Roller Skating Lessons

Liam and Asher started roller skating lessons last night at the Crystal Ball Roller Rink.  Liam already knows how to skate but wanted to anyway.  Asher hadn't wanted to skate in the past so I didn't even ask him but, when he found out about them he definitely wanted to go.  And he had very valid points when stating his case. 

 He said that he needed to know how to skate in case he got invited to a roller skating birthday party.  And that he would never learn if he didn't try! 
We had to let him after those reasons.  So, off he went.  

Jeremy was going to drop them off at the skating rink and pick them up after lessons.  But, Asher made him stay.  I get to go next week.  Jeremy said that Asher fell a lot.  But, he kept getting back up and trying again.  He had a few fits and yelled a bit but I think he REALLY wants to learn.  We are very proud of him for his determination. 

 Jeremy said that he laughed a lot last night too! 

  The classes last for 6 weeks.  Maybe Liam will learn some things he doesn't know too!  He said he had fun as well.  There were 8 girls in his class and he was the only boy!  I told him that he was a lucky boy, he smiled! 

Liam's Cork Board

Liam and Cedric have had a cork board over their desk for a while now with nothing on it.  I told them they could put special stuff or things they wanted to remember or organize on it.  Anyway, after Christmas Liam wanted to hang his calendar that he got and didn't know where to put it.  I told him to put it on his board.  When I went up to look, he also had a funny birthday card that Grandma Kelley had given him hung up too!  I just thought that was cute!  It says something about being so excited for his birthday that he could just poop!  I can't remember word for word but it is pretty hilarious!!

Daddy and Eden

 I know all these pics may look the same to someone who doesn't know that this was one of the cutest things EVER!  Eden had some allergies or something viral last week and was just feeling under the weather.  She snuggled up on Jeremy and he rubbed her face and ran his fingers through her hair.  She was so relaxed.  She was in heaven!  She was so tired too and her eyes kept fluttering shut as she struggled to keep them open.  It was a special moment that I know Jeremy loved too. 

 Taking some tylenol before she fell asleep on us, lol! 

My Quote of the Day...So Far

"Why are you EATING

 Asher's Spelling test!?!?"
-Mom

A Little Toilet Water Never Killed Anyone

Well, I just found Eden carry a sopping wet hand towel around the house dripping all over.  She was sucking on it and saying "It's good!"  I followed the trail of water to find out where it came from.....yep, my daughter is drinking out of the toilet!!!! GAH!!! What the crap!?!?  No one showed her that!  What is she thinking!?!?  Bahahahaha! Well, I guess it is not technically drinking out of the toilet....she just dipped the towel in I guess????  hmmmm.  Silly girl. 

Sleepy Froo

  Eden Rose was falling asleep on the couch.  When I got the camera out, she tried to move and open her eyes but, she just couldn't muster the energy!  Ahhh, she is too dang cute!

 

Army Men vs. Pirates

Asher had a very good day at school the other day so we gave him his promised $2.00 and took him to Dollar General to shop.  He came home with a bag of army men and a bag of pirate men.  We had to have a battle. I was the army men.  The pirates won. 

Baby Wash

 This is a GREAT idea!  My kids LOVE to get in the bathtub and play.  They almost always end up accidentally wasting an entire bottle of soap in one way or another.  Leaving the spout open and the bottle laying on its side on the bottom of the tub is a classic.  We were using Arbonne hair and baby wash for it's botanicals.  That ran me about $9 a bottle.  And if they wasted the whole thing in one bath, I felt like a huge WASTE!  ugh.  Now we get two bottle a month from Amazon of the Seventh Generation baby shampoo and wash.  It runs me about $6.64 per bottle (10oz.). and still has all the same good for you ingredients as the Arbonne Baby wash.

 To take the cost down I took an empty Dial Foam Handwash bottle and cleaned it all out.  I added about one inch (too much I think, I will use a little less next time) of the Seventh Generation soap and then filled the bottle up the rest of the way with cold water.   You have to turn the bottle upside down slowly a few times to get it to mix.  Don't shake it too hard or you will have a bubbly mess!

WAAAYYYY Cheaper.....and it comes out in a foam, which the kids love!  I tried to find my food coloring to add a drop or two for color but can't find it since I am moving everything in my kitchen around right now.  But, next time......

Grilled Cheeseburger Wraps

 I made these a few nights ago for supper.  We had tater tots, organic white cheddar shell macaroni, and green beans.  Everyone loved it!!  Who would have thought that cheeseburgers in a tortilla would be this good?!  But, it is!! And easy!

Cheeseburger Wrap

Servings: 5

Serving size: 1 wrap filled with 1/2 cup beef, 1 slice cheese, lettuce, tomato slices, ketchup, and mustard.

Approximate nutritional information:

Calories: 329 * Carbs: 21 * Fat: 15 * Protein: 32 * Fiber: 9

Ingredients:

1 pound ground beef (I used 93/7 organic grass fed beef)

1 tablespoon worcestershire sauce

1 tablespoon ketchup

1 tablespoon grated parmesan

1 teaspoon dried onion flakes

1/8 teaspoon pepper

1/8 teaspoon salt

5 100 calorie wraps (I use Flatout Wraps)

5 slices sharp american cheese (I use Land o Lakes)

2 roma tomatoes, sliced

1 cup of romaine lettuce

Additional ketchup (optional)

Mustard (optional)

Directions:

Step 1. In a medium to large skillet coated with cooking spray cook the beef on medium till almost cooked through but still a little pink (about 7-10 minutes). Break beef up as it cooks.

Step 2. Add worcestershire, ketchup, grated parmesan, dried onion flakes, salt, and pepper to the beef. Mix together until thoroughly combined.

Step 3: Continue cooking until beef is cooked all the way through and is no longer pink.

Turn on indoor grill to 350 or you can also use a grill plan.

Step 4. In the center of  the wrap place a slice of cheese and 1/2 cup of the beef mixture. Add tomato and lettuce. Then if you are using , and I highly recommend you do, add some ketchup and mustard.

Step 5. Roll the wrap and place seam side down on grill. Once there are nice grill marks turn over. Grill for another 2-3 minutes then remove.

Repeat steps 4 and 5 for the rest of the wraps.

Freezer instructions: The beef mixture can easily be made ahead of time and frozen. Follow steps 1-3, cool slightly, then put into freezer bag or container for the freezer.

Reheating instructions: Take out night before or day off and thaw in the refrigerator. Warm up in microwave then follow steps 4 and 5.

Special note: I love using my indoor grill to make these wraps. However, if you don’t have one that is fine. You can still enjoy these wraps without grilling them. I do not recommend using an outdoor grill because if the wraps come apart a little they may be hard to manage.

Randoms

 Eden playing dress up.

 And she loves to drape blankets over here head and been a princess or a queen....or whatever she is thinking!

 Look at me, I stole a donut!

 Don't worry Mom, I rubbed all the frosting all over the couch first!

 Cedric's new hair cut.

 Tristan's new hair cut.  And a cup.

Cullen snoozing on the couch.

Today

These winter blues really need to go away now.  (this happens every.single.winter.)  Ugh.  Jeremy tells me that people like me and I have friends but I sure don't feel like it most of the time.  It's a good thing my babies have been extra kind to me today!  Eden Rose isn't feeling well at all.  I feel so bad for her.  We have snuggled a bunch today.  So far she seems to have some sort of virus.  I have been keeping her rubbed with baby Vapo Rub on her chest and feet.  I have been putting POM Pomegranate juice in with grape juice (flu preventative) and putting honey, apple cider vinegar, and cinnamon in her apple juice.  These would all help if she would drink anything.  She is drinking, just not much.  Her eyes are all red and puffy.  :(  Cullen has been giving me back and leg rubs all day long.  the other boys have cleaned their rooms and kept themselves busy.
Today I took Asher back to Dr. Smith for a follow up appointment.  We decided to up his dosage again and see how it is in two weeks.  If no improvement we will up it again.  And so on.  Asher and I got to talk all the way to and from the doctor's office about all kinds of things.  He is very observant even if I think he isn't sometimes.  Today he told me about the plan of salvation.  They must have talked about that at church on Sunday.  He is so smart and I want him to be able to see that.  He is very hard on himself.  I hope this medicine can help him.
Liam and Cedric are getting excited about the Cub Scout Pinewood Derby at the end of the month.  They spent all day Saturday down at Kelley Motor Co.  with Jeremy building their derby cars.  Cedric's is a race car and Liam's is a tank!
Cullen has been asking about going to school a lot.  He is ready now.  All of a sudden.  We have been working on countings, number recognition, letters, and letter recognition.  He can name all the numbers by sight and most of the letters.  We are going to work on writing his name next.
Tristan and Cedric went to get their hair cut tonight and came home looking to handsome young men.  What the heck is happening around here!?!?!?  Where the crap are my babies!?!?  I'm kinda freaking out. 
I am so sick and tired of being in Carthage.  We have been very diligent in prayers and putting good vibes out into the universe and waiting for answers and signs as to what direction to head.  I am not fond of the Carthage school district in many aspect.  There are also good things about the school but, I think the cons outweigh the pros.  I don't have any friends here and I'm starting to feel like a rat in a cage.  I think I may turn people off from liking me because I say the most ridiculous things when I am put on the spot.  It's rather comical actually.  I should have a tv show with just me interacting with people out in public.  Seriously, it would be hilarious!

Picture Me, Cullen!

 Cullen came downstairs with the hat we got Tristan when we went to Florida last year and said "I cowboy, Mom.  Picture me."  He loves to get his picture taken.  And I love taking it.  You can never have enough pictures of your children. 

Spoon-erific!

Eden loves spoons.  Yes, I said spoons.  She can just reach her hand into the silverware drawer and get them out.  She likes to carry them around and look at herself in the "mirror".  I even got her a cute little purple princess mirror for Christmas so she would stop stealing my spoons.  But, she definitely prefers the spoons.  Oh well.  I don't really mind.  It is really cute, after all.  And she will only be little for so long.  In fact, I already feel like she is a big girl.  She wears size 3-4T.  I can't even shop in the infant section anymore.  Cullen has given up the pacifier and Eden is well on her way to that.  And soon she will want to potty on the toilet I'm sure.  Cullen is fully trained now.  All my baby stuff is almost gone.  It is very bittersweet. 

Bayou Brownies

 

I forgot to get a picture of a brownie on a plate to show what the inside of the brownie looks like.  Dang it.  Well, next time I make them, I will add the picture then.  This things are amazing!  Very similar to Ooey Gooey Butter Cake...only not.  

Ingredients:
1 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cup butter, melted
3 large eggs
1 (18 1/4 ounce) package yellow cake mix
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
1 (16 ounce) package powdered sugar

Directions:
Combine pecans, butter, 1 egg and cake mix.
Stir until well blended. 

Press into the bottom of a lightly greased 13X9 inch pan.
Set aside.
Combine remaining 2 eggs, cream cheese and powdered sugar in a large bowl.
 Beat at medium speed until smooth. 

 Pour cream cheese mixture over cake mix layer.
Bake at 325 for 40 minutes or until cheese mixture is set.
  Let cool completely in pan on wire rack.

Read more at: http://www.food.com/recipe/bayou-brownies-43350?oc=linkback

Slow Cooker Angel Chicken

I made this for supper yesterday.  We had kids at both Grandma's houses for the night (Saturday) and woke up at 5:30am and couldn't go back to sleep.  I puttered around the house for a bit then decided to wake Jeremy up and make him go grocery shopping with me, lol!  He didn't really mind....too much!  It was great though because when we got to the grocery store we had our choice of prime parking spots and no crowded aisles.  Also when we got home and put everything away it as the perfect time to throw something in the crock pot and then go get the kids in Nauvoo! woot!  It was really good.  We only had Tristan, Cedric, Cullen and Eden last night. (Asher and Liam stayed at Grandma Trapp's house). The two big boys at the chicken and rice but ultimately the large amount of mushrooms turned them off.  But, Jeremy and I loved it.  You can also serve it over pasta, like angel hair or whatever you want I guess!

Ingredients

• 6 whole Frozen Chicken Breasts
• 8 ounces, weight Fresh Button Mushroom Slices
• 8 ounces, weight Fresh Baby Bella Mushrooms, Sliced
• 1 onion diced
• ¼ cups Butter
• 1 package (0.7 Oz) Italian Dry Seasoning Mix
• 10 ounces, weight Can Cream Of Mushroom With Roasted Garlic
• 10 ounces, fluid Tub Of Philly Italian Cheese And Herb Cooking Cream
• 1 Tablespoon Corn Starch In A Splash Of Cold Water
• Brown Rice, Cooked...I used Basmati Rice...or use pasta

Spray a large slow cooker, then layer both kinds of mushrooms in the bottom, followed by frozen chicken breasts and onions on top.
Add melted butter, soup, Italian dressing packet and Italian Cheese and Herb Cooking cream to the crock pot, stirring as you add.
Close lid and cook on low for 5 hours.
1 1/2 hours before serving time, make a batch of Baked Brown Rice.

FREE

Okay so I have a crap ton of hangers that I need to get rid of....anybody want them? Let me know ASAP!! I have adult sized and baby sized....mostly plastic ones.

Is This Real Life??

The start of the year has not been what it usually is to me.  I was lost in Vicadin Land for the first part of it.  I haven't even put any of my goals on paper!! Agh!  Jeremy and I have discussed our family oriented goals but that is about it.  There are many new changes coming up for 2013~!!!

Lego Enthusiasts

 My kids...especially Liam, Cedric, and Asher are OBSESSED with Legos.  Which is fine with me as it can teach them a plethora of ideas and concepts.  The fourteen million legos are one of the things that they get to keep in the great minimalist change that we are trying to implement as a family.  Back on track though, these are some pics that the boys asked me to take of them and their legos.  Cedric had read the blog apparently (did NOT know that the boys read the blog, doh!) and said he didn't see any of him with HIS legos....so here ya go, Ced!!  But, this is Liam in the top pic, oops! Bahahahaha!

 This is the end product of the Malevolence that was his BIG present.  He wanted this set for his birthday but got it for Christmas instead!

 Cedric got a big set of the Monsters series for Christmas....one of many!

 As you can all ses, I am still working on figuring my new camera out.  One of these days......

I love how creative and full of purpose they are when they build.  Next week Cedric will be starting on his new endeavor at school....Lego Robotics Club.  I think he may actually stick with this one.  :)  Pretty sure it is right up his alley!!!  Can't wait!