Back to School

School started here a couple of weeks ago!

With all our moves the last few years, Spencer has gone from Elementary (K-6th) to Jr. High (7 & 8th) back to Elementary (K-8th) and now again to Jr. High! He's excited to be able to take Seminary. He is doing great, making lots of new friends. In fact, he's been "Mr. Popularity" since we moved. The first week after we moved in, I had giggling girls on my doorstep ever night, asking for Spencer. Sometimes they even brought treats!





The morning of the first day of school. Shane was a little nervous, can ya tell?

After school...he had a GREAT day! He was so cute, he came bursting out of his classroom when the bell rang, and shouted across the playground, "Mom, it was awesome!" He really likes his teacher and has made lots of friends too.

It's always nice (and a big relief) when things start falling into place! Both boys have done great at adapting to new circumstances. They are old pros at moving and making new friends!

Here's to a great school year!

Jell-O Pudding Pops

Well... I am ever so slowly working my way up to making cookies!
I decided to start with something pretty simple to do; Jell-O Pudding Pops. Frozen chocolate pudding, what could be easier than that? And Shane agreed to be my helper, even better!

Here's a link to the recipe, courtesy Kraft Foods:
Jell-O Pudding Pops



Pretty simple, you just make the pudding (we are using chocolate) according to the package directions.

Pour or spoon the pudding into small cups, or popsicle molds if you have those. I have a gazillion of these small, white plastic cups left over from some Relief Society event...perfect for pudding pops!

Stick a popsicle stick in the middle of each cup of pudding and put them in the freezer for a few hours.

Shane liked them. I didn't try one because they disappeared too quickly! Although I did find a few chocolate messes from accidental "spills"!
When they thaw out, they don't melt, you just end up with a cup of pudding, or a pudding spill, whichever!

I think this picture pretty much says it all!

Shane likes chocolate!

A Father's Legacy

Rick loves to read every bit as much as I do. In fact, he probably reads a lot more than I do.

He has recently been reading the "Great and Terrible" series by Christ Stewart. He's been traveling a lot for work, and likes to have a book with him. Volumes 3 & 4 of the series were supposed to last him a couple of weeks...he finished them both in about 5 days!

This, however, left him with nothing to read last week. At the last minute, I suggested he try reading the "Percy Jackson and the Olympians" books. They are YA novels and some of Spencer's favorites. I read them too, and really enjoyed them.

Shane has been toting the first book around, pretending to read it. (It's a little above his reading level). I remembered it was on the shelf of his bed...

When I grabbed it, I had to laugh. Can you see something sticking out of the top of the book?


Here's a closer look:

And closer still:

Any guess what that is? Why, it's what passes for a bookmark in this household. If you haven't figured it out yet, this picture should leave no question in your mind...

Yep, toilet paper bookmarks is the legacy my husband has passed on to his children. Every single one of the kids do this! Every. Single. One.

I think I will make laminated toilet paper square bookmarks for Christmas this year.

*And just so you know; Rick really recommends the "Great and Terrible" series, didn't really like the "Percy Jackson" books, and...I did find him a regular (no pun intended) bookmark to use while he travels...but here at home? TP all the way, baby!

Cookie Confusion

I'm afraid Shane has lived a very sheltered life.

A few days ago, he asked if we had any cookies. These are the sort of thing he is referring to:

I buy these little packages of cookies to pack in his lunches for school. Sadly, they were all gone.

Then, an idea began to form...my head began to pound, my palms to sweat and even though I wanted to stop myself, I surged forward and ...

I blurted out; "We could make some cookies".

Shane stared at me for a moment, a blank, confused look on his face. Then he said; "Sweet! We have cookie dough?"

You see, Shane thinks cookie dough looks like this:

And comes from this:

"We would have to make our own cookie dough", I gently explained.

More blank stares followed. I'm not sure he can quite get his head around it.

Then he asked; "When can we do that?"

Not wanting to commit myself too much, I respond with a vague; "Maybe tomorrow." He was satisfied, and went on to find another, more interesting activity.

But now, tomorrow is today (technically, it's been several todays and tomorrows) and there is no cookie dough in sight.

For now, we'll just have to settle for this...

It's all I got!

Marking His Territory

Every morning I drag myself out of bed at the last possible moment cheerfully rise bright and early so I can slap together some peanut butter sandwiches pack a delightfully healthy and delicious lunch for the boys to take to school.

I had just finished making sandwiches when Shane remembered he had other plans for his lunch.
We had gotten pizza for dinner the night before.
I’m all about healthy, well-balanced, planned ahead, home-cooked meals.

It’s a curse, really.

This is how he “reserved” the last piece of pizza for himself:
See the little yellow sticky note on the box?

Here's a close-up:

Ahhh...the power of sticky notes!

This kid is nothing if not resourceful!

He did, however, end up with the last yummy piece of cold pizza, packed snuggly in his lunch box.

You're Gonna Miss This!

Okay, I have to admit that whenever anyone tells me, “enjoy this, ‘cause you’ll miss it when it’s gone”…I secretly think to myself: “Whatever!”

Miss the messes? The fighting? The trying to get kids to do chores? The temper tantrums? The whining? The complaining? The homework? The noise? Dishes? Laundry? Making dinner every stinking night? Yeah, I’m gonna miss that, alright! NOT!!!

But the other day, something happened…There I was, minding my own business, sitting reverently in the church pews listening intently to the speaker. In front of me sat a cute little family, with two little girls and one cute baby boy. I watched with amusement as the littlest girl drew pictures on the back of the Sacrament Meeting program and then proudly explained to her mom what she had drawn. The mom reminded her to be reverent, as moms always do, and then looked at her drawings with a patient but tired smile. Then, as my eyes glanced upon the pig-tailed head of the older girl, I suddenly felt the walls were closing in, like I was being sucked down the rabbit hole! I got a little choked up and my eyes welled up with tears. Where did the time go? Wasn’t it just yesterday that I was that mom? That I had a gaggle of little ones crowding me for my attention, clamoring to climb up on my lap? Now I have two young adult children, a teenager, and one little boy who is quickly growing up. Though it sounds cliché, I think it is absolutely true that the time does go by so fast! I like the stage of life that we are at now, but still can't help wondering where did the time go? How did this happen? I glanced away for a moment and whoosh, the years flew by! And though there are things that I won’t miss (see above) about those tumultuous, chaotic childhood years. There are decidedly things I will miss. Those are the memories of being my children’s mother that I will hold forever in my heart.