We are Drowning in Science....

These days!  The Frumpy House is all a flutter with learning about scientific things....yep, we like to dabble in the sciences!

First up, Lauryn with her Biology (a-herm)...The Human Body!
I have successfully steered her clear of the reproductive goings on in the human body. I guess it may not be appropriate for a 7 year old to have the goings on of reproduction on her story board!! She has successfully labeled and found interesting facts about the 7 different human body functions or parts.

Like did you know that you can fit 600,000 skin cells into an area the size of a postage stamp? Yep, you can...it's scientific!

To keep her project kid and grandparent friendly we are including a video from the ever popular "Schoolhouse Rock" series.....

The Little'un, Liyah is a Kindergartener this year...which to her means she gets to do things that she's seen her sister do for the past 3 years!

She chose to study Animal Science....as in the Mammal and Aviary critters!
Specifically, she is studying animal foot prints.  She's learning to match the foot prints with the animals...she making it a nice interactive display.

She's gonna make a quiz sheet for all her visitors, see how smart they are!! Hmmm, momma's thinking she should buy candy for the test takers! Smarties for those who pass, and Dum-Dum suckers for those who don't!! HAHAHAHA (I prob'ly will cause I'm that kinda sick mom....)

We are researching, finding, printing, writing, cutting, pasting and learning so much around here, we don't quite know how to handle it!!

Any fun school projects happening at your house yet? Share any links with me if you blog about it!!

Livin' It Up....

Skunky Style!!

Well, a few months ago, we noticed an animal (or multiple animals) were feasting on the cat's food. Knocking over the barrel & chowing down on a free midnight feast.

Being the frugal people we are, we didn't take too kindly to these wild critters comin over & helping themselves.

So we got a live trap from a neighbor friend & decided we'd see what would come about....

Specimen #1:



Granted, it's cute. But, when this rascal & all his brothers, sisters, aunts & mothers come over for snackage....it's a LOT of kibble!!

We set the trap a couple more times that week & didn't catch any more critters.

Then late last night, there was a huge crash on the back porch. Being the brave one...okay, maybe I was the only adult awake, I went & investigated. My planter had gotten knocked down & broken, & the cat was watching & hissing @ something in the yard.

I did what any true country girl would do. Walked out barefooted, threw some cat food in the trap & set it.....

Specimen #2:




Yes, this is taken from inside the house...I did open the window to get a clear view (window washing is low on the cleaning list). Let's just say this critter is even cuter than the raccoon....the question now is, "What the HECK do we do with this bag of stinky bones?"

The only thing we could think of...

Yes, the little ingrate did spray...TWICE! Yes, it was the husband who went out & opened the trap door. Yes, it smells like skunk outside our house....HORRIBLY like skunk. Yes, the husband stripped down & I'm washing clothes & tennis shoes in vinegar, baking soda & peroxide!!

Let's hope the stink leaves really quick!!
Here's some more video I took while the man was trying to open the trap, please excuse the laughing...I sound like a pack a day smoker, but really it was from the cat sleeping w/ me last night (allergies)...

--Jeanette using BlogPress on iPhone

Her days off...

Are gonna be quite busy, I just know it!!

Liyah has Kindergarten on Monday, Wednesday & Friday's. So she has 2 days home, while big sister still has to go to school!!

Liyah is quite the imaginary player. She has always liked cooking, baking & serving food to any & all that find a seat in her "cafe".

Last Thursday Greg & I happened to both be at home, so she had our undivided attention for a good hour plus....




I've bought up some pieces of Melamine from the thrifts...hoping to have the girls playhouse done before they get too old to give a care!




Her "cafe" served all things yummy & delectable! She was the perfect hostess!




Always making sure you had a cup full of lemonade, tea or coffee!!




I have a feeling this is gonna be my new favorite place to eat! Wether I like it or not!!

Do your kiddos love to play imaginary scenarios? Do they include you?

--Jeanette using BlogPress on iPhone

The end of our shade tree!

My dad and Uncle John got out the chain saw and tractor yesterday and finished pulling the tree down that was leaning from the storm Saturday! Everything went great!

Today, while I was at work my parents and Greg cut it up and hauled it away...I'm gonna have a very sunny yard next summer!

Just a stump of it's old self!

Windy...

This past Saturday, we had quite an experience! Call it a tornado, call it straight line winds...who knows. All we knew as the girls were screaming in the living room and the 3 adults were looking out the windows and trying to calm them, it was WINDY!!!

I was looking out the window as the rain was causing a white out and the hail was starting to hit the windows, as soon as I saw a small maple tree in the front yard hit the proverbial "dust", I made my way back to the living room to stand with the others and watch as the 30 seconds of terror hit our humble abode.

Then this is what we walked out to.....

This is just a few of the 12 large trees that were taken down in the cemetery across the road from us!

Thankfully, we are all okay! I'm sure that the way my girls see storms will be changed forever...they may not sleep through a storm any more!

Compared to the devestation throughout the world and the United States this year, this is but a small porch roof in the front yard, as opposed to those who have lost their whole home!

We are so very blessed and grateful for the safety that was afforded us!

A time for...

SCHOOL!!! Yea!! School started today! 8:30 on the dot...the Girlies were fed, uniformed, brushed (teeth & hair), backpacks & lunches at the ready!

I had two excited girls, one with the face of "been there done this" & one with the face of "I'm sooo excited I can't stand it"!




This momma is looking forward to controlling the remote, eating lunch w/o the "but I don't like that" complaint & having some peace & quiet! Until school is dismissed for the day, then I will be glad to hear their voices telling me about their first day!
Then I will be looking forward to putting them in bed....having peace & quiet again!




Get a load of this 4th grader!! Yikes!




The big K girly! She's posin' cause she can!

How bout you Mom's out there? Are you glad the kids are back in school? Or are you bemoaning the fact summer is over & you don't get to play with the kids...
I'm a very happy momma, it helps that the girls get so excited to go to school!!
--Jeanette using BlogPress on iPhone

I'm having an Affair....

with Pinterest (.com)! It's a wonderful place where you can pin all things splendid on your "boards". To prove that I'm in the throes of all the loveliness, I have made 27 Boards and have pinned 472 items (pic, websites, stories, blogs that I find in my web browsing) to these boards.

Things I have learned about myself, by having this affair: I like the color aqua/turquoise or whatever you want to call it. I like it paired with many other colors; orange, red, yellow, pinks...yeah, it's like black or white to me, it goes with anything!!

One of my favorite boards has been my recipe board. Which I like to call "Tastes and Treats".
I have had the audacity to bring this affair into my home, nee right into my kitchen and dining rooms!! I thought I'd share some links and pics with you from my "Tastes and Treats" board. Some recipes I've made, some I'm gonna be doing soon!

Source: grapevinetwine.tumblr.com via Jeanette on Pinterest

Source: candcmarriagefactory.com via Jeanette on Pinterest

Source: cheeseandchoco.blogspot.com via Jeanette on Pinterest

Source: cookingjoan.blogspot.com via Jeanette on Pinterest

Source: kayotic.nl via Jeanette on Pinterest

Source: kalynskitchen.blogspot.com via Jeanette on Pinterest

Source: myrecipes.com via Jeanette on Pinterest

Source: homesteadinghousewife.blogspot.com via Jeanette on Pinterest

Here are a few that I plan on trying soon!

Source: twotinykitchens.com via Jeanette on Pinterest

Source: thegraciouspantry.com via Jeanette on Pinterest

Source: ivillage.com via Jeanette on Pinterest

Source: edesiasnotebook.blogspot.com via Jeanette on Pinterest

Source: flickr.com via Jeanette on Pinterest

Source: realmomkitchen.com via Jeanette on Pinterest

I'm looking forward to cooler weather, where oatmeal and warm baked goodies will taste so good!
How about you? Are you a Pinterest addict?  I will share more of my pinterest pins throughout the winter months! What else is there to do in Michigan when the temp is below freezing.....?