Make Tasty Fool Ya Kool-aid!

I started reading the healthy lifestyle book, Trim Healthy Mama. Although I am only about 1/3 of the way through the book, I have been trying to implement some of the principles. I decided I would start by getting my Breakfasts on plan and try to cut out sugar. 

Buying Truvia today was my first step in eliminating sugar. I also picked up some Raspberry tea so I could make Cool-Aid from Lexi's Kitchen. I only made a half gallon, so I didn't waste too much if it wasn't good. But I was shocked it was good! I even was able to get Gabby and Mike to try it, and believe it or not they liked it too! I am now curious to try other flavors.

How I made it:

     2 Tea bags

     2 cups boiling water, plus more cold water

     1 Tbs Apple Cider Vinegar

     2 Truvia packets

Steep tea in boiling water. Pour into 1/2 gallon container, add ACV and Truvia. And fill the rest of the way with cold water.

The original recipe:

Ingredients:

4-6 HERBAL TEA BAGS (pick a robustly flavored fruit variety)
About 4 cups boiling WATER, plus more cold water
2 tablespoons raw APPLE CIDER VINEGAR
LIQUID STEVIA CONCENTRATE  or other sweetener to taste

Directions:

• Add tea bags to tempered one gallon jar.
• Pour boiling water over tea bags and let steep 4-6 minutes
• Fill jar the rest of the way with cold water.
• Mix in vinegar and stevia or sweetener.
• Serve chilled over ice.

MPM

Last week had to go out just like it came in... with a trip to Urgent Care! Jayden ended up with tonsillitis accompanied by a fever of 103. It is weeks like that, that make me thankful for our health insurance and being a stay at home mom!

On to our Menu for the Week...
Monday- Chili with Doritos (the best way to eat it!)
Tuesday- Rush Hour Chicken Fajitas
Wednesday- Crock Pot Pizza Pasta
Thursday- Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry
Friday- Clean the fridge or Little Caesars

Whats on your menu for the week?

Crazy Start...MPM

 

This little LEGO stick made a rough start to the beginning of our week. (I know kind of a strange thing to take a picture of, but I must document life) Monday night we made a quick trip to Urgent Care, because Gabby was poked in the ear with this stick. 

It was a frightening moment. I had never heard my child scream with such fear and agony. I knew immediately she was really hurt, the blood in her ear canal told me we needed to see the doctor. At Urgent Care we found out she indeed had a hole in her ear drum. The extent of the damage was unclear, so we needed to see the ENT first thing Tuesday. That night it wasn't easy to sleep with the fear of hearing loss looming. Gabby kept saying she couldn't hear very well out of that ear, which just made me sick. All I could do was blame myself, If only I wouldn't have made the kids pick up the legos together this wouldn't have happened.

Tuesday, I finally breathed a sigh of relief. Seeing Gabby raise her hand so many times during her hearing test, made me want to sing praise! They tested everything, and found no bone or nerve damage. She does have slight hearing loss due to the hole, but when the hole heals the hearing should return.

Now that everything has settled... here is what we are eating this week!

Monday- TatorTot Casserole

Tuesday- Spaghetti and Salad

Wednesday- McD's 

Thursday- Tuna and Noodles

Friday- Eggs and cinnamon roll muffins --Happy National Egg Day!

Saturday-

Sunday- Cheese & Cracker Party 

And by the way.... it is also National Cookie Month!

A Boys room to grow with... hopefully!

The boys room is finally to a point that I consider done!

I have been wanting to redo the boys' room since Jayden moved to his big boy bed. I bought the street scape bedding at Target and just couldn't decided where to go from there. I searched to internet for ideas. I thought I wanted to do a large city mural on one wall. I sat on that idea for almost 3 years, and boy am I glad I did! By piecing together ideas I saw on pinterest. I was able to create a room that I LOVE... seriously I think this might be my most favorite room in the house. Not only is it personal, but I think it will be able to grow with them a lot longer than a large mural. 

*I apologize, I can't seem to locate any before pictures.

 

 

The bedding is from Target, yes they don't match, that is what happens when you buy the one set on clearance before you know your having another boy! Anyway... The valance is made from license plates from previous cars of ours. It will be fun when they get older to explain the history behind them.

  

 

The numbers in the racing strips are the years the boys were born.... if you haven't guessed that already! The numbers came from Menards. I couldn't believe how hard it was to find wooden numbers. 

 

The pegboard is a work in progress, I hope to add to it as the years go on with different mementos from trips we take.

Our Busy Weekend/ MPT

Saturday Morning....Watching the Parade

Saturday night... Cy made an appearance at a Friends wedding reception.

Sunday.... Adventrueland with the Family

 

We had a very busy weekend running around and making memories. These types of weekends maybe exhausting, but I hope they are ones that the kids will remember for years to come.

And finally, Meal Planning Tuesday!

Tuesday- BLT Salad and Cantalope

Wednesday- Pork Greek Kabobs w/ mushrooms, potatoes, and zucchini

Thursday- Veggie Mac and Cheese

Friday- Breakfast Grilled Cheese and Mini cinnamon rolls

Kids say the Darnedest things!

Over the years I have learned that you never know what kids are going to say. This especially rings true with Jayden. Who once asked, "what if God had 3 legs?" Which lead into why I must share this next story....

On our way home from school last week a UPS truck crosses our path.
J- That's not a mail truck
Me- No, that's the UPS man
J- No, that's a POS girl (as it was a female not a male driving the truck). When I grow up I want to be a POS man too.

At that point I couldn't stop laughing and hoping that he doesn't grow up to be a POS man. But a fine, well mannered, witty gentleman. If he so happens to drive the UPS truck too, that would be alright by me.

Meal Planning Monday

Monday- Crock Pot Lasagna and Salad
Tuesday- Eat out @ Panera for school fundraiser
Wednesday- Homemade Pizza for Dex's birthday
Thursday- BBQ Chicken and mashed potatoes
Friday- Salisbury Steak and veggies






This weekend three of us decided to help my mom out and model for her bridal show at Bliss Bridal and Formalwear. Here is a picture of two of my cuties!

Make Lunch Interesting...

Well.... i'm trying to anyway!

Before school started I looked online for lunch ideas. My kids don't like the typical cold meat sandwiches, and PB&J is out due to allergies at school. I also don't want to spend a fortune on Lunchables. So one idea I saw was to make kabobs.

I bought a package of diced ham and a package of striped cheese sticks (the kids' favorites). I found reusable plastic toothpicks at the dollar tree. So I cut up one cheese stick per kid and they end up with 4 kabobs. So far the kids LOVE this new lunch. Gabby said it is was cool!

I am still looking for other ideas, because I know it won't be long and they will be tired of this idea to!

Belated- July 4th weekend wrap up

It was a crazy busy weekend. Not only did we have fireworks, a parade, and a street dance... but we also had a big birthday bash. This year we tried a new concept of celebrating all 3 kids' birthdays at once.

After this trial of the big bash, I can't say it will happen again. I may still combine Jayden and Gabby due to their summer bdays, but Dexter will remain by himself I believe. I can't say I regret it. It was nice to try something different.

Gabby's electronic drum set... a fav gift of all kids!

Lighting McQueen @ the Clear Lake parade (kids weren't impressed)

On the way home from the weekend, we saw this neat scene in the sky

With Money from GG & Krampa and Great Grandma & Grandpa D Jayden bought new rainboots and a space station.

Just like we do every year, we enjoyed the fireworks from my parents backyard. As we waited for night fall, the kids enjoyed doing sparklers, making smores, and watching the neighbors and Papa shoot off fireworks. Dexter was completely amazed by the fireworks. His response was alway "boom" after one was fired. 

DIY- Sidewalk Paint

Even-though it was over 90 degrees last week, I decided we the kids needed to get out and have some fun. So I remembered seeing this on Starr Circus blog. I figured what better way to keep the kids busy than with a fun new "toy"!

Enter Sidewalk Paint...

2 Tbs Cornstarch 

2-4 Tbs Water

about 4 drops of food coloring

Mix in a muffin tin or individual containers and paint away!

I think I did the most painting by writing their names.

It quickly turned into body painting

... and rock painting

Weather

It has been a rollercoaster for weather lately. From 90 degrees to 70, from sunny to rainy. I must say the 70 and rainy is my favorite and I think deep down it is the boys' favorite too! 

The only thing about this weather I am not enjoying is Allergies, which seem to have hit all the kinds in some form or another. Each kid has at least 2 medicines they can take depending on their symptoms. I am looking forward to the day that the pollen or whatever is causing this is gone. I dislike this nighttime routine. Jayden is a horrible medicine taker. He will do the nasal mist, but will not drink or chew any medication. I have tried to call it his vitamin, or stick it in his desert, but everytime he catches me and hands it back. 

Krazy Kids

Dexter-  This poor guy is still dealing with an almost double ear infection, going on 3 weeks now. Our first kid to have an ear infection. Also to top that off he also possibly has sinusitis and conjunctivitis, or it could just be allergies. So we are starting a fun trial and error of another round of antibiotics and Singular. Despite all this he still maintains good spirits and smiles!

Jayden- he has started to have quite a say in what he wants to wear. The other day I laid out jeans for him to wear. He did not like that option and insisted on wearing "Comfy Pants." I left him in his room to get dressed and after a while came down in these wonderful orange "comfy pants." These are Dexter's pants, a size 12 months. I was shocked that he could get them on. Goes to show he will do anything to get the type of clothes he wants! On a side note...I think this pose looks quite Bieber-ish.

Gabrielle- Loves her time with electronics. She is showing Mada her webkinz file and all the things she can do on there. When she isn't playing the computer she is trying to get her dad to finish Super Mario Galaxy 2 on the Wii. They just about have it completed! One last thing...tonight her homework was counting back change. I am glad to see they are still teaching that! I am happy to report she did an excellent job. She was able to give change back for a $1.78 purchase, paid for using $5.