Santa Pics

Kids are growing up so I know they won't want to take santa pics much longer but I loved this year. Found out at the construction company my aunt works at they had pics with Santa on a forklift...thought it would be fun and different. I love it.

Costume contest winners!

We won the costume contest at Great Wolf Lodge. I was so excited. The 4 adults dressed up as the Flintstones. Kids dressed up too but the Flintstones were the hit so all 8 of us get to come back for FREE!

the celebrating continues

The official birthday was Friday (22nd) but the celebrating goes on!

Heading to Great Wolf Lodge for the weekend to celebrate Britt and her best friends 13th birthday.

I will have pics from the Halloween party posted sometime. We are all dressing up.

Happy Birthday Britt!

She has went from my princess to a diva! She is 13!
13 Things about Brittney:
1. She would do anything to help out anyone.
2. She is very good with those younger than her.
3. She is smart!
4. She is pretty!
5. She loves animals.
6. She is protective of her brother.
7. She has a sweet spirit.
8. She can talk your ears off:)
9. She loves to read.
10. She is soft hearted.
11. She loves spending time with her family and we love that!
12. She never wants to hurt anyones feelings.
13. She is the only one who will talk politics with her dad!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY GIRL!

Planning for the teenager

My baby girl will turn 13 in just a few days...planning the big 13 birthday.

Friday will be low key it is her actual birthday. Matt took off of work that day and Brittney chose her dad making her choc chip pancakes, and then off to shop at stores we don't normally go to and then lunch at Olive Garden with a friend. The big celebration will be a week later than her birthday her and her best friend will combine their 13th's and we will spend a weekend at Great Wolf Lodge in Dallas.

I have bought them a tiara with 13 on it to wear out to dinner that night at Great Wolf Lodge. Should be lots of fun.

I am still having trouble believing she will be turning 13 on Friday!

easy breakfast

Tortillas make such fast easy breakfasts:

We use rice tortillas for Braden since he has to have gluten free. I also keep regular ones.

One tortilla breakfast we make is spread peanut butter on the tortilla and then sprinkle granola over it and roll up sometimes I drizzle honey before I roll them up.

Sometimes I use peanut butter and bananas or just peanut butter and honey or jelly

You can do cheese.

Sometimes I will use veggie cream cheese and some grated carrots and cucumbers.

So versitile and easy to eat on the go!

Practicing Spelling Words

I have posted some of these ideas before but I have added more too.

My kids love to practic their spelling words! Love it! We try to make fun and have a list of activities and things that we change around each week to practice that weeks words:

* Write them, but not just on paper we use Brittney's doodle bear and Braden has a doodle monster that are often covered in new words (just throw them in the washer for the next weeks words).
* Use washable markers on a white pillow case just changing up where they write their words helps.
* Write them using window markers by crayola and they can write on the glass door front or back (it just takes a windex wipe to clean it off quickly). They can write them on their bedroom windows.
* Write the words with a marker on 3 x 5 cards then cut them apart, let the kids put them back together.
* Pour salt on a cookie sheet and spell out the words in the salt.
* Use magnets to spell words on the washer, refrigerator, etc.
* Make a cheer spelling out your words
* Make a word find puzzle
* Print each spelling word then draw around each word. Study the shape of each word.
* Type the words on the computer and print them out.
* Use shaving cream on a cookie sheet to write words in.
* Shuffle word cards. Write each word on a 3 x 5 cut each card in half or into syllables. Shuffle the pieces then match each half.
* Write words on the sidewalk with chalk.
* Write silly sentences using spelling words.
* Play super kid. Use 3 x 5 cards with the letters for Super Kid have child take a turn spelling word if gets it right gets a letter to spell out Super Kid
* Make a graffiti poster using lots of colors markers, construction paper spelling out the words
* Tape yourself saying your words and spelling them. Then play the tape back.
* Use paint to paint words, or dot paint.
* Use letter beads to string letters on a string to spell each word.
* Finger paint words.
* Make the words out of playdough.
* Glitter words - write each of your study words with a glue stick or glue pen then sprinkle glitter on the glue.
* Mark the vowels in the words. Mark short vowels and long vowels and cross out any silent letters.
* Write a story using your words.
* Play hangman on a big white board.
* Play Mother May I spelling. I stand at one end of the hall they start at the other. They only get to take a step forward if they spell the word I give them correctly.
* Spelling baseball, set up bases in the living room and to get to each base they have to spell their word correctly.

We do write them on paper but I always try to put a fun activitiy with it. They may write their words 4 times and then we play baseball. Sometimes they will write their words on the front door or doodle bear then sit and do a word search.

Repetitiveness helps them learn but adding in the fun helps them enjoy the learning.

Electricity!

This year we are learning all about electricity. A fun thing I have found is a called a Brain Box. I tried finding them online but couldn't find exactly the same thing. We got ours at Hobby Lobby for $20. You can do over 150 experiments. Learning how circuits work, magnets, etc.

First Day of School - 2010

We are starting school today. Mostly because we quit very early because of vacation. So time to get back to it. Few pics of the school room and the kids first day. I have found some fun extras that I will share later that would work for home school or just adding fun learning in with school.

30 second skirt

Brittney and I are going to try this on Saturday. It looks super fun and easy.

http://www.cutecircuit.com/30secondskirt/

Cooking day...all day

Doing the once a month cooking again today. This is my second month to try it. Sure is nice to have a lot of go to things in the freezer but ugh getting the enthusiasium to get into the kitchen for ALL day is hard.

Helps that my friend does it with me and we just split everything the food costs and the prepared food. Works out nice that way.

Trying a few new things this month. There were two things last month we didn't like the texture of one was an Enchilada casserole and the other was a sweet and sour chicken. So not repeating those but have new things in the line up including beef stroganoff, and Alfredo Lasagna! Yum.

Time to get started last time we went till 8pm hopefully today won't be quite that long!

15 years ago

We look like babies. 15 years ago. Wow at times it feels like we have been together forever others time seems to have flown. I would marry him again in a heartbeat! I have been teasing that Brittney is just a little over 7 years away from being the same age I was when we said I do! Needless to say he doesn't like that idea at all!

Easy Alfredo Sauce

I have tried many times to make Alfredo Sauce but usually mine turns out no better than the jar so I just buy the jar. But no more. Yummy sauce and very easy.

Alfredo
8 ounces cream cheese - cut in bits
3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup butter or margarine
1/2 cup milk
In large saucepan combine cream cheese, parmesan, butter and milk stirring constantly until smooth. Toss with cooked pasta.

Making ahead breakfast

I am attempting to do once a month cooking. But with everything I do I don't do it exactly like they say:) I am easing into it.

One thing I love and I think is a life saver on busy school mornings is grabbing breakfast out of the freezer. It takes me about two hours to make a TON of breakfasts for the upcoming. I make all or some of the following and all of them freeze well.

Pancakes - I cook them up as normal put them on a cookie sheet to flash freeze about 30 minutes I take them out put a piece of wax paper between them and freeze them in a larger freezer bag. As I need them I grab them out and microwave them. This is especially helpful because I can do gluten free and non gluten free ahead of time and get both kids quick breakfasts.

Breakfast Burritos - By far my childrens favorite. I make them up and wrap them in wax paper then I put them in foil or in a large freezer bag. Just zap them in the wax paper and a quick breakfast on the go. I make variations of egg, cheese, ham, bacon and sausage.

Hashbrown Muffins - My measurements are non existent on this recipe as I just kinda add...but I basically use a small bag of shredded hashbrowns, about 6-8 scrambled eggs with about 1/2 cup milk added, sausage or other meat, 2 cups cheddar cheese and salt and pepper to taste mix all together in a bowl if it is too thick add a touch of milk then spoon into muffin cups. After they are cooked, cooled put them in freezer bags they reheat in under a minute in the microwave and kids love them.

Muffins - I just make several batches and freeze and grab out as I need.

Waffles - I have a waffle maker and I make about 20 waffles and freeze same way I do pancakes.

Sausage Patties - I will fry up sausage patties and have them ready in the freezer as well.

Omelets - They really freeze well. Same cook as you normally would, flash freeze, wrap in wax paper and freeze in large bag.

About 2 hours to make all of the above and then I have lots of easy mornings!

Random

I mean to keep up my blog I really do but it just seems to be the thing that falls thru the cracks.

I plan to start the kids back to school early on August 2. Since we stopped earlier because of vacation. So trying to get things figured out for school year. Brittney will be 7th and Braden 5th...time is going fast.

Trying to prepare for a yard sale and I want to go thru everything. Took me all day just to go thru the desk and file cabinet so I see many more days of cleaning thru things.

My new love is my Amazon Kindle it is the best! I love it so nice to just throw it in my bag and if something takes longer than I thought, etc I have a book on hand.

I have seen the Twilight Eclipse movie twice already! Also finished the new short book that came out in June. I was late starting on Twilight series but now I am so addicted! I am actually going to use Twilight for literature with Brittney this coming school year.

My goal is to update at least twice a week! Hopefully more and hopefully not just random stuff. I want to get back to posting recipes, tips, etc.

Home from vacation!

We had a wonderful vacation!
Glad to be home.
We saw so many wonderful things in Washington D.C., New York City, and Niagara Falls Canada...as well as lots of things in between. I have put tons of pics in my flickr that you can clik on thru the box on the right.

Here is a pic of us in front of the horseshoe falls in Canada at Niagara Falls.

THis is the view from our hotel room it was gorgeous.

In front of the capital building. It was COLD. We bought Brittney a sweatshirt first but Braden and I ended up getting one too.

On the ferry going to Statue of Liberty.

Capital Building

The capital tour was a hit. I highly recommend if you have the opportunity to come then request thru your senator for a tour instead of doing the public tour. It was great! We got a private tour just us 4 and the senator's aide. She even took us underground using the senator subway under the buildings. YOu don't get to do that with the public tours. It was a very interesting tour she also gave us passes to see the senate gallery because senate was in session. All in all a great time.

Day 1 in Washington DC

Our first day in Washington D.C. Walking, walking and more walking. So much to see. We did 3 of the Smithsonian buildings today (the castle, Natural History and Air and Space). Got the lay of the land so we could plan more for tomorrow!

Mothers Day

Me and the kids....who will soon be taller than me...and I am 5'9.

Kids and Matt have been spoiling me today. I feel like I should give them the presents on Mothers Day because I am so blessed to be their mother.

My baby is 11!

He turns 11 today....he has been thru so much in his 11 years and he is SO WONDERFUL!

Vinyl Record Craft

The kids and I were watching Trading Spaces Boys vs. Girls the other day and they did the neatest thing with vinyl records. So of course the next day when we were at a yard sale and saw records 5 for $1 we had to buy some. We made fun bowls. Easy easy and kids loved it. Heat the oven to 400 make sure your oven is heated before you start because that way it happens quickly and my kids just set at the oven door and watched it happen. You can use any kind of oven safe bakeware we used bowls, casserole dishes and whatever we could find. Just place the record on top of the bowl as shown in the pic below and stick it in the oven. When it is melted around the bowl you just take it out. Now is when you can make the shape different using a hot pad if you hold the bottom tight around the bowl as the vinyl hardens (it does it very quickly) you will get a tighter bowl, take the record right off and you get a floppy flower design. The kids are going to spray paint a couple of them below are some pics including the last one in use already in the school room.

Brae Funny

I have been really working with Braden on getting a good attitude about school and how important it is. We have a tax place locally where there is always someone dressed like Uncle Sam or Statue of Liberty out dancing in the front. The other day we passed it I told Braden see that is why it is important to stay in school and take school serious because look how hot and miserable he is out there. Now I wasn't meaning anything personal about the person working I was just making a generalization to put into place the importance of higher education anyway that evening we come home.

I hear mom mom come here. I go into the living room and Brae is standing there with 1 arm in the air. I am like what are you doing...his response....practicing...yep he was practicing his statue of liberty pose...so much for that making him want to take school more serious.

One Room Schoolhouse - 1905

Here are just a few pics from our day at the One Room Schoolhouse that was just a few hours from us. It was so interesting and fun. The kids dressed in theme when we got into the classroom it said April 1905 on the board and the fun began! They did spelling, reading, etc just like they did back then with all the grades K-6th in one room. They played old fashioned toys at recess and ate their lunches out of baskets and pails. I don't know why the font was underlined and now it isn't and I don't know why it wouldn't let me put all my pics on here. But I put lots on flickr that you can see by clicking the box on the right.

Spring Pic

Bradford Pear Trees are so pretty with their blooms. Had to snap a few pics of the kids today.

When they grow up...

Yesterday kids and I traveled to Texas. Along the way we were just talking about this and that and we got on the subject of what they were going to be when they grow up.

Brittney: Mom, I want to be a teacher for special education or a therapist for education so I can help kids with issues like bubba.

Braden: I want to be a demolition expert so I can blow things up. (He stops then says:) that is the first step in my plan (pauses with his evil grin when I ask what is the next step) taking over the world and turning sister and her friend into his minyons.

Hmmm.....I want my kids to succeed but the whole world and minyon thing makes me pause..LOL. That is so my boy.

Seriously?

Snow...flippin snow here on the first day of Spring!

It was 74 degrees and wonderful up till Friday bright sun. Now suppose to have 3 inches of snow by tomorrow. Of course I leave to drive to Austin in the morning. It better all melt quick.

I have never seen snow especially this much in March!

I have good intentions...

I mean to keep up with my blog I really do it just slips by.

The last five weeks have been me recovering from knee surgery. My ACL ruptured and I had to have a graph done and a meniscus tear fixed. I ended up with an infection and they had to drain it two different times and my 1-2 week recovery is now into week 5. Once they got the infection cleared up it has been much easier but I am still not one to sit around so I overdue it and then have a day I can't do anything...very frustrating.

My dad had total knee replacement surgery a week ago....a glimpse into my future that I did not want...ouch. He is doing good. I know eventually I will have to have that but hopefully years and years down the road. Bad bones and bad knees...I told dad thanks a lot. Poor Brittney seems to be having the same issues she has grown so tall so fast that it is causing issues with her knees.

We finished our home school coop. I only missed one coop even during all the knee drama so that was good. I was in a wheelchair for 3 weeks because I couldn't do any weight bearing.

Other than all the knee drama things are going good. I looked at a calendar the other day and realized that our vacation is 60 days away. I have Washington D.C part planned, New York started, and after is still up in the air on what we are going to do.

Yeah! Yippee! Woohoo and all those other excitment words!

After 8 years of driving to speech therapy a minimum of 2 times a week, sometimes it was 3. Braden is done!

Now he does still have a slight issue but thankfully it is something we can continue to work on and that will work itself out with age.

He is so proud of himself. I am so proud of him. 8 years and I don't even want to count up the money but all so so worth it he is so proud that store clerks understand him now. He still has to think and slow himself down but wow oh wow he is doing so good and passed the tests to be done with flying colors!

longest time ever at home

I have not left the house in 6 days! At all not once. I think it is a record. Of course it is a forced stay at home. I had knee surgery last Wednesday and it is kicking me harder than I thought it would. I start physical therapy this Friday and I am hoping improvement shows quicker after that.

So my base is the recliner in the living room. Fun at times but for the most part going stir crazy.

Today the kids each had a friend over and we had a fun home school project. If you count poop as fun...LOL. I had bought (yes paid money for which is astounding) owl pellets! Today the kids dissected them. They had a good time. I was just glad I have a sinus cold and can't smell.

They set up at the living room coffee table and I directed and took pics from the recliner. For some reason I can't get my pics to show up in blogger but lots of them in flickr. You know you want to see what owl poop looks like and what you find inside it!

Funny enough the one that was grossed out and didn't like it was Braden who would have been the last one I thought would be bothered by it. Brittney did well with it and she was who I thought would be hating it. Never know.

Snow Much Fun!

Snow is rare here so to get a six inch snow fall was fun. Well it wasn't fun when it started because hubby was at DFW airport waiting to get home he got one of the last flights in before they closed the airport for the night. Once he was home we enjoyed the beautiful snow fall. Today was out in the back yard for lots of snow fights and sitting around inside nice and warm. Soup to warm us up and Snow Ice Cream to keep it fun!

It is such a Monday!

My blog has been suffering...to much facebook.

Today is a vent day though....it is 9:30 and so far:

Taking hubby to airport for a week in PA on business.
Brae climbed up to the top bunk with the ceiling fan on (still don't know for sure how it happened) anyway knocked his head with the blades which knocked the globe off and down onto Britt who was sitting on his bottom bunk. Of course it shattered everywhere and I wonder if the glass will ever be all gone. Brae has an ice pack on his head trying to prevent a bump.
Both had problems with their computers for school this morning and I am ready to toss them and buy new ones.
It isn't even 10 yet....and then my dad calls and wants to come over and talk about my brother...I am thinking this day is just continuing down the hill.

Basketball

I have no time until April because of this.... Britt and her best friend before the game.

Britt catching a pass

Blocking a shot....she is actually one of the younger 12 year olds on the team she just has some height on her!

Happy New Year

We made it to midnight. We had our friends over the kids were thrilled to get to stay and play until midnight and the adults just had fun visiting.