Thought for the day...

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." Galatians 6:9

Tooth Fairy Bag

We have reached the age of loosing teeth!  So far Clare has lost her two bottom teeth.  I wanted to make some kind of tooth fairy bag or pillow to keep lost teeth in for the Tooth Fairy and found this.  It was very easy to make (I actually sewed most of it in the car waiting for Clare after school).  And I already had all of the materials I needed to make it at home.

Can't wait for our next loose tooth to start this tradition!

Linking with:

somewhatsimple.com

houseofhepworths.com

Garlic Hummus

I love hummus.  And so does Jude.  My aunt sent me this recipe and I made some the other day.  

So tasty!

Ingredients:

1 can of chickpeas

1/4 cup tahini

2 cloves of garlic

Juice from 2 lemons (or lemon juice)

salt to taste

Puree chickpeas in food processor.  (Save some of the chickpea water.)

Add in tahini (I like to only use about 1/8 cup), garlic (yes, please!), lemon juice, and salt.  Pulse again.  Add in some reserved chickpea water and mix until smooth and creamy.

Enjoy on sandwiches, veggies, crackers, etc.

Yummy!

On the Go

We are in full school-mode around here.  Clare has been in kindergarten one month and Jude just finished his second week of preschool.  Clare's grade school has over 800 students and 2 pick-up options after school, so it is key to get to the parking lot early enough to get a "good spot." That means I spend a lot of time in my car waiting for them at pick-up.

So during the day I keep a tote bag on the kitchen table (where I pass by throughout the day) and fill it with anything that I can accomplish in the car...go through mail, write my grocery list, work on a project, send cards, magazines I want to read, etc.  I also throw in a couple of books or a movie for whatever kids I have with me.  Then, when it's time to for pick-up, I just grab the tote bag and go.

(Yesterday I saw a woman with a dust rag attacking her dashboard during pick-up!  Might have to add cleaning supplies to my bag!)

Happy Friday!

"Mexican Rice" (or what I do with leftover rice!)

I have mentioned the lack of excitement "leftovers" ensues in our family.  So my job is to disguise them in any way possible.  This is a recipe I make to use up leftover rice from a previous dinner.

Mexican Rice (AKA "Dora Dinner" in our family)

1. Brown 1 pound of ground turkey with 2 cloves of garlic.  (Although I have been cheating and using the stuff from a jar!)  And sorry, uncooked ground turkey doesn't look very appetizing!

2. Mix in extra rice.  Usually equals about 1 cup...I usually make extra on purpose.

3. Add in your favorite spaghetti sauce.

I like to top this with shredded or even grated parmesan cheese.  

Simple tasty recipes with few ingredients are my favorites.  Very easy weekday dinner!

Linking up with somewhatsimple.com

Organizing Kids' Clothes

With fall and winter upon us, I was sorting through the boxes of 

kids' clothing and shoes the other day.  (As a bonus, the big plastic storage bins have been on clearance, so I bought a few to contain the growing amount of clothing - as we add in bigger sizes - around here.)  

Jude decided to "help."

And by "help" I mean he was pretty much just trying on anything, regardless of size.

I'm working on perfecting my system of organizing kids' clothes...

I keep plastic bins in the basement for anything that is currently too small or more than one size bigger for anyone.  I combine all winter and summer clothes for one size for one gender together.  And then I have the 1 box of gender neutral newborn essentials...undershirts, burp rags, sleepers, etc.

     I keep one box in each of the kids' closets with clothes for the next season.  (Like I have in Clare's closet.)  We have been blessed with lots of great hand-me-downs and between those and end of the season clearance I usually have most of their clothes for the next season ahead of time.  

I also have one box with "holiday-wear."  This has mostly gender-neutral clothing for holidays...pumpkin shirts, Santa hats, July 4th T-shirts, etc.  That way I'm not wondering if any of these items are in a boy or girl box.  

And seeing that ghost onesie the other day has me thinking of a costume idea for Ellen for Halloween this year...

http://www.etsy.com/listing/59172010/girls-halloween-costume-adorable-ghost

...especially since her nickname is "Boo-Boo!"

Last Hurrah of the Summer...

We went to the zoo the day before Clare started kindergarten.  It was our last summer outing and was a treat to go with all of our cousins!  And this was Ellen's first trip to the zoo...of course that means I got NO pictures of her while we were there.  Poor 3rd child!

The elephants have always been Clare's favorite and are usually first on our "must see" list.

  

She used to call them "EL-laps" when she was little...so we all call them that now.

 Black bears.

The penguins outside.

And inside the penguin house...which is keep very cool and is always somewhat refreshing to go in, if you can stand the lovely fishy aroma!

The penguins are Jude's favorite! 

And we hit up all the other "regulars"..

...including Aunt Jane's favorite, the giraffes!  :)

Seasonal Laundry Room

Fall is finally around the corner.  This past week I enjoyed turning the air conditioning off, airing out the house, and sleeping with the windows open.  We even baked some banana bread.  (Can't wait to make pumpkin bread soon!)

  

Then on Saturday morning Ellen and I updated our laundry room from "summer" to "fall."

Before:

Swim bag ready on the hooks.

Beach towels in the bench.

Waaaaay too many flip flops and summer shoes in the shoe basket.

Basket in bench full of baseball hats, extra sunscreen, and water wingies.

Ellen LOVES to play with shoes, so going through the shoe basket was a fun time for her...

And she's probably the smartest 1 year-old around because she found matching pairs of shoes out of the pile!  (Regardless that she puts them on her hands and crawls around that way...)

After:

Fall jackets on the hooks.

School-approved shoes taking over the shoe basket. 

Sunscreen put away and mittens/hats waiting to take their space (but not quite yet!).  

And rain boots replacing beach towels. 

Happy Fall!

Linking up with: http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com
somewhatsimple.com

A Week of "Firsts."

We have had a very eventful week here!  

Ellen's 1st birthday was Monday.

She enjoyed opening her cards.

And riding on her new pink horse/bike from Daddy, Mommy, Clare, and Juuuuuuuude!

Giving the horse kisses. 

Looking up at Daddy.  All of our kids seem to really 

fall head over heals for Ryan when they turn 1.  

What a big girl!

And here is her monkey birthday cake that I made.  I think it turned out pretty well.  (I made 2 round cakes, stacked them, trimmed a triangle-ish shape from either side, used chocolate donuts for the ears, and junior mints for the nose and eyes.)

Jude was waaaaaaay into the party hats.  He wore his most of the day.  

Happy Birthday Dear Ellen!

(Thought I was doing good on baby weight lost...but whoa - look at those chins...or don't!!)

Yummy!

Tuesday was Jude's 1st day of preschool!  (How did that happen??)  We were running a little late, but I still wanted to take a quick picture.  He was upset that I had closed the door to the garage behind him.

Opening it back up made for a happier picture...which was then taken with his pretend jigsaw.  

Of course.  

What a big boy!

And what a week!  "TGIF!"