Sweet Boy

I got a speeding ticket today for the first time ever.  I've probably deserved one for quite some time...I tend to have a heavy foot.  Well, there was nothing to do but accept responsibility and respectfully pay the fine.  But I thought it would be a good learning moment for Isaac and Abby to see that adults have to follow the rules too, or pay the consequences.

Abby was with me when it happened, but I told Isaac about it when I picked him up from school.  I said, "I'm sad that I have to waste my money paying that ticket when I could use it for so many other things."  When we got home, he made me this sign:

Translation: "I can fix your problem by giving some money.  I love Mom.  Love, Isaac."

Break my heart, Lord, You have given me a sweet, sweet boy.

Recipe #12: Taco Salad

We have been making this one for a long time, but I wanted to record it here for reference (because I actually sometimes look at the recipe link on my blog when I'm trying to plan meals for the week).

We usually make it by cooking ground beef in a pan according to the directions on the packet of taco seasoning.  But this time we had leftover steak and chicken so we used that instead.  It's great either way.

Other than cooking or warming the meat, and warming the beans, this meal is actually more preparation and assembly than actual cooking (which is why I like it).

We pretty much just top a bed of lettuce with tomato, avocado, shredded cheese, and the warmed beans and meat.  We dress it with green enchilada sauce and sour cream.

Chips and guacamole on the side (or crumble chips on top of the salad).

Of course the kids eat theirs a la cart!

Megan: 8/10 - good, standard meal
Adel: 7/10 - it's a salad
Isaac: 10/10 - likes all the parts, and the fact that he can eat them separately
Abby: 7/10 - loves the cheese; tolerates the rest

Valentine's Day Pics.

The kids looked pretty cute yesterday for church and our family Valentine's Day so I dragged them outside for a photo shoot.  Isaac was reserved, but Abby was hamming it up all over the place.

Okay, and one of Bitsy.

Family Valentine's Tradition

This is the third year in a row that we've played our "For the Love" Valentine's game.

Making the Game:
1.  Simple Step: Take a cube-shaped box .  On each side of the cube, write one of the following instructions: 1. Give a hug, 2. Give a kiss, 3. Tickle, 4. Give a Valentine, 5. Say "I love you!", 6. Say "You're special because ______."  
     Get Creative: If you can find pictures or clip art to go with it, that would be good to help pre-readers.  

This year I used a kleenex box from the recycling bin that I stuffed with newspaper and covered in printouts with the 6 Instructions.  

 If you plan to use an oblong cube like a kleenex box, I recommend putting Instruction #5 and #6 on the top and bottom ends because they will get landed on less frequently than the regular sides (and the action-oriented instructions are more fun than the word-oriented ones).

2.  Simple Step: Make a stack of cards. Each card should say the name of a family member. 
     Get Creative: Or, better for pre-readers, each card can have a picture of a family member.

This year Abby helped me cut out the list of names I printed on cardstock for our cards.

I recommend putting double the number of the kids names as grown up names as the kids have more fun the more their names gets picked.

 3.  Simple Step: Get cookies, individually wrapped candies or conversation hearts.
     Get Creative:  Or have the kids help make a pile of Valentine hearts.

This year we pulled a bunch of treats out of the pantry.

Playing the Game:
Take turns rolling the dice and picking a card.  The dice will tell you what to do.  The card will tell you who to do it to.  (If you pick your own card, just pick again.)  For example, you may "Give a hug" to Daddy or "Tickle" little sister.  You may even have to "Give a Valentine" (the ones you made or the candies or cookies you bought) to Mommy.  Little kids will not think this is at all cheesy.  They will LOVE it.  Super simple family fun.  No one loses and even babies can play.  The game ends when the kids lose interest or you can't stand the love anymore.

Pictures from this year:

A hug from Daddy.

The chance to tickle big brother.

He waited a long time to get this "Valentine" from Mommy.

A silly hug from brother.

Enjoying her "Valentine" from Daddy.

(Before she got excited and sat on it!)

My favorite quotes from the game this year:

Isaac: "Daddy is special because he works really hard."

Abby (after tickling Mommy): "I always wanted to tickle a grownup!!!"

Abby: "Mommy is special because she cooks a lot."

This year, we added one new tradition to our Valentine's Day family fun.  We watched The Princess Bride for the first time together.  As you can see by the picture, they were scared at a few parts (I forwarded a few that were too scary), but it's a good action/adventure/love story...a perfect choice for a Valentine's story that both the boy and the girl will enjoy.

Viewing an R.O.U.S. (Rodent of Unusual Size) for the first time!

Isaac's favorite part: The sword fight between Wesley and Inigo.

Abby's favorite part: The happy ending.

I love making new family traditions.  And after the kids are in bed, the mommy and the daddy finally get to have a well-earned romantic dinner for two!

Whole Lot of Nothin' Going On

I love to blog.  It's part of what keeps me feeling creative and busy.  And I haven't posted a new blog in almost 2 weeks.  That's very unusual and when it gets to be too long between posts, I start to get a little blue with the feeling that I've got nothing interesting going on in my life.  Well, that's not entirely true.  It's true that there really isn't that much going on, and it isn't really all that interesting...unless you happen to be me...or to love my kids like I do...because really we've just been hanging out and going through our days without much to distinguish one from the other.

So, today I thought I'd record a little bit of our "whole lot of nothin'." It's pretty sweet when you stop to think about it.

We celebrated the unusually gorgeous weather with a backyard picnic.

The kids made a trail of toys because they hate the feel of our dry, nasty grass on their feet (I hate the grass almost as much as the weeds).

Sassy girl.

Isaac played ball for a while.

My pretty.

Chasing bubbles.

This is the oak seedling I planted last year.  It's still alive!  And yes, I planted it in an old motorcycle tire because I am that classy. 

When I wasn't looking, Bitsy ate the rest of the boiled eggs.  Doh!  It's a good thing she's cute...for a poof ball.

Hope you have a whole lot of nothin' going on too.  Thank God for it!