Field Trips

Two weeks ago we took a field trip with Emily's class to see the Cy-Ride bus barn and ride around town.  I was pretty excited she got to go and that we could tag along.  Most preschools in town arrange this field trip and I was always a little sad she had never gone to preschool when I heard others speak of their trip. 
Dallas and Emily both had a great time, I was not super mom on this trip and had to keep both Noelle and Dallas seated for safety, so I didn't get any pictures, plus it was raining!  The CyRide building is fairly new, one of my college roommates even worked on the building project as an engineer.  Some things we learned.
The buses hold 100 gal of gas, they fill them up every night even though a typical bus route day only uses 50 gal of gas.
They do all of their own servicing, have their own mechanics, several bays with lifts, and they even paint the buses there.
They have a bus wash tunnel, we got to go through it in a bus, and the brushes are Cyclone colored!
There are more than 100 people on staff, many part-timers during college stay on after graduation and move to full time.
We also learned why there is often 5-6 buses hanging out in the parking lot South of Hilton.

This Friday we joined the class exploring McFarland Park, Story County's little Conservation area.  It was a fun, cold, windy, but not quite rainy time discovering things.  My kids were good nut finders, we found several different varieties and showed our guide.  We also got to see a Green Backed Heron on our hike.  We could have picnicked following our hike.  I didn't plan on it because of the weather, they only have spots outside, plus we really didn't have any picnic type foods at home.  Scrambled eggs or leftover steak didn't seem like good options for my littles.  I had planned on running to a place to get some food on our way home since it was a special day.  I changed my mind, and we went to the Co-op and spent the $15 we would have spent on hamburgers on food the kids picked out.  Wheatsfield always has awesome samples out in every isle, so we sampled our way around an came up with a silly lunch.

3 organic peaches (Dallas picked)
2 organic pears (Em picked, she loves pears)
1/8 lb dark choc chips ( I picked these)
2 fruit leather strips for snack later this afternoon
tuna salad (my pick)
1/4 lb white cheddar (Noelle's pick)
1 dessert bar square with pecans, dark choc chips, with a shortbread crust? (we split 4 ways)
1/4 lb cashew veggie and noodles (Em picked)
We made it out spending $13 something, with a pretty yummy and random lunch + snack and it was fun (plus the free samples, the jalapeno + cheddar tortilla chips we sampled were yummy!)

We also saw a guy walking around wearing 500 grocery sacks turned into a sort of costume. He was holding a sign stating the average shopper uses 500 sacks a year.  I was glad I happened to have a reusable tote in the van that we took in with us.  I am not that much of a hippie.  I love getting sacks at the store.  We often ask our friends to give us extra, we put them to dog duty use and also use them in our little trash cans around the house.  But all that said, it was a good day not to feel guilty at the checkout when she asked if I needed a sack!

Oh, and sorry no pictures from the nature hike either.  Again I was not super mom, I was trying to keep Dallas on the path, I had Noelle up on my back in the Kelty Carrier, and helping Emily learn and hear what the Conservationist was saying.  Plus it was cold, my iPhone needs skin contact to take pictures and I was wearing mittens!

 I'll give you one guess as to what this guy was doing!

 Driving

 At the park

 Emily's first American Girl series book picked fresh from the library, Aunt Lynne was so proud

 So tired

 Emily's first time putting in pigtails herself!

 Unprompted, Emily reads to Dallas (I love this, and so glad I got to witness it)

Dance party happens in our living room frequently while waiting for Rob to walk through the door

While memorizing Hebrews 11:6-8 this week were talking about if we would be scared if we were Abraham. 

Emily said she would not be afriad, "when I grow up I want to know God and tell people about God" ( I said she could do this now and not have to wait until she grows up)

Dallas said "when I grow up I want to drive the General Lee"

So precious that my children are so different!  In other news.  Rob should be home tonight!!!

Banana Bites

Picture from weelicious.com

 I made these for lunch for the kiddos to eat this week.  They are really simple and fairly fast. 
I use the pancake recipe out of my classic Betty Crocker, but subbed rice flour.  I made two banana's worth, served with sliced strawberries and peas.  Everyone licked their plates!

third kid

Noelle's first 3-4 word sentence as follows.  She came shuffling into the kitchen after a scream, a cry and a yell from the living room.

She pulls on my pants, looks up at me and says
"D lls boom boom me"

She said it three times for emphasis.  I am pretty sure she told her first tattle as well.

These pictures are from Rob's phone.  He climbed to the top of the jungle gym with the kids when he met us after work.  View from the top!

I spent way to much time this afternoon trying to make a healthy yummy snack for us.  I dehydrated some apple slices.  Peeling, coring, slicing, then laying them in the dehydrator.  The good news is they taste great.  The bad news is they are all stuck to the dehydrator racks, as in I have to chisel them off and they are coming off in bits!  So sad.  Any idea what I did wrong. I am guessing, too thin, too hot, maybe I need to grease the sheets????

And I need to share this, please read it, it will only take 2 minutes.  It is a short read, but so good!

http://raisinghomemakers.com/2012/a-letter-to-my-children-about-marriage/