Valentine's for Veterans

We spent the afterschool-hours Friday making Valentine's for vets. We wanted to show our love and appreciation for those who have given so much!

It was alot of fun..messy, but fun! Its always a treat to watch the girls exercise their creativity!

Pucca wrote "I lov yu" on one of the cards and one of her sisters immediately jumped on her for putting such a personal message on a card for someone she' s never met. Our defiant little Pucca stood strong and said, "but I do love them. They had to go to war, be away from their families and shoot people to keep us safe. That means they love us- so I love them!"

Leave it to a kindergartner to put things into perspective!

400th post!!!

Party! Party! this is my 400th post...holy moly that's alot of posting!

In honor of such an auspicious occasion...I thought I'd share some interesting tidbits about 400:

• The yard number of the RMS Olympic, the RMS Titanic's sister ship thanks, google!
  
• 400 is an HTTP status code for a bad client request random...I know!
  
• 400 is the square of 20 a factoid courtesy of Kwynn
  
• 400 quarters equals $100 wishin I had 400 quarters! :D
  
• 400 is divisible by the sum of its own base 10 digits, making it a Harshad number (which is an integer that is divisible by the sum of its digits in a given number base) Just one of those stupid meaningless facts I remember from college...can't tell you how often I've had to use that piece of knowledge!
  
• This is a map of Great Britain circa 400 geez...they've been around FOREVER!
  

• An Atari 400 computer - SWEET VINTAGE!

• A World Record setting 400-way skydive that lasted 4.25 seconds! How on earth did they get 400 crazy people to all jump at the same time? oh wait they didn't! hahaha! ok...so not really that funny!
  

• 400th photo in my iphoto Easter 2004
  

Happy 400th post!

Black and White

Its no secret that I have a intense appreciation for black and white movies. I can't pinpoint the exact reasons I adore them...the clothes, the twin beds (strange concept?), how the men dressed, the romantic ambiance that black and white film simply oozes...anyway- its a nice detraction from the seemingly 'average' films of today.

Now if you are a cgi buff or action pack adrenaline junky- these movies will do nothing for you. But if you like romance, comedies and intelligent horror...then black and white may be for you! Not to mention ratings...it seems almost impossible to let my kids watch anything these days without hearing filthy words or seeing 'too much". Old Hollywood didn't have such slacking standards- so nearly all of them are family friendly. If nothing else- its fun to watch one when 'alone' time is needed...you know - when mama needs a break!

For me- its when I'm sick. There's nothing like a warm blanket, cozy fire and an old movie!

So here are a few of my favorites...

Romance:
My favorite black and white romance is Sabrina with Audrey Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart. The movie is great, but even better when you know that back story of the actors. Bogart didn't want Hepburn to do the movie- he thought she was too young to be his love interest and was firmly set against having her in the film. Also Hepburn and her co-star William Holden were having an affair on the movie set. Holden was going to leave his wife for Audrey, but when he told her he didn't want children...she told him to just stay married and she'd quit wasting her time. They broke up midway through production...this information makes the movie all more interesting... Oh and its on TCM on Monday!



Comedy:
My Favorite Wife- featuring Cary Grant and Irene Dunne. About a man whose wife is found after seven years on a deserted island (her plane crashed). He is just about to remarry, but is legally still married to his first wife. Seven years is a long time to be apart and theres some awkwardness due to the fact she was stranded with a super stud of a man. Both are wondering how the other feels... There are also two children involved. Anyway- seriously cute...and Cary Grant...seriously cute too!




Another two comedies are You Can't Take It With You and The Philadelphia Story. TPS stars Katherine Hepburn and Cary Grant...Katherine is getting married again and her ex-husband (Grant) is looking to cause some trouble, but they both still like eachother-although they won't admit it...it also has James Stewart in it!







Horror- The Bad Seed (make sure you rent the black and white version...so much better!)
About a little girl that is well mannered and seemingly perfect. Her mother though- has seen some an evil streak develop in her perfect child...the movie toys with the notion that being murderous and evil is in one's genes. Anyway- the little girl scared the crap out of me!

Pass a tissue, please!

Yes, I'm still sick and dying! Monday was really just the precursor to this life-sucking bug attacking my immune-system. Although I must say- my white blood cells keep soldiering away and are doing a heck of job trying to fight it off. My symptoms have pretty much been the same the past few days, but last night I had to get my tissues (the super soft extra aloe ones). So I'm guessing the next three days will pretty much stink to high heaven.

I'm thinking I really should have gotten a flu shot...GASP! I know...shame shame! I didn't make the kids either...hopefully that doesn't come back and bite me!

My plan is to keep living and going about my regular routine. Keep telling myself its just a cold Quit whining!

Keep up the fluids, take my vitamins and get some rest. Colds only last 5-6 days anyway, right!?

blah

whooping cough, croup, strep throat, bronchitis, sinus infection, influenza, 'the cold', bird flu...don't really care what the technical name is of this horrible bug that has taken over my body (sinus headache, sore throat, dry cough and exhaustion)...all I know is that I feel like I'm dying. I can only imagine how crappy I'll be feeling tomorrow! And as if that's not bad enough, Kwynn has the sniffles, Pucca was up all night coughing and John is experiencing a carbon copy of my less than desirable symptoms. Needless to say- the Kelly household is officially quarantined!


Chicken soup for dinner, cozy fire and everyone in bed by 8pm!

TGIF

This week was a short week with the kids off Monday and Tuesday...but dang!... it feels like it just keeps draggin on and on and on and on! ughhhhhh!

Anyway- enough of that! I thought I would leave you this week with a funny little conversation John and I had with the twins.

We were all sitting in the family room watching the evening news and talking about the days events (we're not really that impressive- I think we were all just waiting for dinner to get done!)

As we're sitting there talking - I asked about Valentines this year...not knowing if taking Valentine's to school in 5th grade was still cool or considered baby-ish. I tell ya- I just never know anymore!

They asked what kind of valentine's I was thinking of doing this year (we always pick something from this super GREAT magazine my mother-in-law gave a me a subscription to, FAMILY FUN! Love that magazine!) So I threw out my ideas and they decided that taking something to school for the upcoming heart holiday would be "acceptable" (that was her exact word...? silly kid)

ahhhh- I digress...

So we're sitting there talking about Valentines Day and they begin to tell us what happened last year. Kwynnie tells us that a group of girls went hunting for boys. "Hunting for boys?" I ask as John and I smile at eachother.

"I didn't go...I went and played soccer!" Kynna quickly added. I was more than a little curious at this point so I asked "What is 'hunting for boys'?" So Kynna explained "Well, a group of girls set out to find valentines for everyone. And they were chasing down the boys to tell them who they were valentines with."

John and I look at Kwynnie- "So, were you part of 'the hunt'?" She replied with a nonchalant "nahhhhhhhhh" then a little smile came across her face as she looked at Kynna, and then she confidently stated "I led it!"

Oh my! :) I am seriously wondering if we are going to survive the next 8 years!

i want to look cute!

In my efforts to appease my youngest daughters mission to always look 'cute'...I made her some super cute headbands that have been all over the blogosphere.

Cost: $1 for head band...Dollar aisle at Target (I think they were like Strawberry Shortcake or something- doesn't matter though because the ribbon covers it all up!)

$1 for each gerber daisy (on sale at Michaels)

Ribbon- I have a ton of it...so it didn't cost me anything...you only use about 2 yards or so...ribbon is also on sale at Michaels)

Total cost of super cute headband: ONLY $2

It only took about 10 minutes to make all 4.

fun

I felt an overwhelming need to explain my childish rant in yesterday's post...it was all in jest, although my humor is not always appreciated! Particularly, by those who don't know me well enough.

Today went fine....I got a shower (up and ready by 7am- waaaahooo!), watched my Jane Austin movie, did three loads of laundry, swept, cleaned up the kitchen, helped the kids complete a fair amount of the science project and survived having 5 kids running rampant through my house! So in all- not a bad day!

I really love being home with the kids and would hate for someone to mistake my ill-attempt at being funny for complaining. (you never know who's reading this and I would hate to be misjudged by a passerby) I don't take the ills of motherhood too seriously and fully accept all the day-to-day stress as a regular part of my 'work environment'.

I love my kids- even when they drive me mind numbing mad! :)

One more day...wish me luck!

I was sort of - kind of excited about this little two day break with the kids out of school. Kind of - sort of being the operative words!

I was excited about going to the library, going sledding, watching movies, hot chocolate, baking yummy scrumptious treats and engaging in a little wii 'face-off' with the kiddos.

Well, only 24 hours left in the break and none of the above has happened. Instead, I feel as though the days have whirled by in a haze, nothing notable has happened, tons of errands which means lots of time spent in the car, I feel like I've yelled at my kids more in the last three days than in the last three years (the amount of bickering and sassiness that I've dealt with is going to kill me- I just know it!) and I've yet to bake anything yummy! What the frick, man!?

Total..complete and utter disappointment. I know what your thinking- "You still have tomorrow!"

HA HA- actually Kwynnie is working on her science project tomorrow. Which in itself isn't so bad except something went wonky and now one of Kwynnie's science partners will be with us all day! In fact she's being dropped off at 7:30AM...what!?

I will still need to clean up my house (just the usual sweeping, vacuuming, dishes, laundry and swiffering- complete with wet jet...oh ya!), run to the store, take kids to piano lessons, work on AD lesson, run to library (at least take books back), make dinner and shower...ya definitely want to fit that in somewhere!

So my lovely Jane Austin movie will have to be put on hold for another day. My ooey-gooey oatmeal choc chip cookies will have to wait until hours are freed up. Our gloriously fun sledding adventure will have to be rescheduled until we are blessed with some powdery white goodness.

Such a bummer! Owell- the pangs of motherhood haunt us all!

Nancy

So old

I'm officially 10592 days old today...doesn't that just sound horrible! Only 365 more days to enjoy my twenties...

Wishing it was warmer!

BRRRRRR! Its freeeeeeezzzzzzzing outside! And when I say I wish it was warmer- I'm not asking for it to be in the 70s or even the 30s...just asking for it to be above ZERO! Its mornings like these that has me wondering about all the global warming hype! :)

I don't remember it ever being really COLD when I was younger...I always remembered the snow. It felt like we had snow from Dec- March. The ground was constantly covered and it snowed all the time. (I fully recognize that this could just be a mental embellishment of childhood memories, because as a kid we loved snow...spending an afternoon outside building forts, snow ball fights and sledding at Tornado Hill. But I really do remember snow...well some snow...anyway.) This year we've only had snow twice- and one was really just a dusting, but I had to scoop the front porch so it counts in my book!

I was trying to think warm thoughts this morning as I forced myself out of bed to get the household up. The only thing that kept popping into my head was S'mores....sitting out on the back patio with the kids on a warm summer evening, roasting marshmallows and making s'mores. I'm not sure if it was the warm summer evenings- the toasty ooey gooey smores or the hot firey coals that got me- but DANG! Now that's a warm thought!

In wishing everyone warm thoughts today- here's our S'mores Nacho recipe for the oven!





ingredients

16 graham crackers
1 cup miniature marshmallows
1/3cup chocolate chips or 2 broken up Hershey’s bars

these are just estimates- use whatever amount looks tasty to you!

directions

1. Preheat the broiler element of the oven. Place oven rack about 6 in. below the broiler. Arrange the graham crackers in a single layer in a metal baking pan – a pie pan or square baking pan is fine. We use a cast iron pan, but do not use glass for this. Sprinkle crackers evenly and layer with marshmallows and chocolate. Broil for 1 to 2 minutes, or until marshmallows are puffed and golden. Let cool for just a minute before serving. We all hover around and eat straight from the pan.


Oh and for those of you with fireplaces- you can totally make regular smores in there the next time you have a cozy little fire brewing. Just a thought...

Here's a good one!

One of our resolution/life changes this year- is to be a little healthier as a family. Our eating habits can leave much to be desired! I recently read an article about processed sugar and its effects on growing children...SCARY! Your just asking for a whole boatload of health problems.

So in an effort to curb our processed sugar/white flour intake- I've been trying a bunch of new recipes. Mostly whole-wheat recipes to replace my old ones.

I made whole wheat pancakes on Saturday- they weren't bad and the kids ate them up. John complained, but its a hard change to accept when you've been eating something one way for 30 years.

Yesterday I altered my lemon poppy seed recipe...substituting honey for the sugar and using whole wheat flour. They weren't bad either and the kids ate them up as if they were the old recipe. So I figure that recipe is a keeper and I wanted to share!


Here is the recipe for Honey Wheat Poppy Seed Muffins

1 3/4 cups whole wheat flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon poppy seeds
**1/2-2/3 cup honey
1 egg
3/4 cup milk
1/4 cooking oil
1 teaspoon Lemon Extract

Optional- yellow food coloring 5 drops (I used it because of the kids...they expect yellow when they hear lemon poppy seed muffins)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line 12 muffin cups. In a medium bowl combine flour, baking powder, salt and poppy seeds. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture: set aside.

In another bowl combine egg, milk, oil, lemon extract and honey- mix well. Add egg mixture all at once to flour mixture. Stir until dry and wet ingredients are mixed and add food coloring if needed. Mix until coloring is well integrated.

Fill each cup 2/3 full. Bake 18-20 minutes. Optional: Immediately dunk muffin tops in bowl of sugar and tap of excess. Place on cooling rack to cool.

** I used 1/2 cup of honey but it could have used a little more. I'm altering recipes and substituting - so its a trial and error until you find just the right ratio. But they were completely edible and tasty with the 1/2 c.

The ORIGINAL RECIPE calls for 1 3/4 cup flour and 1/2 cup sugar- but if you just want to use whole wheat and not the honey- I would up the sugar to 2/3 c.

Not so much...

So as you all know, I'm LDS...and this post may not be as applicable, funny or make any sense what-so-ever if you aren't associated with our beliefs- just wanted to forewarn everyone! :)

One of my callings at church is as music leader person in RS. When I was asked to receive this calling- I was told: "Its easy! Just listen to the spirit and pick songs that apply to the lesson."

I told our RS president and Bishop that I am not that great at leading music...but again I was reassured that I would be fine. Well- that wasn't quite the case today.

I'm given the lesson schedule for the year- and need to turn in the songs that I've selected for the lessons each month. Usually its pretty easy to pick songs, but this time it was SUPER easy. As I was searching the hymnal, it seemed as if the songs were just popping out at me...pages literally opening to the 'perfect' song. A few of the songs are ones I've never heard of before- but knew I was being prompted to pick these for a reason. So I embraced the feeling and made my selections.

At church today- I was informed that our lesson schedule was mixed up and that we would be singing the songs for next weeks lesson, rather than the ones I had expected to use for this week. So I quickly looked up the new songs...and they seemed easy enough. I didn't really know any of them- but hey someone always know the song...lets just hope its one of the LOUD singers!

Opening song: I had heard that one before and it was in 4:4 time- so that was easy enough.

Practice Hymn: Hmmmm....I've never heard this song before, but it was only like 2 lines so how bad could it be!? HA feaking HA!!!! Turns out NO ONE knew the song! It was the funniest thing! All you could hear was the piano and slightest hum until the final note (which was an e - and apparently everyone could find that note and they sung nice and loud!). I was so flustered...How could no one know this song? I mean I didn't know it either, but there are tons of songs I don't know. And I could swear this was one of the songs I was 'prompted' to pick. Doesn't he usually prompt you to do things in an effort to teach you? Well, I think so. And I was thinking hey! I'm going to learn a new song today! So not the case!

One of the ladies asked me to teach the song to them, which I would have gladly done- had I KNOWN the song! And if that's not bad enough- I was so flustered I couldn't get the timing down - so I just waved my hand around making funny shapes. I tried to figure out the notes- but we have a woman (who shall remain nameless) who attempts to sing the songs- but the only thing coming out of her mouth are these un-natural, nails against the chalkboard screeches. And of course- she was the loud-singer this time! I couldn't hear the right tones in my head, because all I could hear were her very loud attempts to find the right notes! I was useless....dead in the water! So I just ended it there. Said "thats enough for today" and sat down. I figured- we had all had enough "practice" time...

So I'm wondering now- if the lesson I was to learn was not that of a new song, but that I am so not qualified to be the music leader and someone messed up BIG TIME!

Science Fair

I am so excited its finally here! Every year we've gone to Feb. Parent/Teacher conferences at the twin's school- the halls have been lined with the 5th graders science projects! I think its almost one of those parental rights of passage...I have so looked forward to helping the girls and working on these projects. And the day has finally arrived!

The twins are in two different groups- so BONUS...our family will be working on two projects! Kynna and her friend have chosen to work on a presentation of dwarf planets in comparason to earth. Charts, models and sweet visual aids...we are so excited! Can you imagine the possibilities!

Kwynn's group is still looking for a little direction... so this morning before school we were scanning the internet looking for cool, fun, original science projects. We've come up with a list of 4 for her team mates to add to consideration...

1.If you shake up different kinds or brands of soft drinks (e.g., carbonated), will they all spew the same amount? Kwynny really liked this one...me not so much- can you imagine the mess! Although if they wanted to perform this experiment at someone else's house- then I say GO FOR IT!

2. Do all brands of bubble gum make the same size bubble? The girls could really get into this one...think of how many different test subjects you could include in an effort to get true measurements, graphs, and visual aids- too fun!

3. What Materials Glow Under a Black or Ultraviolet Light? This one would be a little more in depth and quite possibly a little scary. I definitely don't need a group of 5th graders scanning my house with a black light and then posting the results for the world to see...uh ya- no thank you. I just don't want to know! My OCD cringes just at the thought of it!

4. Does storage temperature affect popcorn popping? Store popcorn in the freezer, refrigerator, at room temperature, and in a heated location. Pop the same amount of each 'sample'. Count how many unpopped kernels remain. Can you explain the results? I suggested this one simply because...well...YUM! I would totally help eat the un-statistically vital corn! :)

The kids have to turn in their science fair topics next week. The actual project isn't due until Feb- at which time they can be chosen to present/compete at the District level. Our girls don't care about the whole moving onto District- but they do care about being original and having fun! (just another instance that validates our parental rearing. Like a cosmic kudos telling us we haven't screwed them up yet! :D

Super YUM

I made these last night...trying some new recipes. Seriously good! Simple, not too sweet and perfect for little helpers! I would have taken a pic...but my family ate them all before I had the chance!...yep- that good!

** I doubled the recipe and got about 18 standard sized muffins

french breakfast muffins

Makes: 12 muffins
Prep: 15 minutes
Bake: 20 minutes


ingredients
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 egg
1/2 cup milk
1/3 cup butter or margarine, melted
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted
directions

1. In a mixing bowl combine flour, the 1/2 cup sugar, baking powder, nutmeg, and salt. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients.

2. In another bowl beat egg slightly; stir in milk and 1/3 cup melted butter or margarine. Add egg mixture to flour mixture. Stir just until moistened (the batter may be lumpy). Lightly grease muffin cups. Fill cups about two-thirds full with batter. Bake in a 350 degree F oven for 20 to 25 minutes or until muffins are golden.

3. Meanwhile, in a shallow bowl combine the 1/4 cup sugar and cinnamon. Immediately dip tops of hot muffins into the 1/4 cup melted butter or margarine, then into the cinnamon-sugar mixture until coated. Serve warm. Makes 12 muffins.

Make-Ahead Tip: Bake muffins as directed. Cool completely. Place muffins in freezer containers or bags and freeze for up to 1 month. To reheat, wrap frozen muffins in heavy foil. Heat in a 300 degree F oven for 15 to 18 minutes.

Mr. C

Happy birthday, buddy! 5 years old- holy cow! We love you and miss you! Hopefully, we'll see you all this summer! Pucca misses her friend...she loves having a cousin so close in age (9 mo or so). She's been drawing you all sorts of pictures and letters (ones I'm sure only you'll be able to read! Some kind of 5 yearold code or something :) Anyway- little man, we're thinking of ya!

The girls made you a little video...(and I'm mailing your gift first thing in the morning!)


Not sure what happened- the first part got cut off....so here it is!

Free and Clear

In the early part of last year, my grandma was diagnosed with colon cancer. She had surgery and ten inches of her colon was removed. She then immediately started chemo and radiation. She's endured some pretty terrible stuff in the last 8 months. She had her last round of chemo 5 weeks ago. She went to the dr last week to see if the treatments had worked... his answer- You're free and clear! She'll be retested again in three months- but we're really hopeful!

We're all so proud of you gma! You showed alot of courage and strength this past year- we love you!

more Christmas pix

New Year

New Year's day was a lazy day at the Kelly house...we didn't leave the house, some of us didn't even get dressed and we hung out together with a cozy fire crackling in the family room. IT was PERFECT!

The girls were perfect little angels and let John and I watch the game in solitude...which was probably good since a few naughty word found their way out of my mouth...at least it all ended well!

We then let the girls make a gingerbread house that some friends brought over. With it being a new year and all- I ignored my OCD and let them have free range over the decorating...I didn't budge in and take over- at all! How's that for resolutions :)

Here's how it went:


Having fun...decorating assigned pieces









Showing off super cool designs








trying to assemble...kind of tricky






Holy crap! Its standing!

(Unfortunately, as soon as this photo was snapped...it fell down...AGAIN)



Time for a new plan...










the end!