Signs that Summer is on its Way!

Let the warm days and long nights begin... Caden in t-ball, Taylor running everywhere, ice cream outside in t shirts :) and graduations (Caden from preschool and Taylor from 1st grade!)

T Ball Fun!

My little runner! :)

Ice Cream on a warm Spring evening

Little Bean's Graduation from Preschool!

Amazing Product for Mom's of little Artists!!!

Pictures are up all over my house, on my doors, stuck to my fridge, tacked on bulletin board and even on mirrors. These aren't just any pictures but the ones my little one's have made for me. Whether they be from school or just ones they made on a rainy day. THEY ARE EVERYWHERE! Well it was starting to drive me crazy. I love their art work, I really do but I wanted to be able to display it a better way and that is when I found these... Lil'Davinci Art Frames  from www.hearthsong.com They are AMAZING. They hold 50 pieces of art work and can be hung in either direction AND they have a hinge so you can just open them as easily as you open a cabinet door without removing them from the wall! I have two (one for each kid) and hung them in our living room. Now not only is it displayed in a nice neat way it also makes my kids so proud of what they have done because it is in the living room for all to see! : ) Honestly this was too good of a find to keep to myself.

Caden and "the force"...

I love love love this commercial, as does everyone in my family. I bring up this commercial because it reminds me of Caden and what he did; here is the play by play.

Last night at dinner we sit down and I look over at Caden. I am waiting for the "ewww, I don't like this" comment to come and what I find is Caden with his eyes closed holding his open hand out in front of his plate. He then opens his eyes and says "aawww, it's still there". LOL! After all of us watching him do this a few times, Kevin asks him what he is doing. Caden looks up at us and says "trying to use the force to make my food disappear". LOL! He was dead serious in his statement and we played along. "Obviously the force isn't strong with you my dear and you will have to eat your dinner like every other non-Jedi. Sorry honey, better luck next time." We almost died of laughter and now we know he has taken his love of Star Wars to a whole new level... he thinks he is a Jedi. 

A Snacky Kind of Day

My kids LOVE to snack. They are picky eaters and even when it comes to snacks. Taylor is my slightly sweet and salty lover and Caden is my sweet lover and while I try to appease both their likes sometimes it can be a challenge. I try not to have too much "junk" food in the house (because I WILL EAT IT) so I have found ways to make snack food that is inexpensive, moderately healthy and kid friendly. Here are a few of our favorite things...

Homemade Crunchy Granola Bars
Mixed Berry Muffins

Jello (I buy the boxed jello mix and then put them in my own small containers you get more for your $ that way)

Cinnamon Caramel Popcorn

If you would like the recipes for any of these let me know. :)

It was a fun snack making kind of day!

Proud Parent Moments.

     There are several  proud moments when your a parent. Your proud when your kids achieve something with practice. Your proud when they complete something without your help. Your proud when overcome a fear or try something for the first time. Your proud when you see that they have heard what you said and apply it to their lives. Then there is the moment that comes when you are proud of your child because of a God given talent. YOU had no part in this success it was ALL them. God gave them the ability and skill to do something amazing and that is the kind of moment I had yesterday!
      Taylor painted a picture of a clown at school and her art teacher chose her clown to be part of the district wide Art Fair. The teacher sent a letter home telling us it would be on display at Northtown Mall and that it is an honor to have your art work chosen because only 1 per class is chosen. Of course both Kevin and I were so excited and of course Taylor in her modest ways decided she was convinced that more than just her art was chosen from her class. So yesterday we took her to see the Art fair. When she finally saw with her own eyes that only her art was chosen from her class she started to glow. She was so proud of her work and efforts that you couldn't wipe the grin off her face. It was in that moment that I realized she did that painting ALL BY HERSELF.
    God has given her an amazing talent in art. She loves art and everything that comes with it. I am so proud of my little artist and so thankful for the gift God has given her. : )

                                                                       April 2011

A quote perfect for a day like today!

Smile at each other, smile at your wife, smile at your husband, smile at your children, smile at each other - it doesn't matter who it is and that will help you to grow up in greater love for each other. ~ Mother Teresa

After waking up to fighting children, this quote popped into my head... do I walk out of my room and add to the annoying yelling or do I walk out with a smile on my face, pretending to have not heard the fight. After all no one was being hurt and the fight was over something small. I chose to walk out with a smile on my face and the kids were so confused they stopped fighting, lol! Maybe they thought I was crazy, who knows, but all I do know is IT WORKED! They stopped fighting and our morning went on fight free. :) YEAH!

Spring is finally here.

After what felt like the LONGEST winter ever Spring is finally here. I love how Spring brings neighbors out, warm days, family walks, dirt covered children, gardening, grilling, t-ball, soccer and neighboorhood bonfires. So heres to Spring... may it be a good one! :)