Memorial Day!

I meant to get on here Monday and wish everyone a very happy Memorial Day!  But I was home, in bed, sick as a dog, with a stomach bug.  Not a fun way to spend a day off from work.  Boo.

We did celebrate some on Sunday with my in-laws.  We grilled out hamburgers and let the kids run wild.  They loved it.  Al and I went riding on the Harley and guess what?  We got caught in the rain! 

I can tell you right now, riding a motorcycle in the rain is NOT FUN.  Rain feels like tiny, ninja like knives trying to cut you to pieces.  I know people passing by were laughing at us.  I would be laughing if I were in my car!  Ha ha!  Heck - I WAS laughing at us!  Thankfully we were close to home so we didn't get too, too wet.  Ok, that's a lie - we were close to home but we still got soaked.  I guess you can say I'm a true rider.  :)~

I hope all you guys had a wonderful Memorial Day and took time to say thanks to all the men and women who serve our country.  Our freedoms aren't free and if it weren't for those people, the United States wouldn't be the what it is today. 

Oh, and Happy 40th anniversary to my parents!!!  In today's society the fact they've made it this long is exceptional.  They are such an inspiration to Al and I and I hope to see them celebrate many, many, many more!  I love you Mom and Dad!  Hope you have a great anniversary!

School's out for Summer

Cooper's last day of school is today.

Olivia's is tomorrow.

Then it's summer break baby!

They are ssssooo ready for summer break - and Mama is too!  I am so tired of drop offs, $5 for this, $2 for that, $30 for a yearbook (for ELEMENTARY KIDS!!! WHAT!), etc I could scream.  I know I'm going to miss the closeness of THA, but I'm really looking forward to the new journey the kids are going on with new schools.  (Specifically earlier drop offs!)

We don't have many plans for the summer.  A few trips to the beach are planned of course, maybe a camp here and there at the YMCA.  Who knows?  Maybe I'll let them stay up late every night and wear their PJs over to Nana's in the mornings.  Does it matter?  Nah, of course not.  I do have some weekend ideas planned.....especially since sports are over and we can relax and do whatever we're in the mood for.  I want an ACTIVE summer - not two kids playing the Wii all day, every day.  (which would make both of my kids happy I'm afraid)

So, expect to read about hikes, bike rides (oh yeah, Al doesn't know about these yet, he hates to ride bikes), golf cart rides, swims,etc all summer long!  We have a family membership to the Y, so I plan on using it up this summer.  COOPER WILL LEARN TO SWIM IF IT KILLS ME!  I have tried *everything* to teach that boy to swim - and trust me, just throwing him in and saying "sink or swim" isn't effective anymore.  He sank.  I jumped in.  He just looked at me like "WTH Mommy?"  I felt like the biggest toad to ever walk the earth.  Maybe swim lessons for the 100th time....who knows.  He will learn though!

OLIVIA WILL LEARN TO TIE HER SHOES!  This one will probably happen before Coop learns to swim.  She already knows *kind of* how to tie her shoes, she's just not consistent at all.  But I refuse to let her enter 4th grade without knowing.  Any suggestions will be appreciated.  She is a stubborn, stubborn child and hates to be told how to do anything.  Because she already knows how, you know? 

Anyways, it's summer time and I'm happy!  Too bad I don't get a summer break.  :(  

Full of sugar

He is so open with his love.  I love him for that.

I love my kids!  O is so much like me it's not even funny.  I mean, sometimes I honestly feel like I'm having de ja vu with that girl.  She is a sweet, big hearted 9 year old - but her love and affection comes on HER terms.  I've tried to change that with her - but honestly, I understand.  I was the same way until 4/4/03!  :) 

Cooper, on the other hand - is my kid that just lets his love pour out.  He wears his emotions on his sleeve and doesn't mind giving hugs and kisses.  He'll openly tell me he loves me and misses me.  It absolutely melts my heart.  I'm not sure where he get this from.  Al is  shy and private with his emotions.  But I'm glad Cooper is so loving.  I have no doubt it'll make him a wonderful husband and father one day.  :)

In the picture above, he had made cards for his teachers.  How sweet is that?  He couldn't wait to take them to school today and give them out.  He'll be going to a new school next year and said he wanted them to know how he felt.  How could you NOT love a kid like that?  

Happy Mother's Day

I hope everyone had a wonderful Mother's Day!  I know I did - I woke up Sunday morning to two little faces peering down at me.  My little monsters had made me breakfast in bed.  I had Doritos, a brownie, and boiled peanuts.  And a glass of sweet tea to wash it down.  They know their Mama all too well folks! 

How sweet is that though?  It's days like Sunday that make me feel 100 times thankful I became a mom.  There was a time in my life when I was younger when I wasn't so sure it was what I wanted.  Of course now - well now I know that it's what I ever wanted and more!

I hope you told your Mama's Happy Day!  I know I learned from the best - I have one of the best moms in the world.  Now we prepare for Father's Day.......:)

Just Call me Chef Mandy

If you're a regular on my blog, you know that Al is the cook of the house.  I get grief about this from time to time, but mostly everyone is jealous that my man cooks.  :) 

You should be.  He's one good cook! 

But lately for some odd reason, probably thanks to Pinterest, I've got the "cooking" bug.  I mean, like planning a menu out for the week so I can cook EVERY night type of cooking bug.  I have to admit, I am rather enjoying myself.  I've found some great recipes on Pinterest.com - if you're not a member, join. Seriously - it's not just food - you can find just about anything on there and some really good ideas.  And I've found some quick, easy meals that I had forgotten about.   I've found that I really don't mind cooking as long as the recipe isn't complicated and it doesn't take too long.  Anything else and I lose my interest fast.  Call me lazy, but after working all day and coming home, if I can't make it within an hour, I'm out. 

Pudding Hole Cake - was sssooo good!

Shrimp Boil Kebabs - ssssooo good and easy.

The pictures are only of two things I've cooked - I made that awesome cookie/Oreo/brownie dessert from a recipe on Pinterest.  I've found crock pot chicken and dumplings (which are like the easiest thing to make EVER), breakfast casserole, diet strawberry cupcakes, chicken bog, bacon wrapped hot dogs - all from that wonderful site that has changed my life.  Ha ha!  (Don't forget my homemade laundry detergent - got that from there too!)

And don't worry - Al still cooks too.  :) 

Finally...the Tooth Fairy has arrived!

Cooper finally lost his first tooth and he couldn't be more excited.

He won't stop smiling!

The year is almost over!

School year, that is!

And I'm not sure who's more excited - the kids or me.  (I'm pretty sure it's the kids!)

It's hard to believe the year is almost up.  O made straight A's this year.....she's the smartest 3rd grader I know.  Cooper is finishing up 5K - he's actually doing testing right now.  He comes home every day and says "I did so good on my test today Mommy!" I'm not sure how he knows since it's not graded until later and then the results are mailed to us.  I have no doubt he's doing well though - he may not be the student O is, but he's a very smart little boy!

It's also a sad time since the year is almost over.  The kids have LOVED THA but we just can't afford to keep sending them.  I have nothing against public schools, I just liked the fact they were at the same school, it was small, and the classes were smaller.  Now I'm facing two different school drop offs every morning.  That kind of blows.  O and Coop are looking forward to going to a new school though, so that makes me feel better.  Cooper is REALLY excited about being somewhere OTHER than where O is - I do believe THA was just too small to contain both of my kids. 

Hey - maybe since they will see less of each other, they will stop fighting ALL THE TIME?

Yeah, I doubt it too.