Sunday, July 29, 2007

Mystery Trip (Girl Scouts)

Yesterday was Samantha's troops 3rd mystery trip. Every summer we do a Mystery Trip. First one was to the PDX zoo and Chuck-E-Cheeses. The second one was to the coast and we stayed overnight in a hotel on the beach. The third was all about pampering the girls and letting them feel grown up.
picture below...Samantha has the blue flip flops with the blue nails (bottom left)
Schedule:
8:00 Drop off daughter at EBF (we will leave the church at 8:15)
8:30 a.m. to 10:30 French Nails and Spa @ Oakway mall for manicure and pedicure
10:30 a.m. to 11:00 Window shop
11:00 a.m. to 12:00 Eat lunch at Chapalas
12:00 to 1:30 EBF to change into dresses, Mom’s help with hair and make-up
1:30 to 2:00 Drive to Hult Center
2:00 to 3:00 Play- High School Musical
3:00 to 3:30 Drive to Ruthie B’s
3:30 to 5:00 Tea and snack at Ruthie B’s
5:00 to 5:30 Take pictures at the park (Hendricks Park)
6:00 p.m. Parents pick up girls from EBF parking Lot.
Samantha and I dressed up for the "tea party."

We had fun surprising the girls all through out the day. They had no idea what was coming next. When it was time to leave from the Manicure/Pedicure we loaded them into the van and backed up 3 feet and then pulled forward. Told the girls we were here (we were parked right infront of Chapalas when we went to get our nails done). Us (the adults) laughed so hard but I don't think the girls thought we were very funny.

We arrived back to the church after lunch we told the girls the day was done and that their parents would be returning to pick them up. We said we would wait inside for the parents. Inside the church it was set up for a wedding that was happening that afternoon. So, when the girls got into the classroom to "wait" for their mom's to pick them up they were shocked to see their dresses hung up. They started saying, "Hey, that is my dress how did it get in here?" The Mom's did a great job keeping the dresses hidden from the girls (they had no idea their mom's brought their dresses). That is when we realized that there was no Samantha in the group. She was sitting out in van reading because she really believed me that the parents were coming to get the girls. So, we went searching for her. After we got all the girls in the classroom to change clothes they kept asking what they were going to do in these fancy dresses. So, I explained how they were going to be flower girls in the wedding that was happening this afternoon. I know, I know- shame on me! 2 girls (one being mine) were so excited and really wanted to be a flower girl in the wedding. It wasn't until we were at the Hult Center that I had to explain that they really weren't going to be in the wedding. I thought they would figure that out when we took all of our stuff from the church. So, next year I need to figure out how to work it in that the girls can be in a wedding for their Mystery Trip. Hee hee!

Next year Maddie's troop will get to do a Mystery trip also. We wait until they are going into 4th grade to do the Mystery Trip.
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Wednesday, July 25, 2007

Wellness Check



Samantha had her 11 year old check up yesterday.

She is now 4'6" and 59 pounds. The Dr. predicated she'll be 5'1" or 2" and 100 pounds as an adult! I'm so jealous. I had my dr. appointment on Monday and I was told I'm 5'7 3/4" (so basically 5'8"). I thought I was taller than that but I guess not. They said I've been this height all along on my charts. hmmmmm! Maddie has her wellness check next week. I wonder if the dr. will predicate her weight and height as an adult?
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4 things about me

On A Chelsea Morning blog she encouraged everyone to do this "MeMe."

So here I go:

4 jobs I've held
1. accounts receivable
2. cashier at a grocery store
3. baby-sitter
4. took sales calls for Harry & David

4 movies I can watch over and over again
1. Wedding Singer
2. dr. Doolittle 2
3. I like comedies
4. I like comedies

4 places I've lived
1. Omaha, Ne
2. Eugene, Or
3. Slippery Rock, Pa
4. Gaithersburg, Md

4 TV shows I watch
1. Grey Anatomy
2. Boston Legal
3. Big Brother
4. So You Think You Can Dance

4 places I've been on vacation
1. Disneyland
2. Myrtle Beach, SC
3. Hershey Park
4. Hawaii

4 of my favorite foods
1. bean & cheese burritos
2. doritos
3. sunflower seeds
4. mashed potatoes

4 websites I visit daily
1. I'm an organizing junkie
2. FIAR
3. Library
4. Lazy organizer

4 people I'm tagging: anyone who wants to do it!!! let me know if you do it

Monday, July 23, 2007

THE CAKE

 

 


Samantha told me for her birthday cake she wanted a coconut cake. She was going for a Hawaiian theme. So, I did some research and came across a blog that had a beautiful coconut cake. As you can see from my pictures it didn't turn out as beautifully. I had to borrow the round cake pans and I only had 2 to work with (which for me would be enough since my other time I did a layered cake it didn't go well). I put the bottom cake down on a plate and placed the filling on it. Then when I went to get out the top layer out of the cake pan it broke into several pieces. It was messy looking. After it sat in the fridge for all those days (if you read the blog on how to make it...it has to stay in the fridge for 3 days) I went to make the frosting. I didn't have a double boiler so I made one out of two pots (clever, huh?). Then I realized my next biggest obstacle, no hand mixer (I only ever use my kitchen aid). So, I couldn't whisk it fast enough to make soft peaks. When I put the frosting on it just rolled off the cake.

Below is what I quickly whipped out in time for Samantha's friend party at Amazon Pool. I know, it is not a coconut cake but the kids seemed to like it. We saved the coconut cake for us to eat at home.

 
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Samantha is 11 years old

 


Samantha turned 11 last week. It was a rainy day. We have a joke in our family that it always rains on Samantha's birthday (which seems to be true).

The events for the birthday girl
We went to the movies and saw- Wallace and Gromit The Curse of the Were Rabbit
Then we went to Marie Callendars for lunch (Samantha's pick)
After that she had church youth group's Swim and Study
And finally we went to G'ma's house for a special birthday dinner. Samantha picked out burritos for G'ma to make for her. G'ma even made her a chocolate birthday cake. Samantha opened her birthday presents and tried on her new pj's.
Despite the down pour it turned out to be a good birthday.

 
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Wednesday, July 18, 2007

WFMW- Birthday Tradition



At Rocks in My Dryer there is a WFMW blog. Each week people from all over post what works for them. This is my 2nd WFMW.





We have a birthday tradition that means the birthday person wakes up to having their bedroom door decorated with streamers. After the kids go to bed I attach streamers to masking tape and then hang it over the bedroom door. The kids love this tradition so much they do it to our bedroom door on our birthday (except they get up really early and do it before we get out of bed in the morning).

For more great ideas head over to Rock's in my dryer!
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Tuesday, July 17, 2007

Champoeg

 


This past weekend was our annual (5th) Champoeg camping trip with 300 of our geocaching friends. This year since it was Friday the 13th and the Fright Night People were there...we had the theme of Halloween for Champoeg.

We arrived Thursday after being stuck in grid lock traffic for 3 hours. Jay, Andrew and Maddie were in the Gong Show that happened that evening. It was a lot of fun.

Friday was filled with all kinds of fun activities! The kids enjoyed getting their faces airbrushed for their costumes and then going trick or treating through the camp ground added to the fun.

Saturday started off with the pancake breakfast. This is our 4th year of putting on the breakfast. By evening we were all ready to dance. Andrew impressed us with his dancing moves. I tried to get Andrew to stay and dance but his feet were hurting.

Sunday was our last day...we started off with the pancake breakfast again and then got packed up and ready to head home. It was sad to leave all our friends but life goes on.
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Wednesday, July 11, 2007

WFMW- Shadow as my helper



At Rocks in My Dryer there is a WFMW blog. Each week people from all over post what works for them. This is my first time joining in.

When I need help getting the kids up in the morning...I open their bedroom doors and the cat will go in a snuggle the kids. Shadow does the best job waking up all three kids because after awhile if they don't wake up Shadow will meow at them and kneed in their hair.

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Sunday, July 08, 2007

MEME: TV



randomness...feed your mind and your blog


TV favs
what is your favorite....
1. tv show
I love reality tv (big brother, survivor and such)
I love Boston Legal

2. snack while watching tv
popcorn and pepsi or doritos

3. tv personality
hmmm...not sure. I sometimes like Oprah, Kelly (from Regis and Kelly show).

4. time to watch tv
At night once the kids are in bed

5. place to watch tv
in the livingroom...unless I'm really tired then I like to watch it in bed.

the end

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Smart Habit Saturday #2

Last week I started SHS. Lady Organizer is helping people get some good habits started. She has a weekly accountability system.

I'm not adding any new habits since I'm still struggling with my first habit. Each morning I have to force myself to make the bed. I even rebelled one day and didn't do it at all.

1. make bed every morning

Sunday, July 01, 2007

De-cluttering the kitchen cabinet

I've been avoiding the kitchen cabinet until today. It has been mocking me everytime I try to find a pan or use a piece of tupperware.

The slide-show pretty much tells all.

Yard work

Here I am updating on the process of our yard transformation.

On Friday night Jay brought home a tractor to fix where the retaining wall once stood. So, yesterday Jay and TC worked on the yard. The plans changed and now I have dirt for a front lawn. Jay is going to redo the grass.

I created a little slide-show from the past 2 days.


*I edited this to slow down the slide-show*

Cute placemat contest

July-4-button-120-pix.jpg

At 5 Minutes for Mom they are having several different contest for prizes. All the contest end on the 4 of July. I entered to win the personalized placemats. There are lots of contest that you can enter...check them out. :)