And There’s a Winner…

It’s time to announce the Clever Containers giveaway winner!

Molly from Clever Containers will be giving the lucky winner their choice of one item from the current Clever Containers catalog.

Here’s a quick visual just to remind you of all the wonderful organizing products that can be yours…

And the winner is…

#3 was Krista!

 

Congratulations Krista – contact me and I will send your information on to Molly!

 

If you didn’t win but spied something that would make your life a little easier, contact Molly and she’ll be happy to place an order for you.

 

*As a side note, please keep my parents and all of our friends in New Orleans in your prayers. I last spoke with my parents around 6:30 pm (Tuesday night) as they were preparing for Hurricane Issac. My mom mentioned that they had already lost power once and were expecting to lose it throughout the night.

My parents are celebrating their 42nd anniversary today (Wed). Seven years ago today they watched from my house as Katrina stormed into New Orleans. Who knew Aug 29 would be such a momentous day so many years ago when they married.

Thankfully, this storm is nothing like Katrina. When this storm passes, and everything returns to normal, plan a trip to New Orleans. The city is a wonderful place for families or as a special getaway – come support the city that I love and call home*

Olympic Party Food

A few days ago we decided to invite a few friends over for an Olympics watching party.

Since it was so last minute, I didn’t whip up any decorations but I did have a little fun naming the food we served.

I cut out little place cards and placed them by the food:

Meatball Subs = Shot Put Subs

Grapes = Volleyballs

Mini Pitas & Hummus = Discuses

Salad = The Parade of Nations

Strawberries & Marshmallow Dip = Bengay for your tired muscles

Long Thin Chocolate Cake = Canoe

Cake Cones = Torch Cakes (looked something like these).

Around blogland there has been lots of wonderful Olympic food ideas. Some of my favorites include Michelle Paige’s Flag pizzas , all of the desserts on Miss Candiquik (the weight lifting cookies are the best!), and all of the foods shown on Tip Junkie.

Can you turn your dinner tonight into an “Olympic Meal”  like I did for the party?

Go ahead and give it a try!

Quickly

Just a few observations I’ve had recently.

Not really enough for a blog post but still they make you go, “Hmmm.”

 

#1 – The other day I was pumping gas when I noticed the woman across from me holding her Pomeranian while pumping gas.

Really? Are you Fran Dressier or something? I’m pretty sure the dog would be just find in the car for five minutes.

 

#2 -The boys picked up a free circus poster the other day.

While looking at the poster, my three year old said, “It’s Uncle Ryan!”

The boys and I both said, “What?”

Caroline pointed to the picture of the man on the poster and said, “It’s Ryan.”

She is convinced it’s my brother who just graduated law school.

So Ryan, please let us know if you’ve thrown a law profession to the wind and joined the circus.

And, oh yes. Let us know if you’ve shaved your head.

The man in the picture is riding an elephant and has a bald head.

She’s convinced it’s Uncle Ryan.

 

#3 – I made spaghetti and meatballs for dinner the other day.

“Derek, we’re having pasta for dinner what do you want to drink?”

“Milk.”

He said milk, people. You can’t have milk with pasta, it’s just wrong.

 

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

We’ve got a swim meet and hopefully a trip to the movies planned.

June Goals Revisited

Add Item to Etsy ShopCheck!

Clean out Game Closet with KidsFail! Even though the month isn’t over I’m positive this will not get done.

Buy Environmentally Friendly Toilet PaperCheck! – Sorry I can’t help it I must say the wildly inappropriate pun…Man that sh*t is expensive!

Every Week Spend Alone Time with Each ChildCheck!

Add a shelf in the master bedroom closetCheck! Thanks Derek!

Visit the Pool A lot!Check!

*Hard to believe 2012 is almost half way over!

I Think I Want to Marry You

Good luck to any guy who wants to propose to a woman who’s seen this video.

I don’t think it possible to top this.

(Click on the picture and it will take you to the video)

By the way, my husband asked me to marry him at Graceland – and no he wasn’t wearing blue suede shoes – but it was at Heartbreak Hotel 🙂

 

The Dad Life

Happy Father’s Day to all the Dads out there.

Take a moment and enjoy this little tribute to dads – it’s hysterical – and truly spot on.

http://youtu.be/3F1ynL0c0Xw

HP Fever

We’ve got Harry Potter fever over here.

My husband just finished reading the first Harry Potter book to our boys and they are super excited to watch the movie now.

I decided to make a little party out of it and have been looking for a few items to help celebrate.

This book mark is on it’s way to our house…

Sophie Wilson Design

I’m pretty sure these cards would be fun to use…

Harry Potter Playing Cards

Anything that says “Sweet Shoppe is sure to be a hit…

Harry Potter Sweet Shoppe Kit

Andrew studied this book for awhile today at Barnes and Noble…

LEGO Harry Potter Book

This wizard’s workshop looks like fun…

Farrago Kids

How about a personalized Hogwarts diploma?

The Supply Company

 

And this one just cracks me up – probably not going to get this for the boys:)

Mud in My Blood

Anybody in your house a Harry Potter fan?

Preschool

***This post was written a few weeks ago when my daughter was still in school***

Apparently my daughter likes preschool.

At least that’s what the teachers tell me.

I have never actually seen her experience this joy but I’ll trust them.

I hear about her love of friends, putting crafts together, playing in the pretend kitchen, but when I show up the fun stops.

At the Christmas party all of the kids stood in front of the parents singing away while Caroline was in my lap burying her head.

At the Valentine’s Day party, she wouldn’t leave my lap for the group picture.

And at the end of the school year party she wouldn’t sing, get in a picture, or put on the decorated class shirt.

Notice all of the other kids wearing similar shirts?

 Guess who refused to put one on?

You could look at this as she’s asserting her independence, not following the crowd, thinking on her own, or maybe even that she has good fashion sense.

The teacher kept saying, “She’s a real pistol.”

When asked why she didn’t want to put her shirt on Caroline said, “I’m brave.”

Whether or not she understands what that means you do have to admit she is pretty brave.

Imagine staring down and refusing to follow the directions of two fifty year old women when you only stand 32 inches tall all the while ignoring your mommy’s suggestions for putting the shirt on and being in the class picture.

Yes, I think she’s definitely asserting her independence.

Oh, and  she’s certainly a little pistol.

Food in d’House

So we’ve been cruising along in summer with: swim practice, a trip to Costco, visit to the library, a planetarium visit to see the transit of Venus, visits to the neighborhood pool, and eating.

Lots of eating.

Luckily we’ve been eating pretty well.

For instance, today the kids had strawberries and whipped cream for snack.

Oh, and I might have had a bowl full too.

The other night I tried these Chicken Taquitos from Chef in Training and they were fabulous. My attempt at the Pioneer Woman’s homemade pico de gallo was not the greatest but it was edible. I think I added way too much cilantro.

The other development in our kitchen is that the boys are cooking as they have in past summers.

They are each responsible for planning and cooking one dinner a week. Once they plan their menu they have to check to make sure we have all the ingredients or they need to put it on the grocery list.

We only completed week one of the summer dinners by the boys but so far everyone gives it a thumbs up.

Alex made grilled cheese and tomato soup with a side of grapes on Sunday while Wednesday night Andrew made hot dogs, chips, a salad, and some yogurt.

There’s talk of cheese nachos next week.

Hopefully I’ll persuade a vegetable or two to make an appearance with that dinner.

Are you cooking up anything yummy?

A Suit

I need a new swim suit so today I am shopping for one with my daughter.

Why am I going shopping with her?

Because going bathing suit shopping with one child will be a lot easier than with three children.

School ends tomorrow and I must get a suit.

Can you imagine the shaningans that would go on outside of the dressing room with two boys?

It will be must easier to take only my daughter though she will be highly critical of anything that is not pink.

Crossing my fingers I find one!