Since the kids were home and I thought it was going to be a long day, I was trying to think of creative ways to entertain the kids. So, I thought-- PUDDING! It sounded like a good idea at the time. I wanted them to practice their spelling words and writing their names-- the fun way...
before the mess....
Brecky thought it was, "totally gross!"
Everyone else truly enjoyed it!
This was really really difficult to clean up. I'll think twice next time...
Here they are in action...
Em was the first to start and he finished off an 8 stack!!!
Zo managed her way through a 10 stack! (yes, her shirt is on backwards because Tim found her in the hall at 5:30 a.m. dressing herself because she thought she was going to be late for school)(she was a little out of it and her PJs didn't go back on super well in her sleepy stupor)
Breckyn opted for the 3 mega stack of huge pancakes that she woofed down before I could get a picture of it. Pancakes are her favorite.
This is an action shot of Rugs and his 9 stack! Go Rugs!
Today I was greeted at the preschool door by Rugby's teacher. Apparently he was caught cheating on his name paper. Everyday they have a dotted name paper that they need to trace to help them practice writing their names. Well, Rugs has been able to write his name by himself for a while now and he is annoyed that he has to do this "baby" work at school. So today he came up with a new plan. Instead of writing it himself, he got the kid next to him to do his paper for him. The teacher said that when she went over to check on him he was "encouraging" the kid to work faster so that he wouldn't get caught. We asked him how he motivated the kid to do his work and he said, "nothing you want to know about." OK, so we realize he is smart, but come on! Scamming his way through preschool-- nice Rugs! Since the pleas for help couldn't be any clearer, Rugs and I are starting a new curriculum at home to feed his need for a challenge. As if it couldn't be any worse, he is a great salesman and can pick a sucker out of a crowd. This kid he pansied into doing his work is the same dumb kid he conned a new hot wheels out of earlier in the year. Rugs has got charisma-- I'll give him that much!
Rugs kept rolling down the hill and covering himself in snow--- COLD!
Em tried to keep warm by having mom and dad carrying him up the hill. Good plan EM!
Breckyn held the record for the most times down the hill. She claims that she never gets cold and she could stay outside for hours. She is a true Wisconsin girl.
Z's best quality outside is that her cheeks get even rosier than they already are-- if that's possible. Don't you just want to squeeze 'um?!Here's a quick clip of some good runs...
More fun...
The girlies have been collecting box tops for their school like mad. All of our kids can spot them a mile away. I have pulled out many boxes with holes in them because the box top has already been cut out. We've been doing this for a while now and the thought occurred to me the other day that I could open it up to the masses for a little extra help. So, if you have any box tops and you wouldn't mind sending them our way we would love it. Thanks!
I made a lady bug and a butterfly. (I added the googly eyes for a little extra fun)
I can't wait to show the girlies, they will be so excited to have a few new clippies!
I also learned how to make "korker" bows on the same site. It's pretty easy and I've already cranked out a few. Perhaps you have noticed that I have made some changes to my blog. Well, I was thinking it was time for a little zip. The only new thing of any real note is the added "Favorites" list. I put all of my favorite places to visit as of late. I'm sure I'll think of more. But, if you are interested in any new sites-- I've found some pretty great stuff on these. Enjoy! If you have liked my bow creations you will find instructions on the bow making link. If you like my organizational skills you will like the container store. If you like my freak baking needs try out a few new recipes on my baking link. If you like my decorating skills check out the Pottery Barn sites and skip straight to the sale and clearance links. Lastly, I have placed a huge order off of the hair clippy site and they should be arriving any day now. I LOVED this site for obvious reasons. (I will win Chloe over in the bow department if it kills me!) Have fun exploring!
This is a small peak into the world of my ever so sensitive son. A few weeks ago he was crying about the grill being cold out in the snow. Now he has decided that the snow is going to blow away and it will never come back. (both days he skipped his nap... perhaps we have a pattern on our hands) Tim says that's what I get for naming our kid Emerson. (it's a "sensitive" name)
Go Brecky!
Z looks a little less cheerful about it...
It's not slime-- just snow Z!
You may have notice Brecky's latest face ornament. She tried to ride the laundry basket down the stairs. The stairs won...
Parka Z...Emerson is really coming into his own. He has been giving me his opinion on everything and questioning my competence as well. This is what happens when you have a 3 year old boy. Rugby went through it and now it's Em's turn. So last Sunday when I was getting him ready for church he says, "I'm not going to primary, I want to go to play group!" (In our church the kids go in a nursery until the January after they turn 3 then they move on to actual Sunday school type classes) I tell him that he's a big boy now and big boys go to primary. He replies, "I'm not a big boy, I can't even put on my own socks! Why would they let me in primary?" I had no good reply until minutes later he sat down and put on his own socks.... yeah, good argument buddy.
Fast forward a few days and I'm in the shower. He strolls in and drops his drawers to take a long stinker in MY bathroom while I am in the shower. I get out and start to dry off and he says, "Mom, I'm going to need a little privacy, why don't you go brush your teeth." (might I remind you he is 3 and this is my privacy that is being invaded not his) Moments later I get the classic Emerson yell--"I done!!!" My cue to wipe. I'm locking the door tomorrow...
your knitting skills may need a little tweaking...
but you are an amazing mom...
and the best big sister anyone could ask for. Thanks for leading all of us in the right direction and being the first to jump off many many cliffs. You have given me courage to plunge into the next phase in my life so many times. You make the tough stuff look easy. Thank you for being the kind of person I look up to. You are the best! I love you and I really really love living by you. You are my buddy and I have learned so much from you. YOU ROCK!!!! Happy birthday Jo!
I made my first jelly roll and it's not hard at all!!!! I'm loving it. It looks so complicated so I'm putting together a list of people I want to impress and making "this little thing" for all of them!!! Look out people-- I'm on fire! I'm a baking master! (ok, maybe not... but look how pretty it is!!)
CAKE
1/4 cup powdered sugar (to sprinkle on towel)
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves (would add extra Cinnamon instead of cloves next time)
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 large eggs
1 cup granulated sugar
2/3 cup LIBBY'S® 100% Pure Pumpkin
1 cup walnuts, chopped (optional)
FILLING
1 pkg. (8 oz.) cream cheese, at room temperature
1 cup powdered sugar, sifted
6 tablespoons butter or margarine, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Powdered sugar (optional for decoration)
Directions:FOR CAKE:PREHEAT oven to 375° F. Grease 15 x 10-inch jelly-roll pan; line with wax paper. Grease and flour paper.
COMBINE flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves and salt in small bowl. Beat eggs and granulated sugar in large mixer bowl until thick. Beat in pumpkin. Stir in flour mixture. Spread evenly into prepared pan. Sprinkle with nuts (if desired).
BAKE for 13 to 15 minutes or until top of cake springs back when touched. (If using a dark-colored pan, begin checking for doneness at 11 minutes.
FOR FILLING:BEAT cream cheese, 1 cup powdered sugar, butter and vanilla extract in small mixer bowl until smooth. Spread cream cheese mixture over cake. Roll up cake unpealing wax paper as you go. Cover in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least one hour. Sprinkle with powdered sugar before serving, if desired.
Our little glamour kitty. Z got a haircut last week and I haven't had a chance to post it yet. I'll put some with her hair down later but we were going for the kittty ears this morning. She is unbelievably proud of her new do. I took her to see my stylist in a real salon and that was enough to put me on Zoey's "best mom ever" list. It's super cute in the back it's all stacked and she pulls it off quite nicely. She has been begging for hair just like mine for a really long time and I finally let her come close. It's cute and sassy-- totally Z.
For those of you who watch the news and wonder if the tornadoes hit us-- we're safe. They came very close to us but our city quickly shifted out of the worst paths as the storm developed. Five days ago our temperature was 2 degrees. Today it was 60 and we had thunderstorms like crazy. It's suppose to be back in the 20's by the weekend and snowing again. It's weird but, that's Wisconsin for ya. Rugby and I took advantage of the freak rain and played a little bit with our cool Barbie umbrellas.
Garlic Bread is just plain good! It goes well with lots of meals and although it has a certain amount of stink-- sometimes it's just worth it. 
I found this neatly tucked in between Zoey's Math pages and the lunch menu. I pulled it out when I was going through her back pack and asked her what it was about. She said she had "ouchy poops" (uhhh... clearly) and she didn't want to forget to tell me. I don't know what is worse-- her not telling me or her teacher seeing this note in her take home pile. I'm going with the teacher one... Don't challenge the "Z-ster!!"
Rugs all dressed for an afternoon in the snow...I think Daddy was too involved in the snow fight to realize what happens to Brecky...
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