MASK

Tyler made a mask this morning. I know it is hard to tell, but this is a puppy. As Brad and Tyler smiled instead of saying cheese, they said RUFF RUFF.

Letter E

Today we learned the letter E. For our activities, we made a finger puppet, an ELEPHANT. We then decorated an EGG. This was really good for Tyler because he was able to practice his scissor cutting and gluing. Then we made our window decor. I shaved some crayons, laid them on wax paper, put another piece on top and ironed it. We then cut out egg shapes, butterflies and flowers for SPRING.

The Letter E w/ EGG and ELEPHANT

Before with crayon shavings

After ironing

After the cut out, can't see cause of the light

1st Pony

This is Katie's 1st pony tail. Doesn't she look so happy. Not only is this her 1st pony, she has her 1st tooth. We are really excited to see her grow. She turned 11 months old yesterday. Look at how far she has come. It has been so much fun to watch her grow and develop her personality.

Seven Falls

Seven Falls

On Saturday we went to SEVEN FALLS. Unfortunately the trails and stairs were closed so we couldn't wander around but it was a nice to get out and see the sites especially after being indoors for the past 3 days. We look forward to going back when it gets warmer and when the trails are open.

Tyler and Brad

Bastian Family

Tyler and Katie

Brad and Katie

Brad and Tyler

Tylerisms

We were going out to eat tonight and Brad asked Tyler if he wanted some shrimp and steak and ribs. Tyler said to me, "Mom we are going to have misteaks tonight."



Mine and Brad's new names are eeee oooo mom and
eeee oooo dad. Who knows where he comes up with these.

The Day After

So this is what it looks like the day after the storm. I don't think we will be going anywhere.

The front of our house

Down the street looking at Pike's Peak

The fence lines our back yard.

So I know you all think I am complaining, but for a girl from Arizona this is a lot of snow. Some places received 3" while others receive between 12"-15". Just 8 miles away, snow chains were required to drive on the freeway. Hopefully this will be the last storm of the winter and spring will arrive soon.
So there is a rule or law here that you have to have your sidewalks shoveled within 24 hours of the end of the storm. If you don't you will get a ticket, but the city won't snow plow your streets for you to get out. Isn't that the government for you. Your tax dollars at work.

BLIZZARD

So what do you do when you have a BLIZZARD outside?
This is how our day started.....
Breathing Treatments
Sticker FUN
Cleaning the office
Cleaning the basement
and taking pictures of the snow in
ABSOLUTE AMAZEMENT!
Who knew it could snow so much???? I didn't.

Katie with her fishy mask, she didn't like it very well so we changed to the tubing.

Tyler and Katie with their masks.

LOTS OF STICKERS!

11:30 am, out the front door

11:30 am out the back yard

12:30 pm out the front door

11pm out the front door, why is it so light outside?

Oh, and did I mention it is currently 12 degrees right now. No complaining about the heat in Arizona!

KATIE

This morning when Katie woke up that poor little girl had the worst bed head ever. It is really hard to see in the picture because her hair is so light but
she looked pretty funny. She is starting to be a real "ham" when she is in
front of the camera. A little side note, Katie's first tooth broke thru yesterday. We are very excited for her. It is a sharp little thing and she uses it very well.

So happy so early in the morning.

D is for DINOSAUR

Today in preschool we worked on the letter D.
We discovered new words and practiced coloring and tracing
the letter D.
For our art project we identified 4 different dinosaurs and colored them.
We also made a
Tyrannosaurus Rex TP Roll Craft.
It was a good activity for Tyler to work on gluing and placing.

Then for the FUN STUFF. We played the role of a Paleontologist and got to excavate dinosaur eggs. Tyler worked hard using his "tools". He had a great time and was very excited when he found his dinosaurs.

The eggs to break open

working hard

I need a chisel

I found a dinosaur. A happy little boy.

I found them all

Our end of day accomplishment

Garden of the Gods

Today we ventured out to
GARDEN OF THE GODS.
It was a very windy day so we didn't get to do to much climbing
but we had a great time. Tyler ABSOLUTELY LOVES to be OUTSIDE!
I think if he could live outside he would.
We look forward to going back when there aren't as many people
and hopefully not as much wind.
It is a very beautiful place to visit.
It reminds me that Heavenly Father created this beautiful earth we live on.

Tyler, Brad and Katie
(Isn't he such a great dad to carry Katie around)

Tyler climbing around

Mom and Katie having a good laughing session

He has such a cheesy smile

Caterpillar Day

To celebrate the 40th Anniversary of "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" we read a few books about caterpillars and then we made our very own. This was a great project for Tyler. He was able to work on his cutting skills, gluing and threading. I must say they need work but it will come over time.
We took 3 toilet paper rolls, cut them in half, glued paper on to them, punched holes in the end, ran some string or yarn threw the holes, tied it off, glued some eyes on and we used pipe cleaners for the antennas, paper probably would have worked better and then Tyler insisted his caterpillar had a smiley mouth. Voila, you have your very own caterpillar. We put extra string on it so he can pull it around.

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY

Happy St Patrick's Day!

Tonight we made sugar cookies to celebrate the day.
Can I just tell you it is very difficult to find a SHAMROCK cookie cutter on St Patrick's Day. I went to 3 different stores today looking for one and I called 2 more. Nobody had any. Then as LUCK would have it I found one at HOBBY LOBBY. It was the last one and I asked them if they would hold it for me until I got there.
(They were so nice to hold it for me.)

We had a great time and TYLER especially loves to decorate the cookies. Really he just likes the sprinkles but it is all the same.
With the left over cookie dough we spelled TYLER'S name. He was pleased with that.
KATIE, she loves frosting. Probably shouldn't have shared it with her but she looked so cute with it and LOVED it!


He loves his sprinkles.


Katie loved the frosting! She smacked her lips and wanted more.

One side note about Katie, she is finally starting to use her pincher fingers. She actually fed herself some puffs today. I was so excited for her! She is really starting to make progress. She has come a long way.

Potty Trained

I am pleased to say (knock on wood)
TYLER IS POTTY TRAINED!

Sunday night we told him to get ready for bed and he came back with his big boy underwear on. So on Monday I thought maybe we will try to potty train him again. When he woke up he said, "I don't want to wear a diaper any more." So we put the SPIDERMAN undies on he hasn't had an accident yet except at night. Now I know it has only been 2 days but I am really hopeful. We even ventured out to the store twice today and he has been dry all day. Let's hope he stays that way.
Does anyone know what to do about the night time???

I know this is a lovely picture of him and he is very pleased with himself.


Those are his SPIDERMAN snow boots and his SPIDERMAN underwear.

AM I COUNTING MY CHICKENS BEFORE THEY HATCH?????

Achievement Days

I need help! I have been called as the leader for achievement days.
Does anyone have any ideas what to do with the girls?
I am over the 11 year olds.
Any ideas or comments would be great!
Honestly I have no idea what I am doing.
This didn't exist when I was in primary.

Denver Museum

On Saturday for our family adventure we went to the
Denver Museum of Nature and Science.
We had a great time!
They have wildlife, mummies, prehistoric journey,
space odyssey and a KIDS ZONE along with IMAX and
other kid friendly movies. Tyler ABSOLUTELY loved it and can't wait to go back.
I LOVE spending time with my family.
This adventure we are embarking
upon right now is great. We don't have to
worry about school projects
or working on the weekends. Who knew life could be so much FUN!
Tyler really wanted to see the dinosaurs and he got his wish.
I couldn't believe how big they were. It is amazing those
things existed on this earth. What would it have been like
to have lived here the same time they did???
This museum is full of so much information you could live there for days and days at a time and learn so much. I am thankful for the chance we have to explore COLORADO and see what it has to offer our family.

Tyler's 1st encounter with a dinosaur.
He was so excited to explore.

Tyler and Brad at the BIG HORN SHEEP

Commander TYLER at the controls

The KOALA is my favorite animal.

Tyler always talks about the elk on Grandpa's wall, they had
a button you could push for the bugle call and he pushed it constantly.

Tyler now knows what it is like to listen like the deer.

Just hangin' around!

One tired little boy after a long day at the museum.

Preschool

I have decided to start "preschool" with Tyler. I know he doesn't start for another year and 1/2 but it is never to early to start. I have decided we will practice the alphabet a lot. He needs help with his writing skills and so we will be doing a lot of tracing.

I also thought it is important to teach Tyler the
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
I don't know if they still teach this in school but the way
our country is headed I feel it is important to help
him understand the freedoms we now enjoy. I hope I
can help him understand how very blessed we are to
live in this free country.

Today we started with the letter A. He is making his own alphabet book and each day we will read a book associated with that letter.

This is good for the two of us because it gives us one on one time and also will hopefully help me with patience.

I am cutting out the letters of the alphabet and we will be posting them on his wall so in the end, he will have the entire alphabet on his wall that he can look at every day and become familiar with the letters. Hopefully soon he will start to recognize the letters.

Today for our project of coloring and gluing we made "AWESOME APPLE". Tyler said he needed a cape but I didn't make one....maybe next time.


I got this idea for Awesome Apple from


http://www.dltk-teach.com/alphabuddies/index.html


I think this is going to be a lot of fun. Definitely a challenge
but tons of fun and if nothing else, Tyler and I get to spend time together.

Royal Gorge Bridge

Yesterday we went to the ROYAL GORGE BRIDGE. We had a great time. It was a little cold but we figured it was time to get out and see COLORADO. We bought a season pass so we can go back when it is warm and see all the things that were closed during the winter months.

Just a little info about the bridge. It hangs above the Arkansas River about 1,053 feet and is the world's highest suspension bridge.

Now for those of you who know me, I am TERRIFIED of heights. Let me tell you, when I was walking across that bridge I could not get across it fast enough. Tyler kept walking near the edge and even though it is fenced and cars can drive across it, I still kept telling Tyler to walk by dad or in the middle of the bridge. Brad kept looking through the wood planks and saying you can see down to the river. Believe me I don't need to know that stuff. Needless to say, I finally made it across, snow blowing and all and I am still alive.

Tyler sitting outside the visitors center

Tyler and Brad waiting for the tram ride overlooking the Gorge


Before crossing the SCARIEST bridge in the world!


I sent Brad to jail


Brad's heart is in Colorado


My heart is still in ARIZONA!


See Tyler walking near the edge.
Gave me a heart attack everytime.