Hippity Hoppity Easter's on it's way!

This past Saturday We had an Easter egg hunt at church. We ate, did a few crafts, hunted for eggs and it wouldn't be  an Easter party without the...........

Easter Bunny

Tops or Bottoms...What is your favorite?

Thursday in Co-op we read the book Tops or Bottoms by Janet Stevens. This is such a cute book especially if you are planning to grow a garden. It teaches children what vegetables grow above ground, below the ground and in the middle. It also shows them what can happen if you are lazy. After we read and discussed the book we made veggie kabobs with homemade honey mustard dressing.

When our bellies were full, we went outside to plant our own vegetable seeds.

I am having so much fun teaching this class!

Ella made homemade butter in her Pioneers and Indians class. One of these days I am going to sneak away so I can get a picture of Laney in her Art class.

Can you guess what Ella wants to be when she grows up?

When I told Ella to find something quiet to do, I did not mean  give Chewy( our male dog) highlights with pink lipstick.

Another  Ella funny this week.

I was in Laney's room putting away clothes when Ella walks in with a pair of her used, skid marked panties. She says, "Mom, we need to give these to Emma they do not fit me anymore" I told her Emma was still in diapers and did not need panties right now. I don't think my sister would appreciate getting those hand me downs.

Field trip to the Georgia Aquarium

GCA planned a field trip to the Ga aquarium for us this past Tuesday. They arranged a great price  so we couldn't pass that up( no we did not get in for free). Here are a few highlights from our trip.

What better way to learn than through touching?

We saw many impressive things.....

A few of us enjoying our day.

We had a great time together.

I am so proud of my men!

Carmel and Griffin signed up to run in the Sweetheart 5K back in Feb. but due to the weather they had to postpone it. It was rescheduled for Sat. Griffin came in second  for his age group and received a trophy.

Carmel left Sat. after the 5K to go to Atlanta to run in the ING Marathon on Sunday. He has a list of things he wants to accomplish before he turns 40 and a marathon is one of those things on his list. 

Running a marathon - done

Carmel and his running buddy Jeff

Homeschool highlights for the week!

On Wed, we celebrated St.Patrick's Day by reading books and doing a couple of activities. First, we made rainbows using squares from construction paper. Later that afternoon, we made another kind of rainbow only it was the kind that disappeared quickly.

Your never to old to play with your food.

Thursday, we had our third week of co-op. In my class Storybook Chef, we read If You Give a Pig a Pancake. We made pigs from paper plates and cooked pancakes.

Ella talked about transportation in her Pioneers and Indians class. They began painting wagons and will finish them up next week.

We look forward to Co-op each week. Not only do we get to learn and create but we spend time with wonderful friends........that means mommy too!!!

We have a very busy week planned next week.....2 field trips, Co-op, gymnastics. I can't wait to share it with you.

I just love checking my mailbox these days!

Wouldn't you if you received these......

From House Party

From Vocalpoint

$20 in rebate checks

Olay sample from Walmart

What made my day???

Many of you may already know from Facebook but I got second place in the Coupon Savings Challenge at the commissary. I won $75 in gift certificates to use at the commissary. I had to go today to pick it up. They interviewed me where I was forced to reveal most of my highly classified saving tips gladly shared all my secrets to saving money. We took a few snapshots( this is the only one I have because my battery died) for an article they are writing. I have to give a shout out to the 2 beautiful but crazy girls beside me in the picture. They are my coupon helpers. No matter what store we are in their job is to look out for those peelies, tearpads, etc. Okay...... so.... occasionally they may get side tracked and miss a few or  tear off ones like $.50 off of Preparation H. Wait a minute... come to think of it.... I could use that one I heard it was good for puffy eyes. Anyways, the fact is they are learning to grow up to be thrifty frugal ladies. 

Since my battery died, here are a few shots I would have taken:

I can't believe I won!

Couponing is the best!

I found out while I was there that they had over 400 entries. WOW!

I told them they should do this once a month.

Who needs to laugh today?

Do you know what this is?

I will let Laney explain...........

(These are her words exactly)

  

Let me set the stage......

We are in Academy Sports looking for the above item for Griffin. Carmel is out of town so I had all the kids with me. Griffin is trying out for baseball and needed several things. The last thing on our list.....protection cup. I try to be helpful but at the same time let him decide what size he was. 

Laney:   Mom, what is a prophecy cup?

Me:   What are you talking about Laney?

Laney:   Griffin is looking at a prophecy cup. What are they?

Pause

I am thinking..... O brother do I really want to have this discussion here.

unpause

Me:    It is a  protection cup not prophecy cup. It is for boys to wear during sports. 

I thought she was satisfied and understood until I hear her on the phone with my dad.

Laney: We are at the store buying Griffin a prophecy cup.

I am sure my dad asks " What is that? "

Laney:  It is what a boy puts on when he plays baseball. HE PEES IN IT!

I guess I was wrong. She definitely did not understand what it meant!

I explain to her later...again.....what it was.

The next day we had to go  back to get a different size. The guy working there ask if we need any help and I tell him what we need. He pulls one down and Laney says

" You know you wear those things on your weiner!"

MORAL:

Avoid taking Laney to the store when buying a protection cup buying any item for a male.

When the weather gets warmer......make hot chocolate.

How many of you still have a lot of these in your cabinets? 

We love to drink hot chocolate when it is cold but we love it even more when it is hot outside.

How?? You may ask.

Here is a  recipe we love to make using those hot chocolate packets.

Frozen Hot Chocolate

1 c milk (we use skim)

2 1/2 to 3 packets of hot chocolate

1 tsp vanilla

crushed ice

chocolate syrup 

cool whip

In a blender, combine the milk, packets and vanilla. Mix until blended an then add ice( I use a regular size cup and fill it twice with crushed ice). Blend the ice until it is a smooth consistency.

Here is how we like to assemble it:

Drizzle a little of the chocolate syrup in the bottom of a cup. Next, fill with the cold hot chocolate. Add a scoop of cool whip on top and drizzle more syrup on top.

Enjoy!!