All the Small Things...

Another Read...

I kinda think you can never go wrong with James Patterson (except when he did those few fairy books- not my cup of tea AT ALL) and this book didn't disappoint.

It's not his typical detective novel, so I was a little unsure when I started it, but I was HOOKED within 20 pages.  It is a courtroom drama that takes place in Mississippi during the early 1900's and it is fascinating and tragic and a page turner all rolled into one book.  

I must admit, I had certainly heard of the lynching that occurred down south and had even seen Mississippi Burning forever ago, but I had NO IDEA it was as bad as it was.  Now this was just a work of fiction, but I'm pretty sure it is closer to reality than I care to think.  SOOOO TRAGIC, but Patterson is able to tell his story without the reader being too upset to read on.  In fact, that's all I wanted to do!

So, I think I may just leave one James Patterson book and jump into another... I have SWIMSUIT sitting next to me right now and that and a cup of Sleepytime Tea just sound heavenly.

The Last Day of School 2011...

I'm so mad that I didn't get pics of the boys as they left for their last day of school, but it didn't occur to me until Scarlet was leaving and I loved her little outfit so much that I thought to snap a pic.  Oh well, I got some of them after school got out.

 

Even Miss Jones was excited for the last day of school!!!!!

 

The biggest perk of being a room mom is getting to party with the kids!  It was a blast hanging out with Scarlet and her fab teachers at their Last Day of School Party!  This year I did something I've never done before and made shirts for all the kids.  It was soooo fun and easy and I'll definitely do it again.  Thanks for the fantastic idea, Michelle!!!

 

Then there were games!!!

 

And as THRILLED as I am to finally have summer here, I will miss Scarlet having these two incredible teachers.  They are top notice teachers and super fun girls!!!

 

Just a side note... I bought all the girls the same necklaces and all the boys the same necklaces, so they could all have friendship necklaces and of course, the teachers had to have them too!

 

One of my favorite parts of the day was the final bell countdown!  The kids and the teachers counted down the final seconds and then it was a celebration/stampede out the door.  SOOOOO funny!!!

Now it was time to head home and party with the rest of the kiddos!

 

End of School Teacher Gift...

I loved what I gave Scarlet's teachers this year and I hope they loved it too!

 

I started with the idea of what would be fun for their kids too and came up with a snow cone maker.  We've had one for years and LOVE it.  I love it more for making icy drinks than for even making snow cones.  Fill a glass with ice shavings and add strawberry lemonade or a diet coke?!?!?  DIVINE!

 

Then I made some cute fabric flowers and added them to a straw tote.  I then placed some snow cone syrup (for their kids), an adult bev mix (for them) and a fun summery ring (I removed it from it's lame wrapping and made my own) to the tote and I was done!

 

A VERY summery gift that is thoughtful, but was easy to put together.  :)

Vacation Countdown...

We are in full blown summer vacation countdown around here!  So much so, I didn't even check over Scarlet's homework last night.  I mean, I know she did it, but does it look like heck???  Possibly and I don't care!!!  (sorry Mrs. Bahr and Mrs. Walher!)

 

So to help us along with our countdown, I have a little spot in our family room designated to summer!  I actually have a couple of spots, but I'll show you those later...

(as always, click on image above to enlarge)

I can't express how much I LOVE my countdown sign!!!  I found it in a little boutique a couple of years ago in Cambria, CA and HAD to have it!!!  It's so me!  A lady who obviously has enjoyed a few good meals and has nothing better to do with her day than lounge at the seaside in her low cut dress with her lush of a BFF.  lol!

 

THREE MORE DAYS!!!!  

The Littles...

My latest FAV pic of my little ones...

 

 

Red, White and Blue Box of Fun...

So, I had an idea...  what if I made things a whole lot easier and a whole lot "funner" and a whole lot more colorful this summer in the food preparation area?

How?  Well, Miss Scarlet is ALWAYS wanting to make fun treats and she is a decorating fool, but pulling down all the decorating doo daas always seems like such a pain, so I usually say the typical, "Sounds great, let's do that tomorrow" knowing she will forget for a few days giving me a break.  LAME!  I know.   All the girl wants to do is throw a couple of sprinkles onto a cookie for the love of pete!

Okay, so here is what I came up with and it has ALREADY worked!!!

 

So I scoured my pantry for all fun things red, white and blue and added them to my popcorn box and now when Scarlet wants to add sprinkles to her ice cream or her oatmeal, I am set!  I will just let her pick a bottle of sprinkles and a few seconds later she has a festive snack!  It makes her VERY happy and I don't feel like a dead beat---- as much!  ;)

Today I made the kids pancakes, sprinkled on some red, white and blue sprinkles and my little ones acted like I had presented them with a Sylvia Weinstock cake!  

Add a candy star to the top of a small bowl of watermelon, dip the sides of a store bought ice cream sandwich into a bowl of dots, put a paper firecracker into the top of a stack of powdered donuts, add some sprinkles to a bowl of yogurt.  Add some color to the ordinary and your kids will LOVE it!

So grab a festive bowl and add some red, white and blue bits and pieces to it and you have a party in a box ready for any kind of fun!

A Trip Down Memory Lane...

I kinda have to confess, this show might have been more for me than for Keiran. 

 

Why?  Well, KK really likes Elmo.  He used to LOVE him, but that was quickly replaced by his love of Blue's Clue's-- bordering on OBSESSION actually.  In fact, he watches A LOT of Blue's Clues and when he requests a new show, he will say Blue's Clues Steve or Blue's Clues Joe.  90% of the time it is Blue's Clues Steve.  Hooray for Steve!  I feel the same way, man.

 

Okay, so when Elmo Live came around I HAD to get the tickets, but not because of KK's massive love for Elmo, but because of PATRICK's MASSIVE love of Elmo.  

You see, Patrick was an Elmoaholic.  Full blown addict.  Like 12 step addict.  Elmo was his life and I LOVED it.  Nothing Elmo ever sang grated on my nerves.  He was so sweet and his little voice was perfection.  I, too, worshipped the ground Elmo walked on.

So now 17 years later, Elmo tickets become available and I jump at the opportunity to go.  Not necessarily to see Elmo again (although he was awesome!), but to get into a mini time machine and go back to those days of simpler times.  The days when Dan was at school and it was just me and Patrick at home in our little Provo home watching Elmo and stopping by everyday at the Thomas' house to play or craft or eat (best neighbors ever!).

And so at Elmo Live, while Bert was on stage dancing away to Doing the Pigeon or Ernie was singing all about visiting the moon, I just looked at KK (who is Patrick's DOUBLE) and remembered how great I've had it.  A REALLY great life with a really great husband and really great kids.  So, for two stupid kids who probably got married way too young and probably had kids way too young and probably even had way too many of them-- we've done pretty good.

Besides-- Elmo's favorite number is 5, so 5 kids is pretty poetic.  :)

 

BTW- the Sesame Street letter of the day was "K".        love that

 

I Celebrated Twice... don't judge.

When I saw on my calendar that it was National Donut Day (first Friday every June), I knew duty called.  I mean, I would be remiss if I didn't lead my family in this sacred holiday.

Our personal favorite donut stop?  Why the famous Stan's Donuts.  OMG- the chocolate peanut butter one!?!?!  Put it on your bucket list.

My personal fav donut?  The basic sugar donut.  Patrick and I will fight to the death over the last one of those bad boys.  Deep fried dough with granulated sugar sprinkled all over???  Why, you had me at deep fried...

Dan is a custard filled kinda donut guy.

Scarlet is a rainbow sprinkle lover.

Chandler and KK are chocolate donuts fanatics.

And Wednesday Jones... she's sticking with the milk.

 

What's your poison?

BTW- just in case you plan on joining in on the festivities next year, I made you a file of my DONUT DAY tag.  Enjoy! 

 

Download Donut Day

Although We Weren't Invited...

We had our dresses and fascinators ready!  

Your loss Wills & Kate.

Harry... don't let us down.

Easter Gredings 2011...