We have had a tire in need of replacing. It apparently had a bump on it. Not sure how it got there, but for the last few weeks it has made this terrible vibration when we drove, not to mention a lot of noise! We knew it was on its last leg and planned to have it replaced this evening before we left for the farm.
Well, this afternoon the kids and I had to go make a house payment. The bank is about a 20 minute drive each way. So we rumbled our way down and back again. I really needed a few things for our trip and debated on our way back whether I would run to Walmart or give my list to DH when he went for a tire. I decided to go ahead and go.
I took the Wal-mart exit and stopped at the light at the bottom of the ramp. When I pulled away from the light, I knew something had changed. The rumble had gotten MUCH louder, and the vibration much stronger. I drove about 1/2 mile and heard a pop. The sound and vibration went away, but it didnt feel like it was flat.
I pulled off the road and inspected the tire. It looked a bit different on the back, but wasnt flat or even low. I called DH and told him to meet us at Walmart, because I knew the tire was on its last trip. I pulled back on the road and headed to Walmart.
I told Mustang we should pray, and we said a very short prayer asking God to please get us there. The drive was just under a mile and the speed limit is only 30, so I was able to drive slowly and carefully without annoying other drivers.
When I pulled away from the stop light at the entrance to Walmart, I knew my tire was flat. I was just about a football field's length from the automotive department, so I went ahead and drove the distance, praying the wheel would be okay. I parked in the only open spot by the automotive department and breathed a huge sigh of relief.
Obviously, that could have gone very differently at any point, and I am very thankful that God worked everything out for us.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
The Last Time
My father is infamous for this line. So much so it has actually become a running joke in this family. But today, it is a true statment. Today is the 'last time' that my DH will have a full time job as an accountant. Today is the 'last time' that we will live the life we have been living for the last 3 1/2 years (what ever that is exactly). Today marks the 'last day' of our 'old life.'
Tomorrow starts a new day and a new adventure. I am very excited, but thankful for the life that we have had here at our home with our friends and with our church. Even though the big move isnt here yet, tomorrow marks the first visable step towards it.
I never intended to marry a farmer. I was hoping for a doctor, lawyer, or a politician. Funny enough, my DH never ment to BE a farmer. He majored (at least at first) in Political Science, and for his birthday one year I paid for him to take the LSAT. He ment to be a lawyer. But God had other plans. First the plan was to be an accountant, and now, a farmer.
I am looking forward to what God has in store for our little family in the fields of of the Midwest, and ask that if you think of us, that you would keep us in your prayers. I know a new job, a new house, a new baby, and lots of uncertainty in our new future, we can use all the prayers you are willing to give.
We are off to the farm for the weekend. I am looking forward to some hands on Tot School at the farm :)
Tomorrow starts a new day and a new adventure. I am very excited, but thankful for the life that we have had here at our home with our friends and with our church. Even though the big move isnt here yet, tomorrow marks the first visable step towards it.
I never intended to marry a farmer. I was hoping for a doctor, lawyer, or a politician. Funny enough, my DH never ment to BE a farmer. He majored (at least at first) in Political Science, and for his birthday one year I paid for him to take the LSAT. He ment to be a lawyer. But God had other plans. First the plan was to be an accountant, and now, a farmer.
I am looking forward to what God has in store for our little family in the fields of of the Midwest, and ask that if you think of us, that you would keep us in your prayers. I know a new job, a new house, a new baby, and lots of uncertainty in our new future, we can use all the prayers you are willing to give.
We are off to the farm for the weekend. I am looking forward to some hands on Tot School at the farm :)
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
ABC Activites
Yesterday we played with the ABC pack from our local library. Tons of Tot School activites were in this bag!
First, I set Charger up with this tub of letters. He had a blast! He knows letter O and letter B, and pulled them out right away. Then he kept saying O and B to all the other letters. I would say the letters if he showed them to me. He found a few matching letters and showed them to me. He poured them out and dropped them in. Very creative!
Then, I had Mustang put together the alphabet train puzzle. Charger loved singing with us after she got them put together.
She practiced writing letter I in her workbook I picked up at the Dollar Tree
And then, I worked with her on this matching game. She had to match the beginning letter sound to the picture. She did okay with this until she got board and lost interest.
We ended the day with a bean transfer using the cupcake containers from Mustang's party. They both loved this.
First, I set Charger up with this tub of letters. He had a blast! He knows letter O and letter B, and pulled them out right away. Then he kept saying O and B to all the other letters. I would say the letters if he showed them to me. He found a few matching letters and showed them to me. He poured them out and dropped them in. Very creative!
Then, I had Mustang put together the alphabet train puzzle. Charger loved singing with us after she got them put together.
She practiced writing letter I in her workbook I picked up at the Dollar Tree
And then, I worked with her on this matching game. She had to match the beginning letter sound to the picture. She did okay with this until she got board and lost interest.
We ended the day with a bean transfer using the cupcake containers from Mustang's party. They both loved this.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Pin a Clothespin on a Sour Cream Container
This game is sure to be a hit at a Tot School near you :) I found this fun game while blog surfing over the weekend, and I will now be blog surfing again because I didnt write down which blog I found it on grr! I will update when I figure out who to thank!
It just so happens that I had 2 old sour cream containers, so I lined each of them with a ton of plastic clothes pins and gave one to Mustang and one to Charger. I was fun to see what each of them did with their game.
This wasnt too hard for Mustang, but there was still a lot of concentration needed when I asked her to put the clothes pins back on her container. Look at that tongue!
She also learned about gravity after her heavy sided cup fell over!
Charger was a different story. He wasnt given any directions. First thing he put it on his head.
When he saw Mustang taking her clothes pins off, he took his off.
When Mustang put hers on, Charger flipped his upside down and put his on, too.
He played for quite awhile, sometimes asking me to put the clothespins back on. He also took Mustang's when she was done and poured the pins back and forth between the cups. Lots of fun was had by all! Now off to figure out who to thank!
It just so happens that I had 2 old sour cream containers, so I lined each of them with a ton of plastic clothes pins and gave one to Mustang and one to Charger. I was fun to see what each of them did with their game.
This wasnt too hard for Mustang, but there was still a lot of concentration needed when I asked her to put the clothes pins back on her container. Look at that tongue!
She also learned about gravity after her heavy sided cup fell over!
Charger was a different story. He wasnt given any directions. First thing he put it on his head.
When he saw Mustang taking her clothes pins off, he took his off.
When Mustang put hers on, Charger flipped his upside down and put his on, too.
He played for quite awhile, sometimes asking me to put the clothespins back on. He also took Mustang's when she was done and poured the pins back and forth between the cups. Lots of fun was had by all! Now off to figure out who to thank!
Party!!
We had so much fun this weekend celebrating Mustang's 4th birthday with her little friends. She received a bunch of great gifts (some you will see at school) and we are so thankful!! Thank you for joining us :)
Friday, September 25, 2009
Tot School Week 2 Review
Here is a quick glance at what we did this week at our Tot School. Scroll below for details & links about each activity.
Charger is 22 months and Mustang turned 4 this week
Pom Pom Transfer
Toy Yard Sale
Punching Ball
Playful Patterns
Winners Circle
Baby Einstein Blocks
Money Match-Up
Chicka Chicka 123 Number Match
Counting Caterpillar
Chicka Chicka 123
Bunny Money
Checkout 1+1+1=1 to see what other Tot Schools did this week!
Charger is 22 months and Mustang turned 4 this week
Pom Pom Transfer
Toy Yard Sale
Punching Ball
Playful Patterns
Winners Circle
Baby Einstein Blocks
Money Match-Up
Chicka Chicka 123 Number Match
Counting Caterpillar
Chicka Chicka 123
Bunny Money
Checkout 1+1+1=1 to see what other Tot Schools did this week!
Pom Pom Transfer
I have seen this idea on a number of 'tot school' blogs, including 1+1+1=1 which is where I saw it first. I have no idea who started the idea, so I will give thanks to whomever thought up the idea and for the many who suggested it through their blog. This is a really, really great idea! If you have 'school' at your house or you are just trying to find an activity that will occupy your child for awhile, you have found it.
I bought colored cotton balls, 2 ice cream cups, and a pair of tongs at the Dollar Tree (where else?) for a total of 4.00. In return, I receive 3 1/2 hours of my children having fun alone and then together. No real fighting, except the occasional squabble over what way they should use the toys next, no mess, and a lot of fun!
Mustang was asked to transfer all the cotton balls from one cup to the other using the tongs. She announced she was going to transfer them one by one. She gave up on that idea quickly and scooped a bunch at a time.
Charger wasnt given any real direction and he chose to pour them from one cup to the other.
When they were done with their 'assignments' I let them go. They found a few toy cups, a toy spatula and a toy spoon. They took turns transfering from one cup to the other, from the tray to the cup, and anything else they could think of. At one point, the balls were in their toy school bus taking a trip. Without being prompted, Mustang separated them by color and put them in one color at a time. They had a lot of fun, I cant wait to try this again with new cups or with the ice cube tray!
I bought colored cotton balls, 2 ice cream cups, and a pair of tongs at the Dollar Tree (where else?) for a total of 4.00. In return, I receive 3 1/2 hours of my children having fun alone and then together. No real fighting, except the occasional squabble over what way they should use the toys next, no mess, and a lot of fun!
Mustang was asked to transfer all the cotton balls from one cup to the other using the tongs. She announced she was going to transfer them one by one. She gave up on that idea quickly and scooped a bunch at a time.
Charger wasnt given any real direction and he chose to pour them from one cup to the other.
When they were done with their 'assignments' I let them go. They found a few toy cups, a toy spatula and a toy spoon. They took turns transfering from one cup to the other, from the tray to the cup, and anything else they could think of. At one point, the balls were in their toy school bus taking a trip. Without being prompted, Mustang separated them by color and put them in one color at a time. They had a lot of fun, I cant wait to try this again with new cups or with the ice cube tray!
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