August Photo Challenge Part 5: The Finale

I have really enjoyed taking photos daily for the August Photo Challenge via Fat Mum Slim. Other people seem to be reaching enlightenment. There are beautiful photos out there. I just shared snapshots. I think I take things to literally. I'm not very good at metaphors. 

I am considering, but have not decided, if I want to do the one for September.

Here is the last set of photos.

24. Fragrant

25. Mail

* I am absolutely obsessed with mail. I must check the mail. I must check the mail. I love getting mail! I don't know why. I have always been this way. I used to have a TON of penpals. I just don't anymore - technology y'all. I love letters. I love little packages. I love ripping open envelopes!

26. Breakfast - I forgot to eat breakfast so this is a morning snack.

27. Dull

I'm actually pretty tickled how this one came out.

28. Travel 

29. Dessert

I baked these cookies just for the photo. We don't really have many desserts in the house.

30. Nearby

Ivy's dance classes are nearby. Her bag was nearby.

31. 10AM

A weekly update?

If you read this post, then you know I have goals this year. Keeping the house clean is going well. Menus are flowing, Ivy is learning and even self-educating (cool!) and we make time for a lot of fun. Granted it has been a grand total of two weeks, but still. I'm pretty proud. Dinner is on the table (or in front of our faces) usually before 6pm. I'm still trying to broaden Ivy's dining horizons. And she is also picking up after herself.

So, a new goal is to save money. I want to cut corners wherever I can. I've done the whole couponing thing before and the wind quit my sails. Who knows why. But I'm starting up again. I hope it'll stick around a lot longer this time. It has to. It needs to. It must. Because really... why pay for full price when you can get things for very cheap or even free!

Wish me luck!

Dinosaur Valley State Park

Another adventure! I've been looking around for cheap things for us to do with Ivy or for me to do with Ivy while Daddy is at work - these will also be known as "field trips."

This was a weekend that Daddy was home! We all took a trip to Dinosaur Valley State Park. We normally take her to Fossil Rim every summer but we decided that we would do this instead. The Paluxy River is at one of it's lowest points at the end of summer so this is prime time to see dino tracks! There are four main sites to view tracks. One site is currently closed for safety reasons. One site, we just didn't feel like visiting. 

Upon arrival, we got suited up in case there was some good water to cool off in. Sadly, the water was a no-show.

Hiking.

The Paluxy River from the trail!

This ledge is normally covered with water but we were still able to put our feet in one of the tracks! We are standing right next to the "Blue Hole."

At site #2, you walk across the river bed to see the main site of tracks. Here Miss Priss is, pointing to a theropod track.

Two more tracks!

You can see the tracks "walking" away. There are also sauropod tracks (brontosaurus, circular).

Here is another set of tracks! This was my first time seeing these because they were covered by the river the previous times we have visited.

Family fun!

I was trying to do a forced perspective here.

She was growling!

And getting her into the EC/PP craze!

It was terribly hot. I knew it would be. I made sure we stocked up on water bottles and ice packs in the cooler. We also spoiled our lunch and got a cold dessert. 

It is a really neat park! Especially knowing that this part of the state was once a shallow sea. Once Ivy is older and we have a better time of the year to go, we will do some more hiking on the trails. There are letterboxes out there that I want to get to. And there are other parts of the park that are just so pretty and exciting to see.

August Photo Challenge part 4

Another week of Photo-A-Day

17. Dinner - I guess I was too hungry to wait.

18. Arrow

19. To-do - make sure to have fun!

20. Before bedtime

21. Decorate

22. Words - I'm speechless

23. Style

Dallas Arboretum August Dollar Days

Another adventure! I've been looking around for cheap things for us to do with Ivy or for me to do with Ivy while Daddy is at work - these will also be known as "field trips."

The Dallas Arboretum is a beautiful, floral place. There are a variety of gardens and a recently re-designed and relocated children's garden and learning area. During the month of August, a cable company sponsors Dollar Days, all admissions are one dollar! What a morning!

She was very hipster with her hat here!

I don't think she liked this little fountain area very much.

There are a large amount of areas for kids to get messy and wet! I was told to bring a bathing suit.

Of all the things she did, she said playing in the water was the most fun. Oh if I could have joined her!

Over-sized turtle egg shells.

Over-sized robin's eggs/nest

A gigantic ant!

She is always active. I cannot see how she doesn't take a nap anymore. She was running all over the place!

Well, it was bright!

We were laying on a net from a "tree" that suspended about 20 feet up. I was called "A Walk in the Clouds."

This area was a learning area - water and wind energy. Science!

Hitting the targets was supposed to make things happen!

As was pulling the levers. Even Mommy got splashed around this area! Bliss!

This was the last of our tour here, we were both very hot and very thirsty. 

We picked up lunch and then went to Sprinkles where we got some yummy cupcakes and she got their ice cream.

MPM 8/24-30

School starts this week.
Ivy starts dance this week.
I start teaching Ivy this week.

Sun - White Chicken Enchilada
Mon- Pizza
Tues - Blackened Tilapia
Weds - Fish tacos?
Thurs - Spaghetti
Fri - LO's
Sat - Outside-in burgers

Head over to OrgJunkie.com for more menu plans!

Stay-At-Home Mom Internship

So I've mentioned that I'm not working this year.
I have always wanted to be a stay-at-home mom. This is my dream come true*! This is only a temporary situation.

I do have goals that I am going to be working on.

• Educating Ivy - So far, she is doing a great job. She has even asked to do schoolwork nearly every day. I hadn't planned on starting until next week but she has asked and she is receiving. 
• Have fun - I've been looking into a variety of cheap or free "field trip" type activities. We've gone to a children's area of the Dallas Arboretum. We have gone letterboxing (which she want's to do again!). I have a lot of other plans!
• Take care of the house - Clean, clean, clean! Errands, menu plan, save money, coupon.

I would love to say that everything is perfect. But it isn't. Ivy has put up a few fights and fits. I'm trying to keep my calm. It isn't easy all the time. Of course, most of the time, she is easygoing and very loving. Kisses, hugs, and "I love you"s all the time.

If you have any ideas for things to do, let me know!

*There's some sarcasm in that one.

Nash Farm Outing

I've been looking around for cheap things for us to do with Ivy. 

This is Nash Farm. They have weekly educational programs going on at this small working farm in Grapevine. When we attended, it was all about cotton! I was completely into it because of my textiles knowledge. Ivy? Not so much. 

This cat was what caught 95% of her attention. 

Weighing cotton. Everyone took a guess. It ended up being about 15 pounds. 

The sheepish sheep that caught the other 5% of Ivy's attention. 

It took a good five minutes to get her interested in pumping the water. At least I walked away with a handful of cotton with seeds still in it. 

Afterward, we stopped at a nearby playground and park. 

I believe she imagined herself as Arial. She was just chattering away!