mmmmmm....

Today I took the kids and a friend our for frozen yogurt. I was in such frizzy trying to handle them, I ended up passing on one for myself. That is...until I got home and whipped out this bad boy! Yup, I got my ice cream today. And, it was yummy.

crumbly...

This cracked me up today. E took this out of her hamburger, and gave this to me. She said, "I don't like these." I said to her, "But you like pickles." She says in response, "Not the crumbly ones." So, I've learned that the way things are cut now have an effect on their taste... this according to a 5-year-old.

On another note...I felt super guilty giving my kids this tonight after watching parts of Food, Inc. last night. I seriously want to live on a farm, hire people to slaughter the animals "I" raise, and grow all my own vegetables. It was quite shocking. So what do I do? I went for the corn-fed, E-coli beef patty on my fast-food burger. Yup, just go ahead and give me my Mom of the Year award!

letter-writing machine...

Our little boy is this crazed letter-writing machine. After C wrote that totally endearing letter his little sis, I was so overjoyed that I took them straight to get Slurpees. When I asked him what his teacher bribed him with to write the letter, he said, "Nothing! I just wanted to write it." I did confirm that with him teacher, which turned out to be true.

The next day, C came home with this letter to him Opa who celebrated a birthday last week. After he handed it to me, he said, "Does this get me another Slurpee?" I knew there was a motive!

beets & radishes...

We planted our beets and radishes in our new planter box, and they seem to be loving life. Of course, I can't tell which are the beets and which are the radishes anymore. We planted them from seed, had them marked, but when I transplanted them into bigger pots, I forgot which was which. Oh well. It'll be a surprise for us!!!

melting heart...

Today after school, C got in the car and told his sister, "Hey E, get your seatbelt on and I have a surprise for you." I was just as curious as she, so I hopped in and buckled up. I saw him hand her something, and he told her he wrote her a letter. She told him she couldn't read (hello, she is only 5) , and so he read it to her. I was in the front seat with welling eyes feeling this immense sense of pride that my 7-year-old wrote such an endearing letter to the sister who isn't allowed to touch his stuff. It's these little moments that just take my breath away, and all those siblings fights are so worth it.

cupcakes, round 2...

E wanted cupcakes to take to school, and she really wanted blue. I didn't want to go the dark blue-route, because every mom who has ever had to deal with dark blue frosting knows that it stains their skin pretty good and is NOT pretty the next day (if you know what I mean). So, I decided to go with a Tiffany blue. You know, I figured I ought to start training her and guide her in the right direction for future boyfriends. We still stuck to the circus sprinkles, so the boys at school wouldn't be too offended.

decorations complete...

The table was finally set...except for the brightly colored hats that were placed on everyone's chair. The lanterns were hung, the butterflies attached, the clocks set to tea time were hung, place settings were set, etc., etc., etc. The colors turned out amazing and everything was all that I had envisioned. I loved that I had friends offering to help, but I have recently realized that I am that creative-scatter-brain type. I try so hard to make lists and be organized, but I am not. All my ideas float in my head until I create. There are no sketches, no lists, nothing. I had friends and my dear mother who wanted to help so badly, but I couldn't even give them a task (except for my mom who pretty much cleaned my house, and my friend, nicknamed Radmatazz, who saved the party with her little plush mouse and sour cream for the strawberries.

Here is a link to the pics from the day of the party. I have more on another camera, plus more of the planning process, which I've blogged briefly about.

lollipop favors...

Here are the lollipop favors for E's party. I posted the center circles the other day. Today, I glued them all on and propped them in a bowl filled with bird seed (gotta have that "nature" wonderland feel).

its almost tea time...

Spent the day putting together some little details for the party. Created these clocks (all set to tea time) and then decorated them with jewels (no, not the ones from E's preschool...I ordered a bag). I made matching miniature clocks with each girl's name on them fancied with a glittered edge and a jeweled center for their place card. (see additional photo below). I'll have many more details shots that I'll link to later. The decor is coming around, and I have to say I think I've outdone myself.

favor tags...

As part of my "I'm going to hand-make as much as I can" mentality, I threw these tags together in Word today. I started with a circle, then added each heart individually, colored them, and then rotated each one. Yes, it felt like it was going to take forever. After printing these and cutting out a few, I decided that I didn't quite like them. I ended up adding anothe line to the circle to give just a tad more detail. These will be attached to the center of some lollipops that each little girl will take home with them.

I also made some signs today, stating, "This Way," "That Way," "Down," etc. with arrows to lead guests to the backyard tea party. I used a script font, and drew some arrows to match the whimsy detail I had on the invitations. I also made some clock faces in Word, all pointed to "Tea Time." I printed these on bright yellow cardstock, and I have the outsides to embellish. These will be hung all around the table. I used the same clocks, but redid them a bit smaller and added each girl's name on them to be used as place cards. I'll have a link to all the photos after Sunday.

pink & green rock...

Starting to pull this party together for E. It's been a long time coming. Finalized the menu today, too. So many ideas still swimming around in my head. I can't seem to get them down on paper. I seem to have these brilliant moments, and by the time the paper comes, they're gone...the story of my life! I'm really getting giddy with excitement now.

summer guest...

One of the things that gets me excited about summer are the guests that come visit. Found this guy out in our front yard today. I'm a little worried, though, because we just started up with pest control again, and it makes me a little sad knowing that my annual grasshoppers and praying mantises might not return. So, I was quite excited when I came across this guy. I especially dig the leaf chunks eaten out.

hatter...

It's almost Mad Hatter time! These just arrived in the mail today. Emma and I have matching Mad Hatter hats. Well, mine is adult sized, while Emma's is this adorable miniature cocktail-sized hat on a headband that sits a little off center. They are just too fantastic. I'm getting more and more excited about the party...however, I'm also having a little bit of anxiety which seems to hit me in the middle of the night. I know it's going to be fantastic and worth every bit of lost sleep!

paper flowers...

There is this tree in front of E's school that has THE most amazing flowers on it. I swear, they look like crepe paper flowers, as you can see in the photo. Now, imagine the entire tree covered with these blooms...simply breath-taking.

food revolution...

To start with...I've never been one to preach and frankly, I'm a fast food junkie. But, I have to say...after watching Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution and seeing first hand what school lunches look like, I vote for healthier food. It's making me rethink what we eat. Don't get me wrong...I still love my McDonald's, but giving my kids more variety will only help them in the future, so it's time for a change.

library with my boys...

Tonight's den meeting was at the library. It was so cool seeing the boys get excited about the book return machine, watching them search for books, reading them to each other, and sharing cool books they found. Now, that's teamwork!

it's a soccer life...

It's Spring and that means one thing...soccer. That means Saturday games and mid-week practices. It's great watching the kids play. C is getting much better, while E enjoys twirling around the field, socializing with her friends on the other team during a game, and picking up and carrying her "smaller" friend, J.

s-c-r-a-b-b-l-e...

Oh my... I have had this little obsession lately... words with friends. It wasn't until recently that I started playing Scrabble with C, but since then I've been playing this on my phone non-stop. I especially love that I have games going with friends who have newborns and are up at all hours of the night...therefore, I've been playing at all hours of the day...and night. It's pretty cool.

pirate ship...

C drew this at dinner one night. It's so nice to see his creative side. He has such a great imagination, and I especially love his drawings. This is his pirate ship. He ended up wanting his nasty little stuffed chick in the photo with it. Even though it's a filthy little thing, he loves it and I love him.

seriously?...

This photo just cracks me up. C got stuck in between E and her friend who insisted on holding hands. C was giving E's friend a dirty look, who clearly had no trouble giving on right back at him. E, on the other hand, is off in her own just glad to have her friend's hand.

teacup madness...

Teacups have literally taken over my counter in my kitchen...all in preparation for E's upcoming Mad Hatter tea party. I found all of these at our local thrift shop. Going with the theme, I tried to find as many mix-and-match cups and saucers, and think I did okay. I've got all the crafty stuff ordered, so I'm slowly checking off my list. I've still got a million things to do, but the biggest is I'm praying for a sunny day!

veggie garden...

I'm getting more and more excited about the potential for my veggie garden. These are carrots that C planted as seeds. I'm still keeping my fingers crossed that they make it. Daddy is in the process of building another planter box for me...at least the space is now cleared. We're getting there!!!!

find of the day...

With E's party coming up, I ran down to the local thrift shop to search for more teacups. I was able to find the remaining teacups needed for her party. I ended up finding this little thing, too, for just under $6. Not too shabby, eh?

yum-o...

This morning, E and I endulged in a not-so-healthy, but super yummy treat. If you happen to visit or drive through Hollister, right before you enter town off Hwy 25 is the DeBrito Chocolate Factory. They make the yummiest, most scrumptious caramel apples. My mother-in-law knows the owner and we had them make the chocolate covered fruits for our wedding favors almost 9 years ago. We had chocolate covered blueberries, cherries, and chocolate covered caramels.

This one is the caramel with roasted, salted almonds, milk chocolate, and it did not disappoint. Next up, their Toffee Apple... Yup caramel, toffee chunks, and milk chocolate drizzled over it all. I've had this one before, and it is definitely my favorite. I found they also have a website, so if you just can't wait to have one, click here.

funny eatin'...

Little kids have always cracked me...especially their eating habits. This is an example of E's apple eating. Fortunately for this apple, I sliced it. You should see the number she does on a whole apple. I've always wondered at what age do they figure out to bite the edges first, rather than dive right to the center. The food on both cheeks just baffles me. Then again, I have seen adults with this child-like habit, so maybe I shouldn't single out kids. C has always had some funky eating habits. Several years ago at his preschool conference, his teacher made the comment, "I've never seen food fly when a child eats." That was our realization that we actually had a mongrel on our hands. He's since been nicknamed "Slurp." He likes to take tiny bites and crumbs literally fly. It would be quite fascinating to a scientist. Anyhoo, this abandoned apple slice cracked me up because it really sums up in a nutshell how my kids eat.

jelly coolness...

Something I love about the Spring are the retail marketing geniuses who get me to purchase more crap than I have room for. Yet another $1 find of ours are these jelly window clings. They are bright and cheery, yet they always manage to find their way to the back of the couch covered in dust bunnies. I guess I really can't complain...they are only a dollar, and keep the kids entertained all of 15 seconds. But, they do add a little whimsy and cheer to our front door.

sprouts...

Several weeks ago, we went to some friend's to plant some seeds. I think I posted about it, but with my multiple blogs... who can keep track anymore? Anyhoo, I finally separated all the little seedlings and put them in their very own containers to continue growing. So, here's a breakdown of what we planted. I'm not really sure why we planted some, but anhoo...it was a great idea at the time: yellow cucumber, carrots, sweet pea (flowers), radish, beets, and some unknown bean. From the Charter School veggie sale, we purchased 3 types of peppers (sweet and hot), and a yellow cherry tomato plant. From the local garden center, we purchased 3 zucchini (2 different types), a roma tomato; and then from my mom's neighbor we received an avocado tree, a fig tree, a bay tree, and an almond tree. I think we need a bigger yard.

yummy goodness...

E and I went on a strawberry hunt this morning...searching for a stand that was open at 9:30am. Most don't open until 10, but we found Uesugi's open and selling away. Living where we do, you just have to buy strawberries from the stand. I've purchased them at other places, but it's just not the same as getting fresh picked berries at a great price. And, if you're wondering...yes, these were super sweet and awesome!

sweet find...

Heading out, some neighbors were having a yard sale, and E spotted this i the driveway. I told her I wouldn't pay more than $10, which she was fine with. Then again, why shouldn't she...$10 sounds like a lot of money to a 4-year-old. We turned back around, hopped out of the car, and asked how much. The lady thought for a moment, then said, "$12." I scrounged my car for the extra $2 and E now has an outdoor dollhouse. She's naturally stoked. I just wish I had my camera when she tired carrying it herself.

This photo cracks me up, though, because she kept staring at it from the living room window...wanting soooo badly to play with it.

fashion faux pas...

My kids are clearly not leaders in the world of fashion, however, they do what they gotta do to get out there and collect those Easter goodies. When asked to get shoes on this morning, this is what I got. First, I'd like to point out C's size 4T jammy bottoms that are now knickers on him. Oh, and who needs socks when you've got fuzzy Croc liners. Then there's E's illusion of what shoes are. She originally wasn't going to wear shoes because, hey, her jammies have feet, right? When I insisted that her jammy feet were not shoes, she proceeded to grab these beauties. What can I say? Who cares that mom has a camera to document a childhood tradition to share with future generations! Like I said...it's all about the goods left by that shy wittle wabbit. Happy Easter, all!

a little handcrafting...

With E's 5th birthday coming up in a few weeks, I started working on the invitations. We're going with an Alice in Wonderland theme...planning a Mad Hatter Tea party. We decided to go that route because all the little girls are all into tea parties right now, and E really wanted to have a tea party. We've been to a farm tea party, several princess tea parties, and so on. Therefore..mad hatter tea party it is. I handcrafted the invitations using a frosted cardstock in a variety of patterns that I traced and cut into the shape of a top hat. I then used a fabric strip above the brim and an embellished flower with a rhinestone in the middle. I tried to keep all the colors very muted to relay the drab, boring "real" world. Then, once they pass through the "Ghione Rabbit Hole" and enter Wonderland, everything will be brightly colored. For the informational part of the invitation, I used a script font and I found a white rabbit black & white image. To make them a little more eclectic, I hand drew swirls on the top of each invitation card, and then used the "Jenn Mac" effect and dabbed the sides onto a gold stamp-pad (my girl friend JM would do this one all her scrapbooking stuff, so we appropriately named it that). The informational cards were inserted under the fabric strip of the hat where the Mad Hatters card is usually placed. To make 19 invitations took about 5 hours to complete, but I'm pleased at how they turned out.

I'll have more details about the upcoming party, and more pictures to come.

pancakes...

We are officially on Spring Break, and what better way to kick it off then some fancy pancakes for breakfast!! A girlfriend of mine found these pancakes in a can called Batter Blasters. Well, I wanted to improvise, so I whipped up some pancake batter and pulled out one of my decorating squeeze bottles. It didn't come without problems. Some of the remaining lumps kept clogging the tip. My kitchen shears solved that problem, as I snipped off the top to make the hole a little bigger and voila, worked like a charm. The kids were soooo excited to see their breakfast, and I felt like I did my mommy duties for the day. Now, where's my margarita?!?!?!?

test prep funny...

I was working a small group of 4th graders after school helping them get ready for upcoming standardized testing. We came across this question, that ended in a ball of laughter. The correct answer "should" be (D) dull, however, most of the kids chose (A) dirty. Since they are both grammatically correct, I really couldn't argue that they were wrong. I can only imagine what the creators of this particular worksheet were doing while making it!

sproutlets...

Found these at the local nursery, and the kids had to have them. C chose the green frog, E, chose the pink frog, and I had to round out the three with the yellow chick. One of our projects next week will be to get them planted and growing. I think they're a sort of modern chia-head. Regardless, it'll be fun to watch them grow and I'm sure the growing process will turn into a race, since that's how we roll in our house!

home salon day...

E has been bugging me about painting her nails...especially after I treated myself to a birthday pedicure. I recently stopped biting my nails, as well, so I was excited about pulling out the old nailpolish box and getting business done. Emma found a really old bottle I purchased in Las Vegas before she was even born. Fortunately, it was a cute color. Phew...

I chose a whitish shimmery one for my nails that I purchased in Las Vegas last summer. Hmmm, starting to see a trend here. I'm just excited to have nails again to paint, and E was stoked that we took the time to hang out and have a little mini home spa day.

proud mama...

Do you think it's a weird statement to say that I'm proud of my boy because he can shoot a BB gun, right? Well, suck it! Connor attended a cub scout outing for the day in which he learned to shoot BB guns and do archery. The morning session was all about BB guns...learning the proper way to enter a range, to sitting, loading, shooting, and disassembling. I was a bit nervous at first, but when I saw the confidence that C exuded, I couldn't help but be the proud mama. Before lunch, he got a chance to earn his BB gun badge. Basically, he had the above mark and had to score 35 points using only 5 BBs. He ended up scoring 41. Not many of the of other boys got that high, and we were a bit nervous about the uncoordinated little boy next to him. Basically, it any of the boys hit a target other than their own, both boys would be disqualified. Fortunately, he didn't hit Connor's target, although I don't think he hit his own, either.

The afternoon session was all about archery. Connor didn't like it as much...probably because it took some muscles, and the BBs were easier for him. I got to try out a little archery myself and did pretty good. At least I hit the target! Yay! It was a great day of just mama & son in the great outdoors with old friends and even made some new ones!