Kidnapped

This is SuperStar's entry in the PBS Young Authors Contest. Her class had the option to participate and she decided to. She is both the author and the illustrator. Yea SuperStar!!




Once there was a princess name Emerald, a prince name Eric, a king named Zello and a queen named Relna. And far awayin the land of Kano, Anti the Evil Ant seeks to capture Princess Emerald with all her powers. Anti has powers of his own, which are to grow and shrink.



One day Emerald went out for a walk. Anti had a plan, he was going to use his power to grow and grab Emerald! Just as he was about to grow, SPLAT! Anti was crushed when Emerald stepped on him. This only hurt him a little bit. As Anti made his way back to Kano he made a new plan. And when he tried that plan it worked! he had captured Emerald!



"You can not keep me here for long." said Emerald.
"Oh yes I can," said Anti, "This cage is power proof. You can not get out of it unless you have the key!"


Then came along a frog and snuck the key to Emerald's cage out of Anti's bedroom. In the kitchen the cookes were preparing a frog leg dinner. The problem is that they had no frog.



The cooks were looking all around the palace to see if there were any frogs running around. As Emerald and the frog were escaping the cooks had found them. The frog was made into a frog leg dinner and Princess Emerald was stuck back into her cage.


Then came along Prince Eric, King Zello and Queen Relna. Late at night they snuck in Anti's bedroom and took the key and then freed Emerald. While Anti was sleeping they picked him up and put him in the power proofed cage. He woke up as soon as he hit the metal floor.


And they all lived happily ever after - except Anti.

Strawberry Banana French Toast Sandwich

Well, we haven't posted any food recipes since the Curry Pumpkin Soup and we figured it was about time. SuperStar found this recipe in her Taking Care of Yourself Girl Book.

The "Cast of Characters" (as Pioneer Woman says). Just your basic French Toast supplies + Strawberries & Banana's.


First you melt a little butter in the pan - honestly, a non-stick is way better then this was, but our non-stick died a few weeks ago. We are going to get a griddle that fits over two burners (suggested by my stepmom).


Mix together Eggs, Milk, Cinnamon (Pampered Chef is has great Cinnamon). Then soak your bread in until it is a smidge soggy, but not so soggy it begins to fall apart. We use wheat bread, but I hear tell white bread let's you taste the cinnamon stronger - we will still stick with wheat bread.


Flip 'em when they are looking like the egg edges are cooked.


Once the bottom is done place it on a plate, generously place strawberry and banana slices on the french toast - we sprinkle ours with a smidge of cinnamon sugar (there can never be enough cinnamon).


Then place the top piece of french toast over the fruit and top that with a smidge more butter and just as it melts sprinkle that with more cinnamon sugar.

Now, I suggested a tiny kiss of syrup, but the kids said it was perfect just as it was. And I do believe their smiles validated that fact.

That is our CuznM who was in for the weekend visiting with our Nanny - who also enjoyed the Strawberry Banana French Toast Sandwiches.

Nanny's Surprise

We knew the surprise, but SuperStar and Spidey didn't. Our kids love all their family, but there are a few family members that can make them leap to the ceiling in happiness. For SuperStar it is her CuznM (maybe because they are twins separated by years at birth - 8 to be exact) - for Spidey it is his CuznM also - only different cuzn and separated only by 1 year. This weekend Nanny came to visit and she secretly (BigGuy & I knew - I even told Babers, I think he tried to tell S&S only they couldn't understand him - toddlers, you just can't trust them) brought us CuznM. As SuperStar went outside to greet Nanny when she arrived she saw CuznM in the car and (she was so cute) gasped as she placed her hand over her mouth and looked over at me (not giving away the surprise before Spidey got there - so sweet). Then (after calling him and calling him and calling him) Spidey finally arrived to greet Nanny - and started jumping up and down unable to say what he saw. It was so cool.

Thank You Nanny - you always know exactly what to get us!

Finally!!

I have been chasing this boy for a picture since Wednesday when he lost the thing! About a week and a half ago Spidey noticed his first real (meaning not pulled by the dentist) loose tooth. Very exciting!! Then on Wednesday he stayed home from school and at lunch we noticed that it was so wiggly we could move it from side to side and front to back - it was basically hanging by a thread of skin. I suggested he let me just tug it out - mortified he refused - then I suggested he try to pull it himself - he refused and then accidentally pulled it out himself. He stood there for a second waiting..........I think for the blood he imagined would burst out if his tooth was pulled before its time. Once he realized it wasn't going to gush he went running out of the room to show SuperStar. The fairy showed up that night and delivered upon him a Gold $1 coin and a large pack of Sugar Free Bubble Gum.

Creepy & Amazing

This weekend we had more of our Favorite People in the World visit. This time it was BL and girlies - with MO and her crew for the day too. We played - the kids have gotten to the point where there were actual moments that we didn't hear them at all (so we had to investigate for safety reasons - and found that everything was actually okay!!)

Lots of fun was had - we basically stayed around the house - the moms had wine - we made certain to pick up Chipotle for the adults (kids don't rank for this treat) - we stamped invites for an upcoming First Communion being celebrated - we stayed up late watching Kathy Griffith - and the next day we went to see the horses and to see the Creepy Windmills!!

Creepy - they could fall off and smash us any moment!


BL looking totally tiny!


Beautiful Girls....Beautiful Horses....


Not everyone thinks horses are so cool apparently......


Sharlie says, "but I am so beautiful..."


And apparently Tata agrees.


I was just happy to see that our kids are still Litter Mates - all snuggled and familiar with each other - from Birth to Now.

Valentine Dance Party

We had so much fun last Thursday at our Valentine Parties - or Party really. Since Spidey and SuperStar are Book Buddy classes we decided to hold a Dance Party including both classes together. Book Buddies are when they join up an older and younger class together and have them work on activities that promote reading. Luckily our two kiddo's are together - and the wonderful mom (who is also a sub)leading the Locomotion train volunteered to put together a dance party for us.

It was great - both kids in one spot having a ton of fun. Then we divided up into separate classes and did individual parties. Watch the video of the Locomotion - remember to turn off the music (lower right corner).

Locomotion

Cupids Here

Lincoln

Living in the Land of Lincoln we would be remiss not to include him in our Black History Month coverage. He certainly played a huge role in our countries black history - plus its his birthday and all.

Abraham Lincoln (February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865) was the sixteenth President of the United States, serving from March 4, 1861 until his assassination. As an outspoken opponent of the expansion of slavery in the United States,[1][2] Lincoln won the Republican Party nomination in 1860 and was elected president later that year. During his term, he helped preserve the United States by leading the defeat of the secessionist Confederate States of America in the American Civil War. He introduced measures that resulted in the abolition of slavery, issuing his Emancipation Proclamation in 1863 and promoting the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution in 1865.

Lincoln closely supervised the victorious war effort, especially the selection of top generals, including Ulysses S. Grant. Historians have concluded that he handled the factions of the Republican Party well, bringing leaders of each faction into his cabinet and forcing them to cooperate. Lincoln successfully defused a war scare with the United Kingdom in 1861. Under his leadership, the Union took control of the border slave states at the start of the war. Additionally, he managed his own reelection in the 1864 presidential election.

Opponents of the war (also known as "Copperheads") criticized him for refusing to compromise on the slavery issue. Conversely, the Radical Republicans, an abolitionist faction of the Republican Party, criticized him for moving too slowly in abolishing slavery. Even with these problems, Lincoln successfully rallied public opinion through his rhetoric and speeches; his Gettysburg Address is but one example of this. At the close of the war, Lincoln held a moderate view of Reconstruction, seeking to speedily reunite the nation through a policy of generous reconciliation. His assassination in 1865 was the first presidential assassination in U.S. history and made him a martyr for the ideal of national unity.

Scholars now rank Lincoln among the top three U.S. Presidents, with the majority of those surveyed placing him first. He is noted for his lasting influence on U.S. politics, including a redefinition of republicanism.[3]

All text taken from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Abdul-Rahman Ibrahim ibn Sori - Prince Among Slaves

PBS has a number of shows this month that will highlight Black History Month. This past Monday night they aired Prince Among Slaves. The true story of Abdul-Rahman Ibrahim ibn Sori.

Just before his capture, Abdul-Rahman was a 26-year-old Muslim Fulbe prince, married with a son, who had recently taken command of his father's army. Returning from battle, he and a group of soldiers were ambushed, captured and sold to slave traders for muskets, whiskey and eight twists of tobacco. Eight terrible months later, he was set down with other chattel on the docks of the Natchez district of Mississippi. Purchased by a small-time planter named Thomas Foster, Abdul-Rahman tried to explain who he was; Foster laughed at the idea of African royalty and promptly named his new slave Prince. (taken from Calendarlive.com Los Angelos Times)

The story is very interesting - amazing really. There are few stories told of slaves who become free. Abdul-Rahman's life - being torn from his wife and child, escaping slavery and then returning on his own choice to build a life for himself, remarry, raise a family and earn the respect of those around him and then in the end being torn from his family when unable to buy their freedom as he and his wife leave to return to Africa - is captivating. The most touching moment for me though, was when his grandson of many greats returns from Africa to visit where Abdul-Rahman was a slave and meeting all the ancestors of the same man who live here in the United States. Many were named Prince and many were with the last name of Foster. It is boggling to think that Abdul-Rahman lived two lives in his years - one as a revered Muslim Prince and one as owned livestock - and because of it created two family lines that are forever linked, but torn apart because of slavery. When the two families were introducing themselves and coming together you can't help but tear up. Maybe I see a little of Babers in this reunification. What will it be like for him when he is older to find his biological family? The link above brings you to an article that details the story, but if you can manage it watch it yourself.

There is a trailer for the show below - put music on pause so you can hear the track.

Prince Among Slaves - Trailer

Super Baby

Today was Graduation Day for Babers. For two years and two months he has slept in a baby bed. Since we were cleaning his carpet today(with our new best friend, carpet cleaner) we decided to break down his baby bed and put up the Big Boy Bed. SuperStar was 18 months when we did this with her and Spidey was two years old. So two years and two months seemed fair enough. Babers was really excited too. Jumping on his new bed, playing in his room (even though the carpet was wet) and seeming happy to go to sleep. We put him down, did his regular bedtime business routine and then put a gate up in front of his door - just in case - he seemed happy.

That is............until we left the room.

Of course, even after we left he seemed chipper and happy over the monitor. Then we heard his voice louder - which meant he was walking around his room and was closer to the monitor (we expected that). Then he sounded even louder - and we heard "Tah Dah" and his voice got louder and louder and then we heard Thump and he was in the kitchen with us jumping around demonstrating how cool it was that he was able to excape. He did - he climbed right over the fence. BigGuy picked him up and put him back in his bed - and he did it again. So I took him up, put him in his bed and BigGuy put the gate higher so he wouldn't be able to climb it. Heck, I had to be helped out because it was too high.

Babers didn't need any help though. Pop - back into the kitchen he was.

Dang, he never climbed out of his crib - where did these Super Baby powers of climbing come from??

So I put him back in - BigGuy went and got a large piece of board, drilled two holes in - I waited and watched him climb out again - then, just as BigGuy was getting ready to attach his creation (the board fit in front of the gate, blocking the possible footholds that Babers was using to climb) - I got the camera to take a picture catching him climbing out.

Swear to goodness - as I took the picture he stopped, posed and said, "Cheese".

Then BigGuy attached his creation blocker thing and the screaming has begun. He is still upstairs wailing away. Poor Sweetie, but a babies gotta sleep and Super Babies need even more rest.



Post Script - He made it through the night. It only took 15 minutes for him to calm down (long enough for me to create the above blog) and then he laid quietly for another 10 or so before he fell asleep in his bed. Both SuperStar and Spidey fell asleep on the floor near the door when they first started sleeping in a Big Bed - so we must be getting better at this somehow. Now, he did wake up at 4:45am and come into our room (Jakey was spoked by the wind and was barking) - we brought him in bed and he realized that his brother was already there. This thrilled him, but he kept saying, "Look Daddy it Bum" (Bum is what he calls Spidey) and tapping Bum on the head. BigGuy took him back to his room, closed the door and apparently he fell back asleep until Bum opened his door and woke him up at 7:30am.

Loose Tooth!!!

Spidey is soooooooooooooo excited - he has a Loose Tooth!!!!!!

Bottom front left if you are looking at him.

He came home today all, "Is Daddy going to pull my tooth out of my head?"
To which I told him, "No" and smiled silly.
He then said, "But my friend said he would."
My response was, "Your friend is wrong."
Spidey then countered with, "The school bus aide said he would do it by tying a string to my mouth."
I then took his hand and said, "Wow, these people have some wanna be dentists in their families. Daddy won't pull your tooth out."
Spidey thought about it and said, with fear in his voice, "You mean I have to go to the Dentist????"
Now, I am thinking a dentist sounds better then a rope around my tooth, but I say, "No, you won't need to go to the dentist until it is time for a cleaning."
Spidey was quiet and then asked, "What if it falls out while I am eating."
I think this actually happened to BigGuy, but I fibbed and said, "I don't think that can happen."
Spidey assured then told me, "SuperStar said I need to eat lots of ice cream to make my tooth slippery so it will fall out. You should buy me some."

Bessie Coleman

Bessie Coleman was born in Texas in 1892. During World War I, she read about the air war in Europe. She became interested in flying and became convinced she should be up there, not just reading about it. She started looking for a flying school but what she didn't realize was that she had two strikes against her: She was a woman and she was black.

Bessie Coleman
Born 1/26/1892 - Died 4/30/1926

Bessie was the first black woman to ever earn a license from the prestigious FAI and she was the only woman of the sixty-two candidates to earn FAI licenses during that six-month period.

She heard that Europe had a more liberal attitude toward women and people of color so she learned to speak French and earned enough money to go to Paris to get her license. She encountered many problems but would not let go of her dream and earned her license on June 15, 1921 from the Federation Aeronautique Internationale She returned to the U.S. and began teaching other black women to fly, giving lectures and performing at flying exhibitions.

As she gained increasing fame as a barnstorming air circus performer in a war-surplus Jenny Trainer, she became known as "Queen Bessie." On April 30, 1926, while practicing for a show in Orlando, Florida, she was thrown from the plane and fell to her death.

This article is from The Ninety-Nines - Agnes Barr
Follow this linek to a GREAT website devoted to a much deeper look at Bessie Coleman.

Go Vote!!!

Today is Primary Day - GO VOTE!!

Someone recently said to me that they were not going to vote in the primary so that the the results wouldn't be their fault (I love that person very much - if they are reading). However, they are soooooooooo wrong! If you don't vote then the results are Totally Your Fault because it is every American's responsibility to help choose our President and local leaders. That is the beauty of a Democracy! What's the saying, "If you don't use it you lose it"?

Quit reading this and GO VOTE!

Smiles & Giggles

We had so much fun this weekend. Some of our favorite people in the world came to visit us. Despite the snow and the cold, they packed up and came to visit. So we tried to treat them with tasty food and fun adventures they don't usually partake in when they are at home. The guys took the kiddo's sledding, the gals took the kids to hang with horses, we warmed ourselves with coffee & cocoa, we let BigGuy choose our movie (for the adults), they christened our new shower and we just enjoyed having them every moment they were here!!!

The Real "McCoy"

Are you familiar with the term "The Real McCoy"? Have you ever used it? As in, "Is that the real McCoy?" Do you know where the term came from?

Elijah McCoy
Born May 2, 1844 - Died October 10, 1929

While the name Elijah McCoy may not be well-known, most have heard the popular American phrase, "Is it the real McCoy?" However, few people realize that the phrase first referred to an automatic lubricating device invented by Elijah McCoy. After McCoy's invention, people inspecting machinery would often ask this question, which became known as meaning perfection, high quality, or authentic.


Elijah McCoy’s Early Years
Elijah McCoy was born on May 2, 1844 in Colchester, Ontario in Canada. His parents were fugitive Kentucky slaves who escaped slave owners through the Underground Railroad. His family later moved back to the United States and settled west of Ypsilanti, Michigan. As a youth, McCoy had an interest in machinery and other mechanical things. Thus, after attending grammar school he left for Edinburgh, Scotland for an apprenticeship in mechanical engineering.
After completing his apprenticeship, McCoy returned to the United States with training as a mechanical engineer. He searched for a job as an engineer, but encountered racial prejudice. Unable to obtain an engineering job, he instead settled on a job as a fireman for the Michigan Central Railroad, where he oiled the engines.


McCoy’s First Invention
While this was not a job as a mechanical engineer, it did inspire his first invention. McCoy became interested in the process of the lubrication of machines. He observed that in order to oil the train engines, the trains were stopped and an oilman oiled the moving parts. Because lubrication was essential and time consuming, McCoy began to explore ways to make the process of oiling more efficient.
After tinkering around in his machine shop, McCoy created a device called the "lubricating cup." On July 12, 1872, McCoy patented his first invention, an automatic lubricator. This device allowed machines to continue to operate as oil continuously flowed to the gears and the moving parts. McCoy's invention revolutionized the machine industry.


McCoy’s Other Inventions
From thereafter, McCoy began inventing other mechanisms. In 1892, McCoy invented devices to lubricate railroad locomotives. In the 1920s, McCoy applied his lubricating system to airbrakes used on locomotives and other vehicles using air brakes. Almost all of McCoy's patents related to automatic lubrication, with the exception of a patent for an ironing table and a lawn sprinkler. Upon his death on October 10, 1929, McCoy had patented over fifty inventions

This information was taken from About.com - Jessica McElrath

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow

It is sunny and bright here today. Cold, but very sunny. So we will do a little sledding today and then most likely start to say goodbye to our snow. Yesterday, however, was full of the white stuff. BigGuy was in STL for recruiting at WashU so it was just me and the kiddo's. I knew the snow would only get heavier and we have guests coming to visit this weekend, so my goal was to clear off a patch that would allow them to park on the driveway and walk to the door without filling thier shoes. The kids were raring to get out there. We bundled up in layers - Babers got a bit frustrated with all the hurrying up and then waiting - but he survived after a mini fit. This was his first real outing so to speak - we found boots that fit him finally!!! So we are out there and 10 minutes in every one poops out. I have only shoveled off the step and the walkway and there is still a lot to go - I didn't want to quit 10 minutes in - so I sent SuperStar in with them and kept going. All these men are in their driveways blowing the snow right off - right off - like magic - and then closing up shop and going in. 35 minutes in and I am still shoveling and only a quarter into being done. Then - like an angel appearing - our neighbor shows up at the end of the driveway and starts helping me out. Five minutes later our other neighbor joined him. I kept shoveling because I felt like it would have been lame to stop while they were working on our yard. And 10 minutes later we were done. It was a beautiful thing. We went inside, SuperStar got picked up for a sled date and the boys and I baked. Very nice day. Wonderful neighbors - we took them bread.

10 1/2"

It is still snowing outside and we have TONS of snow now! Most likely we are topped out, but maybe we will get a smidge more. The only down fall to all this - our district has a generated system that phones us at home to tell us if school is cancelled - they phoned at 5:41am, 6:04am and then again at 6:24am - so we ended up not sleeping in and getting up super early.

Enjoy the Snow!!!