If you give a mom a minute...

One morning, bright and early a mom woke up and asked for just a minute to check her computer.  When she opened up her emails she saw a message reminding her of an upcoming event.  So she went back to her bedroom to get her phone so she could add the date to her calendar.  While she was in there, she noticed the bed needed to be made.  So she made it.  When it was all made, she thought, "Well since I'm in here I may as well get dressed!"  After she was done getting dressed, she decided to put her dirty clothes in the hamper.  When she got to the hamper, she noticed it was full.  So she grabbed a load of clothes and threw them in the washer.  Of course, some of the pockets had papers in them.  Important papers!!!  So she took the papers to the office to put them with the other important papers.  While she was in the office she noticed that one of the important papers was a bill that needed to be paid.  She decided to pay all the bills, but she needed the check book.  The checkbook was out in the car, so she had to go get it.  While she was in the car getting the checkbook, she spotted a dirty sippy cup that had rolled under a seat.  There were other things under the seat, so she cleaned out the car.  When the car was all clean, she took the checkbook and dirty sippy inside.

As she got to the sink, she thought, I'll just rinse it out and put it in the dishwasher.  There were other dishes in the sink, so she washed those too.  While she was doing the dishes, the kids said they were hungry, so she made them breakfast...AND washed those dishes.  When they were done eating she took them in the bathroom to get cleaned up.  The kids were "wearing" their breakfast, so she changed their clothes.  Since the kids were all dressed, they asked if they could go outside and play.  The mom pulled them in the wagon, pushed them on the bicycles, played tag, threw the ball, kissed boo boos, tickled some giggles, investigated some bugs, listened to some birds and climbed a tree.  While in the tree, the kids realized they were hungry for lunch.  So the mom took them inside to wash up.  After she fixed their lunch and ate a quick bite herself, she remembered what a mess the bathroom was after washing up the kids.  So she decided to clean it.  As she finished up the bathroom she noticed the kids were sleepy.  So she put them down for a nap.  When all was quiet, she said "I think I'll take a minute to check the computer"...ANNNDDD, we all know what happens if you give a mom a minute!

If you enjoyed this because it is a typical day in your house, please feel free to take a "minute" to share!

***Credit to the "If you give a mouse a ..." Book Series***

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner

I am very excited to announce the winner of the My Memories Suite Giveaway is my very dear friend Lydia who is about to have her very first baby ANY.Day.NOW!!! Make sure you go visit her in the next few weeks to see her beautiful creations! She is so very crafty and talented I can't wait to see what ideas and masterpieces she comes up with!  Don't forget, any one of you including our winner can click on the My Memories Suite button to the left side of my blog for a coupon code to receive $10 off any order!

Congrats! I will email you the winning code.

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

Time's Running Out

Time is running out to enter for your chance to win a FANTASTIC digital scrapbooking software package.  Click on this LINK to enter.  The winner will receive a free download of the My Memories Suite v.4 software.  You will recieve a code via email that will allow you to download the software ABSOLUTELY FREE!!!  And if you don't do much with pictures, think about a friend or family member who might.  Someone getting ready to have a baby, someone getting married, Mother's Day is coming up!  What a wonderful present for someone!  You can give them this gift that they could use to make their memories last a lifetime!!!  And besides, there's not a whole lot of entries so far, so your chances for winning are GREAT!!!

"I'm How Old?!?"

Little Miss So-n-So is now 9 months old.  I know I say this each and every month and with each and every child, but time really does fly by.  I have started working on some of the details of her first birthday and enjoying all the little deco ideas I'm finding. 

This last month you have become extremely mobile.  You are crawling all over the house and we often have to hunt you down because you have completely wandered out of the room that you were left in.  You are also pulling up on EVERYTHING: furniture, toys, pants legs, walls/doors.  You attempt to climb the stairs, but have only managed to get a knee up one time.  I despise baby gates, but I know I need to get it put up sooner rather than later.

You're a good eater.  Stage 2 baby food is what you eat mostly.  In the morning, you will have a jar of fruit mixed with 3Tbs of cereal.  For lunch and dinner you eat two jars of baby food, either a veggie and a fruit or a meat dinner and a fruit.  You've also perfected your pincher grasper milestone and love to feed yourself Puffs, bread and any other table foods we offer you.  Your daddy gave you some chocolate ice cream this past weekend without my permission! I told him I was going to blame him if you develop an allergy to chocolate and/or dairy! Although it appears in the picture that you are using a sippy cup, I don't believe you actually get anything out of the sippy.  But you certainly do like to chew on it.

You have two bottom teeth (in case I'd forgotten to mention it in one of your previous posts) and you are about to cut your two top teeth.  Your poor little gums are just bulging and you have been chewing on anything and everything.  We took you to Disney for the first time with the rest of the family last month and you were so good.  We've actually been several times now with you and you are just as content as can be riding in the stroller.  You are definitely a people watcher.

You went to the doctor last week for your checkup.  She remeasured your head.  Although your head circumference went from 89% to 96% you are still following a steady curve.  She asked you to perform all your tricks, such as clapping, waving bye, repeating sounds like ma ma ma/da da da/ba ba ba, crawling and pulling into standing position and you happily obliged.  She also felt the top of your head and said your soft spot felt great.  She really felt there was no need for any further testing.  We will continue to monitor your head growth and your milestones but as of this time, Dr. H says you are "practically perfect in every way!"

9 month Stats:

Height: 27" - 25%

Weight: 17lbs 2oz - 31%

Head Cir.: 18 1/4" - 96%

Meal Plan Monday

I haven't done this in a long time (if ever) because I rarely stick to my menu plan for the week.  But by golly I'm gonna do it!

Monday:

Oven baked chicken, rice, zuchinni and salad

Tuesday:

Baked ham, sweet potatoes, green beans and salad

Wednesday:

End of Summer Pasta (so yummy I'll post the recipe below)

Thursday:

Tacos

Friday:

Homemade Corndogs,  potatoe chips and broccoli

Saturday:

Leftovers or dinner out

Sunday (church potluck):

corned beef, veggies and rice krispie treats

End of Summer Pasta Recipe

(Serves 6)

2 pounds firm ripe red tomatoes, diced

3 Tbs olive oil

16 large basil leaves, washed and torn into strips

salt and pepper to taste

1 10oz. pkg frozen peas (I think the pkg I buy is larger and I eyeball the amount)

1/2 pound Rotini or Corkscrew pasta

2 Tbs butter

4 Tbs. fresh grated parmesan (I use the can sometimes too)

Warm the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat;  add diced tomatoes, half the basil strips and the salt and pepper.  Cook stirring often, for at least 30 minutes or until thickened.

Meanwhile, cook pasta according to package directions.  When pasta is almost done, add the frozen peas to the tomatoe mixture.  Blend well, cover and turn off heat.  Pour drained pasta into large serving bowl and toss with butter, remaining basil leaves and the sauce.  Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and serve.

Tunnel Vision

I had a conversation with some friends about how Abbey will start her senior year of high school the year Sophie starts Kindergarten.  It wasn't until later that day that it dawned on me, that by the time Sophie graduates high school, I will have had a child in school for 25 consecutive years.  That doesn't include preschool and/or college.  As I pondered this tunnel ahead of me, I began to shudder.  That is 25 years of homework, science fair projects, report cards, teacher conferences, packing lunches and many more wrinkle producing issues that arise with children in school.  We are only 1/3 of the way through this journey and only TWO participating children.  I'm not so sure that we can survive another 17 more years. What little light may be shining at the end of our tunnel is only highlighting the amount of gray in my hair. I must come up with a plan of action in order to make it through these next 17 years.

Step 1: Invest in Loreal Hair Color Company

Step 2: Invest in Puffs Tissue Company (to catch all the tears...both theirs and mine)

Step 3: Brush up on all the courses I took when I was in school.

Step 4: Learn everything about those courses that they didn't teach way back when I was in school.

Step 5: Overcome my distaste for wine.

My Memories Suite Giveaway!

Let me first start off by saying it is not a good idea to start learning a new software the week Daylight Savings Time starts! But my oh my have I enjoyed being tired!

Not trying to brag or anything but I'm crafty or at least I think that I am.  I love blogging because it's a way for me to keep track of my sweet kiddos and all the fun (and not so fun) stuff they are doing.  However, I DO NOT scrapbook.  I have never scrapbooked.  When I walk down the scrapbook aisle of Hobby Lobby, I go into an instant anxiety attack at the amount of stuff.  Embellishments, papers, fonts/phrases all of this stuff is just so overwhelming and I can't even get a clear thought in my mind on where to begin.

When I was contacted about hosting a giveaway (ahem First EVER!!) from My Memories Suite, I was a little unsure of what I was getting myself into.  But I said to myself, "hey I'm planning my last first birthday party, I'd really like to have something special to remember it by!"  So I jumped in, feet first!

This digital scrapbook software is pretty massive.  It took a LOOONGGGG time to download, I mean all night long and the whole next day.  Now granted, I'm not so computer savvy, so I may have done something incorrectly during the download process or it may just be my dinosaur of a computer that is currently on its last leg, but it's on here now and I've been enjoying it so far.

Now since Little Miss So-n-So's first birthday isn't until June, I can't show you what I'm working on for her special day.  But I did do a small little book on somebodies very first haircut!!!  I used a template that already had the pages all set up but I did add a word art image to my "cover page!"  Isn't it absolutely adorable???

So my bloggie friends out there, here is your chance to be an amazing scrapbooker!  Follow this link (or any of the other highlighted links) to My Memories Suite website.  Look at all the amazing stuff they have to offer.  Leave a comment telling me what your favorite digital paper pack or layout is.  You can also earn extra entries by "liking" My Memories Suite on facebook or by tweeting about the giveaway.  A winner will be chosen at random to receive there very own copy of My Memories Suite v.4 absolutely free.  That is a $40 value peeps!  Please use the entry form below.  Also, if you decide to purchase any items, use my special coupon code to receive $10 off: code STMMMS75339! Deadline to enter is March 21, 2013 so hurry up and enter already!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

a special thank you to Online-Sweepstakes for helping me promote my giveaway!

Stay Tuned...

Guess What!!! I've been asked to host my very first giveaway!  This is so exciting for me and I'm really excited for all my readers...ALL SEVEN OF YOU! So stay tuned and in the meantime, here is a sneak peak at the giveaway.  Check back in a few days to find out all the details.  You won't want to miss out!

Way Back Whens...day

I was reminiscing today with the kids and pulled out their baby books.  In Brady's book, I found his invitation to his 4th birthday party.  Now those of you who know me, know that I'm a sucker for planning kids birthday parties.  So much so that if I wasn't so busy raising my amazing kiddos, I'd be a party planner.  Oh yeah, that's right, I would love to get paid to plan out all the fun little details of a kids party.

So as my Way Back When, I thought I'd share Brady's super cool pirate party ideas (since I won't be hired any time soon).

This is the invitation.  I made the invitations myself and had a blast.  The "map" is a very not to scale map of the general location of our house, with the "X marks the spot" right where our house would be.  Our front door also had a big giant red X taped to it.  Each invite was soaked in tea to give it an aged look, after they dried, the edges were safely burnt and then crumpled for extra measure.  The maps were then rolled up and placed inside a glass bottle (which I sadly don't have a picture of) and hand delivered to each family.

So what does a pirates treasure map lead to? Why, buried treasure of course.  The sand box was the perfect place for all the booty to be hidden.  There were gold coins, bead necklaces and other various hot commodities.  

We had a table set up for decorating your own foam pirate hat.  And if you notice in the picture above, there is a mini bucket and shovel.  Inside the bucket was a special little treat called dirt cake.  A combination of vanilla pudding with crushed vanilla wafers on top to look like sand.  There may have even been a gummy worm hidden deep under the sand.

Of course, no pirate is complete without a bandanna and an eye patch.  And below they got some scars and some facial hair.  And isn't she a scary looking pirate for sure?  All pirates need swords as well, so this fun mom scoured the internet to learn how to make balloon swords. I know, I'm amazing, what can I say?  These little Scallywags had a blast bopping each other with their balloon swords (again, sorry no picture).

The thing the kids remember most about the party (6 years later) that was not only a hit with the pipsqueak pirates but also the aged pirates was the "Pirate Battle of the Booty."  The kids (both big and little) were divided up into two teams with cardboard boats.  Each team was given a bag or more of giant marshmallows.  And that's when all broke loose!  Marshmallows were flying EVERYWHERE.  Eventually the boats were capsized and the cannons continued to fly.  I am certain that all the creatures from the neighborhood were on a sugar high for the next few nights as they scarfed down the marshy madness.

And for the crem de la crem: You can't have a pirate party without a pirate ship cake.  The cake was made with 8" or 9" round pans.  Cut each baked cake circle in half.  Cut a small slice off the rounded portion of the semi-circle so the pirate ship sits flat.  Frost the outside of the cake with chocolate frosting.  Sprinkle the top with crushed vanilla wafers or graham crackers (whichever you choose).  Place rolo candies on the sides of the ship for the cannons and stick candles in them.  Line the top edge of your ship deck with the pirouette cookies.  Add a few milk duds for cannon balls.  If you have some Lego or Playmobile Pirate figures use those as decorations as well.  The sails are simply card stock cut into squares and hole punched at the top and bottom to slide a skewer through.  And Voila! A delectable dessert fit for any pirate!

Oriental Trading is one of my favorite website to shop when party planning.  They are very affordable and have so much to choose from.  Hope you enjoyed my little travel back in time.  I'm in the beginning stages of planning a first birthday party for our youngest hooligan.  Stay tuned for more cuteness.

 

Foto Dump Friday and other ramblings

First the ramblings:

After more weeks months than I care to admit, I have been pulling out 3-6 months size clothes to put on Sophie each day.  When the outfits don't fit over her biggie noggin or her belly is exposed from the neckline because the onesie is pulled so tight, I put it in a stack and say to myself "I really need to move her up to the next clothing size."  Yet I continued to let it slide...the story of my life.  So yesterday when I pulled out not one, not two, but three different outfits from her drawer that did not fit, I realized I needed to just bite the bullet and grab the next size clothing bag.  So I pulled out the 6-9 month clothes and realized that two of those outfits were a bit snug.  I thought, surely she's not ready for the 12 month clothes yet...she's only 8 months old.  Well, let me just say this little chunk-a-munk has worn three different 12 month outfits now and NONE of them look like they are swallowing her.  She is officially my "Big Baby"!  She just might hit 20 pounds by her first birthday, something a Johnson Baby has yet to do!

*WARNING* The cuteness of this video may just scare you into a coma!  Sophie's newest "trick" is scaring people.

Make a video - it's fun, easy and free!
www.onetruemedia.com

And now for some iPhone Foto Dumps:

Kinley got herself dressed with a shirt on top and a shirt on the bottom

Don't know why it's turned sideways, but this is my birthday boy! Double Digits!

Ari's birthday party fun

Besties catching up over some milk and Mickey Mouse Club House