Happy Camper of the Week

This was Carson's week as Happy Camper of the Week at school! He was SUPER EXCITED to be able to share his favorites all week with his friends!

• Favorite Color: Red
• Favorite Sports Team: Ohio State
• Favorite Food: Pizza
• Favorite Hobby: Driving RC Car
• Favorite Song: Centuries
• Favorite Animal: Elephant 

On Tuesday he got to bring his favorite book. 

He loves this EXTRA LARGE book of Corduroy.

He didn't have school on Wednesday due to the "snow storm" (aka rain day) that we had here in Birmingham. So Thursday he got to bring in a toy for show and tell and a special snack. He took in his Hess helicopter to show his friends. He really wanted to take in scones, they are one of his favorite treats, but because of the storm we couldn't find enough in stores that morning, so we settled for donut holes instead. 

Today I got to go in and eat lunch with Carson and his friends! 

We couldn't get a smile...only silly faces! :)

Pinewood Derby 2015

Yesterday was Logan's 4th Pinewood Derby Race. This is the first year that his car has been completed without the help of anyone outside our family; he was very proud of making his own car! Logan and Michael went to a clinic at Lowe's to learn how to use specific tools for building tools Pinewood Cars and after a significant purchase they were able to cut and sand the car themselves here at home. I helped him weigh it and add the right amount of weight to get it to 5oz. So it was a family affair this year! 

Ready, Set...

The Lineup

Pinewood Derby

 Cheering Section!

 Logan won 2nd place in his Den

CONGRATS to Logan on another successful year!

Why I Enjoy Having Critical Mass...aka 4 Kids

I know I have talked about this subject of having 4 kids before...but its our life...and sometimes its what defines us...4 kids!!! Like its some kind of crazy feat. Yes, maybe it is crazy at times (O.K., a lot of the time...and loud!), but here are some reasons why sometimes having 4 kids is easier...YES, I said easier!!!

1. They always have a playmate. 
2. And there is no odd man out. 
3. They have their own set of made-up games (Tig, Legs, Lava,...etc.). Don't ask what they are, or all the rules, because only they know. And that's O.K.!
4. Plus their is enough of them to have great games of 4 square, duck duck goose, tag, hide and seek, etc.
5. Because the gap between them all is small, there is no fighting about what TV shows to watch  (Logan will watch Paw Patrol and My Little Pony and the girls will watch GI Joe and Batman)
6. Also, because the age gap is small family activities are easier (now that we don't have any toddlers) because they all can enjoy the same things! Just think of the fun and rowdiness we have at the bowling alley or out climbing rocks...
7. They have their own cheering section.
8. I can send the older ones to the restroom with the younger ones.
9. No one has to ride alone on an amusement park ride (nor for the most part do they have to ride with mom or dad if they don't want to).
10. No one is stuck with all the chores (or having to set the table EVERY night). So therefore I can find more chores for the kids to do to help me out!

This post was inspired by our day off yesterday for Presidents Day. All 4 kids had dentist appointments and the staff at the dentist office was cracking up at my kids. They went back two at a time and they just heckled back and forth with each other in a funny way. They told me they loved listening to them talk to each other because you could tell how much they cared for each other and got along, but in a brother and sister kind of way (like telling the dentist the other needs to brush more because of bad breath). 

And then when we got home they cam straight in and started playing Tig (like I said don't ask) and then off to something else. And I LOVE listening to them!!!!

Teacher Appreciation Gifts

Its Teacher Appreciation week!  

To show our LOVE for the great teachers my kids were blessed with, we made a little goodie for every day.  All together we have 5 teachers and some wonderful support staff too, so we couldn’t spend a lot per day.  So check out these simple homemade ideas- they were sure crowd pleasers with our teachers! 

Monday - Give a "Coupon"

We started the week with a HUG for our teachers. These are just goodie bags with an apple and some Hershey Hugs, tied with ribbon and a cute label.

Tuesday- Something that Smells Good

This was a SUPER EASY gift that the teachers were very impressed with! I had the kids draw on a piece of regular copy paper with a sharpie. I divided the paper so all of their drawling were on 1 sheet. I took it to Kinkos and had them copy it onto transparency paper. It costs $0.89 for 1 copy! I them took the label off of coconut soft-soap. I cut the transparency, rolled it and put it in the soap bottle; then straightened it out with the pump. Tie a ribbon and Wa-La- personalized soap!  

Wednesday- Office Supplies

This is another crowd pleaser! I made the jars with some craft supplies from Hobby Lobby. The ribbon and flowers are actually what you would use to make hair bows and ponytails. 

I bought paperclips, some regular and some cute shapes like arrows and butterflies and used, ribbon, buttons (hot glued on) and wish tape to "decorate" the paperclips. Put them in the jars and done! 

Thursday- Something Sweet

We made homemade Monster cookies (chocolate chip and M&M's) for something sweet. The fun part is in the presentation. 

Stack them up for a cute look and tie with a ribbon!

Kids Valentines 2015

This week is 

CRAZY!! Not sure why everything always falls at once, but it does! This week is not only Valentines, where I am glutton for punishment and hand make Valentines for all 4 kids, but teacher appreciation week too, AND Im selling in a consignment sale…so tag sort, sort and tag…ahhh!

Because of the craziness this week, the Valentines are about finished, so I’ll share those now. I’m still working on the teacher appreciation gifts, so I’ll share those at the end of the week!

Valentine Boxes

The kids made their boxes this weekend. really only Logan and Melina needed one, but of course Carson had to have one too! :) I didn't do to much to help on this one. They came up with the ideas and made them themselves. 

Valentines

Each kiddo picked what they wanted to do. They all had very different ideas. 

Melina made all these potholders for the girls in her class!! She went to a lot of work!!! For the boys- rainbow loom bracelets.

Melina made all these potholders for the girls in her class!! She went to a lot of work!!!

For the boys- rainbow loom bracelets.

Meeka is still FROZEN obsessed, 

so Olaf was her choice! 

Chocolate Lego men for Carson.

And if I do say so myself, 

I'm pretty proud of this one!

I'm curious to see how this one goes over here is Bama Country....