What we've been up to!!!

**Goober got a new phone*** The cell phone industry drives me crazy! Isn't everyone always looking to upgrade to the latest and greatest in phones. I hear every day what kid has what phone and who just got a NEW cooler phone. Taylor... aka Goober(in the most loving way), was harping for months to get a new phone. He changed his mind 3 or more times on what was the "it" phone for him. Finally things worked out for him and he is happy with his phone and since he's happy, we all get a little peace around here. I am learning that teenagers can be irritating! (I can hardly wait to live YEARS in the teenage state!)
Here is a picture of him proudly holding his phone. (He actually asked me to blog about this momentous event) Yeah Taylor!

I love little kids and the things they do! Noah finds a pair of goggles and he'll wear them for days. Summer or winter, it doesn't matter. It's mostly just a hair accessory for him. We did actually just get these new ones for the pool and these two boys wore them for days. They make me smile when I walk in and both of them are sitting on the floor watching television with their goggles on their heads!!

Summer Fun! We have had this jump on our sidewalk for months. It's now just a regular fixture at our house. Kids come up and down our street on rip sticks, scooters, bikes and our neighbor with her daughter in her stroller even used the ramp. These boys were having the best time!
(my photo don't...Satchel looks like he has a skitter coming out of his head. I need to pay more attention to the background)
Later that day....something happened to Noah's shirt so he took it off and didn't want to put it back on. Then Joe ripped his off. So, we layed down a thick layer of sunscreen and let them have their fun! They are so cute when they play together! And.... well, they're just plain CUTE!!

Now...for some of what I've been up to! I needed some sewing therapy and this blanket did just the trick! For one thing, I love to sew these blankets, each one is unique and always ends up adorable. Second, it was for some incredible neighbor friends that were bringing a daughter home from China! It was great to meet 3 year old Lilly and give her this as a welcome home gift.

If I love one thing, it's Mod Podge. I even Mod Podged decorative paper ON the bottle of Mod Podge!!!!!! This is what I just did to a black star that has been hanging on my porch for over a year or so. New and improved. And.....if I love something else, it's black and white. Oh, and gingham and polka dots!!! (any color actually). Anyway, I'm heading in the black and white direction with some decor and this star will (I think) eventually come inside and hang above the mantle. I am working on some drapery panels in the damask pattern. Anyway, easy to do, and the thing I love is that the possibilities are ENDLESS!!!!!! Have you seen all the cute scrapbook paper!

Who doesn't love a gooey cookie now and then? I'm sharing our favorite recipe for one of our favorite treats.
Chocolate Revel Bars
Mix:
1 C. Butter
2 C. Brown Sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. soda
1 tsp. salt
3 Cups Quick Oats
2 1/2 Cups flour
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a 9x13 pan, press about 2/3 of the mix in the bottom (save the rest for later.
Melt together:
1 can sweetened condensed milk
12 oz. chocolate chips
2 Tbsp. butter
1/2 tsp. salt
after melted, add 1 tsp vanilla.
Pour chocolate mixture over cookie mix. Crumble on top remaining cookie mix.
Bake for 25 - 30 minutes. (I go on the low side, 25 does it for me..)
Cut when cooled. We usually store ours in the fridge, something about it being cool.
Enjoy!

And lastly, today I got my first Vera Bradley bag!!!!! It's the bowling style bag in the yellow bird print. Next I want the super tote in this print. I needed a new purse more than a tote, but who can just stop with one, so many cute ones to pick from. Right now there are some discontinued patterns and styles on the website that are a great deal. I got mine from my local retailer, but might order it next time!
I also went to IKEA with some fabulous friends!!!! (Actually I've gone twice this week) LoVe, LovE, lOvE IKEA!
Now Saturday will all be about the WORK!!!!! Won't the kids be happy about that!
Love y'all!!!!!

Where does the time go?
I finally transferred pictures from the camera to the computer so I will start with some of those. Hunter earned his bear from his 2nd grade teacher for earning at least 200 reading points. He was the first to earn his in his class and 1 of only about 5 who accomplish this. He also qualified for Spectrum. (the gifted/talented program in our District) for next year. He will change schools and will be with Cole next year. Way to go HUNTER!
The chicks! Every year in Mrs. Roy's 2nd grade class she hatches eggs. It is super exciting for the kids to watch as they hatch. As a matter of fact, that is one of the very reasons children want her for a teacher (great for parents because she is outstanding) Of course they are taken care of by the children during the week in class, but on the weekend a child's name is drawn for the opportunity to take them home! This is the second time we have had this opportunity. (Cole also got the chance when he was in 2nd grade) After the first, it's surprising that I'd give my consent again, I guess it's a little like having a baby, you forget .

Although they look like they're dead, they are not, they're just sleeping. All of them made it back safe and sound on Monday morning.....what a long weekend that was! (She did tell me though, that one year at a students house a cat was kept in the bathroom all weekend to keep it away from the chicks...except it got out once.............Now nobody with pets gets put in the drawing for taking them home. It was just so RARE that they were all laying down and quite. We got them the 2nd weekend so they were starting to try to fly and get out. They pecked at the box NON STOP! We had a lot of visitors that weekend. Word traveled fast whose house they were at!

Cade graduated from Kindergarten!

It's hard to believe he's going to 1st grade! Kindergarten is still comfortable for me because he goes in the morning until 11:25 and we still have the rest of the day to be together, we do lunch, go to the park, shop, and play. It still feels like he's my little boy. When he goes to all day 1st grade, it's a very hard adjustment and for the first few weeks I'll miss him terribly.

Noah will go to 2 hours of preschool in the fall twice a week. I will actually be ALONE for 4 hours a week. That hasn't happened for 13 years!!!!! I'm very excited, even though it isn't really enough time to do anything....I'LL TAKE IT!!!!!
Another huge event in our life is Noah is finally potty trained!!!!!!!!!!! He protested and was the oldest of all of our children to potty train, but when I said today was the day, that's all it took and he was potty trained that day. And he's dry at night consistently! We're really, really excited to be out of diapers!!!! I have been buying them for 13 years solid! Sometimes there have been 2 in diapers.
I have to admit I get baby hungry still, but then I realize what we have just accomplished and I couldn't go back. And there's the fact that I already have 5 kids, I couldn't handle any more, I'm maxed out! And there's the fact that I'd just have ANOTHER boy ( I really believe that would happen). And we don't need one more mouth to feed, we're out of room in the house (we were actually out of room like 3 kids ago), wait a minute...Shawn has a little input on this subject...we're out of money, we'd have to get a new car, (and a house), we have 2 too many as it is :), we can't stand any more noise.....And we're too old!
I guess I'll just have to get a puppy! A girl puppy! I tell everyone it has to be a girl because we already have too many weenies in the house as it is. Sorry! (we really are puppy hungry though.)
School is out!!!!! Yeah!!!!!
We are looking forward to swimming (I love to work on my tan, I sent for some Maui Babe browning lotion that's going to make me goddess like (skin color only... no lotion for the other stuff), and just mellowing out. We love summer!!!. Oh, yeah, I am requesting everyone only wear sandals of some sort. We are having a sock free summer (as much as possible anyway). Socks really are a hard thing for our family....there's just TOO many!