big success and HUGE bomb

This past week we checked out a science book from the library.  This afternoon we attempted one of the experiments with great succes.  I'll admit even I was pretty excited by it! :)  We made corn starch goo.  It's so neat because it's crumbly when you play with it, but as soon as it sits still, it turns to goo. Very fun, as you can see in this video...

Later this evening I attempted another experiment...serving roasted beets with dinner.  A couple girls at my Tmoms table had mentioned them and said how yummy they were.  I have to say that I have not gotten this type of response in a long time:

Cameron:  Nasty face
Chris:  Gagged
Kendall:  Spit them out (staining her clothes)
Kelly:  Enjoyed them :)

I drizzled them with honey and balsamic and then salted them.  I thought they were quite tasty, though I might prefer them with something else as opposed to by themselves.  But it doesn't really matter what I prefer because I can tell you I won't be making them again. Ha!

a little about me...

1.  What is your favorite Starbucks order?  Hot:  Soy White Mocha.  Cold:  Soy Coffee frappuchino with whip and caramel on top

2.  What's one thing in your closet you can't live without?  Since it's winter, my puffy vest I got for $10 at Target two years ago.  I live in that thing. :)

3.  What are two things that most people don't know about you?  Chris' family was quite surprised during our last visit to find out that I want to buy/ride Trikes with Chris when we retire.  I think they look super fun.  I can just picture us going on road trips.  Sidenote:  Chris is SOOO not on board with this :)

I will at some point get another tattoo (probably on the side of my foot) :)  It will be some sort of creation from Chris combining our and the kids' initials.  Sorry mom, it's gonna happen. :)

4.  What is one thing you want to do before you die?  Go on an outdoor, several day hike with Chris/friends, including kayaking, camping, and hiking.  But I'd like to be wimpy about it and do it through a company that will set up camp for us, guide the hikes, etc. :)

5.  What is one food you can't live without?  I know this isn't a food, but I LOVE hot drinks (hot chocolate, french vanilla cafe, etc.).  I have a cup a few times each day.  They are very comforting to me for some reason.  But I'm very particular in that I have to feel a little cold to drink one.  Sometimes I'll sit under a fan while I drink.  Weird...I know. :)

6.  What's the #1 song on your iPod?  I actually don't have any music on my iPod because I never listen to it. :(  I rarely listen to my own music other than the occasional radio time my kids allow me in the car. :)

7.  Pet peeve?  Leaving to go someplace and getting into a messy car.  I HAVE to clean out the car whenever we arrive home from someplace.  I'm not talking spotless.  There are always books strewn about in the back for the kids.  But jackets, cups, trash, etc. have got to be cleaned out before my next trip!!

a couple funny "kendall's"

Yesterday evening Chris and I were trying to talk and Cameron was purposefully interrupting (putting his face really close to mine, putting a DVD in my face so I couldn't see Chris, etc.).  We both got super frustrated and told him to go upstairs until we were done talking.  Kendall followed him up and said:

"Cameron, I have to tell you 'somping'.  If you interrupt mommy and daddy again, you can't live with us anymore!"

This morning the kids were taking a bath.  Normally when I peek in, I see the the toys they've dumped out all over the floor.  This morning they decided only to throw the soap out and to pile the toys on the counter.  However I also discovered Kendall standing on top of the tub peeking out the window.  When I told her it was dangerous to stand there and that she needed to get down, she replied:

"But I have to stand because I want to toot standing up!!"

Ahhh...that makes sense.  Everyone needs to toot standing up, right??? :)

*Cold weather go away.  You are not wanted nor appreciated.

*Yesterday morning I convinced Kendall to let me "curl" (or use my big crimper) her hair.  It made her look so cute!

*We had Cam's IEP yesterday afternoon.  It went really well.  It's always fun to hear others give insight and tell cute stories about your child.

*Trips to Winco typically involve a stop in their bulk candy aisle.  One of my VERY favorites are the yogurt covered pretzels.  In general I have pretty good willpower when it comes to having sweets around the house.  I've learned that it is not so with these little guys.  I think I need a little break from them for a while. :)

*I wanted to do something fun today with the kids.  After school pick-up we headed to Chuck E Cheese.  I still had a bag of tokens from a previous visit.  The kids loved it and I love that they are always fine with only staying about 20 minutes (I like to spread out our token usage so we can get more trips out of what I initially buy).

Afterward we walked across the street to run around a duck pond, located in front of a large office building.  However this was cut short when a receptionist poked her head out of the building and told them to skidaddle as, "...they might fall in the water.."  Oops :)

 

*Today's moms' group included a panel on marriage, which was really neat.  Not that we by any means have the perfect marriage, but after 11 years of hearing talks on marriage at various church events, you tend to hear the same stuff quite often.  :)

vindication ;)

I tend to operate on the 80/20 principal when it comes to eating.  I eat pretty healthy most of the time. The 20% comes in with my Skinny Cows each night, as well as a few more treats on the weekends.  I try to adopt this philosophy with the kids, although in honesty sometimes that 20% gets bumped up (some days I find myself thinking, "Holy cow, what have they had today that HASN'T been junk??")

I like to at least make sure most of their three main meals are good ones. The treats sneak in between meals. :)  I've talked before about the pancakes I make for them and freeze in bulk.  This past weekend when we were with Chris' family, we all went to IHOP for breakfast.  Cam ordered the kids' silly face pancake.  While he was eating this yummy, buttery, strawberry syrup topped pancake he said, "Wow!  These pancakes are yummy!  They are almost as yummy as mom's pancakes!"  Seeing as Chris' family likes to tease me about the things I hide in the kids' foods (beans, veggies, etc.), I quickly brought Cam's comment to their attention :) Ha!!

This morning the kids had my pancakes (this batch had sweet potatoes and black beans).  I got more positive feedback from Cam, which made me feel pretty darn good!  :)

weekend

We had a fantastic weekend up north celebrating Chris' grandma's 80th birthday.  In addition to being with extended family, it was sooo wonderful to see the cousins together and enjoy one another.  My kids did awesome at the birthday and hanging out at Grandma W's house, thanks in large part to their great cousin playmates. :)

I wish I could say I took loads of pictures. Here are just a few I scrounged up. :)

Visiting a dinosaur museum:

Before the party started the kids enjoyed running around the banquet hall.  Here Kendall is putting on a show.  I wish I had a picture of her and Chris' cousin, Austin.  Kendall was quite taken with him the whole weekend and expects him to attend her birthday in May, despite him being from Oregon. :)

Chris' mom makes the best German Chocolate cake, which I enjoyed several pieces of.  Here are Kendall and Wanda having some leftovers after the party (yes, it had nuts...but for some reason they are a-okay by me in this cake):

Awesome weekend. :)

p.s. Bachelor:  Um...Sean, really?  What I heard Catherine's sisters say was, "Catherine is NOT ready to settle down and she tends to dump guys after they bore her." Apparently that was not what you heard.  Wow...I thought you were smarter than that! :)

Happy Valentines Day!

*Chris had a super early bootcamp class this morning so he picked up a couple of heart shaped donuts on the way home for the kids.  Kendall's looks like the size of her face, which it wasn't...well, let's be honest, it almost was!.

*Our plans for tonight?  A romantic dinner for four at Wienerschnitzel :)  I'm actually really looking forward to it because 1) My kids love it and 2) I LOVE their pretzel buns!!

*Yesterday I took the kids for a short hike after we picked up Cam from school.  We decided next time it might be wise to wait a little longer after a rain to go hiking.  It was VERY muddy.  However Kendall enjoyed stopping at EVERY SINGLE patch of snow to eat some of it. :)

*I learned about this Nuttzo stuff on a blog and am quite intrigued.  They have it at Clark's, which right there tells you it's going to be expensive. :)  But I might stop by if I'm in the area.

*Watched a cute movie on Hallmark, Be My Valentine.  I think it's on again tonight if anyone is interested! :)

*Do you know what is fun?  Standing in the frigid weather waiting to buckle Kendall into the car while she insists on taking her jacket off herself.  It's also fun to get impatient and do the zipper myself, only to have her get so upset that I didn't let HER do it that I have to re-zip the jacket in order to allow her to complete the entire process.  :)

*Update on my "Chocolate Healthy Bars" I posted about several days ago:  Neither kid now likes them.  However they do eat them if it's the only thing offered. So I can at least get rid of this batch and I know not to make them again. :)  Oh well, you win some you lose some.  My homemade Cheez-its are still a hit, so that is good.

*Kendall had her first T-ball practice yesterday.  She did great and Cam was a good helper.  He REALLY got into his job I gave him of officially welcoming each family at the gate with, "Welcome to the Giants' baseball field!"

*Bachelor:

Really like AshLee and think she is definitely in the running for Sean.  Sidenote:  I don't think she and I could be friends.  She is WAY too perfect looking and I would feel like a frumpy mess!!  :)

Still my favorite. :)  Dez is so cute and down to earth...however I'm a tad scared about previews for next week and her brother!!!  

Lindsey and Catherine:  Sorry, I don't really think there is a chance for you. :(

*While playing with her doll today:
Kendall:  This baby was in my tummy!
Me:  She was?!  Wow!
Kendall:  Yes, and when she was in there she saw Jesus and the baby.  Then she came out.  That's how it works!
Me:  Really?  Interesting! :)

saturday

Yesterday there was a free golf expo out in Palm Desert.  The kids and I dropped Chris off and went right next door to our favorite park for a bike ride.  They road EVERYWHERE while I sped walked to keep up. :)  We then drove down the road to the library and waited for Chris.

(Kendall was pouting over to the side because I made her leave the play area.  It was SO beautiful in the desert.  You can barely make out the mountains in the background which were covered with snow)

Later in the afternoon we headed over to my parents' house to celebrate my dad's 70th birthday.  We had delicious hamburgers and I made my favorite cake in the world (if you ever want to try it, check it out on my Pinterest because there are a couple notes I added).  My dad enjoyed opening his presents, including the bowl the kids had decorated at Color Me Mine a few weeks ago.

Happy birthday dad!!!!

*A friend and I were talking the other day about how she has no desire to attempt camping with the kids (at the ages they are currently).  I told her that I have zero desire to take the kids up to the snow (seeing as I despise weather even remotely cold).  However I must say that the enthusiastic reactions I got from my kids today with the very small amount of snow we got might push me to take them to the mountains.  :)

*I LOVE streusel topping.  This morning my friend made some banana bread for my Tmoms table.  She topped it with a brown butter streusel topping she had made before which was amazing (couldn't find the recipe on your Pinterest, Jessica). This time I snagged a piece for Cameron as I left...however the topping of the bread mysteriously disappeared on the ride to school.  :)

*I learned something new today from Cam's homework.  Our state flower is not, in fact, a poppy!  Take a look... 

soooo cute!! :)

*Agenda tonight:  Costco for dinner and groceries...

-Skinny Cow

-Rice Milk

-Bananas

-Eggs

hiking

Today a few girls from my Tmoms table and I met for a hike in Oak Glen.  Sidenote:  if anyone reads this blog and ever would like to join us, please email me!! :)  We had a great time.  It was quite cold at first, but we all quickly warmed up.  I love these sweet pictures.  And I love that it's good hiking weather season again.

p.s. On the way home I gave the kids the chocolate energy bars I posted about yesterday.  Kendall loves them and Cam has come around too!  I think it helped that I re-named them, "Chocolate Chip Healthy Bars". Cameron even suggested to Chris that he try one...to which he politely passed. :)

p.p.s. I made a double batch of the homemade Cheez-its today since we flew through the last batch.  I tried using 1/2 whole wheat flour and they were great!  The downside is that are SOOO time consuming. It takes me about 2 hours (making dough, cutting, baking) to make what would be the equivalent of about 2/3 of a box of store bought Cheez-its. :(

*In an effort to expand the kids' snack pile, I found a great recipe today, Double Chocolate and Prune Energy Bars.  I think they are very good, as long as you bite into them not expecting a brownie :)  I put fewer chocolate chips in the actual bars in order to save some for the top, making them appear like they had chocolate chips throughout.  Did Cam love them?  Hmmm..."love" is a strong word :)  Did he like them enough to eat?  Yes!  That's all I needed!  :)

*Today I took Kendall to the Fire Station tour with my moms' group.  We both had a fun time. :)

This picture cracks me up because it is Kendall to a tee.  You can see all the kids lined up in front...with Kendall in the back being held by me.  She is quite shy in groups and would not really venture more than a foot away from me the whole time. :)

*Chris' parents sent the kids a Valentines package today.  Inside were also a couple packages of Dove dark chocolate pieces for myself (I think Dove makes the best dark chocolate).  Oh how I love these little gems.  And how I love the new flavor they included, Dove Silky Smooth Sea Salt Dark Chocolate.  Wow.

date afternoon

This afternoon we dropped the kids off at my parents' and headed to Victoria Gardens.  We had a giftcard to Cheesecake Factory which had been calling our name since Christmas. :)  I also had a giftcard to Forever 21, which had also been calling my name.  It was fun to browse the crammed racks there since I didn't have kids running around my feet. :)

If I had all the money in the world, I would buy all my clothes from Anthropologie.  This shirt reminded me of something from there.  It's unique, but not too unique...so I bought it. :)

Our dinner hit the spot for both of us.  Chris initially told me (teasing of course) that he wouldn't take me if I was going to waste my order on their veggie burger.  But I swear this burger is one of the best...so I defied him and ordered it.  However I negated the healthiness of the burger by siding it with fries dipped in ranch. :)

Always fun to hang out with my best friend. :)