January can't be over yet!!!

Seems like January has just flown by! The girls have been busy with school, and Gabryle has been busy being his normal busy self. Kenzie is working to get onto the schools Superintendent Honor Roll, Kylie has started to learn to read in her class, and Gabryle is still picking up some sign language. Gabryle has also figured out that he can get in the fridge to get himself something to eat. Tonight alone, he decided he wanted to get some tea. The pitcher of tea was full, and went all over the floor. He is a handful!!!!

As the new year has been going by fairly quickly, Kylie has been concerned lately because her birthday is next in our house.  Yes it's not till April 5, and yes it is early to think about it. I have mentioned it to her and Jerrod has also mentioned it to her, but it still hasn't sunk in to her yet, that she has 2 more months to go before it arrives.

With her birthday we always have to keep in mind that it usually always falls around Easter. Some years it doesn't but usually it does. This year it will be the Thursday before Easter Sunday.  It got me curious as to when her birthday will fall on Easter Sunday, and it turns out her birthday will fall on Easter in 2015. (Her 8th Birthday)

Earlier this evening Kylie came up to me with the most serious face she can have and says:
"Mom, I want you to make a cake for me for my birthday. I cake, a cake cake, a real cake, an actual cake." As I sit and process this I ask
 "So you want me to make your cake?"

"Yes." She replied. "A real cake, an actual cake."

I never realized I have not made her an actual cake for her birthday. Last year yes we did a store bought cake, but that is the only time she has had a store bought cake for her birthday. I was already planning on making her cake this year. I reassured her that I will make her a cake that will be what she wants, but I won't make it until right before her birthday. She'll also get cupcakes sent to her class on her actual birthday. I might even make some little goody bags to take also for her friends in her class. She doesn't know I will do that yet.

Till Next Time!!

Kenzie's class project

Kenzie and her loaf of bread

Today Mackenzie got to make bread in a bag in her class. Yes I will admit I had never heard of it till her teacher said something about it when we ran into her  at Walmart a few days ago, but it is pretty neat.
I looked up online the recipe and have it included below for those of you who would like the recipe.

Kenzie eating a bite of her bread

Mackenzie told me she was partnered up with a friend of hers and they started to make the bread. Her teacher had everything measured out and they just followed what they were instructed to do and mixed it in the big Ziploc bag that they had.

They did all of the mixing and resting of the dough in their classroom and when it was time to bake the bread they took the sacks of dough and the little pans to the school cafeteria .They used the ovens in there to bake the dough (Of course her teacher and her aide did the baking part, but the kids still had fun getting to help). Mackenzie told me the bread made the whole school smell great earlier while it was baking.

As she came out of her classroom and into the pickup area after school Mrs. Moore, her principal, was glad to see the bread came out so great. It smelled great on the way home and we all tried a piece after we got into the house. (Kenzie had already had a piece while at school, but wanted to share with the rest of us.) The bread tastes really good. I love wheat bread!

I'll have to use this recipe on a rainy day with the kids to give us something to do. You usually can't go wrong with a good loaf of homemade bread!!!

Till Next Time!!!

Recipe for Easy Wheat Bread
Mix in a heavy-duty (freezer) plastic bag:
½ cup all-purpose flour
1 package active dry yeast or fast-rise yeast
1 tablespoon sugar
1/2 cup warm water (105° to 115°F)

Close bag, release air and work with fingers until completely blended. Let rest 15 minutes.

Open the bag and add:
1 tablespoon sugar
2 cups whole wheat flour
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
2 teaspoons salt
1 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup warm water (105° to 115°F)

Mix well until the dough pulls away from the sides of the bag--about 5 minutes.

Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead 5 to 6 minutes. Knead in just enough flour to make a soft dough; it should be a little sticky. If too much flour is added, the final product will be dry and low-volume. Divide dough into thirds. Cover with plastic bag. Let rest 10 minutes.
Press the dough out flat with fingertips into a 4 x 6-inch rectangle. Beginning at a short end, roll the rectangle up tightly like a sleeping bag. With fingertips, pinch the edge to the rest of the dough forming a seam. Fold over the two ends and pinch.
Place dough, seam-side down, in pan.

Cover with bag and let rise until doubled, about 45 to 60 minutes. Bake in a preheated 350°F to 375°F convection oven 15 to 18 minutes; or in a 400F conventional oven for 30 to 35 minutes.
Remove from pans; cool on wire rack.

Kylie's Valentine Decoration

 For the month of February, Kylie brought home her family project for us to do this week. For February we were asked to decorate a heart and to make it detailed like Valentines used to be. We went and picked out some fabric and ribbon that Kylie liked and brought it home to do the project.

I cut the heart shape out of the fabric and then we sewed the ribbon onto the fabric. We then glued the fabric to the card-stock heart that Mrs. Pearson and Mrs. Jackson provided us to use. I had bought some foam 3-d glitter heart stickers earlier and Kylie used some of them to add some more color to the heart. We also used some of the extra beads I have and spelled out her name with some pastel pink and purple beads on the front.


I think the Valentine turned out great. I love the sparkle  of the ribbon around the edge. I think Kylie loves this project the most due to the fact that is done in almost all pink except for the three red hearts she applied to it. She wanted some glitter too but I am not a big fan of glitter and was able to talk her out of it. (Yes I know, I was a party pooper.)

I can't wait till they get the hearts posted on the bulletin board outside of their classroom on Monday. It is always fun to see how different the kids decorate their projects that are displayed. I bet tomorrow Kylie and one of her best friends Camryn will sit and discuss their hearts as we wait for the older kids to get out when I pick her up. (Pre-K gets out 15 minutes before the older grades.) I'll also try and get a better picture of the heart and post tomorrow.

Till Next Time!!!!

Cheer leading.

Latest Cake I Made!!
Don't know why I posted it with this blog post but I did.

I have never been into cheer-leading.  I can guarantee that if you don't know me and ask someone that does, they will tell you it is one thing that I have never been interested in doing. Give me something that pertains to music or art I will try in a heartbeat!

The girls however have gotten to where they are interested in cheer leading, even miss tomboy Mackenzie has gotten interested in it. The high school cheer leaders have a clinic that is for the Pre-k - fifth grade classes at the girls school, and they have been signed up for it. They had one earlier during the football season but we didn't sign them up for it, and this one they seemed extremely interested in doing, so they have been signed up to participate in it. (Thanks Nana!!) Both of the girls are so excited that they are going to get to do the two day clinic and then cheer at the girls basketball game on February 3 during half time. They are so excited they are signed up to do it next week.

I was talking with the girls about it after school yesterday and told them they will have a workshop after school for two days next week and I wouldn't pick them up till later in the day. Kylie wasn't too sure about that till she realized that the big cheer leaders will be coming to teach her how to do the cheer leading. Kenzie told me she is still finding out from her friends if they will be doing the cheer leading also. I believe a couple of the girls in her class are participating also. (Of course she knows so many kids, she'll probably know most of them at the clinic anyway!) I now must go look for some cheer shorts for the girls to wear in case we need to get those for them to wear with the t shirt they will be given.

I think Kylie will enjoy it the most, but I could be totally wrong about that. If they do enjoy it and want to do it in Junior High and High School, I will probably eventually learn to like football. I'll make sure and post pictures from the game they cheer at during half time for everyone!

Till Next Time

Bounce House Party

Mackenzie's butterfly face paint

 Here in town there is a cool little business that is fairly new that deals with parties and bounce houses. They have four bounce houses that I counted that were up in the large room, plus a little pop-up tent. Then in the back they have a party room, with tables and chairs set up so you can have a private party.  The woman who owns and operates it also does face painting for the kids if you purchase that package. She is very talented. I ended up driving by it about three times before I realized I was passing it each time and looking straight at it. It wasn't marked the greatest on the outside. I glanced over and at the last second as I passed it the last time I saw the sign in the window with the name of the place on it. I went back around the building and finally parked across the street.

Butterfly face

Mackenzie got to attend a birthday party for a friend there today. She had a blast!! For over two hours they played in the bounce houses, had cake and juice, and watched her friend open her presents.  They also go their face painted, as you can tell from the picture. Mackenzie was so proud of her butterfly face paint. From the way the girls were all playing when I picked Mackenzie up it seemed they all had a blast. They were still eating cake and getting ready for the pinata when I showed up so I let Mackenzie finish up the party and help with the pinata.

Face Paint

I would have never of thought to put up four or five bounce houses in a building with a private party room to rent out to people to have parties. It's a smart idea. Could be worth looking into for one of the kids birthday parties in the future. Hope you enjoy the pictures of Kenzie in her face painting. She is sure proud of it!!

Till Next Time!!

Girls Busy Weekend!

Amaurie and Kylie at the birthday party

Seemed like this weekend was a busy one! Our niece, Amaurie, had her 4th birthday part Saturday, which was fun to go to. The girls were thrilled to get to go to her party! As soon as they got out of school Friday they talked about it! Friday evening Amaurie even came over and I watched her while Jamie ran a few errands, and the girls loved it! They watched some cartoons, played in the bedrooms, chased Gabryle around, then sat down to watch the Justin Bieber movie. Saturday we went to her party and the girls had a blast! Gabryle even had fun, till he let go of his balloon and made it fly away! (On the way home he cried and kept hollering for his balloon to come back). The girls got to go Saturday out to the farm with Jamie and Papa and Carrie to see some of the horses Papa brought up with him. Kenzie was thrilled to see the horses!!

Mackenzie and Biddy

Kenzie and Kylie stayed and had a sleepover with Amaurie that night. They seemed to have a good time at the sleepover! Then Sunday, Aunt Jamie took the girls and a couple of Amauries other friends to the skating rink to go skating. Kenzie wasn't too thrilled with skating so she watched and played some of the games they had snacked on stuff. Jamie told me that Kylie skated almost the whole 2 hours they were there and was catching on pretty quickly. Course Kylie told me, "Mommy I kept falling on my booty!" After the skating we picked up the girls things at Jamie's and then headed home. 

Amaurie, Mackenzie and Kylie
out visiting the horses!

Gabryle playing in the clothes
hamper

They slept all the way home and seemed to have a good weekend. Gabryle stayed home with us and seemed to enjoy having Mommy and Daddy all to himself. He and Jerrod watched some TV together stretched out on the couch, and he picked on Daddy a lot! I think his most favorite part was getting to sleep in longer on Sunday morning. For him sleeping in till 9 is a lot!! Normally he's up and ready to go around 730 on the weekends. He did seem glad to have the girls back though. He didn't let Kenzie leave his sight once we got home!! 

Where's Gabryle?

 Today we will have a lazy day at home and then tomorrow get back in our normal school routine. I bet the girls teachers are going to hear ALL about their weekend tomorrow. I know for sure Mackenzie will tell her teachers that she got to go out and see "her" horses and help feed them and everything!!

Till Next Time!!!!

Little turkey......and a new purse!

In the mornings if the kids are up and ready before we are, which happens a few times, it is fun to just sit and listen to them talk to each other and interact with each other. The most fun of the three is Gabryle. Even though he is the youngest, he can really keep up with the girls well.
This morning before school The girls were all ready and in the living room. Gabryle jumped off of our bed and went in with the girls and Kenzie decided to play a little with him. She asked him for kisses and squeezes (hugs) and he did and after he did he hollered "Bye." She didn't leave so he yelled "Bye-bye" to her. She asked a few more times and each time he would tell her "Bye." Finally he just started yelling "Bye bye" to her and you could tell he was getting frustrated with her.  she finally quit, and then when it was time for us to head to school for their breakfast he wouldn't tell her "bye", but he made sure to tell me "bye".
After I got back we sat and watched a little news and then as Jerrod was leaving for work, Gabryle was trying to move the trash can. (I moved it from its normal spot to see if we can find a better place to leave it.) He got so upset because I moved the trash can and would not let him move it back to where it was sitting. Really out of all three of the kids at this age, he has been the most easy going of the three. He can keep himself busy with toys or books better than the girls can.

Close up of the purse. 

I also finished a new project with my knitting looms. I made a little purse, and am very proud of it. It has turned out really cute I believe. I used the shortest loom I have and made it large enough I can fit my license, cell phone, ipod and keys in it without it being overly full. I used just some plain light pink fabric and made a liner and sewed it inside and attached the shoulder straps to the liner. Here's the pictures below!

Till Next Time!!

Mackenzie....Beginner Climber

At the girls school, the elementary p.e. department just put in a new rock wall for climbing. Mackenzie found out about it when they got back from Christmas break and has talked about nothing else when it comes to p.e. and has been thrilled about it! She brought home her permission slip the other day and we sent it back allowing her to be able to use the rock wall.

She was proud to tell me today that she got to climb the rock wall today! She wasn't scared from what she has said but she had a blast! She went half way up the first time and then came back down. In her own words "I didn't look down at all!" After she got down and some other kids moved out of the way she decided to go back up the rock wall. She got a little further the second time then went back down.

Kenzie hopes to go back up the wall soon and knowing her, if either of the coaches let her go up, she will go up in a heartbeat. Also knowing her she will want to find a place to go rock wall climbing during the summer too while she is out of school. She really is an out doors, all sports kind of girl. She's already mentioned to me that she can't wait till t-ball starts this summer. Although she might be in machine or coach pitch this year, though I am not for sure though if it is or not.


Till Next Time!!

One of my Hobbies

Scarf I made.

I have gotten to where I really enjoy knitting. I actually currently have 3 different projects going on at once which luckily I can keep straight. Jerrod bought me for Christmas a set of long knitting looms, which are really cool. Makes knitting scarfs and pieces of knitted blankets go by very quickly, and you can knit it double sided, which makes it just a little thicker. I love them!!!!!

I have made me a new scarf, which I haven't really been able to use since it has been unseasonably warm this winter. I'm working on knitting Kylie a blanket, that is hot pink, and then another beige afghan for the living room. (that way Jerrod and I can both have one when its cool in the house!)  Kenzie wants me to make her a new scarf also, so I will start on that one soon also. 

Kenzie modeling the scarf
I made. 

I also am currently working on how to learn to knit flowers. (So if any of you that know how to knit flowers have any advice I'm up for the tips!!) I think it would be cool to learn how to do those, plus I just think they are pretty. I told Kylie that I was going to learn how to make them and she asked if when I do and finish her blanket if I can attach a few on the blanket for her, so I told her I would try to do that. 

Once I get a few more of the projects I'm working on I'll get them posted no here for you too see also! Hope you enjoy!!

Till Next Time!!!! 

the end of break

Well, Christmas break is almost over for the girls and I don't think it can come fast enough. Kylie has been asking for the past week when she gets to go back to school. I keep telling her Tuesday, but it just cannot come fast enough for her. I asked her why she was so anxious for school to start back, and she said its because she misses her friends and teachers. Kenzie is ready to go back also. She has worked hard over Christmas break to get all of her spelling words for next week memorized she can ace her test. She said she can't wait till she gets her bonus words so she can get them learned so she can score a 104. I think she also misses her friends also a lot, she just won't mention it.

Gabryle will probably be bored the first week of them back at school. He has gotten used to them being home all day, and having other little ones to play with. However he will probably be glad to have Mommy back to himself while everyone else is at school or work. It will be more quiet with the girls at school again that is for sure. I bet he will be glad though to be able to play with his toys by himself for a while. Especially his new blocks he got at Christmas.


I think Kylie is mostly just ready to show her friends her new clothes that she has gotten over break. Plus I think as much as she will not admit it, enjoys the school lunches better than what I fix for lunch. (Mostly sandwiches over break for lunches at home.) It will be nice though to get back in the normal school schedule again. It is much easier getting Gabryle down for naps while the girls are at school than when they are home. Plus if he doesn't sleep before we pick the girls up I can just leave a little early and drive the long way to school and he falls asleep and will sleep till we get back in the car after the school bell rings and we have the girls in the car.

Till Next Time!!