Shaving Cream Fun!

Just last week it was one of those blistering cold days and the kids were stuck inside.  I brainstormed a little and remember a fun activity I did in Head Start when I taught Preschool.  So this post is a throw back to my good old days teaching.   I know some of you might think I am crazy for letting my kids just go at it with the Shaving cream, but the Kids love it and it serves two purposes.
I had the kids spray a big pile of shaving cream in front of them and spread it all over the table.  After covering the whole table and kitchen counter, we practiced our shapes, number, letters, and just fun pictures.

The kids had a blast and couldn't get enough of this whole shaving cream fun.  So after a while the shaving cream begins to dry and that when you take a warm wash cloth or paper towel and wipe down the surface. All my kids enjoyed clean it all up just as much as messing it up which is rare with kids. 

I love this activity because the Shaving cream works as a cleaner on the table, it clean off marker stains, crayons, pencil and any other marks you may have.  So can anyone say AWESOME....Cleaning and Playing, and keeping kids busy all combined into one, you can't beat that.  I use to do this all the time in preschool, I am so glad I remember this activities.  So after I got done, I sat down and brainstormed some more fun activities I had done back in the good old days of teaching.  I have a whole list of fun to try with my kids.  I guess I just go so caught up in the everyday coming and goings of raising kids, I forgot some of the fun easy thing I can do at home with them.   I getting excited to do more....stay tuned for more fun!!!

Jane Turns 2 years old

 

 Jane's Birthday was on December 1st and she turned the big 2 years old.  I am so happy for this little girl.  Jane had a great day.  We first started out going to the Sandy Mall with my mom and my sisters kids. First we rode the Carousel, which she got to pick out the horse she wanted to ride.  Jane was all smiles.  Caleb on the other hand had a minor freak out, don't ask I don't know.

After that we went downstairs to ride in this indoor train they have.  The conductor was so cute and gave them a little ticket to ride with.  Jane seemed to really enjoy looking out the windows of the train at all the people and shops.  We even got to drive by Santa.  All the kids liked that.  We then played a little in the dinosaur playground they have.  Jane was running and doing her sideways skip all over the place.  It was so neat to see how excited she was.  I also realized right then how big she has gotten. Last time we were there I had to help her with everything. Now she can do is all on her own.  Jane had a great time, along with the rest of the kids.  Soon after that we got some pizza for the kids to eat and headed home for Naps.

This year Jane had a Tinker Bell themed Birthday party.  She is crazy for anything that has to so with Tinkerbell.  She enjoys watching all the movies with her in it.  We decorated the house when she sort of took her nap.  She only slept for a little bit, maybe she was just too excited.  I also got all the presents out on the table.  The night before I made her a purple cake with a huge pink flower on it with vines and other small pink flowers crawling down the two layer circle cake.   I really had a great time making this cake.  This one ranks in the top five cakes I have make.  It was super easy and really fun colors and design.

Jane got a lot of Tinker bell related things.  She got an umbrella, doll, dress up , blanket, socks, and lantern toy all with Tinker Bell on it.  She couldn't get enough of it.  She was excited about each present she got.  Jane really got what was going on, she was  pro at ripping the paper off, she would have a cute reaction and then say NEXT.  It was cute.  Jane favorite's toy of the day was a big baby doll that her Grandma Mott gave her.   She could hardly contain her smile.  She carried it everywhere and even slept with it at night.

Jane trying to hold up two fingers to say "2"

Tinker Bell Dress up sent by Daddy

Her favorite present!

Then we had Jane's favorite thing to eat for dinner.  Chicken Nuggets and Fries.  The adults made them into taco wraps, with fry sauce, lettuce, cheese, and fries all wrapped together.  It was a really easy, quick meal for the party.  It was something other then Pizza that we always have.

After presents and dinner we had some cake.  We sang to Jane and she did really well blowing out her own candles.  I didn't think she knew how to do that yet, I was wrong.  We all cheer for her as she blew out the candles.  Everyone loved the Cake, the chocolate cake tasted so yummy.  Jane devoured hers.   Jane then played with her cousins for a while and then headed off the bed in her new Tinker Bell PJ's.  It was a fun fill birthday.
As part of my Birthday entry on my blog I like to take a moment to describe what Jane is like today at 2 years old.

 Jane Elizabeth Rasmussen 

• Is a sweet, fun loving little girl.  
• Loves to smile and giggle a lot.  
• Enjoys playing with her Brother Caleb while Kate is at school, they are great playmates.
• Jane is talking a lot more.  She has really taken off with that, she imitates what you say.
• She loves to cuddle with you at night.
• Likes you to read her stories
• Loves to have Grandma rock her to sleep for nap time.
• Knows her body parts
• Starting to know her colors- she knows blue green, pink, purple
• Likes to play with stickers. 
• Colors with her big sister Kate.
• Swimming is her new favorite activity to go do.
• Loves to take baths.
• Things she is into: Baby Dolls, Tinkerbell, Curious George, Popeye, 
• She is now starting to watch shows with her siblings.
• Loves to sing in the Car.
• The only song that will still calm her down in the Car is Taylor Swift.  She loves to listen to her.(I listened to her a lot when I was pregnant with Jane, maybe that's why) 

•  Jane is also into everything she is not suppose to be. She likes to make messes with every baking supply she can find.  The floor is her canvas. She has also started to find markers and pens and draw all over her body.  No matter how many times I tell her paper only.
• Still takes one nap a day
• I need to wean her from her Binky obsession, soon I promise.
•  Loves to dance to any music she can hear.
• Loves to eat Poppies Jelly Beans.
•  Is all about having pockets on anything she wears.
• Likes to take her own diaper off after going poppy, so time to train her.
• Hates to get dressed and undressed, she fights you and squirms the whole time. She likes to say Naked baby and run away.
• Is quick to say sorry and give hugs.  Always stays in time out when in trouble.
• Give Aunt Amy kisses and hugs.
• Likes to give you a report that Amy is home, or at work or Grandma is sleeping or at work.  Jane likes to call everyone to dinner.  "Poppi Dinner time."
• Always wants to say a prayer before Kate leaves for school and before she goes to bed.
• Jane is now repeating prayers now.
• Always say we are home when he drive down our street.

Jane is a very good easy for the most part girl.  I am so blessed to have her in my family.  She is truly and angel send from Heaven.  Happy Birthday to my Baby girl she turned 2 years old Today!  I love you forever and always Miss Janey!

Trick or Treat!

This year Jane went as a pink Fairy, Kate as a Ballerina, and Caleb as a Ghost, which was all his idea.  It was a great day to trick or treat and the kids had a ball.  Happy Halloween Everyone!

Fall picture

This was my first attempt at fall pictures.  It's kind of dark on the kids faces. I think I may try again to see if I can get a decent one, maybe all three kids smiling, yeah right, but I can try right.  Enjoy! Jane is 22 months, Caleb 3 1/2, and Kate is 6 years old.

Alpine Days 2011

Julia, Christian,Kate,Caleb,Jane

As part of Alpine days we visited the Fire Station.  All the Kids had a blast sitting inside the truck and talking to the firemen.

Happy 6th Birthday Kate

Happy Birthday Kate!

Kate turned 6 years old on July 25th. It was a wonderful day full of fun times, great food and family.  We love you Kate, we hope all your dreams and wishes come true for you this year! 

Happy 4th of July......Happy Birthday American!

Happy 4th of July!  We hope everyone enjoy this wonderful holiday.   I am grateful to live is such a wonderful country.  I am thankful to all those men and women who have served and are serving to protect our freedoms.  God Bless American!

Alpine Poppie fields

This past Thursday I ventured out to find the yearly blooming Poppies fields in Alpine to take some pictures with the kids.  I was kind of worried I wouldn't be able to find them on my own, last year we got lost for an hour before we found them.  It was a race with the sun I have to say to find the flowers before high noon.  I sort of just followed my way in to general direction I thought they were in and I ended up recognizing the church I needed to go behind and then follow the dirt road behind it.  I was making good time, it was only 9:30 and I found them.

The crazy adventure part of this outing was my battery on my camera died after I only took a few shots, so frustrating.  I found the place and the whole point was to explore and take pictures. So I loaded the kids back up, when home, charged the battery while I ran an errand to Wal-mart, by then the battery was ready to go and we went back up to see the flowers again. The kids were still very excited to look around, but not so much about taking pictures, they were done.  I don't know what it is, but last year Caleb didn't want to smile and same with this year again. I ended up taking pictures when he wasn't noticing.  It's so hard to get a great picture the three kids, I think it's the ages they are, just not the right age to sit and want to smile.  I got a few good ones, not the greatest. The pictures I did take are the results of poor planning on my part, I didn't get to upset with the kids, they just wanted to walk around, and that was alright with me.

The kids had a wonderful time exploring and walking among the beautiful orange blossoms. If you have lived in Alpine you know about the poppie fields.  There are millions of orange poppies that blossom mid June every year.  It's a prime/optimal location to take some pictures of your loved ones.  That is if they decide they want to cooperate. Alpine seem to get a lot a traffic in this little area at this time of year, so many people come to see the poppies.  It's a great thing to go see if you have never been.  To be able to see so many naturally growing orange poppies with the mountains as breath taking backdrop,  all I can  say is simply Gorgeous!

Jane is saying Cheese in this picture.

My little tree climber

I love this little boy!

I love this picture of Caleb, he is a little dirty from playing but I still love it.

That is the smile I have grown to love so much!

Our little Jane

Picture of the Week

Love this little Girls Smile!

Happy 3rd Brithday Caleb

Happy Birthday Caleb! He turned 3 on May 14th, Caleb had a wonderful Curious George themed birthday party.  So excited for Caleb who is now a big 3 year old. Wow, time goes by so quickly when you are growing and having fun!

Happy Easter

 

Happy Easter   

2011

Is it Spring or is it Winter?

 

Is it Spring or is it Winter, it's hard to tell.  I guess this is how Utah does spring, these were actually taken today outside.  The kids sure do love the snow!

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Kate 5, Jane 15 months, Caleb 2

Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone, may you find Luck today and everyday this year!