Still Discovering...

My boys are growing so very fast!

Josh is now over 6' tall. I'm tall but have to look up to him. I told him there have been few men in my life I've looked up too, then gave him a hug. Keegan is learning the joys, and frustrations, of having a cell phone. Tyler is discovering the ups and downs of friends. And Matthew is learning about increased responsibility. I love what each stage of development brings. Even when they were all little, I seldom found remorse in what we were leaving behind because of the excitement of what was to come. I am trading the training wheels, preschool class, and nap times in for dating, driving, and late nights. I love it when they come home jabbering away at the latest activity at school or wanting to go explore with friends cuz it's just not cool to stay home anymore. About the time I wish they were little ones wrapped in my arms Josh comes home with a story to tell or opens up to mom. He loves to hate it when mom makes him break a smile through his crusty scowl. It lets me know, I'm still his mommy.

It's lives lesson I think. To see the adventure in every challenge. My friend, Rebekah taught me that. So today we are "Still Discovering"! Discovering life, love, friends, and family.

And today....I still love it all!

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Pinewood Derby

Project 6 of 52

We had a wonderful Pinewood Derby this year. I used Disney's Cars as our theme. We talked about positive attitude and the difference you can have. 

Once again we had Pit passes. You can find the download for them here.

For concessions we had safety cones.... (bugles)

Spare tires....(donuts)

And running boards....(waffer cookies)

I printed the signs and just laminated them. Then wrote on it with dry erase marker. That way I can use them again next year. Click on the picture for the download. 

(I don't remember where I got these but when I find out I will give proper credit)

My pit crew was hard at it again this year too...

My sweet hubby manned the "crew" not only during the ran but days leading up to it. We had the official scale so dads were stopping by all week to get a pre-weight check. The derby always brings out a bit of healthy competition among the dads uhm, boys. ;-p

I put a note out to my leaders to bring any spare tires or car signs they may have. Lucky for us my committee chair used to work at Goodyear. He brought some amazing signs that really set the scene.

I picked up 20 balloons to add around at each of the tables. We had a table for treats, pit crew, check in, and the medal stand.

Once the cars were checked in they had to be placed on the table. We had the boys write their name on a numbered paper plate. That made the order random, as the boys finished weighing in, and helped us to keep track of how many we had. With all the cars lined up we were able to assign the various awards. 

Aren't these cars AWESOME! I love to see what each of the boys come up with.

After the race each boy recieved a ding-dong medal and a certificate.

1st, 2nd, and 3rd place also got a trophy. 

(Can't believe I didn't get a picture of them but hey, it was a bit crazy).

The boys all had a fantastic time. Parents too. It's always a lot of work to pull the derby off but I love to watch how excited the boys get. They are so good about cheering each other on. It makes it all worth it.

Here are the Pit Passes if you want to download them.

Have fun and good luck.

Cars Pit Pass Printable

Project 5 of 52
I have been working on this years Pinewood Derby for my cub scouts. It is THE event of the year. I think the dads get as much of a kick out of the race as the boys do. Any of you in cubs scouts know just how true this can be. Still we have lots of fun. I decided to go with a "Cars" theme this year for our pit passes and awards. I found these award tags on Pinterest and decided to use them instead of doing new ones. Click on the picture to see the pin....

 

 They are smaller than what I usually use but I plan to have a ribbon on it and the boys can put it with their pit passes. It also saves on ink and paper which was a side plus. I plan to write the boys names in and laminate them to make lanyards. Since it is always lovely to find the work already done I am sharing this printable with you. It doesn't say "cub scouts" so you can use it for birthday parties too. Just click on the picture to get to the download.

Have fun!

I used RLR creations digital kit to make the passes. You can find the digital kit HERE.

Pikichu hat #4

Project 3 of 52
A couple of months ago I set out to make a special hat for Mr. Matthew. 

A Pikachu hat. 

If you don't know who Pikachu is I have one word for you....

Pokemon!

The pattern I found on Pinterest only had 1 size to it but said by using different needle sizes I could easily adjust the size. Well, 4 hats later I finally got one close to his size. I had to make a few more adjustments.

The other hats all went to his brothers. I finished 3 rather quickly but you have to know that my attention span with the same craft wanes over time. By the time I'd finished 3 I just drug my feet to finish the last one.

Matthew reminded me regularly that he was still waiting for his hat. 

Finally just before Christmas I finished it!

What a happy boy he was that day! Of course then mom had to listen to "Pi-ka-CHU!" for the next couple of hours. Still, it warmed my heart that he loves his hat so much. 

Gotta love that cute little man!

~oh and the hat isn't too bad either ;-)~

Bike Helmet Rack

 I found this large but narrow piece of peg board in Home Depot's cull lumber area. They have a cart that they discount various pieces of lumber on. It is usually only $0.60. Sometimes they have great pieces on the cart. I always check it out. I wasn't sure what I would use it for but knew this peg board would come in handy. The price was literally pocket change.

I already has a 1x2 to frame the back. It turned out to be a great project for my boys to learn to use the power tools with. Simple cuts. No big deal if you cut wrong. They did a fantastic job.

 Just frame the back to give a space between the wall and the peg board. This allows the hoods to slide into place. I think the pegs were less than $5 so for around $5 I have all the helmets within easy reach.

An just above the helmets are the fishing poles. After returning from camping I set a pole up on this tool wrack and realized it was perfect for holding all the rods. Sure enough, a perfect fit. Now the rods won't get tangled with other camping gear. 

What do you think? Are you bikers in the fall? This might work for you.

Horray! School is back in....

My boys went back to school last week. We all couldn't be happier. Mr. Matthew starts kindergarten this week so he has less than thrilled to not have his buddies to play with. He will join in the celebration this week.

As I watched FB I wondered if I was an enigma.

Unlike my friends who were missing their kiddos within the first hour, I was thrilled to have the quiet at home.

I had a reason to get up earlier. (Quite the deal when you work nights.)

Chores were done first thing.

I didn't have to field video game questions all day.

My house stayed clean (until 3:30).

I got my own chores done.

I even had time to myself to craft.

Uh, yeah, I was wondering if I was missing something. But I must say my boys were thrilled to get back as well. They enjoyed seeing their friends and new teachers. My oldest (nearly 14) enjoyed the added independence of being away from home. In fact, I still haven't gotten the "first day of school" photo. Gonna add that to my list for morning.

So with my celebration comes time for organization. I love structure. I love clean lines and spaces. I love organization.

Last year I shared how I fix lunches for my brood of 4 boys plus dad. I thought I would share a couple of other ways to have lunch made in a sec.

I work full time nights. It's tough going without sleep but it works for my family. I am able to be there for my boys when they need me. It does mean that I need to have be organized. Some mornings are better than others. I have a wonderful 13 nearly 14 year old who enjoys cooking and actually prefers to make his own lunch. (I know you're all jealous, don't hate me) He is wonderfully helpful with little brother lunches too. I try to plan things out to make those rough mornings simpler.

Several years ago this is what I used. I bought several stackable bins. I had a bin for sides such as fruit cups, desserts such as pudding, and drinks such as Capri Sun.

 The morning of school I would proceed to make the sandwich or whatever while the boys ran downstairs to pick out the rest of their lunch. It worked great. They got the choice but I had a bit of control over it. They knew they had to pick one from each bin. During the summer they could also pick their snack out of the bin. It worked great. 

Here is a link to Amazon to the bins I used. They are perfect.

This is an easy system to put together and the kids have fun being involved. The downside is things have to be prepackaged. I can't cut my own vegi's or have my divide up my own jars of fruit. The dessert is easy to fill but I have to be a bit more creative for the "sides". You can put crackers etc in snack size ziplock bags and toss in the bins. Even do this with crackers.

Check back tomorrow for another option. Then let me know which system you are using.

2+2=4 wordart freebie while reminiscing

One of the fun things about blogging is it becomes a sort of journal. Just looking back at previous posts is a walk down memory lane. How quickly life changes. Just when we think things will never get to what we want it changes in the blink of an eye. We have lived in our new home for 3 years now and A LOT has changed. We have 3 rooms finished in the basement and our yard is landscaped with beautiful trees and berries growing. We have made new friends and enjoy our new jobs. We have truely been blessed. I still wonder what the lessons are that we need to learn but I am thankful to be together as a family on this grand adventure. My heart will forever be in Idaho, (there is just something intangible about it that I am drawn to) but this is becoming our home too. 

Isn't it amazing how far a bit of trust and hard work can take you. 

Watching how my boys grow is perhaps the most amazing. That is what I love about scrapbooking. I do simple pages. It's about the pictures and the people in the pictures more than the page layout or embellishments. When we moved my Tyler was getting ready to start kindergarten. He was thrilled. He had looked forward to school from the moment I pushed him in the stroller to the bus stop with his big brother. Now my sweet baby is heading off to kindergarten. And my oldest in taller than both me and his dad. (And I am not short mind you!) Ahhh, the joys of parenthood. Can't wait for them to get older then wish they were still little. 

I guess the lesson learned in it all is to live in the moment; to enjoy every single second. Yep, that's what I am going to do this week. Refocus and recommit to enjoy each moment of each day. I hope you do too.

Enjoy your day. Hug your little ones a second longer. Be slow to yell and quick to smile and laugh!

2+2=4 Download

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Flashcards organized....

I absolutely love it when inspiration strikes unexpectantly!

I also love that my hubby doesn't question why I buy various things, sometimes I don't know until later what I plan to use them for. 

I stopped by Walgreens today and noticed several items on sale. I make a point to stock up on sale items, even school items. They had several goodies for our PTA santa shop too. I picked up some small notepads (a constant need for OCD list makers like me) then I noticed flashcards for math and reading on clearance. We had looked at them last spring but never bought any. They will work great for our road trip coming up this weekend, so I grabbed 4 different sets. Moving on down the line I picked up a few other items, including some index card holders. I didn't know exactly what I would use them for but I knew there was something wonderful waiting for them. Plus they were only $0.49. Score for cheap organization.

After getting home the boys helped unload the bags. Some stuff to the PTA box. Some to the kitchen. Some to the school supplies.....

Hours later, as I am getting ready for work, I look down at the flashcards on the counter. The boys have already tested Mr. Matthew on his letters.....A thought suddenly comes to me. "What if I put them in those index card boxes?! I bet they'll fit!"

 Downstairs I go, grab the boxes...straighten a few things...notice the boys need to clean up their games...ah-ha that's where the Windex I just bought got put. (every mom multitasks to the max right?!) ......ok, back upstairs

 No to test my theory....

 Wouldn't you know! A perfect fit. Now the cards might have a chance to survive...but how are the boys going to know which is which? Some of those cute labels I have pinned on pinterest...Nah, I don't have time for that right now. The boxes have bright labels already....I wonder....

 Ahhh, just cut around the label and use clear packing tape.

Voila! Perfect storage for our flashcards. These will be going with us this weekend.
Gotta love inspiration!

Yummy in my Tummy wordart freebie

You must know that in a house of all boys food is a high priority. It seems the kitchen never closes and someone thinks it is time for a meal or at least a snack constantly. My 5 year old is the worst at this. He is always "starvin'". Crazy boy, he will be back to the cupboard after a bowel of cereal or some other snack less than 2 hours after a nice meal. I can't complain however, they are not generally picky eaters. Being a farm girl at heart my boys know just where their food comes from. They help plant, sow and weed the garden. They help to cook and clean just as much as mom. No free pass for being a boy~ NO WAY! 

In fact, my 13 year old is becoming quite the cook himself. He makes one mean cheesecake, from scratch no less. Yeah, I know you are all jealous of that. hehehe. Helping grow the food they eat teaches them to enjoy it more. When my oldest 2 were little and frowned at their vegi's I simply reminded them about how they helped to pick and bottle them. Suddenly their plate of green beans took on a whole new look. Somehow, the beans looked yummy after they remembered how they worked hard to have those green beans to eat through the winter. There are still a few vegi's they just don't like but mom doesn't mind at all. If they don't want brussel sprouts, well, we will just have broccoli instead.

Laced throughout the pictures of my little ones are numerous photos of them eating. Sometimes what they should and others, well, they are boys after all.  This popular phrase by Winnie the Pooh fits right in with my little guys.

Manly cards....

I hope youl had a great Father's Day weekend. I worked all weekend but managed to have a relaxing few hours with my sweet hubby and talk with my dear dad. 

Between us, I think my boys were glad to have dad all to themselves. They spent time playing Pokemon while mom was working. My hubby is wonderful with his boys. It helps that he is just a big boy himself but they really do love playing together. It is great for me to watch. 

I made a couple of cards for my dad and my father in law. There are 3 to 1 more boys than girls in my hubby's family so male cards are always on my radar. I was tickled to come up with these.

 I am loving Jim Holtz stuff. It is perfect for the manly card. A while back I found some on sale. I grabbed several items. These just don't go on sale that often.

 So here's what I did....

 Start with a nice brown base....

 Stick the checker print and a thin strip of the striped print on a darker brown....

 I love using a bit of jute. Wrap it around twice then tie a bow...

 I used the foam adhesives to give it a bit of pop. Then stick it to the card base.

 From here I used alphabet cards and a nice pin...

 I usually make up a couple of extra cards. If you have the supplies out for one it doesn't take much more to make a couple of extra.

Now when I need a birthday card or something else I can add a couple more embellishments or alpha cards and have a great card in seconds. It's what keeps me from drowning in last minute, "oh no, I nearly forgot" moments.

Sweet Boys....free wordart

I got to spend time scrap booking this weekend. I started by sorting numerous photos from this past year. I plan to work backwards to "hopefully" catch up. At least this way I will no longer be falling behind. Let's see how many books I can have published by the end of the year.

 I made this up to go with our Easter pictures. All dressed nice in their Sunday best they look sweet and adorable.

See what I mean?! They are a handsome bunch huh!
Click the wordart or HERE for the download.

Gecko neckerchief slides

This past month we talked about respect and pets. I ran short on time so I stopped by the $1 store. I was hoping for a bag of pets of some sort. What I found was a bag of geckos. Not the puppy I had pictured but it worked none the less.

Add a simple ring to the back and VOILA!

This months neckerchief slide.

Cub Scout Advancement Ceremony

We have some of the best Cub Scout leaders!! They do an amazing job. My Wolf den leaders put so much into the meetings for the boys. Of course Markay tends to be a big boy himself. The boys love all the activities and fun they have. 

This young man even called his leader at work to let her know he had finished his last requirement for his wolf badge. Love it!

Markay has a wonderful advancement he does for the boys. The first time he did, the room was filled with ooohs and ahhs. It was simply COOL!

Cut open a glow stick (use the larger ones) and drain the liquids in separate jars. During the ceremony explain that if the cub has followed the path of Akela and completed his tasks the jar will glow, proving he is worthy to advance. Turn out the lights and pour the liquids together. The kids just love this! Truth be told, so do the adults.

School lunch ideas

With 3 boys in school lunches get a bit tricky. Thankfully my boys are not picky eaters but I am always looking for ways to improve their lunches without breaking the bank. Our elementary school has great lunches but the cost still adds up. The Jr. High simply doesn't serve enough food for my long and lean 13 yr old. He always comes home saying he didn't get enough. He opts instead to always take home lunch.Now, I don't mean to brag but he does spoil me...he makes his own lunch each morning. I will even offer but he says "No, I can do it". Of course he likes to cook but I still count it as spoiling. I do feel bad however when his lunch becomes monotonous. He enjoys meat and cheese sandwiches but day after day....yeah, let's mix that up a bit. 

There are lots of ideas out there. I have tried a few but this has become the biggest hit among the men in my house. We need 4 lunches each day counting dads. Buying that many fruit and pudding cups did not help my grocery budget at all. Not to mention all my bottles of home canned produce that continue to sit on the shelves. No more of that. Here is the system we are using to provide a variety of lunches, using my own stores.

These ziplock divided containers are fantastic. I just fill them up and the boys slip them in their lunch boxes and they are done. Walmart and such stores use to have these all over but I couldn't find any this time. Once again, thank you Amazon. I love how easy you can find anything you want online.

I ordered enough to fill all the lunches on the weekend for the coming week. I try to have 4 items: a fruit, a vegi, a treat and the entree.

Before my containers came had to use bags so I just prepped 4 of each item for the boys lunches. Carrots, grapes, pretzels, string cheese...whatever was on the menu. I prepped it all at once then placed them in the fridge together. All the boys had to do was grab 4 items. It worked well but the boys didn't keep their meals balanced at all and little man thought they were his personal treats to snack on throughout the day.

Once my containers came I was able to really get to work. It didn't take long at all. The best part is I was able to rotate through the food I had purchased for lunches (before little boys good devour it all) as well as rotate through our homemade goodies. Applesauce, fruit, pudding, jello, cookies...all from home.

4 lunches prepped for each day.

Carrots, Yogurt covered raisins, granola bar.

Yogurt, orange jello or grapes, pretzels.

Cherry tomatoes, applesauce, pita chips, rice crispie treat.

Cucumber strips, orange jello, mixed nuts, rice crispie.

I used fruit from my pantry. Then made my own jello and pudding and poured it directly in the container to set up. By putting the pretzels or chips or cookies in a ziplock bag I could put it in the container in the fridge (all ready to go) without them going soft.

The sandwiches get made the night before. Meat and cheese, BLT's, egg salad, chicken salad, PB&J...whatever it is. The salad mixes I prepped early too. Toasting the bread helped it not get soggy. Once the sandwiches are made the boys are ready to load up and go.

Believe it or not, very little, if any of these lunches return home. Just the container ready to refill when the weekend comes again.

Here is a list of items I put in their lunches. Hope it helps you too.

Entrees/sandwiches: 

meat and cheese sandwiches

meat and cheese kabobs

egg salad

chicken salad

wraps

PB&J

BLT's

Tunafish sandwhiches

pizza (we all eat the leftovers cold anyway)

salad in a bag

Carrots

celery sticks

cherry tomatoes

cucumbers

apples

applesauce

pears

peaches

grapes

fruit cocktail

jello (make your own cups)

Pretzels

pita chips

crackers

mixed nuts

yogurt covered raisins

yogurt

string cheese

Cookies

rice crispies

pudding (make your own cups)

Take a moment and plan it out, save money, and smile that your kiddos have one of the best lunches at school. Even dear dad is loving this system.

Try it and let me know how it works for you.