shivering in the summer

Cool thing about summer is how the sun lightens up your hair naturally.

The photo below is of my hair....completely sun kissed with colors.

I like that....

A messy summer bun for library day with my kiddos.

(I didn't even know Fifi snapped a picture of my head while I was driving..... I kind'a like that.)

We spent a good portion of the day enjoying the books at the library.

We even check a few to take home.

With the temperature outside in the upper 90's..... the library turned up the air conditioner to a chilly 60.

(Brrrr)

On the way home Sweetheart wrapped herself up in her snuggie in the back seat and snuggled up with a good book for the ride home.....

(Do you remember what you were doing last summer today??? We do. Click HERE to see)

Vroom Vroom

Our little van is due (maybe overdue) for an oil change. 

So today we decided would be a good day to take her in.

Our oil change place has very good prices, very good customer service and a vast collection of family magazines.

The kids actually don't mind the wait..... if only more places would adopt this kind of comfort customer care. 

Peek-a-boo........ 👀 c-u 

Cookie enjoys the puzzles and stories in the latest copy of Highlights magazine.

I remember Highlights...I loved Highlights as a kid...who knew we'd find a copy!!

Before we knew it...our little van was finished getting her oil changed.

Time goes by quickly when you're flipping through the latest magazines!!!

vroom vroom.....

What where we doing last year at this time??

Road Trip.....(click here)

Plant a new truffula. Treat it well....

For our 300th blog, Cookie and Sweetheart share
 some of their favorite Dr. Seuss quotes from
Oh, the Places You'll Go, The Lorax and Cat in the Hat.

I speak for the trees.
I speak for the trees for the trees have no tongues.
--The Lorax--

You're off to Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting,
So...get on your way!
--Oh, the Places You'll Go!--

Look at me!
Look at me!
Look at me NOW!
It is fun to have fun
But you have to know how
--The Cat in the Hat--

And will you succeed?
Yes! You will, indeed!
--Oh, the Places You'll Go!--

Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You're off to Great Places!
You're off and away!
--Oh the Places You'll Go!--

You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself any direction you choose.
You're on your own.
And you know what yo know.
And YOU are the one who'll decide where to go.
--Oh, the Places You'll Go!--

It's a GREAT day so click on one of the past blog post below to continue the adventures.

Thank you for following our blog.....

where did i put it.....

NO SCHOOL for Bam ---today, tomorrow and Friday

School is currently OUT for student led conferences otherwise known as parent / teacher conferences. 

We attended our meeting earlier this morning with his advisory teacher.

Bam is doing well and has nice supportive teachers who encourage him.

Next we're off to the public library to replace our library cards.
I can't seem to find them.....
Do you ever put something in a great spot so that you won't forget them.
But then forget where you put it.
I feel so absent minded---I think I need a vacation!!

Reading opens your mind 

 Knowledge is power

African safari

We rearranged the living room.

Moved the sofa

Moved the table

Moved the funny ottoman in the corner

Moved everything out...........

Then we brought in some of our kitchen chairs and several blankets.

Wanna know why we did this??

Because we're making a tent in the living room.

(Did you ever do this as a kid when you were small)

We love to do this!! 

......especially on days we come back from the public library. 

.......when we bring home loads of books to read.

We crawled into our tents and READ.

We crawled around and visit one another. 

 We admired our creative tent formation we created.

 We compliment each other on the choice of books chosen.

We crawl all over the living room..............because this is no longer our living room.

It's our reading adventure safari tent in Africa.

Shhhh

it's the most wonderful time of the year.......

T'was Christmas Eve.....
We've set our luminarias out along our walkway, driveway and sidewalk.

.....this is Christmas Eve on Nob Hill
 

In case you're wondering.....

Luminarias or farolitos are brown paper bags weighed down with sand or gravel and lit with a small votive candle or tea light candle.

 On Christmas Eve our neighborhood is aglow with glimmer and flicker.

They're so beautiful to walk among....

We enjoyed our evening walk among thousands of luminarias in our neighborhood.

Lighting up the way......

Runway spectacular

this is definitely something everyone should experience.... a New Mexico Christmas Eve.

After our walk, we made cookies and sweets for family, friends and SANTA. (of course)

If only you could smell our home.
Mmmm......

If you've tried to call us, you probably couldn't get through.......our apologies.

The children are on the phone with NORAD.

(North American Aerospace Defense Command)

Every year since I can remember NORAD has been tracking Santa's flight around the world.

We check via the internet as well as many calls to NORAD in Peterson AFB (Airforce Base) in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

When you call the Santa number a volunteer military personale will let you know exactly where the military satellites and NASA are spotting Santa's sleigh.

Pretty fun and exciting for us.........

In anticipation, Bam, Fifi, Sweetheart and Cookie set out milk, a piece of Navajo fry bread and cookies for Santa. They also left fresh carrots, celery and strawberries for the reindeers too.

Our choice bedtime story tonight is ......T'was The Night Before Christmas.
(loving tradition!!)

HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVE to all.............and to all a good night.

a haunting Christmas night

We're reading the ultimate Christmas ghost story A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.
The classic tale, from 1843, of Mr. Scrooge who is visited by the spirits of Past, Present and Future.
This is among one of our favorite family holiday books to read aloud together.

"I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach. Oh, tell me I may sponge away the writing on this stone!"

My children understand that the true joy of the Christmas season is in giving.
You're never too young to understanding and learn what A Christmas Carol teaches about regret, greed, suffering, and misfortunate; along with charity, salvation and appreciation.
"Mr. Scrooge regrets the pain and sorrow he left upon others yet can now reflect with peace only after learning and understanding the full scope of his life's path." explains Bam to his sister.

"No one is useless in this world who lightens the burden of it to anyone else."
"We forge the chains we wear in life."


Absolute words to live by.......