Interview with a 3 year old

Wow has these last 3 years gone by in a flash.  It seems like just yesterday Miss Emma was born.

Now she is:

• demanding and sweet
• Smart and witty
• A leader but loves to follow her big brother
• Always there to help but very independent
• A princess/diva and a tom boy
• And Always surprising!!

More to come on her “Princess Picnic” later this week.  But I wanted to share my interview with my 3 year old.

 

Favorite Color: Pink and purple

Favorite Food to eat: Peanut butter {Mom note: I don’t know where she came up with that David and I agree it is pepperoni}

Favorite TV Show: Bubble guppies

Favorite Toy: princess stuff {mom note: whatever Tyler is playing with!!}

Favorite thing to do at Jody’s: play with jenna

What do you want to be when you grow up: a princess

Favorite thing to do: go to nanas pool and paint her nails

Favorite pair of shoes: Barn boots AND Princess shoes

Best friends: Griffin and Jenna {sorry Jecca!!}

As exhausting as she can be, she is very loving!  She regularly kisses all the other kids at daycare goodbye.  She is sweet, thanking you for the smallest thing.  And loves to cuddle! 

This is a big year for her, in September she starts preschool!!!

Interview with a Kindergarten Graduate

Okay I know I am very behind on my blog!!  there is just a lot going on!!

Let me tell you about Tyler’s moving up ceremony.  I can not believe he is going to start 1st grade in the fall.  On the eve of his last day of Kindergarten they held a cute little ceremony (in the air conditioned auditorium)!

After a few songs each student’s name was called and he or she crossed the stage to shake the principal's hand.  Then there was a cookie reception in another room.  Here are some photos of Tyler with his friends.

Tyler and autumn

With Lucas

With Jenna

A quick little family shot!!

Tyler and His teacher, Ms.Hecklau

I thought it would be fun to interview Tyler.  Its something I have wanted to do for a while I didn’t know weather to interview him at the start / end of school or on birthdays.  But now is a good time!!

What is your favorite color: brown

What is your favorite Food: Carrots {mom’s answer noodles and cereal}

What is your favorite TV show: Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitsu

What is your Favorite Toy: Lego

What is your Favorite Sports: Soccer and teeball

What do you want to be when you Grow up: Dentist

Favorite thing about kindergarten: art

What is your favorite thing to do? Swimming

Who is your BFF: Lucas

I was personally worried about the lunch situation when we started the school year { read here } .  The kid doesn’t like meat and is picky but in the end he took his lunch as much as he bought lunch.  And we found out that he like popcorn Shrimp!! 

Now for Summer, camping, vacations and more.  Then at some point {when I accept it }, in September we will start 1st grade and Miss Emma will start Preschool………………

to my running friends–please help

Lately while running my left foot has began hurting about 4-3 miles into my run.  it feels like it’s a sleep you know that numb but hurts feeling.  Today it again did it but at the 3mile mark.  I stopped and completely loosened my shoes.  It did make it feel better but it didn’t go away.

So do I

1) try another run with my basically untied sneakers

2) buy another pair that are wider/or bigger (of course I would go to Fleet feet before buying a pair

3) try inserts??

Any tips or suggestions???

Taco Mac – Leftover magic!!!

This story starts with Cinco De Mayo, I wanted to make a theme dinner on Saturday that was quick and easy.  The weather was so amazing that we just spent the whole day outside.  I didn’t want to be in the kitchen at all. 

I made Tacos, yeah its so cliché – and probably completely off the mark.  Its not like I make a traditional tacos… the kids ate them with tortilla chips, I used lean ground chuck mixed with Salsa no seasoning.  {yes lean ground meat with chips, no taco seasoning because it has too much MSG,served with buttered corn on the cob and black olives – yes I am a hypocrite}.

Sunday after Soccer {Tyscored 2 goals!!} Emma and I hit up the Westmoreland Farmers Market.  It was the first weekend for this seasons Market (here’s their FB page).  There are some new vendors and some returning favorites.  Yes that is right we have favorites – Emma wouldn’t even talk to Grandma because she was focused on visiting the “Cookie Lady” (AKA JCookies).  I purchased some Apple Jack Goat Cheese from Cranberry Ridge Farm among other things!!

So cut to today!  The forecast calls for rain starting around 6pm the same time as the 1st Tball game of the year.  I needed to get home, get the kids, get the eggs, get dinner and get to the field.  I wanted to use up the left over “taco mix” (ground chuck with salsa) but the kids only wanted “noodles” for dinner (along with yogurt and some fruit). 

Pan #1 –> Cooking elbow macaroni (4 servings)

Pan #2 –> In a frying pan over medium heat,  I added a few sliced up Green onions and the left over ground chuck mixture.  Let it started to get happy and warm. 

Before draining the macaroni I put about a 1/4 cup of the macaroni water in to Pan #2.  Then using a veggie peeler I peeled about 1/2 of the Jack Apple cheese into the mixture.  I stirred it until the cheese started to melt then I added 2 servings of the pasta to the pan.  I mixed it all together for a pinch of salt and fresh pepper.

It was great!! so much better than that boxed powdered cheese shit you get from the hamburger mac mix in the store.

Despite the rain the game went on.  Tyler had 3 great hits and David made his assistant coach debut!

Meet Annie

Yesterday we adopted Annie from my friend Jenny.  I was at her house in March for her birthday and she mentioned that she wanted to find Annie a good home since her kids were growing up.  Here is Annie’s Story.

This winter we lost max, our beloved bunny.  In October we think he had a stroke.  He was unable to use his back legs but around Christmas time we noticed they were working again.  Then one day this winter I fed him in the morning and he seemed fine.  But 6 hours later when David arrived home he was laid permanently resting in his house.  Tyler took it surprisingly well.  Every morning as Emma walked past his cage to get in the car, she would look for him and tell me I want my bunny .

So yesterday afternoon Aunt Cathy and Aunt Laurie delivered Annie,  She had a great adventure as she relocated from east to west.  This lucky rabbit got to go camping!!  They told me she didn’t have any s’mores but I don’t really believe them!

We had not told the kids we were getting Annie so they didn’t know what to think when they saw her.  They thought it was cute but went back to catching butterflies.  Once we told them she was going to live with us, Annie had Emma's attention – 100%

I hope Annie likes living with us as much as she did with Gavin and Scarlett.  I can say in the short few hours she has been with us she has been very spoiled with carrots and lettuce and lots of attention!

Emma is telling everyone about the bunny include the girl cutting her hair!  She forgets her name and some times calls her Anna. 

Last night at dinner time Tyler and Emma were petting her, David called them to come in and wash up.  He said: “wash your hands so you don’t get rabbit hair in your food”  Emma: Daddy she is not a rabbit she is a bunny!!”

This photo was taken by Emma! 

Welcome to the family Annie!  We hope you love it here, and we hope your other family (Jenny, Matt, Gavin and Scarlett) come and visit you often!!

How to turn a coffee addiction into $100 of food (earth day project)

Anyone that knows me, knows I love coffee and so does David.  We go thru several KCups a week, throwing them out seems like such a waste.  So I thought I could use them for my seeds.  They are a good size and have a hole in the bottom for drainage. Plus my friend is a master recycler so I have to be sure to do good deeds or she will disown me!!

This time of year we start several plants inside,including Tomatoes, Peppers, and herbs.  I gave Tyler one package or tomatoes seeds and I gave Emma another.  We decided we were going to make this a science experiment.  We first marked the kind of Coffee was in each one:

Then we pulled off the tops and added extra soil.

Tyler labeled each one with a “T” or an “E” and made sure that they each had one of each coffee flavor.

They both planted their seeds and watered them in!  So now we are waiting to  see which tomatoes grow better in which coffee flavor:

• Green mountain Southern Pecan
• Folgers Vanilla Biscotti
• Folgers Carmel

Planting a garden or having a few patio plants is such an economically and healthy way to feed your family.  These seeds cost me  $2.60:

They were priced $1.79 each and they were B1G1 at Kmart a few weeks ago.  So for the cost of a jar of sauce I will grow all these veggies.  My garden yields enough tomatoes for me to make sauce for the whole winter.  Last summer I was getting 4+ peppers a week which allowed me to freeze some for this winters use. 

I actually spent $17 on Seeds.  I have 4 gardens that we maintain and my garden yields so much food.  We have Peas and beans that the kids eat right out of the garden, one whole garden devoted to strawberries.  Plus we grow broccoli, cukes, herbs, potatoes, watermelon, squash and more

Now I know what you are thinking, gardening is a lot of work you have weed and water all the time.  There is always someone to leave me a negative comment, so to that I say:

• Plant a few in pots on your deck, water them a few times a week – no weeding
• Instead of spending hours looking for coupons or going to 5 stores to get the sale prices get your ass outside – enjoy the free vitamin D.
• Why do you have to complain about everything?  Its summer isn't this what you were waiting for all 9 months of winter? GET OUTSIDE!!!

So that is our earth day project.  We will let everyone know which type of coffee will grow the best tomatoes plant in a few weeks!! 

The things kids say and do

Here are some Radom things our kids have said or done lately:

 

Tyler: Dad I am going to play tackle football

David: with who?

Ty: emma

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Tyler to Emma: Women you need to listen to me

Emma to Ty: I am not a women

Tyler: you should be

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Emma to me at dinner: Mom can we have my birthday party tomorrow night (this was in April 3 months before her bday)

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Emma: Momma I need a hair cut , my hair is too big

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Driving down the road: both kids roll down the windows in the back and start acting like the pig from the geico commercial