Yellow Makes Me Happy

Peanut Butter Cups & Field Trips...

We have been trying to come up with activities to keep us busy inside when it rains... The kids have had a glimpse of the sun and all they can focus on is playing outside!  Alas, that leaves me to come up with SUPER exciting things to do inside to distract them when it rains!  So last week for one of our rainy day activities we made homemade peanut butter cups... Let me just say... YUM!  I'm not a huge chocolate fan, but I could live on peanut butter and mashed potatoes...

Finished product...

Here's a shot of the inside...

 You may never buy Reese's again...  I used this recipe.  Life in a Peanut Shell is such a cool blog!  She bakes the coolest stuff!  Totally inspiring!

We also had a field trip to the zoo for preschool last week.  It was CROWDED.  The zoo is in Tacoma, and it was "Free Tacoma" day.  Meaning if you live in the city you can go for free... Everyone and their uncle was there!!

The girls still had fun, and watching them encounter new things is priceless :)

  

Those are Gerogie's hands on the belly of a walrus... he swam right up against the glass and she wasn't scared (if you have ever encountered my little person you would know she's kind of a weiner, God love her anyway)

Here's a pic of the big sissy on the Merry-Go-Round... This might've been the highlight for her!  She didn't want to get off... She could've stayed on except for all the dang middle schoolers that were there! 

Sam went to the beach with his best friend & family this weekend...  They were there all weekend and I could tell they had so much fun...  He hasn't stopped telling about his adventures from the minute he walked in the door.

 Sam and Ben...

This one is a little hazy, but they look so happy... I love it!  It's a little bitter sweet for me, watching these two.  Ben"s mamma is also a good friend of mine and his little sister is close with the girls.  They are moving across the counrty at the end of July.  It breaks my heart to see them go... I'm trying to remind myself that with every door that closes, another opens. 

Alright... enough sappy!  It's supposed to be 81 degrees on Thursday!  Enjoy that my peeps!  Lover every minute of it!

signs of summer

To me, one of the first signs of summer is baseball.  I know it technically starts in the spring, but they don't call them "The Boys of Summer" for no reason!  This year I only have one ball player.  Sam opted not to play (now I think he wishes that he had!).  Charley is fearless on the field!  (I used to be a softball player... it was one of my true loves, so it gives me much pleasure to have my girl feel the same joy that I used to!)

Can you see the ball coming off her bat?  I am coaching the team this year, and it is SOOO hard for me not to go over board when she does something awesome... I am bursting!

We also had teacher appreciation last week.  I tend to think homemade goodies are where it's at...  Sooo

Lilac's clipped from my yard, my super duper homemade oatmeal M&M cookies, and of course a homemade card.

I love the new Koshi Doll from A Muse.  She is SOOO cute... We have been so blessed by each of the teachers that we've had this year.  I can honestly say that each of my children are thriving.  Wow!  What a awesome thing to be able to say!

One last activity to show you... We still had a few chilly days in the last couple of weeks, and that always brings out the cook in us ladies around here!  The girls and I made soft pretzels.  Yum!  We ate them all...  no leftovers!

 Some had salt, and some had cinnamon and sugar... They were doughy goodness! 

Happy sunny day everyone!

My mojo went missing...

I think it might be coming back though... I have been doing things, but I've been having a hard time taking pictures.  I've also been having a hard time focusing on life.  It's been topsy-turvy around my house for the last 4 months or so.  My husband, Zachory, works at Microsoft.  They have gone through two rounds of lay-offs recently.  So far we have come through unscathed, but it REALLY makes you feel vulnerable.  He's been with the company for 11 1/2 years... I am biased, but he is brilliant... I don't know how they could get rid of him, but you just never know...  Anyway, I got a forward in my e-mail in-box the other day... It was a conversation with God.  What I gleened from it was to focus on today... not tomorrow.  Today Zach is employeed. Today we have money in the bank, and our bills are paid.  Today everyone in my house is healthy and for the most part happy :)!  Today our lives are in God's hands!!  For that I am enternally greatful! Soo... with all that out, here are some of the things I've been up to lately!

Here are some cards that I made... The first two are a little blurry... Zach messed with my camera, and I had a hard time getting it to focus. 

 This was for my neice... I took a class from Julie way back in February and she colored the cone like this on one of her cards... Needless to say I like it!

   This one was for my nephew... His first b-day...  I think two minutes from beginning to end... Gotta love that!

This is a little something I whipped up for one of my friends.  Her family is moving across the country to MO.  It's really hard on her family and my own.  Her 10 year-old is my 10 year-old's best buddy, and our five year olds are besties too!  I thought I'd send her a little pick me up...  (Plus I wanted to use my chalk!)

On to a little something yummy...  Sunday, at Zach's request, I made Chicken Pot Pie for dinner... It's my own special creation...  I usually make it with a kind of cheese sauce inside, but he prefers  just gravy... I have to say, YUM!  My crust turned out GOOD too... Crust is iffy sometimes... I'm getting better though...

Of course yesterday was Cince de Mayo... We had a little fiesta around these parts...

 Charley was the only one I could get to pose in costume... She's always game!

We had tacos, homemade guacamole, pico de gallo & orange soda in margarita glasses...  It was fun... The kids always enjoy a little celebration!

Have an awesome day & I promise to be back REALLY soon!

St. Patty's Day in Review...

We had a very green St. Patty's day!  We started out with a special present left by a mysterious Leprechaun...

Remember Whistle Pops?  I haven't seen those in years!  Of course I found them at my store.  I love it there!

We had green Swedish pancakes & green t-shirts...

  

We had sparkly shamrock glasses for the teachers and St. Patty's day cookies (Chewy chocolate cookies with crushed minty malt balls mix into them)

Then we concludes with green, yes green pizza & green sprite!

He he... What do you think of that?

I forgot!  We also made some leprechauns...

 

I hope your day was as green as ours!  Good luck and good fortune to you!

The cure for my picky eater!

My third child challenges me everyday!  Not always in a bad way, she just has a lot of spirit!  Anyway, we have been struggling with her eating habits for a while.  My older two kids will pretty much eat whatever I put infront of them, but this little one wrinkles her nose up at almost everything! 

A month or so ago, we went to a local restaurant called Fujiama.  It's a Benihana kind of a place.  While we were there, they fashioned some kid friendly chopsticks for the kids.  They used a rubber band and a piece of paper at the top... Anyway, that was really interesting for Georgie... She ate EVERY piece of her chicken and a good portion of her rice.  I tried to save those chopsticks for as long as I could... Eventually they gave out!

Well, last Friday while out shopping I found a set of "cheater" chopsticks...  They have worked magic at every meal since I brought them home. 

Evidence... breakfast waffles...

She cleaned her plate! (This was Monday morning... Instead of getting dressed she put on her fairy outfit... she get's to stay home with dad Monday mornings while I take the other 2 to school)

    Charley really like them too!

And of course Sam had to get in on the action...

Success! I'll take any victory!

Sunday night rituals and more...

Every Sunday night my little family gathers on our yellow sectional couch (yeah I'm not sure why I thought a light colored couch was a good idea with 3 kids).  We usually have a little treat of some kinds and we prepare for an hour of family togetherness... also known as America's Funniest Home Videos.  It's on Sunday's at 7pm.  Our entire family laughs out loud!  I look forward to that hour all week!

  Even our dog, Harper, get's in on the action :) 

I tried a few new recipes this week too.  Zach's favorite (and maybe the only thing) that his mom makes is 7 layer bean dip.  I saw a recipe that is a little different than my mother-in-laws over on The Pioneer Woman's blog.  She has a whole cooking section over there, and I have used several of her recipes.  Anyway, I made this dip for Zach and Sam to take to a basketball party... It looked GOOD!

  Tell me you don't want a scoop of that!

I also made this... I'm always on a quest to make something different and fun for the kids on the breakfast rotation...

Can you tell what they are? Hehe... They are not biscuits and gravy... they are bisquits with CHOCOLATE gravy!  Needless to say they were devoured!  I got the recipe for this one over on the Bake or Break blog.  I have spent hours on end looking at that blog.  I am bound and determined to try all of the recipes over there!  Yum!

I also made a couple of cards :)!

   A little Irish for ya!  Considering we are only a couple weeks from St. Patty's day!  Everything I used on this card was from A Muse except the shamrock punch which is Martha Stewart Crafts from Michael's.

 This little bunny in the carrot car is my favorite new stamp from the Spring A Muse release!  It is so cute!  Everything I used on this card was from A Muse except the black card stock (which was a scrap) and my Copic markers :)   

Georgie Washington

Leading up to President's day, the preschoolers in my house were busy learning about our new President as well as George and Abe... (I guess it is their birthday's we were honoring).  Anyway my youngest child's name is Georgiana, but we all call her Georgie.  Her big sister, Charley, came home from school with the cutest project I've ever seen.  I knew what it was right away.  I asked Charley to tell me what it was (because it always excites them to get to tell about their projects).  She said, "It's Georgie Washington."  She was totally serious.  She crossed her sister's name over to our first president... hehe

Isn't it cute?  I like that he has two different colored eyes :)...

On a different subject, the Purge is on at my house.  I was standing at my bathroom vanity the other day looking through all the drawers for something, and couldn't find ANYTHING!  There was crap in my drawers from 6 years ago when we first moved in here!  So I decided I am going to go through each room in my house over the next couple weeks, and purge with blind eyes!  I am not going to be wishy washy... If we haven't used it, it's either going to be garbage, or donated!  I need organization around here!  Getting a head start on Spring!  I did our bathroom last night, and came away with a whole garbage bag of junk!  It felt so good!

Woo Hoo!

Let's hear for my boy! (and love day)

Sam had his final game yesterday on his regular team (he also plays on a tournament basketball team).  His little team went undefeated.  Not only that but my boy had 2 baskets, a few assists & he got player of the game! Woo Hoo!

  Blurry picture... sorry!

Here are a few pics of the Valentine's I made for the kids classes.  I made the same for both of the girls'... 

This is the front of the Valentine...

I attached these awesome lollies to the back.  If you know me, I love cherries, so this was right up my ally :)...  I got the lollies at Williams-Sonoma.  (all images and twinkle sticker by A Muse)

Then I made these for Sam's class...

 I got these test-tubes from Impress.  I used Boris and Bernice from A Muse, Boris for the boys and Bernice for the girls. I filled the tubes with Pop Rocks!  I love Pop Rocks!  They remind me of being little.

My last picture for you today is of part of the gift that Zachory gave to me.  My FAVORITE food is barbequed hamburgers...

Oh yeah... I camelized some onions... Zach toasted my kaiser roll... blue cheese and steak sauce.  If love were food, that would be it! (I also got a dvd player for our bedroom, but the burger was the best!)

The bad blogger award goes to...

Me!  Sorry...  no excuses, just busy and lazy.  I have had some fun adventures though... my birthday, Zach's birthday, a couple of A Muse classes with Julie at the retail shop, the girls at the father-daughter dance... we've had some fun!

Anway,  here's a picture of Julie and me...

   

I went up to Seattle with my friend Suzanne and we took both of Julie's classes!  We had so much fun... Heather was in my class... It was so cool to meet her!  I met Rhonda, too.  She was even cuter than I thought she'd be!

Here's a picture of one of the cards that we made...

 It was a pop-up card... I wish I had taken another picture of it openned...

Now, here are a couple pics of the girls and their daddy...

 

They had kind of a Luau theme this year...

Shaken the booties...

The girls and Dadda... They had a really good time, except that G peed her bloomers and Zach had to bring her home naked wrapped up in his shirt :) hehehe... 

See you soon!  I promise!

Love is in the air!

Valentine's day is only a month away!  You better start getting the hearts out!  I made a card... I'll probably give it to Zach... I really can't give it to anyone else, after you see it, you'll understand why.  I have to admit, I think it's kind of clever, especially for me... I'm not usually clever...

He he he!  I indended to use it last week for Heather's spark, but I just didn't get around to blogging it in time.  Fortunately for me, it fits the criteria for this weeks spark!

I also have a few peeks of the love going on at my house!

  Little mailbox's that will contain special treats. 

  Our Valentine's garland... I couldn't find one that I liked, so I ordered letters from The Land of Nod and made my own.

   Mmmm... Yummy candies from my favorite candy store, The Confectionary at the University Village.

  Finally we have some made-by-mommy personalized pillow cases.

  That's all for now... I hope your starting feel love at your house!