The fun of Learning

Who knew that filling a tub with water and putting a bunch of different things in it can be so fun? I will never look at washing and cleaning the same :) everything is more fun if it is a game, right?

We got together with a couple of moms in our ward and made a small play group. Now once a week we get together and have fun learning something.

This was one of my turns:

We had lots of fun throwing different fruit and veggies in water to see if they float or sink.


For those who wonder here is a small list:

Grapes sink
pares sink
Kiwi sinks
tomatoes float
apples float
peaches float
mushrooms float

The most amazing to everyone was that pineapple, the heaviest of all the tested objects did not sink!Later we had Alex visit us and talked about how what he eats is different from what we people eat.The children loved him. I think it is all that fuzzy fur :)

Summer is over, but fun - far from it

Today was an amazingly warm and bright day. We went out to attempt getting our lawn looking neat. It didn't happen until daddy came home and got out a leaf blower, but we sure had a lot of fun!

Katya and Mike had a blast playing with the leaves

The rain of leavesand the storm of leaves

and even more leaves...


I know this warm weather isn't going to last, but it is sure nice to enjoy it while it is here!

Halloween

Here is what I get for not having camera on a trick or treat venture... No children's pictures. I wanted to take some when we got home but they were so tired that they went straight to bed, and even left their candy for the next day.

Katya was a parrot, Sasha wanted to be a Jedi, and Mike was a very cute Scoobydoo.

And here are Jeff and I :)


So, what do you think? Hippy and a gypsy?

AT THE FIRE STATION

We had a field trip in our play group today. Fire Station had an open house and we had a lot of fun learning about fire safety.

The biggest attraction was the life fire show. I was lucky to get it on video. The hoses are so strong that the fire fighters that use it have to have support of one of their own .


Another fun part was seeing the jaws of life in action.



Misha reffused to try on the firefighter's boots, probably because they were as big as he was :-)These are our friends from the play group, Sammy and Hyrum. Here is the same picture from behind :Katya was with us just for a few minutes before going with her preschool, so this is the only picture I have her on.A few of Misha's favorites from the trip include:

Cotton Candy,

MORE cotton candy,


Helicopter

Inside and out

and using a fire hose.


All in all we had a really good time,


and even more cotton candy on the way home :)

FUN IN THE SUN

If you ask Sasha what the best part of the summer was she will say "camping at Flaming Gorge"
In fact last time she said that was as an answer to what she did this year that was the most fun. So in her mind it takes first place even over the Disney Land

And her favorite part was running all over the lake on a jet ski. We all had a lot of fun with that.
It all started with the idea to have one of our regular Dungeons and Dragons games outdoors. So soon it grew into a wonderful 4 family camping trip to Flaming Gorge. Our friends McNamaras were wonderful at organizing everything and they let all of us enjoy a trip or two on their seadoosI think our favorite trip was across the lake and into a Horse Shoe canyon.

There were amazing views and almost life like guardians of the rocks

This trip even included a rescue mission. We found a bat floating barely alive by one of the rocks and couldn't just leave it there.

So , one wet hat later we left it on the rocks to dry out and crawl somewhere more dark.

and than there were more scenic views on the way back

It was a second day of the camp when all the winds died down and it was absolutely beautiful weather for a ride.and I am sure glad our friends Kobin and Erin were around to take some nice pictures of all of us together

New Kitchen / Новая Кухня

While Jeff was out for his business trip I needed something to keep me sane, so I went crazy and started a kitchen make over. First things first: the wall paper had to go. But those of you who know me will think that doesn't sound crazy enough, you are right: The carpet was out next. And the linoleum had to go too.

Here is the partially finished view (the walls are already done)

the wood laminate flooring was a lot of fun. I watched Jeff's dad work one day and decided that I could do it too. So half of the floor is all me :-) I even got myself a toy (a power jig saw).

And since it was very hot and bright outside this is how I looked when I worked :)

(bondana was a timely present from a new friend from Peru )


And here is the end result:
Sorry, my camera can't quite capture the glaze work I did on the walls, so if you want to see it you will have to come visit. I will be happy to see you all!!!

Weather ond everything else, or Better Late Than Never

Погода и остальное, или лучше поздно чем никогда

It is unbelievable how great a change can only one week bring about. Only last week we had snow covering our lawn, and today it is hot enough to want to turn air conditioning on. I don't know how I feel about a change so drastic, but I do enjoy spending my time on the deck, basking in the sunlight and watching Michael have a time of his life. The Sun is so warm and pleasant!!!

Всего за одну неделю погода сменилась со снега на солнышко. А потом орять зима :) этот большой снег выпал 15 апреля!!!

The reason it is only Mike that is sharing the time in the sun with me is that at the time we are able to stay outside for a while the girls are both at school.

Пгодой в основном наслаждаемся только мы с Мишей, потому что когда у нас есть время как следует поваляться на солнышке, девочки в школе.

I have never introduced one more member of our family, the bunny Alex. He lives in a cage outside and comes to visit us inside frequently. He is very good tempered and loves being handled and cared for.


Я еще не представила последнего члена нашей семьи: Нашего кролика Алекса. Он живет в клетке на улице и частенько навещает нас в доме. У него очень хороший характер, и он вюбит когда с ним играют.


Girls call him their baby and take turns carrying him in their arms,

Девочки довут его своим малышом и по-очереди носят его на руках,


and Mikes favorite part is to feed him carrots :-)

А Миша больше всего любит кормить его морковкой :-)

Home sweet Home /Дом родимый дом

На улице много снега и холодно, так что наша семья удалилась в дом. "Что дома то делать?", спросите Вы; хм.. дайте подумать...

We have a lot of snow outside, and it is cold, so our family retreated indoors for the most part. "What is there to do at home?", you will ask, well, let's see...

Дома тоже есть чем заняться. Во-первых, у нас всегда есть нескончаемый запас уборки, и куча игрушек для раскладывания по местам. Но мы и веселиться тоже умеем.

We do have a lot to do indoors too. For once there is a never ending supply of things to clean and toys to go through, but we have some fun too.

Миша обычто находит, во что бы влезть,

Mike can usually find something to get into,


и иногда что-нибудь сладкое съесть

and sometimes sweets to eat

У нас в доме постоянно обитает еще один член семьи. Её зовут Дэйзи (Ромашка)

We have one more member of the family who is indoors with us all the time. Her name is Daisy.

Она всегда там где происходит самое главное

She is always where the action is

Я имела ввиду " там где еда"

Did I say "Action" ? because I meant to say "Food"

и конечно же она - девочка, а девочки они и есть девочки :-) и все мои девочки любят играть вместе

and of cause, she is a girl, and girls will be girls :-) So all my girls like to play together.