Super Woman vs. Abiding Woman

Treasure Trove for Parents

I must remember this when my kids start getting cell phones, driving, having relationships, etc!

Check it out.

http://www.jillsavage.org/?page_id=896

Very cool ideas.

Trail Mix: Make Your Own

Why buy this...

When you can make your own and get more for your money?

The kids have been taking some in their school lunches each day.

Quick hello

I am obviously absent in my blogging of late.  Sorry.  It's a combination of busy, and the fact that it's just more convenient to facebook.  I'm sure I'll get the urge to post again eventually.

Until then, you have to read this article... Funny funny stuff!

Don't Call Me, I Won't Call You

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/20/fashion/20Cultural.html?pagewanted=all

Sharing My Blessings

Ben, Mary Claire and I were sitting on the back patio this evening watching the season's first fireflies.

I told Mary Claire this was going to be her last week of preschool. I said I was sad because she wouldn't be my baby anymore because she was going to be in kindergarten soon.

She looked at me and took my hand and whispered, "I'm still here, mama."

:)) so sweet

Cool Use for an Old Crib

Chalkboard Easel

Too cute!  New use for an outgrown crib – How very cool, wish I’d seen this before I bought the store made one.  Not that I would have actually done it, but a neat idea if you've got the time!  See instructions here:

http://simplystated.realsimple.com/simplystated/2011/05/old-crib-into-chalkboard-easel.html

BINGO! Errand Entertainment for Kids

There is almost nothing more challenging than going grocery shopping with kids.  I hate doing it, so I avoid it for as long as I can.  Then I end up spending three hours in there and it is pretty painful.  

This post isn't really going to change that.  BUT.... I thought I'd share another cool printable from Real Simple: BINGO games for the kids to play while you are out and about together.  Looks like it could be fun.

Grocery Store BINGO

• Grocery Store Bingo http://www.realsimple.com/static/pdfs/grocerystoreboard.pdf
• Mall or Shopping Center Bingo
  http://www.realsimple.com/static/pdfs/shoppingmallboard.pdf
• Restaurant Bingo
  http://www.realsimple.com/static/pdfs/restaurantboard.pdf
• Doctor’s Office Bingo http://www.realsimple.com/static/pdfs/doctorsofficeboard.pdf
• Car Bingo
  http://www.realsimple.com/static/pdfs/carboard.pdf

List of Lists

I subscribe to Real Simple Magazine.  Love it.  Just sharing a list of lists from Real Simple for your to keep track of your life... Enjoy!

Ultimate Contact Sheet

• The Ultimate Contact Sheet – Numbers for everything and everybody – perfect for babysitters, house sitters, the kids, and you
• The Family Crib Sheet – From allergies, to family rules, to how to turn on the DVD player, etc.
• Daily Cleaning List - Yeah, right.  LOL
• Weekday Meal Plan & Shopping List - A girl can dream, can't she?
• Ultimate To-Do List
• Moving Countdown Checklist 
• Monthly Spending Plan - Budgeting
• Grilling Cheat Sheet 
• Birthday Organizer

Cool Kids Read Books...

And play basketball and baseball and Wii... And get into occasional mischief.


Ben is one of the biggest blessings God has given me in my 30 years. He is constantly amazing me. So this year, for some reason, he was motivated to rack up FOUR HUNDRED SIXTY TWO Accelerated Reader points at school.


Don't know what Accelerated Reader is? Google it. It's basically a program in which students can read books on their own time, then take a 10-question quiz on each book on the computer at school. Depending on how well they do, they get a certain number of points for the answering the quiz questions correctly. For example, a Curious George book would be worth a 1/2 point total. The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis is worth 6 points total.


He read all kinds of books, but series that I can recall off the top of my head were: Harry Potter books, Chronicles of Narnia, and Percy Jackson books. Ben read 81 books on his own time this year. That's in addition to school, homework, church, basketball, baseball, bike riding, and everything else. He read more than anyone in the 4th grade at his school. Probably more than I've read in my entire life.
They got all kinds of cool rewards and special activities throughout the year. Today the top ten from each grade got a limo ride to Pizza Hut where they had lunch. :)


Ben was able to get a slip and slide (400 point level) this time.  He didn't want me to take this picture, but I'm so proud I just had to share it. :) YAY BEN!

Doesn't get much better than this

What a GORGEOUS day on El Dorado!