Friday, February 19, 2010

Goodbye Chesterton, Hello San Juan del Rio



The last couple days in Chesterton with Mike, Kris and their kiddos were busy, busy! So much to do, so little time! I made these little dresses for the girls - I bought the material in Mexico and just had to sew up the side seams and add the straps. The girls helped me a little, but it's a project that needs a little more skill than they have! But we had fun and they sure look cute! The skirts have sparklies and you can SWIRL in them!!




Don 't ALL kids LOOOOVE salad!?? I have photo-proof that Del, age 2, LOOOOVES salad, salad that has tomatoes, peppers and crunchy lettuce! This happens to be his third helping! I just couldn't resist a good photo!





And of course, the fashion statement lady, Josie! She's good and surprising us each day with her very fancy outfits! You just never know what she'll wear next!





We bought material for two reversible skirts for Kris. I'll admit, I was a bit nervous and did some heavy thinking of HOW I was going to do this! And wow!!! It was super simple and took less than an hour for each skirt! And they came out very cute! This one has bright red flowers on one side and tiny ones on the other. I never know what projects Kris will dream up for me, and usually we're able to accomplish them!


So, now it was time to say good bye to Mike, Kris, Elia, Josie, Mikey, Del and of course, "Lois". What a great visit we enjoyed.

And hello to Alan, Beth, Cameron and Dayton in San Juan del Rio. I loved every minute of my visit in the good ol' U.S.A., but I'm happy to be home!

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Left to Tell


I just finished reading a fantastic book called Left to Tell, written by Immaculee Ilibagiza with

Steve Erwin. It is Immaculee's story of her discovery of God amidst the Rwandan holocaust. I'm

sure most of us have heard of the Rwandan genocide, but this book will take you there in a very

personal way to understand a little more what our Rwandan brothers and sisters went through

during that horrific time in history.


But a warning. It's a hard book to read, full of unbelievable atrocities and suffering. But it's also

full of Immaculee's discovery of God and of God's work in her life. So, go for it!! Beg, borrow or

steal it and read it!!

Sushi anyone??


How many kiddos do you know that enjoy sushi?? Well, actually, I think they enjoyed the chopsticks much more than the sushi!





This morning I attended the home school co-op that Kris and the kids participate it. Here's what Del did during the morning, plus playing with the toys, plus getting in trouble, plus running ("No running, Del"), plus helping mama, plus helping anyone who would let him help, plus.... You get the picture! Actually, he behaved pretty good!!





After the story, there were three stations, one for 3 to 4 year olds, one for 5-6 year olds and one for 7 and 8 year olds. They all studied the same thing with variations to fit the ages, then traded, so each mother taught three times. It went really well, I thought. Today Kris didn't have a teaching responsibility, so was a "helper". I enjoyed watching the process!






Elia working hard in art class - making a Russian cathedral.




Everyone loved the bear and studying about bears and skeletons! As you can see, Mikey was fascinated! And, yes! That's a REAL bear head!

Sunday, February 14, 2010

Chocolate Chip Cookie Pizza




Ever have one? WOW! That's all I can say! Sinfully delicious! And it shouldn't be FOR dessert after dinner, it should be a PRE dinner snack!! Or a between-lunch and dinner snack!





The girls and I also made purses! Well, the purses were already made, we just decorated them. And no, their names aren't Mary Lynn and Cindy Lee - that's their doll's names! Their own names, Elia and Josie, are on the other side! What fun!!

Friday, February 12, 2010

BELLABOO

Today I took Elia, Josie and Mikey on a field trip to Bellaboo! This new little museum is giving the Children's Museum in Chicago somre competition. It isn't near as big, but is really a sweet place. The home school co-op that the Liovich kiddos participate in took a field trip to this FANTASTICAL place. They had special classes just for us, then we spent another hour and a half just playing! Yep, it was FANTASTICAL! Josie asked me, "Why did we have to leave before they closed?" That's a good question!
~



First we got acquainted with Stuffy. The kids loved him! He's completely stuffed with body organs! Each child got to go look for an organ and the "teacher" talked about them.
What a fun, interesting time! Even us adults enjoyed it!





Here you can see how BIG Sutffy is!





Princess Josephine. All dressed up in one of the super outfits from the "dress-up" room!





Mikey claimed he was going to eat ALL OF IT!

Pizza anyone? And cake for dessert?





The little store was FANTASTICAL, at least the girls thought so!
I never saw them work so hard at cleaning up - since some other kids
had left the place a mess, Elia and Josie felt it was their duty to clean it up.
Work is so fun when you're playing!




In one class the kids teamed up, one traced the other, then they drew in the
body parts! They did a fabulous and FUN, FUN, FUN job!




This young lady helped the kids work on their nutrition and diet knowledge and
provided a luscious HEALTHY snack. Only three kids ate all their snack - most
of them turned their noses up at the green pepper and cucumbers - but not
Elia, Josie and Mikey! I was proud of them!



This was another FANTASTICAL room! These architects worked hard together
and made an impressive building!

QUILTS, QUILTS, QUILTS


Josie, Elia and I made quilts these past few days!
We sewed four bandannas together - or I should say THE GIRLS
sewed the bandannas together (with a bit of help!).
Then we put the batting the middle, pinned the back on (that was SOO FUN!)
and tied it together! The girls did great!
And we had such a fun time doing it!
They're SO PROUD of their quilts!




The girls tied the edges, Abuela did the center of the quilt
It's easier for her to reach it.
Working together, we got done in no time!



Yes, Mikey helped. Of COURSE! He passed out the yarn -
and helped get it tangled up! We only lost about 2 yards of
yarn, but there was plenty, so not to worry!
And he was VERY HAPPY to be of help!



Here we are showing off the beautiful quilt:
Abuela, Mary Lynn and Elia!



Elia and Mary Lynn
Aren't they great!!??

My valentine fun


Four or my valentines

Mikey, Josie, Elia, Del

I have 14 more in PA, Mexico and Texas!!

Couldn't ask for better valentines!









If you think THAT'S a lot of hearts, you should have seen some of the others!

They were ALL BEEEUUUTIFUL of course!!

And they're now gracing the Livovich home or in the mail to friends and family!

We couldn't send to ALL the family, but they love all of you, be sure of that!!





Mikey concentrating to make it the BEST POSSIBLE

"Lois" (left) made one too, for her daughter!



Elia and Josie busy, busy, busy

Good thing valentine stickers are cheap at this time of year!




Del hard at work

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Roca de la eternidad

This morning I was going to put a silly little poem up about a turtle, but then I found something that brought back so many wonderful memories of my childhood....I grew up in Mexico City. When I was young, we as a family would gather around the piano early in the morning to sing and read the Bible. A hymn that was invariably chosen by our Mexican sisters who lived with us was Roca de la eternidad, Rock of Ages. Some of you are probably too young to remember such an OLD hymn, but it would do you good to look it up and learn it! It's beautiful! So, we would sing:

Roca de la eternidad,
fuiste abierta para mi,
Se mi escondedero fiel,
solo encuentro paz en ti,
Rico, limpio manantial,
en el cual lavado fui.

I don't recall ever singing it in English, in deference to our Mexican sisters, but here are a couple verses in English:

Rock of ages, cleft for me,
let me hide myself in thee;
let the water and the blood,
from thy wounded side which flowed,
be of sin the double cure,
save from wrath and make me pure.

Nothing in my hand I bring
Simply to your Cross I cling;
Naked, come to you for dress;
Helpless, look to you for grace;
Fout, I to the fountain fly;
Wahs me, Savior, or I die.

Monday, February 8, 2010

Hangin' out with the Livoviches


Lego Club!! Elia is showing off the giraffe and scene that she and a little friend put together.
First prize material, don't you think?




During Story time at the library, we all had to wear mustaches for the Cowboy story time! We did all look silly! And the silliest was Mikey - his mustache was upside down!
Wish I'd gotten a picture! Yee haa!!



All the Livo enanos are turning into READERS!! Here's Elia and Del in the
"reading corner." They don't mind it when mama says, Go sit in the corner!




Yep, we've got snow. It snowed a little one night, but at least it's doable! Not TONS and TONS like in some parts of the country! And it makes for great snowballs!




Uncle Ed (Ken's brother on right back) and Aunt Betty Jo, Dave and Pat (Ken's sister on right front) traveled from Traverse City, MI for a visit. It was fun seeing them! We swam in their hotel pool on Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning had an INCREDIBLE breakfast put on by Mike and Kris (well, I helped a little, but they did most of the work!)!

So much fun to be together for a little while!

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Hanging out with the Livovich enanos


Ay, ay, ay! The stuff Abuela brings from Mexico! It's actually Spiderman and Superman, in case you can't tell.




No doll had a better umbrella than this one!



Del





Homework - or is it "tarea"? Ella es mi mama, el es mi papa, ella es mi prima - learning Spanish the fun way, making a collage of all the relatives - well, some of the relatives! It would be a BIG collage if we put ALL of them on there!

Hanging out at the Hannas



Please do NOT give my children any more pens!



Dakota - she wants to be inside all day, but gets to "enjoy"the sun most of the day!



Lluvia and Eden




Guess who dressed me today! Bet you can't!


Lluvia loves the layered look.

See that GIANT tooth?? She has two others on top and two more on the bottom trying to come in. A few miserable days for Eden, Mama and Papa as those coming-in teeth HURT! But she can still smile BIG!





All three girls got in on the merry-go-round! I don't think Eden knew what was going on, but it sure was cute anyway!


The ladies in Juarez, Mujeres con Esperanza (Women with Hope) make beautiful towels, pillows, bags, tablecloths, napkins, and any other number of items to sell to help them feed their families. If you'd be interested, let me know! They sell them in El Paso, but could sell them anywhere! I've bought several items - they're beautifully done!



Several days ago I put up a picture of Esmeralda holding Eden in her new maya wrap. Well, I just kept sewing and made Ken his own maya wrap - longer and bigger! It works perfect!




I'm "almost" walking! Just give me a few more weeks!