Keeping It Simple

So, this is the my final post for the 2011 Picture Book Challenge and the final post on this blog until the new year. I am going to take a nice long blogging break to enjoy the rest of advent and then the Christmas season. Here are a few of our "just for fun" Christmas reads- Mr. Putter and Tabby Bake the Cake by Cynthia Rylant I just love Mr. Putter books. The boys and I took turns reading this easy reader to each other. We all enjoyed the story about Mr. Putter making the perfect gift for Mrs.Teaberry. Baseball Bats for Christmas by  Michael Kusugak I also love a book that introduces us to something or someone that we are not familiar with. This book, written about a true story from the author's childhood, tells about Christmas in 1955 in Repulse Bay. In a land with no standing-ups (trees), who can imagine why 6 of them would be delivered at Christmas time? This book not only tells the story about these trees made into bats, it gives a interesting peek in to...

Horse lessons really are like a weekly field trip for us. While I am not sure that we are meant for the country life, we all enjoy hanging out at the stables. I am constantly surprised at how much there is to learn- from how to form the right knot for the right job to which tool to use for which grooming purpose, there is so much detail to learn and remember. And, of course, the safety procedures that probably seem second nature to those who are around horses regularly. It was quite a feat for the younger two boys just to learn to keep attentive to what they are doing at all times.   Yep. Scooping the poop is all part of the deal!   He's not really all that cheerful about it, but, for some reason,  was hamming for the camera.  A job well done!   While the younger two boys were scooping, Paul was riding.   Taking shoes off got a response in a previous post-  these are the shoes.  ...

I am rarely conflicted on which blog to post something on. This time I was... to read about our good notes and not so good ones, you can visit here . ;) I'd love to share. 

We arrived in Half Moon Bay a few hours before the predicted negative tide and  walked around the Cypress trees.   When the kids were just about to bust because they couldn't wait to  get down to the beach, we headed that direction.   Although it was not peak low tide yet, there was plenty of sea life to be found.   Each treasure was handled carefully and left in its place!   We never got tired of searching the little pools for sea life.  It is kind of like an "I Spy" book- you have to look carefully to find everything.   Frank (hubby) and a family friend admiring their finds.  (just to reassure you- no sticks were used to touch actual sea life. Only to point.)   And  a chart was consulted to get more specific identifications- there  were also park rangers present to help.   This guy was holding on for dear life- just not to...