One Bored Saturday Night....

we did the mash.......

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I love Scouts

My sweet boy just joined the Boy Scouts. And his big sister has been in the Girl Scouts for the past 3 years. Can I just tell you how much I love this organization? I know, it has a horrible connotation with being "dorky" and when kids get older they won't readily admit to being in Scouts, but it is a fantastic program for kids.

Where else do you recite these fantastic words?

On My honor, I will try

To serve GOD, and my country,

To help people at all times,

And to live by the Girl Scout Law.

-Girl Scout Promise

I, (say your name), promise

to Do My Best

To do my DUTY to GOD

And my Country

To help other people, and

To obey the Law of the Pack.

-Cub Scout Promise

I was a girl scout for several years, so naturally I wanted to get Sissy involved when she was old enough. We have done so many fun things like learning to ice skate, visiting a pumpkin patch, cooking, crafts, but most importantly making lots of new friends. Yes, I have complained numerous time about the cookie time...I was the cookie mom 2 years in a row (the first year to 20 first grade Brownies!!) so I had a right. But I do feel it is an excellent organization that teaches our girls self-confidence, morals, and right from wrong.

Brody is now old enough to join Cub Scouts. He expressed an interest right away to join. Matt and he went to the first meeting where he made a boat out of 2 pencils and a piece of styrafoam- he was hooked. And when they talked about camping...he was over the moon! Matt? Not so much. But once he was able to see what a great opportunity this was for Brody, he warmed up to it all. And now he and Brody are busy working on his Bobcat requirements and out selling popcorn in the neighborhood! Whew! There is a lot to do with the Boy Scouts!!

Most importantly, the Scouts organization is rich with tradition, Boy Scouts starting in 1910 and Girl Scouts starting in 1912. And much of the foundation remains the same, including "duty to GOD" and "Serving GOD". What other public organizations for kids still have God in their by-laws? Still discuss the importance of God in our lives? Not many. And I like it.

I dropped out as a Junior Scout because we moved and we never picked it back up. I hope my kids ride this one out. I wouldn't mind my son joining the ranks of these former Eagle Scouts.....Gerald Ford (US President), Steven Spielberg (Producer/director), James Brady (US Press Secretary), or Walter Cronkite (TV personality).

Halloween's-a-comin! FMM

It is Friend Makin' Monday Time! Join in the fun with Amber at AEFilkins- just blog about the topic of the week, join in fun with McLinky, and go make new friends by visiting other's posts & commenting on them. I have met so many fun people on Friend Makin' Mondays!

This week's Friend Makin' Monday is all about Halloween! Specifically, what are we going to be for Halloween? It takes all the energy I have to figure out what my kids are going to be, so I don't have any left for myself. Which is fine by me. I'd much rather see my kiddos having fun!

So we were prepared this year! Months ago, Sissy and I decided what we as a family were going to be. I always wanted to do our costumes as a theme. And as big fans of Star Wars Clone Wars, the kids wanted to go as these characters:

We were even including the baby as Master Yoda:
And our sweet puppy resembles as Ewock.
It was going to be perfect. Until peer pressure hit my girl. You see, all of her friends are going as fairies from the Rainbow Magic series. And so, Sissy picked 5 that she "could" be and we spent all day searching the internet to find an outfit to resemble one of them. This is the one we came up with. A cute purple dress from Target and purple knee socks to match. All we need now is a handmade necklace and flower for her hair, and we are set to be:
Her brother, of course doesn't want to be a Jedi Knight without his sister, has changed his mind to be an "army guy". So he & Dad will head to the local Army Surplus store soon to get something similar to this:

And everyone is happy at my house. Whew!

A Birthday Week

My middle one turned 7 this week- If your a regular reader, you indulged me with a few adorable pictures of him growing up a few days ago. We had a fun time celebrating his big golden birthday!!

I am a big believer of celebrating the birthday ALL DAY LONG. So we started with birthday baloons at the kitchen chair to white powdered donuts for breakfast (his favorite) to a special lunch and his pick for dinner (oh joy! It was McDonald's!). And Momma took cupcakes in to his class as well:

And he got exactly what he wanted as well...poor boy needed a new bike badly! His knees came up to his ears when he rode his old one!!

We celebrated with friends...approximately fifteen of them all at my house...with a Mad Science Party. I received a lot of sweet comments from my friends on facebook asking me what I did and complimenting me on a great idea for a party. My friends, the most work I did on this party was to write check to the sweet girl who was our "Mad Scientist!" Oh, and I made these fun goody bags. It's the Pop Rocks & Coke experiment!

We started the party out with the Coke & Mentos geyser, which would have been super fun, had Momma NOT knocked over the coke as she ran away to NOT get sprayed with coke! Oh well, we tried it again and got a mini-geyser. The boys loved it!
Heather, our Mad Scientist, had some fun tricks up her sleeve, including disappearing fire paper. See her lighting it??
And this flame completely disappears!!
She also made the lightbulb light up, which surprised a few boys!
And lastly, we had indoor fireworks, seen only with their super-duper cool fireworks glasses!
As a gift, she taught them all how to make slime!
Sissy, hanging with the boys!



Once all was over, Matt & I looked at each other and said "never again." But looking back at pictures and seeing how much fun Brody had, it was all worth it!! Fifteen boys and all!

I am blessed

Today is my mother's birthday. She is celebrating a big one and is choosing to ignore it. So if you happen to run into her, just don't mention it. But, I could not let this day go by without celebrating her life just a tiny bit.....

Did you have the relationship with your mom that you idolized her as a kid, hungry for her attention, only to despise her as a teenager? How crazy is that? I didn't want her to help me with anything.....except to help me buy a new pair of jeans... When they moved out of state while I was in college, I missed her so and our relationship changed for the better.

As an adult, she is one of my closest confidants. We talk daily. Sometimes two or three times. I can bounce anything off of her and get the straight and narrow from her. I hesitate to write that we are best friends because it is so much more than that. It is a different relationship that a mother & daughter have...stronger than a friendship....one that I hope to have with my daughter when she grows up.

Mom has always been there for me. She taught me how to roller skate. Took me to see Grease in the theaters (gasp! good thing it was all over my head then!!). She let me ride my bike all over the small Texas town that we lived in....gave me complete freedom to use my imagination. She took me on the best trip across the southwestern part of our country. She exposed me to new cultures (try living on an indian reservation or the middle of the Nevada desert).

She introduced me to so many opportunities that helped create the person I am today. Basketball (I was terrible), Band (I think I made it 2 days), life guarding, musical theatre (I played the villain in Jonny Appleseed), and she pushed me to achieve my best to earn an amazing scholarship for college.

And she is a loving Grandmother to her 5 grand babies. She makes each and every one of them feel special. And they adore their Grandma Texas.

Mom, congratulations on your birthday! God has blessed me with an incredibly loving mother. Thank you for always being there for me and my family. I love you!

His Golden Birthday

He is 7 on October 7...it is my sweet son's 7th birthday! I was thinking this morning that I couldn't believe I have had him in my life for seven years already. Seven years of his sweet smiles and warm hugs. Seven years of his stubborn determination (he is gonna be great in sales someday!). Seven years of his giggles and playfulness. Seven years of endless fights over food at the dinner table. Seven years of ALL BOY. We feel blessed that God has chosen us to be his parents.

This morning, I had a little quiet time with him before the bustle of the day and told him all these things...above all, I want him to know how much he is loved. How much we cherish each day with him. He leaned close to me and gave me a big hug. It was one of those moments you treasure as a parent. One I will never forget.

Happy Birthday Big Boy!!

Thank You!

Thank you

Thank You

THANK YOU!!

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