5 Months

I am about a week late posting about our blue-eyed happy baby turning 5 months old.

I know every month I blather on about how time is flying and how I can't believe how old he is...

So this time I won't blather on...

But know, I am thinking all that blather in my head.

Besides getting a little...and I stress a little...bigger, the most noticeable changes in Bean is his control. He is much more in control of his little body. You can see him starting to want to call the shots, and his teeny body is close to listening to his plans. 

He is still the happiest baby we have had. One of the first things that almost everyone will notice about him is how much he smiles. 

He really does bring all of us so much joy.

He is getting more hair. His eyes are still shockingly blue. He is better than any of our other kids at being happy on his belly. That is unless he has decided he is through and has forgotten how to roll back over.

However, most of the time he is still happy chilling on his belly.

Here are some happy belly time pictures for you.

I hope you enjoyed that sweet teeny mug. We sure do.

A Pinteresting Wednesday: Gift for Teacher

School started this week. Yippee!

I haven't ever brought a present to the boys' teachers at the beginning of school before. I am not sure why, but probably it was mostly because I had never thought of it.

Sorry previous teachers!

Several weeks ago, I came across a cute idea on Skip to My Lou. I immediately pinned it to my Delightful Downloads pinboard.

pinned from HERE

I know I say this practically every week, but really what would we do without Pinterest? Well, besides fold the laundry...

Anywhoooo...

I knew this idea was simple enough that I could accomplish it even in the hustle and bustle of getting ready to go back to school.

I didn't find hand sanitizer as cute as she had, but I did find little bottles of hand sanitizer lotion.

After downloading her tag, I printed them off on a color cardstock.

I also decided that if I really wanted her to give me a call I might want to make an info sheet to go with the tags.

I made this cute info sheet in PicMonkey, my new favorite photo editing site.

I made a blank one to share with you. Simply save it to your computer as a photo. Then you can open it up in PicMonkey and fill in the info you want.

I printed the info sheet on white cardstock.

I tied a scrap of fabric around the lotion bottle. Then I used a painted clothespin to attach the tag and the info sheet.

An easy and simple back-to-school gift for Teacher.

I am excited to be in my boys' classrooms this year. Hopefully I will be able to really get to know their teachers and I will be able to experience this school year with my boys.

Boredom Buster: Rice Krispies Legos

This idea was originally supposed to be a part of my Project No More "I'm Bored!"

Well, the last little bit of Summer was so busy and jam-packed that there really wasn't an "I'm bored!" to be heard.

Since I still really wanted to do this activity, I set aside some time to make it happen. Even after I "set aside some time", it still took me almost an additional week to "make it happen". Hahaha. Oh well.

We eventually got to all our Rice Krispies Lego building fun. The much anticipated activity totally lived up to the hype. A totally boredom buster when there is boredom and a fun activity when fun is needed.

Making Rice Krispie Legos was really easy.

I gathered enough Rice Krispie cereal, marshmallows, butter, and food coloring to make four batches of Rice Krispie treats.

My original intention was to make blue, green , yellow, and red. Eh, well, red turned out more pink. The boys didn't seem to mind.

After I made each batch, I turned the pan over onto a sheet of plastic wrap. The whole pan of rice treats just dumped out in a solid brick. I then wrapped it up and let it set on the counter to firm up.

Now you simply let it set over night...I uh wanted to make sure it was good and set so I let it set for a couple of days...totally meant to do that.

After they have set and are firmer, unwrap each brick and start cutting.

I cut mine into rows and then cut each row in either small squares or rectangles. You know like the different size Legos.

Then I put them in bags according to color where they proceeded to store for another several days waiting for me to find the time. I think my boys were getting to the point where they didn't think we were ever going to build with these.

I was good to my word and we finally got around to building with our Rice Krispies Legos.

I of course made them all wash their hands...because I knew an equal amount of building and eating was going to be happening.

Then they started building.

Fortresses.

A fleet of ships.

AND...Um...your guess is as good as mine...

Oldest did bust out some kind of robot. He did request the use of toothpicks to make the arms stay on.

He found out that his robot tasted pretty darn yummy.

They boys and their friends had a great time. They enjoyed the building almost as much as they did the eating. I enjoyed watching them have fun almost as much as I enjoyed eating a lot a few treats myself.

Legos--good.
Rice Krispie Treats--good.
Rice Krispie Treat Legos--awesome.

Boredom officially busted.

First Day of School 2012

Today was the first day of school.

We now have two kids in school. Crazy!

Middle has been ready and excited for awhile.

He went armed with his Super Hero backpack.

Speaking of super...

Oldest was SUPER silly this morning. I just chalked it up to all his excitement to head back to all that learning.

I can't believe how big he is getting. He is so handsome...I am also grateful that he still let's me pick out his clothes.

How much longer do you think I have?

My camera battery died right after the front porch photos. Sigh. Yeah I realize I should have probably charged it last night...I mean I knew I would be taking photos!

Oh well.

I didn't get to take pictures of  Middle getting on the bus for the first time (wipe my eyes). He was so excited to get on the bus with Oldest. He looked completely at ease.

We may or may not have followed him to school in our car...

There we waved Oldest off to play on the playground. He doesn't need around now...hahaha. Then we walked with Middle to his classroom and waited with all of the other new kindergartners...and their parents of course.

We quickly walked him in, expressed how excited we were for him, and then we made a fast exit.

The house was pretty quiet this morning. Little was at a loss as what to do without big brothers.

When Middle came home, I took it as a sign of success that he kept repeating, "I wish I was still at school."

What a great day!

Eleven

Eleven.

Years.

Of...

Happiness

Family

Laughter

Blessings

Joy

Adventures

Friendship

Love

Marriage

Eleven years ago I started my forever with a handsome and very good good man. 

It has been an awesome eleven years. We are a pair of pretty lucky lovebirds.

Tex Mex Shredded Pork Burritos

Mexican food in some form or other is probably one of our family favorites. We really enjoy fresh and light Mexican. Not that meals smothered in cheese and sauce aren't good occasionally. We just prefer lighter flavored Mexican food.

That is what I have for you today.

The other day I stumbled upon an old recipe when I was looking through my actual recipe box.

Remember those?

Smallish boxes filled with hand written recipes on cards. I almost didn't know what to do with my non-Pinterest hard copy recipe filing system.

It is kind of like asking a teenager to use a rotary phone, as they stare at it in wonderment scratching their heads. "What the heck is this?"

Yup that is kind of how I felt when going through my recipe box.

Boy am I glad I did go through it.

For I found this shredded pork recipe. I adapted my original recipe a little. The addition of the Cilantro Ranch Sour Cream and some shredded Monterrey Jack cheese made this burrito even better.

It was a tasty, tasty treat. A Tex Mex meal that wasn't too heavy and paired perfectly with one of our last Summer evenings.

Since this meal is primarily a slow cooker meal, it is also a perfect school night meal. Put the meat in the crock pot in the morning and then with minimal work in the evening you have a delicious and easy meal.

Perfect.

Tex Mex Shredded Pork with Cilantro Ranch Sour Cream

1 3lb boneless pork loin roast
1-8 oz can tomato sauce
1 cup original BBQ sauce, your favorite brand (I used Sweet Baby Ray's)
1 medium onion, thinly sliced
2-4.5 oz diced green chilies
1/4 cup chili powder
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp dried oregano
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon

1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
shredded Monterrey Jack Cheese
Cilantro Ranch Sour Cream (recipe below)
flour tortillas

Cilantro Ranch Sour Cream
1/2 cup light sour cream
1/2 cup light ranch
1/4 cup salsa verde (I use Hernedez brand)
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

Combine all the ingredients but the pork in a crockpot. When they are well combined, place the pork in the crock pot and pour some of the sauce over it. Cook on high for 4 hours or low for 8 hours.

When done, remove pork and shred using two forks. Then place the shredded pork back into the crockpot with the sauce and allow it to set on low for another 30 minutes.

Meanwhile make the Cilantro Ranch Sour Cream by combining ranch, salsa, and cilantro in a small blender or bullet-type food processor. Mix until the cilantro is well combined. Then fold in the sour cream. Add more or less sour cream depending on how spicy you want it. Set aside in the refrigerator until ready to use.

When you are ready to serve, place some of the shredded pork on a warmed tortilla. Then top with some shredded cheese, the Cilantro Ranch Sour Cream, and some fresh cilantro.

Dig in.

Oh P.S., you might want a stack of napkins close by, this delicious burrito is drippy, juicy, messy good.

Seriously, happy eating!

A Pinteresting Wednesday: Baking Soda and White Vinegar Floor Wash

Another installment of A Pinteresting Wednesday.

I am not sharing a project from my pin boards this week. We are trying to make it through enjoy our last week of Summer, and I didn't have any time to check a project off my boards.

Also, true to my word I am trying to spend a little more time snapping pictures of Bean. More photo-taking, less project-making.

His eyes are two cups of crazy, right?

Since I am wrapping up Summer and capturing Bean in photos, today's pin is from my Tips, Tricks, and Good to Know board.

I love all of the non-toxic cleaning options out there. A lot of them include one of the three ingredients in today's floor wash. When I saw this PIN, I knew since this floor cleaner included Baking Soda, White Vinegar, and Dish Detergent it was a definite must try.

I have washed my floors with just vinegar and while it works, man talk about smelly. The boys hate when I mop with vinegar. HATE.

I was happy to find out that mixing the baking soda and detergent  in the vinegar smell was masked. Woohoo!

Simply mix 2 gallons of water, 1 cup of white vinegar, 1 cup of baking soda, and 1 Tablespoon of liquid dish detergent (I used Dawn, I have posted of it's magical cleaning qualities before HERE).

I like to heavy duty mop on my hand and knees with a rag. I think it is easier to get in there and really man handle the dirt and grime. This would also work with a mop though.

I was pleased with this cleaning mixture and will use it again. I might half it next time, especially if I were just doing one room.

So another Pin tested, another Pin successful. 

Pencil Skirt from a T-Shirt

Before I discuss the skirt in this little picture, two things.

Thing One: Does anyone recognize that I gave you all a break from seeing my front door? I am not sure why every skirt post I have done in the last few months has me standing in front of that door.

Knit Maxi, High Waist Maxi, Summer Striped

See what I mean?

This is probably because I am lazy and don't go out on photo shoots. Some ladies always look so classy and model-like when they pose their homemade clothes, strolling some droll location.

I mean seriously, have you ever seen Leanne Barlow's blog? Then there is the blog Kristina J I just found. Why can't I strike a pose like these ladies. GLAM much.

I digress.

Basically, I just wanted you to know I've got your back and I will give you a reprieve from my front door. I just um, took a few steps to the right...now you can look at our stone wall. Lucky you.

OKAY.

Thing Two: I must, must, must give a little Hallelujah for the yellow cardigan.

I have been yearning and craving fortnightly for a yellow cardigan. Seriously I have been looking for years. I had searched online, in every store, thrift stores, my sister's closet...you get the idea. I simply could not find one at all.

Then while reading my friend Vanessa's blog recently, choirs sang, bells rang, and I darn near fell out of my chair.

She too had been on the same search, but her search was over. She had found one, and glory be it was at Old Navy. We have an Old Navy. Boom.

I may or may not have hit the store that very night. I may or may not have cradled the cardigan in the store. I may or may not have clapped like a 5 year-old getting a new pony.

So review-

Yay for a no door photo.
Dreamy yellow cardigan...check.

So wait, wasn't there something about a pencil skirt from a t-shirt?

Why yes, yes there was.

The other day when walking The Mart, a place I find myself WAY too much, I passed a rack of men's t-shirts on clearance. My eye was immediately drawn to a navy blue and white stripped shirt. As soon as I saw it, I saw a pencil skirt.

No, I don't know why. I don't ask my brain these things. I am just feel grateful when the thing actually works.

So without hesitation, I picked up the shirt.

This skirt literally came together in about an hour. My kind of project.

In about an hour I turned a ordinary t-shirt to this-

I paired this knit pencil skirt with a white shirt, my yellow cardigan (yay), and nude peep toes.

I am working on a tutorial for you. I whipped out this skirt so quickly, oh and late at night, so I didn't get a tutorial put together. Don't worry though, it will happen.

I pinky swear.

Thanks for reading. I sure appreciate ya.

Back-to-School Lunch Ideas

Some of you have already sent your kids back to school. I have one more week. Then I wake up my kids early once again, put them in their first day of school outfits, pack their backpacks, and tearfully (and a little joyfully), and send them off for another year of learning.

For Middle this is his very first year. Kindergarten. The big time.

For Oldest, he will be going into 3rd. So for him, we start another year of packing lunches.

My goal for this year is to pack more creative and fun lunches.

I have been scouring the internet for fun lunch ideas. I have a whole pinboard dedicated to Lunch for Kiddos to keep track of my inspirations.

I have put together a collection of my favorite lunch ideas. I am sharing this today over at Somewhat Simple. I also wanted to share this list here today.

These lunches are awesome. They are definitely a source for lunch inspiration. These ladies are RIDICULOUSLY talented and super ingenious. I bow to their lunch box mastery.

In no particular order--

1. Lego Lunch by Another Lunch

 How cool is this Lego box. I also love the little Lego cheese!

2. Submarine Sub Lunch by Lisa Storms

I am in love with the little straw scope. 

3. Perry, Perry the Platypus by Susan Yuen

Uh, really need I say why this is awesome! 

4. Swimming with Dolphins by Lisa Storms

 That is a jello ocean...awesome.

5. Science Experiment Lunch by This Lunch Rox

An awesome lunch for an older elementary student. 

6. Ribbit Lunch by This Lunch Rox

I love that the frog is catching a "fly".

7. Two Ferbs are better than One Lunch by Susan Yuen

This site has TONS of Phinneas and Ferb lunch ideas.

8. Simple Meat, Cheese, and Cracker Lunch by Another Lunch

I like this simple yet fun take on cheese, meat, and crackers.

9. Dino Lunch by Lisa Storms 

Roaaarr! 

10. An Angry Little Lunch by Another Lunch

Do you see the kiwi pig? Seriously! 

Okay, so maybe I am throwing a BONUS 11th lunch in there.

I just couldn't help myself.

11. Muy Bueno Tacos Lunch by This Lunch Rox

Oldest love, love, loves tacos. 

Can you imagine the point I would win if he opened 

this for lunch?

Best Mom ever.

I hope you found some inspiration from this list of lunches. At the very least I hope you had super fun looking through them. Stop by these ladies' sites and prepare to spend a lot of time browsing and pinning.

Fingers crossed I attempt at least a few creative lunches this year. A girl can dream anyway.