Man Food

My daughter is picky. She doesn't like breakfast. So on mornings that Tucker doesn't have preschool, we get her off to school with her routine yogurt and then we come back in our jammies and we bust out the sausage and eggs complete with some fruit.
And my boys love it. And I love these boys. And so I had to take a picture of the two of them having their man food. Every Mom should have boys. Cooking for boys is a lot different than cooking for girls. There is nothing better than the appreciation I get for just frying something greasy and fufilling. Now if only I appreciated this kind of food. But I don't. I prefer yogurt. Which may explain why Cameron is such a picky breakfast eater......

Success!

Well, I hate to admit it, but I was wrong! This girl made it through her first sleepover like a pro! She called to wish me a good night about 10:45 and she was so WIRED that I knew for a fact there was going to be no sleeping for a very long time. They made it until one o clock in the morning and slept until nine thirty in the morning. Pretty cool that she's big enough to start enjoying "Girl time".

Tonight I am vegging and enjoying watching tivo'd episodes of The Big Bang Theory. Seriously, can my love of nerds grow any stronger? I love Sheldon and Leonard! If you haven't started watching this show, you must. Happy Friday!

Science Projects and Sight Words

For the past two weeks we have been tending to two plants in an effort to show the necessity of sunlight for plant growth. Cameron had her first science fair this week at school and this is what we decided to do for her project. We took two plants, placed one in the window and one in a box in the closet. And every three or so days we checked the plants and recorded what we saw. Monday we turned in her project and tonight is NASA night, so we get to go see all of the awesome projects. I'm such a nerd, I love this kind of thing!

Since Christmas, Tucker and I have been trying to do some kindergarten readiness. It's hard to believe that Tucker's "half birthday" was Sunday. Which means he's half way to the big five. And for some reason five just seems so grown up to me. And so we are working on matching letters--upper case to lower case, letter names, letter sounds, and some basic sight words. He's ready for kindergarten and can't wait to go to real school with Cameron. We still have seven months which is quite a while, but will ultimately be here before we know it. Time is a flying! Seems like he's just been little Tucker for so long, and now he's running with the big dogs.....

I guess I had get up and get something done more productive than updating my blog, but it's this weather and I hate January. I'm so unmotivated to succeed at anything. Luckily we are on the countdown for better months. I have even considered buying one of those happy lights just to give me a little boost, but I don't want to spend the money on one.

Laundry to fold, dishes to do, dinner to plan. I'm off.

Girl Scout Cookies

Remember a while back I told you that I was asked to lead a Daisy Girl Scout Troop and I said no? I really did say no. And yet, here we are thick into our second year. And it's fun because I have an awesome group of girls and we do some fun stuff. But really, I don't have time for this and there's a lot of planning and work involved. And so, after this year, I am passing the torch and we are going to focus on running two kids to sports and dance and all the extra stuff that we have to do. But for now, we are thick into our troop with selling Girl Scout cookies and it's a great opportunity for the girls (MOMS) to drive around town asking for cookies and raising money for our troop. Then, in about a month, the girls get to go out (MOMS) and deliver all the cookies that such girl sold. And so I capped Cameron at 100 boxes. We could do a lot more, but whe your kid is six, it's all about me making sure those cookies get delivered, the money gets counted, etc. And Cameron gets the cookie badge for her apron.
So on that note, I had to post this blurry photo of the girls last weekend asking for donations to help restock the food pantry here in town. We only signed up for an hour shift because they have an attention span of about 20 minutes and this was towards the end. The only thing that saved us was one kid's Aunt who came through and bought hot chocolate from Starbucks for all of the girls. Yay for hot chocolate!
This week we are touring the local Police Department in order to learn more about "Respecting Authority" and going out for ice cream afterwards to learn more about "Socializing". If there was a badge for giggles and treats, we would have them for sure! Have a happy Monday!

SnowSnowSnow

I am not a snow person. But, my kids love any opportunity to get out and make some snowmen. Unfortunately, once out in the snow, and especially in this weeks storm, it's not all it's cracked up to be. By the time the kids got home from school and they got out in it, it had started to rain and it was more of a sludge. If you sat in it, you were soaked. If you picked it up, you were cold and wet, even with gloves. And poor Brody was having the hardest time wearing Tucker's two size too big passed down boots. And so you can see that he is wet and cold and rosy cheeked be cause he kept falling in it. And all I could do was just snap some more shots. This look just says it all, "Mom, put the darn camera down and come get me out of this snow!"

Rolling snowballs in the snow (slush). This was the kids' attempt at a snow family.

Once it started to rain, the motivation to make an entire family of snowmen began to drastically decline. They originally took out six carrots and ended up only using two carrots total. A small family of wet snowmen. Notice the lack of snow in the yard from the rain while they were working?

And here is our lovely slushy wet road and yard. Yep, you should have seen the kiddos when they came in from this disater. Wet to the bone! Tucker was crying to get in the shower and get warm, Brody was crying, and Cameron was just trying to find a dry pair of snow pants to get back out there and play longer.

What I should have takent a picture of was the pile of wet "stuff" by the front door. I hate snow.

Weekly Update

We finally have a real snow storm here in Idaho. I am sitting here on the couch watching it fall because everybody knows that you shouldn't have to do anything if it's snowing outside. Brody is watching Baby Einstein and eating Cheerios and for the most part, it's a peaceful morning while the other two are at school.

800. That is how many glue dots I bought before Thanksgiving. 800. And I went to use some the other day and they are gone. All of them. And this is why. Cameron has turned into quite the crafty queen. Taking after me, although no discetion on how many glue dots a project should require, she crafts some amazing things. But seriously, 800???? And don't even get me started on scotch tape. Or glue sticks. I had to get out the packing tape the other day and cut strips just to get a last minute present wrapped. I'm pretty sure Cameron's Easter basket is just going to be full of glue sticks, glue dots, and tape. And I need to figure out how to hide mine where the kid can't find it. And if you look at the photo above, you notice that each of the felt hearts are completely surrounded by gems.....a glue dot for each gem....times eight projects.....well it's no wonder I don't have anything left.....

My bathroom drawer is setting on the kitchen counter this morning drying. And this is the culprit. Brody has mastered some of the looser baby latches. This is the drawer that houses my hair dryers and other irons, etc. And it is his new favorite hang out. The drawer that he has his hand on is my make up drawer and he completely busted the front off of it trying to break in. I've never had a kid that was so destructive. Or so cute. Okay, I take that back, I had two others that were this cute....but they also would have never busted my make up drawer.

Boys bathing in the tub. Love this. Want to put it on a canvas in the bathroom. Notice that Tucker's head is completely dry and Brody's is drenched? I can't imagine how that happened.......

Cameron is gearing up for her first big sleepover this Friday night. Her best friend and across the street neighbor is having three girls over and Cameron cannot hardly stand it she is so excited. I have been so hesitant to start the sleep over fun because I have babies in the house and I don't want sleepovers here right now. And I think once you start with them, kids are never happy with just a day time play date again. And sleepovers=cranky kids. And I just don't want to make that step. But here we go with the sleepovers.

And so she's scheduled to arrive at five. And Matt thinks she'll be home by ten. I say midnight. Anyways, we both don't think she'll make it through the night. And atleast she's across the street so there will be no late night driving involved. But seeing as how she sleeps with her light on because she's afraid of...wait for it....Sylvester the CAT!!!????!!!! and swears she sees his tail every time it's close to bedtime, I really don't know how this is going to go for her. But I will definitely keep you all posted......

excuses excuses excuses

Here are the reasons why I am completely and entirely worthless these days.....

On a good note, I have slowed down with my Pinterest addiction.

Have a great day!

Christmas Morning 2011

The Stockings Were Hung

Christmas Eve. One in the morning. Everyone in bed. And I couldn't help but notice that Santa had come. And so I had to snap a photo. Before the chaos of the morning. Because it's so much work for Santa to orchestrate something like this. And thank God for elves who are able to build toys and run to the store when said toys are missing parts and make this happen so our kids can look back with fond memories of Christmas.

I was lucky to grow up in a house full of people and love. And holidays were always special. And we were spoiled. And so I have a hard time doing anything else for my own kiddos. Because you're only little once. And this is magic.

Christmas Eve 2011

Ready for Christmas Eve Mass.















Kids table at Grandma's house.
















Cousins and Great Grandma













Matt helping Tucker take out his monster trucks.













My Dad admiring a family picture.















My Dad proudly displaying his bulk sized jar of jalapenos. To which he yelled to my uncle, "Are you trying to make me Sh&* my pants this Christmas???" Quote of the year for sure.

Helping Grandma open gifts.










Classic example of the paper is always better than the present.
Cousins and friends. These two are going to stir up some trouble for sure!

A Sentimental Christmas

My Christmas tree was a disaster this year. I dreaded putting it up and I couldn't wait longer than 9 am the day after Christmas to take it down. And so I decided to ignore the pile of broken ornaments piled on the counter and the empty bottom half. And focus instead on the up close and personal...

















This is my absolute favorite ornament on my entire tree. We got this ornament the first Christmas after we were married. I think it reminds me of the two of us together playing house. We set up an enormous tree and hung this front and center. The rest of the ornaments have all come after this one. It still goes front and center every year.


















Every year the kids are lucky enough to get an ornament from both sets of Grandparents. Usually personalized and cute as can be. I love this tradition!

And we also have tons of hand made goodies such as Cameron's handprint snowmen, complete with her kindergarten handwriting sample. Priceless!












I was so lucky to receive an entire box of personalized ornaments from my Mother in Law when we got married. Each of Matt's ornaments have to do with logging, sports, or just being a boy in particular. And every tree should have a 1990 logging beaver! This is my favorite out of his collection.












I also had quite the collection of ornaments from my childhood tree. Mostly all of mine had to do with cats. And so my tree has a disturbingly large amount of Christmas cats on it. But this one in particular always goes towards the top of the tree, a ceramic ornament painted by my Mom when I was pretty little.

My Christmas babies, Tucker and Brody on their first Christmases. I also have one of Cameron, but I guess I forgot to download it. Ooops.
And the classic Preschool Christmas ornament. Tucker brought this one home from school this year. I have another one just like it from when Cameron was in preschool.



















And my glitter reindeer that hung from the garland across the window.


These are all packed away and ready to attempt it all again next year. Hopefully Brody will be a little easier to reason with so we can actually enjoy my collection of love and Christmas memories. But for now, I have photos and if I'm careful, Brody won't be able to get to those....