News you can use

I wouldn't say things have been slow around here, but I would say the blog topics are "slim pickens."  


Part of being a mom is INNOVATION.  We are always trying to fix silly little problems, and sometimes they work and sometimes they don't.  The girls gave me the "super mom" award for fixing their shoes this week.  


The beginning of school has quite a few bugs to work out and new shoes are sometimes a problem. Found these super cute mary janes for the girls, and both came home limping because they rubbed their heels.

I decided to buy some mounting tape. I just trimmed the right size, and taped it to the inside of the shoe, and then covered it with a soft ribbon instead of leaving the plastic part on.

The tape has stayed on both kids' feet ALL WEEK, and they both said they don't hurt anymore! In a week, the shoes will be nicely broken in, and they won't be afraid to wear them. I'll probably remove the tape, and they won't even notice.

2.  Have you heard??? Here's some great advice that your "ears" can appreciate. Found this secret out from my mom and sister recently.  Instead of boiling corn, you can MICROWAVE it to PERFECTION. 

My kids LOVE corn.  Place in microwave with shucks on, and microwave for 3 minutes.  When you open and eat, it's just about perfect.

3.  And the last of the "news you can use" is from a blog - www.confessionsofahomeschooler.com.

Click on her "recipes" tab, and I've found some gems.  We tried the mexican casserole and it is quite different than any I've made in a while, and the mongolian beef was also VERY tasty.

My boy has had a less than stellar week. He hasn't felt well, and he was due for his first dental visit. He plopped right down, and did very well.  He didn't appreciate waiting for his sisters to finish, but we managed to get a good cleaning and X-rays.  He said "I so proud of me."

...but next time, we will split them into two appointments. lesson learned.

The rear view mirror

As I was driving the girls to school on their first day, I looked back, and they were just giggling about something.  Mary was GIDDY that she was FINALLY going to Allie's school.   I had to take the opportunity at the red light to snap a pick.

In my cheesy, blog lovin' head, I had to use this pic to show what I was thinking on my sweet Mary's first day of kindergarten.  I was thinking....

It has already been 5 years.  Which means the next 5 will only go quicker. 

Ha ha. Mary went through a long phase of NOT SMILING for the camera.  

As I look at these pics, I really can't believe they look so grown up.  All of a sudden!  

Happy first day of grade school Mary.  You are going to be a SUPER student.  You are sweet, respectful,  quiet, and attentive.  

Their first day was actually last week.  She isn't crazy about getting out of bed at lightening speed and having to rush off to school, but once we get there she is happy.  After her first day, she jumped in the car and said, "Now THAT was awesome." This one is LOW drama girl who saves words like these for the real deal. I'm thankful school ranked right on up there for a day at least. 

chicken wings

....Soooo we're at the beach week before last.  It's my birthday, so we are out to lunch.  We are at a hole-in-the-wall seafood restaurant, and of course my sister, Em, orders CHICKEN!

Notice anything funny about that chicken wing???

IT STILL HAS FEATHERS!!!!!!!!

GRRRRRRossss.

So Emily agonizes over how to handle the situation, but one thing is for sure. She's not eating the wings.  Opinions are offered at the table as to what to say to the waitress. Finally, Em hands them over and says, "Do the wings normally still have feathers???" To which the waitress nicely replies, "Well sometimes."

Sometimes????????  Yikes

So the waitress takes the chicken wings, and says, "I'll have these took off."

To which I kindly reply, "Oh I don't think she's going to eat them now (thinking she meant have the feathers "took" off)

The waitress turned around and probably annoyed at this point said, "off the BILL"

Oops...the table burst into laughter. It was just too funny!

Beach pics

We spent last week on our annual beach trip with my parents and siblings.  There are too many pics! Here are just a few of my family on our picture night.  

I would love to get a BIG print of this one to frame...but someone is missing.....

DON'T MISS HIM! Ha...that's the first pic I've posted of him, but I just couldn't resist hiding him any longer!  Photoshop rocks!
 
We are always go the first full week of August which is the week that Reese Catherine Rowe was born.  I can't believe she would have been 2 this week. Happy Birthday to you baby Reese. You have changed so many lives and we remembered you each day this week and sooooo many days the past 2 years.   

What to do when it's 103 degrees...

...just sit...in the lake.

We spent a few days doing the lake thing last week with our friends from the Lion's Den.  Mamma lion had only been home from China for less than 24 hours when we left, so we did a great job keeping her awake during the day.

Tubing is a big hit for this age group...can't throw off these light weights from behind a barge, so all is well!

Garrett liked watching the kids being pulled behind the tube, and with a little bribery, he decided to try it too. Unfortunately, he flipped right out of the back...too light:)

Great fun!

We received a 7 minute video of our little man. I watched it about 8 or 9 times and noticed something new each time. He's looking more like a little boy and less like a baby. He's quite serious and very quiet compared to a couple of kids around here. Maybe, just maybe, he will have #2's reserved and more low maintenance personality! Oh well, we'll love him no matter what!

Hoy----YA!!!!

little fishy

Today is Abbott's bday! (my niece:)   We went to her house this afternoon for a swim party, and as always, the kids had a blast.  

Garrett SWAM without his float for the first time!  After a couple of "back and fourths", he swallowed half the pool, and kindly requested to put his floatie back on, but he is getting to the point that if he fell in, he could definitely get to the side.

Speaking of a "little fishy."  I was vacuuming the girls' room after the party when I noticed a pen mark that was oh probably 4-6 feet stretched out drawn across the carpet.  I assumed it was GARRETT, but no no...it was the 8.5 year old.  I was a BIT shocked and maybe a little dismayed.  After a 10 min interrogation, I decided to check on Garrett who was finishing up his bath. He decided to dump about 5 gallons of bath water on the floor during the altercation, so this was NOT going well....not at all.  Of course this only happens when there are not two parents at home, and this was the case.  

I waited for dad to arrive home, and after talking to her, we came up with a clever little consequence if I do say so myself. She had to come up with a long list of things she would NOT write on in the future.  It turned out pretty funny, so I had to blog about it because she will laugh some day when she reads it.

The funniest line...I will not write on my friends!

I went on about my business, and was about to go to bed, when I found another list on the table....written by her sweet daddy. I'm not even sure she read it, but I thought it was the kindest act. She was quite devastated by her poor judgement and took it very very hard.  What hubs did was an act of grace, and she will not forget that I'm sure.

Happy Birthday to my crazy boo!  We love you!