The Mighty Cone: Date Night

Since the boys took a nap today, they were promised a date night with me. We started off with dessert (dinner was at home) at The Mighty Cone. Their food must be great because they were practically sold out of everything. Great weather makes a busy day at a trailer park! The food is served in a cone (hence the name) but the boys walked away with a milk-shake each. We window shopped along Congress Ave. until it was time for our next stop.

The 17th Annual Jugglefest hosted a free show tonight at the School for the Deaf. I don't know if the boys were more entertained by the jugglers or all the sign language. The show began at 7:30 and we left during intermission at 9:00. It was great but we were all tired. I am sure tomorrow I will see a juggle trick or 2 attempted.

My American Idol

This was Big's day to lead his entire elementary school in the Texas Pledge. Little did we know he would also be singing the Star Spangle Banner (we would have practiced). Watch out American Idol...you have competition coming your way in another 12 years!

Sushi-A-Go-Go

I have started volunteering at 2 different free health clinics a few nights each month. This gives me a chance to keep my nursing skills up while I am a devoted stay-at-home mom (for time being). The clinics are wonderful and the patients are so thankful for us. I leave each night with a very warm heart.

And to top it all off...this trailer is 1 block away from the clinic downtown. What better way to end the night than a solo dinner on a picnic bench at Sushi-A-Go-Go. Nothing like a quiet meal!

Snow Day

Not the record snowfall DFW got last week, but enough to get the kids out of school early and play! As always, our real sleds were a hit with the neighbors and my kids stayed warm and dry thanks to our Finnish gear. We played outside for 3 hours straight and invited all the kids over for hot chocolate and oven-fresh banana bread.

The best part, school is delayed tomorrow so we can make it a popcorn and movie night!

5 Alive!

We are concluding the birthday season at our house. Little is 5...reading, writing, tying his shoes, way more than I ever imagined he would do by this age! I guess that is the pressure a big brother creates.

We had a pirate party at his school, followed by a "breakfast for dinner" birthday at home. Happy 5th birthday rock star!

I can tie!

The third and final task of "Mommy has a cool school" was completed this week by both boys. Out of the blue last weekend, they both learned how to tie their shoes. We have worked on this since summer. Little was the first to succeed, Big followed shortly after. They each had to tie their shoes all week to receive a new pair of shoes along with a $5 bill I have been promising.

One less thing I am responsible for each day :)

Quiet Sunday

Not really...we live in a neighborhood where most people are not "do it yourself-ers." Home Depot and Lowes are quiet on the weekends and we find this VERY strange. Maybe because we love to do things ourself so as we pulled up this morning with a wood chipper, I think the entire circle was peeping out their window...or maybe once we fired up the not-so-quiet machine.

Our back yard neighbors nothing. We spent all week clearing the brush, trash, piles of clipped limbs from years before. We trimmed trees, found native plants growing, and cleared areas to allow for more growth. Then we rented the chipper today and mulched everything. It looks gorgeous!

Bake or Boil??

Last month, a good friend mentioned "baking" eggs rather than boiling them when I told her about our ministry with Mobile Loaves & Fishes. I could not wait to try out the new technique.

Place your eggs directly in the oven. Have a cookie sheet on the bottom rack just in case you lose one. Turn the oven to 325 (no preheating) for 30 minutes. Remove the eggs and place in ice bath to stop the cooking process.

Easy peasy! I did have one causality but usually have 3 while boiling. And during the coloring process (thanks boys) we lost 2 more. This did give me a chance to see the inside of the the 'hard baked egg.' Barely cooked enough...next month I will cook 3-5 additional minutes.

Sweet Shop

We have been busy with this LOVE-ly holiday. Rice crispy treats, 'naked' cookies (decorated during class) and candy necklaces have kept us all on a continuous sugar high!

30 something and holding

While everyone in Dallas is busy making snow angels and igloos, we are enjoying the black beaches of Maui. Just kidding...I only wish! That was 8 years ago when I surprised my then 'boyfriend' to a trip to the mid-Pacific for his 30th. When can we return??

Happy Birthday Daddy...here is to your chocolate filled day!

Girl Time

After the reality check of registering Ms. Pink for preschool next fall...I realized my baby is growing up way too fast. She no longer needs bed rails on her twin bed, she does great in her big girl panties (at home only), and she insists on doing everything all by herself.

Today I took advantage of "us" while the boys were at school. We visited the Children's Museum downtown and the had a date lunch at the Spaghetti Warehouse (all the nearby trailers were closed.) She really enjoys the 1-on-1 time and having my FULL attention.

Mini Snack Kabobs

I feel like we are back in Finland, as we count how many days it has been since we have seen the sunshine...9! Yes, we have cabin fever and need fresh air soon. Until then I will try to be creative and keep us busy.

Today: Mini Snack Kabobs

How long?

Not another 6 weeks! The dreaded "shadow or no shadow" prediction by Phil himself. Both boys were given the homework assignment to see if spring was on its way or winter was here to stay. While waiting for the verdict, each did a simple math assignment to solve the hidden message. Daddy and I enjoyed watching each child do the worksheet their own way:

Big tried to analyze the message with each new letter, figuring out the word, then proceeding with the problems.

Little flew through the problems solving the message a good 3 minutes earlier, doing the math first.

2 completely different eggs from the same 2 chickens!