Muffin Tin Munchies

I had seen this idea a few times before from some other moms and I've been meaning to do it. I think that it's so cute. It's just a fun way to do lunch for the kids.



I thought I was being so creative by doing a row on each side that had the same for each kid, then some "dessert" type munchies in the middle for them to share. How quickly I forget the unwillingness to share of a certain two year old boy.



So, I made some adjustments to my well thought out plan.



Here are two things that were in the tins that I thought I'd share....the smiley face crackers at HEB that I think are so cute...you find them by the deli, not on the cracker aisle. Our HEB enjoys sending people on scavenger hunts. Fine when your kids are being good. Not fine when it's almost nap time. Also, we have the Bare Naked chocolate granola. A HUGE favorite around our house. Oh, on the cereal aisle.




There are lots of flavors of the Bare Naked. They are a staple around here. You can also mix with yogurt and that's really yummy, too.


I just thought I'd share this for anyone looking for a fun mealtime for kids or anyone looking for some yummy adult snacks as well. If you have some neat ideas to bring us into the new year, please share!! (Angie, that means you should blog your oh so cute octopus hotdogs)

Prettiest of the Pretties

Courtney had so much fun today playing with her "make-up" that Nana got her. She painted her fingernails twice (I think there also may be a layer of hot chocolate on those nails as well...lol), mine once, and did our toes. She also perfected lip gloss layering with all the different colors she has. She was so giggly and ran into the bathroom saying that she feels like "the prettiest of the pretties!" So cute, so sweet.

As she sits and plays with make-up and Garrett is so content with his tractors, I feel so blessed. I just feel blessed that God has given me such wonderful gifts in each of my children. The fact that he trusts me to be their mommy and teach them the best I can to be his children is a little overwhelming at times, but I love it.

We got elephants for Christmas

The kiddos got slinkies from Santa in their stockings. They were miniature slinkies so they didn't quite do the tricks that a big slinky would do, so I gave up on showing them what to do with them.

Silly me, the miniature ones are elephant trunks!

I'm so glad they figured that out because it was the cutest thing. Garrett kept calling it his elephant. Later in the day he lost it and was asking me, "where's my effant?"

Merry Christmas!!

Enjoy this crazy Christmas light display....thanks Annie Aunt for showing it to us!



May you all have a very blessed Christmas!!!

In Valley Mills, Texas...can you believe it?!

These kids are the coolest.

Let me start over.

I was on my way to pick up Courtney from Meme and I saw the African Children's Choir bus in the parking lot of a church in Valley Mills. I quickly scooped Courtney up and we headed back over to see them sing. I had seem them on TV, but this was way better. Courtney LOVED them and so did I. Their smiles and their spirit are very contagious.

I love when God gives us great surprises like this. If it weren't for that crazy wide load truck moving down highway 6 that made me take the backstreets through Valley Mills I never would have known they were singing!

Check them out...if you ever have a chance to see them...GO!

Just in case Santa reads my blog...

There is a little girl in this house that would like scotch tape in her stocking. She loves tape. Her mommy can never find any tape in the house...and when she does find all the rolls in the house on the little girl's art desk, there is only about one piece left on each roll.

This story could also be applied to glue sticks. And sippy cups. And hair bows. And socks.

I have just decided that there are just some things that we never have enough of around here. I think when I was growing up my mom had this same delimma with scissors. It seemed I was always hearing from the other end of the house... "where are my scissors?!!!!!!!"

How about you? Is there something that you just can't keep enough of around your house?

Homesick

I'm missing this. These pictures are of the kids playing one evening on the beach in front of a little cabana a few condos down from where we stayed that served burgers and such. About once a week we would walk down and have supper there and then head back.

I'm homesick for the beach...for the warmth, for the simpleness of life, for the peace that the beach brings to your soul. I miss it. We may have to sneak off in the near future. I don't do cold. I don't like winter. I'm homesick.

A Yummy, 2 Funnies & my 100th Blog Entry!

Congratulations! You have suffered through 100 of my blog entries!! Wow. That was fast.

Ok, I'll start with a funny first....

I have to give credit where credit is due, so I'll admit that this is Justin's funny and I love it. Here you go....when a telemarketer calls just answer in Spanish. It then turns into reverse telemarketing because they hang up on you!!!!!!!!!!!! Love it.

Ok, here's the yummy. You CANNOT go wrong with this. It is so good. I think that it is the best meal I have ever cooked. Not that that says alot, but work with me here...

It comes from this blogger whose page I stumbled upon:

http://brandiandboys.wordpress.com/2008/12/10/from-me-to-you/

This is so yummy. I promise.

Ok, I promised two funnies. Here is Garrett cheesing for the camera. This is a big step for us. He usually ignores the camera almost every time I get it out. I guess he decided to humor me today.

Ok, I give up on trying to place the photo under where I wrote about the cheesing. SO, it's just where it is. If anyone knows how to place a photo after you type please let me know!!

Birthday Girl

Our little birthday girl turned 5 yesterday!! She has had lots of fun celebrating her birthday this time around. She basically got to celebrate it for a week because we did it with family over the Thanksgiving holidays. There are lots of things that we have to be excited about this next year of her life. She'll have lots of big events. Starting school, possible visits from the tooth fairy, etc.

Some of her favorite things right now are:

-anything arts & crafts

-My Little Ponies

-Hello Kitty

-riding her bike

-taking care of her kitty Lady

-loving on her little brother

Every night when I tuck her in bed she wants me to lay with her until she falls asleep. That is a habit I don't want to start and she always goes to sleep just fine on her own....but last night I had to say yes and I watched her fall asleep as a big 5 year old. Time flies and one day she won't even want me to step foot in her room so I tried to put last night in my memory somewhere where I won't forget it. I love you baby girl!

Turkey Days

We had the best holiday this year. On Thanksgiving day Meme, Poppa, and Anne all came over and we fried a turkey and had all the trimmings. The cutest thing about the whole day was when Meme and Poppa got ready to go. Garrett got it in his mind that he was going home with them and loaded up in their car all by himself as they were packing up to leave. When he gets something in his mind, there is no changing it. They didn't have the heart to tell him no, so he went all by himself to Meme and Poppas! It worked out great because Courtney and I were able to decorate the tree without a little helper. ;)


Friday was a fun and productive day. Justin, Courtney and I ran about a mile of electric fence around one of the wheat fields and then we headed out to Meme and Poppa's for a fun weenie roast. Courtney has been wanting to do this for a long time and Poppa said that we were doing it, so we did! Everybody had lots of fun and Meme had smores for the very first time! Then we traded kids and Courtney went with Meme and Poppa and Garrett came home with us.


Saturday Justin got all the lights put on the house and it looks so pretty! I'll have to get some pictures and let you see. Then, Saturday night we went to the Tippie's to help them celebrate the fifth anniversary of when Marcus and Brianna became a part of their family. A party at the Tippie's is always a fun time for all.

Sunday we got to celebrate Thanksgiving with Nana & Papa, Grandma, Allison, Ted, Brad, and Shana. We had a great meal and then we celebrated Courtney's birthday a little early....oh, and I forgot...we celebrated her birthday Thanksgiving day as well with Meme, Poppa, and Annie Aunt. I think that she is liking getting to have so many celebrations. She is such a blessed little girl to have so many people that love her!

That about wraps it up....it was a very relaxed and fun few days! I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!!!