"End of the School Year/Beginning of Summer" Party

I had a little surprise "End of the school year/beginning of summer" party for the kids Friday afternoon.

We wore leis and ate homemade pizza, chocolate cupcakes and popsicles and drank out of cups with flamingo straws. The kids had an awesome time.......

Milestones......How I Loathe Thee

Let me explain - I only "loathe" milestones, simply because it means my kids are growing up.  Don't you wish you could bottle up all these memories and place them on a shelf? I guess technically you can, if you photograph everything your children do.  Which is funny, because that's exactly what I've been doing.  I snap pictures of just about everything my kids do.  When they complain, I say "think of the memories....one day you are going to thank me for taking all these pictures." 

I have found a cheap way to preserve these memories too.  Snapfish! See, Rich and I drink a lot of pop (yeah, yeah, yeah - I know it's not good for you, etc.).  Coke has points that you can redeem for fun things.  I have already redeemed points for magazines (not that I ever have time to read them).  If you redeem 50 points (I think?), you can get 30 prints from Snapfish for free.  You pay for shipping and handling.  Or you could upload your prints to Snapfish and pick the ones you want to print and pick them up at Walmart (You just pay for the printing - I think it's 20 cents ?? a pic). 

Geesh, did I get sidetracked there or what?! At any rate......

Speaking of milestones, our family has hit some major ones:

Anthony passed his Learner's Permit Test - Now, it's Daddy's job to teach the new drivers in this house.  Mommy might have more patience, but Dad is a HECK of  ALOT braver than Momma - LOL!

Sarah and Zachary graduated the 6th grade....It's on to the high school, they go.  Sarah said she didn't want to "grow up" because she didn't want to go to high school.  I don't want her to grow up either, darnit!

Mrs. Stoffa and Sarah

Mr. Morecraft and Zachary

The twins with the elementary principal, Mr. Cole

Of course, every mother of twins knows you must get the obligatory picture of them together when they reach those milestones (and I naturally took tons!).

Amanda got a job (her first one, other than babysitting, which really doesn't count) - a waitressing job at Bob Evans.  She hasn't worked that much yet, but she's been spending her paychecks already, in her head - LOL! 

To add insult to injury, Amanda said "Mom, this is really a BIG milestone year.  This will be my last year of high school.  The twins first year of high school and Nathan's first year of school."  Thanks for reminding me kid!

More fun pics of "graduation night"

And this next little gem......the girls actually getting along (GASP!).  Amanda was saying "Stop it, Mom!" LOL! But, I had to document this, as they don't always get along so well.  Amanda actually let Sarah borrow her clothes, did Sarah's hair and put some make up on her.  And Sarah let her do it.  It was fun listening to them talking too.  Reminded me of when my sister did those things with me! That's the kind of memories I'm glad my kids will have too!

Pie For All

For this week's stART project we read the book All For Pie and Pie For All by David Martin.  This was a really cute book about a grandma cat that bakes a pie for her family.  When the cat family is done eating the pie, there is one piece left, so a mouse family eats the last piece of pie, leaving behind crumbs for an ant family to enjoy.   When they all wake up from their naps, the grandma cat asks everyone if they would like another pie.  They all say yes, including the mice and ants.  And then they all bake the pie together, which was Nathan's favorite part of the book.

We decided to bake a pie together.  I made a big pie and Nathan made a little pie.  We made apple pie like the grandma cat made.

We also made a blueberry "pretend" pie....Our craft project, since the second pie they all made together was a blueberry one.

We used a small pie tin and placed the lid inside to give the "pie" volume.  Then we cut out the crust using felt.  For the blueberries, we used blue glitter foam board cut into circles.  And then glued criss cross felt on the top of the pie.  It came out really cute!

Linking up with stART at A Mommy's Adventures.  Check it out for more great stories + art.

I found me a new crack store

I call the dollar stores and thrift stores my crack.  I AM addicted to them.  I can not stay away....Seriously....It's sick! LOL!

The other day, Nathan and I went shopping.  We went to Michael's "just to look" - should of known better, let me tell you.  I had to tear myself away from the store, I could do some serious damage in there.  I did buy a few cute little crafts for Nathan and Nicholas (since, he will be joining us for craft time this summer).  While there I saw some spray stuff that Wilton makes, that you spray on cupcakes or cakes.  I've been wanting to try it on some cupcakes, but at $4 something a bottle, I didn't think it was worth it (Did I mention that I'm cheap?).  I couldn't bring myself to buy it.

But, I couldn't stop thinking about it.  Once I get an idea in my head, I have to try it or it drives me crazy.  We have a small candy and cake supply store in the area, so I gave them a call.  They not only had the spray, but they sold it for less than Michael's did.  I have never been to that supply store before, but it's been there for years and I've always wanted to check it out.  Oh My.....Was I in absolute HEAVEN!!! Anything you could possibly need to make cupcakes, cookies or cakes they had.  We're talking an entire wall of cookie cutters - I could spend hours starring at them.....And I probably would have if I didn't have Nathan with me.  I have a feeling that the woman who owns the store and I will be on a first name basis very, very soon....hahaha.

She said "Oh somebody must have a birthday coming" looking at Nathan when she said it.  I said nope, it's the last week of school for the kids....any excuse to make cupcakes, is a good excuse as any!!

Mommy & Nathan Day

How did we spent our last full day alone together?

Much like we did the first day (of school)........

We got the mail

We picked some clover

Made some Peanut Butter Playdough

Two Cups Confectioner's Sugar

1/2 Cup Honey

One Cup Peanut Butter

Mix It All Together

And Play (Or Eat It - It Tastes Really Yummy)

Colored with chalk

We Painted

And We Ate Doughnuts

I don't think it could have been more fitting of a "last day"