one your mark, get set, go

B had his Cub Scout Pinewood Derby last night.

He took 3rd Place,

& was pretty excited about it.

He gets to go race at the District Derby in about a month.

The best news is that Trenton doesn't have to help

build another car for a whole year!

(It's not his favorite thing to do)

B with his candy bar car & certificate

The Wolf Den

 B & his friend after the race.

(I didn't get any pictures of him racing, I was too busy filming) 

Congratulations Buddy!

Good luck at District!

cousins

Growing-up I always thought my friends who had cousins who lived

in the same town (let alone in the same grade) were so lucky.

Fast forward 20 years

Now between Trenton & I

his 2 siblings, and my brother;
 we have in town:

(some even right next door!)

1: 8th Grader

1: 6th Grader

1: 5th Grader

2: 3rd Graders

1: 2nd Grader

1: Kindergartner

2: Preschoolers

1: 3 Year Old &

1: 18 Month Old

It sure makes Friday nights like tonight fun!

This is the aftermath of an afternoon playing on the trampoline with the sprinkler on, playing tag, swinging in the tree & playing basketball.

After filling their bellies with pizza they settled in to watch Tin Tin.

M didn't last more then 20 minutes,

 & I think a few others will be out before I can even finish this post.

I am so grateful for all of these cutie pie kid-o's,

and the blessing it will be for my kids to have them to lean on, grow with, & love.

we've been flocked

This morning when T put Pip outside he noticed this on our front lawn:

All the kids thought it was so cool!

I think they went out 3 or 4 times before they even left for school.

The purpose of the "flocking" is to raise funds for a

high school student who is going to Costa Rica to

help Leather back Turtles.

The kids voted & we are sending them to

Grandma & Grandpa Packard's,

so watch out!



how to trap a leprechaun

Step #1: Find a big basket,

(make sure you dump all the toys that were in it all over your floor)

and fill it with the kind of treats leprechaun's love.

Step #2: Make a lid using a pizza box, cut a hole in it &

cover it with aluminum foil.

Giggle at the thought of the Leprechaun falling through the hole.

Step #3: Pose for your crazy mama with the camera.

Step #4: Find the perfect spot for your trap.

Weigh down the lid with rocks.

Step #5: Move the trap to a better spot.

Add more Leprechaun enticements to the top.

Step #6: Go finish watching Space Jam & wait.



volcanoes and leprechauns

B had to make a volcano for his class project.

I present to you. . . . .

Mount Saint Brady

Pretty amazing what sprite & mentos can do!

If you're ever in need of volcano advice,

give me a call-I'm your gal!

Today was M's preschool St. Patrick's Day party

The Leprechaun came & left treats all over the lawn for

these cutie pie kid-o's!

They had a great day & ate lots of green food

(none of which was healthy or contained any vitamins)

Happy St. Patty's everyone!



going private

So we have decided it's time to take this bad boy private.

(Oh that sounded kinds naughty! ha ha)

Actually we have decided it's in our best interest to

keep somethings between friends & family.

Leave a little something to the imagination,

if ya know what I mean!

(There I go again!)

Anyway, before I get carried away

I will just let you know that if you enjoy this silly little blog

& would like to continue reading it please just leave

your name & e-mail in the comments

for us & we will see to it that you are kept in the loop!

Thanks!

grapefruit

M and her little bestie B decided they wanted to try one of the grapefruit

 that have been sitting on our counter.

Armed with my camera I got ready,

 because I knew this was going to be good!



Better then I imagined!

Thank you for a good laugh,

Love you 2!

spring has sprung

We had the most beautiful weekend!

I have been long awaiting a warm day-

I was even excited to clean out the garage & flowerbeds!
Pip played in an apricot tree & tried to catch buzzy bee's,

T spent the afternoon at the High School watching baseball and track,

B had a soccer game, then went to a buddy's house to play,

M hung out with us and did this. . .

I'm sorry our house is on the most boring street ever!

She was so cute & patient waiting for customers.

Luckly her Daddy came to the rescue & purchased a cup or two.

Happy Spring everyone!

redeeming myself

After my last post I fear that I gave the impression that we may be the

biggest slobs ever!

I promise I own a vacuum & mop (and I also use them)
Sometimes a project gets started, then another one,
and another with no clean up between.
Also this room sits on the list behind kitchen,
bathroom, laundry, etc
(we are all sadly familiar with 'The List')

So I spent a few hours this afternoon working on this. . .

It could still use a good muck-out,

but it is a vast improvement!

LOVE my happy place!!

crafting my way through Pinterest

So I really, REALLY like Pinterest!

It has been fun to find cute new things to create.

Here are a few of the latest:

The base of the wreath is a foam insulation tube from Lowe's.

It took a little more reinforcement then it looked like on Pinterest.

I only spent about 8 bucks for 2 tubes & duct tape,

which is a lot cheaper then the big foam wreathes.

The knife block was the one that had my Hubby saying

Seriously?!?

But I think it's cute.

Love to craft!

Love the accomplishment it gives!

Hate the mess!

It wouldn't be so bad, except I always have at least a few 'helpers'
who like to get into the act as well.
They are really, really good at creating!
Cleaning up-not so much!
My wise Auntie Juanita always told me if she could go back in time
it would be to when all of her children were right around her feet.
I remember that everyday!
Even when I'm stepping in this mess. . .

Also something special I was able to put together with the help of Pinterest
was this darling print for Trenton's cousin Jaden & his wife Lacy.
They lost their sweet baby girl Reese last week.
She was born with a congenital heart defect on February 13th.
Lacy & Jaden are so amazing.
Their faith in the Lord is an inspiration to us all.

I have to give a special shout out to CP at
Designs By CP
She is the creator of this work of art & was so quick to
help me get access to a copy of it.
THANK YOU!!

what am I doing wrong?

Do you ever have one of "those days"?

Yesterday was it for me!

I received the child my parents hoped I would get.

B is a beast to get going in the morning!

Slow moving, can't find anything, and

totally disheveled!

COME ON!?!?!

I work my butt off at the gym,

but literally the butt is not coming off!

REALLY!?!?!

I am now driving the boys to & from school each day,

because there are little fart-heads on the bus

using foul language & educating my boys on human

reproduction & anatomy!

SERIOUSLY?!?!?

I made a great meal for the Hubbster

(Still feeling guilty about the non-celebration that

occurred for his 32nd last week)

We waited & waited, the little ones filled up on pizza rolls

because they were DYING of hunger.

Finally, he arrived home & by that time I had picked at everything so much

I was full.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME!?!?

I feel like I run around all day cleaning our home.

And yet before I go to bed I look around and am thankful

DCFS didn't show up at my door that day,

because if they did we would have a situation!

AUGHHH!!!

Some days I feel like I'm trying to run a marathon,

except I was put on the treadmill.

I go & go, but can't make any progress.

But then something amazing happens,

my heart is softened just enough to make me realize it all

dosen't matter in the grand scheem of things.

I looked out the window and saw this & remembered how thankful I

am for the crazy days, because they make me so thankful for the sweet ones.



more goodbye

So internally I must be more torn up then I thought about the

whole elementary school demolition.

I keep driving by, and taking photos.

The construction men look at me like I'm a freak

I posted the back side, so here is the front:

I guess I will go whip up a batch of these bad boys to make myself feel better:

Sour Cream Blueberry Muffins

(Recipe from the amazing Trisha Flick)

1/4 C. Butter @ room temp.

3/4 C. Sugar

2 Eggs

1 1/4 C. + 2 Tbl. Flour

1/2 tsp. Baking Soda

1/4 tsp. Salt

3/4 C. Sour Cream

1 C. Blueberries (fresh or frozen)

1/4 tsp. Vanilla or Almond Extract

(I like almond)

Cream butter & sugar. Add eggs one at a time, beating well.

Sift together dry ingredients, add to batter alternating with sour cream. 

Fold in blueberries & vanilla or almond extract. 

Bake at 450 degrees for 12-15 minutes.



goodbye

This is the place that Trenton & I started school.

This is the place that we started friendships that are still going.

This is the place we learned to read & write.

This is the place that we sang songs, preformed in school plays,

and created some of our best works of art.

This is the place we developed our first playground crushes.

This is also the place that we sent both of boys off to their first days of school.

Goodbye Red Rock Elementary.

Thanks for the memories!



goal!

This morning we had B & M's first soccer games.

I was go glad we didn't wake up to a morning like yesterday!

They had a great time.

M, our little cutie pie spent most of the game

 just trying to figure out where the ball was.

She had a fun time & DIDN'T CRY!

(Which is huge!!)

B, is in it to win it!

He is getting better at understanding the dynamics of the game,

field position, and passing the ball.

(But, at 9 they are all still ball hogs! hee he)

He scored one of their goals & did his macho man walk across the field!

What a goof-ball!