Birthday Shout-out

Happy Birthday Mom. I know it is a few days late. I called her on her birthday and lucky her was sitting in a hospital bed getting blood. She has been experiencing some health problems ever since her knee surgery. They don't even have to do with her knee. It is her blood pressure and not making enough blood, and swollen legs. I wish they could get her fixed so she get out and come visit us already=).
Anyways, I just wanted to say I love you Mom. Get Better soon. We will have to do a Birthday Day Lunch when we get together.

Yard Sale...

I think Bridgetower Subdivision is having a yard sale this weekend. One of my co-workers lives over there and was getting ready yesterday. I scored quite a few things last year. I migt have to head over there today after Hallie's appointment. Any of you yard salers should head over. It is off of Ustick Between Black Cat and 10 mile.

Taffy Therapy...

It must be getting close to that time of the month. It took me forever to fall asleep last night. There are new changes at work, and we had an ugly hour of cold ladies that just got done with Women's League and wanted drinks now. Then I woke up this morning stewing over how we should have handled that ugly hour at work. I even started to cry for a quick minute, not sure why. Then I decided to vent my feelings to my friend, supervisor so that I could let go of it already. I forgot to look at the clock and was late for visiting teaching, and now I am home feeling a little crazy. I found a sack of salt water taffy and it got the best of me. I am not suppose to be eating it. Fine, I will put it away. I thought PMS was suppose to get easier as we got older. I feel like I want to eat everything in sight, cry about nothing, want to sleep a lot, and find I can't focus very well, kind of like I get a temporary case of A.D.D. Does anyone else experience this. I should go for a jog, that seems to clear my brain, but I have 2 kids here. Okay that is an excuse, I have a tredmill. Speaking of 2 kids, they are very quiet, and have a snowcone. That could be sticky mess. Chow for now.

I mentioned before I wanted to improve my cheesecake baking ability. I found this recipe HERE and am going to have to try it in my near future when I haven't sworn off baking, again=).

White Chocolate Cheesecake
This is a great cheesecake recipe. The white chocolate makes this cake particularly rich.

Ingredients
For the crust:
1 2/3 cup graham cracker crumbs

1/2 cup butter, melted

2 tablespoons granulated sugar

For the filling:
4 8-ounce packages of cream cheese

1 1/3 cups granulated sugar

4 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 1/3 cups white chocolate wafers or 8 ounces of white chocolate baking bars

Notes about the ingredients.
Use good quality white chocolate wafers with a high cocoa butter content. Wafers have a finer grind and are richer and smoother than chips. Some white chocolate chips do not melt properly.
Purchasing graham cracker crumbs will save you time and cleanup and usually cost less than crackers. If you use crackers, the easiest way to process them into crumbs is with a food processor.

Directions
Preheat the oven 325 degrees.
In a springform pan, mix the graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, and sugar together. Press the mixture across the bottom of the pan and up the sides to form the crust. Put the crust in refrigerator while you mix the filling.
With the paddle attachment of your stand-type mixer, beat the cream cheese and sugar together. Add the eggs and vanilla and beat until smooth. Melt the chocolate. Drizzle in the melted chocolate while it is still warm and while the beaters are running. Pour into the crust.
Bake for 50 minutes or until the cake is done. Let cool on a wire rack. After ten minutes, loosen the sides with a spatula and remove the ring. Refrigerate the cheesecake to cool completely.

Serving suggestions:
Serve this cheesecake plain or with a topping. Our favorite topping is a simple sauce made with berries. We use these recipes often. They can be made with fresh or frozen fruit.

Raspberry Sauce
Raspberries alone are not tart and flavored enough for a dessert sauce even when thickened with a starch. There are two possible solutions: Cooking the fruit down to concentrate the flavors or adding a jelly for thickness and flavor. We chose the latter.
12 ounces, about 3 cups frozen, unsweetened raspberries

2/3 cup red currant jelly

about 1/4 cup sugar

Thaw and puree the raspberries. Strain them twice through a sieve or until nearly all of the seeds are removed. Place the puree in a small saucepan. Add the jelly.
Cook, stirring occasionally, until the jelly is completely melted and blended with the fruit. Sweeten to taste with the sugar while it is still hot. Stir to make sure that the sugar is dissolved. Let cool.
Yield: About 1 1/3 cups of raspberry sauce.

Strawberry Sauce
Strawberries alone are not tart and flavored enough for a dessert sauce even when thickened with a starch. There are two possible solutions: Cooking the fruit down to concentrate the flavors or adding a jelly for thickness and flavor. This recipe uses the latter.
12 ounces, about 3 cups frozen, unsweetened strawberries

2/3 cup red currant jelly

about 1/4 cup sugar
Thaw and puree the strawberries. Place the puree in a small saucepan. Add the jelly.
Cook, stirring occasionally, until the jelly is completely melted and blended with the fruit. Sweeten to taste with the sugar while it is still hot. Stir to make sure that the sugar is dissolved. Let cool.
Yield: About 1 1/3 cups of strawberry sauce.

another quilt

Thanks modabakeshop for the pattern

I found this other quilt that I like. I think I will make them each their own pattern. So who should get the hexagon one and who gets the pinwheels? How big do I make them. I want them to be big enough they can cuddle up to watch tv and their whole body be covered. Also, should I do one side with a warm comfy flannel and the quielted side out of cotton? Would that be crazy? I am still trying to decide if I want to brave out hand quilting them or tying. I looked into having someone hand quilt it, but it would be around $100 for each blanket. Yikes.

Potty update....

Livee is doing so good at this potty training. She has had a few accidents but for the most part she is getting it. She has even been dry every night and gets up and goes on the potty first thing in the morning. We even went out to the store yesterday and didn't have any accidents or emergency runs to find a toilet. She likes wearing panties and doesn't even want to wear diapers not even at night. I don't know if I should even say this out loud knowing it might jinx me, but she has been probably the easiest one. Maybe because she has so many to show her what to do.

Tween-ager....

Now, I do not tell these stories of my beautiful tween-ager to make her look like a terrible rotten child. She is a good kid, and I think it is quite funny at times. So please don't judge her=).
Savanna is my tween-ager. I have 2 stories about her.
Duty To God
The first one is about her Duty to God Book. She is turning 12 in a couple weeks and needs to have her goals done. It isn't hard and it will help her become a better person and make her closer to her Heavenly Father. She looks at it like a stupid thing that her mother is FORCING her to do. She wouldn't do it if I let her decide. So I had her doing a couple at a time after school. She has to have them done or no playing and no soccer. Now when I put restrictions on her life she falls apart. She waited until 10 minutes before soccer started and then decided she would do her 2 goals. She rushed through them, was late for soccer, made Brad-the coach late and left mad at me because she had to do those stupid things, and that it was my fault she was late for soccer. I am getting really good at just saying OK, and chuckling to myself. So that was last week. This week I made a list of about 8 goals. I had to work early Sunday so I left her a note for when she woke up and it said "Today would be a great day to get your goals done. I love you, Mom." I got home from work about 5 pm and she hadn't touched them. In the meantime she had texted me at work and wondered if she could put on some of my makeup. I said that would be okay to practice, but she doesn't get to wear it out until she is 12 (which is in 2 weeks).
I get home from work, and the she starts with "Why do I have to wait until I am 12 to wear it to school? It is only like 2 weeks away."
I respond with "That is the rule we decided on. You have waited for 12 years, you can wait 2 more weeks."
She stars with her stupid, why, that's not fair.
"You can wait until your 13 to wear makeup or 2 more weeks."
"No, that's dumb"
She keeps up the stupid, not fair stuff.
I had a thought come to my head "You get your Duty to God goals done and you can wear makeup."
Through the whole conversation Brad is in the room offereing his remarks of, "OOOh, AAwwh," and chuckling at her. He is such a goofball.
She stayed up until 11 pm and finished all of the goals except for one that she had to finish the next night because she was going to help with dinner and clean up. I guess I win and she wins.

Phone Battle

Savanna was sitting to the bar doing her homework and I was at the laptop looking at phones to order for Hallie's upcoming Birthday. (Just a quick note that Savanna just got a very nice phone for Christmas just 4 months earlier.)
Savanna notices what I am doing. "Mom are you really getting Hallie a phone for her Birthday?"
"Yes, I am. I just trying to figure out what kind to get her. My options are either one like yours or a Chocolate Touch." They are both on sale for $29.99 with a new contract and online order.
"I think I am going to get her one like yours because I am not sure a touch phone is what I want to get her."
"Mom, that is not fair. She can not have the same phone as me."
"Well then I will get her a touch phone."
"That isn't fair either. She can't have a better phone that mine."
I am chuckling at this point knowing she won't be happy with whatever phone I pick her.
Savanna says "Well then I am going to buy me a new phone."
"No your not because they are like $250 phones if you just buy one without a contract."
"No their not."
So at this point I told her to focus on her homework. I had Brad come down and give his opinion and he thought they should not have the same phone, so I ordered her the touch phone.
Savanna couldn't even focus on her homework anymore. She wanted to get on the computer right now and look for a new phone. She was mad because I made her finish her homework first. She finally did and after her research on the computer, I think she came to the conclusion that she couldn't buy a new phone. I offered to trade her phones=). She didn't like that option either. She went to bed a little disappointed. When she upset like that I have learned that she needs her space to cool off. I love her. She is just having to learn the hard lessons of life.

Hallie's Birthday...

Hallie turned the big double digits of 10 yesterday. Aleena, Livee and I made a little goodie and took it to her at school. We delivered it to her class room. I had this idea in my head that the teacher would stop what she was doing and the kids could see her get a goodie. But as I entered the classroom, the teacher was reading a book to the class and the kids were writing sentences. She barely glanced up and I said we have a delivery for Hallie, she said "Hallie" and continued reading. She took it and went right to her backpack hall and put it in her backpack and we left. I am sure it made Hallie's day, but I was left wondering why the teacher didn't let me have my moment.

After school, she came rushing home wondering if her present had been delivered. (She knew I was waiting for it and hoped it would come today.) She wanted to open it right now. I told her we were going to fix dinner and cupcakes and sing to her and then she could open it. She was so upset. Every ten minutes she would re-hash the situation and continually get upset with me. She picked homemade cheeseburgers for her birthday dinner. Oh and for breakfast we had donuts. That is a little family tradition we have. Birthday Donuts. It is the only time we do the donut thing. Hallie picked the raspberry filled hostess ones.

We finally sat down for dinner. We put a candle in her bun and sang Happy Birthday and let her open 1 present of Flip-Flops and a glitter ball. Savanna the happy person she is says earlier while we were wrapping them, "Mom, why would you get her a glitter ball. If I get one of those I will just throw it over the fence." Oh-she is so happy. I am getting her one just because she said that. (She is just mad about the Birthday Present Hallie is getting. I will post about that next.)

Anyways, we finally got through dinner. And we then let her open her big present. The only things she asked for were a new phone, or a new puppy. She was so excited for her new phone. She got a Chocolate Touch Phone (only because they were on sale for $29.99) All night we got to hear from Jase and Aleena "Mom, I want a phone. When I am 10 can I get a touch phone?" Aleena said, "Mom, can you show me how to work it, so I know what to do when I am 10." I kept saying yes, in hopes that in 5 years she will have forgot. We finally got around to ice cream and cupcakes. I bought these little 2 oz Ben and Jerry ice creams. I bought 2 of them for Hallie. I came in with them and said "I think the freezer turned into a shrinking machine because look how tiny the ice cream got. I don't think there will be enough for everybody." Now if you will remember how sugar crazy Savanna is, she gets up and runs to the freezer. "Mom you better have some more somewhere or I am moving out" (She is laughing making a funny) I hid them so she couldn't find them. After not seeing them in the freezer, She comes running through the front room with one of her bags on her shoulder and pretends she is moving out. She had us all laughing. What a clown.

Hallie got all her phone parts figured out. I was laughing because Brad really does not like texting unless he has too. He doesn't have a keyboard and it drives him crazy. So he is helping Savanna with her homework and kept getting texts from Hallie. She was on her bed and texting everybody. Everytime his Text ring would go off he would have to dig in his 12" pants pocket and see who it was. It was funny because he was getting annoyed and that doesn't happen very often. She had a great birthday. She is having a friend party on Saturday. She is taking 2 of her friends to swim at YMCA. Happy Birthday Hallie. I love you.

relaxing...

Livee loves to lay in the tub and just let the water relax her. She will lay there for like 10 minutes. The other day, she layed down and about a minute later, Brad realized she had fallen asleep. Maybe she is part mermaid.

talking...

A few things Livee says:

Piss it -Kiss it

Manna -Savanna

Haddie-Hallie

JJ-Jase

Bidee-Livee

Eena-Aleena

Body-Aubrey

Pippy-Sippy

Chew-Juice

Chocate Milk-chocolate milk

mammies-pajamas

Panties & Cookies...

Yesterday we put panties on Livee. She keeps telling me when she goes in her diaper. I just thought maybe we will give it a try. She was so funny. It took her about 5 wet panties to figure out how to hold it until she got on the potty. When she would wet in her panties she would start to cry-wine and walk with her legs really far apart. After actually going on the potty she was so excited. We all hi-fived her and we decided to make cookies in celebration of her wearing panties (Even though I swore off baking for 2 weeks, so I could drop a few pounds-that didn't last very long. Tomorrow) We will see how she does today. She woke up dry, and tried going on the potty, but nothing came out. It did about 10 minutes after we tried. It really upsets her to have wet panties, so maybe that will help the precess. I will keep you updated.

Teacher...

It has been so warm this last week. I had the back door open and soon realized it was kind of quiet. I look outside and see these two swinging. I hear Aleena telling Livee "Up, and back, Up and back." She was trying to teach Livee how to swing her legs. They were having such a great time together. Aleena so wishes she was Livee's mom, and Livee wishes she could do everything Aleena does. Perfect duo.

Aubrey came over and they enjoyed a little picnic outside. We recently got this little table given to us. The legs are a bit yucky and I don't want it on the carpet, but it makes a perfect little play table for patio. It is exactly their size.


I was making cinnamon rolls and the girls wanted to make their own. First, they needed an apron like mom, then they tried to copy every step I did. Even using floss for cutting them. They were both so proud of their mini-mini cinn. rolls. Livee ate most of her dough (gross) so hers wasn't very big by the end of the process.

Rollie Pollie Salon...

Of course my camera's batteries were dead when I went to take a picture yesterday. Aleena, Aubrey, and Livee each had a tupperware they were collecting rollie-pollies in. We have 2 pink Barbie mini blow-dryers. They had them plugged in. When they would find a rollie-pollie they would bring it in and hold in their palm and give it a quick blow dry. I think they were just cooking them. They thought for sure they were cold and needed to warm up. Then they took them over to the toy houses and were giving them rides in the little pet shop spinning cage. Around dinner time, I kept seeing rollie-pollies headed to the door on the floor. Apparently they left them out and they were all looking for the way out of their torture chambers.

Quilting...

I know I am getting myself in way over my head, but I want to make a quilt for my older two for Christmas. I really like this one. I am still keeping my eyes out for ideas, but I need to get started soon if I want to get them done by christmas. I will be on the hunt for fabric on sale. I found this pattern on line at MODA BAKE SHOP They have great free online patterns. Do you have any quilt ideas that you want to share with me?

Savanna Soccer Upset...

Savanna had a soccer game yesterday right after school. We knew it was going to be a tough game when in the first minute, the other team got the ball and scored. I don't think our girls even touched it before the score. This team was amazing. There passing skills were to die for. The part that made the game tough was that the ref wasn't calling anything. Their girls were pulling on jerseys, pushing, bad mouthing. The ref seemed to be calling stuff on us, but on them. It gets the parents all upset. No, it wouldn't have made the score any different, but it just makes it an ugly game to watch. Savanna was upset, but these games are what makes us stronger. There is always a better team out there, and that is why they need to continue to work hard. The final score was 7 -0. They haven't been that smashed in a long time. They will get over it, but hopefully it will make them stronger players.

Crock Pot Chicken Lasagna

Yesterday, I tried a new recipe in my crock pot. Savanna had a soccer game right after school, and I wanted dinner to be ready when we got home.

Chicken Lasagna in Crock Pot
2 (10.5 oz) cans cream of chicken
1 pkg (10 oz) frozen spinach, thawed, drained and squeezed
9 0z diced cooked chicken
8 0z sour cream
1 c. 1 % milk
1/2 c. Parmesan cheese
1/2 c. chopped onion
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
9 uncooked lasagna noodles
nonstick spray
1 c. mozzarella cheese

Mix first 10 ingredients in bowl. Mix well. Spray crock pot. Layer noodles, 1/3 sauce, 1/3 c. cheese. Repeat. Repeat.

Cook on Hi 1 hr. Turn down and cook on low for 5 hours.


I used onion powder instead of chopped onions and I used Penne pasta since I didn't have any lasagna noodles. My family doesn't like chunky onions. And I caked on the cheese, so I probably used double cheese.

It tasted really good. Too good, I ate too much.

Few things I would change: Less spinach. My kids and husband can handle a little bit of spinach, but it was a bit much for their taste. Also, it was a bit too done on the bottom, so I would maybe just skip the hi for an hour and up the low time. Plus it seemed just a smidgen dry. Not much, but I think I would add a bit more milk to it.
Now, what's for dinner tonight?

Snowcone Season...

These past couple days of warm weather have brought us snowcone season which brings along sticky floors and sticky tables. My kids love their snowcones. All the neighbors love them too. I am so excited it is warming up. The kids sell them for .25. Feel free to come by and get one. They are so delicous.

New Website

I love to read other blogs. I am probably the last one to find her, but in case some of you haven't been there http://www.thepioneerwoman.com/ is a really cool blog. She has incredible recipes, tried the cinnamon rolls and LOVED them. Easy. No kneading involved, just used my mixer. Also, she is a great writer, and has lots of fun stuff to read. Check her out.

The cinnamon roll recipe was huge, so after rolling them and cutting them, I put them on a pan and froze them individually. After frozen, I put them in freezer bags. When I want some I just can put them in a pan, let thaw and rise, and then cook them. I even put some little baggies of icing in the freezer to unthaw with them. This will be a huge time saver.

Job one day, not the next...

Last week my work had quite a change take place. Tuesday there was an emergency meeting called. The owners had decided to lease out their golf course to new management, Raiven Golf Services. They had let go the current management, and are bringing in the new. The new company comes and introduces themselves and tells us that as of right now there are no more employees of Lakeview Golf course. We are more than welcome to fill out applications and they will start the interview process in the next 24 hrs. If we are an employee that will be an asset to the business then we can get re-hired. Talk about shocker. I know I don't have an extravagant job or make tons of money, but it was money and we really need that income. From a business stand point it is actually a brilliant idea to start from scratch. It gets rid of the unnecessary drama. I haven't had to write a resume or have a job interview in a LONG time. I got the job because my M-in-Law was the manager, and I had filled in a few times and it turned into a permanent thing. I felt like a young girl with all the nerves, and unsettled feelings. We then were told to finish out our scheduled week. That will give them time to access us, and figure out what kind of crew they will need. I finally found out I was in on Friday. He said Steve really like me, Steve did the interviews, and that he would like to offer me a job. He had already made a tentative schedule and asked if that would work, and I told him I would really love to have Sundays off. I don't mind a few here and there, but it was turning into a lot of Sundays. He said that would be fine, and asked how many days I wanted. I am so relived yet sad. I know that not everyone made it back. I do not wish for anyone to lose their job so unexpectedly yet I am excited for the new future that is ahead of us there.

Monkey Bread...

I was so excited to make some Monkey Bread last night, let it rise over night, and then bake it for the girls this morning. I put it in, and the pan started leaking (i used a 2-piece bundt pan and didn't line it), and it started to rise to much which resulted in buns falling out and over the pan, and then lots of smoke. I was off jogging, so Brad pulled it out, and the inside was doughy. Dang it. Does anyone have a favorite Monkey Bread, pull apart, butterscotch roll recipe that works?

Sweet Moment...

I was out for a jog this morning and I was on about 2.5 miles, zig zagging the streets of Birds of Prey, and in the corner of my eye, I catch someone on their front porch. I look over and there is this old man in his crisp clean white shirt and jens waving. I thought maybe he needed something, but then I hear him clapping and cheering me on, "You go girl, you can do it." It really made my morning. It made the rest of my run easier.
Livee is finally feeling better. She actually ate yesterday and kept it down. She is back to her perky little self, climbing and talking, and eating. Luckily, nobody else caught it.
Last night I went grocery shopping. Savanna decided to come with me. We haven't been spending much time together and it was nice to do a little talking. It wasn't anything in depth, but just small chat. I need to make it a point to go out with my kids more often.
Savanna had to build a popsicle bridge a couple weeks ago. After seeing some of the other kids' I wondered if we should have decorated hers up a bit. But yesterday they did the weight test, and hers came in 2nd place. It held 38 dictionaries. I was so excited for her. The fancy decorated one came in like 33rd place. I guess it goes to show that looks aren't everything=).
I have had the last 3 days off, and it has been so nice just hanging out. I can't wait for summer, then I can spend more time with my older kids in the day. Well, I have soccer games to get ready for. Have a great weekend.

Kindergarten Registration

Aleena had Kindergarten registration this morning. You would have thought it was Christmas morning she was so excited. When I woke her up I said "Aleena, we need to hurry we have kindergarten Registration." She popped right up and said "Oh-sorry Mom, I will hurry." I am not sure what she was sorry about, but it was cute. She did just fine. She can't understand why we can't start tomorrow. It will be wierd to only have one at home next school year. We just have to wait and see if her days are Monday and Wednesday and every other Friday, or Tuesday and Thursday and every other Friday.

Livee Sick.

My poor baby has been sick. She started acting real yucky Monday night. She started with the yucky poops. She would toot and I would need to change her diaper. I kept waiting for her to throw up. She finally did about 1 in the morning. We got her cleaned up and I held her on the couch til morning. I didn't want her sleeping in my bed in case she threw up again. All day yesterday she had a yucky tummy. She could not hold anything down. I could tell when she was going to puke because she would cry "Mommy, Mommy" hold her mouth and look for her bucket. Poor thing. She finally kept a few bites down for a couple hours last night. But then lost it again before bed. She actually had a wet diaper. That was starting to concern me. This morning she didn't want to eat or drink. She had some pedialyte, but couldn't keep it down. She then kept a fruit roll up and a piece of apple down. She is sleeping again. Hopefully today she starts to turn around.

Easter 2010

We had a busy, yet fun weekend full of family, friends, and sugar.

Saturday morning we started with a neighborhood egg hunt. They eggs all along Ardell. It was so very cold. If the sun wasn't out, it could have been snowing. There were only about 10 kids there, and 4 of them were mine. We then came home and finished sewing and the kids did an excellent job helping me get the house clean. Savanna had a rough night of throwing up and so she got to be sick all day. I thought it was one of her fast food reactions, but turns out it was a bug.

We started coloring eggs around 4 pm. Linden, Michelle and the kids came over and colored with us. Livee was so cute. She didn't want to use a spoon, so her little fingers looked like baby shrek hands. She had a dozen of eggs in front of her, and each one got dunked multiple times in the same color. She would drop it in and then as soon as it was dropped she would pull it right back out.

A bit later, the Browers and Strawns came over. We had homemade soup and rolls. Yummy. Then the kids got to make rice crispy nests. That is a family tradition of mine. We make these every year.

Then the kids headed outside for some games and running around. We had made a bunny to play pin the tail on the rabbit, but it turned into try and hit the target on the bunny with the ball. They loved that. While we were playing games, the dad's went over to the Browers and hid eggs in the back yard and started a bon-fire. We shortly headed over and played "guess the jelly belly flavor" game. That was funny. Apparently nobody like Juicy Pear. That is one of my favorites. But when you don't get to see what color it is, the flavors are a bit shocking.

By now it was dark, so everyone got their flashlights and coats and we had our night time egg hunt (not good for picture taking). It was sooo much fun. There was one prize for each kid and it was like Christmas all over again. We did some hanging out around the bon-fire, but soon the snow started to fall so we called it a night. The only bummer part about the whole night is that Savanna had to stay home and miss it all. She sat in our bedroom all evening with a barf bucket on her lap. I knew she was really sick when she was passing up candy.

Sunday morning we were invited to go to church with Grama Dar. That was a unique experience. It was a Christian church that loves to sing, and clap and is a very energetic group. They were even giving away free donuts in there little coffee shop. One thing is that we didn't have to worry about the kids being too noisy=). After, we headed over to Dar's house for lunch. It was yummy ham, pot. Tasha made a delicious pound cake.

Uncle Mike and Brad hid a few eggs in grama's back yard for the kids to find. Livee started to realize that plastic eggs have candy in them, and so she would leave the hard boiled eggs on the ground. To smart.

We headed home feeling like we wanted to just veg out, so we watched a redbox as a family, the new chipmunk squeakel. It was cute. We had a great weekend. Thanks everyone.

Sewing for 4...

(Aleena was so excited to wear it she took about 10 pictures of her dress)
I
I had all these great plans of doing some spring cleaning during spring break. I then saw this cute fabric at the store and decided to do some sewing. I found a free pattern online here. I only spent $25 on fabric and I got 2 sundresses and 2 skirts, and enough left over to make Aleena a twirly skirt. She was a bit disappointed when hers didn't spin like Hallie's and Savanna's. It actually went smoother than some of my previous projects. It would have went a little quicker if my bobbin winder would work on my machine, but I had to hand wind my bobbin. I actually did some smocking for the first time and it was actually easier than it looks. I was surprised Savanna actually went along with the idea of everyone having the same color dress. The only hiccup that I had was that while I was at work Friday, a ghost came in our house and cut a 3" hole right in the middle of one of the skirts. It was the day when I had 11 kids here and I left the scissors right next to my skirt. wasn't thinking on that one. It was fixable and I actually got over it pretty quickly. I think I will be doing more sewing in the near future.

Busted

Well, some of you may have already heard, but Savanna had a life lesson last week. She was at her cousins having a sleep over. It was about 9:40 pm and I was taking her bag to her. I turned onto their street and she runs out waving me down. I was wondering why they were down the street. When I got out they were close to tears. They had been busted for ding-dong ditching. I have warned her in the past that I don't like it, and if she gets caught they will get in trouble. A neighbor didn't like it and spotted them in his truck and had them stop. They did the right thing and stopped. The guy called the cops and so I hung out until the officer got their. Their were 2 boys and 2 girls. I know that their are many kids that do it, and that they weren't out trying to cause any trouble. If any of you know Savanna she is not a trouble maker. I just don't think they thought it was a big deal. The officer talked about trespassing and curfew is 10 pm, he talked about juvenile detention and took their names and birthday and made them promise they wouldn't do it ever again. If they get caught again their name is in the system and they could get a citation or taken in. The neighbor guy had complained that it had been happening a lot lately so their must be other kids doing it and they just happened to be the lucky ones that got caught. That ended their ding-dong-ditching days. I am glad. I really don't like it and now they can't do it. Savanna is a good kid and hopefully her friends can learn a valueable lesson from her. I love her dearly and my heart hurt for a few days because she was sad about it. I don't like to see my kids sad. As a consequence, she could choose from writing a sorry letter to the 2 families involved or no sleep-overs for 3 weeks. She chose the no sleep-overs. She didn't like the idea of having to face the families again =).