26 Days of Kindness

First of all I want to say I did not come up with this idea but saw in on another ladies blog and LOVED it. I am turning 26 in December and to celebrate I am going to go one random act of kindness a day until my birthday. I have to start in two weeks. I know it might sound weird but I think it helps all of us when we look outside ourselves and help others. Sometimes we can be an answer to their prayers and they can answer ours by us serving them and by serving them we are serving our Lord. I know that my birthday lands very close to Christmas and so everyone is a little more in the giving mood this time of season but I encourage all of my friends and family to look a little outside themselves in this busy season and see how a simple, it doesnt have to be grand act of kindness can make someone smile. So here is to 26 days of kindness starting soon. I dont want it to seem like I am telling anyone I am going to so this to toot my own horn as my mom says but rather to encourage and inspire others maybe to do it for their birthdays that may not fall around the holiday season. May we all look out for reasons to serve each other and strangers and in doing that we are being the hands for our God here on Earth.

Playing in the truck

Jeremy drives a linen truck and its BIG. Brodie loves to see his daddy in his super fun truck. So after we dropped Reese off at school we walked daddy back to his truck and got to sit in the drivers seat for a minute :)

Reese first day of PreK!

Reese started PreK today! She was so excited. She didn't even mind getting up at 6:30, which is early for both sleeping beauty and her mother. We had muffins for breakfast, her request, got dressed and out to nanas house to drop off Peanut at doggie daycare. We can't leave Peanut alone in the house or he will poop in the house. NO matter how long he has been outside. Its what we call and F-you poo. Anyways, Jeremy meet us at school so we could say goodbye to out little girl together. She didn't shed a tear, she was ready to go!! The only thing that made me a little sad was as we where leaving Brodie called out through the school fence "Where did she (Reese) go?" Poor boy is all alone with boring ol' mommy. He missed his sissy and was my little twin all day not letting me out of his site. Reese loved her first day of school and is ready to go back tomorrow!

Bowling

We went bowling today and had so much fun! I cant wait to do it again and have everyone with us. Reese and Parker loved it. I love that the bowling alley gives kids 2 free games a day so all we had to do was pay for the shoes for them. My mom also had her best score ever!! look at that form !

Workin at the car wash!!

I saw this idea in the Family Fun magazine and thought, Hey I can build that! (well with a little help from Jeremy). It was super easy project and the kids love it!!! Here is the LINK to family fun.

Water Bombs

I made some sponge water bombs for the kids today and I have to say it was a "hit". I expect A LOT of use for them this year since it is so HOT! We are also planning on making a kid car wash sometime this week. I got the idea HERE. NOTE: I used dental floss because the fishing line kept slipping in my hands and they actually came apart when we played with them. The dental floss works great and is already handy at the house. To make the smaller ones I cut the sponges "hot dog" instead of "hamburger". You can experiment on our sizes. My mom says the bigger ones are easier to catch but I think the little ones are so cute :)

No Bummer Summer

We are taking a cue from Judy Moody and having a No Bummer Summer. I have made a poster board sized calendar and a page of ideas for things for us to do this summer. Last week we already went to the zoo (for free!! with the libraries zoo pass) and this week has been filled with swim lessons and water balloons. MANY fun ideas and pictures to come!!

Last Night at Soccer

Reese had her last soccer practice tonight. Its kinda nice to be able to take a break from activities in the summer. I got to get a summer schedule put together and planned out so it doesnt sneak away on us.

I love this picture of her running....tee hee!!!

Getting tired!So excited for her medal!!

A Day Game

I have been a really sucky blogger. I don't know why I really don't do it anymore. Just never seem to get the energy to sit and write how my thoughts or write down things that have happened. I was justl ooking at my blog from the past year and I love looking back at the pictures and the post as kinda a family journal of sorts. So lets see if I can get back on the blogging train and get it done!
Jeremy's granny and papa and Jeremy and I went to Tuscaloosa Alabama April 16 for the Alabama spring game which is Alabama vs. Alabama, a practice game. Which all Roll Tide fans know is a fun game to go to. Jeremy has wanted to go since we moved here and really wanted to share the experience with his Papa. So we packed up in the mini van and went. We actually got a late start there on Friday ( its 3 and 1/2 hours away) and thankfully we did because Tuscaloosa was hit by a tornado in the area we where staying!!! Thankfully everything was ok and just some small property damage. It was so fun to see Jeremy show all the Bama stuff to his Papa. We had a really good time, there was over 92,000 people at a spring game. Alabama fans are die hard for real!!!! We got to the stadium early and got awesome seats, Jeremy was even iterviewed by some Australian TV crew about a player on the team.

First Soccer Practice

Reese had her first soccer practice last monday. I was having flashbacks driving back to the soccer complex and the smell of the grass at night under the lights. Such fun memories. I am so excited for Reese and ALL day she would ask me when she was going to soccer. I was busy chasing Brodie around the fields with his ball.

Fun Lunch

I love Valentines day. I think it is just a cute and fun holiday. Its not one of those uber commercialized holidays to me, its just an excuse to use alot of red and pink (my favorite color!) Today we had a heart wreath and also had lunch in cute little heart baking cups. The kids thought this was so much fun! I got them on clearance last Valentines from Joanns. It helps with portions too even though we did have to have a refill on blueberries. I think my kids can eat a whole pint in one day. They love blueberries (and well all fruit)

A new year

Where has a whole DECADE gone? Wow. The 90's seem like a vast amount of time to me but 2000-2010 when by in a flash. There is no way that was really 10 years, right? Geez, I guess what they say about you getting older and time going by faster really is true. I am so excited for this new year. I am excited about all the future possibilities for our family! I hope everyone had a fun and safe new year! Here is to a wonderful and blessed new year!!!

Peppermint Playdough

I made some peppermint playdough to take over to my nanny-ing job tomorrow for Reese and the kids to play with. I made it in Christmas colors, red, green and white. Here is the recipe I used, I liked not having to cook it over the oven.

1 cup water
1 tablespoon oil
1 tablespoon peppermint extract (real or imitation)
1/2 cup salt
1 cup flour ( I used a pinch more, just make sure the dough is not sticky)
2 teaspoons cream of tarter

Microwave the water 2 1/2 minutes, then add oil and mint. Then add flour, salt and cream of tarter. I mixed until dough was playdough-y then divided into 3 small balls and colored two, one green and one red and then added glitter for what the hey , its fun and I love glitter. Its smells wonderful and I know the kids will love playing with it.

Reese and her Butterfly

Reese's butterflies are getting older and may need to "fly away" soon, in face we only have one "baby" left, the others have already flown away. So Jeremy wanted her to get to hold one why we still had a chance and it wasnt very springy and young. Reese loved it. Props to her daddy for such a good idea.

Whoopie Pies

I made whoopie pies or homemade oreos tonight and Oh my Geezers they are AWESOME!!! I highly suggest you make them. They are good!! The recipe can be found here.

My Christmas Wish List

Mama’s Holiday Wish List Meme

TodaysMama and GameStop are giving away a sleighful of gifts this holiday season and to enter I’m sharing this meme with you.

1. What is your holiday wish for your family?

To be happy and healthy and realize the true reason for the season

2. What is your Christmas morning / Hanukkah Nightly tradition?

Reading Christmas books and opening one present and wearing our special holiday jammies

3. If you could ask Santa for one, completely decadent wish for yourself, what would it be?

A huge family vacation for all of us to go together all expenses paid by santa ;)

4. How do you make the holidays special without spending any money?

Just being together, nothing beats family time and bonding together as a family

5. What games did you play with your family growing up?

Apples to Apples, Monopoly

6. What holiday tradition have you carried on from your own childhood?

Decorations, Seeing Christmas lights

7. Where would you go for a Christmas/Hanukkah-away-from-home trip?

Hawaii!!

8. Check out GameStop and tell us, what are the three top items on your GameStop Wish List this year? Kinect, A PS3 and a DS

Brodie

Here is Brodie telling you his favorite movie. He is talking to big lately.

Kiddo Art

We have been painting the past few days and the kids love to get there hands all messy in the paint. Reese is very concerned when she gets dirty and Brodie just loves to "PAINT" as he yells. With Reeses turkey family she is like her mom, everything is a little better with a little (or a lot) of glitter. It just makes me smile :) Love her!

Caterpillars

Reese got a butterfly garden for her birthday so we had to quickly order her some caterpillars. They came in last week and Reese has been so enamored with them. All we hear about is those caterpillars. Here is a picture of her caterpillars about 6 days old (since we got them). They are all girls because Reese says so. Here is a drawing of one she did all on her own! She is way cute about them! I didn't know my girl would be so happy with bugs!

Homemade Granola

This afternoon I made some homemade granola and it was soo yummy! It will be great by itself to snack on ot to make sweet healthy parfaits. I got the recipe from some lady on you tube.

Maple Granola
2 cups oats (not instant the old fashioned kind)
1/2 cup nuts (what you like I did walnuts)
1/3 generous cup of PURE maple syrup
1/4 cup oil
2 tsp vanilla
her recipe she put in a 1/2 cup dried fruit when it cooled but i didnt want fruit in mine but i did add 2 tablespoons of brown sugar.

Pre-heat oven to 350. Put oats and nuts in a large bowl, in another mix syrup, oil, brown sugar and vanilla together until sugar is dissolved and pour over oat/nut mixture. Mix and spread on cookie sheet bake 18-20 min stirring a few times. Let cool, then store in covered container.

YUM!