Orange Lunch

Today in preschool, it was Orange day. The boys wore orange shirts and everything was about the color Orange. So for lunch I thought it might be fun to extend the day and to an Orange lunch. We had oranges, cheetos, and chicken strips that seriously do look orange. Topped it off with Orange Kool-aid! The boys loved it. Thursday is Purple day. Any ideas???:)!!

Popsicle Stick Mummy

Materials needed: 3 Popsicle Sticks, two googly eyes, ripped material, I used white pillowcases and ripped it into strips, and glue dots (tried Elmers and didn't work)
Use one whole stick for body and head, break one for arms and glue them down, and break one for legs and glue them down. Then just wrap the strips of material around the sticks and make them mummy like. BayLee (6) was more of a perfectionist and Logan (10) sped right through it. But they had a great time and wanted to make alot of them and hang them infront of the kitchen window. I think they meant a garland, which would be really cute.

The finished products. It was way fun and way easy. BayLee wants to do a craft a day for Halloween. We will see how that goes. :)

Artichokes with Lemon-Butter Sauce

Artichokes are a favorite at my house and recently they have been on sale for 10 for 10! It never fails when I am at the store picking some out, somebody will ask me how I cook them. Such a great deal and I have been having them for lunch. We all fight for the heart of the artichoke. Actually when I was pregnant with Mia I craved them more than normal (which is alot) and the kids were home for Christmas Break. I opened the fridge and saw I only had one artichoke. I thought to myself, "HMMMM. How can I sneak this past Logan and BayLee." They take 45 minutes to cook so I had it cooking and trying to keep them busy so they don't notice. YES I was having a selfish moment. So it was finally done! I snuk past them and went into my room (FOOD IN THE ROOM MAJOR NO NO!) and quietly shut my door and locked it. I was successful UNTIL BayLee went into the kitchen and looked into the pan that was sitting on the stove and all of a sudden I hear "LOGAN MOM HAD AN ARTICHOKE!! I SEE GREEN WATER". Sure enough it was just in time for the heart so I ended up sharing the best part of the dang thing!!!!! I just had to share that story. We love artichokes.

Fill pan with water. Cut stem off of Artichoke right up to the base of it. Place in pan with water. Bring to boil. Boil for 30-40 minutes until leaves can easily be pulled off.
Melt 1/4 margarine for each artichoke and add 1/2 lemon juice for each artichoke.
Once Artichoke is finished pull leaf off one by one,dip into sauce, and scrape the "meat" with your teeth. Once the leaves get way to small (you will know what I mean) cut below the leaves right on top of the base. This is the heart. Make sure you get the fuzzy part off too (forget to tell people that and they end up eating it).
BEST PART!!!! Cut up heart in bitesize pieces and dip them in the butter sauce and SAVOR the moment. Good stuff.

Peanut Butter Muffins

Oh, peanut butter let me count the ways that I love thee, on a spoon, in a cookie, in a muffin or on a sandwich, or any way in which you would like to be eaten. I LOVE YOU! I love peanut butter. I have fun recipe that we make using the creme cake mix from Alison's Pantry. I use the mix and add 1/3 cup peanut butter to the mix and then mix in a handful of mini chocolate chips and you have the yummiest after school snack ever!!! If your a from scratch kinda gal, here is a recipe that you can use to make these without the mix.


Peanut Butter Muffins:

1 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup whole wheat flour (if your not into wheat you would sub w/white flour)
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
1 Tbsp. Baking Powder
1/2 tsp. Salt
1 1/4 cups fat-free milk
1/3 cup Creamy Peanut Butter
1 large egg or 1/4 cup egg substitute
2 Tbsp. butter, melted
1 tsp. Sweet Vanilla Powder

Preheat oven to 400º. Lightly spoon flours into dry measuring cups; level with knife. Combine flours, sugars, baking powder and salt in a large bowl; stir with a whisk. Make a well in center of mixture. Combine milk, peanut butter, egg, butter and Vanilla Powder; add to flour mixture, stirring just until moist. Spoon batter into 12 muffin cups coated with Vegalene. Fill each cup half full with batter. Bake at 400º for 20 minutes or until muffins spring back when touched lightly in center. Let cool in pan 5 minutes. Remove from pan, and cool on wire rack. Yield: 12 muffins.

Happiness is MY Heritage

Lastnight as I had the chance to watch the LDS General Womens Conference. It was a great chance to be uplifted as Women of the Gospel. President Uchdorft addressed us at the end and his talk really stuck out to me. I think that is the reason I went, I needed to hear what he had to say. I walked away feeling like I deserved to be happy and it is up to ME to make me that way. Happiness is my HERITAGE!!!! Guess what? It is your heritage too. I think sometimes we are so hard on ourselves and focus on what is going wrong in our lives that we miss the positve things like birds singing, beautiful words of the scriptures, memories with our families, and the feel of grass on our feet. I am so grateful for all of the blessings in my life. I am grateful to be a mother and wife even on the days that I really could pull my hair out. But we all need to remember that our Heavenly Father loves us and that Christ died for us and suffered ALL for us. Even the littlest incidences that cause us pain-hand it over to Jesus Christ and he will take it from you.
Like Brandy said a few posts ago, I think when we are feeling really bad about our lives or feelings like inadequecy we need to SERVE others. When we are in service of others we are in service of GOD. I know when I am feeling self pity, I feel so much better if I bake cookies for someone, write someone a nice letter, or simply smile at everyone I see. These are hard times we are living in and we need to stand out as a positive people with good intentions.
SO SCATTER SUNSHINE!!!!!!!! Have a great Sabbath day.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Best Ever Basic Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

1 cup butter softened
1 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 Tblsp. Vanilla
3/4 tsp. baking soda
3 cups flour
1 package chocolate chips

Cream butter and sugars. Add eggs and vanilla. Then add dry ingredients. Mix in chocolate chips. Bake at 350 for 11 minutes. Cookies won't look done, but take them out anyway and let them sit on the pan for a few minutes.

YEAH!!

We are sooo excited! We have both been featured on Tip Junkie within the past two weeks. Brandy was highlighted on her file folder games, which I must say is a very smart idea-I will be doing that! Today Mandees craft bucket idea was featured. So exciting.
Stay tuned: A GREAT GIVEAWAY IS COMING TOMORROW!!!!!!!

Bored

I've been in a bit of a momma funk! I have a billion things on my plate and my kids are just along for the ride most day's and we haven't been doing as many crafts as we usually do.

Today I was thinking, what could I do that would be easy and fun and this is what I came up with. Both Nathan and Tyson are preschool age and are working on learning their name. So I wrote their names on construction paper with glue and gave them a bowl of fruit flavored cheerios, which for some odd reason no one will eat and wahoo a craft in minutes.

First Names

Middle Name

All done!

We also did a few pictures of flowers and the likes. Super easy, boredom buster!!

Drum Set Mania

The kids had about an hour to kill after church before we needed to get to a family birthday party. Logan wanted to make a drum set with symbols (not sure what provoked this!). So he and BayLee went to work making homemade drums. I think sometimes we forget the simplest of crafts and activities. They had so much fun figuring out how much rice was needed to make the sounds they wanted. It was fun to watch them work together.

Materials: styrofoam bowls, paper, glue, and rice. Afterwards they just colored designs on them.

Kindness

The world could use a little more kindness and a little more joy. It doesn't take much more than a smile to brighten someone's day. This great article over at Real Simple, 48 Ways to

be Nice and Improve the Wolrd Around You, shares some really fun ways to brightne someone's day. Sometimes it's as simple as smiling at someone.

Mandee and I were just talking the other day about how, when your having a no good, bad day, (anyone else love that book) that the thing to do is give service to someone else. It might be a simple phone call, a plate of cookies, or a simple smile.

My challenge to you today is to be a little bit nicer to those around you and watch how the chain of kindness extends!

Happy Tuesday, everyone!

I Joined A SWAP!!!!

I am way excited!! I have been reading about these swaps in blogland and I finally found one before the sign up closed. This site is really fun too-sunshine and lemonade. Go check it out and read about the swap, I am really nervous about how it will end but it sounds fun and I am always willing to take a risk. :) I think I have officially become a blogging addict.

More Time Out

The Women Who Deserved A Time Out

Hillary Weeks
Jason Deere from Nashville (such a nice, cute guy)
Tim Gates (sorry about the wiggles!!)

Food Storage

For years the prophets have counseled us to be prepared. To have a years supply of food on hand. I just barely jumped on this bandwagon about 18 months ago. I have really enjoyed learning how to use my food storage and every time I put something away I get this little jolt of pleasure. I know, it's weird, but I feel like a little squirrel storing up nuts for the winter.

On the side bar I have several links that I frequent for food storage ideas. I sell bulk, wholesale food for a company called Alisons Pantry. This was initially what got me involved in food storage and I love it. It's been a great way to supplement my grocery income. Every month I put all of my earnings back into product and it has been a tremendous blessing!!

I want to share fun website with you called All About Food Storage. My friend Kim runs this sight and she has lots of great ideas. She also likes to share about Alisons Pantry! She's so great. Thanks Kim! Go check out her sight for lots of great ideas. Leave her a comment and say hello. Tell her I sent ya! You'll love it I promise.

Also check out this link for a way CUTE idea. It's a food storage fairy. Kind of like the Halloween Ghost idea, you take 2 items out of your food storage with a recipe and share it with a neighbor. They then copy the food storage fairy and put a copy in their window and then leave one with another family. Better watch out, I might come and get ya!!!

Time Out For Women

Okay, so I'm leaving it up to ManDee to post some of our fun pictures. But I want to give you a rundown of our weekend. At least from my point of view. Note to ManDee (Fill in the blanks for me, would ya please?)

The theme was Joyful Life. They wanted to show us different ways to find joy in the lives that we have. To find the joy in our relationships, to find joy in our children, to find joy in our relationship with our Savior, to find joy in being a woman. It was chalk full of things that I needed to hear and I left feeling exceptionally well fed, spiritually anyway.

The amazing Hillary Weeks was the musical part of the program. She was also the commentator and we heard a lot from her. What a funny girl. She has such a great sense of humor and a charm about her. Loved to listen to her stories and her music. Amazing!! There are no words for her voice or her songs.

Friday night we had the opportunity to watch the The Nashville Tribute Band preform. AMAZING!!! ManDee could not believe that I had never heard them preform, because I am kind of a church history junkie. I knew a lot of the stories that were shared and it was a lot of fun. Jason Deere is amazing and this was his little pet project. I also found out today that he was in the same mission as my bishop. He left shortly after my bishop came in. Cool little tidbit. Anyway, I thought it was amazing that he could still get so emotional as he told the stories, that I am sure he has told hundreds of times. The spirit was so strong!!! We also had the chance to see Tim Gates. LOVE HIM! He had on his remember rock from girls camp. So cool. Mandee and I went and talked to him, but apparently the pictures didn't turn out.

All of the speakers were amazing. I don't think I could pick a favorite. Amanda Dickson had me laughing so hard. She said a lot of fun and insightful things. We also had the chance to listen to Virginia Hinckley Pearce, which was a great opportunity.

There was so much that I learned and I wish I could share it all here in this blog. I have pages of notes and right now I am on a spiritual high. If you ever get an opportunity to attend one of these conferences, I highly recommend it. Go to this link for more information.

Absence Makes The Heart Grow Fonder

Did ya miss us???? We sure missed you guys! ManDee and I have been on hiatus. And it has been a fabulous weekend!!! We had the chance to go to Las Vegas and attend the Time Out For Women Conference. It was an AMAZING weekend! So spiritual and uplifting. Also tiring. ManDee and I stayed up and talked to Kris until 2:30 last night and had to get up at 6:00 am to get ready for the day! Isn't it funny that when a mom gets a chance to sleep all night, she decided to stay up and talk to adults? Not only adults, but people we talk to everyday.

We missed you guys!!! We talked about the blog a lot and even checked our comments on Kris's cell phone. And CONGRATULATIONS to Mandee!! She won a great prize from Lil Peanuts! I'm tellin' ya, it's possible to win! We both have now in just a few short weeks.

You'll all have to ask Mandee about my James Bond moves first thing in the morning. Funny stuff! Anyway, we should be back Monday with more fun posts and I think that each of us will give you a report on what we learned and Mandee has some great pictures to share. If you ever have a chance to go, I highly recommend it. For all you local gal's here in St. George, they are bringing it here next year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Can ya tell I'm excited?

Happy Sunday everyone!

Food For Thought

Some days I revel in being mommy. Other day's I'm frustrated and seem to be to the end of my rope. I've often said that raising kids is a lot like being pecked to death by chickens. Anyone else ever felt this way? Sometimes I feel like I am missing a lot of moments that I should be sharing with my kids. There is always clothes to wash, bathrooms to be cleaned, dinner to be cooked, and the list goes on and on. And then there are times when I realize that I am missing moments that can never be replaced. I have read this quote many times, but today it had new meaning to me. I wanted to share it with you and I pray that it uplifts those who may need it and that it sticks with all of us. It's good advice.


"...but the biggest mistake I made is the one that most of us make while doing this. I did not live in the moment enough. This is particularly clear now that the moment is gone, captured only in photographs. There is one picture of the three on them sitting in the grass on a quilt in the shadow of the swing set on a summer day, ages 6, 4, and 1. And I wish I could remember what we ate, and what we talked about, and how they sounded, and how they looked when they slept that night. I wish I had not been in a hurry to get on to the next things: dinner, bath, book, bed. I wish I had treasured the doing a little more and the getting it done a little less."

Anna Quindlen

Let's remember to spend more time in the moment and less worrying about this dishes and all the things of life. Enjoy the moments that will never come again.

Love David Shannon

David Shannon is my favorite childrens author. I love his stories and illustrations. I guess I also love him for sentimental reasons. The first book my son read on his own was "No, David!" and my daughters first book was "Good Boy, Fergus". When Logan was about three I was busy on the phone and hadn't heard him for a little while and with him that wasn't ever a good sign, so I decided I better look for him. Well, he wasn't anywhere in the house so I went out side to find him running up the street BARE NAKED yelling "COME BACK HERE DAVID"!!!! I was mortified but at the same time impressed that he would remember that part of "No, David". But it has always made me laugh since. That will be a great story to tell his wife someday!!! BayLee really likes "Alice the Fairy" and "Pirates Don't Change Diapers". I hope to complete my David Shannon collection some day!!!

Italian Pasta Salad

I have 3 failproof salads that I make for family dinners and potlucks. This is one of them. I have another one that is a pasta dish, and next time I have a function, I'll make it and post it, because it is SUPER YUMMY! I love this one too, but I can't decide which one is my favorite. My sister-in-law had a birthday party this past weekend and this was what I took to share. And I left with a clean bowl and not an ounce to bring home for lunch the next day :(.

1 package colored twirly noodles
1 jar Zesty Italian Dressing
1 can olives
1 cucumber
1 package grape tomatoes
1 8 oz. package of Feta Cheese

Boil noodles and drain. Add sliced olives, halved tomatoes, and chopped cucumber. Add a good coating of Italian dressing. Chill in the refrigerator. Just prior to serving, add another good coat of dressing and stir in the Feta! I LOVE Feta, but anyway, I promise it will be a hit.

Chicken & Biscuits

This was super tasty and super easy!!! I got it from my food and family magazine that I get quarterly from Kraft for free. I love this magazine-full of fun and easy family friendly recipes. Go here to get your copy. But until then be sure to try this out. Logan loved it but BayLee refused to eat it because of the peas.


1 can condensed cream of chicken soup
3/4 cup Sour Cream, Divided
2 cups chopped cooked chicken
1 pkg. (16 oz.) frozen mixed vegetables, thawed
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup baking mix
3 Tbsp. milk


Heat oven to 375. Mix soup and 1/2 cup sour cream in 8 ince square baking dish. Add chicken, vegetables and cheese;mix. Place baking mix in medium bowl. Add remaining 1/4 cup sour cream and milk; stir until stiff dough forms. Drop by heaping tablespoons into 6 mounds over chicken mixture. Bake 35 min. or until biscuits are golden brown and chicken mixture is hot and bubbly.

Chewy Suprise Cookies

I needed to have these yummy little guys for Young Women's on Sunday. Such a fun recipe. the recipe originally came from Taste of Home. My girls loved them! It was a good thing I brought extra, because they all took extra handouts, so they could eat them when they got home.

Chewy Suprise Cookies:

1 & 1/2 cups butter-flavored shortening (I used butter)

1 & 1/2 cups peanut butter

2 cups sugar (divided into 1 & 1/2 cup and 1/2 cup)

1 & 1/2 cup packed brown sugar

4 eggs

3 & 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

2 tsp. baking soda

1 & 1/2 tsp baking powder

3/4 tsp salt (I omit the salt, rarely use it in recipes)

1 package (10 oz.) Milk Duds

In a large mixing bowl, cream the shortening, peanut butter, and 1 & 1/2 cup sugar and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Combine dry ingredients, gradually add to the creamed mixture. Chill for atleast 1 hour.

Shape 4 tsps of dough around each milk dud so it is completely covered. Roll balls in remaining sugar. Place 2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 - 12 minutes or until set. Cool for 5 minutes before removing to wire racks.

This makes a TON of cookies. I made 3 dozen and then I froze the rest. I made the dough into balls and rolled in the sugar. Then I flash freezed them on a cookie sheet, by putting them in the freezer for about 30 minutes. It will be nice to just pull them out and cook them up later.

Pom-Pom Fun

I was busy working on Super Saturday stuff and had been kind of ignoring the children. I went to see what they were up to and BayLee had done this all on her own. I love how self sufficient she is. This box of pom-poms were a great investment and have provided hours of creativity and fun. Logan likes to make animals out of them too.

Finished Product


Almost done

Puffy Paint

Oh so much fun!! I love messy projects and I LOVE paint. I saw this over on FlipFlops & Applesauce and I just had to try it. Paint that goes puffy when you put it in the microwave. I even ran to Albertson to buy the self-rising flour. SO FUN!

Ingredients:
4 Tablespoons self-rising flour
4 Tablespoons salt
water
food coloring

Add water while mixing flour and salt together until paint is a thin paste.Divide mixture into small cups.Add different colors of food coloring to each cup and mix. (I used 1/2 cup salt and flour. I had 6 of us painting and it was about right. I had a little of each color left.)

Too much fun!

Our Work

After they get done painting their pictures, you just pop it in the microwave for about 15 seconds and it puffs up to look like puffy paint and it's dry. So easy!

Nativity Set

I ran across this idea over on Sugardoodle and had to share. What an easy project for Christmas. I think I might do one of these for me this year and keep it in mind for next year, because I already have a million craft projects planned out. Click on the link above and you will find the pattern for FREE and for those of you who don't want to cut your own, you will find out how to get one for $5.00, unfinished. Melinda was so nice to donate her pattern. Go check it out!!

Cheeseburger buns

A great new recipe! What a find. My kids loved this and so did Josh and I. I found this over at My Crazy Life. It was a lot easier than I thought it would be. They reminded me a lot of calzones, and I think we may try to make these with pizza fixings. And the dough!!! It was suppossed to make 14 buns, but I only had 7, but I may have gotten them to big, but I had enough left to do 6 little cinnamon rolls for dessert.

Cheeseburgerbuns:

2 pkg. active dry yeast (2 tbsp.)
½ cup warm water
¾ cup warm milk
¼ cup sugar
¼ cup shortening
1 egg
1tsp salt
3 ½ to 4 cups flour
1 lb. hamburger
1 medium onion
¼ tsp. garlic powder
Salt and pepper to taste
1 can tomato sauce
Sliced American cheese

In bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Add milk, sugar, egg, shortening, salt and flour. Turn onto a floured surface, knead until smooth and elastic about 5 minutes. Place in greased bowl and allow to rise in a warm place covered, for about 30 minutes. Cook beef and onion in skillet. Drain fat. Add seasonings and tomato sauce. Break dough into 14 pieces. Roll reach ona floured surface to a 6” circle. Place 3 Tbsp. meat mixture and 2 slices of cheese in the center. Tuck all the edges together and pinch. Place right side up on a greased cookie sheet. Allow to rise 20 minutes. Bake at 400 degrees for 8 - 12 minutes.

In the making

Looking good

Cinnamon Rolls, so yummy!!

Kid tested and approved.

"Innocence" of Children

My kids and I watched this over and over and laughed so hard we were crying. I don't know what is so funny but the look on his face when Charlie chomps his finger is what gets me every time. Hope you enjoy it as much as we did.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OBlgSz8sSM

HELP!!!!

I am lucky enough to be the Enrichment Leader in our ward and we have never had a Super Saturday. So me being the crazy person I am decided I really want to do one. To be quite honest I am scared to death. I am asking for tips and advice to make the day go smoother. We are doing a luncheon and about ten different crafts (crazy I know). So PLEASE help me. I need some easy ideas for free projects, or VERY cheap.
Thank you so much. What did we do before the blogging world.

Enemy Pie

It was the perfect summer. That is, until Jeremy Ross moved into the house down the street and became Enemy Number One. Luckily, Dad has a surefire way to get rid of enemies-Enemy Pie. But one of the secret ingredients is spending an entire day with the enemy!

In this funny yet endearing story, one little boy learns an effective recipe for turning a best enemy into a best friend. With charming illustrations that bring to life the difficulties and ultimate rewards of making new friends, Enemy Pie serves up a sweet lesson in friendship.

What a great book!! J.D. absolutely loved it and I did too. It's one of those books that I now have to buy. It teaches a great lesson! The story is cute and the illustration is fun and bright. What a great read. I promise your kids will love it!!!

Disney and Pixar Movie Line Up

Recently Disney and pixare held a news confrence to release their line up of movies clear until 2012!! I love Disney movies. I love to snuggle with my kids and watch the classics, Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, Alice in Wonderland, and so many others. We have a lot to look forward to. Check out this amazing line up.

November 26th, 2008

"For super-dog Bolt (voiced by Travolta), every day is filled with adventure, danger and intrigue – at least until the cameras stop rolling. When the canine star of a hit TV show is accidentally shipped from his Hollywood soundstage to New York City, he begins his biggest adventure yet – a cross-country journey through the real world. Armed only with the delusions that all his amazing feats and powers are real, and with the help of two unlikely traveling companions – a jaded, abandoned housecat named Mittens (voiced by Essman), and TV-obsessed hamster in a plastic ball named Rhino – Bolt discovers he doesn’t need superpowers to be a hero. Miley Cyrus (Hannah Montana) brings her vocal talents to the role of Penny, Bolt’s human co-star on the television series."

May 29th, 2009

"A comedic adventure taking off (and lifting spirits) in summer 2009. Carl Fredricksen spent his entire life dreaming of exploring the globe and experiencing life to its fullest. But at age 78, life seems to have passed him by, until a twist of fate (and a persistent 8-year old Wilderness Explorer named Russell) gives him a new lease on life. Up takes audiences on a thrilling journey where the unlikely pair encounter wild terrain, unexpected villains and jungle creatures. When seeking adventure next summer – look Up."

Christmas 2009

"A musical set in the greatest city of them all, New Orleans, The Princess and the Frog teams Ron Clements and John Musker, creators of The Little Mermaid and Aladdin, with Oscar®-winning composer Randy Newman to tell the most beautiful love story ever told…with frogs, voodoo, and a singing alligator."

June 18, 2010

"The creators of the beloved Toy Story films re-open the toy box and bring moviegoers back to the delightful world of Woody, Buzz and our favorite gang of toy characters in Toy Story 3. Lee Unkrich directs this highly anticipated film, and Michael Arndt, the Academy Award®-winning screenwriter of Little Miss Sunshine, brings his unique talents and comedic sensibilities to the proceedings."

Christmas 2010

"In this new telling of the classic fairy tale, Rapunzel, audiences will be transported to a stunning CG fantasy world complete with the iconic tower, an evil witch, a gallant hero and, of course, the mysterious girl with the long golden tresses. Expect adventure, heart, humor, and hair…lots of hair, when Rapunzel unleashes her locks in theaters for the 2010 holiday."

Summer 2011

"What happens when the last remaining male and female blue-footed newts on the planet are forced together by science to save the species, and they can’t stand each other? That's the problem facing Newt and Brooke, heroes of newt. Newt and Brooke embark on a perilous, unpredictable adventure and discover that finding a mate never goes as planned, even when you only have one choice. Love, it turns out, is not a science.

Christmas 2011

"A rugged and mythic Scotland is the setting for Pixar’s action-adventure The Bear and the Bow. The impetuous, tangle-haired Merida, though a daughter of royalty, would prefer to make her mark as a great archer. A clash of wills with her mother compels Merida to make a reckless choice, which unleashes unintended peril on her father’s kingdom and her mother’s life. Merida struggles with the unpredictable forces of nature, magic and a dark, ancient curse to set things right. Director Brenda Chapman and the storytelling wizards of Pixar conjure humor, fantasy and excitement in this rich Highland tale."

Summer 2012

"All the world’s a racetrack as racing superstar Lightning McQueen zooms back into action, with his best friend Mater in tow, to take on the globe’s fastest and finest in this thrilling high-octane new installment of the Cars saga. Mater and McQueen will need their passports as they find themselves in a new world of intrigue, thrills and fast-paced comedic escapades around the globe."

Christmas 2012

"Legendary storyteller Phillip K. Dick’s short story (his only experiment in the fantasy genre) becomes the basis for this fantastic and imaginative tale about an average man living in the Mississippi Delta, whose reluctant actions to help a desperate band of elves leads them to name him their new king. Joining the innocent and endangered elves as they attempt to escape from an evil and menacing troll, their unlikely new leader finds himself caught on a journey filled with unimaginable dangers and a chance to bring real meaning back to his own life."

I am super excited for all of them! I hope my boys will still like Cars and Toy Story, especially Tyson because those have been his 2 favorite shows. I personally am excited for The Princess and the Frog, The Bear and The Bow, and King of the Elves. But then I like mythical stories, hence the Twilight obsession. Keep reading Mandee, I promise you'll love it!

A New Boutique

My friend Misty just opened an online boutique. It's called The Creative Itch Boutiqu! This is brand new and things are still under construction, but go check it out. she has way cute handmade cards and bows for little girls. Way to go Misty!

Art and Nature

This morning was beautiful. I took the kids to the park and while they were playing I had this idea come to me. So I had them help me gather up a variety of things: pine cones, sticks, leaves, and dandelions. Then we came home and we painted. Instead of paintbrushes we used our little collections as brushes.

Our Supplies

First we did leaf tracings. Tyson had a little bit of a harder time than Nathan, but Nathan is almost 5 and Tyson is 3. He just couldn't push the crayon down hard enough. So I helped him and they turned out great. They loved this and we did several of them for each of them.

And then we painted. They used the leaves like quills and their favorite thing to paint with was the dandelions.

Our Gallery

Piper didn't really want to paint, she just wanted to eat it. Good thing it's non-toxic.

We talked about the different textures each item made and the kids had a blast. It was also really easy to clean up. I just threw away all of the supplies and washed the table down. FUN STUFF!!