I know I do!

I don't do this every week, but this week's questions are fantastic! So I am joining in the linky party with Impulsive Addict, Janette, Mamarazzi, and Seriously Shawn for their "We Wanna Know Wednesday." (Yes I know, it's Thursday)

This week's questions:

{1} What must you do before you go to bed at night?
{2} What is one thing you must snack on at the theater?
{3} Before going on vacation what must you do?
{4} What is one thing you must do every day?
{5} Is there something you do that must be done in a particular order?

My answers:

{1} What must you do before you go to bed at night?

I make sure there is a clear shot from each bed in my house, to the front door. It was pointed out to me a while ago, and I think it stems back from my childhood, but I HAVE to have a clear shot to go from my bed, to the crib, then to the front door. And of course I check my kids bedrooms too. If there is a mess in their room I will push everything to one side to make sure the path is clear.

{2} What is one thing you must snack on at the theater?

I don't really have a must have snack for the theater. Usually a piece of mint gum does the trick for me. I can't bring myself to spend half a month's salary on the stuff they sell, and I don't like the idea of sneaking food in...

{3} Before going on vacation what must you do?

Oh how Joe teases me about this one! I must make a packing list. And I mean DETAILED. I will pair up outfits for my kids and roll them up together so that we aren't left on the last day with a red shirt and green shorts, and I will also pack the bags in such a way that you can just remove a layer for the day (so I don't pack all the underwear in one area, there is a pair of underwear and socks packaged in with the rest of the outfit). I also mentally go through the trip and try to picture all the different stuff we will need (like for camping I ALWAYS forget to bring a hammer to get the tent staked down...). I also insist on packing the car myself. Which is funny, since Joe used to pack UPS trucks for a living and is REALLY good and making things fit.

{4} What is one thing you must do every day?

Besides the expected "brush your teeth and eat" stuff, I think the one thing I MUST do everyday is probably check my social media outlets... Though not necessarily for the reasons one might expect. At least not lately. I just opened up an Etsy shop, and am excited to see my jewelry selling, so I check my Facebook page, my Etsy shop, my business email (okay, my personal email too), and my website for traffic and sales. It thrills me to no end to see other people who like my creations! (That, and spending my day with children makes me a little nuts and I crave adult interaction- which is quite often found online...)

{5} Is there something you do that must be done in a particular order?

Wow - this one proved to be really hard! I wanna say yes- there are tons of things I do that have to be done a specific way in a specific order, but nothing comes to mind off the top of my head... so I will stick with the order of my shower habits... To be vague cause no one needs all the details, I always wash hair first, then wash body, shave anything needing shaving, possibly attack rough body parts with sugar scrubs or pumice stones (or both), and then I do one final rinse before drying off (top to bottom) while in the shower (don't wanna get the floor wet), and finally exiting the shower (left leg first).

And there ya have it! The inside details of me! Come join the fun! (And in case you didn't get the memo, go check out my websites!!!)

Shenanigans and other such fun stuff

Oh, how I love my kids! They really are fun. I figure it's been a while- I really ought to catch you up on some of the good (and not-so-good) times we have had recently...

I got a bit of a crafty bug a few weeks back, and decided to make the girls some cute summer flip flops. I got 4 handkerchiefs in 4 different shades of pink and purple, then I bought them cheap little flip flops... combined them and got THESE:

and of course, a picture of my willing guinea pig trying them on...

Matthew got bored at breakfast the other day. When I went to check on him, I found this:

A very common and equally frustrating practice these days is when Lacey decides to make herself something to drink. Usually it's chocolate milk. And of course, she doesn't put ANYTHING back when she is done making said drink. The main reason it's frustrating?

Yup... Matthew LOVES eating the Ovaltine powder.

The kids LOVE playing with my latest acquisition.

This kid has no concept of "OFF LIMITS"... he even opened it up to push the buttons. Little stinker!

The other day I was talking with a friend in the front room when I look down the hall to find my son showing off his latest talent. He sure loves to draw!

and this is what happens when you have to clean up the (thank goodness) washable marker...

Lately my daughters have found a new love for the movie, "Pete's Dragon." Which is fine with me! I love the music- and the story... talk about good childhood memories! Until I gave my kids a bath a found THIS on Lacey!

look familiar?

For Christmas this last year my Sister In Law gave us a gift card to the local zoo good for an annual pass... we have already used it once, and am looking forward to many trips this Spring and Summer. A few of the better pictures from this trip:

Look at that! We are ALL smiling!

We spent some time in an art exhibit. The girls got bored... so they sat down to rest...

Matthew got loose for a few minutes. Lilia managed to catch him.

Hopefully things are well with you, too!

Strawberries!

So one of the best things a bout my local Walmart is their inability to properly stock certain fruits. More specifically, raspberries and strawberries. A few times a year they find themselves inundated with excess berries, so to get rid of them they sell them SUPER cheap. As in .99 cheap. so instead of paying upwards of 2.00 per clamshell of raspberries or strawberries, you can get them for a dollar! And of course, I do. And then I make them into some of the yummy canned goods I love so much.

Sure enough- this last week Walmart had bunches of strawberries to off load, and boy did I help them out! Over the course of three days I bought 15 clamshells of berries and proceeded to cook them up in all sorts of fun ways!

I also, helped a friend of mine with her 9 (or was it 12?) clamshells as well... She chose to turn hers into strawberry jam to be sold at a bake sale for her daughter's soccer team (all you local yocal's out there, I think she still has some for sale... you know- in case you wanna help out a bit).

I then went on to make some strawberry/blueberry jam, and a couple batches of freezer jam, two batches of strawberry ice cream base (to be turned into ice cream at a later date), and 3 batches of strawberry lemonade concentrate... YUM!

A picture of just some of the goods I made... :D

When I had finished all this, I then went on to buy my mother 5 clamshells of strawberries and proceeded to freeze them for her to use in smoothies, and other such goodies.

I still had enough strawberries left over to make some strawberry shortcake for dessert one night. One of my family's favorite desserts...

Oh how I love Spring! Bring on the berries!

Cause I know you do...

Seeing as how I don't post on here as often as I would like, I thought I would try something different. I found this totally awesome Linky Party and decided to join up! Every WEdnesday they do a "We Want To Know" Party. It's hosted by:

Impulsive Addict, Janette, Mamarazzi and Seriously Shawn

The questions this week:

{1} What is the first thing you notice about the opposite sex? Are you an eyes or a smile person? Maybe another body part?
{2} If a movie was being made about you who would you like to see cast to play you? And would your movie be a comedy, drama, romantic-comedy, action film or a horror movie?
{3} Does your high school yearbook include a senior comment section? If so share what you said about your future goals. Have you met those goals? If you do not have a yearbook just share what your goals where when you were 18 and if you have met them. If you’re brave enough include your Senior Picture!
{4} What latest trend simply baffles you?
{5} When you walk into a room how do you present yourself? Do you walk in with confidence and command the attention of others or do you slink in and do your best to go unnoticed?

On to the answers!

{1} What is the first thing you notice about the opposite sex? Are you an eyes or a smile person? Maybe another body part?

The first thing I noticed about Joe was how very animated he was. It was like he walked right out of a Jim Carrey Movie! The second thing I noticed was his sense of style (turns out it was his younger brother's sense of style... long story), the third was that he had a nice caboose... :)

{2} If a movie was being made about you who would you like to see cast to play you? And would your movie be a comedy, drama, romantic-comedy, action film or a horror movie?

I would love to see Jennifer Aniston play me... but lets be honest. That isn't likely to happen. I have been told I look like Jodie Foster or (ugh this is hard to admit) Kimmy Gibbler (From Full House). And my movie would definitely be a dramady. Some funny some drama...

{3} Does your high school yearbook include a senior comment section? If so share what you said about your future goals. Have you met those goals? If you do not have a yearbook just share what your goals where when you were 18 and if you have met them. If you’re brave enough include your Senior Picture!

My yearbook didn't have the future goals section- but the goals I had set for myself were pretty much: 1. Get Married. 2. Have Kids. 3. Travel. 4. Learn to make money doing something I love. I have met the first two, I have done a little of the third (though not nearly enough) and I am still working on the 4th... As for my senior picture... I don't have it on this machine, but I have a picture of me at one of the Dances my senior year... so here ya go!

{4} What latest trend simply baffles you?

Leggings on adults. I just don't get it... Skinny jeans are okay in a jean color (read: blue) but colored skinny jeans look too much like leggings to me.

{5} When you walk into a room how do you present yourself? Do you walk in with confidence and command the attention of others or do you slink in and do your best to go unnoticed?

I am kinda in between these two examples. I walk in with confidence, but I don't command the attention of others. I am fairly confident in myself, but I don't feel the need to showcase myself.

See? That was kinda fun! Now maybe I can get to posting about what's up and what's not...

Let's hear it for the girls!

This was a fun week for both of my beautiful girls. On Friday of last week Lilia came home with the long awaited "Big Green Tractor!" (For those of you not in the know, this is a big construction paper tractor for them to decorate with pictures and info about themselves to then take back to class. Basically it means just this- Lilia is student of the week!) Then on Monday Lacey came peeling out of preschool yelling, "Momma! I got to be the helper today and I get to take home the show and tell bag!"

Lacey thought about it all day Tuesday and decided what to take for show and tell. So we put the object in the show and tell bag and then had to write three hints about what was in the bag so the rest of her class could guess what it was. The hints: 1. I am white. 2. I am fuzzy. 3. If I could talk I would say, "quack, quack!" Funny enough- this specific toy was an Arctic Circle kids meal toy. She just LOVES her fluffy duck. :)

As for Lil, her tractor went back to school on Monday sporting pictures of her, her family, and her favorite thing to do (gymnastics), as well as telling about her favorite color (blue), food (peaches), and if she has any pets (1 dog- Midge). Yesterday she came home with what I think is just about the cutest spotlight ever! It seems whoever is the student of the week- forgive me- FARMER of the week gets letter written to them by everyone in the class. And I must admit. These letters are SO CUTE! I, of course, being the proud momma that I am will share some of them with you. After reading them it seems almost as if each table (group of 4-5 students) shared information since she has almost identical letters in little bunches, but they are still fantastic. The letter starts:

________ is special because...

_________________________________________________________________________________________

Love,

____________

The kids fill in all the blanks.

A list of characteristics attributed to Lilia in these letters is:

Lilia is special because...

She is fun/funny.

She has a wonderful memory.

She is beautiful.

She is pretty.

She is cool.

She is smart.

She is nice.

She has pretty blonde hair.

She is creative.

She is a good friend.

She smiles all the time.

She is polite.

She is honest.

She has a nice laugh.

She is good at hula hooping and jumping rope.

She has hicups.

She is prepared.

And she is respectful.

I just loved these letters. Certain one's in particular stuck out as note worthy, and for Lilia's sake, I want to share them here so we have them recorded long after this booklet disappears.

From Drew:

She is smart. She is very very pretty. She was my partner for the dance. (They just did a first grade program where each class did dances. So cute!)

From Jillian:

She is nice to me. She is respectful for Miss S. I can't blef (believe) that she is so respectful.

From Michael (I mentioned him before as someone she likes in her class)

She is so smart. She's so fun to play with. She's so nice. She's so respectful. She's honest.

(this made Lilia smile and do a little dance. She is too funny!)

And prehaps the best in the bunch- from our neighbor Kyle:

She was my first friend I made when I moved here. She can be really funny. She is very pretty. She can be super nice.

I love how he said "can be" and not "is". Hahaha! It's totally true. These two are very good friends, and they also fight like an old married couple. I sure love my neighbors and their kids! Lacey does too-

*Funny side note* As I was reading these letters out loud I read one from one of Lil's classmates named Zach. (Kyle has a younger brother named Zach who happens to be Lacey's age). After reading the letter I read, "Love Zach" and Lacey yelled, "Zach!? I LOVE Zach!" So cute!

I am so proud of my adorable girls. They really are such good kids, and make my day to day life so much more fun.

Happy List

I figure it's been a while since my last post, and since today is shaping up to be a good day, I wanna tell everyone why I am so happy! Lucky me, I ran across a blog that promotes just that! A HAPPY LIST! SO without further ado:

I am happy to see some significant change in the basement! I have painted the office down there and chosen fabric for the curtains. Now to just acquire a sewing machine to finish those curtains and all will be well! (pictures to come eventually...)

I am happy with my new couch! It's so perfect for us. And it looks nice. And it smells nice (gotta love leather).

OLD COUCH...

NEW COUCH!

I am happy with this weather. Nothing like some sunshine and a little rain. The temps have been cool, but not too cold.

I am happy to be mother to three adorable miscreants. They are so much fun!

I am happy with Lilia's report card. It was the 1st grade equivalent to straight A's.

I am happy to hear Lacey's prayers at night (where she prays to be "almost cute" and asks if she can "go to school every day" like her sister).

I am happy to see my little man, Matthew, healthy. And to see him fold his arms on demand. It's pretty cute. See?

Attempt #1...

Attempt #2 complete with bowed head.

I am happy to finally have the fabric for Matthew's blanket all ready to go! Now, to get me that much needed sewing machine...

I am SUPER happy that Joe and I have finally decided to become a TWO CAR family! After 10 years, it's about time.

I am happy to be married to such a marvelous and funny man. He really does make life that much better. :)

I am happy for beautiful things. Like the peacock at the zoo last week.

I am happy. Yup- that's all there is to it.

More of the same...

My kids really do make my life so much fun! Some of the funny things my kids have been saying/doing in the last month or so (with some good pictures added in for the fun of it):

1. Lilia informed me the other day that our neighbor, Josh, has been chasing her on the playground at school. She then said, "He won't stop chasing me, so I am breaking up from marrying him."

2. Midge (our dog) was in the middle of getting her semi-annual shave, and because it's winter, we are sure to put her in a sweater when we shave off all her hair. As I was putting her sweater on her, Lacey started giggling and asked, "Mom, are you putting a swim soup (suit) on her?"

(before her shave)

(The blade was too hot to finish shaving her- Joe left her with the mowhawk and poofy feet for a day)

3. Lilia was preparing an impromtu performance with Lacey's help. She kept saying, "Lacey, it's time to rehearsal my song!" or "Lacey your rehearsaling time is over! It's my turn!"

4. I happened to catch my two youngest kids playing together and giggling, so I stopped to watch. As I was watching I started to laugh and said, "You two are so STINKIN' CUTE!" Lacey smiled at me and said, "I not stinkin' I took a bath- uh member?"

5. A conversation we had in the car:

(Sitting at a stop light)

ME: Lil, take your seatbelt off for a second and grab the pen on the seat in front of you.

LILIA: But what if a cop comes?

ME: If a cop comes I will get a ticket.

LIL: But I don't want you to get a ticket! They will put you in jail!

ME: They won't put me in jail for a ticket.

LIL: They will if they think you are an idiot driver...

6. Lacey latest favorite show, much to my chagrin, is Dora the Explorer. Except that's not what she calls it. If you ask her- her favorite show is "Do-do-do-do-do-Dora!" (If you haven't heard the theme song, than this wouldn't be as funny to you...)

7. Along those same lines- Matthew is learning to talk. His latest statement (when requested) is also, "Do-do-do-do-do-Dora." Except he says "d-d-d-d-d-d-d-d-duh uh" :)

8. Lilia's Valenine LOVE story...

Day 1- Lilia: Mom- two boys in my class love me. You don't know them though. Donovan and Michael.

Day 2- (Lilia made a valentine for Donovan (It said "I like you" inside a hand drawn heart).)

ME: What's this? A love letter?

LIL: No! It's a second valentine.

ME: But what about Michael? Where is his?

LIL: I didn't make one for him because he doesn't love me as much as Donovan does.

9. Lacey got an earache a few weeks ago. Her last experience at the doctor was when we had to hospitalize her a few months back from dehydration. At the hospital they gave her an IV. Which she HATED. Fast forward to the earache...

(on the drive to the doctor)

LACEY: I don't want a shot! My ear is better.

ME: Uh-huh... Lacey, they aren't gonna give you a shot. The doctor will look in your ear and say, "EW- Yuck!" and give you some medicine.

LACEY: Ohhhh, okay...

(15 minutes later as the nurse calls us back to the exam room)

LACEY: I don't want a shot!

ME: Lacey, remember? They aren't gonna give you a shot. The doctor will look in your ear and say, "EW- Yuck!" and give you some medicine.

LACEY: Ohhhh, okay...

(2 minutes later as they are weighing her and preparing to take her temp with an ear thermometer)

The nurse gets the thermometer and steps toward Lacey, she backs behind me and says quietly, "Oh dear!"

I tell her "It's not a shot- it is gonna tell us how warm you are. They will check your good ear, okay?"

LACEY: Ohhhh, okay.

(10 minutes later as the doc enters the exam room)

DOC: Hi little Miss Lacey, how are you today?

LACEY: I don't WANT a shot!

ME: ::sigh:: Lacey, honey, they are not going to give you a shot. He is going to look in your ear, say, "EW- Yuck!" and give you some medicine.

LACEY: Ohhhh, okay.

(and like a good doctor he looked in her ear and did actually say, "EW- Yuck! Let's give you some medicine..." I love my pediatrician!)

10. Backstory: Lil and Lace have a bunk bed. Lil on top. Lace on bottom...

The other night Lil jumped on Joe while he was asleep, startling him awake just to tell him about her potty habits. I caught her at it and said, "Lil! Dad was asleep! How would you like it if I jumped on YOUR bed tomorrow to wake you up, just to tell you I went potty?" She said, "Mom! You'd break my bed and KILL Lacey!"

11. Tonight we were playing a guessing game in the car. Someone thinks of a person, and everyone else tries to guess who it is using only yes and no questions. Such as, "Is it a boy?" "Is he older than Daddy?" etc. Lacey tries to play along, but she doesn't quite get it yet...

ME: Is it a boy?

LIL: Yes.

ME: Is it Daddy?

LIL: No.

LACEY: Is Daddy a boy?

ME: (totally kidding) Nope- Daddy is a girl

LACEY: Noooo! Daddy is a boy! He says this, (she lowered her voice as deep as her 3 year old voice could go and mumbled something incoherent.)

And the best for last...

12. We were watching a movie the other night that ended with the two main characters kissing. Nothing bad- just a good, passionate, kiss.

LIL: Mom? Is that a suction kiss?

ME: A what?

LIL: A suction kiss!

ME: (trying to hide the smile) What's a suction kiss?

LIL: Well... YOU KNOW... if you and Daddy didn't suction kiss I would never have been, well... (long pause) BORN!?

Kids really do say the darndest things! I sure love mine!