♥ Girls Just Wanna Have Fun ♥

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Lunch with Macey

I had a lunch date today with Macey at her school. I was amazed at how much food they get and how little time they have to eat it. No wonder she is always starving when she gets home! It was a lot of fun. Macey's friend, Lauren, sat with us at the "guest table".

Today is Kansas' 148th birthday so the kids were encouraged to wear anything "Kansas". I saw cowboys, indians, Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz, several Laura Ingalls-Wilders, and lots of KU and KSU fans. Here are Macey and Lauren decked out in Mighty Purple!

Sunday, January 25, 2009

Mr. Home Improvement

We have lived in our house for 5 1/2 years, and as of last week, we have painted every square inch of it (inside and out!)...some rooms painted twice! Grady's latest project was the girls' bathroom. It had carpet and blue walls...ugh. Now, the walls are a nice neutral tone and the floors are tiled. Grady did a great job laying the tile and had to use 2 coats of primer and 2 coats of paint to cover the blue walls. Needless to say, we aren't going to be doing any more painting for a while!

Over the past 5 1/2 years, Grady has also laid wood floors in our entry way and kitchen, built a shed that is attached to the back of our house, tiled our master bathroom floor, tub and shower, replaced the tile on our fireplace....and that's just what I can think of off the top of my head (I'm sure I'm forgetting some things). Here are some before and after pics of some of Grady's other tile jobs. He's my own Ty Pennington!

Fireplace: Before: cobalt blue tile (yes, cobalt blue)!

Master Bathroom: Before: carpet

Tub in Master Bathroom: Before: white tile that didn't go up high enough

Girls' Bathroom: Bye, bye carpet and blue walls!

Kitchen: Ok, Grady didn't do this one...

Sunday, January 18, 2009

Having Fun in the Snow

Yesterday the girls couldn't wait to finish eating breakfast so they could bundle up and head outside to play in the snow! They wanted to build a snowman, but needed help from Daddy to lift the huge balls of snow and stack them up. However, when Daddy went outside, a snowball fight started. They were even throwing snowballs at me (I was inside taking pictures!). Thank goodness they took advantage of the snow in the morning because it warmed up in the afternoon and the snow melted. As far as the snowman, well, let's just say he's in the big icebox upstairs!

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Trying To Stay Warm...

When we woke up this morning, it was -1 degrees...the coldest morning we've had in a long time! After breakfast, the girls had about 20 minutes to wait until they had to leave for school. We found them huddled around the heater vents, each enjoying a book! I'm proud of the fact they were all enjoying a book, but I don't know what I'm more amazed at...the fact that they were ALL quiet, or the fact that we actually had time to spare this morning!

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Silly Girls

Emmy thinks it's hilarious that popcorn can stick to her tongue. Here are my girls being silly...

Bling, Bling!

I have been making jewelry for a few years now (earrings, necklaces, bracelets), just basic beading. It's been fun because I am a jewelry-aholic, just like my mom. Every once in a while a friend will ask me to make something for them or a relative and I really enjoy personalizing jewelry for them. My mom has also picked up the hobby and is doing quite well selling her pieces. She even has a table in a store in Colby where she can sell them!

I just learned how to make a new type of bracelet. I love learning new techniques. I've shared this design with my mom in hopes that she can make them and be even more profitable! I mainly do it just for fun...but I may need to get a bigger jewelry box soon! Here are some pics of the new pieces I've made along with a bracelet I custom made for a friend to give as a Christmas gift this year.

Sunday, January 11, 2009

Big Shoes to Fill!

Ever since Emmy could walk, she has had a shoe "fetish". She loves to put on everyone else's shoes and prance around the house. The other day, she was wearing daddy's shoes and carrying around her favorite "Godchild" bear from her Godmother, Brenda. Here's our little Tater Tot.

Monday, January 5, 2009

Hello 2009!

I can safely say that 2008 was the fastest year to go by, yet. We had so many changes this past year. After 14 years with SW, Grady took a new job. Macey started basketball, got glasses, had to start seeing an orthodontist, and is turning into a young lady right before our eyes. Jolee started gymnastics, is going to school 4 days a week, is almost as tall as Macey, and has become a "dress" girl. Emmy is talking more and more, she's outgrowing her shoes constantly, and she already wants to go to school. As for me, I discovered my first gray hairs (Grady thought it was quite funny that I finally joined the club!), ran in my first 10k and half-marathon and have become a running "junkie"!

I know that 2009 will be over before we know it, too. I don't believe in New Year's resolutions, but Grady and I have a few things we're going to work on. We are going to try and go to church more, Grady has a goal of running or walking 2 miles a day (everyday but Sunday), and I plan on training for a duathalon and another half-marathon this year. I wish I could slow time down and that the girls wouldn't grow so fast, but since I can't control that, my main goal for this year is to try to slow myself down and enjoy my time at home with my family. Happy New Year everyone!!

Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Happy Birthday Mommy

Today is my 37th birthday and Grady and the girls woke me up by singing Happy Birthday to me. Macey and Jolee both made birthday cards for me and they were very cute. For lunch, we all went to one of my favorite places to eat, P.F. Chang's on the Plaza. For dessert we ordered the "Great Wall of Chocolate" which is a 6-layer chocolate cake! We split it 5 ways and it was gone in about 30 seconds! Thank you Grady, Macey, Jolee and Emmy for a wonderful birthday!! I love you all!

The girls are trying out their chopsticks!

Sunday, December 28, 2008

Happy Birthday Macey!

It seems like yesterday when Daddy and I drove to the hospital in a blizzard on Christmas night. There was "no room at the inn"...all of the birthing rooms in the hospital were full, so Daddy and I walked the halls until one was available. After 19 hours of labor, you were born (Dec. 26, 2000). My life changed at that moment. You seemed so little (yet so loud!), and you made mine and your Daddy's life complete. We couldn't wait to meet you. Now, 8 years later, you have grown to be a loving, caring person, a great big sister (most of the time), so smart, so beautiful. We all love you "to the moon and back and with all of our hearts". I'm glad you're still a "mommy's girl". Happy Birthday to my sweet girl.

Christmas with Our Family

At Christmas time it seems we spend more time on the highway than visiting with family, but this year was different. On Christmas Eve, our family, along with Uncle Scott & Aunt Megan traveled to Salina to meet Grandma Diana and Grandpa Leon to visit and exchange gifts. It was so nice to see both of them. On Christmas Eve night, we were back in Chapman at Papa Tom and Grandma Judy's where we have our traditonal dinner of filet mignons...it definitely beats turkey! On Christmas morning, we packed up and headed home. My mom, Grandma Mary, came to KC this year to spend time with us. We were so thankful to see everyone and for not having to spend so much time on the highway! We missed Grandpa Rich and Uncle D this year, but hopefully we will get to see them soon. It was a great Christmas.

The girls posing in front of their "stashes"

Showing off some of their gifts.

Grady, Macey and Jolee playing UNO with Uncle Scott and Aunt Megan Grandma Mary and Emmy doing yoga with Wii Fit!

Dialogue with Emmy

"I love you with my most loviest heart."
Whenever she finds a coin on the ground she says, "Look! It's my lucky day!"
"Once upon a time there were 2 little girls: Mommy, Daddy, Macey, Emmy and JoJo"...
"Mommy, I love you every single day."
When asked, "How old will you be after your next birthday?", she replies, "Free".
Emmy: "I love you!" Mommy: "I love you, too!" Emmy: "I love you MORE!"
Favorite questions: "Why?", "Because why?", "What?", and "What's that mean?"
She's been saying this A LOT lately-- "I'm more hungry"...every 15 minutes!

Jolee's Funny Quotes & Questions

"I don't have peanuts, I have a vagina!"
Grady said: "Jolee, you have school tomorrow", Jolee said: "Oh, the PAIN!, THE PAIN!"
"Every time I push my belly out, my pants pop open!"
"Daddy, I love you so much that I can't let you out of my sight!"
"I'm warm...like a piece of toast."
"I have never, ever, EVER tooted in school!"
"Don't eat the yellow snow!"
"If we had a boy cat AND a girl cat, and they kissed...that would be GROSS!"
"Sometimes the world is a mystery..."
"What are bees' feet called?"
"Zip your lip and throw away the key!"
"Mom's the Mystery Farter!" Note: I'm sure it wasn't me...must've been Daddy!
When deciding whether or not to add chocolate to her ice cream she said, "I'm gonna go for it!"
"It smells like there's a butt in my nose!"
"Mom, I ROCK at this!"
"Tell it to the Judge!"

Macey's Corner: New things I've learned in school

In a handful of soil, there are more living organisms than there are people on the planet.
I have learned multiplication facts by two, three, four and five and division facts by two.
To reduce pollution when shopping, purchase items that are not in a box or that have little packaging.
A refuge is a place where animals and plants are safe.
In statistics, "mode" is the number that appears most often, "maximum" is the largest number, "minimum" is the lowest number, and "range" is the maximum minus the minimum.
A menorah is the candle holder in Hanukkah celebrations and a kinara is the candle holder in Kwanzaa celebrations.
In English, the days of the week start with a capital letter, in Spanish they don't.
In Germany a Christmas tree is called a Tannenbaum
Germany is a country in Europe.
Kwanzaa is a seven day holiday honoring the ancient African tradition of celebrating the year's harvest.
There is a difference between a food chain and a food web. Food chains follow a single path as animals find food and food webs show how plants and animals are connected in many ways to help them all survive.
Another word for collar bone is clavicle.
Not all spiders spin webs to catch food, some dig holes.
Today I completed 100 math facts in less than 5 minutes.
Amphibians are cold blooded animals.
In a math addition problem, if there are more than 2 numbers, find the facts of 10 and then add the others.
A fish that has spikes and puffs up is called a Puffer Fish.
Veteran's Day is also known as Armistice Day.
The phalanges are bones that make up our fingers and toes.
Check back often! Macey will populate this list.

Savin' Green, Bein' Green, Gettin' Lean

No Paper OR Plastic: Instead of buying giftbags for Christmas or birthday presents (especially for adults), buy re-usable grocery bags that the recipient can use everyday.
Cut it Short: In ALL of the baking I do, I always use less sugar than the recipe calls for. Even if you cut it just a little bit, every little bit helps. And, we never miss it!
No More White Stuff: The next time you have to buy flour, buy whole wheat flour. I use it in all of my baking and my family can't tell the difference!
Challenge Yourself: I got this idea from another blog I visit daily. Challenge yourself to not go to the grocery store for an entire week. This forces you to be creative with what you have on hand. It's also a great way to use up the odds and ends in your pantry. It got a little difficult at the end of the week, but we did it! Plus, the savings from that week were very noticeable on our grocery budget!
Rewards Cards: Take advantage of the rewards cards at stores you shop at often. For example, we use the Office Max rewards/recycle program and are able to get free stuff there with the rewards we've accumulated. I also get special discounts at Dick's Sporting Goods which comes in handy buying my running shoes every six months. Other cards I have are for CVS (they give you money to use on your next purchase), Hallmark (free coupons), all the grocery stores (you get the store's discount plus sometimes discounts on gas), shoe stores (special coupons), you get the picture.
Free Movie Nights: Do you have a Redbox kiosk nearby? If so, you can find Redbox codes online every Monday and Wednesday to get a free movie. And, even if you don't get the codes, movies are only a buck! Bye, bye Blockbuster!
Soccer Mom Must: Car pool, duh!
Don't be a Heel: Don't throw away the heels from your loaves of bread. I don't like eating them as sandwiches, either, but toss them in the freezer until you get several of them. Then, toast them in the toaster and throw them into your food processor...wala!...whole grain bread crumbs! And, they're a lot healthier than most of the breadcrumbs you buy at the store.
Behind Bars: Our family goes through granola bars like you wouldn't believe. I love that my kids like to eat this healthy snack, but I don't like how expensive they are. I found a great recipe that is so versatile you can tailor it to your own likes and dislikes. One pan costs pennies and makes 16-18 bars. Recipe is found above in "Janie's Kitchen".
101 Uses for Vinegar: I use it as a fabric softener (and no, our clothes don't stink!), mixed with water it is WAY better than Windex, my friend Stacy uses it to kill her weeds, I spray it on the counters to help get rid of ants, and this is just a few of things I can think of off the top of my head! Google it and have fun!
Stacking Coupons: Did you know that you can use a store coupon (ie. Walgreens, Target, etc.) AND and manufacturer's coupon for the same item? For example, you can print Target coupons (good only at Target) and clip your mfr. coupon to use on the same item. If you do this when the item is on sale, it's an even bigger bonus...many times you can get it free or almost free!