bubby and the wheel of fortune

Hi it's me the hubster. I was getting ready to do the dishesand the wheel of fortune was on and bubby was just standing in front of the t.v. mezmorized and clapping with every body on the show I just thought that this was cute and wanted to share it

birthday gnome

In the words of a 2 year old , soon-to-be 3 year old, "Hooray, it's the birthday gnome."

The birthday gnome comes out mysteriously sometime during the week or your birthday. No one knows where he comes from or where he's been. The birthday girl sure did get excited when she discovered him on the dining room table already prepped with a small gift. He likes to leave small trinkets and notes for the very special boy or girl the week of their birthday and then mysteriously leaves to visit another birthday child.

as much as possible

We started going to the Library now on a regular bases. Each time I hope that it will be a time to look at all the titles, search for that one book that will be exciting to read. Instead, it's trying to keep the noise level to a tolerable decibel, heard Bubbie into a corner so I can gather him up and if we're lucky, leave the building without accidentally picking out books that are all in Spanish.

lanterns

At my wedding reception I had dozens of lanterns hanging in the trees. Luckily, I found these for $2 each at the time.

I had them sitting in boxes for the longest time, never used since 2003. I realized that it would be cute to have them hanging my my backyard trees and since then have them all over my yard.

Create a soft atmosphere with lights in trees or planters.

If you can't find cheap lanterns I was told about a site that makes hanging jar lanterns out of applesauce jars.

Here's how to make 'em!

monday monsoon

Monday nights during the summer at the Children's Museum they greatly slash the price down to two bucks for admission. So after dinner we went down town for some kid fun. Bubbie liked the rock climbing wall, even though he didn't know what to do with it.

They have a section where you can go to a Farmer's Market and pick food and pay for it. Very cute and neither of them wanted to move on from that area once they got there.






This part was cute and they went back to it twice. It's the inside of a submarine. They pushed buttons and lit up lights. Monkey is seen here calling Grandma and telling her about the fishies she sees on the monitors.

This is a darkroom with pens that lit up and you can write on the wall and the light will remain there for a few moments.

The hubster playing a electricity learning game with bubbie. Bubbie really liked the Museum. He liked every room. He liked it so much that he would have a fit each time we would transition into another room. Gonna hafta get a Family pass to the Museum.

not bad for my first time

I needed my hair cut so bad. It got really long quickly. Can I just say that I have always wanted long hair, but it just never happened and then all of the sudden it grew like no body's business.

I just wanted to not spend $12 for a trim. So, I went on YouTube and watched a video on how to cut long hair. I think I did pretty well for never cutting hair (on me) before.

I think I'm going to cut it again, but I didn't want to go nuts and be unhappy with a buzz cut.
Next, I'm going to dye it myself...

Remember when I blogged about Chickadee Bead Art? Well, there's now a givaway to win !

My favorite messages

I posted this on my Facebook. I feel it doesn't matter what religion you are, or even if you don't have religion at all. This is good for all to hear. If only we all did this, how great our children would be.

Don't orget to turn off my music so Dean Martin doesn't confuse you.

pirates and s'mores

Friday I wanted to go to the dollar store again to see if I could find anything more for monkey's party. The hubster didn't want to in because he felt that I was only going to find princes stuff and buy more of that and find nothing that had to do with the pirates. Right when we walk in we find this! I was so excited, now I don't have to make eye patches and fabric for bandannas.

And all this for a buck!

Earlier I had blogged about a yummy recipe for S'more cups, but had no picture of how they turn out. Tonight monkey and I made some and I made sure I took some shots of them!

So easy a 2 year old can do it!

it's a good thing

Great idea. Place strips of paper with chores on them, color coding them according to age of kids.

Martha Stewart - Organizing Tip of the Day

a sad 200

This morning I noticed that I was about to do my 200th post. Yea me. But, realized I got nothin'. I've been babysitting my brains out and haven't had anything else on my mind. Also, been trying to think of things to make for monkey's birthday party.

Although, I do have this on my mind. We discovered these it Italy and ate them daily. Costplus carries imported chocolate and FINALLY these had come in. We bought a pack and were gone in 2 days. So good, I recommend trying them. The hubster thinks they tasted better over there. I say it's because we were in a romantic city and everything tasted better!!

it's a party

I wasn't planning on giving a party for monkey. I was just going to have special things done on her day. But, I started seeing all of these cute Pirate and Princess stuff at dollar stores and couldn't pass this up. So, she's going to have a princess and pirate party at our house. It's going to be small, just a few kids that she knows. Here's the run down on what and where I got these goodies from.

• 
  
  Pin the crown on the princess game: Thrift store for $.50


• 
  
  Pirate hanging banner: Dollar Tree $1.00 for all 3


• 
  
  Pink petals: Dollar Tree for $1.00


• 
  
  Pink tutu's: Target $.50 each (I bought 4)


• 
  
  Princess wands: Dollar Tree: $1.00 (pack of 8)


• 
  
  Princess crowns: Jo-Ann's (pack of 12) for $1.00

How good is that? I still need to find more pirate things so the princess part doesn't take over. Bubbie had a fun party at the pool and everyone enjoyed themselves, but hauling it down there and hauling it back wasn't fun so we're keeping it close and doing it in the living room.

More to come...

Sinning for Cyn

WARNING: The images you are about to view maybe disturbing and cause blindness. Have I mentioned I want a new camera?

I went to see my Cyndi Lauper last night. My SIL came with me this time. The hubster strongly apposes my choice in artists. Cyndi has a new album out so she was touring her new Blues CD. It was pretty good. Would I listen to it over and over? Probably not, but I did enjoy her versions of classic blues hits.

Kendra bought us a refreshment. It was getting real humid outside since that where the concert was, we were on the lawn and a drink just sounded good. I started to guzzle mine and it was watered down, but didn't say anything. I look over at Kendra's face and see disappointment and realize hers is a downer too. However, it did quench my thirst. Thanks Ken for the beverage!

It was a little after 10pm and Cyndi says "before I close I want to sing this one last song." I thought, okay, it's late so let's just leave and listen to the song on the way out since you can hear it from the parking lot. That's when a lost everyone left and and then soon realize that she keeps singing more songs. Oh, well. I got a great view of her (despite what my camera tells you) and got to hear the new stuff AND enjoy a night out!

dear Cyndi,

dear cyndi~

how are you? did you know that I'm coming to see you soon in concert? probably not, you're busy, i understand. i'm hoping to fall in love with you're new cd since i've only listened to your latest one once since, well, i hated it. do you remember the last time i saw you? what was it, 3-4 years? that was an amazing concert. it was the first time i saw you in real life. i've always adored you since i was small. one memory that stands out was when i was in germany, we were at an amusement park and they were playing one of your videos on the monitor. well, see you soon, pls come out into the audience and touch my hand so i never have to wash it again.

xoxo

blow out the candle

We went out to The Cheesecake Factory for my birthday. They just built one here so it was super busy for a Thursday evening.

My mom got me a Birthday Gnome. I've been wanting one. I want to have him as a birthday tradition where he mysteriously shows up the week of the birthday and leaves notes and small gifts for the birthday girl/boy.
I keep forgetting to take a picture of my meal BEFORE I dig in so it looks much more appealing. I always get salmon when we go out to dinner. If they have it I will try it in any form with any flavor. Me like salmon.
I saved room for cheesecake. I got the Godiva Chocolate Cheesecake. So good, but had to take the rest home. Breakfast tomorrow.

Monkey wanted to blow out the candle. Go for it sister.

on this day

On this day, 32

years ago, I was born.

What are my plans? The same as yesterday.

Birthdays are good for you. Statistics show that people who have the most live the longest! It's true.

Click HERE to learn how to sign 32 in American Sign Language.

stand up

I donated to this last year. I know there's always something to donate to, but I really liked the surge of demand to find a cure....so, I donated.

huge marshmallows

Saw these on another blog and was reminded of the huge marshmallows someone brought up to the reunion in Idaho. When I saw how huge they were I just thought how gross. But, when I make s'mores I end up using 2 regular sized mallows to make it gooey so it made sense and wasn't so creepy to see massive marshmallows in my path anymore.

priceless

I think he makes a beautiful fairy princess.

She only has one sibling, she's gotta dress-up someone.

chicken pot pie

This is fast and is comfort food in my book!

Ingredients:

2 packages of pie crust (found by the butter and eggs)

1 Can of mixed veggies

2 cans of cream of potato

1/4 cup milk

2-3 cups of chopped cooked chicken

1-2 tsp. dried thyme

How to:

• Mix, veggies, soup, milk together, add in chicken and thyme and combine.
• pour into pie pan that has already has rolled out crust.
• lay other crust on top and pinch sides.
• use an egg wash for a golden flaky crust if you like and make slits in the middle.
• Bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes or until the top is browned

cross off the list

I just love getting to cross another summer activity of the list. This one was for the Sonoran Desert Museum. You're crazy to go during the day in the summer. They drastically reduce the rates during this time. However, during the evening time they offer night time visits too. You can see the animals that would normally be sleeping during the day and they let you look for scorpions with a black light along the paths. Weird, I know, but kids love it.

I took this on our drive out to the Museum.

We have the best sunsets, bar-none.

Waiting in line I got creative with the membership card we have. It's been worth it. When it was much cooler we were going weekly.

The hubster and monkey looking for the mountain lion.

Prickly Pear.

This was a strange tree with strange things growing down from it.

Pops and monkey by a painted horse. We see them everywhere in shops and museums here.

Bubbie slept the entire time and woke-up just in time to see the exit sign and these bronze Javalina at the entrance.

wow, really?

Saturday morning I went to the cannery for my food storage and when I to well, visit the little girls room, I saw this directly in front of me. I thought " Really?" and that "they had to finally post it because, well, the toilet wasn't being flushed."

And then, while I was washing my hands I read this and thought "man, people are just leaving the water running?" Aren't these basic skills and common courtesy's? Are people not being taught these responsibilities or do they just not care about these privileges? And they are privileges. They didn't have to provide theses functions for us, and the fact that we even have the ability to have these services is something that we should be appreciative for. Drive 300 miles north of me and there are people that still have out-houses.

That's all I have to say on the subject!