No No's

We got this exercise ball awhile ago and just recently pumped it up again. I'm sorry to say that the wall has touched it more than a person exercising. The kids have found this to be a great toy lately. I know they probably shouldn't (we have already had two bruised foreheads and I've been hit in the noggin by it), but it's fun to watch them play and laugh.Their favorite thing to do is jump from one couch onto the ball then roll to the other couch. I must admit it looks fun and if I could, I would try. So my question is......Do you let your kids do things like this? Things you wouldn't have gotten away with doing growing up? I know this would be a total "no,no" for me as a kid.

Another Dilemma

I just thought I would put this out there to see if anyone has any advice or suggestions. Yesterday for our FHE activity we went to Logan Miniature Golf. The kids had a blast but on the last hole they had a chance to win a free game. None of the kids made it into the right hole and then the complaining began. "I want a free game!" etc... Well as we were leaving the worker there said they had four Popsicles left over and wanted to know if the kids wanted them. She mentioned they were a little thawed. We had the kids say thank you and left. As we were walking to the car we opened the packages and they started to fall apart and drop on the ground. An uproar of crying children began. "I want a big one," "I don't want this" and other similar comments. We were amazed at how ungrateful they were. We are wondering if we are spoiling them. We commonly hear phrases like "I don't want to eat this" and my reply to that is usually "Kids are starving in Ethiopia and your complaining that you have food to eat?" I don't think they understand that, but even with toys or other things when they complain I don't think they realize how good they have it. When I ask Danika to clean up she sometimes pouts that she is so picked on and has to do everything. I told her we could switch jobs and she could do all that Mommy has to do, but she didn't like that idea (gee I wonder why). Anyway, what can we do to show or teach our kids gratitude? Do any of you have similar problems? I don't mean to make it sound like a huge problem, we really just thought about it last night but it's better to get on top of it while they are young.

The GOOD news and the BAD news

Doesn't it always seem that good news and bad news go together? Well here are some of the good and bad news that's happened recently.

Good News: We got our sprinkling system in and done HOORAY
Bad News. We did a lot of the labor ourselves so our backs are killing us

Good News: Danika knew Mommy and Daddy were busy working on the lawn so she changed the babies diaper by herselfBad News: It was put on backwards (Great job anyways though sweetheart)

Good News: Jake and Tayli came over tonight which was funBad News: They kicked our tails at the game of PIT

Good News: I went to a doctors appointment on Friday and heard the baby's heart beat which is always reassuring.Bad News: I found out I gained eight pounds in four weeks, now I have to lay off the cookies GRRR!!!

Good News: Our garden is growing wellBad News: I have beans growing out of my ears (DOES ANYONE WANT SOME?)

Birthday's and Food Frenzy Friday

Well I guess I'm on post number 102 or 103 so hooray for me. I'm not as creative in coming up with ways to celebrate making it to 100 or any other number. Speaking of celebrations, we have had three invitations to parties this week. All birthday parties so you know what that means.....birthday gifts. It starts to add up $$ wise. Anyway I go to get the gifts with the kids and they start to look for things they like. "Sorry, were not here to get you something" They should know by now that they only get gifts when it's their birthday or Christmas. So of course they start to make a list for Christmas already. Danika has even prayed to tell Heavenly Father what she wants. The problem is as soon as Christmas comes I'm sure it will have changed.
I forgot that today was a Friday, so I'll add a recipe for a yummy Carmel Cake.

German Chocolate Cake Mix
14 oz. craft Carmel's
1 can Evap. milk
1/2 cup butter
1/2 bag chocolate chips

Combine cake mix and butter(melted). Then 1/3 cup evaporate milk. Stir till holds together. Press half into greased casserole dish. Cook for 6 minutes at 350 while that cooks mix 1/3 cup evaporated milk and Carmel's in a pan to melt. Once the cake is done put chocolate chips on and then Carmel mixture. Add the rest of the cake mix and bake for 15-18 more minutes. Enjoy a chocolaty Carmel heaven.

Lost Temper?

So yesterday I lost my temper. I don't know why it's phrased like that because it's not like I have lost a temper, I've gained it. I'll just say I lost my patience. Do you know where I could find it? Anyway here's the story: Yesterday Luke peed in the garage. Yep just pulled his pants down by the van and emptied his bladder on the concrete....why? Who knows, he was two feet away from the door to the house. So of course I drag him in and smack his behind. (The garage door was open: I can't yell at my kids in public) I tell him he can't ride his bike now and that after lunch he is going right to bed. His little voice keeps saying "sorry mom" It's bad enough that it was outside, but in the garage! Well needless to say the guilt came and I felt bad for swatting him. Tell me you have outbursts. I blame some of it on hormonal changes, I get mean when I'm prego.

Did you know?

I love waking up to the sound of thunder! That's not sarcastic, I really do. I'm also grateful for the rain since the sprinkling system isn't done yet. It's nice that it's coming today since they can't work on it due to meetings tonight. Tomorrow looks like the rap up day woo hoo. Thanks Tayli for letting us use your husband yesterday! Well I received this in an email, I thought it was interesting. I don't know for sure if it's all true but I'm willing to try it. If you know if they work let me know.

Take your bananas apart when you get home from the store.
If you leave them connected at the stem, they ripen faster.

Store your opened chunks of cheese in aluminum foil.
It will stay fresh much longer and not mold!

Peppers with 3 bumps on the bottom are sweeter and better for eating.
Peppers with 4 bumps on the bottom are firmer and better for cooking.

For a cool brownie treat, make brownies as directed. Melt Andes mints
In double broiler and pour over warm brownies. Let set for a wonderful minty frosting. (That sounds good, I'm going to try this one!)

Easy Deviled Eggs
Put cooked egg yolks in a zip lock bag. Seal, mash till they are all broken up. Add remainder of ingredients, reseal, keep mashing it up mixing thoroughly, cut the tip of the baggy, squeeze mixture into egg. Just throw bag away when done easy clean up.

Hate foggy windshields? Buy a chalkboard eraser and keep it in the glove box of
Your car . When the windows fog, rub with the eraser! Works better than a cloth!

Get Rid of Ants
Put small piles of cornmeal where you see ants. They eat it, take it 'home,' can't
digest it so it kills them. It may take a week or so, especially if it rains, but it works and you don't have the worry about pets or small children being harmed! (Hey Tina remember talking about this while walking?)

There's more but I don't want to make this too long. I hope your all having a fabulous week so far. Now I better go wake up my family!

FOOD FRENZY FRIDAY

I wanted to share this recipe for rolls I received from my friend Trudy. They are super easy to make and very snacky! I have already made them twice this week.
Mix well: 1 cup hot water, 1/2 cup margarine melted and 3/8 cup sugar.
Then add 1 Tbs. yeast, cover and let rise for five minutes.
Then add 1 egg, 1 1/2 cup flour, 1/2 tsp. salt and 1/2 tsp baking powder. Mix this well (it will still be runny) Add 2 more cups flour and cover. Let rise for 60 min. To make them into crescent rolls, roll out dough into a circle and cut with a pizza cutter like a pizza. Roll from large end to small. Bake at 400 for 10-12 minutes.

On another note this is how the west side of our front yard looks like right now.We had someone come to tap into the water line. We are putting in a sprinkling system which I'm excited for. I have wanted one for five years! It will be so nice not to move sprinklers around. The kids thought the backhoe ripping into the dirt was awesome. I must admit I had fun watching it too!

WOO HOO

Thanks for all the advice on the last post. Attaching the binky to the balloon idea sounds fun, thanks for sharing Kristy! It seems like everyone waits till around two, so I'll just continue to keep it in his bed till then. I wanted to share this because I'm so excited. Yep, a tomato. Doesn't that make you excited? Well I am since it's the first one from our garden. Tomatoes are my favorite. I grew up on tomato sandwiches. Where you take two toasted pieces of bread, add some mayo and the tomatoes and ummmmmm heaven he he. Eating them reminds me of growing up back home. Is there something that when you eat it, it brings back a certain memory?

"B" is for Binky

Our Binky Baby loves a Big Bear. I won't bore you with all of the alphabet days we do but this tied in well. I've never had a Binky baby before. It's getting to the point that Kevin and I want to throw it away but Jacob is so attached to it. We have weaned him down a little, he now keeps it in his bed and can have it for naps and bedtime. I still find him sneaking in there to get it though. It works as a nice plug during church so that's one reason I hesitate getting rid of it. Did or do you have a Binky baby? What did you do? When or how did you get rid of it?

Fun at Lagoon

Today was Campbell's Scientific Lagoon day. They pay for all their employees and families to go. Here are a few pictures of the kids on rides.Jacob threw a fit when he had to get off a ride; he had so much fun! Here we are on the train ride.We went to the pool and the kids were bummed that they were too little to ride the big rides. We had a great time and the kids did so well in the heat and walking through the park. I also saw my good friend Tina Mihu and her girls.
We haven't seen them in a couple years. Her oldest (MaKayla) and Danika are only a few days apart and we would swap babysitting so we both could go to school after they were born. (Ahh.. the memories) Well we just thought that today was pretty "cool"

Tee Balls Over

I think this picture is funny, they look like deers staring into headlights. Danika and Andrew's last tee ball game was on Wednesday. I feel bad, they kinda got bored with it and didn't enjoy going. Shay and Alyssa (my nieces) were here and we had planned to go to the pool on Monday. We wanted to get more swimming time in so we ditched out on their second to last game. Andrew can go down the twirly slide by himself so he is feeling big. The water was freezing down the slides but Jacob still loved it.
Thanks to all the congrats on a girl we are grateful for all your friendships! Also a thanks to all who came to the splash party, I think the kids had fun! I should have taken pictures...why do I think of these things after the fact grrrrr.

GUESS WHAT!!!!

Kevin and I are shocked, we were expecting another boy. Boys are more prevalent in his family. Thankfully everything looks great, she's healthy. We are very excited for a new angel to come be part of our family.

Swimming Party

For those of you who are interested I'm planning a Splash Party at my house this Thursday. We can have the kids play in the water while we talk. I'll provide hotdogs for lunch and have those who come chip in with a side dish. If you want more info call me. I hope the weather is nice! Have a great Monday.

Swimming Lesson

The kids had their last swimming lesson class today. I would love to put them in another session but we can't afford 160 bucks every two weeks. Danika's friend Sidney was in the class with her which was fun. Her teacher says she is ready for level three. Andrew made some new friends and here he is with the sun right in his eyes with a big cheese.This was Luke's first year and he loved it. He said he really liked his teacher too. Now he's not afraid to put his head under the water.This is Jacob with his teacher. It took him awhile to get used to the water but by the end he was loving it. He liked the songs we sang and splashing. He's still not fond of going under water (you count to three and blow in their face to put them under). On Wednesday Kevin came and we passed him back and forth under the water. I think he really enjoyed having Daddy come and play!I will forgo posting a picture of me in my swimming suit since they outlawed beached whales ha ha. I hope you all have a wonderful 4th of July! HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA!

"A" Day

My friend Amy is doing this with her kids so I decided to try it. Since the kids aren't in school it was a creative way to get their brains working. You pick a letter and find things to do with it. So yesterday we started our "A Day". I probably won't do a letter a day but do it sporadically till we have the alphabet done by the time school starts up. The kids had fun thinking of "A" words. We Ate Apples with Alligators on an Airplane. The Anteater was attacking An Air balloon. Okay okay you get the point. I had the kids draw pictures of the words and this is Danika's sheet. Can find the Acorn? America? or the Ant?
Thanks for the great idea Amy, the kids had fun.

Jacob Ate Anxiously he he