The Adventures of Jenny in Mommyland

We're starting to Spell!

2012-02-09T09:13:00.000-06:00

I picked up this book at Dollar General for 2 dollars. It has magnet letters, and, you spell the picture out in the boxes underneath it.

To help Cole, I wrote out all the words on a separate sheet of paper. He would identify the picture, then find the word on the paper (by sounding out the word - and looking for the letters that correspond with that sound), then he could use my written word as a guide to find the magnets & spell out the word on the book.

He did the entire book with 100% accuracy the first time! Next week I will have him try without my hand written she with it. That will be a bit more challenging I'm sure :)

Why I get nothing done in a day....

2012-02-08T10:17:00.000-06:00

A 6 year old goofball - that keeps me laughing always :)

Random games of peek-a-boo during my laundry folding...

Smiles that make me stop in my tracks & have conversations that most would find silly...

Paying bills, or taking silly pictures with my boy? :) Like you would choose laundry...

The rocking...oh the rocking. Who can resist?!

Brothers....

2012-02-07T17:13:00.000-06:00

Jacob's favorite part of the day is when Cole gets home from school. They snuggle in the recliner & watch PBS after Cole's homework is done :)

A Very Hungry Caterpillar First Birthday - Food!

2012-01-22T07:34:00.000-06:00

This was my first birthday party that did not involve a full meal. The timing of the party (2pm on a Sunday afternoon) just didn't justify a meal. So, I tried to get creative with our snacks.

The menu...
Chex mix & Gardettos
Veggies & Dip
My Granny's Sweet Sugar Popcorn
Chips & Queso Dip
Caramel Apple Bites
Punch
Cake!

Our food table...

Caramel Apple Bites

These are so much better than whole caramel apples, and, much less mess. Cut your apples, stick a toothpick in them, dip into caramel sauce & refrigerate!

Caterpillar Twigs

By far the best way to serve veggies & dip. Cut your carrots & celery into sticks 3-4 inches long. In the bottom of a plastic punch cup, put some ranch dressing, then stand your veggie sticks on top. Personal serving sizes, and so cute!

Cute little smash cake :)

Can you believe he ate 3/4 of it too?! Sugar High!

And the star of the show....

Is this not the most awesome cake?! I found a picture online of this cake, but it was done in fondant - I hate fondant :( So I called this fantastic (part time mind you!) baker and she said she could do it in butter cream, and, the caterpillar on top in a giant cookie. When I saw the cake, I nearly cried. It was so perfect - and, a wonderful reflection of the caterpillars journey in the book. AND...it was truly the best tasting cake I have ever had. So fresh, so beautiful. Thank you JoEllen for making our first birthday cake so perfect!

A Very Hungry Caterpillar First Birthday - Decorations!

2012-01-22T07:14:00.000-06:00

Our little caterpillar, with a big caterpillar!

For this, I purchased yellow & green paper lanterns from Amazon (base the size you purchase on the area you have to hang it in), cut the eyes out of construction paper (using my oval cutters from CM), and added purple pipe cleaners for antennas. We didn't have what we needed to hang it perfect, but this worked I thought :) After the party, we hung this in Jacob's room from the ceiling - it looks adorable!

My custom Birthday sign..

To create this I cut circles out of Green Paper (using my old time Creative Memories circle cutter!), and, the letters out of white paper on my cricut. It turned out so perfect, I love it! And, I can always replace the circle with the # birthday & reuse the banner. LOVE IT!

Table Decor..

I kept it pretty simple. Yellow & Green plastic table cloths ($1.25 each from DG), a helium balloon (opposite color of table cover), and, a picture of Jacob in a $1 acrylic stand (stands & pics printed at walmart). Family & Friends got to take home a picture when they left :)

Build your own caterpillar station..

I wanted an activity for the young children, and I thought this would be cute. I cut the colored circles out of construction paper (heavier grade) using the circle cutters again, cut 2 purple antenna's from pipe cleaners and pre-bagged these items. Black markers & glue sticks were in a basket on the table for them to put their caterpillar together.

My personal favorite...

This was definitely my favorite. We had paper & pens available for everyone to write a note to Jacob. We will open these on his 16th birthday. How fun!

1st Birthday Pictures..

Printing photo's is truly more affordable now than it has ever been. Take advantage of that, and, spice up a cake or food table, with prints of your little one. I printed copies of his 1st Birthday Smash Cake shoot, framed them ($1.50 black wood frames from Walmart) and placed them around the cake (oops - you got a sneak peak! full food post coming next!). We let the Grandparents each take a framed 8x10 home with them.

We also had copies of the book sitting around on tables for people to look at, and, Children to read.

This was such an easy First Birthday, and the Decorations were pretty affordable - especially when so much can be reused, or was given away as favors.

Stay tuned for my post on Birthday Party Food!

Cole's Room...Progress!

2012-01-05T12:36:00.000-06:00

Cole's room is finally starting to come together. I love progress!

For those of you who missed it. In November, we painted Cole's room "Later Gator Green", by his request (of course). Mom had this great vision of deep reds & browns (similar to what I did his original nursery in), but he didn't agree. After months (and I mean MONTHS) of debate, I was kindly reminded by my husband that it is, after all, "Cole's room". Ahhh...I was defeated. Well, not really - I scoured the interent for a GREEN room idea I could live with,and, found this wonderful idea for one wall to be striped. I was sold. We painted, striped & then put his letters back on the wall.

Then we started in on the closet. I had found this great idea on Pinterest to turn his 2nd closet into a built in study area/office. Since Cole already had 2 closets in his room, this was perfect & would eliminate so much clutter in the outter room. Getting my hubs on board wasn't easy at first, but once we got started, he quickly saw the genious in my plan :)
We started by painting the inside of the closet. I didn't want this to look anything like a closet anymore. But, I also didn't want that crazy green ... so, what did I do? Well, I found the most obnoxious blue of course! Which quickly became our accent color in the bedroom.
Once the paint was up, Jason ran electrical inside the closet for the computer & video games, and, we hung shelves high for me to organize all the crap I don't want to be an eye sore every day. We debated for awhile on the actual desk, I wanted to just use a small closet shelf, but Jason feared it woudln't hold up over time. So...he installed a counter top. It's perfect! Very sturdy & looks so good.
Here is our creation....

The frames will eventually hold some cool subway art I'm working on, but, in the meantime I couldn't handle them being empty - so I put some neat pictures of Cole with Jason & I as he grew up. The picture in the middle caught my flash, but it's a shot of Jason & Cole standing by the lake fishing...I love that :)

Here is a shot to show the contrast between the room colors & the closet colors.

There is still much to do. (Like labeling the storage bins, corralling the computer cords, Art for his room) But this is certainly a step in the right direction. I have a happy little boy to say the least!

(Heaven help us when we have to paint over those colors! ha!)

The BEST Baked Potato Soup...Ever.

2012-01-04T08:35:00.000-06:00

Several years ago I was introduced to what I believe to be, hands down, the best baked potato soup. Ever. Period. I love it. Those of you who know Ms. Donna Turpin, know she is the master at created a soup out of bits & pieces and this "throw together" was a real winner. When I asked for the recipe, she did her best to remember everything she put in it, and, then I have tweaked a little here & there.

Warning: This soup takes almost 24 hours to make, and, is a little expensive...BUT, I assure you, it's worth it. It makes 2 full crock pots, so perfect to share, or to freeze for later!

Ingredients for Round 1:
Ham Bone (next time you make ham, save the bone w/ all the little tiny pieces of meat on them for the soup - you can just throw it in a ziplock bag & put it in the freezer until your ready to make soup)
3-4 Chicken Leg/Thigh Quarters (these are cheap! Bonus!)
Chopped Celery, Carrots, Onion (just a little) - I like about a cup of each celery & Carrots.
Chopped Green Pepper (optional - but if you do it, only about 1/4-1/2 cup is plenty).
Green Onions if you have them.
4 chicken bullion cubes
Basil, Thyme & Lemon Pepper
2 bay leaves

**Start this in the evening, to let cook all night. In first Crockpot, place 1/2 chopped veggies, ham bone, & water (fill the pot), add 1 bay leaf & 1/4 tsp (or whatever you like to taste) of each seasoning, set to low & let cook all night.
In the 2nd Crockpot, place chicken (skin first to reduce fat), the other half of chopped veggies, the 2nd bay leaf & the same amount of seasonings, set to low & cook all night.

By the time you wake up, your house will smell AMAZING!

Round 2: In the morning....
Pre-bake 3-4 pounds of potatoes in the oven or microwave (I prefer the oven, they hold up better), let cool completely, peel & dice (large chunks are fine, but small are better for some too.

Remove meat from crock pots. Pull any ham left on the bone off & place in pot, remove any extra chicken skin or fat, then dice or shred chicken & place back in bot.

4 hours before serving....
Mix the 2 pots of broth, each pot should have some chicken & some ham broth. This is a royal pain, but it makes the soup by blending the 2 flavors. I have found the easiest way is to find the largest bowl you have, pour both pots in, mix, then redivide in the 2 pots.

take your cool, diced potatoes & evenly split them between pots

Round 2 "Extras":
1 block of cream cheese
1 small container sour cream
1 block of cheese (I like colby, but cheddar is fine)
2 cans cream of chicken soup (could easily substitute mushroom or celery soups)
2 more chicken bullion cubes
1 pound of cooked & crumbled bacon

Take EVERYTHING listed above, and, evenly divide it between the 2 crock pots. For the block cheese, I find it better to take the time & shred it, then just chunk it up (it doesn't melt as well). After everything is in, continue to cook on low 4 hours. (I check seasonings after about 2 hours - that's a good point to know if it needs more of anything). Continue to stir every now & then as it has to melt the cream cheese & regular cheese.

Enjoy! Be ready to feel the most amazing euphoria after eating this soup. I'm fairly sure this soup is served in Heaven. It just must be.

Happy 1st Birthday Jacob!

2011-11-22T07:29:00.000-06:00

I can't believe my sweet baby turns 1 today.

Every moment of your life has been such a joy for us, Jacob. We are so very, very blessed God gave you to us.

My Spaghetti Faced Boys!

2011-10-14T10:18:00.000-05:00

I just can't get enough of these boys :) I'm framing these for my kitchen!

Cole, 13 months

Jacob, 11 months

Cole, 13 months

Jacob, 11 months

More Birthday...

2011-10-14T10:08:00.000-05:00

Last Sunday, Cole got to have a party with his school & church friends. We are so blessed to have an awesome playground & gym at the church - so we had the party there. It was so easy!

This was Cole & his friend, Zander, showing Jacob his new toy. It was precious :)

I made cupcakes & bought ice cream cups. That's it!

The kids had so much fun, and, the only effort I made was to bake the cupcakes. That's what I call a WIN!

Home/School Connection: Fall Board

2011-10-12T16:19:00.000-05:00

Since Cole started Preschool 3 years ago, I have felt like it was very important for us to actively work at home on the same skills he's working on at school.

We fondly call our home school work "Mommy School", which has come to bring on a groan from my son when he hears it! (He's not crazy about sick days, snow days & school breaks because he has extra "Mommy School" on those days). One of the ways I try to make it exciting for him, is to utilize as much opportunity as I can to bring color, design & fun into our work at home. When we lost our school/office combo room when Jacob arrived, we had to find creative ways to work all those fun extras into our home.

One of my favorites is our bulletin board. He loves it when he comes home from school & a new theme is on the board :) We had to downsize our board just a bit when we lost our school room, but, I did find a great place to incorporate this board into the kitchen.

Here's a shot of our Oct/Nov board.

We are in a big push for early reading right now. Sight Words & Letter sounds all around us. (You can also see my previous post on "Slap a Sight Word" here) These leaves are laminated & I write the weekly words in dry erase marker to prevent having to redo them each week. Gotta save a girl some time anywhere you can!

Here's our "Question of the Day". I use this to encourage creative thinking, and, early writing skills.

And of course we have a monthly calendar that we work with daily.

In upcoming posts I will be showing you other ways our home doubles as a classroom for the boys. I would love to hear how you incorporate these fun ideas into your home & classroom as well!

Birthday Buddies

2011-10-07T18:00:00.000-05:00

This is Cole & his best buddy, Jake. They share the same birthday! It's so fun that they will get to celebrate together all the way through school. Because our school is so small, they will always get to have the same teacher :)

Yesterday, we brought cupcakes to school for the boys to share with their friends during snack. They were a hit :)

Mrs. Lister enjoyed giving each of the boys their 6 swats :) She is a great teacher, and Cole enjoys her very much.

Getting to celebrate birthdays at school is so fun.

Family Friendly Halloween Activities!

2011-10-07T12:37:00.000-05:00

One of the biggest challenges that I, as a mother, face this time of year is finding activities for my children to participate in for Halloween. Going door-to-door trick or treating is just not a good choice for my family. With Dad working in the evenings, and 2 small children, it's just not a safe or smart choice for me to make. Still, I want my boys to have the fun & excitement of picking out that perfect superhero costume and letting their imagination soar with their friends. So..I search for alternative ideas that be fun for the boys, and, less stressful for Mom & Dad.

One great option is the Fall Festival at church. Many churches in Central Illinois offer some type of event in the week leading up to, or the evening of Halloween. You will usually find food, candy, crafts & tons of fun, all in one safe place. Another bonus...you only have to get out of the car once! If you have ever hauled costumed children in & out of car seats multiple times...you recognize what a bonus this is for you :) If your in or around the Montgomery County area, please join us at Hillsboro Free Methodist Church on Monday, October 31st from 5-7pm for Indoor Trick or Treating!

Another choice is hitting up your local pumpkin patch. One of our favorite trips is to our local Orchard (Broom's Orchard in Carlinville, IL), for their annual apple & pumpkin festival. Picking your own pumpkin is so fun for the kids, and, you get great pictures while your at it, Mom! Most festivals include food, hayrides, games, petting zoo's, even pony rides. These are great, low cost, family outings. Plus..your supporting your local growers! Your just intime for Broom's annual Pumpkin Fest this weekend. If you don't have plans, head on over to Carlinville.

While I love to see the children dressed up as Tinkerbell & Spiderman, I do not love the idea of opening my front door every 10 minutes, unsure of what may be on the otherside. For a safer option for both you & the trick or treaters - why not grab a few neighbors & set up a "Trunk or Treat" in your local parking lot. Most retailers would gladly offer their parking lot for a safe option for children. Park your cars, fill the trunks with candy, even set up a few fun games for the kids. Parents will appreciate the effort to keep everyone safe.

An important part of our preparation for Halloween, includes talking to my children about the good & bad parts of this day. It's important for them to understand that there are people who take advantage of children & adults, and emphasize the demonic origins of this day. We, as Christians are responsible for educating our children. My family personally does not dress up as ghosts, goblins, devils or monsters - they are scary to my children. We utilize this time to encourage our children's imagination, but, also keep them grounded enough to recognize there is evil in this world.

I would love to hear how you work to creative alternative for your family!

Celebrating our 1st Born

2011-10-04T19:31:00.000-05:00

This Thursday marks the 6th, and, Golden Birthday of our First Born, Cole. We are so very blessed that the Lord entrusted him to us!

Our Celebration started last weekend with a Farm Party. One of Cole's favorite places is at my Sister's House - she just happens to live on a big farm. Horses, ponies, cows, bulls, goats...yes, the list goes on & on and he loves every minute of it. Josh & Lindsey graciously agreed to host his annual wiener roast birthday party at their house.

We were so excited that most of my family (immediate & extended) were able to celebrate with us. We enjoyed a bonfire, hayride, wobble wagon, pony rides, petting zoo, even soft serve ice cream!

By the end of the day Cole was covered in dirt & had a huge smile on his face. Before he fell asleep on the long ride home, he said "Mommy & Daddy, I just love today". Those moments are so precious. Cole has so much to celebrate this year, he has truly worked hard to get to where he is!

The celebration continues with a Party with his school & church friends this Sunday, and, a Party with Jason's Family next weekend. While we normally would not have 3 birthday parties, I'm kind of glad we can show him just how much he means to us with all of these celebrations this year.

One last summer adventure

2011-09-23T16:27:00.000-05:00

Well, this post is a little late coming! Oh...I can blame it on housework, children, even cooking. But, well - the truth is, I've been surfing Pinterest a little too much lately :)

In late August, Cole got a couple of days off of school for a local celebration they have here. We took advantage of he & Jason both being off and went away on one last little adventure before we were thrown into the school year. We decided to try Caribean Cove Waterpark & Hotel in Indianapolis, IN. The rates were very affordable because they were running a buy 1 night, get 1 night free special. Waterpark access is included, as well as a full buffet breakfast each morning.

Here are a few pictures of the waterpark. It's all indoor - awesome not to have to deal with the weather issues, sunscreen, etc.

We also took advantage of the awesome Indianapolis Childrens Museum. It is a little pricey (about $50 for the 4 of us), but wow - we could have spent all day in there. They had a transformer exhibit - probably the coolest exhibit I have ever seen - in the lobby. The boys (my big boys!) loved it :)

It was a very quick trip, but so relaxing. If you get the opportunity to grab those quick weekends away - do it! Remember, your making memories both you & your children will always remember :)

10 Months old

2011-09-22T20:07:00.000-05:00

Today, Baby J is 10 months old. I can't believe how fast it has gone. It's a fun time right now. We do all kinds of neat things.

Like...

Empty half a bag of wheat flour on himself...all while Mommy is loading the washing machine :)

Isn't that just the sweetest smile you've ever seen? Stinker. He knows he's caught!

He also LOVES to "help" unload the dishwasher. Like, while it's running. Yep, he's tall enough to reach up & open it.

As you can see, this happened immediately after the flour incident, while I was sweeping the floor. Yep...good times :)

Homework time!

2011-09-22T19:33:00.000-05:00

Even though homework is pretty minimal in Kindergarten, we have a regular homework time as soon as Cole gets off the bus. I use that time to reinforce skills they are working on at school.

This is Cole's regular homework position. At the kitchen table, pencil in one hand - snack in the other! (this day, it was cheetos, so cheesy fingers on top of it!)

Because he has mastered the current skill they are working on with numbers, I decided to just try some simple addition. I used a worksheet that included the scale at the top & taught Cole how to find the number, move over X tick marks until he gets the answer. I also had him count on his fingers to reinforce he had the correct answer. He actually got everyone correct, on his own! I was so proud of him! (and a little proud of me for having a part in teaching him how to figure out the answer, he he)

Here is his first Math worksheet!

As you can see, he still struggles a bit with handwriting. The OT has us using this wishbone pencil - which makes it easier for Cole, but it doesn't solve the problem of his hands hurting when he writes. That will truly just take time, practice & getting used to the feeling of it. But, for the most part his numbers are all legible - which is a step up from last year!

The Rusted Chain..Review of a beautiful gift!

2011-09-19T09:03:00.001-05:00

My cousin recently had her 2nd child, a handsome baby boy named Corbin (he just melts my heart!). I wanted to get her a meaningful Mommy Gift since she already had 2 of everything else :) As soon as I got my email from The Pioneer Woman, I knew exactly what I should get. Ree reviewed a necklace by The Rusted Chain & had such wonderful things to say. I immediately went to their website & found a very cute necklace that I thought would be perfect. Kaci is a physical therapist, in scrubs most of the time, and, I thought this would be a great necklace for those casual work days ahead of her.

When I received the necklace I was so excited to check it out. Here is it!...

The first thing I noticed was how sturdy the chain was. I LOVE that. Having an (almost) 10 month old myself - I know the appeal of pulling at those necklaces, especially while nursing. I was thrilled to see that it was strong & would stand up to the abuse it might take from the little man :)

I have many upcoming gifts of this type planned, and, am hoping to maybe get one for myself as well (Dear Hubby, what a great Christmas Gift! hint, hint)

Please check out their webpage at http://therustedchain.com, or find them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Rusted-Chain-Jewelry/108350919190616. You will not be disappointed!

(I did not receive any free items or compensation for this review ... I just love the product, and, wanted to share it with YOU!)

And, P.S. if you are not already a fan of The Pioneer Woman, you must check her out. I aspire to be her when I grow up :) http://thepioneerwoman.com/

2011-09-15T22:43:00.000-05:00

Tonight we held our first Autism Support Group meeting. What I thought would be a pretty routine evening for me turned into a roller coaster of emotions.

As I sat & listened to 2 Mom's talk about their struggle with the fresh diagnosis, my mind went right back to where we were almost 4 years ago. I could feel the pain they were going through right now. So many unknowns, so many fears about what life might be like. I wanted so badly to fast forward their life 4 years ahead to where we are right now & show them it will be OK. But the truth is, even though we are in a good place right now, those fears still live within me. I'm scared to think about what life might be like for Cole as he gets older. All that I can hold onto is God's promise to me that he has big plans for Cole's life. I know this, I feel it, I believe it.

We survived these last 4 years holding onto the promise that God has put a call on Cole's life. Yes, we did all the "right" things. Therapies, Therapies, Therapies. But, I can assure you - no amount of therapy in this world can heal what He can. Dr's told us not to send Cole to school - he now functions well in a typical Kindergarten classroom! We consider it a blessing the extra help he gets at school because of his diagnosis. The Lord has put gifted, knowledgeable professionals in our life to support Cole throughout this journey. (not to mention support Mom!)

If I could say anything to those Mom's right now, it would be...Don't. Give. Up.

Work Hard - but remember to play harder :) These years go by far too fast to forget that they are children, and, the greatest work they have is play.

Educate yourself. Don't rely on Dr's or Therapists only. Read, Read, Read. If you don't understand it - keep looking until you do. Form your own opinions. Follow your gut! Remember, God gave these children to us, because He knew we were the perfect Mom for them. Don't forget that!

Let go of the Guilt. You are the best person for the job of mothering your child. No. Matter. What.

Pray. The most profound thing in the world to me is simply this.. God loves my child more than I do. I can't fathom it, but, it's true. He wants you to tell him what you need. Pray for healing, pray for financial support, pray for emotional support. Just pray. Everyday. Even when all you can muster up is "God, help". Just do it. He's there, He knows, He will help.

Stay strong. Have Faith. This is the most rewarding thing you will ever do.

Slap a Sight Word!

2011-09-15T10:32:00.000-05:00

A month into Kindergarten and we are all about sight words in the Lenczycki House! I found this cute idea on Pinterest, and, fell in love. Now each morning when Cole leaves for school he has to read the 2 sight words by the door & "high five" the hands. I plan to put a set of hands in each bathroom too - just to get a few more words in use around here :)

These were so easy to make. Print the handprint outline onto colored cardstock (to make them a little more sturdy), laminate that & cut around. Print the sight words onto regular computer paper. Cute around the letters (allowing for height differences, this helps child distinguish between the letters), glue onto a piece of cardstock, laminate & cut around that. Attach velcro to the hands & words - and, change out as often as you like.

2011-09-12T19:28:00.000-05:00

I have sat down to blog a few times in the past month, but, each time I started to write I felt a bit stressed - so I deleted it & thought "oh, tomorrow". Life has been a little stressful lately.

In the past 2 months life has looked a little like this...
We had a sweet, beautiful "gift" for a week that turned our lives upside down (more on that, someday). I still haven't fully dealt with the emotional leftovers of that adventure.
Cole started Kindergarten. That has thrown us into a whole new routine. Early mornings, packing lunches, doing homework, new bedtime routines - ahhh! The amount of material they cover in a week is a little surprising to me. I try to make sure that our school time at home (still fondly called "Mommy School" - creative, huh?! ha!) reinforces what they are doing at school - but I'm even having a hard time keeping up.
Jacob is just so unbelievably active. He's "crunning" (as much of a run while crawling as he possibly can!), teething, and eating me out of house & home! He still doesn't sleep through the night, that's a killer - and his naps have never been as good as Cole's were. He has 8 teeth already! Teething has been so much harder on him than it ever was on Cole. Lots of fussy days :( He also gets very fussy with Jason's Mom - who is our only real babysitter option many nights - which makes it very difficult for me to get out of the house without the boys at all during the week :(
I have several volunteer irons in the fire that are keeping me very busy. I love doing these things - all are wonderful, worthy organizations - but it's hard when you don't have your husband home at night to take a turn with baths & bed :)
OH, and, we still have a ceiling that needs replaced from the flooding that occurred in July! Seriously, how ridiculous is that?!

Ahhh...all that said, I'm also finding myself stressed about my house lately. I feel unorganized, clutter, and, just all around NOT peaceful about my living environment.

I think I need a week with nothing on my calendar to get life back in order & feel better! Wonder when that will happen?!

Family Pictures

2011-09-01T18:59:00.000-05:00

We finally had time to get our family pictures done a few weeks ago. It's so difficult working with Jason's schedule, my Father-in-Law's schedule & the boys schedules. I think I am the only one that is flexible anymore! ha! I was so happy with how they turned out. It was a quick shoot, with neither boy really interested in having photos done - but we got several good ones, and, that's all that matters :)

Lunchtime Love

2011-08-25T08:32:00.000-05:00

Cole is such a picky eater. So much so, that there is virtually no way he can eat lunch at school but 1-2 times a month, at most. He just wouldn't eat anything on the tray. So, we are packing lunches.

One thing I miss most is having lunch with him. And, I think he may miss that too. I wanted to do something to let him know I'm thinking of him. Since he can't read yet - notes weren't logical. He's a very visual child - so I thought stickers might be fun.

Here's my simple creation for his Sandwich baggies...

So far, he seems to enjoy them :)

What fun ways do you surprise your child with their lunch?

Jacob can Walk Along!

2011-08-22T08:09:00.000-05:00

This was a few weeks ago. 8 months, 2 weeks when it was taken. Unbelievable...

Kindergarten!

2011-08-22T08:07:00.000-05:00

OK - so I took a serious hiatus from blogging this summer. But, I'm totally OK with that :) I spent tons of time with the boys, and, loved every minute of it. But, now that school is back in session - I hope to be back on a regular blog schedule.

Speaking of school. Ya, um...Kindergarten.

Thumbs up was not how Mama was feeling at all :(

Cole had 1.5 days last week, and, starts his first full week today. I already put him on the bus & he should be arriving at Coffeen Elementary shortly. Hmmm. Not exactly sure how I feel about that.

Here he is saying goodbye to Jacob on his first day.

Apparently God knew I would need something to keep me from being curled up in the fetal position in the corner...so he sent Jacob :)