New snack system

Thanks to an e-mail from a friend (props to donna g), I now employ a new system when it comes to snacks in the house.

 

On Sunday afternoon the kids all pick out their snacks for the week. The big kids get 10, and the little kids get 7. They can pick anything we have, and can double up on things that they like better than others. They put them in their assigned bin, and that is all they receive for the whole week. If they want to have five snacks one day, and none the next, that is up to them. If they want three bags of chips, up to them.
You would not believe how excited they were to start this system. (okay, emily wasn't as excited). Fruit and cheese, or anything that was made during the week (like the banana bread I made this morning) is always available, and doesn't need to be included in their choices, they are just extras for the week.
So far, so good. I'll let you know when it goes bad. :)

 

A look inside Hannah's bin.

His new nickname: The Gingerbread Man

 

Run, Run, As Fast As You Can. You Can't Catch Me, I'm The Gingerbread Man!

This was touchdown number one (of three), a ninety yard run.
The team did great! With amazing defense, and professional blocks.
They won 20-6.

one point five hours:

the amount of time it takes to scrub my kitchen and dining room floor, with vinegar and water, on my hands and knees.

gone

i have decided that it doesn't matter how much food i purchase at the beginning of the week, by friday, it is always gone.

i can buy a little, or i can go overboard with chips, crackers, and prepackaged desserts. i can shop at sam's club, and have thirty-two of something, but by friday, the results are always the same.

gone. all gone.

at some point i am hoping to learn from this, and only buy a little.

but clearly, given the empty pantry, and empty wallet, that day has yet to arrive.

What to post?

There is much, but nothing.

Steve's out of town, the rain is coming down, and my house is a mess.
I can't get on board with the Fly Lady fad.
I think I am too anti-establishment or something.

Oh, and Brody is already crying about going to preschool in 1.5 hours. Nice.

Bloggless in Iowa.

Cicada Killer Wasp

I'm thinking that this bee ate pollen from plants taking some serious Miracle Grow.

 

1st day of preschool yesterday

I didn't blog this yesterday because it was kind of traumatic.
The whole way to preschool, Brody yelled, "I DON'T WANT TO GO TO PRESCHOOL!!!"

 

Here is a picture of the sign that all the other kids posed by for their Moms.
Brody wouldn't even look at it.

 

By pick up time, though, it looked like he did okay.

 

And here is proof that he actually had fun.
Juice and granola bars for snack.
We will see how Thursday goes...

 

Watch out McCain and Obama!

The whole crew

These are all the people who showed up to welcome us to Kentucky.
Like I said, we were treated like Kings and Queens.
The friendliest, most hospitible people live in Lexington... especially if they are your family!

 

From the top:
Uncle Steve (my Dad's brother)
Steve, my cousin Stevie (Steve's son)
Me, Susan (Stevie's wife)
My cousin Rachel (Janet & Jeff's daughter), Uncle Jeff , Aunt Janet (my Dad's sister)
My cousin Willie (Steve's son), Tyler (Missy's husband)
Jessica (Willie's girlfriend), Cody (Missy and Tyler's son), my cousin Missy (Steve's daughter), Emily
my cousin Luke (Janet and Jeff's son), Isaiah, Matthew (Stevie and Susan's son)
Micah, Hannah, and Brody
The only one missing was Zach (Janet and Jeff's son), as he is in the Army, stationed in Japan.

A wonderful trip

My Aunt Janet (my Dad's sister), my cousin Rachel, and Uncle Jeff

 

Beautiful Kentucky farm

 

Isaiah, my cousin Luke, and Micah

 

The long drive home...

 

more old friends

 

 

 

This horse, who's name is Popcorn, played Seabiscuit in the movie.

 

Monday...

My Aunt Janet, and Uncle Jeff arranged for a tour of a horse farm called Old Friends.
It is for retired race horses, and is the only farm that will take stallions.

 

I love this picture because it shows how much my cousin Luke and Isaiah are alike. They were inseperable, and I am convinced that if we lived closer, they would be best friends.

 

Micah feeding a millonaire.

 

This just made me laugh. This poor boy never won a dime, and is the son of the famous racer, Seattle Slew.

 

more horse park

 

 

 

 

The Horse Park

Sunday morning we headed to the Kentucky Horse Park. We spent all day there, and all the kids loved it.

 

 

 

There was even a hunter/jumper show being held there this weekend, so we caught some of that as well.

 

Rachel's cake

This cake deserved a post all it's own! My cousin Rachel made it.
And it was perfect.
And delicious.

 

My family.

Once we checked in to our motel, we headed over to my Aunt Janet, and Uncle Jeff's house.
We were treated like royalty.
Seriously.
The kids swam, we ate steak, and visited with family we hadn't seen in over 11 years.

 

This is my cousin Willy (Steve's son) and my uncle Jeff (when I was little, I used to tell my friends that he was in ZZ Top)!

 

My uncle Steve (my Dad's brother)

 

Brody LOVED their pool. All the kids did. At one point Micah asked me if people in Kentucky lived like this every day!

 

And so it began...

Our first major stop was the Louisville Slugger Factory and Museum.
Apparently after 6.5 hours in the car, Brody had to use the bathroom.

 

 

They were all thrilled that I wanted to take pictures.

 

Fun with the props.

 

After this, we got in the car again, and headed another 1.5 hours east, to Lexington, our destination.

We're Home!

We got in last night about 9:30pm, and the kids stumbbled in to their beds....
Most are on their way to school, and later today Brody starts preschool!
He is very upset about this. He only wants to go to kindergarten, not preschool.
Pictures of our incredible weekend are on their way....