How could I forget. . . .

Ryann reminded me, we saw Imagination Movers too.

"Throw Me Somethin' Mitsa"

Mardi Gras in New Orleans = SO MUCH FUN!

10 hour drive from Springfield, MO to New Orleans, LA

85 lbs. of "throws" (beads mostly, doubloons, cups, toys, stuffed animals, umbrellas, footballs)

15 Hours of Parade watching

One Day we even dressed up! (B-Scarecrow, Me-Lion, R-Dorothy, S-Tinman)Funny Huh!

We saw Reggie Bush, Sean Peyton, Steven Zahn, Harry Connick Jr., and Rachel Ray.

Got alot of Sun, even in the Cold.

Ate alot of Food: Muffalettas and Beignets are my favorite. The kids loved it all especially the King Cakes.

Talked with alot of extended family, met friendly natives, smelled sweet olive trees, bought head-on fresh shrimp, watched ships on the Mississippi, and stayed up too late everynight.

As Long as you stay away from the bars (duh) the atmosphere is pretty clean, and so much fun. We stayed in front of Pralines by Jean. Brandon's Mom's cousins wife makes the best Pralines. Yum. She invited us to watch the parade in front of her shop, so we could party with them, have a bathroom close by, and eat breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a few snacks in between too :)

I can still hear the kids screaming "throw me somethin' mista". Funniest thing I've ever seen them say.

Three hours into our trip home we stopped in Jackson, Mississippi to look at the Manship house (relatives of Brandon's family). Charles Manship was a decorative painter. He painted wood doors to look like mahogany, and wooden mantels to look like Marble, for the middle class citizens, who couldn't afford the nicer things. He became Mayor of Jackson, where he organized the first fire department.

We toured the house that is now a museum - Beautiful.

Then we continued on four more hours to Memphis, Tennessee to visit Graceland. I've always wanted to see where Elvis lived. It had already closed for the day, but we looked at all the names on the wall surrounding his home, and took a few pics.

Four more hours until we made it back to Springfield. Seiler had to pee several times.

It feels good to sleep in your own bed!

The Pops R Done

Well, I had Seiler dip the Marshmallow Pops for His Class on Tuesday, while Ryann was at her Dance lesson. He Had so much fun, and proud of himself for accomplishing this task. Ryann dipped her Marshmallow Pops yesturday before she went to Basketball practice. Making sure they were all different.


So the Pops are done. As for the lesson, I will just have to give it during our 12 hour trip to New Orleans on Saturday. Yay.

What happened to FHE?

Yesturday after work, I prepared a "Love At Home" lesson thanks to the girls at FHE Ideas. I was excited for this lesson : being so close to Valentines and all. We were gonna make Chocolate covered Marshmallows on sticks, for my kids to give away at their Valentine's Day Party at school. I bought Marshmallows, sticks, borrowed Melting Chocolate from my sister, went through all my sprinkles, and poured each different (red, pink, white, V-day holiday)kind into a cupcake paper (for easy clean up) and set it aside. I made Beef Stew from Scratch. Smelled it cook for two and a half hours. And then NOTHING.






We did NOTHING.

I was hoping to do it tonight, but:
Tuesday is Basketball practice for one, and I have Releif Society tonight.
Wednesday is Basketball practice for another
Thursday one has piano,
Friday is Valentine's Party Day at school, so that's too late.




thank you theidearoom for the pic.

I had just read the following on my friends Blog. "The joys of boys" and tears were brought to my eyes. Thank you Yvonne, I was not able to make it to that game to cheer the boys on in their first game, and am glad that it has been documented for me to enjoy. ( it feels good to know that someone is praying for Us. It always helps:))


Coaching Moment

After Thomas' first basket ball game, with Dad as assistant coach, Daddy asked Tommy what his favorite part of the game was.

Tommy: Three things. First, we WON!!!!!
Second, I ran back fast on "D".
Third, Seiler made THREE hoops!
(His friend, Seiler, hasn't been able to quite get the ball as high as the hoop yet.)

Daddy: Oh, yeah! He did make a hoop, didn't he?

Tommy: Yeah! THREE! One was when we were practicing. Two and three were when we were playing.

Daddy: That's so cool! Wow, Tommy.

Tommy: Do you know why he made hoops today, Daddy?

Daddy: No. Why?

Tommy: Because I prayed for him.


Melt my heart.
A true coaching moment you hope and work and pray for.


Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Proverbs 22:6

I hope you don't mind that I copied it, I just look up to you and the way you are raising your boys. Luv ya- help me- call me- we need to get together- :D

Happy February Everybody ;)

It has been sooooooooooooooo Long.

I apologise for not updating, but a few weeks/almost a few months a go, I had been blog hopping and found some neat ones. Looking at new blogs everyday, searching for inspiration of any kind. Sewing, Quilting, Cooking, Cleaning, Dieting, Exercising, Mothering, Being Spiritually uplifted. . . . . and I found it.

Now for the DOING it- I, with the help of my oh so smart/always thinking of the best way/talented sister Danielle, I have made a quilt top. Go me! I'm not going to show it to you until it is done. Mostly because I still haven't mastered the whole Posting up pics on this blog, and a little bit, because I have not cleaned the room that it is going in yet. :)


I have also made a rag quilt for Seiler's room, made throw pillow covers for all the pillows on my couches up stairs- For the V-Day Holiday. Along with table runners for the kitchen and top of the piano. Go me!


I have printed off many healthy and delicious looking dinner ideas, and successfully stocked my fridge, and (if you can call it a) pantry with all of these ingredients... Go me! Now for the cooking part.

I have continued on my weight loss journey. Loosing ten more pounds since Christmas. Go Me! You can't tell though. My mom says she can, but that's what mothers are for - to tell you that which you want and/or need to hear. ;) thanks mom.

I have a new calling as a primary teacher. I haven't taught a class in like four years. Preparing for this each week along with the prayer challenge that our Awesome home teacher has set for us is totally helping with the Spiritual Inspiration that I needed.

So if I could just get to that Mountain of laundry on my couch, and scour the bathrooms, I would get the cleaning inspiration - on a side note, With all the great things that distilled Vinegar does for cleaning all the things around us, have you ever heard about using it in your hair? I read about it, I think on The Pioneer Woman Cooks, but I can't remember. What do you think? I don't know if I want to smell like a Pickle.

As Far as the mothering goes. I want to be more hands on. . . . but I tell myself I can't, because I am not home with them all day. However, I do get off work when they get off school. So? What's wrong with me? How can I improve? Life is so busy with Soccer/Basketball, FHE, Activity Day Girls, Piano, Date night(yeah right), home work, and sleepovers. There just always seems to be a project to get done. Without my kids cooking with me in the kitchen, how do I get more Quality time with them? Any suggestions? I need them.