Pinterest #5

This was a great Pinterest trial week--two great dishes and a workout app...  I made the Greek dip for a Super Bowl party and it went over well.  I thought it was great--something I could eat as a meal even.  Definitely a different take on the normal cheesy or ranch-type dips.  Highly recommend, and you know it was easy or I wouldn't have made it :)

7 Layer Greek Dip

This spaghetti dish made two meals for all of us, plus lunch leftovers.  Five thumbs up at this house!

Cream Cheese Spaghetti Casserole

I came across this app on Pinterest and tried it out this week.  Tons of workouts.  You can choose from things like "Get Lean" or "Get Toned" and then within each of these menus you can choose beginner, intermediate or advanced.  After that it gives you a whole list of workouts that meet these criteria.  I tried "The Heartthrob" and found it to be a good workout.  The girl tells you what exercise to do and for how long.  The timer runs automatically.  If you need to see the exercise, you can.  You can also set your own music to play.  I didn't do this since I was watching TV at the time, but would be a nice option.  Plus it is a free app.  Try it out!

Nike Workout App

Kindergarten Program

Miles had his kindergarten music program last night.  Lots of fun songs.  You could tell he was about to pee his pants the last five minutes.  I told him he shouldn't drink a huge bottle of gatorade right before the program.  His class was supposed to wear yellow.  Luckily Target had spring shirts out.  Notice we had to fix his hair for the program.  

Pinterest #4

When I followed this pin, the title of the blog post was, "Looks like dogfood--tastes delicious!"  That alone made me want to try it.  Another EASY recipe that served us for two dinners and Adam lunch leftovers.  The kids would probably rank it somewhere between "okay" and "good."  Covered in ketchup, I thought it was pretty tasty.  Adam doesn't really count since he likes everything.  Good enough to hang onto the recipe.

 Tator Tot Casserole

This is my first flop to share with you.  I intended to make these sugar cookie truffles for a family that I was taking dinner for.... Things started well.  The blender crushed the cookies, I added the cream cheese, rolled balls and froze them for firming.  In the meantime I melted the vanilla chips--this is where things went wrong.  Either I was lazy or thought I had a genius idea, but instead of dipping each ball in the chocolate, I dumped them all in.  I thought I'd stir them up real quick and then dump them out and decorate.  Right?  Wrong!  Because they were frozen and the chocolate was warm they immediately all stuck together and the chocolate started to harden making one huge blob.  I realized they were ruined (visually at least) so I pulled them apart with my hands and threw on some sprinkles.  Even though they got high marks for taste it was much too embarrassing to give these uglies to anyone.  The kids chowed down and (without my knowing) Adam took some to work and said people really liked them.  

Sugar Cookie Truffles

Here's what the cute ones look like.  I'll have to try this again and stick to the directions this time.

On a Roll

Another weekend, another basketball tournament.  Since the tournament was here in Manhattan, Owen had quite the fan club--our family, Grandpa Mike, Grandma Rosie, Grandma Jean and Aunt Nancy.  They have really come together as a team and have won something like their last ten games in a row.  Owen is loving it and happy to have another month (February) full of basketball.  We are happy that he continues to be part of teams with great kids and parents.  Too bad the "real" Wildcats weren't able get past Oklahoma last night.  

Pinterest #3

More recipes this week.  I love how easy it is to pin recipes I may want to try.  I'm not one to look through cookbooks and I would never make something that doesn't show a picture, so pinterest is perfect for me.  Here's the scoop...

Slow cooker scalloped potatoes

I thought maybe I'd be the only one who liked these, but Adam and the all of the boys thought they were really good.  I would rate them somewhere between "not as good as ones my mom would make" and "considering how little effort was involved, worth making again."  I found that I did not need to cook them as long as it said.  I also used white potatoes instead of red.  I swear I bought red potatoes last week, and now they are missing.... hmmm...  Would also add green onions next time.

Reeses  Crisps

A fun twist on no bakes--fewer ingredients, less work, less time... you get the idea how easy they were.  Seven minutes start to finish!  Miles and Graham loved them.  Owen was a little grossed out by the appearance, but did eat one.

The Bear

Kindergarten homework:  color or decorate the bear for an upcoming unit.  Miles wanted Texas shorts and a K-State jersey.  He thinks it turned out great--even the (girly) ribbon for the shoelaces.  I had to tell myself it was HIS project and not trim the edges or color in the little spaces :)

 Meanwhile Graham was having fun with the marker/crayon box.  This is why I keep my Sharpies in my purse and off limits to the rest.

Recommend

I just finished up the last book in this series.  I bought the first one at a garage sale last year after reading that K-State had given it to all freshmen (a couple years ago??).  To be honest, they sounded kind of weird.  But every time I've thought I wouldn't like a series (Harry Potter, Twilight), I have.  So if you are looking for something to read, check these out.  And if you get "The Hunger Games" read by March, you can go to the movie with us.  Right, Ellen? :)

Next up?  I think I will try "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo."  I shouldn't read during the school year as I can make myself stay up very late for "just one more chapter."  However, it might also keep me on the elliptical more often--my knee would probably appreciate that.

Pinterest #2

Remember that I was intending to make something from Pinterest every week... This week I made taco roll-ups.  Very easy and we all thought they were great, although the meat/bean mix did look a little Alpo-ish.  Of course, my spirals weren't this neat, but it's the taste that matters right?  Source:  Family Fun

I stumbled across the tutorial for these fun pendants a while back.  I thought they would be fun layered with another necklace or with some extra charms or beads added on.  Source:  Sutton Grace

I picked up some blank pendants and dimensional mod podge at Hobby Lobby and tried it out.

I think they turned out well (have a couple of others, but they are gifts).  Although the Hob-Lob had some fun things, I'd like to see if another craft store has different chains, like some of the ones shown in the original photo.

3rd Grade Wildcats

My own Wildcat was in action this weekend (Lenexa tournament and league game in Manhattan).  His team finished second in KC and won their game today.  Owen was happy that Uncle Quint and Grandma Jean were able to come watch his games.  Uncle Quint volunteered to take the Bigs to his house while we shoe shopped for Adam, and Grandma made personalized cookies for everyone.  A little Green Apple yogurt on the way home made for a pretty good day.

 Can you guess which one belongs to Miles??

Went with the tall socks today...

Finally Friday

Made it through the first full week of second semester.  Did not get picked to serve on a jury.  Finally found the "good" Valentine's Day candy--Sweetarts.  They always put out the chocolate and the Brach's brand hearts (yuck) first.  And finally saw the fourth Twilight movie that came out in October.  Surprisingly it is still at the theater, and even more surprising... Lindsay and I weren't the only ones there!  Onto a Friday night of laundry and cleaning so we can head to KC bright and early for Owen's basketball tournament.

Pinterest #1

One of my goals for 2012 was to make some of the items I pin on pinterest.  This week I finished up a couple of things I had started and made a recipe for pizza casserole.  Here's the results...

e  formamas.blogspot.com

Pizza casserole--this isn't actually the one I made, but ours turned out pretty similar.  Less greasy because I used turkey pepperoni.  I'll add it to the permanent recipe book because it was EASY, made enough for 2+ nights, and the kids thought it was outstanding.  Especially Owen.  

presserfoot.blogspot.com

Anthropologie scarf knock off--I really liked the color and fabric of the knock off, but wasn't able to find any similar fabric here in town.  Instead I used some sheer leopard fabric since I can always use something animal print.  Very easy, fast, and fun too.  Would make again if I found fabric I loved.  

Boot socks--It seems like pretty much everyone on pinterest has these (or another color) socks pinned.  Would you pay $80?  Not this girl.  I stumbled across these purple, kind-of-hand-knit-looking socks at Target for $5.  Embellish a little (too lazy to make them exactly the same) and I think it's a pretty decent knock off.  Cheap for sure!  Total time = 5 minutes.  

"Jenny, I Got Your Number"

Actually make that Sierra.  Miles cracked me up when he gave me this piece of paper after school today.  When I asked him what it was for, he said that I was supposed to call Sierra because he was invited to a sleepover at her house tonight.  Sorry buddy, school night :)

Happy New Year!

No one in this house made it to midnight, but that's okay since the kids still manage to get up by 6:30 (on a sleep in day) even over the holiday break.   Do you make New Year's resolutions?  I find that if I write them down, I'm more accountable.  Probably because I like list and crossing things off.  I've given up the "drink less Diet Pepsi" resolution--it never works out.  Here are my 2012 resolutions/goals, notice that they are mostly measurable--must be the education world/SMART goal influence :)

1.  School--Finish revising all my units (first semester done) and decorate my new room.

2.  Fitness--Run five races (10K or longer) and incorporate other types of exercise to hopefully help my knee last longer :)  Already have Nashville booked for April, with a couple of others in mind.

4.  More organization in the kitchen--I love to organize anything, except for meals.  I hate planning what to eat as well as grocery shopping.  But I'm going to work on it.  Maybe if my planning is better it will make the shopping more bearable and less frequent.

5.  Pinterest--I've pinned a bunch of things, but what good does it do if I just "like it"?  Considering all of the recipes, tutorials and tips I've collected, I'm going to make myself make one thing each week.  Maybe I'll even post what I've tried.

6.  Date Night--We are so busy that it's very easy to let this slide.  Doesn't have to be just us, just no kids allowed.

The maybe's:  Might be the year to go short.... Or pierce my ears.... Or both?  I don't think I need goals related to the kids--we do a ton with them already and set reasonable limitations.  No home goals.  It's already cleaned and organized, complete with boxes ready for garage sale, Next-To-New or to pass along.  As for improvements, we are saving our money until we decide what our long term plans are.  Although we will have to buy a doorknob for the bathroom since we had to rip it off after the big boys locked Graham in the bathroom a few weeks ago.  Happy New Year everyone!  What are your resolutions?

           

18 Months

Graham has turned into quite the little talker here lately.  His favorite things to say are:  dog, cow, no, down, milk, more, trash.  He is also saying Owen (O), Miles (Mi) and Newman (sounds like mimi).  He thinks every animal that isn't a dog is a cow.  He loves to stomp his foot at people and make growling noises.  You can definitely tell he has two big brothers as he has NO interest in his own toys, only "real" toys like adult size basketballs.  Inside he prefers to sneak into the bathroom and get out other people's toothbrushes and suck on them, scour the house for pens and markers (that he now knows how to remove the lids, as you can see by the "vein" drawn on his temple in this picture), play with the computer keyboard, climb on furniture, and get into drawers and cupboards with the least toddler friendly items like blenders and ziploc bags.  As for "tricks" he can do--I already mentioned the growling, but he can also put his clothes in the laundry, point to his butt and say poop (after I tell him, but he's starting to do it himself too), and take items to the trash (learned this one from cousin Brody).  

Christmas #2

Santa managed to track the kids down in Atwood; I think he did a pretty good job this year!  It was a great four days spent with family.  The kids love time with the cousins.  The older kids are able to entertain themselves and they spent most of the time doing their thing (making messes) in the basement, coming up only to ask for more root beer.

 Graham got shoes from Mom and Dad, blocks, books and puzzles from family, and a glider bike (two wheels, no pedals) from Santa.  He's a couple of inches too short, but it will be perfect for spring.

Miles got clothes from us, books, reading light, legos and indoor putting green from family, and an iTouch from Santa.  He couldn't believe Santa would bring this to him!!

Ditto for Owen.  He LOVES this thing!  I'm glad Adam likes gadgety things like this so much--they've spent a lot of time setting things up, browsing the App store, etc.

 The babies have grown since the last "triplets" picture.

 The fur cousins enjoyed each other as well.  Jersey, Todd, and Newman ganging up on Uncle Rhett (who might be part dog :)

 Kids table at Christmas dinner.  And yes, my kids wear these sweatshirts everyday.

 Graham took his first four wheeler ride and kept asking for more rides.

 Seven cousins, mostly still dressed (Owen!) from church.

 Pretending to be sweet kids...

When really, this is more like it...