Bumble Bee Juice

Even the Shepherds were pretty.....

2011-12-14T10:18:00.002+09:00

Girlie Bee has a thing for chap stick. As in, needing to apply it ALL the time. Her favorite one is pink and tastes like strawberries. She dug it out of a bathroom drawer this morning, and was prancing around putting on her "Mmmmmm"........

Well, after 10 minutes of this, I got nervous (was busy helping Mr. F.B. with his school) and started thinking about strawberry wax and oil on everything.

So, I asked her to go put it away and then come and play with the Nativity set we have that's just for the kiddos.

Well........after lunch Killer brought a few of the figurines from the Nativity set over. They were covered in a bring pink substance.....their faces, that is.

I said, "Did Girlie get at those with a marker?"

Killer: " No, this stuff is sticky!!!"

Me: "Uh Oh...."

Apparently, Girlie Bee didn't actually put the chap stick away. She decided to combine the two pastimes- and even made the shepherds pretty.

Recent Beeisms.....

2011-12-07T11:03:00.000+09:00

Little Girlie Bee: "I need more DOPE!!!" (while taking a bubble bath and requesting more SOAP)

Mr. Fumble Bumble: "THAT is DISGUXING!" (Seeing something, not so out of the ordinary....and it was, shall we say, gross.)

Killer: "I learned about double dibbit distraction." (Telling his Grandpapa what he learned in math for the day- double digit subtraction.)

The Bees Go Owling.......

2011-11-09T10:51:00.000+09:00

What a surprise- in the middle of a delicious chicken alfredo fettucini dinner.......Thunder, the guard dog in residence, put up quite a fuss for about 30 minutes. This event is a little out of the ordinary (30 minutes' worth, that is!), so DH went outside to check out the circumstances......lo and behold, a beautiful ENORMOUS owl had made himself quite at home right by our back porch! Mr. Owl didn't even blink (or fly away!) when the little bees ran out to see him and enjoy this wonderful creation.

Anyone up for some BBQ?

2011-09-25T03:12:00.000+09:00

What better pastime on a sunny September Saturday? Queenie's DH is off workin', but if he was home- this would definitely be on the menu. Enjoy a chuckle or a giggle or two.

Yep.

2011-08-26T10:27:00.002+09:00

Thunder

2011-08-26T10:16:00.001+09:00

Thunder is actually MUCH bigger than his "First Day with the Bee Family" picture seen here- but growing Thunder pictures will come sometime soon. Queenie didn't realize she'd neglected putting one of his itty bitty puppy pics up here! Below, see Baby Bee and Thunder (In our new living room!), a full-blood Great Pyrenees, also known as Pyrenean Mountain Dog.....he is a wonderful guardian dog already! (Not LGD...."livestock guardian dog"....more like CGD, "Children's Guardian Dog")

Beeisms from Mr. F.B.- as a brand new FOUR year old

2011-08-18T10:29:00.001+09:00

On any given day, Mr. FB is known to spout philisophical musings- about which, it is highly probable, NO other human on the planet Earth has ever dreamed about.

"Mommy! I just figured something out- Spider Man ALWAYS says "I love you....right before he kills the bad guy!"

Queenie. had. no. words.

ANOTHER SAGA....continues below

The other day, Queenie's DH unfortunately had a bad accident while out on his early (read: still dark) morning run. He limped home for the last mile, and immediately requested that Queenie pack up the little bees and buzz (quickly!) to the ER. The waiting room visit for Queenie and the 3 little bees drifted into its second hour......and Mr. FB dutifully broke the monotony by intoning,

"MOMMY! I know why it's taking so long! When they take the x-ray, the pictures of Papa's bones...., they have to cut his leg off first so they can fit it into the machine. That's why we are waiting such a long time!"

Perhaps the glimpse of an elderly amputee sitting at the entrance of the hospital in a wheelchair on our way into the waiting room had a tiny little something to do with his outburst......but he stated it so matter-of-factly, and was not above asking Queenie to please request copies of those pictures. (of the bones) for his (and Killer's) future viewing.

The Wandering Part II

2011-08-05T12:42:00.000+09:00

As Queenie logged into the "Juice" blog and pushed the "new post" button, she was hit with a sense of gravity and awe at all that has transpired- the blessings and surprises; the hard times and prayers answered- all within the last five, yes five months!

No single blog post alone could possibly encompass everything the Bee family has been doing, but hopefully you dear readers (if you are indeed still buzzing around somewhere out in this big, crazy world) will enjoy these few glimpses into the Bee family since March.

While DH was away at recruiting training in San Diego, Queenie and the 3 Bees stayed busy and happy at the wonderful home of The Jacobsons, Queenie's family!

One of the most fun events was a re-enactment of The Battle of the Alamo at the historic site! Baby Bee here with her Grandpapa.....and sporting a Yellow Rose of Texas.

Killer and Mr. F.B. were awed and inspired in the presence of the actual Davy Crockett rifle....

Back at Wild Rose (the Jacobson's homestead) Baby Bee works on her "happy heart" for a photo shoot with Mommy.

Queenie, her mom, little bro Natey and all 3 little bees took a fun day trip to nearby Lyndon B. Johnson state park.....all the kiddos had so much fun playing in the vast fields that we were too late to really see many animals, but we snatched a "pretend" ride in the wagon!

The Bees were so thrilled to meet their Great-Grandpa Carl when he visited Wild Rose during his birthday.....Queenie and her folks even serenaded him with a birthday ballad for the occasion- Queenie wants it to be publicly known that she is NOT above using a bass-string made from an old WWII water can. She found it quite enjoyable.

The joyful days at Wild Rose eventually came to an end, and the Bee family headed out to San Antonio for more recruiting training for DH....and fun day trips for Queenie and the little bees.

Oh, and BY THE WAY! What a beautiful mini-van DH got for Queenie.....beats the Japanese "lunchbox" by a mile! Although, Queenie is sure she appreciates this one more because of the years spent bumping three inches above the road in the green box.

Classic Car Museum staff is sure persnickety about antique toy cars. A girl can't help but love this beauty of a ride! Baby Bee was a bit naughty and tried to sneak a ride....after all, it's a toy! Queenie was quite embarrassed but could hardly blame the child.

need some Buddy Holly background music here.

hmmmm.......perhaps a ride for another Bee family once upon a time?!

Mr. F.B. and his mommy...... enjoying a dinner out with DH and the fam before the craziness of recruiting sets in...

Exotic Animal Farm- Queenie braved this place by herself with all 3 bees.....Killer was in his proverbial heaven.

Bee Family's Wandering Part I

2011-03-10T14:00:00.003+09:00

Thoroughly enjoying the hospitality of first the Bee's Abuelitos Bueno, and then their Jacobson grandparents (and 8 year old uncle!), the Bee family is in a wandering state after their enormous exodus out of the land of Japan. Queenie and her little hive are without a permanent house until at least May, so they are basking the warmth of family they have missed for the past 3 years.

Baby Bee playing with her Bisabuelita, DH's grandmother (on his mother's side)

'Most everyone from that day except Queenie who was buzzing about the camera....

Baby Bee's Outside View

Baby Bee had everyone wrapped around her finger when she ooh'd and aah'd over all their pretty lovelies...DH's Tia Socorro even let her try on some beautiful rings! Baby Bee was thrilled.

Bee Family's Exodus Part IV

2011-03-09T12:00:00.002+09:00

Baby Bee finally gets her beauty sleep upon arriving at her Abuelitos Bueno's house in El Centro, CA.

Queenie's new accessory that is worth twice it's weight in gold: The Peapod, a kiddie tent that pops up with no assembly required, and as a zipper so the tot can sleep peacefully anywhere, anytime. It's fantastic. Better than a pack'n play, because it folds into a tote that a 5 year old can carry (Queenie knows this fact because Killer has carried it all over America at this point!) After our move, no matter where the Bee Family has traveled, Baby Bee has loved the predictable and secure environment the Peapod gives her!

If two little busy bee boys are shown an empty dirt lot with stacked miscellaneous items (aka trash) that most people would haul away at the soonest possible moment.....what do they do?!

Make a train, of course!

This must be a circus train because Queenie saw a caged lion in the middle car!

Bee Family Exodus, Part III

2011-03-08T14:23:00.001+09:00

After traveling for 20 sleepless hours, the bee family with their Marine Papa landed in Seattle airport...only to be greeted by a 5 hour layover (sleepless the sequel), and a flight to San Diego.

By the time they arrived at their hotel, all 5 bees had been awake for 30+ hours.

Bee Family's Exodus Part II

2011-03-07T12:00:00.001+09:00

4 hours at this military terminal.....before our journey even began! Playing on the endless rows of hard plastic chairs was much more interesting since their little friend Coryn was there, as well

(waiting for the same flight as the bees).

Bee Family's Exodus Part I

2011-03-06T14:15:00.000+09:00

Baby Bee is kept busy with lovelies while Queenie prepares for the movers...

Mr. Fumble Bumble and Baby Bee enjoy one last cuddle on the couch before the boxes start flying..... (and thankfully at that time, FB and Baby Bee were safe at loving friends' houses!)

There and Back Again..... A Marine Wife's Holiday

2011-02-17T07:21:00.001+09:00

Three years ago, after deciding to relocate to a United States Marine Corps base in Iwakuni, Japan, the Bee family embarked on what would turn out to be an adventure of a lifetime.

All adventures, regardless of their exciting beginnings, must eventually come to a close. However, the end of one adventure is merely the beginning of the next, and the Bee family is excited to announce that they are starting their next escapade back in America.

Queenie, her DH, and the three little bees have been living in America for three weeks now, and the cultural aspects of normal American life are jarring, intriguing, and amazing all at the same time. Below, dear readers, please enjoy some of the "in-ordinary circumstances" that we have been facing as we re-integrate into the "American Dream".

---Ten minutes after disembarking their final flight (after almost 30 hours of traveling) in San Diego, Queenie attempted to buy the 3 little bees their first meal in America, it was 10PM and the only thing open in the terminal was McDonald's......there was oatmeal on the menu! She was so excited to finally give her little bees something healthy to put in their tummies before crashing at the "People's House" (what the bees have named hotels). However, upon paying for the meal at the cashier, Queenie was completely dumbfounded to see a completely new type of credit card machine! It was the world's longest 5 minutes as she tried time and time again to understand the buttons and slots. When the cashier condescendingly offered to swipe her card for her, Queenie humbly accepted. Upon receiving her receipt (which she incorrectly tried to SIGN with a ballpoint pen), she also tried to show them her military ID....an attempt which was met by a blank stare from the cashier who responded, "Ummmmm....you don't need to show that here." Queenie's yellow stripes turned a deep orange with embarrassment for almost an hour after that incident!

---Bee family was 100% pedestrian for a day or two following their flights, due to the fact that both cars were sold back in Japan- that, and the fact that even the world's smallest "golf cart with a roof" can't fit on a 757. Walking to breakfast the next morning, they walked past a Target. Killer started asking "What's a Target, Mommy?" Queenie replied, "It's a store here in America! You can buy clothes, and shoes, and food, and laundry soap and stuff." Killer answered back, "WOW! Shoes and food in the same store?!?!?!" It was then that Queenie realized they had an audience of about five other Americans walking through the parking lot, staring unabashedly at the family that appeared to have just escaped an electricity-free commune.

---Queenie wondered why in the world she felt "dressed up" walking through Target wearing corduroys, t-shirt, scarf, makeup, and leather boots. When did corduroys become "dressed up"?

---ONE omelet at IHOP fed all 3 little bees. Sometimes enormous portion sizes can be a great thing!

---Queenie wondered, at times, why the restaurants were placing the Yen rate right next to the US dollars price.....until she realized it was the calorie count for the item listed!

---The Bee Family doubts they will ever walk in the door of a Burger King again. (BK was one of the very few American restaurants available in Iwakuni, Japan....and was overly frequented!)

---The taste of genuine, Amish-made, chunks of bleu cheese from a gourmet booth at HEB grocery store.......priceless and unforgettable.

---The sight and sound of Killer reading every sign he sees in Wal Mart, not just for items, but the sales posters as well: "20% OFF, Buy ONE get ONE HALF OFF, 50% OFF, BIG SALE, NEED NOW, GREAT DEAL, MARKED DOWN, HURRY FAST, multiplied by about 200 times......Killer was VERY thorough."

A Name Without Clothes

2011-01-11T15:56:00.000+09:00

Riding home from church on Sunday, Killer looked over at Queenie and (very solemnly) asked:

"MOM! Do I have a naked name? Because (my brother, FB) has one! DO I HAVE ONE?"

Queenie (quite taken aback, and a bit sheepish): Hmmm....a naked name?!

Killer: YEAH! A NAKED NAME! You know, like, Shorty Pants (Mr. FB).

Queenie (quite relieved and trying not to laugh too hard): OH! A nickname! Sure, Killer, you've got a nickname!!!

Baby Bee and her New Christmas Jammies

2010-12-28T15:21:00.000+09:00

Grandpapa sent new jammies all the way to Japan from Texas......for Christmas, of course. Baby Bee's soft and cozy sleeper is in a muted leopard print.

She has deemed this set of sleepwear her "Meow Meow" jammies...

Killer Finds the Silver Lining

2010-12-10T14:10:00.002+09:00

Sadly, one of the adorable stuffed Christmas bears we pull out each Christmas emerged from his storage box missing an eye. Still jauntily sporting a green elf hat, and holding a festive wreath.....he is nevertheless a little worse for wear, only showing a bright red nose and an eye.

Pulling Mr. Bear out of the box, Killer looked at him aghast for a moment, and then took a deep breath before stating,

"Well, that's okay. We can just pretend the Christmas Bear is winking!"

Killer the Bee Lurns to Spel

2010-11-15T07:57:00.002+09:00

In the main bathroom of the apartment, Queenie has placed two bottles: one of hand sanitizer, and one of a fun "Kan-Do" soap that foams up bright green and is nice and easy for tots.

Mr. Fumble Bumble likes to push the boundaries and always attempts to use the clear bottle of hand sanitizer instead of the kiddie soap that Queenie bought for him- the only reason being that the hand sanitizer is the bottle that is off limits. (besides being almost completely alcohol- which poses problems in itself for a 3 year old, it's also a rarity around our overseas base where the store may or may not have it in stock when you need it!)

Queenie is constantly repeating herself by telling him:

"F.B.! PLEASE use the fun green soap! That other one is for Mama's and Papa's"

Queenie's DH was washing his hands the other day and afterward presented Queenie with the bottle of hand sanitizer, upon which a black sharpie had phonetically scrawled (compliments of F.B.'s brother, Killer):

Fo.

Momo.

and

Popo.

Queenie and her DH must have laughed for half an hour. Killer not only took it upon himself to label the bottle of hand sanitizer, but had assumed that his three year old brother could actually read it as well.

Killer the Bee Masters the Engrish Language

2010-11-01T17:13:00.002+09:00

Well, it's needless to say life in Japan is unique, amazing, and baffling at the same time.

Queenie finds herself and her little hive of busy bees constantly walking a narrow line of hanging onto American traditions, unwittingly absorbing parts of the Japanese culture, and even trying to instill some Mexican (Queenie's Marine hubby hails from a Mexican town right on the Mexican/American border in Baja) accents into their daily lives.

Even though dear hubby speaks Spanish on a routine basis with the kids, Killer the Bee seems reluctant (and even sometimes confused), because to him, all things "Non-American" are "Japanese", not "Spanish or Mexican". The only reason for this is because that is what he's exposed to, on a 24/7 basis....the Japanese way of things, grocery stores, elderly folk, flower shops, etc..

At any rate, he was counting the trucks on the expressway (Japanese "inter-state highway")....when he shouted out,

"MAMA! Look, there are Eareven of them."

Not eleven, mind you. Eareven. Queenie howled and hooted with laughter all the way to the next exit.

Her 5 year old, American-Mexican son had just spoken fluent Engrish.

Mr. FB's Plans for the Future

2010-11-01T09:57:00.002+09:00

During a recent restaurant family dinner, Mr. Fumble Bumble (age: 3) was asked what he would like to do when he grows up....

Mr. FB: "Hmmmmm....well, I would really like to be a Maween. Yes, I am gonna be a Maween who fights bad cows. Those bad cows will be dead."

Queenie: "Awww, that's funny. Bad cows. hahahaha. A Marine like Papa. So cute."

Mr. FB: "No. It's not funny. It's see-wius."

Queenie: "Serious? Really?"

Mr. FB: "Yes! It WOULD be see-wius. It be see-wius for those cows!"

Baby Bee Tries to Smile

2010-10-22T08:34:00.000+09:00

Now that Baby Bee has a mouth full of pearly whites, Queenie has been dutifully brushing her teeth each night before bed. She first animatedly says, "Open up your mouth, Baby Bee! Say, Awwwww!" So, Baby Bee soon learned to open up her mouth wide. After brushing all the new molars, Queenie says, "Smile!", to clean the fronts of Baby Bee's little teeth.

Apparently, Baby Bee carries those instructions along for photos as well. After saying "Smile!!!!", Queenie is greeted by a big, open-mouthed "Awwwwww!!!"

Baby Bee and Baby Spider

2010-09-10T19:39:00.000+09:00

Baby Bee just got tucked into bed, all the while she was ~~singing~~ babbling the Itsy Bitsy Spider.

For some reason, she's positively smitten with that song, and does her utmost best to make her chubby little fingers do the spider walk.

*so cute!*

Some Credit in the Day...

2010-09-06T19:01:00.002+09:00

Uptown Nanny I ~~don't trust because I've never met her~~, ~~can't afford~~, ~~won't come because the kids are sick~~, am too busy to call for the day: $100.00

5 Star Housekeeper ~~I don't want to see my house in its current state~~, ~~can't get booked,~~ who would be yet another warm body in our already broiling and crowded apartment: $80.00

Ordering KFC delivery because Queenie is ~~exhausted, frustrated, overwhelmed~~, craving fried chicken and coleslaw: $18.00

The image of Baby Bee strapped to Queenie's back in a baby carrier while her mommy scrubs a cup of dried sunscreen off the fish tank because Mr. Fumble Bumble was sure that "Beluga the Goldfish" was too hot under his aquarium light: PRICELESS.

Happy 5th Birthday to Killer!

2010-09-06T00:00:00.015+09:00

It's a bittersweet birthday for Killer. His Papa is traveling and is unable to be here to celebrate with everybody this year. Nevertheless, Queenie is doing her best to make wonderful memories for the little boy bee.

She is buzzing with joy because, this year- for the very first time- she can write Killer a note that he will see in the morning....a note that says:

"Happy Birthday, Killer! (well, she didn't write Killer)
I love you.
5!
Love,
Mama"

And he will read it ALL by himself and know that his Mommy loves him sooooooooooo much.

When I grow up......

2010-08-30T16:09:00.002+09:00

Killer the Bee (Age 4), 

1st day of K5

Bee Family Homeschool 2010

........this marks the beginning of what will now be a yearly tradition for each of the 3 bees. *smile* 

A Kitten Named Banzai

2010-08-29T19:08:00.002+09:00

There are two Japanese words that have extremely similar sounds. Bonsai , referring to the pruned and manicured artsy tree, and Banzai, which is actually part of an ancient war cry meaning "May the emperor live 10,000 years!!!".

Banzai the kitten (only 4 weeks old!) is a little firecracker, so of course, his namesake would have to be the word that displays a bit more action and spunk. He was found by a local Marine stuck in a drain pipe, starving and dehydrated. The base veterinarian coaxed and nursed him, as well as his sister, until they were well enough to go to a new home. We are excited about this little bit of furry nature prancing through our tiny apartment.

Apparently, he enjoys fighting fires....

and battling dragons and dinosaurs.

A true military cat, Banzai also has an affinity for rifle magazines.

Killer the Bee and the World's First Guard Cat

Mr. Fumble Bumble is attempting to muster up some gentleness...

Even Killer knows Banzai is tiny!

.....and Banzai simply must end the day in his basket snoozing with a cuddly bear.

Beeism of the Day- Killer Wishes He was All Grown Up

2010-08-18T18:25:00.001+09:00

Queenie and her 3 bees went to have lunch at the food court here on base last week. They were approaching the line, and Queenie gave Killer 2 choices:

"Tacos or Taco Salad, Killer?" Queenie asked.

"Hmmmmmm..." Killer quietly thought.

Then, he continued, "I want Taco Salad. Because Taco Salad is BIG, and I want to be a MAN."

Beeism of the Day... Stuffed Animal Faves of Mr. Fumble Bumble

2010-07-31T19:30:00.003+09:00

Mr. Fumble Bumble has a favorite bean-stuffed animal named Pickles. Pickles is a leopard, and the manufacturer actually named it Freckles, but to a 3 year old little boy.....Pickles sounds just close enough.

Queenie thought this was humorous at first, and now the name has stuck- Freckles is no longer Freckles to anyone else in the family....Pickles it is.

Today, Mr. FB found a bean-stuffed ostrich from Queenie's kiddie bee days, and when she asked Fumble what he had named the ostrich, he replied....

"Ketchup!"

Baby Bee and her new mascot...

2010-07-11T17:25:00.000+09:00

Thanks soooo much to a certain hive in VA for sending little Baby Bee her 1st birthday bee! She thinks it's just perfect to chill out with....do bees chill out? Well, this one comes pretty close. *wink*

Buzzing for Babies....

2010-07-02T10:38:00.002+09:00

Last night, Queenie called the base repairmen to please, oh pretty please, come fix her refrigerator which was leaking icky fridge water all over her kitchen. They weren't able to come until this morning- at 8:30AM...and Queenie hadn't even served the little bees their breakfast yet! She was glad they arrived bright and early, but scrambled around trying to find something easy to grab from the pantry- tools and repairmen speaking fast Japanese blocked the rest of the kitchen. Killer, F.B., and Baby Bee ended up getting a breakfast of individually packaged applesauce, graham crackers, and juice from a new jug poured into their water bottles. (Queenie couldn't reach the cups!)

It was an eventful morning, but while the boy bees were playing with cars in their room, Queenie was able to tuck in the last strands of yarn on a baby gift she crocheted to give at a baby shower in exactly.....one hour! She hopes the new baby girl enjoys her lovelies....Queenie wishes she had some in her size!

"Deep and Wide..."

2010-06-27T18:49:00.004+09:00

There's an old children's Sunday School song that goes,

"Deep and wide,
Deep and wide,
There's a fountain flowing-
Deep and wide....."

It has a catchy tune, and those same lyrics are repeated several times before the end of the song. It's one of Mr. F.B.'s favorite tunes, and he can be caught, occasionally, milling around the house and humming it while he plays.

A few days ago, much to Queenie's delight, it was discovered that Baby Bee had just enough hair to pull up into the cutest little top pig-tail. The baby hairs sprayed out in the most hilarious way, and upon seeing his little sister all dolled up with her new hair-do, F.B. exclaimed:

"LOOK, MAMA! She has a deep and wide!"

Queenie expects that was his little way of trying to say her tiny pigtail looked just like a fountain. She definitely agrees.

Killer the Bee visits the Farm

2010-06-23T15:36:00.000+09:00

Killer the Bee visited a farm- a farm in his imagination, that is.

Today, Queenie was stuck in the hive with a 4 year old who sported a tummy ache, slight fever, and stuffy nose. She used Adobe PhotoShop in an attempt to bring a smile to his cranky little bee face....the results were successful! Killer laughed out loud
when he saw himself smack dab in the middle of his own drawing. *smile*

Episode 2: Summer Pre-K/Kindergarten Fun- Buzzing to a Beat

2010-06-17T08:07:00.002+09:00

It seems that Queenie is daily astonished at the amount of incredible and completely free resources available on the internet- some of which are absolutely perfect in accessorizing a preschool/kindergarten home school education! Killer and Fumble Bumble are learning piano with their mommy, and since they are both very visual and hands-on learners, Queenie was scrounging around looking for examples to show them of children practicing and performing on various instruments- so that they could see what a "real" musician is like. One of the resources she found is from PBS, and is ~~astonishingly~~ thankfully available using our Japanese internet connection! We hope you, dear readers, appreciate a little music culture with your breakfast ~~tea, coffee, juice, milk~~ nectar as well!

From the Top at Carnegie Hall

Episode 1: Summer Pre-K/Kindergarten Fun Via You Tube!

2010-06-16T15:17:00.000+09:00

Mr. Fumble Bumble's Birthday

2010-06-14T19:36:00.001+09:00

Mr. Fumble Bumble, Esq....is no longer a toddling two year old.....this past week he turned THREE! Queenie and the entire bee family were so blessed to see many friends at his recent "Firefighter Party"- and Queenie was tremendously blessed that a few friends grabbed cameras and caught some precious shots.

Queenie also hopes you readers enjoy the pictures below- happily, her first attempt with "felt crafting for kids" (the fire vests pictured below) was apparently a success. Mr. Fumble Bumble had a tremendous time climbing and rolling around with the other kiddie-firefighters. Thank you to Heidi, Ashley, and Rachel for capturing these darling moments while Queenie was otherwise occupied!

Mr. Fumble Bumble himself, blowing out the candle for his 3rd year...

"Pin the tail on the dalmatian, anyone?"

The Fastest Firewoman Ever!

Move over, Smoky the Bear....Firefighting may have two new mascots!

F.B.'s brother, Killer the Bee, rescuing something from atop...a perilous bridge, perhaps?

Beeism of the Day (Killer and his Pleasantries)

2010-05-22T06:59:00.001+09:00

Queenie's little guy, Killer the Bee is 4 1/2, now. He is coming into his own, personality-wise, and it is quite humorous to watch.

A day or two ago, Queenie's hubby was getting ready to head out the door to work. Sitting on the piano bench near the door while lacing up his boots, he asked about his giant mug of coffee. Queenie was preparing the coffee in the adjoining kitchen, when she heard Killer walk into the living room. Standing as straight and tall and trying to appear as mature as his 4 1/2 self can possibly appear, Killer said in a deep and serious voice:

"Goodbye, Papa. I hope you have a looooong day!"

It took every fiber of Queenie's little insect being to not double over with laughter at this point. Killer was trying his best to wish his Papa a nice and pleasant day.

Queenie guesses that in Killer's mind, when at the conclusion of a very full, busy, and stressful day she sighs,

"Whew! What a long day!"

Killer Bee assumes Queenie is using the word long to substitute marvelous, wonderful!

Awwww.....the things little bees enjoy- maybe Queenie will see her next long day as marvelous, wonderful.

I hope you, dear readers, have an extremely long day!

When in Japan....

2010-05-18T14:44:00.002+09:00

One knows they are not residing in the United States when they plead to the family before dinner,

"Please say nice things tonight, no mean words. It's a special dinner, please don't ruin it- we're having a big, fresh, crispy salad!" (when compared to the normal fare which is an assortment of steamed or sauteed veggies, purchased at a lower price)

and emotions involved with the above quote are synonymous with:

"Only peace and joy this evening, fellow diners.....might I trouble you to pass the champagne?"

Joy in Simplicity...

2010-05-13T21:53:00.000+09:00

The below paragraphs were taken from a recent Facebook status that Queenie merely wanted included in her blog- mostly due to the fact that she counts her blog as a journal that is never written.

(Queenie)... is blessed...true, I am not utterly thrilled with our current housing or location, have learned to appreciate the simple things- like a working washer and dryer, food in the fridge, and safety;

my children are constantly sick (mostly due to the above circumstances) and sometimes it feels like I am missing out on life- but I have been gradually drawn to the fact that it is the smallest things that mean the most in my life- like the look of pure rapture on my son's face when his turtle actually acts like he's listening to him.

I never get much time with my husband- but on the other hand, is it possible to get enough time with the person who is your life's breath? I think not, and have come to the conclusion that the amount of time spent together will always leave me longing for more- I cherish each moment of fleeting joy with my children, and I relish each laugh and light hearted moment I am blessed to occasionally share with my husband.

The Bee's Knees

2010-05-10T08:06:00.002+09:00

Queenie has dozens, if not hundreds, of some of the most delightful childhood memories with the vintage show, "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood"- the antics of Lady Elaine, King Friday, and the many factory/museum outings will forever be warm fuzzies in her memory.

Now, at long last, everyone can view full-length (26) episodes of this excellent children's show online.....for free!

Finding this just started Queenie's week off on the right foot. Or insect leg.

Either way- exciting news for the Land of Make Believe!

Mister Rogers' Neighborhood

Worth buzzing over to.....

2010-04-27T07:18:00.001+09:00

Queenie would just like to share an absolutely amazing blog with you, dear readers. An anonymous author who describes herself as a daughter of Jesus, wife, mom, and teacher- also happens to digiscrap and practice up on her graphic design in her free time. Now, that line right there amazes Queenie- if you buzz over to her blog, you will wonder if she ever sleeps!

Chalk full of absolutely darling crafts, ideas, and enticing tot projects, Confessions of a Homeschooler will forever ban the word bored from your vocabulary (if you have ever actually used that term while caring for small children. Queenie personally feels as if she is perpetually buzzing around a blossom that she is not allowed to sit and rest on....so for some reason bored is not a term she fully understands.

Regardless, this site is incredibly fun- whether you are homeschooling, or would simply like to supplement some lessons for your brick and mortar-school-going tot. Enjoy!

Confessions of a Homeschooler

Beeism of the Day

2010-04-26T07:54:00.006+09:00

Mr. Fumble Bumble, during storytime last night (A 2 year old's stuttering rendition of a deep thought):

"Mama, ......God......Adam........ummmmmm........Joseph......AHHHH (frustrated sigh)....... :(.......me......dinosaurs.....snake.....daniel..........:( I CAN'T SAY IT."

Queenie: "OH! You mean God was there with Adam and made the dinosaurs, AND he was also there with Joseph and Daniel? AND he's here with us? Is that what you mean?!"

Mr. F.B. (happy smile): "YES!"

Queenie (thinking to herself): "Oh, his thought pattern is hilarious!"

(Many thanks to Brandi Picou for this picture of Mr. F.B. himself)

Bzzzzz......It's Reading Time!

2010-04-14T20:06:00.004+09:00

Killer is reading. Sometimes on his own. At 4 years old, he has finally memorized all the most common sounds that the 26 letters of the English alphabet make, and sounds out words slowly but about 80% correctly.......all day long. A year ago, Queenie was trying to start the pre-primer section of the 210 Dolch Words (Dolch Word Wikipedia), but Killer didn't quite get the concept, so she gave it another year...

Now, with the letter "sounds" firmly in his grasp, Killer is phonetically starting to read simple story books by himself. Queenie still thinks it's very important that Killer master the 210 Dolch words, because that will greatly improve his vocal reading later on- he'll know the words by sight and not have to sound them out. (Making story-telling and reading out loud much smoother)

Did you know The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss was written completely out of the 210 Dolch words? Just a tiny tidbit Queenie picked up this afternoon while trying to find a fun (free!) word chart to print out for Killer.

Killer loves hands-on games, so Queenie printed out the first two site word charts from this wonderful site that showcases the absolutely gorgeous artwork of Jan Brett. Dolch Word lists from JanBrett.com Killer cut them out, and Queenie used contact paper to attach them to his clipboard....making a darling dry-erase board. The game of the afternoon was Queenie saying a word, Killer finding it, and circling it with his (favorite color) green dry erase marker.

Another idea for the same "game" boards that Queenie had were: putting a small treat (honey nut cheerio, raisin, M&M, etc...) on each box, and Killer gets to gobble up the treat as soon as he says the word correctly.

For Mr. Fumble Bumble (2 years), the bees are working on letter recognition. Queenie found a darling letter chart on this same Jan Brett website. She attached it to a second clipboard for Mr. F.B. exactly the same way. The dry-erase board concept stays the same- only with letters instead of site words.

Queenie and the bees hope you enjoy this wonderful site that provides oodles of (free!) educational and fun activities for kids.

CORRECTION: For simplicity and ease when cleaning your "dry erase" board, Queenie has just discovered that using Crayola Washable Markers is MUCH easier to clean with a damp paper towel than dry erase markers. So....that is her new suggestion.

A Rare Sunny Day...

2010-04-06T15:15:00.004+09:00

Here in Asia, whenever you take a photo of someone who is living locally, visiting an historically important place, or just experiencing normal day-to-day life, they are 99.99% likely to flash the "peace" sign in every photo.

Queenie snapped a quick pic of Killer playing at the park....with a 4 year old's "interpretation" of the peace sign! This pic was definitely not staged....Killer was just tryin' to be cool.

Rainy March

2010-04-01T15:11:00.002+09:00

It's been raining on Queenie and the 3 Bees....again and again and again and again (exactly how Killer and F.B. describe it) This coming Sunday is Easter (or Resurrection Sunday, for Christians), the celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus. It's important to Queenie and DH that the little buzzing bees learn that this coming Sunday holds as much (if not more!) significance as Christmas Day, which is celebrated with much enthusiasm in this little hive.

In preparation for this special holiday, Queenie ordered two Easter coloring books- a 2-5 year old one for Mr. Fumble Bumble, and a 5-8 year old one for Killer. Each book tells the story of Palm Sunday, The Crucifixion, and the Resurrection in a way that is completely appropriate for small children. ChristianBook.com has hundreds of inexpensive, but doctrinally sound, options for teaching children the significance of certain Christian holidays. For story time each night, we've been reading the coloring books....which might seem odd to you, dear readers, but Queenie realized that the story was well-written for this age group. Also, it is special to the bees because they can recall the story as they color each particular page.

In addition to the special Easter coloring books, and because it just won't stop raining, Queenie helped F.B. and Killer make little bunnies to celebrate Spring. Now, Queenie realizes that bunnies have absolutely nothing to do with Resurrection Sunday, so we've been calling them our "Spring Bunnies". Little Baby Bee even had one made especially for her, with long knotted ears just right for grabbing and chewing. (Baby Bee's 4th and 5th teeth are popping out, and she is chewing everything in sight!)

The bees here just thought you readers might enjoy seeing the projects we've been working on- the little baskets with bunnies and cookies were made by this bee hive's occupants to share some Spring joy and sunshine with several special friends also stationed here on our base. All the bees hope that you, dearest readers, enjoy the following snapshots that add some visual detail to the last few days' happenings.

Killer the Bee and Mr. Fumble Bumble work with needles and thread for the first time....the results were quite humorous, but at least it gave Queenie a few minutes to cut out the actual fabric for the bunnies!

The Boy Bees stuff their individual bunnies while listening- Queenie promises this was not staged- to their Playskool Mp3 players with, what else, but their vintage stories! (see previous post, The Bees Knees)

Baby Bee plays with her finished bunny

Killer and F.B. do some "baking" of their own...(continued below)

Baby Bee joins in the pretend baking fun...

Queenie's late-night (as in, started at 10PM) batch of "Orange Spring Cookies", which was really a gigantic batch of the world's most awesome sugar cookies with orange extract instead of almond extract!

Straight out of the oven....(around 11PM)

Spring-themed lovelies

Queenie is wishing there were 40 hours to every day so she could have made more bunnies to share! Unfortunately, she was able to complete enough to fill 8 baskets....maybe next year, she'll start working on them earlier!

Nevertheless, the bees were excited to share a little sunny bunny joy.

If you, dear readers, are wanting to sew up a few of your own little darlings, the pattern is found here: Revoluzzza

Simply......The Bee's Knees

2010-03-15T19:36:00.004+09:00

Queenie simply had to let you dahling (sic) readers know about the swell sight, Kiddie Records Weekly. A few technically-savvy individuals have compiled a collection of hundreds of vintage kid-friendly LP records. The best part about it is- they have had the kindness to convert ALL of them to MP3, for our (and our kids') modern listening pleasure!

Queenie is brimming with excitement about this find, and has already uploaded 4 hand-picked stories for her sons' indestructible Playskool MP3 players. Killer has been listening to his somewhat obsessively.

I have done extensive flying around this sight, and have discovered just a few glitches that you might appreciate knowing about before hand, to make your listening experience as pleasant as possible.

Hints by Year:

2005- the easiest way to listen to these is streaming from your computer. After clicking on the individual story, stream it by clicking on the separate parts in the "Download Option A". Downloading may be possible, but it is a different format than MP3, and Queenie found that the boy bees didn't mind listening right by the computer anyways. Clicking on "Audio Stream" doesn't work.

2006- Same as above, stream the story by clicking on the individual parts under "Download Option A".

2007- Exactly the same as 2005&2006

2008- the beloved authors of this sight took a break. Queenie can't blame them- what a huge collection they have shared!

2009- Whoohoo! They're back again, and better than ever. This year makes MP3 downloading a snap. To listen & download, simply click on the story you would like, and then click on "download image and audio files" at the bottom. This will most likely save the file(s) in your computer's "downloads" folder. Cut and past from there into the file of your choice, to keep them accessible and organized for you. The funny thing is, streaming is difficult for this year!

In case you readers are the least bit curious, the first stories we uploaded were:

1. Jimmy Stewart narrates "Winnie the Pooh and Tigger"
2. Johnny Appleseed
3. Tex Ritter Sings Sunday School Songs
4. Bible Stories for Children

The boy bees have also enjoyed several stories (mainly Rob Roy, which is the story of a Scottish hero- similar to Braveheart; and also Bugs Bunny Storyland, which pretty much describes itself. These are both found in the year 2005)

If you have ANY questions, please contact Queenie. The authors are completely unreachable, as there is no contact address on the site. They are quite the mysterious benefactors!

Please, dear readers, humor Queenie and the Bees with updates about your latest listening adventure! She would love to hear what your own little munchkin's latest (television-free!) favorite is.

Later, gators............ and Happy Listening!

Beeism of the Day

2010-03-07T19:33:00.001+09:00

"...for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart." (Luke 6:45b)

Queenie is fond of asking Killer and F.B. lots of questions. Since they are only 2 and 4 years old, it tends to be more in the form of, "Which one would you pick?" or "What's your favorite?" The favorite question gets asked pretty often, because both the boys LOVE to answer it, and Queenie has seen they really enjoy discovering another tiny portion of their identities.

This evening, Queenie asked Killer what his favorite character from the movie "Cars" is... Killer's answer was surprising, and was given quite a bit of thought before he told her! The question was actually asked while Queenie was brushing his teeth, so the pause was probably the bubbles' fault! At any rate, Killer's answer was: The Firetruck. Not Lightning McQueen, Sheriff, Doc, or even Tex Dinoco (much to Queenie's relief!).

She was pleasantly surprised that Killer had chosen what can only be described as a minor character. "Red", the firetruck, can usually be found gardening, cleaning, and tending things around Radiator Springs. He's pretty gentle (another surprising irony, giving that it was Killer choosing him!), and Red really empathizes with all the residents of the town.

Hmmmmm........ maybe Killer's catching onto this whole "you've got to show kindness and gentleness to others" thing. Sometimes, God shows us teeny, tiny victories in the most surprising and seemingly random ways- and you have to make sure you are watching!

Beeism of the Day

2010-02-18T10:38:00.001+09:00

Yesterday, Queenie asked Killer to stand by and help out with changing Baby Bee's diaper (usually F.B. and himself are on call to run for wet wipes, extra socks, etc...) After getting Baby Bee all cleaned up, Killer asked to snap up her sleeper. That's his new thing- buttons on his shirts and getting the snaps all lined up correctly.

"Sure" Queenie said, and hopped up off the floor to busy herself with some other task.

Killer proceeded to very carefully and painstakingly snap each snap closed on Baby Bee's sleeper. F.B. was sitting next to him, looking on, and not saying very much. Queenie walked past and glanced over at the 3 bees...

"Look, Mom!" exclaimed Killer, snapping the middle 2 or 3 snaps, slowly working his way down to the very last snaps at Baby Bee's toes... "She's getting beautiful!"

"I'm a Truck" Book, by: Dennis Shealy

2010-02-17T14:10:00.001+09:00

This funny outlook is brought to you by Little Golden Books' "I'm a Truck". *smile*

Shealy, Dennis, (2006). I'm a Truck. New York, NY: Random House, Inc.

Latest Project....hat for Julie's Baby Boy

2010-02-13T09:55:00.000+09:00

My friend is having a bouncing baby boy within a few weeks. Unfortunately, the 2 youngest bees (F.B. and Baby Bee) are sick with various ailments...bronchitis and a yucky tummy bug for starters. So, Queenie won't be able to give them at the shower this morning, however, she will make sure her friend gets them as soon as possible! Thought you readers might enjoy seeing the finished product. Simple, yes, but Queenie only had a few hours, so she chose to concentrate on the color scheme instead of complexity.

The pattern I used was a freebie from Bev's Country Cottage I'm usually pretty picky about patterns (don't get me wrong- some women have wonderful luck with them....but I just get so frustrated trying to decode each individual's pattern-writing style) , so I don't use free ones very often...but I thought this turned out quite nicely! I certainly hope the mommy-to-be is equally pleased.

Beeism of the Day

2010-02-08T13:28:00.002+09:00

Earlier this morning (Monday), Queenie asked the 2 boy bees about their Sunday School lessons from yesterday. F.B. spoke up right away and went on and on about his Bible story from church.

It ended up being a pretty cute conversation, so Queenie thought that perhaps you, dear readers, might enjoy it as well. The following is a

2 year-old's synopsis of "Jesus Calms the Storm" (Mark 4: 35-41)

Queenie (at breakfast on Monday morning): "So............. tell me about your story from Sunday School, boys."

F.B.: "Dar was a BIG storm. And dey had a boat near da water. And GOD was in dat boat! And he made de storm get away. And der were lots of people in dat boat, too. With GOD in de boat."

I feel pretty....oh, so pretty.....

2010-02-02T20:39:00.004+09:00

Queenie simply had to share these snapshots of Baby Bee, taken this afternoon. Dearest readers, please humor a little maternal doting...

"Ooooooooooo! Darling, that camera is fascinating!"

"Who, cute? Little ol' me? Nah......."

Kisses from Baby Bee

*cue score from West Side Story* "...I feel pretty! Oh, so pretty!"

Random tidbits and an Award

2010-02-02T07:41:00.002+09:00

Many thanks to Ramona, the writer of Alone in the Holy Land- a strong Romanian woman currently living in Israel and raising a beautiful little girl. She recently gave this humble little blog it's first award! You, dear reader, cannot see through the computer screen- but Queenie is blushing. (Is it possible for bees to blush?)

The first part of the award is to blog about 10 things that most people/readers don't know about yourself.... and then pass the award on to 7 other blogs that have influenced or been enjoyed by you.

So, without further adieu,

Queenie's top 10:

1. I always wished that I could draw/paint/be artistic......I suppose the creativity came out in other ways like music and writing, but......I was always secretly jealous of people who could pick up their pencils/paintbrushes and just spew out the most gorgeous portraits.

2. I'm TRYING to teach myself violin. I did play when I was younger (as in, 3 years old) but gave it up for piano. Currently, my project is to get the darn thing tuned. Of course, I broke a string on my first try, so I am trying to find a day when the 3 bees are healthy, rested, well fed, and happy to venture out into civilization and pick up some new strings at the Yamaha music store.

3. In highschool, I took 2 years of French. Then graduated and married a man who is 100% Mexican. How is that for irony?

4. My top 3 favorite books of all time are: "The Holy Bible, NASB ", "Jane Eyre", and "The Fellowship of the Ring" (before it was made into a movie)

5. My top 3 favorite movies of all time are: "Life is Beautiful", "Braveheart", and "The Sound of Music"

6. In the same stream of thought as the above #5......I played the character of Gollum in a musical of "The Hobbit" while I was in highschool. Yes, I was Gollum- not a beautiful princess, or an Elf, or even an Ent- much to my chagrin. I hope to the heavens that I am the only one on earth who possesses a video recording of that performance. Although, I somehow managed to find a husband, so I don't have to worry about that tape coming out any more. Maybe Andy Serkis should have called me for some pointers....

7. I really dislike loud music. Really, really, really. Pulsating from subwoofers so far that it's heard in an entirely different neighborhood......the person comes across as entitled and rude. Just sayin'....

8. I have a dream to visit all 7 continents of the World before I die......Australia, Europe, Asia, South America, and North America are down....Russia, Africa, and Antarctica are still waiting on the list! If I could only get DH to stop traveling for work so much, maybe he'd want to come with me! Now THAT'S a funny thought....don't think that will ever happen. He travels with the Devil Dogs so often that the last thing he wants is to take our whole kit-n-caboodle of a hive and go to a different continent. Ahhhh....I can still dream.

9. I would really like to try one of those new Kindle readers. I kicked and fussed and fumed about how they were taking away the beauty of the written word....and now I want to try one. They won me over. Have you seen how SLIM they are? Beautiful- I can see that slipping into my handbag soooooooooo easily. They're pricey, though, and pricey is not a good thing for our fam. At any rate....once I got it, with my luck, it would be obsolete within the year. Too bad- I thought it was a good thing going.....

10. I am the world's worst dancer. Okay, it's in print, so now it's official. Where's Guiness when you need him?

And now, ladies and gents, I would like to pass on this award- for which I had no idea that my post about it would take me an hour to write- to.....drumroll, please......the following 7 blogs (their order has nothing to do with the amount of love I hold for each of them)

1. My Favorite Things I didn't choose this site because it takes its name from a song in one of my favorite movies. I promise. But, admittedly, the precious girl sporting a frilly white dress, was a key drawing factor...what an adorable logo! Molly and Danyelle just post the funnest, most unique, and brilliant ideas and discoveries.....it's way more exciting to read each morning than the news!

2. Girl Talk Wonderful, Biblical insight into life as a Godly woman. Each post full of friendly wisdom and practical application. Friday funnies are always hilarious, too!

3. Manners for Modern Mothers Somewhat cheeky, and sometimes said in a way that Queenie *blush* wouldn't say herself, the ladies at this blog really drive the truth home about being polite and navigating our often rude society with strength and grace.

4. Christian Military Wives chalk full of smiles, encouragement, and good ideas, the ladies who contribute to this blog really have a heart to reaching other military wives. I love reading their new posts every single time.

5. Artistic Adventures Ahead Alicia is an old friend from elementary school....we got back in touch through the far-reaching facebook. She is so extremely gifted and blessed- and uses her talents to glorify God. I love seeing her new projects!

6. Technology for Mommies Exactly like the name. New posts cover anything from Wii to strange computer words that you know you like to throw out there, but really have no idea what they mean.

7.The Story Spot (Coffee Break) Very recently up and running, without much posted yet- I have insider info that more is coming soon! Young kids (and young at heart) are going to love story time with Mrs. J and get wonderful insight and information about kids, literacy, and reading to your kids. The fun idea of an online story time is itself worth the award- I look forward to many more posts in the future!

Me and My Friends

2010-01-31T15:42:00.000+09:00

One of Friday's assignments for Killer was to draw a picture of himself and his best friend.

Well, as he readily told me, he has more than one best friend.

Queenie thought to herself that this sounded alright, so she told him to go ahead and draw a picture of all of them.....no other instructions were given.

After being presented with the finished product, Queenie couldn't help but giggle at several things that she noticed in Killer's drawing of, what he considers to be, his best friends.

1. Take a gander at those big ol' red ears on F.B.! (Killer must have heard the doc last week mention his brother's "red ear".....and noticed the medicine that quickly followed) A 4 year old's idea of an ear infection.

2. Killer is GIGANTIC and everyone else is tiny. Hmmmm...a little self-absorbed, perhaps?

3. There are no girls to be seen, ANYWHERE. Not his mommy, not Baby Bee, no-one.

4. At this point Queenie, in her mind, is laughing absolutely uncontrollably at Killer's take on the subject. Outwardly, though, she commends him- on a job very well done.

Gotta love kindergarten!

Beeism of the Day

2010-01-31T13:30:00.005+09:00

A few days ago, Queenie and the 3 bees made a 100Yen Store (Daiso) trip. For all you state-side readers, Daiso is the equivalent to an American Dollar Store, only (in Queenie's opinion) MUCH better.

Upon arriving at Daiso, Queenie found out that they were discontinuing their great line of wooden magnetic trains (similar to the magnetic Thomas the Train line, but only 100Yen- roughly $1.00 a piece....in comparison to the much more expensive Thomas line). F. Bumble and Killer adore them (Daiso trains), and Queenie stocked up with about $12 worth of trains, cabooses, and little wooden accessory houses.

Meandering back up to the checkout line, Killer spotted a leopard print headband in the accessory department.

Killer (in absolute rapture): "Look! Mama! It's sooooooooooooo beautiful! It's for girls!"

Queenie (with a smile and slightly raised eyebrows): "Ummm.....yes, Killer- it's for girls. You like that?"

Killer: "Ohhhhh....it's so pretty. It looks like Pickles!"

F. Bumble: "LOOOOOK! It's like my Pickles!!! Soooooo ootifull!"

Now, it must be explained here, that "Pickles" (comes from American English, Freckles) is F. Bumble's pet leopard. His pet stuffed leopard, that is. In the eyes of the the 2 boy bees, that headband was just the most sophisticated and elegant thing they had ever seen. They insisted that I purchase it for Baby Bee and I......

Queenie smiled at their earnest excitement and thoughtfulness- but cringed, just a tiny bit- because she is not a fan of animal prints like zebra or leopard in the slightest way. The only exception is a fabulous handmade pony-print bag she bought from a friend a few months back...but THAT animal print is more "Wild West" and less "Wild Jungle", which is a look that Queenie just can't pull off, no matter how hard she tries.

At any rate, Queenie's knee-jerk reaction didn't last more than 5 seconds- Killer and F. Bumble's sweet excitement at the headband could not be contained, and their request was much too charming to deny.

Queenie herself was so charmed by their thoughtfulness, she fully expected to sport the headband herself- but couldn't because it was much too small. So.....as you readers can see below, Baby Bee was the recipient of a most fashionable headband- courtesy of her two big brothers.

'Cause bees just wanna have fun....

2010-01-25T10:51:00.001+09:00

Who says you can't take your toddlers out on a fun outing? Queenie braved the station's bowling alley with Killer, F. Bumble, and Baby Bee last night for one (repeat: ONE) round of bowling. There was only one "ball slide" (what the boys like to call the contraption for kiddos that has a lever to push the ball down the lane) available, and of course- ours was broken. No worries, Queenie buzzed back and forth between the parked stroller (Baby Bee was fascinating with the rotating disco lights) and helping whomever had the turn at the moment. It was an experience....but boy, did it make some memories. This post is merely for your enjoyment and encouragement if you are stuck at home with multiple (small!) kiddos, you CAN get out and do something different.........if only for an hour. After bowling, Queenie drove the 3 Bees home, promptly tucked the bees into their beds, and called it a night.

Happenings from the Hive

2010-01-23T14:15:00.003+09:00

Well, DH isn't going to be around our cozy (if only because of it's occupants) hive much in the near future, due to an all-encompassing situation we like to call The United States Marine Corps. It's me and the 3 bees for a while.

So far, we've done alright- not counting the Ergo baby carrier strap lost in the MCX (*gasp* Queenie's extra appendage isn't functioning!!!), Killer and F.Bumbles' constant need to compete and sting at each other, or the way our grocery bill just seems to get higher and higher. (Can I get a witness?!)

At any rate, the Lord is good to us, and I am thankful that the constant runny noses due to F.Bumble AND Baby Bee teething at the same time seem to finally, after almost 3 entire weeks, be drying up..........albeit it slowly. Runny noses don't sound serious....but being up every 30 minutes all night with one or the other of them due to tender gums and crankiness (for 3 weeks!!!) is a bit much for any Mama Bee! Thankfully, all 3 bees slumbered soundly through the night last night.

Simple things......bring Queenie much joy!

Something I LOVE

2010-01-22T20:22:00.004+09:00

While cuddled up in my pj's and sipping a mug of warm Royal Milk Tea in the evenings, one of my favorite blogs to browse and snag ideas from is: These Favorite Things

As much as I LOVE their reviews, they are not the reason for my latest post. THIS shop (which was reviewed on the above blog) is: EShakti

They allow to you customize the neckline AND sleeves of ALL their dresses!!! Could it get any more exciting, ladies?! I know I'm not the only one who sees a fabulous fabric, only to be turned off at the site of a neckline that is......*ahem*.....less than flattering? These dresses are darling, sophisticated, and reasonable for even our pay-scale's occasional splurge. Just thought I'd share it- it was too good to keep to myself!

Enjoy, ladies! ;)

Well..........at least it wasn't rap!

2010-01-19T07:00:00.001+09:00

Hafta admit, this is a mighty tempting crime when our neighbor's surround sound system vibrates our apartment at 11PM on weeknights.... We've also thought about possibly broadcasting blue grass hymns, with the patio door open. (Haven't done either, out of Christian love and forgiveness....but we have been tempted!) On the other hand, Queenie found it quite humorous that it might be possible to "Rock Out" to John Denver.

Rocking Out to................John Denver?!

Top 10 Things No Child Has Ever Died From

2010-01-18T12:37:00.000+09:00

Queenie found several of these quite hilarious.
Taken from an autumn edition of Parenting: Early Years Magazine.

Wildlife Coloring Pages

2010-01-18T07:59:00.006+09:00

Long winter days stuck inside with 3 little bees who are constantly teething, catching something, teething again, and then catching something yet again- Queenie has been required to be thrifty and creative when it comes to keeping them busy. One of her favorite things to do is print the older two bees out a new coloring page from what she is sure they think is a magical computer/printer, because just about everything can appear from there!

This is an all-encompassing website that has hundreds of quality coloring printables for kids. Queenie's favorite section is the wildlife, but "Art by Dan" has also posted several cartoon characters as well.

The wildlife pictures are Queenie's favorite because she also likes to pair the coloring page with a free you-tube wildlife lesson. (Parents PLEASE view the video prior to inviting your child to watch with you, to make sure it's what you think it is) For example, after inquiring about a certain animal, Killer and F. Bumble can color the picture, but then see a live-action video on YouTube. Last week's favorites in our hive: Wolves and Seahorses. A random coupling to be sure, but the wolves came from, well, 2 boys who were curious. The seahorse request came because Baby Bee has a seahorse teether, both Killer and F.B. were dieing to know how the seahorse could swim- because they "don't have no wings like fishes". Queenie even had to admit that the seahorse YouTube videos were amazing.

A free trip to an exotic aquarium, right in our own living room. Hope you enjoy these wildlife pages as much as we did! We also hope it will encourage you to possibly use YouTube as a wonderful educational tool!

(to use the coloring page, simple curse over the picture, copy, paste into Word or another software so you are able to enlarge the picture, and then print! Simple!)

Wildlife Coloring Pages- 2 Skill Levels

Beeism of the day

2010-01-08T16:31:00.002+09:00

So, our popcorn popper finally arrived from Wally World. SO excited to have fresh popped corn. It wasn't the brand I wanted to get (whirly pop), but the Rival one that came at least looks like it will do the job properly. ANYTHING beats the microwave stuff we've been making.

Killer was excited about the box- I told the three kiddie bees on our way home from the P.O. (post office) that it contained the popcorn maker. I deposited the box on the floor when we finally got up to our apartment. After changing Baby Bee's nappy, I entered the living room to find Killer opening the box with little kiddie sheers- just like his papa tearing into a box with his pocket knife! I just held back a smile, and said,

Queenie: "Whatcha doin'?"

Killer: "I setting this up."

........15 minutes later, he had the popcorn popper assembled, and set up on the counter.

A few hours later, I went to find the directions on making the actual popcorn. I scrounged around the box and trash from the packaging.....couldn't find the directions ANYWHERE!

Queenie: "Killer, any idea where the words that tell us how to do this are?"

Killer: "Yes- I trew dem away because we need to do it ourself."

Hmmmmm.....................that sounds suspiciously like his father!

Cooking for kids: hints and tips

2010-01-07T20:46:00.004+09:00

Well, this blogging thing is a new endeavor for me, so I think it's alright to post something (again) that I wrote awhile ago, because I'm sure it's new to most of you! Also, you may find it helpful....or at least perhaps it'll inspire some kiddie food creativity.

Cooking for kids: hints and tips

by: queenie the bee, for helium.com

With two little boys of my own, I know how important quick and easy meals are to a person's daily life. Nutrition is one of the most important factors in the meals that I prepare for my two sons. It is a common, but misconstrued assumption that nutritious meals are not kid-friendly, or even worse- that they are unpalatable. Neither of these misconceptions takes into account that preparing meals with whole foods such as real cheese, real milk, and real veggies can taste scrumptious, but are also great for growing kids' bodies.

Nutrition for children is extremely important because their minds and bodies are growing at an exceptional rate every day. Adults are habitual worriers when it comes to their weight, but we need to remember that things like fat can actually be beneficial to our bodies, in the correct amounts. The trick comes with what type of fat your little ones are consuming. We all know to steer clear of trans fats, of course, but do you know which cooking oil to choose if one is not listed specifically in a recipe? Most would guess extra virgin olive oil, which is definitely better than some other oils! The answer is actually canola. Canola oil contains healthy fatty acids that actually raise good cholesterol . Of course, as parents, we try to do everything we can to give our children the best possible care for later on in their adult lives.

Chasing little ones around does not leave much time for preparation work, so I have assembled here two lunchtime menus that can be used for any age child. Cooking and preparing lunchtime meals for a baby as well as a toddler can quickly start feeling like you are the chef/waitress/cashier/bus boy at a short-order cafe. Filling little tummies with a simple, yet nutritious lunch can help the rest of your day's "adventure" go much smoother. All of these ingredients can be found at your local grocery store. For the most part, I have tried to use whole foods in addition to healthy snacks that are readily available. I have listed ingredients in portion sizes for a 6-12 month old baby, as well as for an average toddler (1-3 years old). These are actual portion sizes that I use with my boys.

LUNCHTIME MENU 1
Rich in: Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Folic Acid, Protein, Fiber, Potassium, Iron

BABY: Take 1 slice multi-grain bread. Spread about a tablespoon of natural or organic peanut butter on one side. Add pureed banana spread to the peanut butter. Fold in half and cut into tiny squares. Serve with pureed carrots or squash. Finish the meal with leftover pureed banana. Be sure to supervise baby eating his peanut butter sandwich squares!

TODDLER: Take 1 slice multi-grain bread. Spread about a tablespoon of natural or organic peanut butter on one side. Drizzle natural, no sugar added, honey on the peanut butter. Fold in half. Serve with chopped organic baby carrots (or for older toddlers, whole baby carrots) and a banana (sliced for younger toddlers)

LUNCHTIME MENU 2
Rich in: Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Vitamin K, Protein, Fiber, Omega 3, Omega 6

BABY: Slice 1 ripe avocado in half, and cut one part into tiny squares. Store the other half of the avocado with the pit inside a zip lock bag for tomorrow. Be sure to keep the pit inside, because it helps the avocado stay fresher. Cut the remaining half into tiny squares and serve to baby (with a bib, of course!) Meanwhile, cut some natural cheddar cheese into tiny squares that baby will be able to grasp, roughly 1/3 inch square. Serve with a mix of mashed sweet potatoes and plain organic yogurt. To save time, prepare more than one serving of sweet potatoes at a time. Steaming or baking both work well. Mash the remaining sweet potatoes, and freeze in small plastic containers to thaw for later use.

TODDLER: Slice 1 ripe avocado in half, and set one part aside. Follow above directions for storing the other half of the avocado. With the remaining half, puree the avocado into a healthy guacamole. If desired, add a small amount of plain organic yogurt instead of sour cream to make the guacamole more creamy. This adds calcium and wonderful probiotics that aid in your toddler's digestion. Pull out a few more baby carrots, and let the toddler dip away with his very own guacamole. You could even come up with a fun name for guacamole, if that just sounds too gourmet for your little foodie. "Green Goo" might go over well for a 4 year old boy! (again, my only solid food experience is with boys, so maybe a little girl wouldn't appreciate that) Serve with melted natural or organic cheddar cheese over whole wheat Ritz or saltine crackers. (yes, they do exist!)

These are just a couple of ideas that you may have already tried, but weren't aware of the rich nutrients you were feeding your growing child. There are many resources available that make it easy to find the exact nutrients in all of our common foods. Teach your little one healthy eating habits early, and they'll grow to prefer it later on in life.

Free Casserole e-book

2010-01-06T08:11:00.000+09:00

These chilly winter days and nights, do you ever get tired of the same casserole or stand-by crock pot stew? (well, maybe not tired- just......wanting some new slow cooker inspiration?) Check out this FREE Betty Crocker casserole and slow cooker meals cookbook. All you need is a free account with Dinner Made Easy....then type in your email to verify for your free cookbook! Enjoy the yumminess.

Free Casserole and Slow Cooker ebook

The Buzz

2010-01-06T07:05:00.001+09:00

So.... I wonder what's next?  I hope this twist on imminent domain doesn't set a precedent! LOL If so, anything that anyone has ever rescued from being thrown out is hanging in the balance!   

The Battle of Davy Crockett......and his marriage license

The Front Porch

2010-01-05T14:49:00.004+09:00

I don't have one of these at the moment (for some reason, a concrete slab extending 3 feet from our kitchen sliding door in our apartment doesn't quite give me the same warm fuzzies), but I can still daydream, right?
The following is a poem I wrote about two years ago, when our family first moved overseas to our current duty station.

The Front Porch

by: queenie the bee

Whitewashed floorboards,
creaking with time,
a lifetime of winters
has weathered its pine.

'Twas nailed with a song,
pure love was spilt-
it's steps now echo
the one who built.

Tiny feet scamper,
while older ones creep.
Both embracing
the joy to reap.

Plain is this link
between nature
and man, wooden
gateway to hearth.

Beeism of the Day

2010-01-05T08:01:00.000+09:00

“Minty and Miko Mouse”

-Killer

In reference to the classic Disney characters… this little boy must be living in Japan or something!

Herb Chicken with Honey Butter

2010-01-04T13:32:00.005+09:00

Thanks to Simple and Delicious (November/December 2009), we enjoyed this fantastic chicken- served up with baked potatoes and a green salad. Here in the Pacific, it is a special occasion when we eat potatoes! Hard to believe for a bee raised in the midwest, but at $8.00 a bag, you gotta watch your grocery bill!

At any rate, this dish would be equally yummy with crusty french bread or a pasta side. Hope you enjoy it as much as we did- Killer asked for 2nds.......and then 3rds! He thought the "hunny better" was a novel idea that Queenie needed to repeat sometime in the near future.

I served the leftover honey butter drizzled over toast the next morning.

(if the text of this recipe is too small, just click on it and it will open up a new screen. The text expands so large- Grandma Moses would be able to read it)

Simple and Delicious Magazine

Hive Directory

2010-01-03T14:57:00.001+09:00

Would you like hunny with that?

2010-01-03T08:43:00.002+09:00

Hungry this mornin’? Come on over to the Hive- we’re servin’ up hot steaming bowls of email (F.B.’s attempt at oatmeal) with leftover green and red white chocolate chips from Christmas. Trying to keep the Christmas spirit up at least another week…..or until I run out of red and green accents for baked goods... perhaps an after-Christmas yogurt parfait will be served up later on today.

First helping from the honey jar

2010-01-02T22:00:00.001+09:00

Solitude- it's so peaceful, and I savor it, sitting here in my not-usually quiet military-issue apartment. All three children sleeping cozily in their beds.....well, truthfully, not beds- Baby Bee is slumbering in her pack and play (no room for a crib in here!), Killer is tucked into his makeshift trundle under the IKEA toddler bunk we brought over from the States....F.B. is sleeping in the aforementioned bunk, with the ladder turned snugly to the wall- quite a cozy little nest. Children are never so beautiful as when they are sleeping soundly, after a long day of adventures....or misadventures, for that matter! (it's been misadventures for F.B. as of late, cue the ladder flush against the wall) Baby Bee is teething- nothing that the almighty Tylenol can't handle, though. As much as I appreciate the old-fashioned remedies of the pioneers, I am thankful to God that we have moved on past the "shot of rum in the bottle" remedy of soothing a cranky infant! (or is that "shot of whiskey" in the bottle?)

Many thanks to you, O Faithful Readers, (who, although I love them dearly, I am hoping are not just my mother and sisters!) for visiting my newly built, hopefully surviving, hive of a blog. : ) (Okay, I've facebooked too long. It was impossible for me to get through two paragraphs without typing a keyboard smilie. I can't help it! I'm smiling!)

I'm exhausted, and we have a huge day tomorrow, made huger by the fact that I'm toting all 3 busy bees to church by myself. Not an unusual occurance, it just takes plenty of scouting, gathering, and structuring to make it out that front door on time in the morning. And that's if everything goes like it's meant to- I must leave 15 or so minutes leeway in case F.B. decides he'd like to make another tunnel on the inner legs of his clean pants (too much juice at breakfast?), Killer thinks giving a private concert on mom's piano for the entire midrise floor would be a good idea, or Baby Bee wants to choose that exact moment- that pivotal moment when the whole happy bumble bee family is opening the front door- to projectile her morning snack all over Queenie's pinafore. Not exactly, but pretty close. Minus the pinafore.