Kevin's First Day!

It went off without a hitch. He was right at home, and was feeling great! When I picked him up he told me about his day and he had such a good time. I'm so glad. He is (what we call him) the big "pre-k-er". We're very proud of him! Good Job, Kevin!

First Day of School for Ryan

Well, here's my Kindergartner. He had a great first day! I was so proud of him. He turned into such a BIG boy today.

All the kids meet in the gym first, at 8:05. They find where their class is and then each class gets in a line. The principle comes in and says a few words and then prays with them before they are dismissed to their classrooms.

At 2:30 I went to pick him up, but instead of going in to get him, he comes out to me now. When the teacher outside sees my car in line at the curb, she lets the others inside know, and they send him out. This is what the "big kids" do.

Tomorrow, Kevin starts Pre-K. I really can't believe it. I'll be sure to bring the camera again!

Back To School!

Tomorrow will start Kindergarten for Ryan! He is so excited! Then on Thursday, Kevin will start Pre-K! He is even more excited! I'll bring the camera! Today I took them both to school for a visit to see their teachers and to find their cubbies,etc. That was fun! After that, Grandma took us to lunch and then shoe shopping. All the boys got some really cool new shoes to start school with! ( even little Seanie).

All of their supplies have been bought. The feet have new shoes. The clothes are all washed. The backpacks and clothes are laid out for the morning and the coffee pot is set. I think we are ready! It's back to school time!! Woo hoo!!!!

Now I just have to get myself up, and get all three boys fed, dressed and out the door by 7:30 to drive Ryan to school! Woo hoo.

It's Negative!

Ryan's Lyme's test came back negative! Praise the Lord! I hate these little bugs. Just a day after hearing good news from the Dr about Ryan, we found a tick on Sean that was so embedded, we could not remove it. We had to take him to the Dr the next morning. Thankfully she was able to remove it(although it was not easy. It took both of us to hold him down. He fought us so hard that when we were done, there were fingernail marks in his legs from my grip. I felt so bad.)

We check the kids every night when they get dressed for bed(or after their bath). When we find one, we kill it the proper way:

First, after plucking the evil bug from the child's skin, squeeze the tweezers as hard as you can. This will begin the suffering. Then place it on a tissue, as to have a clean view of the bug. Then, using the largest and sharpest knife in the house, chop said bug into many teenie tiny pieces. Next, light bug on fire. After the bug has been reduced to ash, take it to the bathroom and flush it down the toilet. (Better flush twice so you know it's gone).

Here's something for you to enjoy. And I know I don't have to tell you this, but... do a tick check ever day!
ps- press the pause button on my playlist first before viewing.

Real Life Thursday-ooops I forgot!

I forgot to do this yesterday! This week's theme for "It's Real Life" is called "How I Roll".
Here's a picture of my "wheels". A 2000 Honda Odyssey. Pretty sweet.

Here's the best bumper sticker ever-

My front console-

Let's see....we have my purse and diaper bag on the passenger seat, on the tray are some miscellaneous papers that I am sure I don't need anymore, but never make it to the trash. Also a kids cup(with cars on it. What else!) In the other cup holder is a toy garbage truck and my chapstick. Oh, and look- I forgot I had put a bag of baby carrots in the car from earlier today. Thanks Grandma!

In the first row of seats is where we have Sean's chair.

This is a picture of the cookie crumbs by Sean's step stool. Usually there are a few lollipop sticks as well, but I just cleaned a lot out from our trip at the shore.

In the back row-Ryan and Kevin's chairs and a small tub for some toys they like to have in the car.

Here's the back( where the bench folds into,) It's pretty empty this time. On the left is our portable dvd player, still in the car from the shore trip. On the right are a few bags to go to the thrift shop. Lots of crumbs back there. Why back there? What do they do, throw food over their shoulders?

That's Sean wondering why I am taking pictures of the car.

So, that's how I (we) roll!

What A Day....

Well, I took Ryan to the Dr today. I'm a bit suspicious of him having Lyme's Disease. The Pediatrician doesn't seem to think so, and that is good. I want to make sure, because if something like this is let go, Ryan will be much worse off.( And I probably wouldn't forgive myself for ignoring his complaints).
Soooooo, I had to break the news to him about going to you know, the Dr. And having to you know, give blood.
It wasn't accepted well. But I assured him I would have nothing but "special things" for him afterwards, since he was going to have to be a big boy today. So he agreed.


First, we went to the Pediatrician, who did his check, and then said to go on ahead to you know, the lab.


On the way there, we stopped by a good friend of ours who is a master upholsterer of classic cars.( Have I ever mentioned before how much Ryan loves ( is obsessed with) classic cars?


anyhoo, of course I forgot the camera, but he was working on the inside of one of these...

A 1940 Ford Sedan. Except the one he had was a really awesome shade of dark blue, and the inside was going to be a wonderful tan cloth/brown leather mix. oh, it was amazing!

Then he let Ryan see another he would be working on soon- a Chevy Impala-but I forget the year.....

It looked a lot like this one. Ryan was in his glory!!

Well, after that, it was time to go to the lab. We got there at 11:00, and they informed us that there would be about a 2 hr wait. (torture!)

So I left and took him to Mc Donald's, of course! That was a treat, since we never go there. He even got a Luke Sky walker toy! Then he started asking me a whole bunch of questions about Star Wars. ( which he has never seen). Ok, I've seen enough to answer the basics, but I hardly know enough about Light Sabers and space ships to answer the barrage of questions that were thrown at me! Ugh! So we finished, and went back to the lab

We got there and waited about 40 minutes before we were called, only to find out that she just wanted our paperwork, it wasn't really time for us to go in. (more torture). About another 30 minutes later we were finally called in. Ryan was scared, but he did a good job. ( I thought for sure it was going to take 3 Dr's 4 nurses and me to get this done-or some heavy sedation), but he gave them his arm, and he got through it. He cried , but he was a trooper! I was so proud of him!

So proud in fact, that after they gave him about three rolls of stickers for being so good, I took him straight over to DQ for ice cream.

Whew! Thank goodness that was over! Now, Not only am I exhausted from running around and from my nerves, but now my stomach is about to jump ship. I truly hope and pray that the test comes back negative. Please keep him in your prayers, and I'll let you know what we find out in a few days!

Zucchini Bread!

Well, it's that time of year again. That time when friends hand you zucchini's from their garden because they have them coming out their ears. Or when you wake up in the morning and find a small pile of zucchinis on your porch that were left there by some little garden fairy. Or you hear a knock at your door, and when you answer it, there is a zucchini on the step in front of you, but no one around.


Has anyone NOT been given some zucchini yet?


Some friends of ours gave us two. Here's what we did with them.(and by we, I mean me and the boys, in what turned out to be a cooking and cleaning demo....don't get me started. *sigh* )

Ok. Remember now. I have three (ravenous)boys. We made these around midday. The first loaf was gone by 5:00. That's right. I'm lucky I even got a taste!

Today-the day after we made them, the second loaf is 3/4 gone at dinnertime.

Yes, it is good. The boys are fully aware that it has zucchini and that zucchini is a vegetable, and that it is good for you, but like I said...It is gooood.

Sean on the other hand, will just eat anything that even slightly resembles cake.

Here's the recipe I used, which was my mom's. Thanks mom! Sorry it won't last long enough for you to get a taste. Next year I'll have to make I dunno, like two dozen loaves. That should get us through a day or two.

3 eggs

2 1/2 c sugar

1 c oil

2 c grated zucchini

3 c flour

2 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

1 c finely chopped walnuts ( optional) -the loaves I made this time did not have any nuts in them.

( I did add a dash of nutmeg and small splash of vanilla as well, which was not in the recipe. I know, I am a rebel)

Mix DRY ingredients together in a bowl-EXCEPT THE SUGAR

in the bowl for your mixer, blend eggs and sugar til creamy.

Add to the egg and sugar mix, the oil and the zucchini

Then slowly add dry ingredients until mixed well. Add nuts last.

Grease and flour two loaf pans

* I used lard to grease them with, and then instead of flour, I shook sugar around the bottom and sides. This makes for a nice sweet outer crust when it's done, and the sugar does not burn)

BAKE @350 for 1 hour

Insert toothpick or tester to make sure it's done- stick should come out clean.

Voila! There you have it. Your kids will devour it and BEG you for more!

The best is when you warm it up a little and spread butter on it. Yummy!