Random Bits

Buddy Boy lost his other front tooth, making him look a whole lot less hillbilly, and as Gary and I agreed last night, a whole lot more bat-like.  He has officially entered the Awkward Phase, the great equalizer of childhood that even the most adorable of kids cannot escape.  I still think he's adorable, but let's face it... Snaggletooth's a'comin.

We went hiking with all three kids and it was fantastic.  The weather was perfect, the kids hiked like champs, and Babycakes dangled there like a little gem.  It was so fun.  My favorite part was watching Sweetpea run, RUN, up the last incline and jump around, Rocky Balboa style, at the top in victory.

Last night I fork-stabbed my thumb. I was poking holes in raw potatoes to bake them. Do you know the force involved to stab a raw potato, with a dull fork? A lot. I jabbed my thumb full force, and literally had to pull it out. Yes there was blood. And maybe a few not nice words. Even in the pain, Gary and I were totally laughing because who fork-stabs themselves?! I mean really, I would like to know.

The Crazies got some Michigan gear from their Favorite Aunt Katie.  They love their new shirts!

Did you notice my little blog makeover?  I think Sharon of Redbud Designs is so talented.  She redesigned my etsy shop too, and it's as if she crawled inside my brain and came up with exactly what I wanted.  I'd love for you to stop in :)

Babycakes, Grammy, and I will be headed to Detroit this weekend to attend the bridal shower of my soon to be sister-in-law.  I can't wait to see these two crazy lovebirds...

32.5

Have I mentioned that we celebrate half birthdays around these parts?  We do, and I love it.  This year my mom took me, and The Crazies, out to lunch at one of my favorites.  I was gifted the traditional "my age in gift certificates and/or cold hard cash", $20 to Starbucks, $10 to Chipotle, and $2.50 in cash.  Sweet.

Then, in typical Pam fashion (that's my mom), she did what Gary and I like to call, "Pulled a Pam".  Martha Stewart she is not.  Creative?  Yes.  It's the follow through, the details in which she lacks.  You see, each year my mom makes me half a birthday cake on my half birthday.  See, I told you she was creative.  She's been doing this for as long as I can remember.  On our way to the car after eating, she tells me to come to her car so she can give me something.  At this point, I assume it will be half a cake.  We reach her car door, when she pulls out a virtual kitchen.  Oh she baked a cake alright, only it wasn't quite done when she ran out of her house, willy nilly, to meet me for lunch. 

On her car floor, I see an angel food cake, upside down on a wine bottle, a paper plate, and a knife.  "Here, hold this while I cut it in half" she says.  So in between two parked cars, we flop half a cake onto a paper plate.  Happy Half Birthday!  I tell her, "I'm so blogging this."  I really don't think people believe half of my stories about my parents.  Don't even get me started on Bob (my dad)... a treasure trove of embarrassing high school moments.  So mom, thank you for the great laughs on my half birthday.  Truly memorable, which I'm positive is what you were going for ;)

Monumental Events

February has already been chock full of monumental events for The Crazies.

For weeks leading up to Sweetpea's third birthday last April, all she talked about was riding a pony at "Cowboy Town".  We planned her entire day around this ride.  When we arrived, she was devastated to be rejected because of her short stature.  She was just too darn short.  I tried to convince the 16 year old attendant that he was crushing my baby girl's dream, but alas, he said he would lose his job.  Fine.  We went to our friends' daughter's party last weekend, and there were ponies!  This girl rode that pony until the other kids were crying for another turn and he had nasty horse froth around his crazy pony teeth.  She was in heaven.

Buddy Boy has been in Kindergarten for 112 days.  The 100th day was monumental.

This girl discovered a new trick, a spectacular source of slobbery entertainment. (Don't worry, the video is short enough that even non-grandparents can tolerate it)

Secret Weapon

Am I the last mother on earth to learn about Muffin Tin Monday?  I first learned of this genius idea over at Funny Days With Mommy and Maddie, and ever since, it has worked like a gem.  I have yet to plan far enough ahead of time to serve any sort of a theme lunch, but the variety of items alone is all my kids need to be excited for lunch.  They ask for "the tin lunch" almost every day, but I have to hold them back to one or two days a week, lest they get sick of the novelty and revolt.  Buddy Boy has always been an excellent and adventurous eater, but Sweetpea on the other hand likes to stick with bread or bread-like substances.  She even ate everything in the tin!  It may just work for your picky eater too!

Muffin Tin Lunch: 

 cucumber slices, blueberries, carrots, pretzels, Annie's Organic White Cheddar Shells, sugar snap peas

How To Become the Favorite Uncle

 

...in Four Easy Steps

Step 1.  Buy ridiculous gifts, gifts that your sister would never say yes to.

{No joke, this is a "Poop and Scoop Barbie" complete with butterscotch colored, tic tac looking dog treats that also come out the tail end of the dog.  And the Vulcan EBF-25?  A semi-automatic artillery nerf gun.}

Step 2.  Act crazy.  All the time.  With no volume control.  Say yes to candy.

Step 3.  Use your sister, also the mother of your nieces and nephew, as a target with aforementioned gift.

{Knowing full well that I will be publicly called out if I don't admit that I, in fact, volunteered to be the target.  Check out that ugly fear face.  Nice.}

Step 4.  Repeat often.

Dear Tooth Fairy

Dear Tooth Fairy,

I present to you my firstborn's fourth lost tooth, the first of his top teeth to fall out.  I'm sure you know what's coming next... months and months of snaggletooth glory.  I know that he cannot be spared from the bumpy bottomed, crazy big, chicklet teeth, but is there any way to speed up the process? You see, he's scheduled to be the ring bearer in Favorite Uncle's wedding in May.  Surely you can understand my desire for nice family pictures, with us being all dolled up and such.  Thanking you in advance.

Buddy Boy's Mom,

Love is Grand

We've been in full on Valentine's mode at our house this week.  Today we completed Buddy Boy's classic shoebox valentine mailbox for school.  Next up are cookies, garland, and our family Valentine dinner.  In case you missed it a few weeks ago, I guest posted these ideas for Valentines over at 30 Days.

Here are three ideas, one for your Mr. Right, one for kids, and maybe one for those far away family.  Really though, all three ideas can be suited for anyone in your life who you want to send a special 'I love you' to this February.

Robot-o-Love
Supplies:
1.  Scraps of paper, or if you want to get all fancy, some coordinating scrapbook paper
2.  Tiny Hershey's candy bars
3.  Googly eyes
Directions:

Wrap the candy bars in some strips of paper, making them narrow enough so the silver of the wrapper is exposed, this will be the robot's body.  Next, use strips of silvery paper for the legs and arms, fan fold these little strips to create some dimension and lines.  Use a rectangle of silver paper for the head, google eyes, and let your kid go to town drawing mouths with the red sharpie.  Piece these guys together and add as much embellishment and details to create the perfect looking robots.  These are for my son's class, so they are as boyish as I could muster for his sake.  And to come clean... I found this idea in a scrapbook magazine.  Handmade boy ideas are hard to come by, or am I the only one with this problem?!

Love Pills:
Supplies:
1.  100 water soluble pill capsules (I got mine from Whole Foods in the medicinal area... don't ask me why someone might want to make their own medicine, I'm just glad to be able to buy them)
2.   100 thin strips of paper (pink, red, white)
3.   100 reasons why I love the Mister

 Directions:

First, write a special sentiment or reason why you adore your special someone on the first strip of paper. Next, tightly roll it up. Last, open capsule and insert paper. Repeat 100 times. When I'm done, I'm going to package them up in a cute jar and My Dream Boat has 100 days of loving affirmations from his adoring wife.

3-D Photo Valentines

Supplies:

1.  A photo of your cuties, one making a fist

2.  Heart lollipops

Directions:

Take a picture of your cutie(s), one making a fist.  When taking the picture keep in mind that a lollipop will be covering the area of the picture above the fist.  Using a simple background makes this easier.  Add some text for your Valentine greeting.  I used picnik.com (if you've never used this, you must!!!).  I love picnik because it is super easy to use for this non-photographer and nearly computer illiterate gal, and you can do a ton using the free features.  Mount the photograph onto some colorful cardstock to add some weight.  Using an exacto knife, cut a slit about 1/4 inch wide on top and just below the fist in the picture.  Add a lollipop through these slits, and voila!  An adorable Valentine to send to family!  These are going to out of state grandparents and aunts and uncles, who don't get nearly enough time with these Crazies!

That's What He Said

Buddy Boy asked if we could read "The Hawaiian, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" today.  Then when I picked him up from school he told me it was so cold outside his whole body felt like a mint.

He also told me he wants to grow his hair longer.  To be like Justin Beiber.  Don't we all... don't we all.  Sorry son, not with that cowlick.

Love this kid.  Kindergarteners are funny.