Freebie Fans!

 Well.....we tried hard to take advantage of Chick-Fil-A freebie offer on Monday. We got dressed in our sports fan t-shirts. We headed out for an earlier lunch. Then when we arrived at the restaurant the parking lot was insane. The parking lot was jam-packed with sports clad people. We didn't even attempt going in. We knew by the looks of it that obtaining lunch would require a very long wait. It was not a sacrifice we were willing to make. Being that it was lunch time, we were famished. I had also spent that morning doing a run. My hunger was extra powerful at that moment. The first place that popped into my head was Moe's. It probably came to mind because it was a restaurant close by that our whole family easily agrees on. When anyone says the name Moe's I automatically start hearing in my head someone shouting, "Welcome tooooooooooooo Mooooooooooooooooooooooooooeeeeeeeeeeeessss!" This franchise has certainly coined that term. So off to Moe's we headed. When we walked into the restaurant it was fairly dead inside. After we were sat down with our lunch, more people began to trickle in. I knew instantly that we weren't the only ones that headed to this restaurant as plan B. Quite a few folks came in wearing sports shirts. I guess we all like a freebie, but when it involves a long wait and huge crowds.....sometimes it's just better to go with Plan B!

Artists at Work

Texture Monsters

Giving the monsters an environment.

We are doing some monsterly artwork at our house. The boys made texture monsters by using the soles of their shoes. Wes made a print of his sole with paint. Austin made a print using a colored pencil. Then we gathered all our monster story books for some inspiration on creating their own monsters. This project definitely has us thinking about the story WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE. We are so excited that the story is being made into a movie. The trailer to the movie looks amazing!!

Once the boys created their monsters, the next task was to draw an environment for the monsters to live in.  Austin quickly sketched out a street scene for the monsters to reside on.  This post will have to be a two part deal.  After the boys complete painting the scenery we will have a second post to show the finished project.  You really should check out the trailer!! :)See the trailer here!  Check back soon for the finished artwork!! :)

Sticker Boy!

Have I failed to mention that life with Wes is NEVER EVER boring??? He always manages to give us something to laugh about! I usually know he is up to something when he is very quiet. He was born noisy. The only time he is very quiet is when he is busy at work. These free stickers arrived in the mail. He just thought that was the coolest thing ever to arrive in the mail. Well, that and packages from grandparents. He is a smart kid! On the day the stickers arrived he made sure to stick every single sticker on his legs while watching his favorite cartoon. On this particular day when I decided to investigate the quietness, I found one very content sticker boy! At our house we always make sure the camera is ready to go!

Wes is growing up fast! In the blink of an eye he became potty trained, learned how to swim, and now officially knows how to write his name, or at least his nick name. (Wes) Actually, if you call him by his full name, he will inform you that his name isn't Wesley, it is in fact, Wes. Be sure to call him Wes unless you want a stern correcting from a three year old! :) Trust me as one who has been corrected! All I know is that all this rapid growing up must be from trying to be just like his favorite big brother! Next thing I know he'll be asking us to take the training wheels off his bike!! Oh my!

This One is for the G-Parents!

Okay G-Parents!! Just so you don't have to miss out on the funny memorable moments, here is a video clip that you will especially enjoy. Just don't forget to pause the music play before you play this clip!

The Excavator Brothers

I am loving the new season of life that we are presently in. We are in the beginning season of a new homeschool year. Life is exciting here at our house, and I am determined to keep it that way. Creativity don't fail me now! I fear that about three months from now I will run out of steam. For now I am plugging along strong! Thanks be to God! I am loving that we are not having to rush our third grader out the door to school only to see him again near three in the afternoon. I love not having to rush through an afternoon of snacks, homework, dinner, and in what seems like the blink of an eye, bedtime. Our days seem a little less hurried and a lot more relaxed. In spite of that, I really think a good bit of learning is taking place. I am also amazed at how much less fighting takes place among the boys. It seemed like the boys did a bit more of that after Austin got home from school during the last school year. I think the difference is the pace of our lives. This homeschool business certainly seems to suit Austin! Today He got to do quiet reading time outside in the backyard! We were lovin it. Yesterday we got to put some real archeological skills into practice. We are reading Story of the World Vol. 1

A very kind friend let me borrow a teaching guide that goes along with it. We have been having so much fun. Thank you, Mari! Austin has been reading books on the topic like a maniac. I'm all for maniac book reading! This past weekend we were in a store that had these fossils buried in plaster paris along with the mini tools to dig them out. They were on clearance and I couldn't resist them. The boys were with me when I discovered these, but I managed to purchase them on the down low. I think they were distracted the many other toys in the store. They didn't see me sneakingly make the purchase. So as we finished our study topic on archaeology, they were more than thrilled about our activity of the day. My little adventurers that they are, worked hard to dig out the fossils! Hopefully we will continue to have many more exciting days like this at our house.

Look Who Learned to Swim!

Happy Friday!! Just wanted to share a clip of the newest swimmer at our house! I think it's official, Wes is part fish! Don't forget to pause the music player before starting the video! :)

More Chocolate for the Choc-aholic!!

Internet recipes might just be my downfall. I am addicted to finding recipes online. I just love finding recipes that someone else already tried. I noticed my friend Pauline had a link to this website and I just couldn't help, but to check it out. It was there that I happened upon this molten chocolate cake recipe. I have radar for this type of cake. If my eyes scan the words molten chocolate cake it sends this alarm signal to my brain. I kid you not. So ever since I saw this recipe, it has been on my mind to try it. Then when I saw that it only required a few simple ingredients, I had even more of an itch to make it. The one ingredient I was lacking was whipped cream. And, Yes, I had to make a trip to the store for that! You really CANNOT eat molten cake sans the whipped cream. It's practically a crime to do that. I have the picture, but I really wished I would have taken a photo to show the goey chocolatey insides....but once the four of us got started on dessert, we just couldn't stop. Then of course I felt guilty for making such an unhealthy dessert! I had to quickly clean up all the evidence. Out of sight, out of mind. It's almost like I can pretend we didn't eat it. All I know is that the four of us at this house scarfed it down. After Wes ate his, he left the kitchen, only to return a moment later to give me a kiss! A random spontaneous kiss from my busy almost four year old boy??? I must have done something right! I'm not sure, but I think it was a thank you kiss for the yummy dessert! :)
If you dare, here is the link where I first came across the recipe.
molten-chocolate-lava-cake

And if that isn't enough, here is my own picture from this baking adventure! :)
I can almost still smell its yummyness!! :)