The Great American Egg Drop!

The great American egg drop is a fun little preschool project. You are instructed to create an encasement for a raw egg that is no larger then 7x7x7. You are to fill it up with whatever you think will protect the egg from breaking if dropped from 10 to 15 feet. Then decorate the box to suit your fancy. Kali and I had a great time working on this project. We filled our box with this foam stuff. It was my idea and I really believed to was the perfect thing. Kali decorated her box with tons of princess, pink and purple stickers. It was a beautiful box and was gonna win!! (there are no winners....I just tend to go a little overboard with my competitive nature)

The day was perfect. Sunny, plus we had taiji with us to witness our greatness!! We went to the Velthuziens little mini farm. The kids really enjoyed checking out all the animals.

So cute and curious!!

Tessa and Kali are never far from each other....in fact this is more common then not!

Then it was time for us to test our boxes. Teacher Melinda threw over an egg to show the kids what happens when you don't protect it....of course the first time, It didn't break! ;) This had me confident that our creation would hold up to the test set before us!!

Then it was our turn...here is the box going over the edge floating gently through the air. It landed with a thud...but again still very confident. A couple of minutes later the kids were instructed to open their boxes...Kali opened her box and I took a picture of an egg I thought had withstood the challenge...I told her to go and show her teacher and get her card stating that her egg made it....she returned with a card that said, 'Opps, my egg broke' I looked down and sure enough the egg had hairline cracks all over it!! I felt like a failure!! Thanks goodness Kali isn't as competitive as me and pretty much forgot about it by the time she got back on the bus. I on the other hand am still working through it!!

Ta-Da!!

Well here it is!! I know, it's about time!! But better late then never!! For the last couple of months I've been working on a giant room swap. Truman to the front room, Jake and Taiji to Truman's old room and Kali downstairs into Jake and Taiji's old room. It's been a project. All of the kids are now in their rooms and loving it...I still have some work to do up stairs...but that is another post altogether!! Here's a shots of the room before me and my paint can took over!
and then....
a couple of shots of the work in progress!

Gettin' er done!!

TA-DA!!

Kali standing in her new pretend kitchen. Complete with homemade valences!

This corner is still a little undiscovered...but for now it's great for all her stuff!!

My favorite part!! A Scott VanDalen custom made loft bed. It's awesome. It's a double bed with a ton of room down below for reading and watching movies. The curtain's close for hiding and darkness.

We have one very happy little girl....she loves her room....her friends love her room and mommy loves that she loves it!!

Jake's Gingerbread Creation

Here is Jake's Creation....I posted everyone else' in the previous post and somehow missed Jake's. Then when I downloaded it, it had the wonderful line through the middle. So instead of the finished product...you get a picture of the work in progress!!

Nice job Pig!!

A Faber Family Christmas Gathering

My last Christmas post...January 11...not sooo bad!

On December 26th the Faber Clan came over for a little Christmas Cheer. Appetizers, taco bar, and yummy desserts were on the menu. We had a great time hanging out, eating, opening presents and for the 2nd year creating ginger bread houses. Thanks to Brett and Jessie and some new methods the houses were quite successful. The little girls even got in on the action creating Christmas trees for every one's houses. It was a fun time had by all!!

The Grand kids...minus the Canadians (Mady, Corey, Lauren & Tayah)
Hattie really loved the computer Taiji picked out for her!!

Truman getting ready to open a gift from Josie!!

Emily giving Kali a 'Thank-you' hug for the cool sweatshirt!

Kali, Tessa and Josie making the famous and coveted Christmas trees!

It's a lot of prep work and messy...but oh soooo much fun!! And just check out the creations. Each kid was able to capture their personality. Thanks again Brett and Jess!!

Truman and his neat and tidy creation.

Taiji getting creative!

Erik and his master piece

Luuk and his estate...it even included a swimming pool, with diving board and slide!

Emily's creation

Well somehow I missed Jake's...his included a garage and red driveway...I may have to post a picture of it later!

We had a great Christmas...hope you did too!!

Sneak Peak

I've been working! I wanted to wait until the whole room was done...but that might take a little while...so here is a little sneak of Kali's new bedroom in the making!

Before

After
Before

After...not quite done

More to come....stay tuned!

Annual Pumpkin Carving

This was the best pumpkin carving ever!! The boys are now actually old enough that they were able to do their own pumpkins from start to finish!! It was awesome! In years past they all start strong and then peter out...so mom is left scraping, tracing, and craving!! The rocked it! Kali even got into it! Shane set up the garage and even heated it with some propane heaters! The gang getting into the muck!!
Piggy...digging out the seeds!

Truman

Yum Yum!!

Kali trying hard! Working on her kitty pumpkin!

The finished product!!

Project Bed Room Swap-Phase 1 of 4

I was reminded today that I haven't gotten around to posting the pictures of phase one. Actually, the first phase of Project Bed Room Swap...moving Truman into the spare room, was a little harder then I thought. The spare room had always been called 'Abbey's room'. Not because she ever stayed in it...but because it is where all 'her' stuff landed when we moved into this house. We decided that Abbey's stuff deserved a more suitable space so we are working on that as well. As for Truman...he moved into a smaller room....but the advantages are that he has a bigger bed, new stuff, and closer access to the bathroom....also now 'his' bathroom. We had talked about what he wanted for his room and he decided that something to do with Michael Jordan. So the walls went gray and the accent colors are red and black. Shane went online to find some posters, and my mom had this cool Jordan jersey (Thanks Grandma) so we framed and hung it. It's a little bare...but he's a boy and likes it simple...he would however like for me to do a mural of some sort...we will see if my creative juices get flowing and I will let ya know.

View of the bed
Couple of the cool posters

A basketball chair with Kali lounging!

Phase 3 of 4

As you can see....I've not gotten very far with Kali's new room. Still trying to figure out what we want to do!! She's loving the princess world right now, but I don't want her to grow out of it and have to redo the room in a year...plus, I'm not quite ready to put her downstairs yet. So I will post as I start to work. Of course this is the first room I actually thought to take a before picture of...always a little more dramatic that way!! More to come!

I'm starting to think I should start a little side business of painting....maybe give my dad a little run for his money!! Actually he's just happy that he doesn't have me as a client!! HeeHee!

Project Bed Room Swap-Phase 2 of 4

After living in our house for 5 years I thought it was time to switch things up a bit. We've decided to do a 4 room bedroom swap. Truman into the spare room, Jake and Taiji into Truman's room, Kali into Jake and Taiji's room and Kali's room will be turned into a homework room. I'm a little out of sequence with this post....and Truman's room will follow....but here is Jake and Taiji's room. Let's see if you can figure out the theme....

Every boy needs a place for their trophies!!
Taiji's bed

Ken Griffey Jr Fathead!! The coolest thing EVER!! (just wish it would stay on the wall!!)

A view of Jake's bed!!

These boys are in love!! It's fun to see them take pride in it and actually want to keep it clean!! They are even making their beds every day!!

More to come!!

Lynden Relay for Life 2009!

This was the 5th year that Relay for Life was held in Lynden. We didn't let a little rain get us down. We walked, we talked, we laughed and even ate a little. Thanks to my team, to my family and my friends for supporting me for the 4th year. Me and my big sis!
Just a bunch of hip mom wanna be's!!

See we can be normal!!

Team 'All In' was formed last year to honor Abbey Mae. I know she would be proud of us, each year that passes I wonder...what would she look like, who would be her friends, would she have lost her first tooth, would we have had patience to grow out her bangs, would she like school, what books would she like....oh how I still miss her!! I do these service projects because I love her I miss her and I don't ever want to forget the happiness she brought to my life and how very proud I am to be able to have been her mom!! So thanks for your support of 'Team All In'! Sorry just a little tangent!!

Me and my Guela!

Hoof-n it for Cancer research!!

Miss Kali Faith!! Painting her face for Cancer!!