Gingerbread Baby

I thought it would be fun to share some of my favorite Children's holiday books. So drum roll please.......

The first book I would like to share is Gingerbread Baby by Jan Brett. I love Jan Brett's illustrations. You can look at each one forever and never get tired and each time you will still notice new things. Her paintings are so detailed.

"I am the Gingerbread Baby,
Fresh from the pan.
If you want me,
Catch me if you can."

So begins the chase to catch the Gingerbread Baby. Matti's family and friends all chase the Gingerbread baby through the village.


The illustrations show us that Matti is not with them on the chase. In the boarders of the illustrations we see Matti busy on a different project that in the end will help catch that Gingerbread Baby.

There are so many activitites that can also be done along with the reading of this book. Jan Brett's Web site is full of resources:

Gingerbread Baby Board Game
Gingerbread Baby Happy Holidays Coloring Placemat
Gingerbread Baby House
Gingerbread Baby Interactive House
Gingerbread Baby Icing
Gingerbread Baby Recipe
Gingerbread Friends Mural

Another great activity would be to make one of these:

Wilton Gingerbread House

I have seen these at Costco every Christmas. They have the best price. I want to say they are around $10.00 at the most. The kit has everything that you would need. I have also seen them at craft stores, grocery stores, and Target. My kids have always loved doing these. All Ages.

So gather up your kids, or grandkids, or neighbor kids, or whatever kid you can find and read Gingerbread Baby and have some fun together.

p.s. My local Costco has several of the Jan Brett Hardbound books available right now for $10.79 each. The Mitten, Gingerbread Baby, The Three Snow Bears, and On Noahs Ark (my primary class loved looking at this one).

Happy Thanksgiving

Monday and Tuesday

We wanted to get down to the boat on Monday and Tuesday and chillax. We were a bit worried because there was reports that it was going to rain on Tuesday. It ended up being beautiful. We didn't take the boat out --no wind again!


I do look like a gimp here. Why is my hand like that? I think that big muscle on Ken's arm got in the way.


Oh wait this is better - sort of.



Oh look, we had our friends with us . Connie.



Mark

Ken enjoying the view at the top of the bridge. We decided to ride our bike to the Queen Mary.


We started out on the left side where all those boats are and ended up on the right where the big boat is.



Now there is a job for you. Painting the smoke stack of the Queen Mary.


Look Ken has tricks.

Birthday Girl

Happy Birthday to my Katey Lady! Yes she is a whopping 19 years old. She used to always say she couldn't wait to be old---really old - old like a white haired old lady. I wonder if she still feels that way?

This girl was a precious baby. Always happy.

she can appreciate a good time when she sees one.

She is a great poser and camera hog. (wow the older sister looks intense)


She has a love of life.

She loves to dance and always has, even in a cowgirl outfit.


From the time she could dress herself she has been dressing up......


She is a true blue friend, once you are her friend she will be your friend forever. Here she is with her first friend ever, they meet when they were 0.

She can be fierce when required.


She loves books and reading and writing. She can read to the point of maddness.

She will try any hair style and does.




She is a good sport.

She has the most contagious laugh ever and laughs alot

She has a real flare for the dramatic


She is good to her Momma and her Momma loves her.


She is good to her Dad and he loves her.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KATEY!!!

My First Ride

Yup, I did it. I went on my first Harley Ride on Saturday. It was a blast. I was smiling all the way. I have to say that I felt perfectly safe. I had a great driver. The only problem I had was each time the bike would shift my head would go flying forward and my helmet would hit Kens. I worked this problem out just before I was about to get a concussion and Ken was about to black out. I don't think I "live to ride, ride to live" but I could handle an occasional ride when the weather is nice.

Words for Thought

Anyone can slay a dragon, he told me, but
try waking up every morning & loving the
world all over again. That's what takes a real hero.

Brian Andreas

Our Weekend

We went out to the boat this weekend and didn't even take it out of the slip! The weather was gorgeous but there wasn't a lick of wind. The temperature was not to hot, not to cool, but just right. Fortunately we had brought our bikes with us so we spent our time exploring the place.

These are some pics from our ride:

The Circus was in town:



Check out the guy on the bike, he should look familiar. He was a great sport. I would ride then stop and take pictures for a while and he would just ride circles around me and wait patiently.



We found this path that we hadn't been down before. It really was that shiney:

This was at the end of the path:


The Long Beach Aquarium:





Here is my trusty bike, but check out that antique right next to it. You don't see a pay phone very often these days.




Oh I did get a shot of myself.