“We all become like that with which we live,

Like that which we look upon, read, or hear.

If we like beautiful things, we become beautiful 

in our spirit.

Those who see to it that only beautiful thoughts

 are accepted as guests in their homes and heart, 

become beautiful through high and holy thinking.”

-          William L. Stidger

Spring Flowers in Texas

Since we moved to Texas, the spring bulbs I had planned to plant in Idaho got put in the freezer. In January I decided to plant them in pots out on the porch. It's the end of February and I'm on vacation, but they all popped up to keep Adam company! He wrote me the sweetest poem to honor the occasion:

Amanda's Touch

Everything Amanda touches seems to turn to gold.

Like the mythical old Midas touch in stories we've been told.

I once saw her touch a piano that sat so bleak and cold

And from its rusted dusty strings flowed music bright and bold.

Forgotten flowers she has passes; the petals weary showed

Perked up despite the chilly morn; their blossoms once more glowed.

Into a soldier's weathered life she danced and broke his callous mold.

Their lives are now a fairy tale; with love they're growing old.

- Adam B. Christensen

Quiet Book pages preview

I've been working on a quiet book since January and it's coming along great! It's a lot more work and money than I had thought, but it should last through 2 generations because it's made of the finest materials. I used the extra firm Pellon for the pages because it is so versatile and drawing on it works great! Elizabeth loves it and I have to keep the pages hidden until I'm done or the pieces will all get lost.

I still need to serge the edges together, add eyelets to put in a binder, and make the cover, but here's what I have so far:

Shape matching

Zipper ladybug (smaller ladybugs have counting spots)
Try on the ring

Try on mittens (with plush inside)
Snap on balloons

Stoplight (Lights attach with velcro)
Button the flowers 

Buckle the collars
Help the chef eat his spaghetti (pulls through hat)

Barn with animal finger puppets
Season tree (grass is pocket)

Weaving
Braiding

Tell the time

Soon to come are a shoelace page, finger animals, and a dress up page.

How to Keep Kids Busy on a Plane

Play catch with a Koosh ball

Stickers (window vinyl stickers are fun too)

Coloring books – non circular crayons

Magnetic dolls

String beads or lacing cards

Finger puppets to tell stories

A new book

Make a pretend cake

Bubble wrap

Have a dress up party with hats, feather boas…pretend to be someone famous traveling

Wrap and unwrap toys with tin foil

Play “Who’s that?” with family pictures

String Cheerios on dental floss

Toy cars on a felt mat

Uno or go fish

Potato head

Read a book together

Co-author a book: Write down your child’s dictated story on a pre-stapled stack of paper, and ask him to supply the illustrations.

Plastic animals on a felt mat

Take silly pictures

Wikki Stix or pipe cleaners sculptures

Make a ball out of 3 bags of rubber bands

Spy on another row (with binoculars, notebook)

 Bungee toys off of the tray table or arm rest with elastic tape ( or a cut rubber band)