my back to school planner

The possibilities are endless!!!

it was as if Oprah were there

Today, I had a feeling like the people must have when they find out they are on the Oprah's favorite things show. I got 7 - yes 7 Walmart bags full of school supplies from a parent in my class. I thought I was going to cry! I have been asking for 8 matching towels for 2 years- and there they were all beautiful and crisp. my classroom also got glue, glue sticks, scissors, tape, highlighters, pens, pencils, cleaning supplies-- lots of them, sponges, dish washing liquid, and I am sure some other things that I can't recall right now. I have a super awesome grandma of one of the sweetest little boys in my class making us all new aprons and finishing our curtains too. I am so pumped about the upcoming school year. It is going to be great!!! My co-teacher and I are planning a total room makeover during the workdays. I can hardly wait.

windows to the soul

No, this is not Jupiter!! This is a digital image of the back of one of my eyes. I am not sure which one, but according to my Dr. my eyes are very healthy. Anyway, I went to my annual eye doctor appointment today. It was fun. I actually like going. My doctor is so nice and I always enjoy talking to her. She really gave me the hook up today. I got 4 sample pairs of contacts. For the first time in the 7 years that I have been going to her, my prescription changed in one of my eye. Just a little but still a change. Anyway, she gave me a sample of Acuvue Oasis contacts, and a pair of the brand I usually use. Then, on Sunday, I spent sometime playing on this website where you can upload your picture and try on color contacts. I printed out the certificate for a free pair (in sea green). I not only got that free pair, but another pair of a different brand of color contacts. So I left with 4 pairs of contacts, 4 samples of saline solution and 3 contacts cases. I felt like I had won the eyeball lottery!

fry day Friday

Last night, Meghan and I fried up a whole bunch of fun. We had been watching Paula Deen all week and thought we might die if we didn't try her Cajun fried Okra and her squash and zucchini cakes. We paired these with her southern fried chicken (except I used boneless skinless chicken breast) and cream biscuits. Being southern, it is hate to admit this- but I have NEVER made a good biscuit. I have tried but mine never taste exactly like I want them to, or look like I want them to. These biscuits were VERY good. They were a sweet biscuit that I think would be perfect covered in strawberries and whipped cream as strawberry shortcake. Everything was delicious. I think we will used these recipes again. Mr. D. came home from his week away for work. We just chilled out and had a relaxing evening. I am certainly glad he is back home.

Thursday 13: thirteen things I love about Brady

Four years ago today, in an abandoned building, my sweet Brady was born. We didn't adopt him until September, but this is the day we celebrate his Birthday every year. Here is my Thursday 13 list of 13 things I love about Brady, and 13 pictures of Brady over the last 4 years.



1) I love that in the morning when the alarm goes off Brady will come and stand on my side of the bed and stare at me. He doesn't touch me, but he is about an inch away just waiting for me to move. It is so funny!

2) I love that Brady is obsessed with socks. While this can be frustrating when you are wearing a pair and he attacks your feet
for them, it can be enduring as well. Brady could pick a single sock out of a mountain of clothes. He is funny too- when he gets a sock and hears us coming he will put it under his tummy and lie perfectly still -refusing to move. It's as if he is saying to himself "act cool and they will never know".






3) I love that Brady has our bedtime routine down pat and corrects me if I go out of order- or more like herds me to where I am supposed to be to suit his purposes. Sometimes I do it on purpose just to see his expression.



4) I love that Brady will follow any command you give him -- if you have a piece of cheese. I just wish he would do it at other times as well. I only wish I had learned this little trick while he was in obedience school. He would have graduated at the top of his class.








5) I love that when we give Brady something he deems as super duper good (such as a peanut butter to go cup, or frozen treat) he will take it in to his house, turns around, and sticks his hiney all of the way out of the door to prevent anyone from taking it from him. He will also do this with things he isn't supposed to have- but I just reach in and take those things away.






6) I love Brady's dog house, the sweet guy who built it and the story behind it.













7) I love the fact that Brady is 87 lbs. When we got him, the lady
said he would be about 30 lbs. He was the 2nd smallest in the litter. His mom was a beagle-- but we later found out this wasn't true. Click here to read that blog entry. At the time we were thinking about a dog, I didn't want a very big dog. I wanted something medium that was still small enough when full grown to sit in my lap and snuggle. Little did I know that Brady, at 87lbs would think he was a lap dog and insist on sitting in my lap and snuggling at any chance he get. He also likes to walk on my and jump on me. I am often covered in bruises from his unconditional love for me.

8) I love giving Brady a bath. He enjoyes the hand held shower. He will turn exactly which way he wants the water to hit him. He only fusses when I clean his ears or eyes. He gets water and hair EVERYWHERE!! It is more of a job cleaning up after the bath than it was to clean the dog.

9) I love that whenever Brady "escapes" off leash, all you have to do it get my car out and pop open the back and he will come from where ever he is and hop in. It you try to get him without the car- he will lead you on a wild goose chase for hours. I am SO glad

the car tricks works.

10) I love how awesome Brady is with kids. He can be a total spaz

and then put a kid with him and he is very calm. It is like a switch is flipped. He just stands there and lets them poke on him, or squeeze him or whatever. He could care less. He is very relaxed about the whole situation.

11) I love that Brady will go out in the back yard and run full speed around the perimeter as if her were in a race. He does several laps and then plops down for the rest of the night.

12) I love that Brady doesn't realize he is a dog. When we go for walks and other dogs bark at him, he just ignores it. He is not intimidated at all, nor does he bark back. Brady really only barks if someone comes into the house and he can't see them/sniff them, or if someone rings the door bell. That really pisses him off. The other night, we were watching a TV show with a lot of gunfire and that got him riled up as well.



13) I love that Brady came to me in a time in my life where I desperately needed him. He has taught me so much in my life and I am grateful every day for him. While I do get annoyed with him at times-- he is truly awesome. I didn't know I wanted a dog until I got one and now I can't imagine life without him.

OK friends....

This is my fortune from my fortune cookie-- so what answers do you guys have????

kelly's challenge

Tonight, Meghan and I went to eat chinese food and to the store. After we got back, Kelly came over and I gave her the challenge of organizing things in order of cheapest to most expensive. Here is Kelly being presented with the challenge.

Here is her guess. (from right to left in the pic)

Here is the actual order. (from right to left in the pic)

our dinner

Tonight, I made a recipe from Paula Deen for dinner. It was so yummy that I wanted to share the recipe with you. Check it out!! http://www.pauladeen.com/recipe_view/856
*** update, I totally chopped the tails off prior to anything else!

the day the girl's went home

We started today off with a lazy morning of just hanging out. Then Mr. D. went to play golf and the girls and I went to see Kit Kittredge the American Girl movie. Here are some pictures of the girls at the movies.
We also did something SUPER fun at the movie theater. We went in the photo booth. Anyone who reads the Freckled Nest already knows how much fun a photo booth can be. (I love reading this blog every day!! If you haven't read it, check it out!!) Kelly is even going to have a photo booth at her wedding. How fun is that!! Here are our photo booth pics.

It was SO much fun!! Sweet Alice fell asleep during the movie so we just came home after. Eden and I finished doing the laundry and then we packed everything up. We went to dinner and to their house to drop the stuff off. Then we went to the airport and picked up their parents. We went back to their house and told them how wonderful the girls were and about all of the fun we had.

After that, Mr. D. and I went to the grocery store and picked up anything we could possibly need. We made a vow that we are not leaving the house tomorrow. Then we came home and cleaned a little. Now we are watching TV and relaxing. We certainly miss our little ladies already!!!

fun Friday

Mr. D. took off with me and the girls today. He planned out entire day for us. I got up and made breakfast for Parker, Eden and Alice. Julie and Caleb joined us. After breakfast, we watched the rest of Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium. Julie, Parker and Caleb went home. Mr. D. then took us to a local lake where we fed ducks and played on the playground.

Being a million degrees with 1000 percent humidity, this didn't last long. We came back to my house and had lunch and our daily rest time. After the resting, we went for a special treat at Sno Biz. The girls LOVED their first shaved ice experience.

I was amazed to see that the price of this treat is still $1 which is what it cost when I was a kid!

After our treat, we came home and played with Parker and Caleb for a while. I cooked a super crazy dinner consisting of lots of different left overs. It was choose you own dinner night. The girls found it very amusing. Then it was baths for the girls, and showers too. They love to do both and I say the cleaner the better. They got on their PJ's and Eden taught me how to play the computer game Mahjung. Alice did my hair and colored lots of pictures to hang on the refrigerator. Then we gathered up all of the laundry that still needed to be washed. My little helper loved doing this project.

Tomorrow is our last day together. Their parents land at 6:20pm. Mr. D is playing golf in the morning. They girls and I are going to be busy tomorrow... stay tuned to see what we will be doing.

Thursday 13: thirteen pictures from our day.

This morning, the girls had gymnastics. Alice insisted that Nonnie was to be her class partner. Eden and I played games until it was her time to go.
After gymnastics, we all went for pizza and then Nonnie went home to her house and the girls and I came to my house for our afternoon rest time.
After our rest time, the girls worked on creating fabulous things for art.
Then we went to dinner with Reid and Leah to celebrate Reid's 1st birthday. Meghan and Kelly joined us too.

When we got back from dinner, Parker came over for sidewalk chalk.

The kids enjoyed painting with Kelly.

Here is a picture of the super fun sleepover we are having tonight!!

a few funny things

I just had to share a few funny things from this week. I didn't have 13 to share, but I wish I had them all on video.

One thing was last night. Donovan told me that he really wanted to get his mom and aqua globe. He was very concerned about their plants at home, which I later found out- they don't have houseplants. I asked him what an aqua globe was and he recited the entire commercial. It was hysterical. It was like a little Billy Mays.

Another funny thing is that the girls and I were watching many episodes of Paula Deen today. Every time her recipe would call for onions, they would start screaming for me not to look at the onions and they would turn away until she was finished. It was cute.

Also, while watching Paula Deen, Eden kept saying this looked good, or that looked good. Then when I would tell her what some of the stuff was (like calamari) she would be totally grossed out.

a wonderful Wednesday

This morning, we had a relaxing morning. Parker came over for breakfast while Caleb went for his well baby visit. Once Caleb got back we all played with the sidewalk chalk.

After all of the fun, we got around and went to the pop in play date at Pump it up. If you do not have a pump it up in your city- buy a franchise! This place is making lots of money!!! Here are some pictures of us at pump it up.

Here is Eden.Eden again...CalebAliceParkerAfter the play date, Julie and I took the kids to Johnny Rockets. They all had a great time.AliceEdenAliceEden- with what she said was the best thing that she has ever tasted- a chocolate milkshake. Caleb
Parker After Johnny Rockets, we went back to our houses. We all took a nap. Eden and I cleaned the house and did laundry until Alice woke up. Once Alice was awake, Meghan came to visit. We hung out for a little bit and then Mike, Dawn, Kaleigh, Donovan and Nonnie came for dinner. It was a great time.

Here is a picture of Alice with the lipstick she insisted on applying herself. Cute!

After dinner we took the kids out for sidewalk chalk and bubbles. Parker came over from next door.
Donovan
Eden Notice Parker's cheek and you can tell which little girl kissed him!
Kaleigh
Mr. D. was calling me Bree Vandecamp for bringing the kids out popsicles and cookies. Everyone had fun playing and everyone needed a bath by the time they were finished. We came in and now everyone is clean and sleeping. It was a great day. I am having so much fun with all of the kids. I love being the house where everyone wants to be!!