Pinewood Derby

We love the Pinewood Derby, it is so fun to see how excited Nolan gets. Last year was a great year he came in second place. We were surprised, we were literally blow drying it on our way out the door. When we weighed in, it weighed to much, of course all the BB's were glued in so Dean was frantically trying to dig out the glued in BB's. Nolan was almost in tears because he was worried we wouldn't get enough BB's out it time. So when he came in second we were so happy but we decided this year we would start earlier, so it wasn't so stressful. Yes, thats another whole story. They started about three days ahead and it is a great looking car, unfortunately it is not a fast car. Dean played with it for a couple of days and we could not get it to work as fast as last years (I thought they should just reuse last years). So we left to the Derby knowing it was a slow car. There were three of us that had slow cars. The slowest car of all got a flat tire chocolate cake. We did not get the cake, I told Dean next time we know we have a slow car, put some brakes on it, slow that thing down! If we know we are going to lose, let's at least go home with the chocolate cake!!! As for starting ahead of time next year? We may be going for the blowdry it on the way out the door again .

No More Braces!!!!

Kylie is so excited! She got her braces off on Tues. We started the First phase in the fourth grade, she is now in the eighth grade so this was a Huge Day for her! The Orthodontist gave her a nice big bag of chewy candy. I am sure our dentist will love that. She is the most excited about this nice close up picture of her. We are the most excited that they are paid for, it feels like we got a raise!

I love Grocery Shopping?

Yes, this is a picture of our pantry right now. It is really pathetic. Anyone that knows me at all knows I love to shop, I am really quite passionate about it. However, I don't know that anyone knows how much I really don't like grocery shopping. I really try hard to go every other week, but that doesn't seem to be my mood right know. I am not in a food mood, sure it tastes good but I have a hard time coming up with ideas so I go to the store every couple of days and pick up what sounds good. If nothing sounds good well....Last night Kylie ask me what was for dinner, I said nothing sounds good I don't know, we should use up Tilapia in the freezer.~ I bought a Sam size bag a while ago, I wanted to try something new. I fried it thinking my kids would think it was chicken the first time and then I baked it with seasoning. They all hated it, they ate it but they really didn't like it. I have enough for one more meal, I may as well try a new recipe. ~ meanwhile Dean calls to say he's on his way home, Kylie answers and tells him whats for dinner. He says Please don't cook the fish, I will go get Wendy's for dinner. I actually like Tilapia. The kids really don't like it when I shop this way, there really are no snacks in our house unless you count saltines and cold cereal. Once a year I decide I am tired of shopping twice a month so I will make a huge list and go to Sams, I will fill two entire carts(one at a time) so full that I have to do a balancing act to get to the car. I can hardly push the cart and turning it is out of the question, I make sure I park as close as I can to the Exit door. It takes me a while but I am so excited at the thought of only going to the store for milk and fruit and vegtables for the next 8 wks that I don't mind the one marathon day. The kids love it when I shop this way, they are sure that the snacks will last forever. Dean on the other hand is not so excited about it, since he is the one that balances the budget.

Spring Break

We had our Spring Break last week. We went to the library, the park and Grandpa and Grandma H came to visit. To end the week we went to an airshow and watched the Thunderbirds. The kids really enjoyed it, well Kylie was more excited to eat out but she was a good sport.

Zebra Princess

While we were shopping last weekend, Dean took the older kids to Barnes and Nobles while Brooklyn and I went to hit all the clearance racks at all the kid stores. I have never just taken Brook by herself to shop. It was really fun. We were at Gymboree and I hear this little voice "Mom, Look it's a Zebra Princess. I want to be a Zebra Princess. Please, Can I be a Zebra Princess?" She is standing next to me holding the corner of this Zebra Jumper.(For anyone that does not know, she loves animals, any animal~she did not get that from me!) So I dug through the rack to find a top to go with it and we were lucky enough to find hair clips. She has worn a combination of that outfit three times this week. Every time she sees it coming out the laundry she says "Yah, My Zebra Princess, Can I wear it?" I think one of my favorite things about this age is that she knows she is a princess, not that just mom and dad think she is one. In her eyes she is truly a princess.

Kylie was two months older than Brook when she was shopping at Old Navy with me and saw this skirt and said "Mom, I really like that, can we buy it? I thought it was cute that they were close to the same age when they found their first outfit they really liked with out my help. It is so fun to watch them grow and see them develope their own sense of style and their own personality. (it's fun most of the time, I do have those times I would rather no one had an opinion!)

My Crafty Side

I saw this darling giraffe throw pillow the other day so I thought I would try it on a top for Brooklyn. I had a scrap of the polkadot fabric, so I traced a giraffe, Ironed it on the top and then handstitched pink around the edges. It was so simple but I really liked how it turned out! Then I decided to make some cute little piggytail hairclips. Brooklyn loves it! It makes me want to do another project.

Our Sweet Valentines!

I love Valentines Day! It is so fun to have a holiday to celebrate the people you love! We always give the kids a little heart treat of some kind and then we spend the day together. This year we took a day trip and went shopping for the day and went to Red Robbins to eat. We had alot of fun just hanging out together. ~James was so cute this year. He really got the meaning of Valentines Day, so when we gave him his chocolate heart he just beamed! He said" wow this is a big heart I think you love me alot!" Dean and I always go out later in the week to celebrate, when it is not quite so crazy. Happy Valentines Day!