewhat eratic Seattle
weather to visit a place that will now hold my heart {for family
dinning,that is} Sushi land where sushi is almost all $1 and tastes
pretty good... The kids enjoyed it immensley and the 'rents enjoyed a
meal with the kids that hadn't been prepared next to a vat of bubbling
lard.

We are so happy this establishment has set up camp nearby, you see
until recently the nearest location was about a 1/2 hour away...

the post in which we see that I really am the Queen

sometimes they call me your highness

sometimes they bow when I enter the room

sometimes they line up on either side of me by the front door and wait until I exit

and sometimes I am greeted with a toy lined kitchen in which to prepare dinner

I love it when they treat me like the queen...now about these toys

The post in which I bemoan my Mother's leaving the Emerald City and rejoice in the blessing which her visit was

She came....like a fresh breeze with the spring

she gifted the kids until they were properly grammafied

stayed up late to dish with me about....everything and anything we could think of

she accompanied me to a chick flick at 9:40 am...we ate popcorn before breakfast...it was wonderful

she made tutus for close pin dolls

and

light sabers for close pin dolls of the star wars variety

she even rinsed out one of the boss's messy nappies...WOW

she cleaned.....my yucky awful mess of a fridge......gifted again

then......

she told me I was a good MOM and that my friends is the best compliment...especially coming from a women who I strive to emulate, who I admire eternally, who makes me hope it to be said of me.."she's just like her mother!"

I missed her as soon as the door closed behind her...we have had a great week

NOW

BACK to REALITY

pics of the close pin dolls to be posted as soon as I can

I knew you were growing older..I really did and not because

you were getting bigger...'cause your not

not because

you have developed personal style

not because

you sing yourself to sleep..i used to do that

not because

you are able to sling dirty looks at your brothers

not because

you've joined the "old" nursery

and not because

your shoe size finally changed

no I knew it was happening because

i saw the wonder which was you at two

replaced by the

dazzling three year old you have become

you have replaced:

crying with singing

bottles with princess cups

pants with dresses

walking with dancing

rolling over with walking on point

"please carry me" to "I want to hold you"

constant kisses to nail painting

I LOVE YOU

I LOVED YOU AT TWO

I LOVE YOU AT THREE

it will never end

you will change...and I will love the new you..each year..week..day..sometimes even each hour

I love all that you are

and all that you will become

Thank You for blessing my life

my beautiful daughter

you come from a long line of good women

please remember