September Acres

To all moms and dads who get asked by their little ones to go to Build -a- Bear Workshop - don't do it!! You will be sorry and broke! haha We held off for a LONG time but a couple of years ago my daughter 'stuffed' her first animal, a pink poodle. This year was what I call her Build a Bear (BAB) birthday. She got outfits (which she can hang in her bear armoire that my MIL got her for Christmas), a little purse, and a couple of gift cards. She, of course, was thrilled. We went out of town this weekend (luckily we don't have a BAB where we live!) and took her to the mall to spend her gift cards. Did I mention that we also had a $10 gift certificate from her 'stuff for stuff' membership (read: we spent enough money to get that) & a $5 birthday certificate from the folks at BAB? If you get caught up in this you should definitely sign up for a stuff for stuff card - it is totally worth it. Here is what my daughter got with her cards. Isn't she cute? She nam

I was tagged by Kellie @ Acorn Cottage. I am not sure I was ready for this - but thanks for including me! Here goes... 4 Jobs I have had Summer school secretary- during college - very, very, boring - I remember making copies & trying to stay awake - haha. Luckily it was only for about 6 weeks! Sales person in a small boutique- in high school - again very boring - except when I got to change the mannequins. Boutique manager - my first job after college - not boring - I worked my tail off & and made not much $$$. I sure learned alot though. Retail buyer- my most favorite job & the one I had when I met my husband (he worked for the same company.) 4 movies to watch over & over The Sound of Music Baby Boom Bring it on Sweet Home Alabama 4 places I have lived Scotland Maryland North Carolina Washington State 4 people I email daily My sister - and I know she wishes I would stop! That's really it. 4 favorite things to eat Soft shell crabs Pizza Ice cream Good & Plenty

Well, isn't that the buzz word (or phrase) these days? Although I am not what I affectionately call a 'tree hugger', I am beginning to be more and more like one these days. It's not a bad thing - I feel good about what I am doing. Alot of people I know say "we're only one family, how much difference can we make?" It is so easy to think like that. But what I do know is that the 'green' things I do for my family DO make some difference, they are better for us, and they make me feel good (and isn't that what it's all about?? - haha). The whole reason for this 'green' post is to relay a little story about my husband. First off you should know that sometimes he thinks I am crazy. All these little things I do - the organic milk and produce, recycled trash bags, non-toxic house cleaners, etc. - I know he wonders 'why?" A while back, I bought the reusable shopping bags at the grocery store so I don't have to keep bringing home

Today was my daughter's birthday party. We had 10 kids (9 girls & 1 boy who is a good friend's son and a really good sport). So my fears of not having enough kids didn't come true (fortunately, my fears don't often come true). We played "Pin the backpack on Dora" and had a scavenger hunt which led the kids to the cake. I think everyone had fun and my daughter was thrilled with all the gifts (of course!) I made the cake and got great comments on it -WHEW! I started decorating it at 6:30 this morning so just in case it didn't work and it looked nothing like Dora I could run to the bakery for 'plan B'. I am ready for a quiet night. We have some movies to watch (DVD's my husband bought with his Christmas gift cards) so we might do that. Although I would be happy to go to bed in a little while, or now! Even though it was a great day I am beat!! And Sunday's are always so busy. I am at church from 8:30 to about 11 or 11:30 then it is hom

My daughter will be 6 tomorrow. Actually in just a couple of hours since she was born at 12:22 am. Where exactly did these years go? It seems like just yesterday we brought her home from the hospital. I know it sounds cliche. I wonder if it will feel like that forever? This will surely be her "Build a Bear" birthday. She is getting two gift cards and she got this cute little birthday set along with a darling little pink bag (which I think is for a pet but she insists on taking it in place of her backpack to school tomorrow). I let her open those 2 items today since a friend from out of town sent them. I am going to put this pink poodle where she can see it when she gets up and put the gift card we are giving her in the poodle's lap. I am sure she will be so excited. I am taking cookies to school tomorrow and then we have a small family party tomorrow night. Then Saturday is the 'big' party (6 girls as of now). I am glad I scheduled the party at 2 so we have

We repainted my daughter's playroom over Christmas vacation and we are slowly getting things on the wall. One thing I wanted to do was have her paint something on canvas to put on the wall. She did it over the weekend and it is now dry and hung up. So, when she is a famous artist...haha!! I thought it turned out cute and she was so excited to hang it up. We are having her birthday party on Saturday so the playroom will be ready to be played in when the girls have 'free time' (as she put it). I am only inviting girls to the party. I am kind of torn since she has some friends that are boys but the parties were getting out of hand so I thought this was a good way to rein in the guest list. Right now 5 girls are coming. I think that's a good number. I have some games planned and a pinata at my daughter's request. I am just trying to fill it up with things other than candy (which isn't easy without spending fortune). I found some cute little yo-yo's wi

Eighteen weeks into kindergarten and she decides she can do her homework by herself (the fact that they have homework in K is a whole different post!) My daughter has a homework sheet that comes home each day - the same sheet for a week. Each week a couple things change but it's basically sounding out words, sight words, nonsense words, etc. We finished her sheet before dinner and she started working on her 'family tree' (yes, more homework). She wasn't quite finished with putting the pictures on the family tree so we ate and she resumed her work after dinner. When it came time to write the names next to the pictures she did that all by herself (except for asking how to spell Grandma & Grandpa). AND she did not want me looking over her shoulder at all. She finished her family tree on her own & then proceeded to take out her homework sheet and do the entire thing a second time on her own. She was at the dining room table and I was in the kitchen washing the dishe

Well, even though I am STILL getting all the Christmas decorations put away I am also working on my daughter's birthday party. I have been making invitations (all sent out, I think-see below), ordering the 'party in a box' from Birthday Express - you have to love that! Well, I am finding that 3 girls cannot come to the party which means I need to invite more girls - I only invited 6 which is okay - I want a small party. Every other year I have always had all the invitees show up with the exception of one last year who got the flu the day before the bash. Of course, the year I keep it small this happens! Last year I attemped to keep it small and siblings showed up! Which is why I am just inviting only children this year - just kidding! I am going to add the girls in her Daisy scouts (4 more - 2 of which I doubt will come) and a friend from church. I still have almost 2 weeks. Watch it backfire & ALL of them show up. I just don't want my daughter to feel bad. So, I wi

This morning my daughter and I were making 'oatmeal cookie pancakes' (we saw Rachael Ray make them yesterday - I got the recipe from the food network website). I thought they looked good plus they had lots of healthy ingredients - granted, there was the usual white flour and butter, but there was also rolled oats, bananas, raisins & walnuts. They were 'delish' - as Rachael would say. I gave my daughter a small bowl of syrup to dip the pancakes in and after a few bites she said "Mom , you can take this syrup, I don't need it." She has a ravenous sweet tooth so this was indeed music to my ears! Speaking of the kitchen, my countertops are FINALLY almost cleared off. After all the company, meals, cookies, pies, etc this is a big feat. I was beginning to wonder if I would ever see the counter again without moving things around. We are down to a half a pie and a few m&m's. All those sweets are gone. Thankfully, since I have a big sweet tooth too. I l