Pooka holding the baby

So we haven't properly introduced our pet.  First I must mention, neither Brian or I are "pet people."  Over the course of our 7 years of marriage we have had fish, finches (a gift for Lukas b-day from my parents), a parakeet named Sonny, a tree frog from our backyard (that lasted 2 days because we didn't know what to feed it, but it was fun to look at.)  I think that's it.  So one day 2 years ago I was at my parent's house...  They have the opposite problem, they LOVE animals and have no shortage of them!  They had this new kitten which looks like a siamese but from all my "expert" research I think it is a Tonkonese (sp?) which is a mix between Burmese and Siamese.  Anyways, she is a beautiful kitty and she had me with those bright blue eyes and grey/brown fur.  I've ALWAYS wanted a blue-eyed baby and I don't believe I am capable of making one (well that's God's department, and He is completely capable!)  So we'll see...  But I got my blue-eyed kitty in November 2006.  Hannah was 6 months old, so they were babies together.  Lukas named her Pooka.  I have no idea where he came up with the name but he was determined.  We made lots of suggestions but he was adamant, he liked the name Pooka!  My favorite Pooka days were when I was nursing Hannah and she perched herself right on top of her every time.  Hannah didn't mind but she pulled her fur a lot which Pooka always put up with (but ONLY from Hannah, to this day!)  She is kind of a feisty cat sometimes.  She doesn't necessarily enjoy being held.  So if cat-lovers come over she would rather be left alone to choose who or if she wants to cuddle not be petted and held, especially by young people.  She has scratched and she has quite a speed and intensity when she wants to get away.  Anyways, we like her even though if you asked us we'd say we don't like cats!  Whatever...

But yesterday, I was reclining in my chair and she was on my lap with her paws wrapped around me, she looked like she was holding the baby in my belly!  It was so cute! I think she likes babies!  And the other picture is the day we got her, isn't she cute?

Our slightly anti-climactic EXPLOSION

So, as promised, on our 7th wedding anniversary, we got to explode the volcano!  The mountain was completed and ready for blast off when Brian got home from work.  He put about a cup of baking soda into the gatorade bottle with the top cut off.  Then he mixed red/yellow food coloring into vinegar and we went outside with our volcano.  With everyone standing by expectantly we watched and helped him pour our orange vinegar into the bottle.  I think they were expecting some kind of bang, maybe fireworks to come exploding out of the center but we actually got the desired result.  Foaming orange stuff billowing out the top and over the edge, cascading down the mountain.  We got a "was that it?" kind of response out of all three so we got more vinegar and kept watching it spill out.  It was really cool, I think after the kids realized it was doing the right thing and "wasn't it cool?" they really did enjoy the experiment.  

First Science Project

I don't know much but I do know my kids have the greatest dad!  I think he was born to home school our kids!  I am not much into planning ahead with creative ideas, buying all the materials and then following through.  Brian, on the other hand, is the master of projects.  And he's not like a lot of guys who start a project and never finish it, although we do have a few of those...  So he decided our Kindergartener and 2 preschoolers needed to learn how to make a volcano!  Now, I've seen this done, maybe on TV or maybe I've just heard about it.  I certainly have never done it.  So during nap time yesterday he hit up the craft store and came home with wire mesh and plaster cloth (the same stuff casts are made of, I think) He grabbed a board from the garage and some screws and put us all to work.  He and the kids formed a mountain with the wire mesh, screwed it down to the board, covered it with the plaster cloth and then we had to let it dry.  Today, the kids and I painted it and tonight we are planning to make the vinegar/baking soda explosion.  Stay tuned...

Sonlight has arrived!

We finally have our home school curriculum for the year!  It was like Christmas!  Lukas and I looked through all the books, science experiment materials, math manipulatives, little chalk board... all kinds of fun stuff!  We aren't going to get "into it" until Brian gets back from hunting and can see it all!  I'll let you know how it goes!
So far home school has consisted of a few different pieced together curriculums, a comprehensive workbook and just plain "fly by the seat of our pants"  But so far, it has been a success and the kids are still excited to do school!  We got an easel from Ikea for $14.99 that has a chalkboard on one side, a white board on the other and a role of paper to put over one side.  They love it.  Problem # 1 Haylee and Hannah got into the chalk and crumbled several pieces all over the floor.  We also got a table top to attach some legs to for a larger table but when we got home from a long 3 hour trip with 3 kids from Ikea, the table had a huge dent in it.  So we are still working from a 21 inch square end table.  Which makes it difficult when all 3 want to do school.  Lukas and Haylee can both lay out their workbooks on it and they work very well together (up to 2 1/2 hours, amazingly) but when Hannah wants to join the fun it is a disaster.  I'll post a picture of our school room as soon as I figure out where my camera disappeared to... Maybe Brian took it hunting.

My Other Prince Charming

Lukas went to work with Daddy a few weeks ago and I think he turned into a man that day!!!! He has gone to work with Brian before but he had just turned 5 and his great grandparents gave him a wallet with $3 in it and a picture of himself at 2 and some band aids. Best present for a 5 year old boy by the way! So he had $ to spend. First Lukas offered to buy Brian lunch but the good husband/father that he is Bri suggested he save it and take Mommy on a date sometime. Lest we forget he is 5 and assume he may wait awhile, such is not the case. They made a trip to Costco to buy movie tickets and Lukas saw RINGS! Of course he loved the $300 sparkly one and thought Mommy had to have it. Brian talked him down to a sterling silver $25 ring that is very pretty! He called me and announced he was taking me on a date, tonight! I asked if I should dress up and he said, yes. He and Brian came home with the ring safely disguised in his McDonald's Happy Meal bag. He even told me "Its my toy in here mom." The guys went upstairs to get ready and he came down showered and wearing brown courds and a button-down shirt (he picked his own outfit) and then my handsome date presented the gift. He was so excited I sat on the stairs to open it. Then we were off to Red Robin. He opened doors for me (Brian says he didn't even tell him to do that) and even had $40 cash stuffed in his wallet to pay for our dinner! It was a priceless evening! Then we headed to see that guinea pig movie "G Force" I have to say my heart felt like it was just going to explode the whole night! I am so proud of my sweet little man!

Lukas My little MAN!

I didn't want to forget the funny thing he said today so our family blog begins with a Lukas quote. After begging the girls to come outside and play with him (they were "busy" coloring in their princess coloring books, of course) he said, "I really need a brother. Then we could play baseball, and football and all the sports. And I'll teach him how to take a shower by himself when he gets big like me." Poor guy. So everyone keep praying. It could get a little more BLUE around here in April 2010!!! Unless, it gets more pink! In which case, Lukas will probably cry, like he did when he found out BOTH of his aunties were having GIRLS last January! He was so sad :( He loves his girl cousins, but he would LOVE to get a brother!

Life Has Changed!

So this started out as a blog about my purse business but as I've had less and less time to focus on that and all my time is spent on much more important things, I thought it would be fun to change it up! So I will probably pop in some info about purses every once in awhile... Like, we are having another open house on October 17th. More info to come... But mainly I want to document for myself and family and friends, the many adventures of the Albaugh household. And there are many! We got a family picture at Cannon Beach again this summer and against all efforts otherwise, we still do not have proper family photos with Hannah in them. So, above our fireplace now, is a picture of Lukas, age 2 1/2 (he's 5 now) Haylee, 7 months (she's 3 1/2) and Hannah is a no show, even though I know she was in my belly! (now 2 1/2) We just began home schooling 3 weeks and 1 day ago. Lukas in Kindergarten, Haylee in Preschool, and Hannah we pray will take a nap at the same time every morning all school year... HA HA! I have lots to share!!! What an adventure...