Puffy Paint

I got today's craft project using homemade Puffy Paint from the No Time for Flash Cards blog. In the blog she uses it on a couple fun projects that we may try later, but I got creative and we made little (well kinda large) baby chicks. The kids loved squishing around in the paint and well, I had fun putting my hands in it as well. Here are some pictures from today's fun...my hands were coated from helping Max (he was eating the paint...glue, shaving cream, and a small squirt of actual paint), so Greg took the pictures...I think he needs some lessons.

Success

10 Things Every American Should Know About Health Care Reform

List courtesy of MoveOn.org
Spread the word! Share this list with all your friends:

1. Once reform is fully implemented, 94% of Americans will have health insurance coverage, including 32 million who are currently uninsured.
2. Health insurance companies will no longer be allowed to deny people coverage because of preexisting conditions—or to drop coverage when people become sick.
3. Just like members of Congress, individuals and small businesses who can't afford to purchase insurance on their own will be able to pool together and choose from a variety of competing plans with lower premiums.
4. Reform will cut the federal budget deficit by $143 billion over the next ten years, and a whopping $1.2 trillion in the following ten years.
5. Health care will be more affordable for families and small businesses thanks to new tax credits, subsidies, and other assistance—paid for largely by taxing insurance companies, drug companies, and the very wealthiest Americans.
6. Seniors on Medicare will pay less for their prescription drugs because the legislation closes the "donut hole" gap in existing coverage.
7. By reducing health care costs for employers, reform will create or save more than 2.5 million jobs over the next decade.
8. Medicaid will be expanded to offer health insurance coverage to an additional 16 million low-income people.
9. Instead of losing coverage after they leave home or graduate from college, young adults will be able to remain on their families' insurance plans until age 26.
10. Community health centers would receive an additional $11 billion, doubling the number of patients who can be treated regardless of their insurance or ability to pay.

Sources:
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10. "Affordable Health Care for America: Summary," House Energy and Commerce Committee, March 18, 2010 http://wwwd.house.gov/akamaidocs/energycommerce/SUMMARY.pdf
3. "Insurance Companies Prosper, Families Suffer: Our Broken Health Insurance System," U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Accessed March 22, 2010 http://healthreform.gov/reports/insuranceprospers/index.html
4. "Affordable Health Care for America: Health Insurance Reform at a Glance: Revenue Provisions," House Energy and Commerce Committee, March 18, 2010 http://wwwd.house.gov/akamaidocs/energycommerce/REVENUE.pdf
5. "New Jobs Through Better Health Care," Center for American Progress, January 8, 2010 http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2010/01/new_jobs_health.html
8, 9. "Proposed Changes in the Final Health Care Bill," The New York Times, March 22, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/03/19/us/politics/20100319-health-care-reconciliation.html
10. "Affordable Health Care for America: Health Insurance Reform at a Glance: Addressing Health and Health Care Disparities," House Energy and Commerce Committee, March 20, 2010 http://docs.house.gov/energycommerce/DISPARITIES.pdf

A Table and Chairs

Many years ago, my Grandfather was working as a janitor in a school. And they were getting new furniture in the classrooms - the table in the background was one they were getting rid of, so he brought it home for his family to use. As a child, I remember coloring on this table when we would visit my grandparents. When my grandparents moved from California to Washington, the table came home with my Dad, and for many years my younger siblings continued to use it to color on. At one point my Dad tried to sell the table at a garage sale, he was even successful but the person (who paid) never returned to pick it up. He was getting ready to sell it again or donate it, when Greg and I decided to take it for our boys, I could not stand the though of it leaving our family, and I had a new home and space for it. I have been searching for about a year for chairs to use with the table but have not found any I like. A couple weeks ago, Greg spent the day with his Dad, and they made the chairs that Max is sitting on. I am happy that another generation of kids will get to use the table.

Max LOVES the chairs and sits on them constantly. They are the perfect size for him and he can climb up on them himself...I have to remind him that they are for sitting not standing.

Below is Wesley...sporting his future Uni Bomber look. I don't know why he insists on always wearing a hood when there is one attached to the clothing...

The cute girls that I watch during the week...they are a ton of fun and all of the kids play well together.

Plant Shelf Fun

The intake vent in our house is located near the ceiling, accessible only by sitting on the plant shelf. Greg cleaned it last week (a project that had needed to be done for a long, long, time). So, I decided to have a little fun with it.

We decided to see what would happen if we put the cat up there...well she got scared because she could not get down and hid behind some pictures up there.

We had to move the TV to get to her because she was not budging.
I know, we are mean pet owners but every once in awhile it is nice to have some fun.

For Aunt No-No...

...Your Handsome Irish Boys!

Spring has Sprung!

And my boys could not be happier to escape the house!

A Glass Half Empty or Half Full?

I have mentioned in the past that the boys are good at putting their sippy cups in the sink when they are finished with them. The other day, I handed out the sippy cups after naps and left the boys watching a cartoon while I snuck away to check out emails and facebook. Moments later I heard little feet in the kitchen and was happy to know that I would not have to track down the forgotten sippy cup kicked under the couch. Then I heard a sound that was not right, and it worried me...the sound of glass breaking. I tried to convince myself that the cup had just hit a bowl in the sink and rattled a spoon...no such luck, a glass got broken. Who would have thunk it? Must have hit just right because after two or so years of this happening this is the first casualty.

March Birthday's

On Sunday we celebrated all of the birthday's that occur in March...Sara, Greg, Kristie, and Jeremiah at my parents house. And yes, I took pictures...Kristie made the cupcakes and my Mother made the rainbow cake per Jeremiah's request.

{for the words to an inappropriate song, that go along with the cake, please see the comment section}

By the way...Wesley ate this cupcake, a small slice of chocolate cake w/a small amount of ice cream, and the frosting half of a second cupcake.
Max made this cute mess with a cupcake and then ate the other half of Wesley's cupcake.

Aunt Kristie's new scripture bag (which I made, no really, I did make that all myself...with a little coaching from Brittney) can also double as a hat.

Crafty

I made some of these flower clips for my SIL to use on her baby (due to arrive next month) and my sister asked why I had not made any for her. So, later that day we went shopping for more flowers and the clips below are the ones I made for her...

And now for a shameless plug...why? Because I would LOVE to win one of these necklaces...check out the website because they are really great and quite unique.
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=40461083

Catching Up

I have gotten behind over the past couple weeks. The boys have been taking turns being sick...a gift that keeps on giving - it has been so bad that we have not been to church in 4 weeks, fingers crossed that everyone stays healthy enough to get there on Sunday because now Mommy and Daddy aren't feeling so hot...of course sleep has been at a premium the past few days and now we pay the price. So there are what normally would have been several posts rolled into one.

Last week Wesley was playing with his blocks in the living room. He was happily stacking them on the table but soon realized that the tower could not get taller with him on the floor. So, being a little smarty pants, he climbed on the table so he could stack higher. Greg does not like it when he climbs up there but I don't usually mind as long as he is not trying to jump off. And he was occupied while I was tending to the sick at the time, Max.

This is just a random picture of Max because he like his brother does not like to be left out of any photo shot around the house. It was hard to get a good one because he had such tired eyes...Have I mentioned that I am done with a house full of sickos?

Max is still perfecting the art of eating with a spoon. Yogurt, applesauce, and oatmeal can all still provide a great challenge to him but he does not really like to be fed by others most of the time, and messes like this are easily cleaned up. But in the mean time, these moments make for some fun pictures.

Girl Scout cookies have arrived (I for one am very happy). Greg and I had been enjoying the box of Samoas and did not get them put away properly (read out of reach of little hands) and Max found them. He had eaten two before I could get the box away from him. Two years ago, Wesley did the same thing - found the box and started munching before I caught up to him. At least they know which ones are the good cookies...

And yes the cats still think that they own the house and we are just visitors, here to take care of their every need.