Baby Birds

Michael and Jacob built a bird house several years ago to hang in our backyard. Amazingly, a family of birds has made it their home. We always know that Spring has arrived when we see the mama bird move in. She lays eggs throughout the Summer. The top lifts off the house so we can monitor the hatching of her eggs. We even took some video of the baby birds crying for food this year. It’s been a great opportunity for the kids to watch the baby birds grow up and fly away.

Thanks to Sarah for this great template!

A scout is always prepared

As a Scout activity a couple of years ago Jacob went to the Rec Center pond to work on his fishing merit badge. There isn't much to catch in the pond, but Jacob's leader Fred Brown told him that catfish will bite anything that stinks. Following the Scout Motto Jacob wanted to be prepared with something for the catfish to bite. He took a hot dog from the fridge added a little water and let it sit out in the sun and heat for a couple of days. Yes, it did stink and yes, the catfish did bite. Jacob caught a nice sized catfish, but just didn't have the heart to eat him. He had a better idea! He asked his leader if he could bring the catfish home and put him in his fish tank. Had I been there, I would have said, "heck, NO!" Instead Jacob returned home with his stinky hot dog bag filled with pond water and a nice sized catfish. I didn't think the catfish would survive more that a week.

Jacob and Michael kept the catfish for almost two years. Any new fish that were added to the tank were immediately eaten by the catfish. The only other fish to survive was the algae eater. I think they became friends actually and spent lots of time together under the rock in the tank.

On April 25th Jacob decided it was time to set the catfish free. Jacob loaded the fellar up into another ziplock bag and we returned him to the pond. Brooke went along and seemed quite distraught as Jacob released the cafish into the pond. You can see her dismay in the last picture of the slideshow.

Always remember to be prepared. You never know what your scout might bring home.

She's learning to read

I haven't done a scrapbook page in months, but I was inspired today to get one done. Below you'll find the story that goes with the page in case the font is too small.

When Erin learned to read she tried to sound out every word she saw. One day Brooke was wearing this shirt that said, “Miss Bee-having.” Erin looked at the shirt and outloud sounded out the words, “MisssssBeeeehaaaving.” Brooke looked down at her shirt and ran her fingers under the words and said, “Aaaannngeel.” ANGEL. There isn’t a better word to describe my girl. I love her to death!

Looking Forward...

I'm looking forward to school starting two weeks from today.

I'm looking forward to the carpet being installed next week (cross your fingers).

I'm looking forward to cooler weather.

I'm looking forward to decorating a PINK room.

I'm looking forward to the T-Tapp retreat in October.

Just one of those days around here, but lots to look forward to and how can the song I have on my blog not make you happy. :-)

Reduce, Reuse and Recycle

I wouldn't call myself completely GREEN, but I do try and recycle. I put my bins out every other week with the trash and for the life of me I can't throw away an aluminum can. I also keep all my plastic sacks and take them to Walmart periodically.

Last week on the T-Tapp forums I found this really cool site. It's a place where you can recycle the books you own and have already read. Check it out here: www.paperbackswap.com . Here's how it works:

It’s a free website where you can list your books (paperback & hardback) as well as books on tape. If someone chooses your book, you get a credit that you can order someone else’s book with. You mail the book off at your expense ($2.13 for most books and even cheaper for some kids paperbacks). When you choose one, it’s sent to you for free. You can also buy credits for $3.45 per book - free shipping. You list your books by typing in the ISBN, and all the book information and descriptions automatically load, so not a lot of typing either. When you start, you load nine of your books, and you get an automatic 3 credits free to start you off.

What fun! I've already mailed off five books and I've received one of the ones I requested. I know there are libraries, but I love this because I feel like I recycling in a way all those books I've got stored in my basement.

If you sign up use me as a referral - beksparties@yahoo.com . Let's get GREEN together.

Graffiti

We've got the painting bug around here. As of tonight we've (I should say Rex - I've done lots of taping) painted three bedrooms, a stairwell, landing area and hall.

It got late one night and I was trying to use up some paint so I got this great idea to write a message to Rex. Here is what a painted in the hallway.

Michael was still awake and he said, "Why didn't you write, I love Michael?" My reply - Michael is too long to fit on the wall. So Michael got out the paint and painted on the other wall the left half of this picture. Jacob came upstairs and added the right side.

Realizing how much fun it is to graffiti the walls Rex finished off the paint with this. Boy, were the girls surprised when they woke up in the morning. I sure hope Brooke can remember that it's only okay to paint on the walls if you plan to paint over it the next day.

PS When we did paint over "BEK IS HOT" you could still see it through the paint. Rex went over it three times to get it covered completely.

Sharing a Room

Either you did or didn't growing up.

I did share a bedroom with my sister Lisa for a period of time growing up. I have vivid memories of our shared bedroom in our house on Poplar Circle in Centerville, Utah. I remember playing a game (when we were supposed to be sleeping) with Lisa where I would pretend to be falling asleep and I would start to fall of my bed and Lisa would have to jump out of bed and catch me. I know it sounds a little odd, but it sure was fun - for ME. I don't think Lisa ever got to be the person who fell. Those darn big sisters.

We had matching pink bedspreads on our twin beds. I also have a very distinct memory of spilling dark purple fingernail polish on my bedspread. I don't think my mom was ever able to get it out.

Once we moved to Chelsea Cove in Bountiful I graduated to my OWN ROOM. It was like a rite of passage - a badge that I could wear to show that I was all was grown up. How I loved having my own room with an attached bathroom. And what a great surprise to find out that I had a phone jack in my room. It doesn't seem like much now with the advent of cordless phones, but back then it was a BIG DEAL because I could talk on the phone in the privacy of my own room. All of our phones at that time were connected to the wall.

All of these thoughts have come to mind because of some moving around we will be doing at our house in the next week. I got a great idea a month or so ago to get an estimate on new carpet. I can't stand the carpet we have. It's much too light for a family with kids and it is in desperate need of a good stretching. There are several large ripples throughout the house. When I went to look at samples I fell in love with some carpet called "dried flowers." I also got an estimate on the removal of our carpet in our bathroom with tile as the replacement. After some thought we decided to go for it.

Then I got this great idea to move Erin and Brooke into Michael and Jacob's room and give the boys each their own room. They were thrilled to say the least. Except for a few months after they were born they have shared a room. That's over thirteen years of never having their own space. So in addition to getting the new carpet we have also been painting A LOT and I'll be sure to post some pictures soon.

Congrats Michael and Jacob you're all grown up now!