See my time on pinterest IS useful!

Abbie and her complete bracelet

Abbie's duct tape wallet

Alex winding embroidery floss

Yumm!

I want more!

These went FAST

Apparently I decided to put my pinterest addiction to use today.  We started off the day with Banana Baked Oatmeal and since I had the oven heated up I decided to make a batch of granola too. Then the kids and I gave the dogs a bath and headed to the pool.  After the pool we ran a couple errands and then came home and rested.  After that I taught the kids how to make a simple friendship bracelet out of embroidery floss (and had the bonus of teaching my kids how to wind embroidery floss onto those cardboard bobbins).  Next we made yummy cinnamon sugar pretzel bites (which was basically our dinner, just being honest).  Lastly we headed out to Michael's for a free make and take and the kids got to make duct tape wallets.  A very busy but productive day!

** Here is my granola recipe.  I was going to link to the site that I got it from but she has commercialized to so much that I now can't find the recipe anymore.

Brown Sugar Granola

1/2 cup margarine (I use butter)
1 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup water
1/4 tsp salt
4 cups old fashioned oats (not instant)
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup dried fruit (optional)
1/2 cup nuts or seeds (optional)

In a large saucepan melt the margarine, sugar and water.  Stir well and let it simmer for 2-3 minutes.  Add the salt oatmeal and cinnamon. Remove from heat, stir until all the oats are moistened.  Place granola onto a cookie sheet with sides and bake at 375 for 10 minutes (should be golden brown).  Allow granola to cool in pan.  When cool break into chunks and store in an airtight canister (if using add fruit and/or nuts at this point).

This is the best granola, easy to make and tasty.  We like to just it it by the handful but it can also be eaten on top of yogurt or like regular cereal with milk.

Summer Reading Programs

There are so many great summer reading programs out there for kids that I want to be able to take advantage of this summer. Unfortunately they are all starting to run together in my brain so I decided to compile a list here so other people can take advantage of it too.

Half Price Books

Age: Under 14
Requirements: At least 600 minutes of reading during the months of June and July
Reward: $5 gift certificate to Half Price Books

Borders

Age: 12 and under
Requirements: Read 10 books between 6/1/2011 and 9/15/2011
Reward: Free book from a selected list

Barnes and Noble

Age: Not listed but looks like 1st through 6th grade
Requirements: read 8 books and list who you would recommend them to
Reward: One free book from a selected list

Maricopa County Library

Age: 0-18
Requirements: ? can't find it, says it starts May 26th
Reward: usually several small prizes plus a free book

A Girl Day

I finished up this semester last night and decided to take advantage of the day off to spend some one on one time with Abbie. We started off the day at the Desert Botanical Garden visiting the butterflies. Abbie and I had a great time identifying all of the butterflies flying about and a few even landed on us! After the garden we decided to drop in on Nana Jan to say hi and were lucky enough to be able to have lunch with Nana Jan and Papa Ron. Abbie and I had a great time together on our Girls Day!

My Abbie turned 4!!!!

It's hard to believe but today Abbie turned 4! It seems like just yesterday that I was anxiously awaiting her arrival (ok, maybe crankily was more like it). Like Alex she decided to take her sweet time and was a week late. No matter the late arrival she is dearly loved and I enjoyed being able to bake her a cake and wrap a couple of presents for her to have when she got home this evening. I will have a larger friends and family party for her and Alex next weekend but this one tonight was just for the three of us.

Hiking at Lost Dutchman State Park

I decided a couple weeks ago that it was time to get out side and do more while the weather was nice. Today we went out hiking in Lost Dutchman State Park. The hike took about 2 hours and both kids did great. My dad and I both had to carry Abbie for a bit but she did surprisingly well and Alex was practically running at points. Kathy and her husband Chris also joined us for the hike although I am not sure how much fun they had since Alex talked their ears off the whole time.

After hiking we stopped at the Goldfield ghost town for ice cream and then my parents came back to my house to hang out for a bit and have dinner with us. We all had a great time and I hope we can do it again a few more times before the weather gets bad.

Playdough

After dinner tonight the kids were asking for something to do so I suggested that they play with play dough. They are playing with homemade play dough that I made using this recipe. I made this months ago and in between uses it lives in old cool whip containers in the fridge. This was a quick, easy and cheap recipe to make and has stayed fresh way longer than I thought it would.

American Girl has nothing on me

Remember this year's Birthday Dress? Well I found a great Red, White and Black plaid fabric when I was at quilt camp and decided to make her a Christmas dress in the same pattern. The dress is almost done I just have to go out and get some black piping for the front. Today I decided that Abbie needed a matching dress for one of her dolls. I drafted a pattern based on the one for Abbie and here is what I came up with. I am so happy with the way it came out. I am sure that more of these dresses will be made for both Abbie and her doll.

Why I never get enough sleep

Because Queen size beds are not designed to sleep 3 across!

Two Little Monkeys

Last Monday the kids and I had dinner at Heather's house. The kids had been playing noisily in the next room and all of the sudden it was quiet. Of course we went to investigate and found that both Paul and Abbie had climbed into his crib and were happily stickering themselves.

Growing up

In my house legos have slowly been replacing trains. This has been such a big transition for me because in my mind Legos are such a big kids toy. A couple weekends ago, at Alex's request, I pulled the trains out of his room and switched the train table top to the plain side. At school Alex recently moved into the pre-k classroom too. I can't beleive that in a little over a month I will have a 5 year old! Here is a shot right after I finished (it's not nearly as clean now).

National Doughnut Day

Friday was national Doughnut day and ever since I read this post last year I have wanted to do something fun with the kids. After picking up the kids I took them to Krispy Kreme for free doughnuts. The we ran by the craft store and picked up supplies to make felt doughnuts. The kids seemed to have a good time and it kept them entertained.

Quilt done

I got Abbie's quilt done this afternoon despite Abbie's "help" and telling me that it was done because she wanted to play with the quilt. As soon as I actually got it done and was taking a picture Abbie had to bring her pillow out and do a test drive.

I just stuck the quilt into the wash while Abbie was not looking hope she doesn't notice :)

Of the original pile of fabrics I have just a small amount left. I really had to get creative in order to make this quilt completely from stash. When I ran out of the solid cream background fabric I switched to the second choice fabric. When I didn't have enough of the multi colored polka dot fabric to make another row I made the piano key border with the leftovers. When I realized that I had cut a zillion 4" squares and had no yardage of background fabric left I pieced the inner borders. Lastly when I used the red fabric for the binding rather than the blue I would have preferred. I am very pleased with how this quilt turned out and hope that it gets much use over the next several years.

Presidents Day fun

On Presidents day the kids and I joined my sister, her kids, my mom, my sister's friend and her two kids for a trip to the Arizona Science Center. Everyone had a good time and it was a nice way to spend a day off. Unfortunately Abbie was not feeling well after lunch and we had to leave early, but we still got to see alot.

Rub a dub dub

Two crazy kids pretending they are in the tub...

Vallentines Day Fun

The kids and I had a great Valentines Day this last weekend. Since several on my friend's husbands were not available on Saturday and since I am newly single we decided to have a kids party instead. We went over to H's house around 10:30 where we were joined by L and B. The kids had a great time helping to cut out and decorate sugar cookies. The mommies had a great time eating sugar cookie dough! After lunch Alex, Abbie and I left for nap time and then we met H and P at church. After church we went back to H's house for dinner and cookie eating. The kids had a great time and got to use their new aprons that I made as a Valentines day gift for them.

Call me Tom Sawyer

Every time I vacuum the house the kids fight over who gets to help vacuum. So when I saw a small lightweight vacuum on sale the day after Thanksgiving for $10 I knew that I had to get one as a Christmas present. Now the kids vacuum the floors for me and they think that they are playing with a really cool toy!

Sleeping Kids

Why is it I always want to take pictures of my sleeping kids? Last week Abbie got a new (to us, Thanks L!) toddler bed. She was so happy to get her new bed, and now she doesn't have to climb out of her crib anymore when she wants to sleep in my bed in the middle of the night. Recently I put the Mickey Mouse play tent up for the kids. Alex decided that he wanted to camp out in the tent so he has been sleeping in there.

A day at the Zoo

Yesterday was MLK day here and since I had the kids H, my mom and I took the kids to the zoo. We even had an extra kid tag along. L's daughter B didn't have school but L had to work so we dragged her along too. The weather was great and the zoo was crowded but it wasn't too bad. H got a couple of great pictures of the kids. I was so grateful to my mom for coming with use since with an extra kid and the crowds it was nice to have another pair of adult eyes. Check out those too cool for school shades on Alex. He is beginning to look like such a big boy now!

Haloween

The kids had a great time trick or treating last night. We were able to go over to H's house and hang out and trick or treat with H's family. Alex was Optimus Prime from transformers and Abbie was a yellow duck. Now I am overrun with candy and will probably bring some to work or church to get rid of it. (Sorry for the blurry picture, hopefully H got a better one she can send to me.)

More Abbie Hair

I liked this one so much I did it two days in a row. The pictures are from right before church on Sunday.