My Quirks

I have been TAGGED!
Here are the rules:
1. Link back to the person who tagged you: Jess and Heather
2. Mention the rules on your blog
3. Tell 6 unspectacular quirks of yours
4. Tag 6 fellow bloggers by linking to them
5. Leave a comment for each tagged blogger to let them know that they have been tagged

6 Quirks about me..

1. I have to arrange the dishwasher in a certain order. If Jeremy loads it and doesn't do it in that order, I will pull things out and replace them the way I want.

2. I don't like tomatoes, but I will eat ketchup, tomato sauce, salsa, etc.

3. If I'm having pancakes or waffles with my eggs, I'll put syrup on my eggs. (come to think of it, I have a LOT of food quirks)

4. I don't like plain water unless I am just dying of thirst. I need lemon, lime or something with it. I prefer my water in the form of iced tea if you want to get technical.

5. I cannot stand my toe nails having any length to them. I have to cut or file them down right away if they go beyond my "safe" point.

6. I am OCD about clean hands. To the point where if Jonathan gets something on his hands he immediately comes to me with his hands up for me to wipe them clean. He about lost his mind when we hand to paint his hands for handprints on a plate we made last week!

I am tagging:
Robyn
Jenna
Kristi
Heather M.
Kristin
Carrie

Kaylin's first day of Kindergarten

For a treat after her first day, I will pick her up with a diet blackberry sprite from Sonic (I got her hooked, too!) and the new Little Mermaid movie.

Menu Plan Monday

This Menu Plan Monday is special. This week, Kaylin starts kindergarten, so it is important that I get back on track with menu planning, to make school nights easier on me and, in turn, everyone else.

Monday : Lemon pepper chicken sandwiches & grilled corn on the cob

Tuesday : Cheeseburgers on the grill and baked beans

Wednesday : Farfalle with zucchini *will sub mushrooms for tomatoes and add summer squash that we need to use up

Thursday : Sandwiches or McDonald's *it's Jonathan's Mother's Day Out Meet the Teacher night

Friday : Simple Shrimp Stir-fry with rice

Saturday : Jalapeño tilapia & broccoli

Sunday : Chicken Marsala with pasta

Back to School shopping and Mommy and Kaylin time

This weekend was tax-free weekend in Texas. Some of the stores I normally shop at for the kids were running additional sales on top of that, so we took advantage and got some new clothes for Kaylin. I got some new clothes, too, as I will start substitute teaching this year.

We ended up with a lot from Old Navy, in addition to no tax they were having a sale of 40% off some of their kids stuff, plus 20% off if you used your Old Navy account. So, we both got several outfits from there.

At first, Kaylin didn't want to go shopping with me. Later on, she ended up really enjoying it and picked out the majority of what we bought for her. When the consignment sales start up here in the next few weeks, I will buy both kids all new jeans and several basics for winter and then they won't need anything until the stores start marking things down to bring the spring things in. She was very particular about wanting a yellow shirt and we never were able to find one in her size after checking 3 different stores.

Saturday evening we went to the Highland Village Balloon Festival with our friends Matt & Chera. Kaylin had a ball. Jonathan loved the glow necklaces and the bounce house. Kaylin rode down a big blow up slide, bounced high on a trampoline, and rode in a small ferris wheel type ride. There was also a booth in the arts & crafts tent where they were making fabric flip flops for $10 and she wanted to do that, but I told her we could do that at home. So, we'll need to go buy some fabric and make those soon.

Sunday was our special day. Since Jeremy works so much and doesn't get to spend a lot of time with the kids, Kaylin calls special Jeremy and Kaylin days "Daddy time," but Sunday was "Mommy time." The plan was to take her to see Kit Kittredge: An American Girl movie, but we found out that morning that the closest theater was in Frisco, which is almost an hour away from us. I figured we could still do it, since she was looking forward to it. Well, that ended up getting "taken away" because she had problems listening that morning. So, we had lunch at McDonald's (her choice) and walked around an outdoor mall, which was really nice as the weather here this weekend was gorgeous. Bought her some more clothes at The Children's Place, my absolute favorite place to shop for the kids!

This morning was my substitute orientation. I am now officially a sub in the same district we live in and Kaylin's school is in. Eventually, I will get my teacher certification - am just not sure when I will start that process.

Back to School

Well, only 12 days until Kaylin starts Kindergarten! Today she got a haircut to get her ready and tomorrow we'll go clothes shopping, as this weekend is tax free weekend in Texas.

Here are some pictures of her hair cut. She only had about 2 inches cut from it, but since she has curly hair, it always looks like more than that! They aren't the best quality photos either, as they were taken on a cell phone, but they show the cut well enough which was the whole point of the picture.


As one of my friends pointed out, all her swimming this summer has made her so tan and blonde! Just look at those natural highlights! Lucky girl. My friend Chris also said that Kaylin would probably have 5 boyfriends by the end of the first week. All I have to say about that is - not if they know what's good for them .

Home from Disney World

Well, we survived! We made it home from Disney World in one piece. We've already talked about a return visit and I'm gunning for a visit to Disneyland next time. I'd love to be able to share with the kids where I grew up.

The trip was everything Kaylin imagined and more. Her highlights were meeting Ariel, breakfast with Mickey, Pluto, Lilo & Stitch, the fireworks & parade at Magic Kingdom and of course, hanging out with her cousins. Though, I think she'd have been perfectly content if we'd simply flown to Florida just to meet Ariel. She absolutely loved that! And to top it off, Kaylin was wearing a purple shirt that day, naturally, as it's her favorite color, but then Ariel offered up that it is also HER favorite color. Whew, Kaylin was just over the moon! Her reaction when she saw that the princesses were REAL PEOPLE was absolutely priceless. She knew that the other characters weren't "real" and were in costume, but when she saw her first princess and that it was a real live girl, not in costume, her jaw hit the floor. It was just too cute and I only wish I'd have been able to capture the look on her face with the camera.

Clicking on the album below will take you to the photo album with our pictures, including a few short videos of the Spectromagic parade and fireworks show at Magic Kingdom. This link will take you to our photopass pictures, taken by cast members of Disney World.

WDW 2008

Well, I need to get to bed. We just got home from seeing Dark Knight, I just wanted to make sure I updated this, as we've been home for almost a week now!

Ready for potty training already?

I think Jonathan may be gearing up to start potty training. It started with him "holding himself" while or after he had just pee'd, I'm not sure which. I just know he would alert me that way. Now, he'll just go ahead and remove the diaper and start crying/whining for me to change it. I am so not ready for this, but I know I'll need to follow his cues.

Kaylin was so easily potty trained that I've worried from day one about potty training Jonathan. For starters, I know that boys are harder. I've taught in potty training classrooms before, I've seen the differences first hand. I also know that Kaylin was abnormally easy in that she never really even had any accidents. Once she started taking her diaper off we started at home and soon after she moved up into the next room at school, where it was then scheduled into her day. If I remember correctly, she was also around this age.

So, I'll just have to follow Jonathan's cues and hope for the best!

Our Summer Fun list

On several other blogs moms have been posting their summer list of things they want to do over the summer. Things to cure the, "I'm bored!" I don't know that we will accomplish everything on our list, but I took a few from some lists I saw that I liked and I added some local attractions to ours. If any of you local moms want to join us, please let me know! You are more than welcome and we'd love the company! I plan on coming back to this post and editing the list when we have things we can cross off. We may not do everything I listed, but it will be fun to try!

• Go to the $1 movies.
• Library storytime.
• Plant a small garden.
• Make a fun lunch. Everyone be in charge of a part of it (ie: dessert, drinks, etc.) and take it to the park and eat and play Frisbee.
• Take some white T-shirts and decorate them outside.
• Have a party with BBQ, games, and ice cream
• Family bike rides.
• Make lemonade from lemons.
• Make popsicles.
• Go to a carnival in the evening.
• Go to the library in the morning and then sit under a tree reading in the afternoon.
• Cook dinner on the grill.
• Go get an ice cream.
• Make your own ice cream (in a bag).
• Visit a museum on a hot or rainy day.
• Use a sewing machine to make a doll or a doll's dress.
• Learn how to make a custom hair bow.
• Paint on a canvas.
• Paint on the sidewalk or driveway with ice.
• Play with your food.
• Catch butterflies.
• Pick berries @ Duck Creek.
• Make a pie or jam with said berries.
• Swing on swings.
• Have a water balloon fight.
• Host a teddy bear or favorite stuffed toy themed picnic.
• Go bowling.
• Go for a round of miniature golf.
• Make snow cones.
• Eat peaches.
• Go to the Heard Muesum.
• Fill up the wagon with the hose.
• Put a baby pool at the bottom of the slide.
• Blow bubbles.
• Watch a fireworks display.
• Have a bonfire.
• Attend an Independence Day parade.
• Play in the yard with the water hose on. Make rainbows.
• Swim!
• Build a fire pit and toast s'mores.
• Build-a-Bear.
• Sleep late.
• "Here's a fun craft. Buy inexpensive flip-flops and dress them up with fabric pieces. You start at one end and work your way to the middle, then do the other side. You take a piece of fabric about 7 inches long and 1 inch wide, fold it in half, wrap it around the strap, double tie it, and there you are! You try to get them as close together as you can. My daughter loves doing this. It's easy, fun, time-consuming, and really makes a cute pair of flip-flops in any color you'd like. Great birthday party idea, too." -taken from an unpink life
• Feed the ducks at a pond.
• Have a tea party.
• Teach our children how to bake something of Mom's or Grandma's.
• Go to NRH20 or Hawaiian Falls.
• Drink an iced coffee.
• Have a drawing contest on the sidewalk with chalk.
• Make home-made play dough.
• Go to a farmer's market.
• Choose a new book at a local bookstore.
• Tint some shaving cream, spread it in a baking pan, and doodle or write words.
• Make strawberry freezer jam.
• Plan a camping trip to a state park.
• Go to Fossil Rim or Arbuckle Wilderness.
• Make homemade yogurt pops.
• Buy a disposable camera for the kids and let them record their favorite summertime fun.
• Have a bubble gum blowing contest.
• Pitch a tent in the backyard and have a "camp out".
• Visit a local farm and pick our own veggies.
• Have a treasure hunt.
• Go to the zoo.
• Learn to make jewelry.
• Visit a local public flower garden.
• Eat strawberries dipped in sugar.
• Bask in the sun. (wearing the proper SPF, of course)
• Picnic with a blanket on the kitchen floor on a rainy day.
• Go to the Aquarium.
• Make silly putty.
• Or slime.
• Star gaze.
• Have a "Spa Day" at home.
• Run through the sprinklers.
• Lay on a blanket, look up at the sky and try to figure out what the clouds look like (animals, etc.).
• Visit a local Children's Museum.
• Buy a cheap kiddie pool and sit in it while eating Popsicles.
• Play Marco Polo.
• Dance in the rain.
• Maintain our blog.
• Have a root beer float dessert night.
• Make homemade ice cream sandwiches.
• Take swimming and/or diving lessons.
• Make something pretty and refreshing to drink, with fun snacks in pretty bowls...enjoy.
• Pick out your favorite color of nail polish and sit out on the patio painting toes, giggling and just being.
• Build forts on a rainy day.
• Pack up a lunch and hit some local state parks.
• Wash the cars with daddy.
• Set up an Obsta-Cool Course.
• Have a pillow fight.
• Learn to french braid.
• Play dress-up.
• Make (and eat!) Crash Hot Potatoes.

Kaylin or Jonathan on the cover of Parents magazine?

So I submitted both kids pictures into this a while ago but I wasn't going to ask for "votes" or anything since they don't count towards the actual outcome of the winner. But then, Goodyblog went and posted this today, so I figured what the heck! Clicking below should take you to the two galleries (one for each kid) but if it doesn't, please let me know so I can fix the link!


Vote for my kid!

7 songs meme

Several of my friends have been doing this meme and tagged me. So, here are my answers.
Here is the full Meme:
You've been tagged. List the seven songs that you most closely tie to a specific memory. These songs do not have to represent your happiest memories, good memories, or even strongest memories… The connection between the memory and the song is what you should use to determine what fits the list. These songs, when you hear them, ABSOLUTELY force you to recall a specific person, time, or event. GO!

1. Good Riddance - Green Day (high school graduation)
2. I Will Remember You - Sarah McLachlan (I engraved a frame with some of the lyrics for someone before they left for college)
3. Shine - Collective Soul (my boyfriend in 7th grade dedicated this song to me on a local station)
4. Pop - *NSYNC (reminds me of the summer I worked their tour - really any song from the Pop Odyssey album does)
5. Heaven is a place on earth - Belinda Carlisle (Senior Prom)
6. Me and You - Kenny Chesney (Our first dance)
7. Bump - Kottonmouth Kings (Driving to Fort Worth with Karen)

I'm also supposed to tag 7 more people, but I'm pretty sure everyone has been tagged already. If you haven't and this looks like fun, go for it!

Swim Lessons

Here is the video of Kaylin's swim lessons, practicing her freestyle stroke. It was really windy that day so you hear a lot of wind in the camera.




And this video is of her floating and then swimming to the side.

Graduation video

Here's the video of Kaylin graduating preschool. At the end, you can see me give her a high five. I was down closer so I could get pictures. I think Jeremy is the one who took the video, and it took him awhile to figure out how to turn it on, so he missed her name.

Sweet baby boy

I just put Jonathan down for his nap and he pulled his paci out of his mouth to tell me "night night" as soon as I laid him down. He's never told me night night at nap before, although it is normal for him to tell us night night before bed. Before we gather up his blankey and paci I'll take him to Jeremy & Kaylin to tell them night night, or if Jeremy puts him to bed, he'll bring him to where I am to tell me night night. But, this was the first time he did it like this, and it just made my heart smile to know he took his paci out of his mouth just to tell me that, because as soon as I said it back, back the paci went in his mouth.

Awww, he did it again at bedtime. Only this time, he said, "Night night mama."

It's Summer...

and at our house, that means lots of time with the grill!

I'm basically putting this here so I'll always be able to find it and because I've received so many comments/emails on my Menu Plan Monday posts that I know you guys enjoy when I share recipes with you.

60 Cheap, Healthy Marinades

Ear infections

Blech! I have my first ear infection in years. Now I remember why the kids are so darn miserable when they get one. Good thing I had a stash of drops in practically every medicine cabinet in the house. And I already had a chiropractor appointment tomorrow, so I'm going to see if he'll also adjust my ear so it will drain properly. I've had him adjust the kids each time they've had an ear infection and it seems to work. They are back to normal the next day or so. At any rate, Jeremy got sick of my random shrieks of pain so he made me go to the doctor this afternoon. Two prescriptions for drops and I'm back home, typing this with my head sideways to let the pain drops work their magic before I attempt sleep with the help of my trusty heating pad.

Menu Plan Monday

Monday: Lemon Garlic Shrimp Skewers

Tuesday: General Tso's Chicken

Wednesday: Pulled Pork sandwiches

Thursday: Spicy Macaroni & Corn

Friday: Bourbon Chicken

Saturday: Leftovers or Eat out

Sunday: Mongolian Beef with brown rice

Kid updates

Jonathan seems to say a new word a day now. Every time we turn around he's repeating us. Some new ones that I can remember.
* all gah (all gone)
* cah-kee (cookie)
* ni-ni (night night)
* bye bye mimi (when my mom leaves or we leave their house)
* bye bye papa (when my dad leaves or we leave their house)
* mine! (he says this A LOT to Kaylin)
* He'll grab his nose if you ask him where it is
* He'll lift his shirt if you ask where his belly or belly button is
* If you ask if he's poopy he grabs his diaper and says something that starts with a P
* He loves turning the lights on and off for us and will say "on" and "ah" (that F is a tough sound!)

Kaylin is taking swimming lessons with Mr. Bob again this summer. Her lessons started on Monday and they spent Monday and Tuesday doing the things she learned last year. In Wednesdays class she learned the freestyle stroke and in today's lesson she learned the back stroke. Tomorrow I'll take my video camera get some video to post here.

Today, Jeremy and I celebrated our 3rd anniversary. Jeremy brought Pei Wei home for dinner, so I didn't have to cook. Saturday my mom is watching the kids and we will go out to a local steakhouse and hopefully catch a movie or something else that we don't get to do often.

My current favorite lotions

I was lucky enough to receive samples of two new lotions and I have enjoyed using them so much, I figured I could share the wealth with you! I'll write an update on the kids in a later post.

Dove Cream Oil Lotion for extra dry skin. I love the smell of this lotion! I don't know what it is about it, but I just love the scent. I also like the way it makes my skin feel. My skin is very dry, so this didn't feel greasy to me at all because my skin just sucked it right up! It leaves my arms feeling nice and moisturized and not with a damp, sticky feeling that you get after using some lotions.

Aveeno Daily Moisturizing lotion with SPF 15 I use Aveeno Daily Moisturizing lotion on a regular basis after I get out of the shower, and throughout the day, so when I got invited to do a Bzz campaign on the new one, with added SPF, I was really excited! We all know we should wear sunscreen daily, but how many of us actually do? I know I don't. So, to know that I would always put this lotion on anyway, and know the sunscreen was already in there is was just an added bonus. I hate sticky and/or greasy lotions and this lotion doesn't have either of those traits. It also has natural colloidal oatmeal in it, which helps when my skin gets so dry that it's itchy.

I have 4 samples and $1 off coupons for the Aveeno lotion for anyone that is interested. If I am going to see you anytime soon and you want to try it out yourself, let me know!

It's finally here!

I've been waiting for this movie to come out since rumors started swirling right after the series ended on HBO. And my moment finally came. I went out with some girlfriends to see the premiere at 12:01 last night. We didn't get home until almost 3:30 am and dare I say, it was worth it! Best movie ever, but functioning on the 3.5 hours of sleep I got is not any fun at all and I woke up with a headache. I already want to see it again and absolutely cannot wait for it to come out on DVD so I can own it, along with seasons 1-3 & 6. Yes, I'm missing seasons 4 & 5 still. Need to remedy that too, while I'm at it!

Menu Plan Monday

Monday: BBQ chicken, baked beans, coleslaw, fruit
Tuesday: Dinner Station Cheesy Brunch Bake and fruit
Wednesday: Baked Teriyaki Chicken (but I will use breasts) with frozen veggies
Thursday: BBQ Ranch Chicken Salad
Friday: Grilled pizza and salad
Saturday: Southwestern Steak, Corn, and Black bean wraps
Sunday: German pancakes with scrambled eggs

I also plan on making Crustless Strawberry Pie sometime this week. Unless I get a recipe for a different pie from my friend Meg before I go grocery shopping.
4 servings, 1 point per serving

Ingredients

1 3/4 cups boiling water
1 small pkg. sugar-free gelatin
**1 small pkg. sugar-free cook 'n serve vanilla pudding
1/4 cup cold water
4 cups sliced strawberries, no sugar added

Instructions

In medium microwave-proof bowl, comine gelatin and boiling water. Stir to dissolve.
In separate bowl, combine cold water and vanilla pudding. Stir until smooth. Add the gelatin mixture and mix well.
Microwave mixture until boiling (will look like a glaze.)
Cool to room temperature.
Pour glaze over berries. Mix gently. Pour into sprayed 9" pie pan. Chill until very firm. Top each serving with 2 t. fat-free whipped topping.

Special Notes

**Be sure to use cook 'n serve pudding, not instant.