Spring Swap Goodies

Like I mentioned in an earlier post this week, I have participated in two swaps this season. Today I received my goodies from the Spring swap over at Semi-Slacker Mom's blog. She's a real-life friend, and I'm so glad that she took time out of her busy schedule (trust me...she's one busy momma) to arrange the Spring Swap.

For this swap, I was paired up with Michelle @ Eight Helping Hands. Let me tell you...this woman is a hoot. She's got such a way with words, and I love going to her blog. And to top it all off, she's one awesome gardener. So, I've been trying to learn a few things from her as this year we're growing our first ever garden. We need all the help we can get. LOL!

Well, I was super surprised when the UPS man showed up with my box this evening. Yep, he left my house barely 30 minutes ago. Brian said that there was a box for me, and I was soooo excited.

Here's what I found when I opened up the box.

Doesn't it look exciting????

Is this not the cutest bag ever? And -- let me tell you...I've already got lots of uses for it. :)

Post-it notes with the cutest holder ever...and we go through some post-its in our homeschooling.

Look at all that PINK! Let me tell you...it's a treat to see PINK in this house of BLUE!

Cute little floral arrangement, magnetic note pad, thank you notes, CUTE butterfly blank notes, angel ornament that says FAMILY, flower salt/pepper shakers, and some yummy PINK PEEPS (which Brian and Caleb are ready to start munching...hand off buddies).
So, as you can see Michelle treated me right! I'm so thrilled with all of my goodies. And -- a special thank you again, to Semi-Slacker Mom for arranging all of this! Both of you ROCK!!!!

Aloha Friday #1

So, I always see this Aloha Friday on other blogs, but admittedly, well, I just looked it over and never paid attention. But -- I read a few today, and I find it quite interesting. And -- I think I'll try to participate from now on...besides, it sounds and looks like lots of fun. If you'd like to participate, then head on over to Island Life.

In Hawaii, Friday is the day to relax and take it easy. So why not take it easy on a blog post too – I will ask a simple question and if you want feel free to leave your reply in my comments!

My first Aloha Friday question is:

What is your favorite movie?

Mine is Shag. It's one of those chick-flicks that I watched with some of my high school friends. The love for the movie then carried on into college, and I remember two of my closest friends and I always wanted to go to Myrtle Beach to shag. I still, to this day, have no clue how to shag (the dance silly). But -- I did finally make it Myrtle Beach last summer, and we're going back again this summer!

And -- here's a shout-out to Uncle Patrick and Aunt Darcy who have been living it up in Hawaii this week! Hope you guys had lots of fun!

Say it Forward Meme

It's Friday...Good Friday at that! That means it's time for another installment of the Say it Forward Meme! This Meme is presented by 5 Minutes for Mom, and I truly think it's one of the best Memes out there. I mean...who doesn't want to be recognized for being a faithful and loyal commenter?!!? I know I love it when I get comments, and I try to be faithful in my commenting. Some weeks are better than others, but that's just to be expected with normal household and mommy duties calling.

So, this week's Loyal Commenter Award goes to...

Mighty M over @ The Mighty M Family

Mighty M came across my blog through our blog designer's blog. She and I both chose Jennisa over @ Once Upon a Blog to do our blog makeovers. Once Jennisa is done making over a blog, she adds it to her portfolio. Then, her clients can peruse other designs by clicking on the headers.

So, I don't remember if I clicked on Mighty M's header or vice versa. But -- that doesn't really matter.

What matters is that Mighty M has since been a faithful commenter on my blog. She's such a sweetie, and she has the cutest little girl and boy. If you haven't ever checked out her blog, go on over and say "hello." I'm sure you'd enjoy reading her posts...she's very funny and witty. :)

Might M -- pick up this award and display it proudly on your blog. Let everyone know that YOU are a faithful and loyal commenter!

And -- if you still aren't participating in this fun Meme, well what are you waiting for?!!? Go on over to 5 Minutes for Mom and sign up. It's worth your time!

Super Baby

Caleb has this cute little cape that he got from Uncle Patrick. Well, this evening he decided to put it on Micah so he could be SUPER BABY! Isn't he just the cutest?!!?

He then added his little bee hat to top it all off (no pun intended). Micah had decided he had had enough though. LOL!

Oh, and do you know what my smarty-pants Caleb said when I put the camera down??? He said, "You can put that on your blog." LOL! Do you think he's caught on to the whole blogging thing yet? LOL! Maybe it's time to get him his own blog...NOT! Anyway, I thought his comment was super cute and unexpected. :)

Need Supper Ideas from All You "Sport"-y Mommas

So, we got the call today letting us know who Caleb's T-ball coach will be. Yes, Lin, he's playing T-ball...the dreaded sport. LOL! I can't wait for you to read this. :)

Anyway, we were informed that he will have practices on Monday and Wednesday nights at 6pm. He's playing in a town that is probably 15 minutes away, so we'll have to leave here around 5:35-5:40ish.

Now, my question for all of you...what in the world do I cook/fix for supper on those practice nights? This is seriously going to put a kink in my menu planning. LOL! Can you tell I'm really serious about my planning?!!?

I need some quick and fast supper ideas. If not, well, we'll be eating a lot of cereal, frozen foods (Caleb loves the Kid Cuisines in a pinch), or sandwiches. So, shoot some ideas my way. I really need them!

I know...we could eat once practice is over. But -- I think that would put us eating a tad too late for our liking, and I don't think we'd make it that long. Besides, once we get back home, it's going to be bath and bedtime! WOOHOO!

I look forward to hearing from all of you sport-y mommas!

Easter Basket Swap Goodies

I participated in my 2nd swap ever this season. Manic Mother hosted an Easter Basket Swap. We are always super eager to fill up Easter baskets for the kiddos, but how many times do WE get a basket? Ummm...never if you're me! LOL! Well, Manic Mother solved that this year. She randomly paired us up with another participant. Jen over at Buried with Children got my name. Can I just tell you how much I admire her? I mean, she's got FOUR kiddos...three of which are triplets. Can you say BUSY???? I don't know how she does it, but her blog is amazing. If you haven't visited her yet, go on over and check it out. She's a hoot!

And no...I did not sit by the door eagerly waiting for the mail carrier to ring the doorbell. Nope, I would never do such a thing. Besides, you all know that I've got two munchkins to take care of, so I'd never be able to just sit and wait like that. :)

Oh how I love to get mail...I don't care if it's homeschool materials, some random magazine/flyer, or a Christmas card. It is such a thrill to walk to the mailbox to see what might be inside. Yes, I dread bills as much as you do, and I hate getting them. But -- the other stuff...I'm all about it! :)

So, I was uber ecstatic when the doorbell rang this morning. It had finally arrived...my Easter basket (box) full of goodies. This is what I found inside...

I'm loving that polkadot tissue paper...super cute Jen!

Is this not the sweetest looking card??? It looks handmade to me...Jen am I right?Now, for the goodies...

**Easter potholder and kitchen towel..too cute and already in my kitchen waiting to be used.

**Easter cookie cutters...Caleb will LOVE making cookies with these.

**Choxie truffle chocolates...I've NEVER heard of these, but they are sooo cute and I can't wait to try them.

**Make it Bug Soap...let me just tell you -- Caleb LOVES bugs, and he is sooo going to love making this soap.

**Easter wall decoration...I almost grabbed this for my Easter Swap partner. :)

**Live your dreams shelf decoration...super cute and on my mantle already.

So, Jen...thank you sooooo much for all of the wonderful goodies. You did an awesome job! And thank you to Manic Mother for organizing the swap. I hope to do it again next year if the opportunity arises. :)

The Wrath of Mother Nature...

Well, it's no secret that Dear Old Mother Nature has been wreaking havoc on these here parts. Granted, we haven't had it as bad as some parts of the country, but still...the lady could give us all a break. I mean...the weather in Georgia is already atrocious, and you add in the fury of Mother Nature, and well, it isn't pretty. We've had torrential downpours, flooding, and random snowstorms. What's next?!!?

With all of that said, I made my morning trek out to the garden this morning. And -- I was not happy! You see...that darn Mother Nature and her awful self has ruined my tomato plants and pepper plants. We have two tomato plants, and they are both droopy and wilting now. The tomatoes that had started growing are now disgusting. Ummm...thanks lady! And my pepper plants look the same...all droopy and sad.

So, it looks like Brian will have to make a trip to Lowe's to buy some replacements. And hopefully we can rest assured that there will not be ANY MORE freezing temps way down here in Middle Georgia. But -- you know...with our crappy luck and the ever-changing temps here...there's no telling.

But -- wish us luck...

Did any of your gardens suffer from this crazy weather?

***Oh, and don't forget to go HERE to get your questions in for my First Blogoversary Q&A.***

More Easter and Spring Arts & Crafts

Well, I guess I'm on a roll with the arts & crafts. We managed to get another Easter craft and a spring craft done today. They both turned out really well.

First, we did a Handprint Easter Bunny. I got this idea from Sandy over at Just for Fun. Seriously, you must check out her site. There's lots of great activities to do with your kiddos.

Second, we made a bouquet of fingerprint flowers. I got this idea from kaboose, which is another great site for lots of arts & crafts activities and other fun stuff. They now adorn our table in the breakfast area. And -- I just used tempera paint instead of acrylic because that's what I had on hand.

Tissue Paper Easter Egg

I got this idea from Sandy over at Just for Fun. Now, if you haven't checked out her site, then you really must. It's full of lots of fun and easy craft ideas to do with your kiddos. Being the "not-so-crafty-homeschooling-mom" that I am, well, I need all the help I can get.


Now, I did modify this a bit. I actually just ripped the tissue paper, and then Caleb wadded each piece up. Caleb also decided to do patterns. I drew the wavy lines, and then he placed the tissue paper wads on in his desired pattern. I think it turned out super cute.


So, why not give it a try yourself?!!? I think your kids would LOVE it!

In Honor of my FIRST Blogoversary...

So, I've been thinking about what I could do to celebrate my FIRST BLOGOVERSARY! It's coming up on April 13th.

Well, one thing I've decided to do is to open myself up for a little Q&A. I see other bloggers do this from time to time, but I've never gotten up the nerve ventured to do it. But -- in honor of my blogoversary, I will.

So, what do you want to know about me???? I know you've been losing sleep over you want to know some of my deepest, darkest secrets...so, ask away! Now, if I deem the question to be too personal, I will simply "plead the fifth" and move on. LOL!

I will accept questions until noon on April 13th. At that point, I will begin answering. So, rack your brain and send some Q's my way. I'm so excited to see what you all ask. LOL! :)

Oh, and I'm sure there will be a giveaway in order to top off the grand Q&A BLOGOVERSARY event as well.

Google Analytics CRACKS Me UP!!!!

Okay, so I'm a tad bit late getting around to this for March, but once again...google analytics is cracking me up. I mean, seriously...people really search for this crap stuff??? Give me a break...LOL!

So, here's how the searches went for March...get ready for some laughs (or at least I think it's funny).

• boogers, screams, headaches, and dreams -- there were many with these words
• dreaming about boogers -- there have got to be some people needing medical help out there...this is a constant search it seems.
• Sherrie needs -- nothing unexpected here
• homeschool/homeschool schedule -- again, nothing out of the ordinary
• "stacked bob" hair -- I think I must have mentioned I normally wear my hair like this...I LOVE me some bob cuts. LOL!
• toddlers stomach flu -- no idea how they got directed to my site
• boogers are gross -- you don't say??? REALLY??? I never would have guessed.
• boogers in your dreams & boogers in your eyes -- come on people...enough with the boogers. And -- yes, we all get "eye" boogers from time to time.
• childress family blog menu homeschool -- they really didn't know how to find us did they? It's much easier if you just bookmark us. LOL!
• darcie brian blogspot -- I can see this as Darcy is my SIL and Brian is my DH.
• dreaming about picking boogers -- again, do you really have to search for this??? What do you need to know?
• dreams cause headaches -- what are you dreaming about...boogers? LOL!
• eating at alligator adventure -- we did visit there last summer.
• flickr snow warner robins ga -- yes, we got snow way down here in WR.
• giving up chocolate creates headaches -- ummm...this could happen if you suffer from caffeine withdrawals. You may want to consult your doctor rather than GOOGLE! :)
• google boogers -- ummm...come on now
• home made boogers -- who in their right mind would MAKE boogers? These searches have convinced me even more that there are some SICK and WEIRD people in this world. :)
• kindness -- awww...how sweet, you think I'm kind. LOL!
• monkey birthday party -- yep, we had one for our little Micah Monkey
• picture of a birthday cake 40th saying happy birthday boo boo -- Do you really call someone 40 years old "boo boo"? Hmmm...
• picture of a booger birthday cake -- Obviously the booger dreamers are having a birthday because who else would want a booger birthday cake????
• recipe for boogers st. patrick's day -- ummm...how are these two related to each other??? And who wants to make boogers? Seriously people...seriously!
• sherrie trick -- no clue here...
• sherry childress blog brian caleb -- again...it's much easier to just bookmark our site *hint, hint*
• thumb sucking -- yep, we've got one, and we can't wait for him to stop. Any tricks to get him to stop? LOL!

So, there you have it...we show up in so many of your google searches. But -- you can stop searching for information on boogers. That's just a little out of hand I think. There are too many people who are "stuck" on boogers (no pun intended). ;)

And -- if you haven't signed up for GA yet, you really must! It's soooo funny to see how people get sent to your blog.

Welcome to the Caribbean

I'd like to welcome you all to the Caribbean. No, we're not in the Caribbean, but oh how I wish I was right now. It's cold down here...too cold. Anyway, it looks like we're in the Caribbean.

Brian tackled painting the playroom & guest room this weekend. We let Caleb choose the colors, and here were his choices: Apple Green, Pumpkin Orange, and Cool Caribbean blue. We also have Sweet Corn yellow that we used in the living room. He did a good job because all of the colors blend together so well.

We also moved all of our homeschooling stuff in there, and now it will be our homeschool/guest/and playroom. Busy, huh?!!? LOL! It actually works out well with a roaming Micah. He can now be in there playing while we are homeschooling. So, he's happy as a lark!

Here are some pictures...and yes, I know...I've got to change my quilt now. LOL! And -- there aren't bad spots on the walls...promise. The glare was messing with the pictures I think. Anyway, you'll get the idea.

The corner by the door/entry

The closet wall

Homeschooling section...that white section is a painted dry erase board.

The desk corner and entertainment centerCaleb and Micah's own PERSONAL dry erase board...now maybe they won't draw on my walls with crayons. LOL!

The ceiling fan

Menu Plan Monday -- Week of April 6th, 2009

Can I just ask...what is up with Mother Nature? I know...not much to do with menu planning, but I thought I'd throw that out there to see if anyone knows. LOL! It's supposed to get down below freezing here two nights this week. YUCK!!!!! And -- my garden...ummmm...mother nature, you are not helping me here.

Okay, so it's time for some more menus. Head on over to OrgJunkie to take a gander at all the menus. There are so many participants each week, and I love finding new meals to try.

As for us, well, I stocked up on meat the past two weeks because the deals were soooo good. Winn-Dixie had B1G1 on meats, so that was a great deal. So, we'll be having lots of "new" meats for us. Here's what's cooking this week...

Monday -- Onion & Mushroom Beef Pot Roast, Mashed Potatoes, Green Bean Casserole
Tuesday -- Crunchy Parmesan Chicken Tenders, Carrots with Orange Ginger Glaze
Wednesday -- YOYO
Thursday -- Steak Tips, Corn on the Cob, Baked Garlic Green Beans
Friday -- Slow Cooked Pork Chops, Brown Rice, Garden Vegetable Medley
Saturday -- YOYO
Sunday -- Easter Dinner @ my mom's (I'll take a sweet potato souffle and green bean casserole)

So, what's on your menu this week? Are you trying any new recipes?

Say It Forward Meme

I tell ya...I've got to get better with this. LOL! Anyway, it's time to recognize another special commenter. And -- you should really go on over to 5 Minutes for Mom to check out this MeMe. After all, these are the people you want reading your blog. :)

This week's Loyal Commenter Award goes to...

blueviolet @ A Nut in a Nutshell

She is such a faithful blog commenter, and I love reading her blog. She's always got something funny to read over there. You should really go check her out if you haven't already. And -- if you already know who she is, then you know why she's poplular in the blogsphere! :)

So, blueviolet, go ahead and pick up this little award and display it proudly. You deserve it and thanks for being such a loyal reader and commenter!

Homeschool Week 39 in Review

Can I just say how proud I am that we stayed on track and focus this week? As much as I may have wanted to "skip" a day of homeschooling, we didn't. YEAH for us! LOL! Here's how things went this week:

Beginnings: Our theme was "Where Jesus Walked". Caleb learned about Bible lands, customs, dress, and transportation. He added "want" to his list of service words. "-ar", "-ark", "-ore", and "-orn" were added to our list of word families. Our story this week was Little Boy Jesus. Caleb did an excellent job with this book, and we are so proud of him.

Math: We continued to talk more about addition and subtraction. We alse reviewed some of the skills Caleb has learned thus far.

Bible: We reviewed questions 40-46 and 58 in the First Catechism. We also reviewed some of our Bible lessons from previous weeks.

Extra Stuff: We really didn't do much extra this week because of the nasty rain. It rained so much, and we are glad to see the sunshine. We will be picking strawberries at a local farm next week, and we are excited. Shh...don't tell Caleb...he doesn't know yet. :)

I also failed to mention that Caleb was dismissed from speech last week. We are soooo happy and proud that he has improved his speech enough to be dismissed. We will continue to work with him at home to make sure he doesn't regress, but he should be fine. We're soooo proud of him, and he's excited, too. :)

We were scheduled to have spring break next week, but we are postponing it until the week of the 19th. Omi is taking the 20th-28th of April off of work, so we will take spring break then and head on up to VA to do some visiting with Omi and Opa.

So, join us next week as we talk about "In the Garden." I'm sure Caleb is going to LOVE next week as we are all about the garden now. LOL!