June by the numbers

I am honestly not sure if this month went by too fast or too slow...mixed emotions about June. There is one thing I do know for sure and that is that the month of June was packed with fun things for our family.

One funny, sweet man(James Lambert), married to an even sweeter lady,passed away this week.

Two weddings...happy for the happy couples (Williams and Holmes).

Three books read(Shanghai Girls, Every last One, Sing You Home). I love Summer and the opportunity to read a little bit more.

Four layouts created.

Five cards(graduation)created.

Seven birthday candles on Garrett's birthday cake.

Nine Summer to do activities have been checked off of our list.

Ten new songs downloaded from itunes.

Twelve(9-10 yr.old) bleach their hair in honor of carrying on an All Star tradition.

Fourteen blog posts recorded this month.

Twenty Three days/hours logged at Fitness MD...I did not miss a day(M-F, plus one Saturday).

Twenty Eight days of Summer vacation have been enjoyed thus far.

Thirty days captured Project Life style(a photo to represent each day).

Fifty One pounds down.

Fifty Six seconds shaved off of my 1.5 mile run at Fitness MD.

Fifty Seven.Seventy Five miles walked this month.

HaPpY SuMmEr

Tradition

It is tradition that once you make the WLL All Star baseball team, you bleach your hair. We had fun attending the team hair bleaching party. Who knew there was such a thing? I had very mixed emotions about this bleaching of the hair. Carter, on the other hand was ready and excited. I should have known he would be all over this idea. The highlights he asked for back in March for his 10th birthday should have been my 1st clue.

Here he is as I am applying the first round of bleach.





(such a cute little face, with cute little freckles...sigh!)

While they were waiting for their hair to fall out, ummmmm I mean process, they enjoyed munching on fruit and pizza, all while quizzing each other on their signs.


We ended up having to apply 3 rounds of bleach to get his hair to the desired All Star color(Barbie blond/white). It is quite shocking and very bleached looking... exactly what they were looking for. His hair is still wet and combed funny, but you get the idea. I think his new hair color makes him look entirely too old. I am so happy that he is a boy. Once the season ends, we will just shave it right off. In the meantime, he is happy to be a part of the tradition that lives on.
















I still need to get a group photo. The boys were coming and going during our little hair bleaching party. As if it wasn't already hard enough to tell them all apart in their baseball hats, out on the field. This ensures that will will get them confused, all of the time. Good luck to the 9-10 WLL All Star team.

Treats

I thought I would post the recipes we made for John on Father's Day. They were all new brand new recipes that I had been collecting from various blogs over the last few months. I was a little nervous trying new dishes for John's big day...but I lucked out and they were all keepers.

Lets start with the treats! Who says you can't have your dessert first?
All I have to say is "Oh my"!!!!!!! These are a little spin off of the traditional Rice Krispie treat and they were tasty! This recipe is a keeper for sure.


Cake Batter Rice Krispie Treats
3 tbsp butter
6 cups rice krispies
1/3 cup yellow cake batter dry mix (unprepped)
1 bag – 10 oz mini marshmallows
1 jar (1.75 oz) multicolored sprinkles
In large saucepan, heat butter and marshmallows on low until melted.
Slowly add dry cake mix, one small scoop at a time, to melted marshmallow mixture.
In separate bowl, add 6 cups cereal.
Fold in marshmallow mixture and 1/2 jar of sprinkles
Press into any size baking dish.
Top with the remaining sprinkles.
Let sit for 30 minutes before cutting.

*I can't remember where I found this recipe. I wish I could so I could give credit where credit is due!

Happy Father's Day

Our mission today was to spoil John rotten. We wanted the day to be all about him. We made him breakfast in bed. Spoiled him with handmade cards and fun gifts. We supplied him with his favorite beverage. We baked him yummy treats. We let him relax all day long...he didn't lift a finger. I was a a little nervous about the menu that I had planned for the day. All of the recipes/meals(from start to finish) were new to our family and I wasn't sure if that had been a good idea on my part. I am happy to report that everything was a hit. I will share those recipes over the next few days.

We are so thankful for John and the Daddy/Husband that he is. He is our provider. He is our comedian. He is our best friend. He is our rock. He is our protector. He is our cheer leader. He is our soft place to land at the end of our days. We are so lucky to have him in our lives.























Happy Father's Day, John. Thanks for all you do! We love you!

one more for the scrapbook

We had heard that the Roseville Press Tribune had a little blurb about the boys, WLL Padres team and their BIG win last Saturday, in this weeks paper! I was able to track the paper down today. While we were happy to see this fun photo of the dog pile that happened after Carter caught that line drive and made a double play = 3 outs. Carter is on the bottom of the dog pile and you can see Tanner running in from the left to join them. The only bummer part of the article is that the photographer/staff writer gave Carter's teammate(the 3rd baseman) credit for the play and NOT Carter. Oh well, we are happy to have one more photo for the scrapbook from that exciting game/win. GOOOOOOOOO Padres.
p.s. Carter stayed up till midnight on Tuesday to wait and check the WLL site to see if he made the All Star team. He did indeed make it. He has been on cloud 9 since and we are thrilled for him. We hear that the All Star team tradition is for the entire team to bleach their hair blond! I will keep you posted.

For the Graduates

We had a few friends and a family member graduate from high school this year. A few of those friends were some of the girls that I teach in the Young Woman's program at church. I wanted to buy/make them something but I knew I couldn't break the bank doing so(with multiple gifts to give). I found this cute Subway Art online and knew that I wanted to print and frame it for the girls. I printed the art at Costco and found cute, simple black frames at IKEA...I love IKEA. I tied a simple bow in their school colors and delivered them as is. I figured they could take it to college with them and glean inspiration from it. I also made them simple graduation cards and tucked cash/gift cards inside. I am so proud of the Class of 2011. Their futures are bright and wide open with possibilities.

Our Summer is off to a great start. They boys have been busy with baseball practices, All Star tryouts, movies, birthdays, soccer camps, a Summer job(for Tanner)...it is never too early to earn your own $. Our favorite activities thus far have included a little of this





















and a little of that.












We have driven past this Shaved Ice shack several times this Summer. We finally stopped today and the boys were in heaven. So far, they have given the Root Beer and Pink Bubble Gum flavors two thumbs up.

What has made your Summer great so far?