Mama InShane

Greenville, SC to do!

2011-07-22T17:29:00.002-04:00

Really, reall want to make it this year, finally after 6 years living in the Upstate.

What is the Really Good, Really Big, Really Cheap Book Sale?

It's a massive used book sale to help raise money for the Greenville Literacy Association's drive to improve adult literacy levels in Greenville County. There are tons of books at the sale - fiction and non-fiction, modern and classic, hardbound and soft cover - all at ridiculously low prices. The book sale is held annually in August. The 10th Annual Really Good, Really Big, Really Cheap Book Sale is scheduled for Saturday, August 20, 2011. To read the News Release click here.

** EARLY BIRD SALE** The 2011 book sale will feature an 'Early Bird' element. Shoppers can pay $10 to enter the sale an hour early at 7:30 am. For more information on the Early Bird Sale, click here.

FDA Probes Link Between Food Dyes, Kids' Behavior by April Fulton

2011-04-10T22:20:00.003-04:00

http://www.npr.org/2011/03/30/134962888/fda-probes-link-between-food-dyes-kids-behavior

south carolina coast

2011-02-22T19:30:00.004-05:00

folly beach
charleston

2010-12-12T21:47:00.005-05:00

reduce, reuse, repurpose:

http://www.recyclart.org/2010/11/diy-children-special-magazine-christmas-tree/

fa la la la la,

la la la la!

where kids eat free

2010-12-05T23:19:00.003-05:00

Here's the thing: I like to eat. I love a bargain. But I still want good food and awesome service.

Yes, I am demanding. You've met me, you know.

I was gonna start a blog about taking the kids out to eat and post places, blah, blah blah. It has been done. http://www.outtoeatwithkids.com/

Enjoy!

kindergarten no more!

2010-06-28T04:18:00.003-04:00

what handsome guy!

proof!
noone else's sibling had to be on stage. that wasn't stopping this lil brother.

I am a 1st grader now!

chickens have landed!

2010-06-28T03:34:00.003-04:00

tooth, the 3rd, lost and missing in the yard!!

2010-03-06T20:09:00.006-05:00

that 2nd lost tooth, created a new tooth that took several weeks to kick out the 3rd tooth.
awhile after coming in from playing in the backyard, he declares,
"my tooth is gone."
it sure is.

does the tooth fairy take photos?
we printed the picture to put under his pillow.

stormtroopers at the lego robotics tournament in Clemson
sadly, more interesting than the lego robots. middle schoolers, enuff said!

lamaster dairy for a petting the cows fix.

a super saturday:)

it's February, at last & already! whew!

2010-02-01T08:57:00.011-05:00

Calder had his 100th day of kindergarten last Friday. Sorry, no photos. He said he had a great time. He took in a Lego mosaic board with a picture made of 100 blocks. (dismantled before a photo could be gotten.) He wanted to do the entire picture but we had to stop at the requisite 100.

In other news, we had the slightest dusting of snow. (Unlike YaYa, who is knee deep in the dreaded white stuff!)
We forget the boys don't have the memory backlog of snow we do. It's exciting every time. No matter the severity or piteous amount. They love it!

until our next posting, take care and be well.

tooth lost, the second!

2010-01-17T00:34:00.003-05:00

The kids got strep, but you wouldn't know it.
Playing non-stop and yanking out teeth.
What a trooper.

holiday art market

2009-11-15T19:40:00.006-05:00

#1
Tuesday 4-8

#2 Saturday 9-5

Happy holidays!
(does this get me off the hook for not posting lately?)

we're painting parts to put together into a wooden auto.
When can we glue, mom!

I like to play with dough
1st experience with play-doh

fall festival @ LaFrance elementary

Halloween, finally!

2009-11-15T19:26:00.004-05:00

the owl and the bat

we went to our favorite treating spot for halloween: Publix. Not too much walking and just enough candy. Great way to spend a drizzly tick or treat night!

who who!
hoo hoo!
what a lovely owl.

1st, 2nd, on our way to day 3 of Kindergarten.

2009-08-19T19:16:00.007-04:00

Day one:
mom woke @ 6AM
boy up @ 6:30

free breakfast at school so no fighting about eating before leaving the house at this treacherously early hour.on our way in the car.
assembling before school and breakfastLook at that smile. Good day had!

Boys in bed by 8pm. Mom asleep by 8:30.

Day two:
Mom up @ 6:15
boy not going to school, up @ 6:30, darn
(He just wanted to see this school thing for himself.
Fine with having mommy to himself most of the day.)

Day 3:
5 year old wanting to be dressed rather than doing it himself.
Put his own socks on. Back on schedule.
Off to another fun filled day!

Hope this finds you all on schedule!
:)

Koo Koo Ice Cream Depot

2009-07-22T19:42:00.011-04:00

Ice cream shop, 5th birthday.

Train table fun!

Blow out that candle...
We had to re-light it so Cornell could blow it out
(aahh, look at those terrible twos!)

pizza in the train booths.

the piece de resistance

What a happy birthday. Thanks to all for the terrific 5th!

wow, we've been slack!

2009-07-04T15:19:00.003-04:00

Calder and Mr. T, the goat kisser

I would look awesome with a goatee like that!

in our garden

we're growing all kinds of veggies and fruit. who's comin over for a picnic?

summer fun in the driveway!

A cool way to spend a Saturday afternoon!

2009-05-24T22:38:00.005-04:00

Hightower Creek Clydesdales

Hiawassee, GA

Happy 2!

2009-05-09T21:10:00.004-04:00

Truck, trike and birthday cake.

Ain't it grand to be 2!

Little learners!!

2009-04-30T09:28:00.007-04:00

Calder had such a great time at the high school.
Those student teachers were fabulous.
We're so sad to be done. But that's okay......

Kindergarten is next!

Stay clean, y'all!

Happy Easter!

2009-04-12T10:04:00.006-04:00

Easter egg hunt

the bunny hop

mmmmmmmmmm! other people's cupcakes!
(it doesn't count if you just lick the icing off the top.)

wind blown baby squirrel.
his mommy took him back up to the nest.
Hooray!

have an extra special Easter day everyone!

Greenville Zoo!

2009-03-24T16:39:00.005-04:00

What a gorgeous day for a walk in the zoo! After doing some yard/garden maintenance at home, that's just what we did.

Lemurs are cool! But we can stop long enough to say cheese for mama.

Could not resist the shot of the alligator with purple flowers under his arm. So prehistoric and springy!

Pretty birds! They're usually asleep when we go to the zoo. 1 or 2 were getting hungry and waking up.

Happy spring, even though there are chilly, rainy days just ahead in the forecast.

Off to make dinner.
Love to all!!

a dog's life!

2009-03-17T21:30:00.006-04:00

if only Hamish could let the world know how difficult it is to live with such rascally kiddos.

Snow!

2009-03-01T18:42:00.003-05:00

Walkin

in a

winter

wonder where the land went.
I took a nap and this is what I awoke to.
Weird, cold, wet snow!

1st day of school!

2009-02-25T21:13:00.004-05:00

how cool is it to be 4 and get to go
to high school twice a week?
He's having a blast!
stay tuned....

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

2009-02-14T20:14:00.004-05:00

Our X's & O's to all. Enjoy the day!!

We were productive in the garden this weekend!

2009-02-08T21:04:00.006-05:00

Raked the leaves from the side yard with the "fort".

Moved the raised beds to a more manageable area of the yard. K is such a trooper.

Transplanted our one good plant from last summer. Go broccoli!

And still had time to play before dinner!

Finally, Happy New Year!

2009-01-28T13:24:00.005-05:00

We started off the year with red, runny noses.

3 straight days of rain causes a creek to flow thru the side yard.
just need to garden the area with plants that like periodic wet feet.
soaking wet feet.

It's okay...the can was empty!

2008-12-09T17:36:00.004-05:00

Why are these boys smiling? They created a great photo op.

Cornell wanted to reuse this can.

Sorry buddy, that can is empty. Let's recycle!

And this is as close to a holiday photo we have gotten!
We'll keep trying!

The Washing Machine Show: starring..........

2008-11-16T22:13:00.004-05:00

The Helfrich's!
Ha! Did anyone ever say a front loader washer would be this entertaining? We are such nerds. We watched the entire first running of the machine. 45 minutes of riveting watery, spinning fun.
Oh yeah, well how would you spend your Saturday evening???

Happy Halloween!

2008-11-02T12:45:00.006-05:00

Demon!

Rooooaaaar!

Don't pull the dragon's tail!

The 1st pinata I ever made and boy was it well crafted!
Had to get out the knife, then some assistance from the moms after all the kids had a go at this spider! The legs may have hindered the direct hits, too.
Hope you all had wonderful Halloween Days!

...and he's okay......

2008-10-23T21:07:00.008-04:00

Here he is.....

my wee bruiser.
Did a face plant on the concrete at Allison's house. Having some trouble with those pesky grass to concrete transitions. The day before he fell off a chair and split that little piece of skin between the upper lip and the gums. Gross!! But hey, we wanted boys. No white T's for these 2. I am not looking forward to the terrible twosome going on "adventures" anytime soon. We're worried the cat will get stuck up a tree one of these days. More likely though, it will be the cat and 2 kiddos up the tree with 3 oversized mutts sounding the alert.

How are things going with y'all!?!

I have a fort and...

it is made of wood.

There is a ginger striped cat,
who protects me.

We're so busy we have to stop and smell the flowers!

2008-10-12T21:22:00.005-04:00

Nature, such a nice respite from the world at large.
The South Carolina Botanical Gardens at Clemson University is such a great place to walk and picnic. We feed the ducks. Find bats and hike the paths.

A few days prior to this:
Calder called to us that our cat, Marjoram was playing with a snake. Ack! 1st thought: what color is the snake? #2 is it poisonous? #3 Eeks man, get away, get away!
Once we found it was a common black snake, we did what all good entertainment starved family's do....pull up chairs and hunker down for the show. We watched for a good half hour before I took the cat up to the porch. The snake wriggled off into the woods, very quick like I might add.

September is flying!

2008-09-16T21:31:00.005-04:00

How the heck are we here at the 16th of September already? It's all a blur!
But the pictures shouldn't be.
When I can't figure out where the time goes, I look at the boys. It all comes back to me. They are where it goes. Chasing after little Mr. new walker. And keeping up with Mr. questions about everything.
Yup! That's where it goes.
Be well!

Been such a long lapse in time with this here blog!

2008-08-01T23:12:00.006-04:00

Sorry folks, don't know where the time goes.
Cornell is a wrecking ball of trouble. He can crawl from zero to 60 in no time flat. Take your eyes off him for a moment and he has dismantled the entire room.
(BTW: he puts himself in the cage every time we leave it unlocked. No worries!)
He's up to 4.75 teeth. Those top 2 flanking the top front ones are being really mean. Very slow descent!

Calder is such the 4 year old. We're so growed up, but such a little boy when it suits!
We're working on writing letters. But there is resistance to the following of directions. That's my boy!
He's on the waiting list for pre-K. I've told him we're in line, waiting for a spot at school. Hope he doesn't get too sad if he isn't chosen to go.

K is working his fingers to the bones. Always tapping away on the keyboard of the computer or on the "crack"berry keys everywhere we go.
Flicking bugs off our plants during breaks.
The summer is getting pretty heated. 95 and humid.
Our resident vermin chaser, Marjoram, is too warm to
chase much. Enjoys the shade of the boxwoods when not begging for our attention. (Such a needy outdoor putty-tat!)

That's all for now. Take care!

Farm Tour of the Upstate!

2008-06-02T22:42:00.004-04:00

oh boy did we have fun this weekend.
Keston learned all about berry farming, figs and grape vines. Calder fed a month old lamb her bottle (poor Sarah's mommy sheep did not like her. Now she's a human follower.) We, of course, did not have the camera on us at that time of the tour!!!!
And Cornell sure did like the milk at the Happy Cow Creamery.
We sure had fun! Now we'll have to stay home and work some more on our own farm of sorts.

Happy 1 year, 1 week old!

2008-05-11T13:20:00.005-04:00

We cannot believe our baby is already a year old. Wow!

It begins!

2008-04-15T20:36:00.009-04:00

The cycle of life. The festival of nature. The collection of rain water for irrigation purposes. Yup, we've gone nuts and mother nature knows it.

Cornell can stand up!

2008-04-15T18:21:00.004-04:00

Cornell stood up in the bath on April 9th. Only in the bath tub, nowhere else since. Boy, was he proud. Just as proud as his 4 teeth!
We have photos, but they are not for public consumption!

the playground is up and running!

2008-04-06T10:31:00.009-04:00

Like so many things we do...Keston built this puppy in January.....and we got around to posting in April! (Yikes, how did it get to be April already?)
Well, the boys are having fun whenever the weather allows. Sorry to our friends and family up north still being pelted by snow! If it's any consolation, the weather goes from an 80 or 70 degree day to 50 or below day by day. And the pollen is through the roof -of our noses- this year!

Mom, can we get one of these for home?

2008-03-31T00:05:00.009-04:00

Fun time at Kid City.

So much to do, so much to do. I can sit up and crawl on my tummy. Does it get any better than this?

and I've never seen an indian on a horse

2008-03-30T23:55:00.005-04:00

what is it with this family and animals! geesh!

Take the preschoolers bowling, take them bowling!

2008-03-11T19:30:00.009-04:00

Oh the joys of bowling with short attention spans!
Calder was in it for maybe 10 minutes. But waiting around for your next frame is such a drag.

Publix and Dress-up

2008-02-02T07:48:00.002-05:00

Thank goodness for the car shopping carts, free cookies and sample slices of cheese at the friendly, neighborhood Publix! Shopping harmony!

Monkey see, monkey do! When in Rome, I don't know. Dressing up is just so geared towards girls. We'll have to make some boy outfits available. But think of it this way...he could be the next Monty Python star?

the busy season

2008-01-23T17:20:00.000-05:00

Hi all,
Been trying to recoup from the holidays! We are just so very worn out. I think it's double child fatigue syndrome. Cornell has been a crank-o-potomus for the past few days. And what do you know, finally, at 8 months, the 1st tooth has just broken through the surface. And just in time. This boy is so eager to try all foods, I told him to get some teeth to chew. Can't have everything pureed! He weighs 18 lbs already.

Day 3: Potty training has started up again. Jelly Belly bean rewards. Train table when we give up diapers completely. Discussions every morning. "tomorrow" is his response to when. We had success around Cmas. Filled one line of the potty chart, got a new car prize, then stalled.
So day 3 and we are going very strong. Fingers crossed.
Accordingly, with all the rewards and hand washing and sticker charts and underpant changes, my work out routine is going very well. I just wonder what category to list this activity under. Housework? Stairmastering? Brisk walking? LOL!

Was this a lot of TMI? Well, such is the life with kids.
Be well, everyone. Will keep you posted!

SNOW!

2008-01-23T17:13:00.000-05:00

Calder throws his first ball of the season!
Cornell feels his 1st snow EVER!
Ollie is just the coldest dog we know!

Merry Posting!

2007-12-04T23:22:00.001-05:00

We sure do hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving.

My new friend Stirling. I met him for the 1st time just before Thanksgiving. He lives 16 hours away in Vermont. We'll go visit him.... tomorrow.
Cornell likes the swing!

What is this.?.like, my 4th Halloween ever!?!

2007-11-04T19:31:00.001-05:00

I
like
candy!
Yum!
I was going to be a singing cowboy, but mom didn't find me a guitar. This six-shooter clicks a bit, but I can't hold a tune to it.
This is the 1st year we went to a neighborhood and trick-or-treated. Can you believe a good portion of our community does not even acknowledge Halloween? There are Harvest or Fall Festivals around town. And most of the grade schools do not accept any Halloween related goodies. What is the world coming to?
(Guess we'll find out closer to Christmas. Or is that just the Holidays? Or do we just not talk about it at all? Happy winter break, I guess!! Ha! What a mood!)
Have fun everyone! We sure try:)

Happy 1st Halloween!

2007-11-04T19:24:00.000-05:00

I may look spicy.....but I am very mild by nature. Trick-or-treat was too dark. And mommy carried me all the way, (so not cool in front of my peeps, ya know!) This suit was so comfy though, I may just wear it through Christmas!

Happy 1st Cereal Day!!

2007-10-31T11:23:00.001-04:00

Calder wasn't sure what all the fuss was about. He eats pancakes and bacon!
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!

Rice cereal.

Happy Halloween @ Callaham Orchards!!!

2007-10-18T08:54:00.000-04:00

MOMS Club® visited the Callaham Orchards this year for our Halloween pumpkin harvest. We fed the goats, went for a tractor ride, ate homemade lemon ice cream (mommy had the pumpkin ice cream!), raced duckies at the water pumps and had an all-around good time.
It was wonderfully pleasant weather wise. 70 degrees and sunny! Not too hot, not too cold! Just right!

Today, we drool!

2007-09-20T19:50:00.000-04:00

Such alert boys! Calder is very happy to give his little brother his old toys, with the proviso that he gets to show him how to use them. That's cool! Cornell is not quite sure he likes this "standing around toy". He did just begin rolling over last week. Standing comes after sitting up. Or is everything drastically expedited when it's a little brother situation.

Pass it along. Click on their site daily!

2007-09-18T09:11:00.000-04:00

Here is a way to be proactive, just click it. With so many causes, it's very hard on the pocketbook. I relish the ways we can help that don't involve the household budget.

The Breast Cancer site is having trouble getting enough people to click on their site daily to meet their quota of donating at least one free mammogram a day to an underprivileged woman. It takes less than a minute to go to their site and click on "donating a mammogram" for free (pink window in the middle).

This doesn't cost you a thing. Their corporate sponsors/advertisers use the number of daily visits to donate mammogram in exchange for advertising.

Here's the web site! Pass it along to people you know.

http://www.thebreastcancersite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=2

Went to the park for my first swing!

2007-09-15T22:47:00.001-04:00

Look at this boy! 4months old and such a sport. Ha! Totally enjoying the first break in the weather since when...April. Gosh, it has been ridiculously hot this summer.

Calder & the Great Pyrenese!

2007-09-12T16:44:00.000-04:00

Things are proceeding at an awfully fast pace around here. We're trying to keep up. But these two boys are giving us a run for our money. Not to mention energy, food and juice!
In an attempt to keep you all current, we've decided to start this blog. Not too many pictures to download for hours on end. (Sorry about that!) Just a daily (or should we say weekly right now!) summary of what we're getting up to.
Cornell is rolling over as of Monday. He's playing with toys. If you call chewing, playing.
Calder is spelling every sign he sees. In the correct order, too. Sometimes he even tells us the word he spells! He's drawing circles, straight lines and C,T and G with bathtub crayons.