I smiled today because....

I was inspired by Jen & Jamie. And wanted to play too.

I smiled today because...

• It is Friday!!! And 3 day weekend!
  
• Crew took 2 naps today.
• Connor & Wyatt came to play!
  
• I know what we are having for dinner tonight. Italian crock pot chicken. And the house smells so good.
  
• Having funny conversations with Tanner.

I told Tanner that Connor & Wyatt were coming over today. He asked me where their mom was going. I told him that she had to go to work but they were going to play over here because their regular babysitter couldn't today. And he said "Oh we are kind of like the substitute."

• I bought a Christmas present today for someone on my list.
  
• Carson & his imagination. He pointed out a dinosaur that he saw in the clouds.
  
• The new school shoes that I got on sale today for Tanner.
  
• Monica & the girls are here to visit!
  

Chicken Squares

We had these for dinner last night and then for leftovers tonight. The boys love them. So does Crew!! (He is very interested in what we are eating these days!) And actually I called Heather & she was making these for dinner tonight. What are the odds of that? This is mom's recipe.

Chicken Squares
3oz. cream cheese, softened
2TBSP. margarine, melted
2 c. cooked chicken
1/2 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper
2 TBSP. milk
1 TBSP. minced onions
8 oz. can crescent rolls

1 TBSP. margarine, melted
3/4 c. crushed croutons

Mix cream cheese & 2 TBSP margarine; add next 5 ingredients. Place mixture in crescent rolls. Bring all 4 corners up to middle & seal together. (That part is kind of tricky to explain. But your end result will be a little square pocket.) Brush with melted margarine & roll in crushed croutons. Bake 350 degrees 20-25 minutes.

Right now...

I am loving these cute little ice cubes for water bottles. Jen gave them to me awhile ago & I haven't used them for a long time. I forgot how much I love them.

WHY?

Why won't this baby take a nap? Maybe it is because Carson fell asleep. He just doesn't want me to have a break. I have to leave in about 20 minutes to go to the school & that is when he will decide it is a good idea.

1st Grade

Tanner's first day of school. I have to admit that I was kind of nervous for him starting 1st grade. At breakfast this morning he said that his stomach kind of hurt. So I asked him if he was a little nervous. He wanted to know what that meant so I asked him if he was wondering what his teacher looked like & what his classroom would be like. Or if he wondered who his new friends would be or what the rules would be. And if he was excited to eat lunch at school & excited that he gets to play on the big kid playground now. Then he said "yeah I guess I'm a little nervous". He did so good when we dropped him off. He met his teacher & went right in his line & said bye to us. I think he will have a good day. I can't wait to hear all about it.

Things are going to be a lot different around here at our house with Tanner being gone all day. My house will probably stay cleaner. He will not be here to upset or fight with Carson! But I am going to miss him. I will miss him out of the blue telling me that he loves me. Or when he is always willing to be my big helper. I will miss making top ramen everyday for lunch. I will miss the otter pop trash everywhere(well maybe not) . Carson & Crew will miss him too! Look at these boys!

Tanner has been saving cans for awhile now. He went with Brian this morning to the recycling center & came home with $5. He's making money this summer!

*I LOVE*

Just playing along with Candace.

*I love*
my bed & my pillow, the feeling after I workout,
a quiet and clean house, my boys,
fridays, that school starts on monday!!
when all the laundry is done and put away,
laughing & being silly,
when Tanner & Carson play together instead of fight,
that Brian is a hard worker, crossing things off my to do list,
Crew's smile.

New haircut

Here is a picture of my haircut. Thanks Brit. I love it!

9 months

I know I have lots of posts about this little guy lately. But now he is 9 months. I can't believe it. Where does time go? A few things about Crew:

he is such a happy boy,

makes some pretty funny faces,
loves to explore the house in his walker,
still does not crawl!
loves the camera,
knows the sound of the laundry room door, (means someone is home)
keeps his eye on Tanner & Carson,
momma's boy,
but LOVES daddy!

5 Question Challenge

1. If you could have lunch with one person from High School and catch up on each other's lives....who would it be?

I don't really know.

2. If someone handed you a gift card worth 10,000 dollars, what store would you want it to be for and what would you buy?

I would love for it to be for a car dealership. I know that isn't really a store but that would be a great feeling....To get out from being upside down in a car payment.


3. What's a current trend that you just don't get?

When boys wear skinny girl jeans! That is so ugly & I don't get it.


4. You're having a dinner party and you can invite 3 famous people dead or alive. Who would you invite?

1. Jennifer Garner. I just love this girl!
2. Ben Affleck. Well then she might as well bring her husband.
3. And then I guess Violet could come too. Then the kids could play.

5. Where's the best place you've been on vacation....and what made it the best?

When I went to Nashville with Jen & Susie. It was so much fun. Of course with those two girls any trip I've been on with them is fun! But it was so much fun going to all the concerts. The food was so good and of course the people watching. Gotta love it! It was a whole new experience for me. Good memories!

First Buzz

Crew woke up this morning and his hair was having a party. It was all over the place. I told Brian that we should cut it. And he said yeah we should just buzz it. So that's what we did. Tanner & Carson were still asleep when we cut it so we'll see if they notice.

Look at all that hair!
He looks so cute!

Look at these dirty little feet. Crew had fun last night playing outside with the boys! He walked all over the driveway in his walker. He was so happy!

Look at this kid. He rolled himself under the truck on his skateboard. He was "fixing it".

We went to the Springs Preserve on Saturday for a couple of hours with Jessica & the boys. They had fun playing on the playground. Then we checked out The Nature Exchange. Tanner is so excited about this. You can do research on things you find like rocks, leaves, shells, dead insects or fossils. Then you can bring them in to earn points. You can collect points to be able to trade with the different things they have there. Tanner came right home & was trying to figure out what he could do research on.

Night out

We had a girls night out! Went to dinner & then went to Tim McGraw & Faith Hill concert. It was so good. I had such a fun time!

I hate night terrors!

Tanner had a night terror last night. I can't remember the last time he had one. When he was little he would get them all the time. Talk about scary! I hate night terrors! Last night wasn't any different. Tanner woke up. Both Brian & I both go in his room to sit by him. I can't even explain the look on his face, or how his eyes are open but he is looking right through us, or the sound of his cry. Then when it is all over and he is awake I asked him if he had a bad dream. And in a normal voice says "No" ans then falls back asleep. It is awful!


I found this online:

When you hear how most experts describe night terrors, it is easy to see why parents find them distressing. Children who have night terrors are usually described as 'bolting upright' with their eyes wide open, with a look of fear and panic, and letting out a 'blood curdling scream'.These kids will usually also be sweating, breathing fast and have a rapid heart rate (autonomic signs). And although it will seem like they are awake, during a night terror, children will appear confused, will not be consolable and won't recognize you.

Typical night terrors last about 5 to 30 minutes and afterwards, children usually return to a regular sleep. If you are able to wake your child up during a night terror, he is likely to become scared and agitated, mostly because of your own reaction to the night terror, especially if you were shaking or yelling at him to wake up. Instead of trying to wake up a child having a night terror, it is usually better to just make sure he is safe, comfort him if you can, and help him return to sleep once it is over.

The BIG slide

Today was the last day of swim lessons for Tanner & Carson. Look who went down the BIG slide! They didn't want to stop.
Carson even went down the slide. First with his teacher & then all by himself!
Here is a picture of Carson & his teacher Ms. Kim.

Hot Rocks

The boys had so much fun doing this little craft. Thanks for the idea Heather.