So Easy a Kid Can Do It!

You gotta love those cookie dough, school fundraisers! The question of "Do we have anything for dessert tonight?" was answered with, "We sure do if you want to make it!"
















So here's Devin making dessert tonight with his fundraiser cookie dough in a tub.

Let's Go Fly a Kite

If you saw my Easter Savenger Hunt Post, you saw Devin and Ben finding some easter goodies. Devin got a nice two-handed kite at the end of the hunt and since then he's been waiting for the right weather to take it flying. Today after school was the perfect day and after a few pointers from dad, Devin finally got it up and flying. He was so pleased with himself that we had to catch a snippet on video!

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Pampered Chef Birthday Party

Yesterday was Roger's 40 something birthday. Since it was a "school"night (and also the greatest TV night of the week), we decided to put off going out for the usual birthday dinner until the weekend.

Liz has just started selling Pampered Chef and she wanted to do a "practice run" before her first big party this Saturday. My incredibly sweet, wonderful stud of a husband agreed to be part of Liz's first guinea pig group and went with me to her house for a Pampered Chef demo/dinner party.

As you can see he pitched right in and and got busy putting the appetizer together with Devin & Gramps. It was a delicious stuffed won-ton with a cheesy artichoke filling.
We also made a tasty Garden Cheese pizza on the Pamered Chef Bar pan/stone. It was so yummy!

Even Little Ben got to help with the food prep.

Thanks, Liz for feeding us on Roger's birthday, and thanks Rog for being such a great sport! You're the best friend/husband a girl could ever want! Happy Birthday Sweetie...

My First Award!

Karma Award...
These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind of bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers. Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award.

This is too fun! Thanks to my cousin, Roberta Clark, for recognizing my blog in her Karma Award. I love keeping up with friends and family this way.
http://grandmaturtle.blogspot.com/

http://lynsie-adam.blogspot.com/

http://theborupfamily.blogspot.com/

http://mycrazydailys.blogspot.com/

http://helmerfam.blogspot.com/

http://jeffandsheilahay.blogspot.com/

http://www.tilyge.blogspot.com/?zx=a94f0bd47d0fea1b

http://buckleysbusines.blogspot.com/

It Really Works!

Tonight we had dinner in the backyard on our patio and guess who showed up for dinner??? The WASPS of spring, that's who! On Sheila's blog, I recently read about all the many uses of Bounce dryer sheets and one of the uses was to keep bees and mosquitos away.
So we decided to do a little experiment with the Bounce dryer sheets and see if it really worked to keep the wasps away. Guess what? They really worked! We layed the dryer sheets around the table and the wasps were held at bay. We saw the wasps hovering around but they stayed around the perimeter and didn't come near us or our food. It was TOTALLY AWESOME!!! Just thought I'd pass it along in case you want to throw some Bounce in your picnic basket this year.

Does This Strike You A Little Funny?

I was correcting paragraphs my students had turned in today and I came across one that made me laugh out loud. "Allie" wrote her paragraph about boys and why they are stinky and weird. Here's what she wrote in her paragraph:
"Most boys or guys are just looking for a popular or pretty girl. They are not really looking for a girl with a good personality or a sense of humor. They don't really care about any of that stuff. I guess they are just in it for the population." I just had to share it because it was a great, entertaining moment of my day! (I actually see a lot of these little "funnies" from my 5th graders...aren't I lucky?!)

Christ is the Reason for this Easter Season

I would like to add my testimony to the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints when they testify that: "At this Easter season of hope and renewal we testify of the glorious reality of the atonement and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. The empty tomb brought comforting assurance and provided the answer to the question of Job, “If a man die, shall he live again?” (Job 14:14).

Because of the Savior’s resurrection we will overcome death and become the beneficiaries of His mercy and grace. In a world of trouble and uncertainty, His peace fills our hearts and eases our minds. Jesus is in very deed “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6).

We give our sure witness that Jesus is the Christ. Though He was crucified, He rose triumphant from the tomb to our everlasting blessing and benefit. To each member of the human family He stands as our Advocate, our Savior, and our Friend."

2nd Annual Easter Scavenger Hunt

Last year, on John and Kate Plus Eight, I saw Kate plan a Valentine's Day scavenger hunt for her eight kids. I decided to try the same idea for Easter last year and the kids just loved it! I hadn't really thought about doing it again this year but a few days before Easter, Devin started saying that he couldn't wait for the scavenger hunt again this year. So Saturday morning (when I wanted to be sleeping in) I got up and put together another hunt for Devin and Ben (thanks, honey for putting all the eggs in place). We thought Kayla was out of town, but she showed up right as we were hiding the clues for the hunt. Here are some little snippets of the scavenger hunt that has accidentally turned into an annual Easter event.

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Easter Fun With Cousins

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

A Little Spring Break Trip

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Mentholatum

As far back as my Grandpa Buckley, I can remember our family being addicted to Mentholatum...okay, maybe addicted is a harsh way to put it, but I would be willing to bet that

at this very momemt at least 4-5 out of 7 siblings, in addition to my mom, has a jar of Mentholatum in his/her possession. My jar is in the drawer of my nightstand, right beside my bed, because I have to put it on my lips and in my nose every night before I go to bed. I even take it with me on vacations so as not to interupt my nightly ritual! If I forget to pack it for a vacation, I have to buy a new jar where ever we are. It's just like putting socks on before shoes for me.

That's what makes this story of Little Ben (my sister, Liz's little boy) so amazingly cute!

I have this spot on the wall in my kitchen where the rubber door stop has fallen off. It doesn't look very nice and needs to be repaired soon...(honey?). Well, recently we've caught Little Ben touching it with his finger and then rubbing his lips. One day when Liz asked him what he was doing, he said, "I'm putting Mentholatum on my lips." I guess in his four short years of life he's picked up the family tradition to carry it on in the next generation.

The Good Wife's Guide -1955

Oh my, have we ever come a long, LONG way!!! See what you think of this little "dittie" that was published in Housekeeping Monthly in 1955. Are you doing all of them like I am???


To be a good wife:

1. Have dinner ready. Plan ahead, even the night before, to have a delicious meal ready, on time for his return. This is a way of letting him know that you have been thinking about him and are concerned about his needs. Most men are hungry when they come home and the prospect of a good meal ( especially his favorite dish) is part of the warm welcome needed.

2. Prepare yourself. Take 15 minutes to rest so you'll be refreshed when he arrives. Touch up your make-up, put a ribbon in your hair and be fresh-looking. He has just been with a lot of work-weary people.

3. Be a little gay and a little more interesting for him. His boring day may need a lift and one of your duties is to provide it.

4. Clear away the clutter. Make one last trip through the main part of the house just before your husband arrives. Run a dustcloth over the tables.

5. During the cooler months of the year you should prepare and light a fire for him to unwind by. Your husband will feel he has reached a haven of rest and order, and it will give you a lift too. After all, catering to his comfort will provide you with immense personal satisfaction.

6. Minimize all noise. At the time of his arrival, eliminate all noise of the washer, dryer or vacuum. Encourage the children to be quiet.

7. Be happy to see him.

8. Greet him with a warm smile and show sincerity in your desire to please him.

9. Listen to him. You may have a dozen important things to tell him, but the moment of his arrival is not the time. Let him talk first - remember, his topics of conversation are more important than yours.

10. Don't greet him with complaints and problems.
Don't complain if he's late for dinner or even if he stays out all night. Count this as minor compared to what he might have gone through at work.

11. Make him comfortable. Have him lean back in a comfortable chair or lie him down in the bedroom. Have a cool or warm drink ready for him.

12. Arrange his pillow and offer to take off his shoes. Speak in a low, soothing and pleasant voice.

13. Don't ask him questions about his actions or question his judgment or integrity. Remember, he is the master of the house and as such will always exercise his will with fairness and truthfulness. You have no right to question him.

14. A good wife always knows her place.