A New Member of the Family...

JB's dream has come true...a Best Buy in town. Sammy had soccer practice in the morning and JB told me a long time ago that he would not be able to take him, due to him attending the Best Buy's grand opening. I asked him what he was planning on buying..."Nothing," he replied, "It's just the being there that counts." I don't get it, but I am guessing, for me, it would be like a new bookstore opening in town.

Scootering..

Roo got a new scooter for Christmas and hasn't been able to to take it outside (too much snow and cold.) Well, yesterday that streak ended! When we took Sam to school, Sam and I carried on about how nice the weather was, how it will be great to be outside...on and on we went. So, when Roo and I got home, he insisted that we head outside to scooter (even though it was on 40 degrees and 9:15 in the a.m.) After many tried delay tactics, that didn't work, out we went...brrrr.

There is a "hill" on the walk-way by our house. Roo's insisted that he wanted to go down the big hill. Here he is at the top, noticing it was a bit bigger then he anticipated.

Not a problem for Roo, sitting down on the scooter worked out just "Awesome!"

Look how proud the little guy is!!

He went down three more times and then he parked his scooter in the grass and said it was time for a break. (all right!!) Doesn't he looked wiped out! Maybe a nap is in our future!!!

Advanced Yellow Belt...

Last night, Sam tested for his advanced yellow belt. He had to break another board...this time he had to do a spin and then kick the board to break it. It only took him 7 spin moves to finally get the board broken. I know if I had to spin 7 times, I would have thrown up...but Sam hung in there and finally success...a broken board!!

Jack Sightings...

I always come across some sort of "proof" that Roo is in the house. These are just a few of the reminders that I spotted yesterday...

Indy Jones on my work table...

A mouse on my antique table...

I was working on my word study class and found two monkeys sleeping in my suitcase...

Lazy Days of Summer Mini-Book...

I have volunteered to make a mini-book (at Memory Bound) to celebrate National Scrapbooking Day. The store is going to offer 5 different one hour classes, and this is my project that I will be teaching. I don't know how in the world I am going to get this done in one hour. I'm thinking I will do a lot of the cutting and some paper punching before the class...that way we MAY get it completed. I am planning on asking my mom and my sister over to practice the book with them - they would be good students...talkative, ornery, not listening...perfect trial audience for me...:)

I used the new Snorkel Cosmo Cricket line...I fell in love with it right away. I
"glued" the paper onto coasters. I love, love, love the coasters and you can use them for some many different ideas!! This mini book came together pretty easily and was fun to make. Now if i can just get it done in an hour...

Alien Goo and Tattoos..

For Valentine's Day, the boys got Martian Matter Alien Creator from their Grandma S. Well, last night we finally got it out to create aliens - I must say I was NOT looking forward to this, do to the fact that the box said that some of the ingredients can stain and just the fact the word "goo" was included! (at one "stalling" point I told the boys that there were 92 pieces to this thing and it would take me awhile to look it over ...the box actually had the number "92", but it was referring to the number of different aliens you can create - oops!)

The first thing you do is pick a top and a bottom for your alien. Roo couldn't get his to stay together...notice all the different colors of goo or "Martian Matter" you can choose from..oh joy! I made the boys take their t-shirts off so they wouldn't get stained! (when we pulled out all the pieces from the box, Sam said, "That doesn't look like 92 pieces." hee hee)

Step two is to put "Alien Mud" in a small little "disc area" on the spaceship. Alien mud is just a fancy word for play-dough.

Then you make an impression in the play dough of your alien by pushing the lid of the spacecraft down. Notice the tats on the boys...they were the valentine gift from aunt this year...she cut Roo off at four tats. (the fifth one is from a previous day)

About this time, JB came home from work and offered to add the goo to the alien impression. Then you place a play-dough disc over the goo filled impression and wait for 3-5 minutes for it to set. If you wait 3 minutes the aliens insides will be more gooey...and what fun that is to squirt out!

Here is a close up of Roo's tattoos. He put one over his heart - notice it is a double heart...he told me one was him and the other was me..isn't that sweet! So, when he comes home in high school covered with tats, he better have just as good of story!

And the finished product..little, very little aliens. Roo is only showing one because his second one didn't set so well and gooed on him when he picked it up - which really "grossed him up!" Overall it wasn't too bad and the boys did have fun with it. The directions tell us that the aliens do not like our atmosphere and that they should be kept in an air tight area...we (meaning I) decided to find out what happens to the little guys when they stay out in the open! Will post pictures of the little creatures all dried up and shriveled later (at least that is what I am thinking is gong to happen!)

A Simple Thanks...

I filled in for an instructor, at Memory Bound, last week and taught her card class. So, I decided to make my own very simple thank you cards for a class next quarter and teach the class myself...what have I gotten myself into?!?! So, here is a preview of the cards that I made. They are advertised as thank you cards, but can be changed to say anything you would like...so if you need a few thank you cards or just want to be a happy face in the crowd for me, please take my class - (I am trying to get JB to take it - but he's not going for it...mom...meg...julie...)

This is a 4x4 card.

A Snack for an Adventure...

Walked into the kitchen the other day and Roo, excuse me Indy, was in the fridge. "What are you doing?" I asked. "I am going on an adventure and I need a big snack for my satchel." Once again...whatever....

At this time Indy has packed himself a propel and a Kraft cheese single slice.

This is to be the third picture, but couldn't get the computer to cooperate with me..again...Indy has his full snack prepared. Propel, yogurt, cheese slice, 5 M&M's (which you can't see) and most importantly, a pack of frozen hot dogs.

This should be the 2nd picture. Roo is checking out the nutritional facts (?) on his pack of frozen hot dogs...

Off he goes for his adventure. Must make a note to find the huge snack bag before everything thaws, warms and goes from there!

Cleaning Don't Bother Me...

Saturday was cleaning day and Roo wanted to help me....clean the toilets! While he was cleaning it, he sung a little song, sung to the tune "Shoo Fly, Don't Bother Me. "Cleaning don't bother me, cleaning don't bother me, cleaning don't bother me, it really makes me happy!" It makes his mama happy, too, that he wants to do the toilets...but unfortunately, that only lasted one toilet. darn.

Blowing Bubbles...

Sam learned how to blow bubbles on Friday. He is very pleased with himself that he has finally learned how to do this (yes, there were a few times the entire wad of chewed gum shot across the room.) We have even made a special trip to the grocery store to get Hubba Bubba Bubblegum (the memories) - twice - he couldn't stand the watermelon flavor we purchased on the first trip. He has been practicing and I am sure we will pay at the dentist! He would blow a great big bubble then run into my room to have a picture taken. Of course, Jack had to get in on the act too. He is showing his bubble blowing skills in the picture below - basically it just grosses me out (or grosses me up, as Jack says) as a big wet wad of gum appears from his mouth.

I couldn't get Sam's picture to be first on my blog, which I wanted...who knows why.

Happy Valentine's Day...

Sam is so excited that today is Valentine's Day. Every VD, aunt (my big sis) comes to spend the evening with the boys and JB and I get to go out! It is the one guaranteed holiday (at this time) that JB and I can go and do something! Sam is excited because, according to Sam, "Aunt always brings some candy and treats." Last year she brought the boys some huge VD glasses and green or blue candy (you can tell because of the color of Sam's teeth.) Aunt is modeling Roo's (the Love Monkey's) glasses - who knows why Roo wouldn't wear them. Love the last picture with Aunt and Sam together! Happy Valentine's Day to everyone!

A Valentine Mini-Book...

I have the best babysitter in the world. So, for Valentine's day, I decided to make her a mini-book of all her kiddos. Can't get it all in one posting, so there will be several. I used the Basic Grey Bittersweet line..my favorite of the season. The entire book was made with 4x4 coasters...yep, coasters!! (available at Memory Bound!)

Happy Crabby Day!

Sam has his Valentine party for school tomorrow (they do not have school on Friday.) So, we started to get the box ready on Monday and I asked him to think about what he would like to decorate his VD box with....well, Sam needed to think about it, and think about it and think about it. I checked in with him every day, determined that this WAS NOT going to become my project! Today after school I asked him what he wanted to do...still the answer, "I don't know." At this point, I am getting a bit frustrated.

So this evening, "What do you want on your box?" Sam, "I don't know..hearts. " Oh COURSE, we don't have any sticker hearts in the house! This is about when Mr. Helpful JB steps in. "You don't want hearts!" Then looking at me, "Don' t we have any Star Wars stickers around here he could put on his box?" Me, "You can go find some." (I am getting a bit crabby at this point.) Well, JB never comes back with the stickers, but with, "I have an idea!" Me (after trying to help with the idea) "FINE...you two just figure it out! I'm done." Well, about 20 minutes later the boys emerge with this in hand...a crabby Valentine box! I must admit, it is pretty darn awesome and creative. I am proud of JB and Sam for getting this together! I just wonder if it was crafted after any one in particular that lives in our house???

PS - To my parents, hope you are feeling better after a rough couple days!!