The Sun Will Come out Tomorrow

I am trying to make the best of these dreary, cloudy days.  There wasn't any sunlight to raise my spirits today.  I keep telling my husband, Bob, that this weather is going to put me into deep depression.  Just wanting some BEAUTIFUL, spring weather here in Kansas Lord.  I love being able to go for walks at night with my husband and kids.  Love spending time sitting on my back porch watching my kids play.   
Here some pictures to remind me that the sun will come out again very, very, very soon.  Because Lord knows all of us mothers need the sunny weather to stay happy!!!

 Nice Pose Shae!!

 Having a good time

 Little Cheezers 

 My Beautfiul little Girl

This is my younger brother Tyson on the Chappy.  (think i spelled that right.)  Bob bought this scooter last summer, on any nice night he is taking it out for a little cruise.  I love this picture of my Brother, he looks soo cool on the Big Ride doesn't he?!?! 

Hoping these cold spring days don't last long!!!!

Spring Bird's Nest Recipe

Haylee & I found a fun and easy recipe to make bird's nest.  This is a simple recipe that you can do with your kiddos.  All you need is half a bag of chow mein noodles, 1 package of butterscotch morsels, and Easter egg candies (we chose M&M's). 

Here are the kids helping Daddy putting the eggs on the nests.  I love that Bob likes to help out when we make things.  He is such a good daddy!!

Treasure Find

I have been looking for a used buffet for a long time now.  My mom came down to stay with me and the kids for a couple days through their spring break.  We decided to go check out a second hand furniture store.  As soon as saw this beauty I knew I had to have it.  It took a little convincing with Bob, but I got what I've been waiting for. The lady had it marked at $250 I talked her down to $215, I know Bob thinks I'm crazy when I bargain  a price with people.  But hey,  I got a pretty good bargain on this one!!  They run from $900 to $2000 in a furniture store.  And this buffet is solid walnut, Bob let me know how solid it was when he moved it in.  I love it!! It has so much storage in it.  I can hide a whole bunch of toys and books and whatever else in it.  I am so excited about it I just had to share my new find!!   So here is a picture of my new (used) buffet. 

The bad news about today, is my moms car won't start.  So, she is stuck with me for another day until Bob figures out whats wrong with it.  I feel horrible about her car but, on the bright side I'm glad I get to have her here with us another day!!

St. Patricks Day With the Daycare kids

The kids made their own hats for St. Patricks Day.  They painted the bowls green and we glued them on top of a paper plate and cut out the middle of the plate to make our hats.   They turned out pretty cute. 

The girls finger painting their shamrocks. 

 Little Cheezer!!

 Hat didn't make it very long, but she sure looked cute in her all green outfit!!

 The girls with their hats, we were missing the boys on this day.

Practicing Writing our Names

All of the kids here at daycare are learning to write their name.  I thought it would be fun to get washable markers for windows and let them practice writing their names.  They LOVED it!!!  They had so much fun writing on the windows.  One of the little girls says to me "I can write on your window and I won't get in trouble."  It was the funniest thing ever.  Here is a picture of one of the girls practicing to write her name.  The picture didn't turn out very clear.  We will be practicing writing on my windows a lot more!!

Sweeping the Bad Attitudes out of our House

Yesterday I spent the entire day with my children.  I didn't open a single text book to study.  I wanted the whole day to be focused on my two kids.  Some things I learned yesterday.  We went to the mall to meet some friends to have lunch.  I bumped into another mom I know, who I look up to.  She is an incredible mother, and I love listening to her talk about her kids.  She is a mother to four amazing children.  I was talking to her oldest son, and he had such a kind sweet spirit about him.  He was so laid back and a great big brother to his 3 younger siblings.  As we were sitting next to them, I realized how thankful her kids were for spending time together at the mall.  They sat there and appreciated this privilege of going to the mall with their mom.   Ok, so we are sitting next to them and my kids are complaining left and right how starving they are.  Yes, they probably were, but they could've showed some patience.  Both of my children were saying how bored they were being at the mall.  I realized that I have taken a wrong path somewhere to show how ungrateful I am, that my kids were acting like this.  So last night after spending the day with my kids I sat down and prayed, and thought over everything.  First of all I need to start showing my kids more respect and appreciate who they are.  If you want your kids to give you respect you have to model that behavior.  Second, I should not be comparing my kids to other kids.  Even though my friend's children are soo well behaved, my kids are pretty great too.  I sat up last night and typed out some new rules that will be changed in our home.

HOUSE RULES

Show Respect to Everyone in our home (daycare kids too!)

Help others who are in Need

Show Compassion & love to others

Obey your Mom & Dad

Do not worry about your problems, pray & lift them Up to God

Do not compare yourself to others

Try your hardest at everything you do, and you will accomplish Great things

This is going to be my new goal.  I want everyone in my house to model all these behaviors.  

Friday Night

So Bob has 1 rule in the house.  NO Dog in our bed.  He is pretty adamant about it too.  Its Friday night and Haylee stayed the night at a friend's house.  I finished up writing my paper so Bob & I are watching tv on the couch and where is my son?!?  I go to see what he is doing and find him cuddled up in our bed with Rex.  I am just laughing my butt off, cause I know how mad his dad would be to find Rex in our bed.  So here is a once in a life time picture of Rex in our bed.

Look at those Faces, how can you say "No" to that!!

Learning Names

We have been working on learning the letters of our names.  I have collected for months tops of everything, milk jugs, juice bottles, anything with a colorful top.  I wrote letters on each top and have had the kids learn the order of the letters, & to identify the letters.  Its a fun, creative way to learn. 

They are pretty proud to put them in correct order.  Way to go girls!!

Letter "O" Craft

Letter "O" for Octopus

We used tissue paper for the legs and the kids glued on the eyes.  I thought they were really Cute!

BBQ Potato skins

I plan on making this recipe also for super bowl this weekend.  

*3 large potatoes

*cooked bacon

*2 T. butter, melted

*1 clove garlic, minced

*my homemade bbq sauce

*cooked BBQ pulled pork

*sour cream and cheddar for topping

Directions:

 Bake potatoes at 350 degrees F. for about 1 hour.  Remove from oven.  Bake strips of bacon in the microwave.  Crumble bacon when cool.  Cut potatoes in half, and spoon out the middle.  Melt butter and add minced garlic.  Brush the potatoes with butter & garlic.  Butter the bottoms.  Cook in the oven for 5 min.  Fill the potatoes with BBQ pulled pork, crumbled bacon, and cheese. Top with sour cream.  

BBQ sauce recipe:
1 cup of ketchup
1 cup of brown sugar
2 cloves of garlic
1-2 tsp of liquid smoke
1-2 tsp of hot sauce
1-2 tsp of Worcestershire sauce
4 T onion minced (optional)
* I usually double this recipe, because I like a lot of BBQ sauce.
Combine all the ingredients in a sauce pan.  Cook over medium heat until boils, stir constantly, boil for 5 min.

Game Day 7 layer Dip

I am planning on making my7 layered bean dip for super bowl this weekend.
Ingredients:
1 can of refried beans
1 small tub of sour cream
1 can of black beans (drained and rinsed)
1 packet of taco seasoning
shredded lettuce
shredded cheese
1/2 cup of salsa
diced green onion
olives (optional, I prefer not to use them)

Use a microwaveable dish and put refried beans at the bottom and black beans on top.  Cook in microwave for 3-5 min.  Mix together sour cream and taco seasoning packet and add on top of the beans.  Top with lettuce, cheese, green onion,  & salsa. Chill.  Serve with tostitos or celery sticks.  I only make simple, fast, Yummy, recipes, & this is one of them!!

BBQ pulled Chicken Sandwich

I made this for supper tonight and it was Delicious!! I make my BBQ sauce it taste so much better than the stores.  You will have to try for yourself to enjoy!
Ingredients you will need
1 lb. of chicken tenderloins (thawed out)
BBQ sauce recipe:
1 cup of ketchup
1 cup of brown sugar
2 cloves of garlic
1-2 tsp of liquid smoke
1-2 tsp of hot sauce
1-2 tsp of Worcestershire sauce
4 T onion minced (optional)
* I usually double this recipe, because I like a lot of BBQ sauce.
Combine all the ingredients in a sauce pan.  Cook over medium heat until boils, stir constantly, boil for 5 min.
Place the chicken in the crockpot on low heat. Cover completely with BBQ sauce.  Cook for 6-7 hrs on low.  Or you can cook on high for 4 hrs.  Once the chicken is cooked, shred the chicken.  Serve on a roll or bun and top it with ranch.  I love cooking in my crock pot and this recipe is super easy and YUMMY!! Enjoy!!

Christmas Crafts

For Christmas this year, I decided to have the kids make cute little reindeer cards for their parents.  They used they foot prints as the face of the reindeer and their hand prints for the antlers.  They turned out really cute.

We also decorated waffle cones as Christmas trees  using frosting, food coloring, licorice, and of course candy.  The kids loved making these and they turned out really neat.  They enjoyed eating the candies and frosting while decorating their trees.  This was a fun and easy craft I think we will do every Year. 

Haylee's Room

I've been working on finishing Haylee's bedroom for a while now.  It took me forever to find curtains to match all the colors in her room.  I found some cute Valentine shower curtains at Target for only $12.99 and they go perfect in her room.  I am so Happy with how her room looks, and she LOVES it.  Thanks Grandma Sue for the curtains for Christmas!!

10 minute photo shoot with my kids

 This one is my favorite of Haylee...

 My Brown Eyed Boy....

 I LOVE THIS ONE OF BOTH MY KIDS!!

 I Love my Silly Kids!!

Chair Redo

My aunt gave us this beautiful desk and chair set for Haylee's room.  We decided to paint the desk white and Bob just finished the chair for her.  I got the fabric from Hawthorne's Threads.  

Thanks Daddy, Your the Best!!!!

Chalk Board Project

I found this cool project on another blogger's page TaterTots and Jello

So I got a crazy idea that I could do that in my living room (with the help of Bob.)

I think this cool vintage chalkboard is sooo Neat!!!

 So I headed to my favorite store, Hobby Lobby, and bought a picture frame, a chalk board, and some spray paint.  SO, with the help of my thoughtful Husband, we got it finished.  So what do you think?!  Bob doesn't know if he likes this turquoise color but, I love it :)

If you decide you want to make a Family Message Center, you can find the information to make one on the link below!!!

HGTV

Christmas Ornaments

I got a neat idea for home made Christmas ornaments from Kaboose.

 We found these letters at Hobby Lobby for only $1. I love dollar finds, don't you?!

Haylee Painting her letter "H", my daughter LOVES to do crafts!!! Thats my GIRL!!

You can decorate them any way you like.  We painted them, and put glitter all over, than used ribbon to hang them.  I thought this was a quick, cute idea for ornaments.

Shae's Letter "S" painted red to resemble the Chiefs, Of Course!!

Here are a few more ideas that  I'm gonna try from Martha Stewart .

Cute, Huh?!
You can find the directions by going to this link Martha Stewart Crafts
I'll let you know how well ours turn out :)

Kids say the Darnest Things

Silly Things My Kids Have Said!!

So after hearing some funny remarks my silly kids said today, I decided I should start writing some of them down, so years later I can look back and Smile!!  Wish I would've started this a long time ago, but HEY better Now than Never Right!!

We had some Good Friends pop in to Visit today !! Their oldest daughter Sienna (11) and Haylee (8) were in a deep conversation about their parents.  Sienna states to Haylee, "If there was a game show that had a game about parents being sarcastic my parents would Totally WIn!!"  Haylee starts laughing and looks over at me and smiles "Well, my mom would never win that game she NEVER exercises!!"  We laughed so hard my daughter thinks being "sarcastic" means you exercise.  Plus she had to let everyone know that I NEVER exercise, Thanks for putting that out there Haylee!!

Then my clever little boy Shae.
Bob was getting up off the floor from helping Shae build his Halo cars and says "Boy I'm getting Too old for this!"  Shae looks at his dad and says "No Dad, you are getting AWESOME!!"  Ahhh, he is my sweet baby boy :)
Shae is really into dancing right now, so I had to share his latest Break Out Dance!! Last Friday it was really cold so we put on the kids 80's music and had a Dance OUt!!!

Shae Growin up

My baby boy, yes I still call him my baby boy, will turn 7 tomorrow!!! Sometimes I wish I could just go back in time and hold him when he was a baby.  Time goes by so quickly when your a mom, your kids grow up so fast!! It makes me appreciate every moment I get to have as their momma!! Here are some pics that bring back some wonderful memories of my Baby Boy growing up!! Enjoy!

 Looking back at these pictures, makes me realize how important it is to have a good camera!!

I had to put some brotherly sister love ones on here too!

 

 This picture below is one of my favorites, they are such silly kids!!

This picture just  spells TROUBLE!!

 Ahhh, mommy & Shae

Okay, So it was a little hard to choose a couple!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE BEST SON A MOM COULD EVER HAVE!!!

Love You Shae!!!