Happy Fall!

Dear puppies & princesses, Tonight we went to the annual SMOM (Sacramento Mothers of Multiples) club halloween party! Joshua & Julia had so much fun pretending to be a puppy and poodle and big sisters looked absolutely stunning dressed up as their favorite: Princesses- Ariel & Cinderella! School has started. Mommy is homeschooling big sisters in 1st grade this year. We are having a lot of fun. It doesn't seem like we are "home" much even though we are homeschooling. With MOPS, gymnastics, piano lessons, sign language class, Science lab and Choir practice- we are pretty busy! Joshua & Julia try to do everything their big sisters do. Joshua is very good at coloring! His favorite color is orange. Julia loves to read (look) at books. She keeps herself entertained for hours reading many books. So I organized the books in "theme baskets". This way, when we are studying something new in school, it makes it easier to find the books we want to read. Joshua's most favorite thing right now: "choo choos". He loves Thomas the Train and will play at his train table in his room for a very long time. He even sleeps with all his trains and takes them to go potty with him! We went on a field trip to the firestation on Friday and Joshua especially loved climbing in the firetruck. All the children (except Julia did not want to) had fun spraying the water hose too. Sarah is really excelling in Math & Science! You especially like to do Science Experiments with Mrs. Ubis and with our friends, Tiffany & Alyssa. The last time they came over, we did an experiment in our front yard melting chocolate with a magnify glass (Apologia Astronomy). I could not believe that Tiffany's chocolate actually caught on fire! Hannah you really love to read and your favorite is reading chapter books like Junie B Jones. All four kids like to help mommy cook. Sarah and Hanah both made dinner ("Bar B Q Cups") for the first time! It is amazing how different God made each of you, especially boys & girls. I thank God that I am your mommy! You are truly a special gift from God. When I'm exhausted, worn out, tired, I never forget how lucky I am to have 4 sweet children.

Homemade Granola Bars- Yummy!

Dear Sarah, Hannah, Joshua & Julia,

One of your most favorite snacks to eat: granola bars. It adds up even buying boxes on sale and with coupons with 4 little ones snacking on them! So when we played at the park with another home schooled family that we know through MOPS (Jennifer Butler), I was thrilled when she gave Hannah a piece of bar that she made from scratch- and Hannah, you LOVED it! I couldn't wait to get the recipe to try it. Yesterday, all 4 of you had so much fun helping Mommy measure the ingredients and bake the bars. You ate the whole batch up in one day that this morning I made more! Here is the recipe:

Oat & Almond Granola Breakfast Bars

1/2 c. veg. oil (I use canola oil)
1/2 c. honey
2 tsp. vanilla
1 large egg
Mix all the wet ingredients together. I mix it in my 2 cup liquid measuring cup.

2 c. old fashioned oats (it's o.k. if you use quick oats)
3/4 c. flour (I use whole wheat flour)
1/4 or 1/2 c. light brown sugar
1/2 c. sliced almonds (I grind it in my blender first so the granola bars are more chewy than crunchy)
1/2 c. toasted wheat germ, oat bran or flax seed
1/2 c. raisins
3/4 tsp. salt

Mix the wet and dry ingredients together
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Line a 9 x 13 pan with foil- grease foil then lay it in the pan.
Bake 25-30 minutes.
Cool completely for about an hour and then cut.
Enjoy!!

Also, I wanted to share with you what I heard at lunch today before you ate. Joshua: "Dear God Amen" Julia: "My turn, Dear God thank you Mamen" It was so cute!! I am so thankful that God gave me four beautiful children! I love you.
Love,
Mommy

Top 10 things to take on an airplane trip with two sets of twins under 5

Dear Sarah, Hannah, Joshua & Julia,

We just took an almost 2 week trip to Tulsa, Oklahoma to visit your Grammie & Grampa Snow and all your aunts, uncles and cousins! You had so much fun. Joshua loved riding on the airplane. We flew back the day before Joshua & Julia turned two- that way you both still flew for free! Here are the top 10 things to take while traveling with you all:

10. books
09. new toys
08. Color Wonder Markers and coloring book- or paints- this is amazing because it only colors on the special paper and won't make a mess.
07. Snacks, snacks, snacks- our airline this time did not give us a snack!
06. Diapers, Wipes, extra clothes
05. Gum, pacifier- give each child something to suck on especially when landing so their ears will pop.
04. lollipops, candy, any special treat they don't usually eat.
03. leapsters, leapster games and extra batteries!
02. portable DVD player and dvd movies!!!
01. An extra person to help you- like daddy, grandma, etc. :)

Whenever you grow up and fly with your kids remember to always pray to God for a safe flight and pray that you will sit by nice people. If your baby cries, don't stress too much. Try to remain calm and relaxed. I know it is hard but you can do it. Someday all four of you will be amazing parents! I love you so much.

Love,
Mommy

Happy Birthday Joshua and Julia!

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Cordova Christian Camp and VBS!

Dear Snow Kids,
Last week, Sarah & Hannah and your cousin Tristan had so much fun at our church's version of Vacation Bible School- called Cordova Christian Camp. It sure was quiet at home without the older ones. You were there from 8:30-3:30. You were introduced to the robot Reflektor who helped you learn to reflect God's glory. You learned about being a transformer and going from bad to good. On Tuesday, you learned about being a redeemer and fixing things that are broken. Wednesday, the theme was truth-teller. Thursday police officers came and did a demonstration and you learned how to be helpers. Friday was a water day and you had so much fun! I wish I could have been a "staff" for your first week of camp. I know you were in good hands though and that you had a lot of fun. This week, you joined your friend, Marcelyn, that you know from your homeschool choir and attended her VBS from 6:30-8:30. Even Joshua and Julia were able to go! Their teachers said they were so good. They said, bye bye mommy when I dropped them off and didn't cry at all. I'm so glad you had a fun week learning about heroes and a bible story about a boy and a fish. Hannah and Sarah learned a memory verse and I have it on a little video clip that I will post. I am so blessed to have you four children. I pray you will grow up always loving God and serving him. I love you.
Love,
Mommy

Crib Basketball!

Dear Joshua,
Tonight Daddy was getting you and Julia ready for bed while I was reading books to your big sisters. I heard a lot of laughing and it did not sound like you were going to bed. We went to find out why you all were laughing so much and decided to capture it on video... playing a new sport: crib basketball! It was so cute. You love balls. You are already an athlete at 22 months old. Daddy lowered the side of your crib so you could climb back in to get your balls. It is truly amazing how different God created boys and girls. Julia, your twin sister, was not interested in throwing the balls in the crib and would not try to climb in the crib. She loved watching you play it though. You are loved by your family. We are so thankful God gave us you!
Love,
Mommy