Valentine's Day

I am super-dooper excited about Valentine's Day this year. Reason is, is that Noah is all into it too. So, he and I have been planning since early January the Valentine's Day valentines to give to his classmates. We got the candy melts, a cute little mold, sucker sticks, picked the ribbon; oh we were gonna have a "sweet" crafting day! You can only imagine our HUGE sadness when, well let me lay it out.....

- I got Noah's preschool calendar for Feb.

- It stated it was Dental Awareness month; it's usually in March

- The week of Valentine's Day it stated "Please do not bring candy for Valentine's"

WHAT?! Oh we are so sad. So instead, I am going to make the little suckers with the boys - and then let them have one everyday until Valentines!! And of course give some away, cause I think we have enough stuff to make like FIFTY! Yay! Fun times.

So, now I am scrambling to find something cute for Valentine's. Simple store bought ones just are not gonna do! So HERE is what I found. If you have a buh-zillion broken little nubs of crayons like I do - this is gonna be great for you. OH and if you have a child in need of valentines.

Spread the love.....happy crafting!

Handy Items

Things cross my mind during the day and I say I am gonna blog them and then I don't. However, today I turn a new leaf, so to speak.

-- I never knew much about 20 mule team Borax until I forgot to check a leg pocket on a pair of Noah's cargo pants - from the Gap, handed down, but looked brand new, were gonna last through Caleb -- I pulled them from the washer and found a very deep nasty green stain from a non crayola brand crayon. It was deeply set in. No hope. Until Borax. It got most of it out - this is one tough crayon. Anyway, I decided to use this more in my laundry - especially the more grimy things like dog bedding, the kids blankies, which get trashed beyond belief, and items of that type. I am impressed. It is cheap and may just become a staple in the laundry room. Apparently it has lots of cleaning qualities that can be used around the house, from what I have read on the side of the box. I just haven't went there yet.

-- If you have a kid who is all about reading - like Noah - you must visit www.starfall.com. This website is GREAT for beginning readers. It is rewarding and they can learn more about "the silent e" "sh" and "ch" sounds. Noah LOVES it and I do too. He loves when he can sit and read an entire story.

-- If you love Harry and David's pepper and onion relish as much as I do - but you don't want to pay the price or, in my case, pay the horrendous shipping, go HERE for a recipe on how to make your own. I have prepared this linked recipe, reducing the sugar (of course) by 1.5 cups. Let me just say I don't think you can get any closer to the original from the store! Also, I love the website that posted the recipe. I go there everyday (almost) and find so much inspiration.

Ok this entry has taken longer than it should've. I think two little blessings are to blame for that. Because of my intermittent breaks I have forgotten some things I wanted to blog. Hey, 3 things ain't that bad! Probably a good thing I have forgotten some or you might be here reading, and reading, and reading, and.........

Repurposed old sweater

My dad came to visit this week and he brought with him a sweater. He decided it was no longer going to be in his wardrobe so he gave it to me. Well, we are not really sweater people so I decided instead of giving it away we could make a little something useful out of it. So, I was able to make 2 neck gators (these are essential when we are sledding, skiing, snow sporting outside), and I think I can make 2 smaller ones for the kids out of the sleeves. I had Noah model one of the adult sized ones. I am sending them home with my dad since it was his sweater after all and he said he could use them while hunting. However, the sleeves will make great gators for the kids!

Lily the Black Bear

Oh my gosh! This is so cool! Go check out this website!

http://www.bear.org/website/visit-us/lily-den-cam.html

It is showing Lily, a 3yr old black bear in her den. She is due to give birth tomorrow, hopefully. For you outdoor lovers, you'll love this. My kids think it is so cool to see a bear in her sleepy den!

The Birthday present

I have been wanting to make a quiet book for the boys for quite some time. I had been gathering supplies slowly for about 8 months and then thought; no better time than a birthday to get it done. So this is what I gave CJ this morning.......and the reason the iron is in the pic of his bday breakfast. I was up VERY late finishing this!

I couldn't get it to rotate, so please rotate your head. :)

The very last page is the last of the ABC's. Inside the teepee is a little boy, a campfire, and all the goodies for a camping trip. I can't wait to take this to church!

Happy Birthday CJ!

Can you believe he is 3 today?!! Our usual birthday breakfast: chocolate chip pancakes. That is the way he does "3"! Happy Birthday CJ!

Sweet Home Alabama

I think I would have give up one of my children's college funds to be at that game in Pasadena.

ROLL TIDE ROLL!

Nat'l Champs 2009!!!