History Day 4

Tomorrow is our fourth History Study Day. As always we are excited to get together with our friends and make history come alive. We've set out all our material for the activities and laid out our WW II clothing.

Tomorrow we will be doing a variety of activities; playing games from the time period, doing map study and map games, working on our time lines, and making silly putty, among other things!


Did you know that silly putty is something you can make in your own kitchen! Here's a little silly putty trivia:

During World War II, Japan invaded numerous rubber-producing countries, cutting the United States off from the rubber supplies it needed to manufacture truck tires and boots. So the War Production Board asked American companies to develop a synthetic rubber. James Wright, an General Electric engineer, invented a gooey, bouncy substance. He didn't see a use for it, but marketing whiz Peter Hodgson thought it would make a great toy. He was right. When Hodgson introduced it to American kids it was an instant hit.

Well making silly putty will be a first for us. There's one more thing that we set out for another interesting first for the kids: Spam!


Many soldiers lived on it. We'll see how the kids like it! "Grin"

Sleeping like a baby!

I got these adorable pictures from Gretchen. She was trying to get some creative pictures of Alaina.

GJ - I was trying to get Angel Baby awake, and figured it was a good time for pictures!

"What are you doing?"

"Oh that again."

"Fine, I'm going back to sleep!"

Today

I need to drink out of "Pretty".

Visiters

While I was staying with K&G&A they had some visitors. Unfortunately I was distracted showing off little Miss Alaina and only managed to get my camera out for the Henry's visit! My apologies to the other dear friends who stopped in!














Kyle and John



Greta and Alaina
(She slept soundly through their stay. Where are your friends at 3AM???)

John sang the most interesting folk and cowboy songs to Alaina and the rest of us. It was fun. Some we could join in with like "She'll be Comin' Around the Mountain". However there is one disparaging verse about Grandmothers in that song which Alaina should never learn! "wink"


My personal favorite was: "Froggie Went a Courtin"

Froggie went a courtin' and he did ride, uh-huh
Froggie went a courtin' and he did ride, uh-huh
Froggie went a courtin' and he did ride
With a sword and a pistol by his side, uh-huh uh-huh uh-huh

He rode right up to Miss Mousie's door, uh-huh
He rode right up to Miss Mousie's door, uh-huh
He rode right up to Miss Mousie's door
Gave three loud raps, and a very big roar, uh-huh uh-huh uh-huh

Took Miss Mousie on his knee, uh-huh
Took Miss Mousie on his knee, uh-huh
Took Miss Mousie on his knee,
Said Miss Mousie, will you marry me, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh

Uncle Rat laughed, and he shook his fat sides, uh-huh
Uncle Rat laughed, and he shook his fat sides, uh-huh
Uncle Rat laughed, and he shook his fat sides
To think his niece would be a bride, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh

Where shall the wedding supper be, uh-huh
Where shall the wedding supper be, uh-huh
Where shall the wedding supper be
Way down yonder in the hollow tree, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh

What shall the wedding supper be, uh-huh
What shall the wedding supper be, uh-huh
What shall the wedding supper be
Fried mosquito and a black-eyed pea, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh

Little piece of corn bread layin' on the shelf, uh-huh
Little piece of corn bread layin' on the shelf, uh-huh
Little piece of corn bread layin' on the shelf
If you want anymore you can sing it yourself, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh

Now if that doesn't put a baby to sleep . . . . . I ask you. . . . . . what will???

John and Greta thanks for the fun evening.

Christmas --------------- before Alaina

The day after Christmas we headed down to Oakland to visit you know who. It was her birthday! (Yes the day after Christmas.)


She has always enjoyed Fondue and it's become rather a tradition with us. Off we went with Christmas & birthday presents and our fondue stuff. We forgot the Sterno and couldn't believe that the little grocery in town had some. (that place is amazing, you can't believe the variety of things they stock in such a small space!)


Once we got it home, we discovered it was too tall for our pot stand. All that to explain the creative use of tuna cans in the next picture. "goofy grin"


The menu was Cheese Fondue and Pizza Fondue (salad and other unimportant things). Pizza won out over our Taco Fondue this year. . . . AND since it was the day after Christmas we opted out of all our "worth drooling over" dessert fondues.



Lest you think that we are just total sluggards, I have to stick in one picture of "Ken the energetic" painting the rest of the living room. (two coats!)
We all did help . . . . a bit. Ahem

We took this picture to show off Gretchen's baby bump and thought that we would be able to post it before they delivered. HA! Well here it is after the fact.

We had a sweet and wonderful time together. There is nothing to compare with the loving fellowship of family. Thank you Lord.


Pizza Fondue

1 medium onion finely chopped
1/2 lb. ground beef
2- 10.5 oz can pizza sauce
1 1/2 tsp oregano
1/4 tsp Garlic powder
2 1/2 cups cheddar cheese shredded
1 cup mozzarella cheese shredded
Italian Bread

Brown onion and ground beef in sauce pan. Drain. Add pizza sauce and seasonings. Stir until heated. Add cheeses by handfuls. Stir until smooth. Pour into fondue pot; keep warm while serving. Serve with chunks of Italian bread or bagels.

Free Pillowcase Pattern from Quiltmaker Website

Materials

• 7/8 yard Main Body Fabric
• 1/3 yard Contrasting Band Fabric
• 1/8 yard Trim Fabric

Cutting

• 1 panel 27" x 42" Main Body Fabric
• 1 panel 11" x 42" Contrasting Band Fabric
• 1 strip 3 1/2" x 42" Trim Fabric

Step 1 Selecting Fabrics

A pillowcase is a great decorating accessory for your bedroom. Choose 3 different fabrics–coordinate them with a quilt, splash colors into a room or decorate for a holiday. Pillowcases sewn from novelty fabrics also make great gifts for kids or to send off with a college student.

Step 2 Sewing the Pillowcase

All seams are 1/2" unless otherwise noted.

With wrong sides together, fold the contrasting band in half lengthwise and press. Repeat with the trim.

Baste the folded trim strip to the band 1/8" from the raw edges along the length of the strips (fig. 1).

Pin the band to the right side of the pillowcase panel along the 42" edge with the raw edges aligned and the trim sandwiched in the middle; sew together. Zigzag the raw edges and press toward the pillowcase (fig. 2).

Fold the pillowcase right sides together, matching the band seamline and lower edges, and stitch the raw edges together (fig. 3).

Trim the corners to reduce the bulk. Zigzag the raw edges and turn the pillowcase right side out; press.

Belated Christmas Post - - - - - well sort of

I was trying to save a bit of money at Christmas this year and got this fun idea. I decided to make pillowcases for all my nieces and nephews.



For years I have collected fabrics that tickle my fancy. . . . . . hoping that some day I would get the time to turn them into quilts or clothing. I have quite the stash

Oh I had so much fun!!







I used all my brightest, or cutest or wildest fabrics to make these goofy pillowcases.


On the website for Quiltmaker magazine you can find the free directions. =)

I had everything on hand and just went to town. ( nice idiom huh Najah?)


There are snowmen, fish, martians, aprons, aliens, flowers and bears on them.
(the bear one says I'd rather be sailing)


Then I found pillows 2 for $5.00. They were a little short but still perfect for what I needed.


The only one that isn't pictured is the one for Becca that I made with reproduction 30's fabric. I especially liked the part of hers that was that wonderful Pepto-Bismal pink color.

For Jacob

Jacob, here is a picture of Prison Bug! Was it what you imagined?


Let me explain.

Jacob called and talked with Kyle the other day. He innocently asked Kyle what the baby was doing. Kyle proceeded to tell him that she was laying in her bassinet looking at her prison bug. There was a long silence. Kyle then explained that it was a sock like thing with prison stripes and a bug on it in her bed.

HUM Gretchen and I just laughed at the images that that description brought up.

Well here is Prison Bug. It IS a sock that Alaina will wear when she is older. The bug is a rattle that she can see when she is looking at her feet. Cute idea, no??
















One more picture:
Alaina and her loving Daddy.

Makes me think of how we can rest in the arms of our loving Abba.

More Pix

WARNING!!

More Baby Pictures

Proceed at your own risk

You know that it's going to continue like this for months don't you?!?!?!?


The girls in our family have always liked to dress up. Well Alaina is no different.

Here she is in her first bow. "grin"

The happy little family!

Alaina and her Grandpa.

We haven't really decided what we want to be called. We can't be Grandpa and Grandma Sisson because that is Ken's folks.

Any suggestions??

Two Wonderful Weeks

I'm just back from two weeks with Kyle, Gretchen and Alaina.

It was absolutely wonderful!!! There isn't a happier and more thankful Grandma anywhere on earth.

Nothing can compare to cuddling a newborn.

Isn't she beautiful??? Yep she's 2 weeks old now.

Yes, in case you noticed, the quilt in these pictures is the one I made for Gretchen.

The Doting Uncles

I should say that he likes his niece and
of course his new title!

From the lips of children and infants

you have ordained praise......

Psalm 8:2 (New International Version)

Andrew getting to
know Alaina

Alaina's first flowers from a guy, boy is she starting young.
Kyle has got his job cut out for him.

(The flowers are from Uncle Andrew) ;)

Well hello little one!

God is so good, to think that he entrusted us with this new little life,
to care for, love and influence!

A face to melt a heart
of stone!

I am bound to be the
favorite Uncle!

Auntie Haley.

P.S. Go to http://nitchfield.blogspot.com/ for more.

Little Alaina

She is so sweet!!!

The new Mommy. ;)

I am just thanking the Lord for this precious gift!

I could not have imagined that it would be this wonderful ! ;)

Haley ( The VERY happy Auntie!!!) ;-)

It's a Girl !!!

Ken and I have officially become grandparents. Hooray!

Kyle and Gretchen had a little girl.

Alaina Hope Phillips
7 lbs. 13 oz
20 "

I've been wearing pink all day. "big smile" We will drive down to meet her tomorrow and get pictures. We can't wait to hold that baby.

Please join us in praising the Lord for His great goodness toward us.