Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Tina...

I think this is so hilarious and keep forgetting to post it but I finally am. Maren is telling us a funny blog story and we're all cracking up, especially Tina. Oh and this isn't the only video, just the best one you can see and hear. She was laughing so hard, half the time we were all laughing because she was laughing. She had no idea I was recording, I wish I had even a better video because she was being so hilarious!
If you're interested and haven't already read it, this is what Maren was reading to us, so hilarious!!

Ice Balloon Writing

Today I let the kids write in the snow with the Ice Balloon Crystals we made. Well, it didn't work. I totally thought it would but apparently the snow is too cold to even show the color. Fisher gave it a good try and even wrote his name, I don't even think he realized I was wanting color in the snow and that's ok because he enjoyed it. The other boys just ended up throw them around and Skylar didn't want to hold them for longer than so I could snap a picture. They had fun but like me they were disappointed, I really thought that would work! Oh well, they had fun! Now they can be a fun decoration in the back yard till they melt. 
Levi got a little bit to show after letting it sit for a while.
Oh ya we wore gloves (yes I tried it too) since they melt so fast in your hand and your hands get really messy.

Monday, January 30, 2012

Birthday Kisses

I love it! This is my friend Julie! She's even blushing!
 I made this cake for her of Taylor Lautner and Robert Pattinson kissing her cheeks. She's a huge Twilight fan and I had to make this for her for her birthday! Unfortunately she wasn't really kissed on the cheeks by them, I just made it look like she did by going to www.FACEinHOLE.com
Then I had the picture printed (above) and went to Wal-Mart to have them print it out big on their edible ink and paper (thanks for the tip Angie).
 Too bad my cake was falling apart, I really should make up cake recipes, although they all said it was really good and moist it was falling apart really bad. As soon as I started trying to frost it huge chunks were pulling away. I was able to get enough frosting on to put the picture on. If you make this cake I recommend it being a cake you don't plan on decorating, instead just drizzling with something or scooping something on it like this No Cook White Frosting I'll put the recipe below since they say it was so yummy. I hope it really was as good as they said, I don't like chocolate so didn't try it. Somehow I lost the pictures of me making it, oh well. Oh before I forget, when I went to pick up the picture I printed at Wal-Mart several employees were standing around looking at it, then when I came to get it they all were asking if it was me and who it was, it was pretty comical. I told them the story and they were really excited for Julie!

Super Moist Chocolate Pudding Cake

1 box Betty Crocker Super Moist Triple Chocolate Cake Mix
2 small containers Hunt's Snack Pack Chocolate Pudding (not the powder)
1 egg
1 1/2 c. water
1 1/4 c. vegetable oil

Mix all together and bake on 350 for 35-40 min. I really don't recommend trying to frost this cake, if you want a frosted cake don't make this one. This cake is really moist so it falls apart easily, I'd leave it in the pan and drizzle something on it or when serving scoop  No Cook White Frosting or something else on top of it.

Maybe it would be better with the 3 eggs like the box says, maybe they would hold it together more?....

Saturday, January 28, 2012

Fishing In The Tub

Well, this is a first and a last! Kerby and the kids came home from ice fishing today and I was downstairs doing a project for primary. I come upstairs to find this....
The kids had put some small fish in the bath tub and started fishing for them. There is no limit to these white bass because the lake is overpopulated with them so instead of returning the little fish to the lake which would most likely die anyways they kept them for cat fish bait.  When they got home a couple were still alive so they decided to put them in the tub and fish for them and play with them.
 
 They were so nice and even added some wax worms and bread crumbs to the water!
 Guess who's cleaning the bath tub? Not mom!
The fish just swam around like they'd found their new home.
 
 So, I let them have their fun for a few minutes then the fish were out!

Friday, January 27, 2012

Taco Soup In A Bag

I've always wanted to try this because we always add Fritos to our taco soup. Today I decided since we had left over taco soup that I'd just finally do it and see how the kids liked it. Just make the taco soup then add some to a small Fritos bag (eat some of the chips out of the bag if you don't want as many, or Kerby didn't want his in a bag so we all gave him a small amount of our chips for his soup).
 Then add desired toppings. We add shredded cheese and sour cream. Then just stir it up and enjoy!
 
 Kadin thought it was super fun but one bag wasn't enough for him and that's after eating a cheese and pepperoni tortilla. Boy he can eat!!!
 Levi thought it was a fun idea, but also thought it was messy on his hands and hard to stir up.
Fisher didn't want taco soup because it's disgusting he says! Even though Wednesday when we had it he ate it all and wanted seconds. So, he just ate his bag of chips.
 Skylar liked it too. In fact I'm afraid she'll always want soup in her chips now. She already unlocked the pantry door, pulled out a bag of chips and brought it to me and asked if she could have some soup chips. Yes, we keep our pantry locked, not that it matters anymore, she just pulls up a chair to unlock it.
 I liked the idea but I agree with Levi, it was kinda hard to stir inside a bag and a little messy on your hands but I'd do it again. It was pretty fun and the kids really enjoyed it!
Here is my mother in-law, Nancy's recipe for the taco soup. This is one of my favorite recipes!

Taco Soup
1 lb. ground beef
1 large can tomatoes (I usually do 2 small, it just makes a little bit more)
1 can tomato sauce
1 pkg. taco seasoning
1 lg. can kidney beans drained(I usually do 2 small, 1 dark red and 1 light red for fun and more)
grated cheese
sour cream
Frito corn chips

Brown ground beef. Combine and heat tomatoes, sauce, beans, and seasoning. Add ground beef. Simmer 15 minutes. Top each serving of soup with cheese, chips and sour cream.
If I remember earlier in the day I just cook the ground beef then add that and all other ingredients to my crock-pot. Enjoy!

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Rain-x De-Icer

Have you ever tried Rain-x De-Icer before? If not you need to! I got it last spring for .50 cents and tried it on my windshield today. I really like it! Why have I been scraping windshields? Ok, so I don't know how well it would work on very thick ice but Kerby's used it on pretty thick and says it works you just have to wait longer and maybe spray it more.
Here's my icy windshield. I had forgotten to warm it up this morning and had to hurry so I could get my kids to school.
 This is after I sprayed it with 4 sprays. It says to spray and leave on for 30 seconds but I didn't even need to wait, I could see it melt right when I sprayed it, with thicker ice you'd have to wait a little bit.
 This is after I turned on my wipers. It worked!!! Well worth the .50 cents. I'm so glad I bought 2 bottles, 1 for each car.
I totally recommend this product! Especially when you're in a hurry (which is almost always me)!
Next time I have thick ice I'll get a picture of it and put on here to update this.

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Kadin's Top Cub Scout Achievement

Today I got to witness Kadin receive his All 20 plaque. This achievement is the highest achievement a cub scout can earn. He completed all the achievements a Webelo can complete. Normally Webelos have 2 years to complete this but in the LDS church we do it in a year. I'm so proud of Kadin, first of all that he completed it but most of all that he really wanted it so he made it happen. Great job Kadin!

This is Eileen Lisonbee from the district, she presented the plaque to him. Then Kadin's friend Tregan Palmer and Kadin .
 This is Shannon Mangum, Tregan and Kadin's Webelo leader.
 This is Karen Evans, Kadin and Kathy Losee. Karen and Kathy were Kadin's Webelo leader until recently, so they did most of the activities with Kadin.
 The boys and their moms. 
 Just Kadin and I. You're such a good kid Kadin! You worked really hard!
Thanks to everyone who helped him achieve this, he's really excited and happy he got it done.

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Burst Ear Drum

OK, I know this is gross and that most people have probably seen this happen to their kids but I haven't and since my plans for my new thing today didn't happen I'm officially making this my new thing for the day.
So this afternoon Skylar was holding her ear, I asked her if it hurt and she nodded yes. So I went and looked at her ear and this is what I saw.
I figured her eardrum had burst so I took her to the doctor and yes it had. She also has an infection in her other ear too. She's had a cold for almost a week so she's been a little fussy but never complained about her ear until today. The puss was already pretty dry so I think it either popped this morning or in the night. I didn't think she'd been that fussy either, but then again I'm kind of used to her fussiness after the past couple months.
She has to be on antibiotics...again and have antibiotic/steroid drops for popped ear.

Monday, January 23, 2012

Animal Balloons

Today after work I wanted to do something with the kids since it was Levi's actual birthday and I was gone all day at work. So, I remembered I had bought this Twisty Balloon Kit from Wal-Mart for $5 and decided we would do those. Of course the kids were super excited.
This is the kit we bought. It comes with 20 balloons and instructions for 10 animals. I found it in the party section by the pinatas.
 Here's Levi blowing up his balloon.
 Skylar and I blowing up ours.
 Levi's trying to make a parrot and Kerby is helping Fisher make a giraffe.
 My first attempt at an elephant before one of the ears popped and I discovered it wasn't near long enough.
  Here's Skylar trying to blow up a balloon, it kept coming off the thing and blowing into the air. This is the first time it did it, you can see that she barely has hold of it while it's headed into the air. Look close at her face, you can tell her eyes are wide open.
 Levi discovered it you stretch it, it makes it a lot longer. Don't know why I didn't think of that, AND I don't know why they didn't have that tip in the kit because it's crucial to the making of your animal to have the balloon long enough. After much frustration and whining Levi and Fisher gave up. Fisher's popped so he wanted to go to bed instead of trying again.
At least they had some fun with them, letting them fly in the air and fighting with them.
 Levi's method of stretching it out. It worked good too!
 Skylar wanted me to get a picture of her touching the ceiling with it while standing on a chair.
 Kadin using everything possible to hold all his twists together (shortly after I informed him he was following the instructions in the wrong order, that was he wouldn't need to hold so many together).
 My elephant! It's trunk is way too long but I think it's pretty good.
 I ran out of room too so it's back legs are too short. Haha! Oh wait, he's just sitting down.
Kadin's rabbit! He did a really good job. He got frustrated several times but stuck it out (with much encouragement).
 It looks really good to me! Kadin should make them at fairs.

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Levi's Birthday

Here's Levi seeing his birthday cake. He wanted to celebrate today since I work all day tomorrow. He was really excited about the birthday cake. He said he was wondering why I kept looking at pictures of black widows on the computer. Everyone (but me the chocolate hater) thought it was really good too. Fisher wanted to take it to school for show and tell.
 Levi could even tell that it was an upside down spider, which made me feel good because that's how I tried to make it look.
Click here for the recipe/tutorial if you want to see it.





Present time.
He's just positive that it's 
Easy Bake Oven stuff.




He LOVES Harry Potter so he was really excited for them!
  We got him The Unofficial Harry Potter Cookbook and The Unofficial Harry Potter Sweet Shoppe.
The Cookbook was different than I imagined (more for adults than children). One cool thing about it is it tells some of the story with each recipe and how that recipe ties in to the story.
He's excited to make some broomstick suckers. He opened the broomsticks up and tried to bite one thinking it was chocolate. It's plastic! Which is good because he can wash them and reuse them.


I asked him if he was going to make the Chocolate Love Potion and give it to Saige (his crush at school). He thought about that for a moment then said, "no, I don't need to!" Then he and Kadin told me about when Saige and Katie walked out of the bathroom together as Levi and Kadin were walking by. Saige and Levi both smiled really big at each other, (so maybe the feelings mutual? Oh deer!) Katie and Kadin noticed then looked at each other and both hurried and looked away and turned opposite directions which is good because Kadin is 11 and Katie is 9. What am I saying?? Who cares about the age difference right now? They're all too young!