A few of my favorite things...

Aside from all the normal things...boys, family, and friends...These are a few of my MOST favorite things.

1. I love snuggling with the boys in the morning. They are so sweet then.
2. Watching a late night movie with Chad.
3. Getting a pedicure with mom and grandma.
4. Watching my dad spoil the boys.
5. Having a good visit with Niki and Ms. Kimble.
6. Reading bed time stories.
7. Sleeping...yea. We do a lot of that in the summer.
8. Teaching! I love my job.
9. Shopping for my boys and for scrapbooking supplies. (Don't tell Melissa Lee!!!)
10. Sewing and embroidering.
11. Nosing around on the internet...reading blogs etc.
12. My house...I'd rather be here than anywhere else.
13. Disney World...we had a blast.
14. Photography. Nothing makes me happier than a picture that captures the personality of my boys.
15. I'm sure there are TONS more, but this is it.

These are a few of my favorite things. What are yours?

Amazing Video!

http://capturebdinger.blogspot.com

I haven't had my boys' pictures taken since Stephanie Davis took them. (Well, I had them taken at the new 220, but it was to stiff for me...anyway!) I *loved* the pictures Stephanie took, but I needed some new pictures, and my mom wanted pictures of all four of her grandsons. So voila. I came across Capture, by Barbara Dinger, and I liked her relaxed style. She came out to our (very messy) house, and took pictures of all four boys. Now, let me say, if you can get ONE picture in 90 minutes with FOUR boys under FIVE years old, then you have a gift.

Yea. That's right. She's GREAT. Call her. She made our photo session a little more bearable.

Thanks for working with FOUR cranky boys...in the heat. ;) You did a GREAT job. I absolutely CANNOT wait to see the rest

FOLDERS!

Wow! Staples has folder for ONE PENNY. YES! ONE penny! So, I went there in the pouring rain and I purchased 40 folders. Well, actually Carsyn purchased 20 and I purchased 20. (Limits! YUCK!) I told the cashier that I was embarrassed to do that, but I buy so many folders that I felt justified. She proceeded to tell me that I could just go to Wal Mart and they would price match the folders AND they did not enforce limits! Woohoo!

I went to Wal Mart and got 100 folders...all for ONE dollar! Yay! (AND...we got all of Carsyn's school supplies!)

Who says a penny doesn't buy much anymore?

Menu Plan Monday...

Monday: Hotdogs (because we did not have them last week), chili, cheese, and fritos
Tuesday: Chicken and Rice (very simple...crock pot, chicken breasts, cream of chicken soup, and rice....voila)
Wednesday: Chicken soft tacos, beans, and rice
Thursday: Steak and baked potatoes
Friday: Chad is grilling...who knows!
Saturday: Left overs
Sunday: Grilled Chicken, corn on the cob, and potatoes

Every week I become more and more original. I'll be starring on Food Network before you know it. Watch out Paula Bean (or Dean) This should be an interesting week for us. We have swimming lessons every night at 7:15. Yea...night time swimming lessons. Weird.

MPM...and yes, I beat Autumn, AGAIN. ;)

Okay...so I won't go all "Heart Mom" on ya...BUT...

Here's your chance to do something GREAT. I dare ya to do it!
And if you do take the challenge...link back here, so we can all see it!
GOOooo. No more blogging...GO somewhere already!

There's so much to do during the summer. Maybe you'll visit a museum downtown with friends ... hike one of your local trails ... take a family trip to a national park... or even just enjoy some games in your own backyard. Your sneakers will be joining you on every journey, helping you stay fit and healthy, -- and the American Heart Association wants to know all about where you and your sneakers go to help support The FIT Kids Act!

I hope you will take a part in our Sneaker Story Campaign -- here is how:

1) Take a photo of your sneakers' adventures, wherever you go.

2) Email your photo (or if you like, you can even send us a link to your video posted on YouTube) to sneakers4fitkids@yahoo.com. But hurry, the deadline is July 31, 2008.

3) Be sure to tell us WHERE your sneakers took you this July - what city, state, landmark, or even country.

We'll add your picture to our online Sneaker Story Map, where it will be identified by a virtual "Sneaker Print" to mark where your sneakers took you. All the sneaker images we receive will be collected there to help drive home the importance of physical activity for kids, and to use in our various efforts to urge Congress to pass The FIT Kids Act.

These efforts are critical. Childhood obesity is an epidemic endangering the health of millions of America's children, putting them at risk for heart disease. The FIT (Fitness Integrated with Teaching) Kids Act is one of our key priorities. This important legislation seeks to reduce the problem by encouraging public schools to provide increased, quality physical education and promote healthy lifestyles.

But to pass this legislation we must demonstrate the widespread support -- and that's where your sneakers' adventures come in.

This is your chance to put your best foot forward to ensure our kids have a brighter, healthier future. So lace up your sneakers, grab that camera, and help us promote the FIT Kids Act. We look forward to seeing your sneakers' adventures!

Clarissa Garca
American Heart Association

Heart Disease and Stroke. You're the Cure.

P.S. Everyone can participate, so encourage your friends to email us their photos and videos to sneakers4fitkids@yahoo.com too!

Menu Plan ***Day ... because I'm better than Autumn!

Monday: We were in Houston
Tuesday: Pizza at Dylan's Party! :) Yay!
Wednesday: Hamburgers
Thursday: Happy Birthday Brisket for Chad...with all the fixings...corn on the cob, sausage, and potatoes cooked on the grill. My wonderful mother in law will provide the "FOUR LAYER DELIGHT" cake for dessert! Yum!
Friday: Leftovers! :) Yay!
Saturday: Hot dogs, chili, Fritos...because this is a favorite at our house we have it at least once per week!
Sunday: Who knows! :) Undecided...maybe tacos.

Because I don't have a love affair with laundry...

This picture is not really related. Except to say that during the summer, when I try not to leave the house, the boys stay in their underwear. Sometimes they tell people they wore pajamas all day, but they mean underwear, because they don't wear pjs in the summer.

Yesterday, Carsyn was helping me gather dirty towels. They have a thing for dish towels. They harbor at least 15 in their bedroom for various reasons...none of which I'm privy to know. He came in to the kitchen and was in a state of shock.

"Momma, our laundry basket is only half full." {the one in their bathroom...in my defense, it is pretty small}

"Carsyn," in that same exasperated tone, "I'm glad."

"Well, what happened to our clothes, Momma."

"Well, I washed them, Carsyn."

"Momma, I never knew we could have a half full basket."

"Carsyn, thanks."

SnapCrap...or fish.

Seriously!?! How could snapfish ruin *this* you ask?

Well, I have no idea...but they did. Along with countless other pictures. Dang them.

And...all of the pictures are terribly thin. Not that I need them thick, but they are *really* thin.

I'm *done* with snapfish...done.

Menu Plan ***Day

Because I am the BIGGEST copycat EVER...and I have no life...Thanks Autumn.

Monday:I can't remember.
Tuesday: Smothered steak, new potatos, ranch style beans, crescent rolls
*dessert-eclair pie
Wednesday: Grilled chicken, chicken flavored rice-a-roni, baked beans
Thursday: Hot Dogs, fritos, queso dip
Friday: Hopefully Chad will grill! :) So...steaks, baked potatos & corn on the cob
Saturday: Red beans and rice with sausage
Sunday: We will be in Houston.

Stay tuned for next weeks VERY exciting meals, loaded with great new recipes-filled with vegetables. LOL ;)