Packing lunches... practice makes perfect!

For some strange reason, I feel that it is my duty to pack lunches for my kids. Part of that might be that I have home-schooled for the last three years and feel a little like an outsider since they are attending public schools this year! heh. I know sandwiches, mac'n'cheese, granola bars, chips, etc. That stuff is really easy. However, I'd like to send meals that are creative and different so the kids don't get bored. I also want to include lots of fresh foods that will give the kiddos lots of long-lasting energy....
Anyway, today was my first attempt at filling their bento boxes. ;) I'm not completely certain I would call it a success, but it's food. Lol, the kids thought it was cool. I am not sharing pictures; it was way too disasterous for that! But I am certainly going to try again. I figure I have a couple weeks left to get it figured out before school starts and they are actually taking the lunches with them where I won't be able to fix things, add to, whatever... So, feel free to join me on this silly journey toward healthy lunches. ;)

It was a Mamarazzi sort of day:)

We had a little impromptu backyard photo shoot this evening:) The kids were so sweet!

I can't really decide between the pics of Alex, but I will print copies of one or two to hand out this summer. Feel free to leave your opinion:)

Alex chose the background today, saying the rock she sat on was "just the right perfect" and the flowers were "pretty pieces of purple". Sounds good to me... almost enough for a Beatles song:)

I think I might crop this one in a little closer on her... I am trying to get better at manual (dramatic music plays...) Alex moved just as I snapped this one, but still cute! Okay, so the boys weren't exactly portrait ready, Mr. Cool wearing just swim trunks:) I was a little sad after I looked at them too... I mean, look! A REAL SMILE!!! Lol, I love this picture of him! We'll have to try this again... apparently "ice cream and potato chips" is the phrase I need to use:)

And here's my precious little angel! He has the sweetest smile:)

Pirates and Princesses... My favorite kind of party!

The boys birthday party was several weeks ago... I was going through pictures looking for something for the iHeartFaces photo contest when I came across these and thought I would post some:)

We had a couple of pirate-type activities for the kids including a cannon ball fight. We had this canoe and a cardboard pirate ship which I somehow didn't get a clear shot of... The kids were in the canoe and the dads were in the ship. Lol, it was so fun! And the girls were so much help during the battle:)

Speaking of girls... Alex was supposed to be searching for a gold nugget(painted rock) to trade in for a treat bag, but she wouldn't touch the "dutty" sand. She did eventually find one with brother's help.

This guy was so stinkin' adorable!

Here are the boys and Miss Priss hunting for burried treasure... this was a favorite for the boys. Lol, anything messy!
Okay, this one makes me laugh:) Drama Boy is trying to open his big gift from Mommy and Alex doesn't feel like moving, so he just set it on her head. Lol, they are so cute!

And this one is my very favorite! For one thing, it shows just how much bigger Mr. Cool is than little brother. Then there's the adorable Webkinz Parrots that my sister got them. And their cute little poses/faces while they try to keep them on their shoulders! They were so adorable and had so much fun!

I didn't hear it, I didn't see it, so it's NOT true!

We finally restocked our shelves/fridge/cabinets... everything was empty. Cooking was unbelievably difficult, but cleaning the fridge was incredibly easy:) The next day, the whole family is out and about. After a few errands and a good workout at the YMCA, we are headed home.
2 miles to go, and there it is... the sign! (the golden arches, you know!)
Three voices pipe up at once: "Oooh! Daddy, can we go to McDonald's?"
"I don't know, I'll think about it. We have one more stop before I decide."
Mr. Cool and Drama Boy in a low chant: "McDonald's, McDonald's, McDonald's..."
"Stop that."
"McDonald's, McDonald's, McDonald's..."
"I said stop!"
"McDonald's, McDonald's, McDonald's..."
"If you don't stop right now, we will most definitely NOT go!"

(silence)

Drama Boy: "Daddy, I can still hear that word... but I'm not talking about it!"
"Stop talking about the word at all!"
Mr. Cool: "Okay, I'm not saying it either, but I can still hear it."
"That's enough, no more!"

(silence)

"Can you still hear it? I still hear it. Daddy doesn't hear it, but we can!"

"Alright! That's it! We're not going. We asked you two to stop!"
"Aww, Daddy, that's mean! ... Man!"

(silence)

"McDonald's, McDonald's, McDonald's..."

I turn around, impatient frustration exploding in my head which quickly melted into laughter as I notice Alex with her eyes shut tight and her hands over her ears. Barely above a whisper...
"McDonald's, McDonald's, McDonald's..."
She just might be able to wish it true!
"McDonald's, McDonald's, McDonald's..."

We didn't go... but she sure tried:)

Only a toddler... M's Day morning.

I got a super special present yesterday morning from Alex! Lol, not one I wanted:) I was fixing her hair for church and realized I had left the bobby pins in another room. So, I told her to stay put (sitting on the counter, I know... terrible Mommy)... I got to the other end of the house and all the sudden hear panicked, shrieking screams!

(Oh God, oh God, what happened!?)

I reach her, still on the counter, with a terrible look on her face.

"Mommy, I put something in my nose!"

"What was it baby?" as I try to look in her nose and she tries to grab my hands to make me get it out.

Well, I see something white, pretty high up there!

(Oh no, a trip to the hospital? I'm the nursery director, and it's Mother's Day; I have to be there! I planned a M's Day project and everything!)

Desperately, I search the counter trying to figure out what it could have been. Underneath one of her chubby little legs is a tin of mini Altoids!

(OUCH! That must hurt something fierce!)

She starts crying again... I get a tissue and encourage her to blow...

It's too emotional, "I can't do it, Mommy!"

Tears spill over her cheeks and her nose starts to run...

'PLOP!'

There it is, that tiny white mint... my first Mother's Day gift:)

Work out... What?!

I used to love exercise... about 10 years ago! lol, hard to believe it has been so long since high school. I started having kids almost right away and just quit working out at all. I used to run most days, for fun. Now I might just consider it a death sentence. We renewed our membership to the YMCA. The last two years I mostly just took the kids swimming with me, not a lot of exercise, just lots of playing. I know I need to make time for both. So this time we bought the year package of daycare to go along with it, so I will feel really awful if I don't use it:) So, my goal is to go twice a week to start and then move up from there. Well, I have a couple months before swimsuit season, seems like the right timing? An encouragement would be greatly appreciated!

Okay, moving on... my next goal is to schedule my days better, do my blogging during the day, and actually sleep at night. You may think that sounds crazy, a mom who sleeps at night! I could be the first! Lol, really, I am so lucky to have kids who sleep all night, save potty breaks... but they go right back to bed. I really should be taking advantage of that!

Other than that my boring mom-life continues. The big adventure this week... we somehow lost three jackets. Michael left one at church, which thankfully we recovered earlier tonight. Joshua lost one at a bday party at Exploration Place, it was a really nice one from the Gap and the first time he had worn it, so I was pretty sad about that. And then last night Michael left his at tumbling. I am starting to think I should just let them freeze or duct tape the things to them so they can't take them off!