I Learned a Lesson...

I gotta admit...

ungratefulness has been rearing its ugly head.

I have been working hard to get it in check.

 

One day I had the kids sit at the computer & watch videos of the kids who live in the garbage dump as I explained how blessed we are...all the kids were in shock.

 

Out of that came a heart to serve those children.

We feel the best way to provide for those kids is

FEED MY STARVING CHILDREN.

 

Not just making the meals but paying for them.

 

So last week Annie made lots & lots of her bracelets.

 

 

 

Then at our garage sale she sat out for 3 days selling them.

 

 

 

My poor husband had to make the booth for her

with scraps from our basement.

Annie loved writing on the chalkboards :)

 

But even more she loved...

customers!

 

 

And when I told her she was able to donate 80 meals...

she was thrilled!

 

And  she can't wait for another chance to serve.

 

I wonder what other good things would come if in moments of "ugliness" I took the time to teach instead of just...well let's call it "preach."

 

  :)

 

Looks like I learned a lesson too!

Tea Party Manners

Being the only girl in the family doesn't stop Annie

from doing all the "girly things."

 

Instead she ropes in her brothers.

 

Last night she was teaching them how to be proper tea party guests.

 

 

 

Lesson 1

How to Pour Very Carefully

 

 

 

 

 

Lesson 2

Add Sugar & Stir

(although the sugar was just water too:)

 

 

Teach,

 

Practice,

 

Make sure they did it right.

 

 

Lesson 3

Pinkies Up

 

 

Rocco tried & tried but he just couldn't get his pinky up.

 

 

 

 

Thumbs up had to do :)

 

 

And just when things were going so well

 & we thought she had pulled off a miracle.

 

 

 

Bo came out of the house with a big jug of water

& said, "I'll show you how it is done!"

 

 

At least he didn't burp!

Boys!

Sometimes little boys can be pretty sneaky,
like tonight when I told them
they could NOT have a snack before dinner...

 

 

But really most of the time instead of stealing snacks

they steal my heart.

 

I am always surprised at what they dream up next.

Even Kit at only 7 months is ALL boy.

Well, as "all boy" as you can get in a Pink Mustang Convertible.

But when they are driving me totally NUTS...

( I know, hard to believe)

 

I just peek through my instagram account

& fall in love with them again.

 

 

 

 

 

 

They are so cute in the pictures
when I can't hear anyone crying or yelling :)

It is true...

...Silence really is golden.

Except when they are under the desk sneaking crackers.

 

An Amazing Oppurtunity

 

 

My friend Martina over at

                           

has the cutest magazine!

 

Isn't it adorable!?!

 

And I seriously couldn't believe it when

she asked me if she could feature our family! 

 

So Exciting! 

 

~Of course I jumped at the chance

 

It is a German Magazine and she has a feature to show how people live around the world.

 

~Kinda scary to be representing the United States~

What an honor!

 

And when I saw the copy...it is a gorgeous 6 page spread! 

So my little family,

is featured HERE

In Martina's Kid's Life Magazine

 

If you haven't visited Martina you totally should!

I dream of being her someday,

She is beautiful inside & out. 

I could stare at her artwork for hours,

it always makes me smile & relax.

A role model for sure.

I'm totally serious...I'm her fan :)

 

So when she asked ME?

Let's just say...I was overjoyed!

 

She even sent us a package of goodies

to thank us when we were the lucky ones!

 

Bo fell in love with this little guy she sent right away:

 

He is a sorrow eater.

When you are sad you can write your sorrow down & this lil' monster eats it up so you feel better :) 

 

 

 

He totally makes Bo happy & that

makes me happy.

 

Martina sure made our whole family feel special!

 

Thanks Martina!!!

I'm Wondering...

Today is Independence Day.

We do a lot of our celebrating the day before because

there are so many fun things to do.

 

This year I saw a picture of the American Picnic

& it got me wondering why I

never -in my whole life-

have made fried chicken before.

 

 

link

 

It's just so American.

So I decide it is time.

 

As I start...

 

I'm wondering why there are other settings

than HIGH on my stove.

 

 

My husband is wondering why I burn everything.

 

 

 

 

Bo is wondering why the house is so foggy.

 

Annie is are wondering what stinks terribly.

 

I am wondering why my pictures are so foggy,

 

 

 

...and why Roo is begging to go outside.

 

 

Kelly is wondering where all the kids have gone.

I'm wondering why we found them all out in the garage

...including Kit.

(Annie said he was coughing too badly.)

 

 

My neighbors are wondering why we are blowing

smoke out of our house with fans.

(and if our house is on fire.)

 

 

I'm wondering why it doesn't look like the magazine pictures.

 

I'm wondering if I should have actually followed the recipe.

 

 

I'm wondering why everyone is picking the

breading off their chicken.

 

 

 

& why Roo keeps dipping his watermelon in western dressing,

but that's a different story.

 

 

The kids are all wondering when our house will smell better.

 

I'm wondering if the people sitting next to us at the fireworks will notice we all smell like burnt grease.

 

I'm wondering if the dried on flour & water mixture all over my black tank top is that noticeable.

 

I'm glad it's dark.

 

I'm wondering why I made fried chicken when

Kentucky Fried Chicken is just down the block.

 

I'm also wondering how you celebrate!?

 

 

 

 

 

Happy 4th of July.

Hope you get to celebrate with family & friends.

And that your house never smells like ours.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Lil Secret...

Super Bo just turned 6.

 

 

At our house every party needs balloons.

 

 

But what one might not suspect about me is that

I am a water balloon expert.

 

I know way too much about water balloons,

 

like the groovy tie-died balloons are a beast to fill

 but a big hit with the girls.

 

                     

 

and that little boys love the grenades.

 

 

I know that cherry bombs are the

easiest to fill AND the best poppers,

 

 

and that if you have skills you can tie them

with a big bubble in the stem

& they become the coveted "Double Cannons."

 

 

I know that if you draw a baby on a balloon

the kids will take care of it all day without popping it,

 

 

But if you draw your brother on there

...it'll be the first one smashed with glee.

 

 

I know that the best part of a water balloon fight is the anticipation...seeing those big fat balloons but not being able to throw them until ALL the guests arrive.

 

I know that everyone needs to start with the same amount,

 

 

but you better have a refill station or two on hand.

 

 

I know that even though there will probably be tears

there will mostly be lots & lots of smiles,

 

 

and that 180 water balloons can be thrown in three minutes flat.

 

 

But I will let you in on my favorite secret about

water balloon fights...

 

Adult Water Balloons.

 

Fill up a regular balloon as big as you dare.

 

 

and under ALL circumstances resist the darlingness of your children when they beg for one...and they will...even if it is their birthday.

 

All the magic lies in the fact that only the adults get these babies & you can bet that one day they will be moms & dads with a sparkle in their eye telling their kids "Someday....when you are a dad..."

 

 

 

Remember

 

you are never too young,

 

 

or too old,

 

 

to soak the ones you love.

 

 

P.S.  I ALSO know that if kids try sneak them in the house

to keep them for tomorrow

...say in their dresser drawers or hidden on top on the fridge...

 

they pop.

 

You've been warned...

wish I was. 

:)

 

 

 

 

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