it's that time of year

Just about right on cue, Madison gets her beginning of the school year sickies. She stayed home from school today and J and I talked about keeping her home tomorrow since she still has a fever. Poor thing. This is the 3rd year in a row that she has gotten sick within the first 2 weeks of school.

Snappy

Madison and I went with J to Home Depot today to get caulking. J needs to reseal our windows. It has been raining so much and so hard it is getting through the window that my computer is up against. Not good.
Madison's favorite thing at Home Depot (beside Kids Club) is the plants and flowers. She can spend hours looking and touching and smelling the plants and flowers. Unfortunately both Madison and I were born with out green thumbs and every plant we get only makes it about a week, or most likely less then a week.
Today Madison feel in love with this cute little flower; Snappy the Snap Dragon. J let her get it. Poor little plant. Madison and I planted it in our flower bed out front, and added her cute pink caterpillar decoration. I think it's really cute and maybe if we can keep this one alive we will go back and get more flowers. Here's hopping.

Buffalo Chicken Appetizers

Mini Buffalo Chicken Pastries

a Pillsbury recipe

 

 

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon olive oil (i didn't measure the olive oil)

1 boneless skinless chicken breast (4oz), cut in half crosswise

2 tablespoons buffalo wing sauce (I used a lot more, maybe 4 or 5 tablespoons)

1 tablespoon chopped celery

1 can (8oz) Pillsbury refrigerated crescent dinner rolls

1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh parsley

1/2 cup blue cheese dressing (I used ranch instead of blue cheese)

 

Directions:

 Heat oven to 375. In 10-inch skillet, heat 2 teaspoons of the oil over medium-high heat until hot. Cook and stir chicken in oil 3 to 5 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink in the center. Remove from heat; place chicken on cutting board. Using a fork, pull chicken into shreds; return to skillet. Stir in buffalo sauce and celery.

 

Meanwhile on a cutting board, unroll dough and separate into 8 triangles. From center of the longest side to the opposite point, cut each triangle in half, making 16 triangles. Place rounded tablespoon of chicken mixture on center of each triangle. Bring corners of triangle to center over filling, overlapping ends, press gently to seal. Place on ungreased cookie sheets (I put down parchment paper). Brush each lightly with remaining 1 teaspoon oil. Sprinkle with parsley.

 

Bake 10 to 13 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm with blue cheese dressing for dipping.

Everyone in my family loved these, even Madison who doesn't like anything spicy, and especially Austin who really likes spicy food. I tripled the recipe and had no leftovers.   



Skipping

Madison had a play date scheduled with a friend from school to see The Odd Life of Timothy Greene today after school. The friends mom text this morning and let me know friend could not go. So I decided to take Madison out of school to see the earlier time. That way we would still be able to pick up the boys rather then have them take the bus. She was so excited about getting to skip school. What she didn't realize was she was only going to miss lunch and last recess. Fridays are half days. We ended up having to see ParaNorman because I got the movie times wrong. But she still had a fun day.

cutest girl

Dear Aunt Angie,
Thanks for the super cute orange (and red, purple, blue, teal..) pants
I'm officially the (cutest) most colorful girl at school.
xoxo,
Madi Rae
 

morning eyes

I love her early morning tired eyes.

a day to say yes

Today I took Madison to the Children's Music and Art Festival.

Where are Austin and Zac?
They didn't want to come.
I guess I don't blame them.

I decided to make today a day to be completely checked in with Madison.
no cell phone, computer, TV, book, or any other distraction.
And since it was one price for the bracelet,
it was a day to say yes.
No excuses.

saying yes to all natural strawberry slushy 

saying yes to hula hooping
a bunch

saying yes to letting you play with all the toys scattered
across the park
as much and as long as you wanted
no rush



saying yes to adorable butterfly wings
not even trying to talk you into something smaller
and easier to clean off

saying yes to painting
whatever you want
no input
and I don't care that you had paint on your hands
 and in your hair
you had fun

saying yes to the piano

saying yes to the guitar

saying yes to the cute little drums

saying yes to the accordion
you loved this

oh yes,
and saying yes to the washboard

yes to jumping
lots and lots of jumping

yes to sliding
even head first

saying yes to petting
and feeding

and saying yes to playing
and prizes
over and over
until you got tired and hungry
and you were ready to move on

and finally saying yes to putting the camera away and staying to play in the rain. We had such a good day. It felt good to say yes, over and over...

New challenge for myself: Say yes to the kids more. Stop being disconnected. Remember they are only kids for such a short time and really enjoy that time with them.

2nd grade = swings

In 1st grade Madison could almost always be found at recess on the monkey bars. 2nd grade she still likes the monkey bars sometimes, but so far this year she can be found flying high on the swings.

(i love that some of our mornings are already requiring a sweatshirt, fall is already in the air.)

Even though I know Austin is laughing at some completely inappropriate youtube comedy video, I still love this picture. I love seeing him smile or even better laugh.

I love this kid with everything in me.

So much if the time I feel like I am failing him in so many ways. He has always been and, will always be such an amazing kid.

I am making sure Austin and I spend time together everyday talking, about anything/everything, playing cards, or even watch his ofter inappropriate youtube videos. He is growing up way too fast for me. I'm trying to hold on to the few (kid) years I have left.

Less then one minute
(and a ringing bell that starts the school day)
between these pictures

Madison is not too sure about 2nd grade yet.

10 and 2

...or 10th and 2nd.

Today the kids started their new school year.

Austin and Zachary are now in 10th grade

Madison is in 2nd grade

I'm so excited for a really good school year this year

Austin is striving for straight A's - hope he sticks to this (he is so smart)

I am working at Madison's school as PTO president.

And so far I love it.

So handsome
I love that he dropped the shaggy hair, skater look this year
I am really looking forward to an awesome year with Austin
I think he did a lot of growing this summer and is ready
to buckle down to
get the grades he needs to head of to college in a few years

also dropped the long hair this year - a much better look
I hope this year Zachary takes advantage of the fresh start
(last year was rough)
I am hoping for better grades and that Zac stays out
of trouble this year 

My Bug (lovebug)
I can not believe she is already in 2nd grade
She is incredibly smart and a really good student.
She scored in the top 98% in all of her testing last year.
I hope she keeps up the amazing work.
I hope Madison has a great year.

Flagstaff Extreme Adventure Course

The day before school starts...

What's something totally fun we can do with the kids?

Flagstaff Extreme Adventure Course

We have been waiting all summer for the boys to get back home to go as a family

It was so worth the wait.

The kids had a blast.

Now don't bash me to hard.

But again (and as always) most of the pics are of Madison.

I can explain.

Madison had to have a parent with her at all times (of course) and I was that parent since some of Jason's coworkers and their kids came with us, and Jason and his mom went with the boys (and the coworkers) who also had to have a parent with them at all times.

I had the camera for Madison's first time thru her course then Jason took the camera to get pictures of the boys.

But they were on their last zipline finishing the last course they were able to complete.

So we are planning to go again soon and Jason can stay with Madison and I will go with the boys so we will have lots of cool pictures of them too.

So now that I've made my excuses on to the pictures



The kids has so much fun. If you are in the area it is so worth a visit. Madison went right to bed and even stayed in her own bed all night. She was worn out. And the boys loved it. Next time we will have to pretend they are 18 so they can try to complete all 4 courses.

Home Depot Kids Club Cork Board

The first Saturday of each month Home Depot does a Kids Club. Madison looks forward to this every month.

For August Madison made a pink and black mini cork board. I love that she can, for the most part, do the entire project herself. I may have to hold a nail or hold 2 pieces of wood together but she mostly does it herself.

Next month... Football Goal Post Game.