Wednesday, June 19, 2013

A Little Sod House

What I didn't show, or mention in my Toadstool Park post is that they also have a little sod house to visit. It's made from the same stuff as the rock formations the boys were climbing on. The roof has all kinds of things growing on it.


The Roof

Two Crazy Kids

Two Crazy Kids and One Sweetheart Mom 

Two Crazy Kids and One Crazy Daddy

We Discovered a Window
 Then this happened before I could say, "No Jumping!" I had my camera at hand though. So snap, snap I went.
 Monkey See, Monkey Do
 

If this little sod house falls apart, it's my children's fault!

There also was a windmill nearby. I love windmills, so I had to snap a picture of that to.

Sad

The last few days I've had a mixture of happy and sad. Happy because we got back from a great trip, and sad, well I'll explain why.

•I got a message that my one of bosses when I first started working here died of cancer. He made it not a very easy place to step into work at. He and the owner saw different things. It turned out that he was making things up about the owner to the teachers. He always got my name wrong to. When you work in a small company you just need to know everyone's name in my book. Part of me felt guilty for not feeling sad that he had passed. He was a great Dad and husband. He just wasn't so easy to work under.

•Then I saw that one of my students had a best friend that passed away. I don't even know her friend. Here I felt more sadness to this stranger, than I did of an old co-worker. I do know that my student has been friends with her since 2nd grade and she was young, 19 years old. I saw pictures of her. She was happy in every photo. She was planning on getting married. I found out that her Dad had what they thought was an unloaded gun. Somehow she got shot. As crazy as it sounds, it was an accident. This girl was her Dad's everything! I just couldn't imagine how that whole family feels!

•The boy's Great Aunt and Uncle live close to a fire that's going on in Arizona. Scary! There is hardly any rain there to control a fire!

•Today I read an awful story about someone living in Council Bluffs, which isn't far from here. Three people in a home abused their disabled son! They would put silverware on the stove and burn his bare skin with it! They would make him sleep in the garage with dog chains. After reading that I seriously felt sick to my stomach!

•Then I read this blog post and cried. It's about a mom who has tweens. She dislikes that instead of experiencing firsts, she experiences lasts now. My older sister is going though some of the same things she was talking about with my oldest nephew. Being a teacher of older kids/young adults I know it will happen where I too will not be the center of my kids' world someday. I'll get sassed at; their friends will be their everything. I don't know why, it isn't even my world right now, but I cried.

I need to stop reading the news.

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

WW: Toadstool National Park {Linky}

One of our favorite stops on our trip was Toadstool National Park. It's pretty similar to South Dakota's ever famous Badlands, but in western Nebraska.

It was so odd because the ranch where we were staying was so windy; Toadstool was not that far away and wasn't windy at all.

The boys and Daddy wanted to climb, climb, climb. My nickname during this trip was Chicken. I'm sure my husband would have called me Chicken Shit if the kids weren't around. I'll admit it I am one. I don't like high things, that are not secure at all. I enjoyed Toadstool park from the ground looking up. I feared the whole time one of my boys would fall. Isaak did in fact fall, but it was while he was on the ground.





I guess there is rattle snakes in the area, but all the boys spotted was a rabbit.




 Certainly a great place to climb and discover new things.



 At the top is where it gets its name. Do you see the toad stools?

 
 

 It looks like we were stuck in a dream.

 Daddy's pretty strong! He held up that big rock!

Have you gone on vacation this spring?
Where do you plan on going for vacation this summer?




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If you have time enter my low entry Giveaway Jack the Giant Slayer Blu-ray + DVD + Ultraviolet.

Monday, June 17, 2013

Jack the Giant Slayer Blu-ray + DVD + Ultraviolet Giveaway!


I wanted to see this movie in the theaters when it was out. I never did make it. It's a good thing it's coming out on Blu-ray + DVD! It's going to be available to own on June 18!

Jack the Giant Slayer looks like a fun movie to see. It's classic story with a twist.

Unleashed on the Earth for the first time in centuries, the giants strive to reclaim the land once lost, forcing Jack (Nicholas Hoult), into battle of this life to stop them and rescue the princess.

Celebrate this classic story with NEW content exclusive to the Jack The Giant Slayer Blog App!
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The questions are:

Are you courageous enough to rescue the princess? 
Are you brave like Jack?

Take the quiz to find out!


It's Giveaway Time!

One of you, my readers can win Jack the Giant Slayer Blu-ray + DVD + Ultraviolet.
US and Canada only. Giveaway ends July 9, 13. No P.O. Boxes.

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Disclaimer: The opinions on the post are my personal take on the product. This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me. Warner Bros. sent me the information to help with this giveaway.

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Out to Dinner With the Apels

On Fathers Day we went out to dinner to The Olive Garden.

Isaak usually sits with me; Mica usually sits with Daddy. I think it's because I can put up with more of the kid wiggles than Daddy can.

Isaak wanted to play Tick Tack Toe with me. I refused after I blocked him, and he marked over my block, and said, "I won."

The boys ate a bread stick and salad well.

When Isaak's meal came, he poked his finger in a grape. I said, "Isaak you are going to give your grape some bad cells!" He had a worried look on his face and said, "Will I get sick?" I said, "It could turn into a serious infection." He looked more worried. Mica was over on the other side of the table giggling.

When Isaak didn't finish his meal I said, "Oh no! The reason you are full is because you ate a bread stick. You are pregnant with a bread stick!" Daddy said, "He has a yeast infection." - Daddy can be funny sometimes. ;)

When the waiter stopped by Daddy said all serious, "Sir there is a mysterious noodle in my dish." Sure enough there was a flat noodle with his round spaghetti type noodles. The waiter went from looking like he had a problem to solve, into laughter.

As we left I told Isaak, "Watch out for that lion on the wall! He looks like he wants to eat you!" The receptionist giggled.

In the car I told the boys that next time we go there, they should ask the waiter where their Olive Garden is at. Mica thinks the staff should dress up like olives. I thought that might be over kill. People would think they would look like grapes on a Fruit of the Loom packaging. Mica said, "What is Fruit of the Loom?" I never did answer that one.

Sunday, June 16, 2013

Super Hero Mommy, Super Hero Isaak

Last week we were on a trip for a week. I've posted a few posts on our trip already, and plan on posting more. We did a lot of driving.

Mica mostly read.

Since Isaak's not a full blown reader, I had many activities for him.

One that surprised me is when he got his choice of a drink or snack at a gas station. He chose a juice bottle. After he drank it, he made a super hero out of the wrapper.

When the cap was up it was Super Hero Mommy. When the cap was down it was Super Hero Isaak.

He wished that we had string to tie it and fly it out the window.

I just thought it was so creative that he came up with this on his own.


He also enjoyed some window markers.


Disclaimer

The opinions on this blog are my personal take on products and topics relating to motherhood. This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me.

I am not compensated to provide opinions on a variety of topics. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are my own. If I claim to show knowledge of certain topic or product I will only endorse products or services that I feel, based on my expertise, are worthy of such endorsement.

If you have any questions about this blog, or want to get in contact with me please email me at: anapeladay@gmail.com