Silly Bandzzz

Do your kids have these? I guess this is a new craze that has hit the nation recently ... my girls just learned about them about a week or two ago and already they are hooked!

Many of our local schools are banning them because they are causing too much distraction in schools, and kids are also using them to trade/bribe for things which they shouldn't {example: a kid trading his lunch for silly bandzz}.

Here in our homeschool, they are fine. And even though I'm not one to buy into the latest fads, I think this one is pretty harmless. And just for the record, I have not spent a dime on all of these. The girls were talking to my neighbor about them and the next day she gave them some! {She is seriously the sweetest neighbor ever!} Then the girls used their own spending money to buy a package each.

The neat thing is that in each package there are 6 different designs, with 4 of each design - so the girls are already talking about which of their friends they plan to share them with.

For those who are not familiar with Silly Bandzzz - this is what they look like when not on the wrist - they come in hundreds of different shapes. It's kinda wild how they retain their shape even after they've been worn for hours.

A few of our local stores have them and they are about 5 bucks for a pack of 24.

But if you want to come over to visit the girls will probably share a few with you!

Drive In Movie Night!

On Friday night my hubs and I took the girls to the drive in for the first time. Bob and I have not been to the drive in for years and the girls had never been.

We kept putting it off because it's a very late night and we wanted to make sure the girls were old enough to go and enjoy it. The drive in is about a 30-40 min drive from our house, the movie doesn't start till dark {around 9pm} , then they play a double feature {we only stayed for the first movie} , then you still have to drive home. Even watching only the first movie we didn't get home till 11:15. The youngest fell asleep on the way home!

The girls brought pillows, blankets and stuffed animals so they could snuggle in the back of our SUV to watch the movie.

We stopped at the Dollar Store on the way there to buy giant sized snacks for a fraction of the price they would charge at the theater. We also brought our own drinks. The only thing we bought there was popcorn, because you HAVE to have fresh, hot, buttery popcorn!

We saw the final Shrek movie - overall verdict - it was OK. I thought the earlier Shrek movies were better but of course this one was still funny.

It was a really fun, family night out and we can't wait to do it again!

I'm compiling a list of fun summer activities so we don't let the summer slip away and this was one of the things on my list -- more to come soon on our summer fun list!

Kids say ...

I really want to be better about writing down the funny things my kids say. I'm not very good at journal keeping, so this blog is essentially the place for me to remember these things.

Today while riding bikes my oldest daughter was a little ahead of us on the trail - so the younger one shouted 'Hope, wait up for us!' - then when she caught up to her she zoomed past her and said 'Come on, let's go, what are you waiting for?!'

1000 Gifts {184-219}

Wow, it's been far too long since I posted any 1000 gifts, but I have been keeping a list going so here is where I catch up!

184. having science class outside

185. two outdoorsy girls

186. flip flops tossed onto the grass

187. watching the girls get excited about finding toads


188. cousins having fun together - even when some are girls and some are boys - fun knows no gender!

189. a warm weather weekend

190. sweet fellowship with Bible study friends

191. powerful words that convict me to change

192. homeschool planning for next year

193. thanking God for taking us on this journey and guiding us

194. AMAZING Moms who know and love the Lord

195. a Mother/Daughter weekend that I will cherish forever

196. a speaker and her adult daughter that encourage me that it's all worth it

197. flowers beginning to bloom

198. the magical way a can of spray paint can transform something =)


199. the fun and excitement I get from re-decorating something

200. fresh paint

201. little girls who love me unconditionally

202. reading together, all snuggled in Mama's bed

203. the first beach days of the season

204. sea glass ... lots and lots of it - it's like finding buried treasure!

205. a visit from my brother, sis in law and niece

206. little girls laughing, playing, swimming, crafting together

207. celebrating birthdays together

208. MOMS ministry planning meeting and brunch - great conversation, great friendships, great food and knowing that the Lord will guide us as we plan for next year.

209. beach breezes

210. long, lazy beach days where I fully enjoy the company and conversation of my in laws

211. the girls making sand castles, digging deep water holes, making words in the sand from beach treasures - enjoying it all for summer only lasts so long

212. pool is open!

213. silly stories and things they make up while swimming

214. seeing how they have become the best of friends

215. colors that only God could create

216. being woken up by a little someone who wants to crawl in my bed to snuggle and knowing that I'd better enjoy it now because all too soon they will be grown

217. being SO close to finishing school for the year that I can almost feel it

218. planning for our summer trips and fun activities

219. smiles and laughter

Apparently they're keeping something from me

The girls are playing in the pool this afternoon ... I love when they play in the pool because it keeps them occupied for HOURS, plus, they always come up with the greatest things to play. I love listening to them use their imaginations!

Today I overheard, "Um yeah, can you give me change for a million?"

hahahahahahaha .... no wait, do you think they're hiding a secret stash from me?!

3 Recipes

I have 3 recipes to share today ~~ hope you enjoy!

First...
NO-BAKE PROTEIN BARS

2 cups oatmeal, uncooked
1/2 cup natural peanut butter
4 scoops protein powder, vanilla
1 TBSP ground flaxseed
1/2 cup water

1. Knead all ingredients in a large bowl.
2. Line a square 9x9 baking pan with wax paper. Spread dough
into pan using spatula.
3. Freeze for 30 minutes
4. Remove from freezer , cut into bars.

makes 8 bars, 230 calories each, 15 grams protein, 21 grams carbs.
{Mine turned out a bit crumbly, I think next time I will increase the peanut butter to 3/4 of a cup or maybe even a full cup. My kids loved these, makes a great snack and the protein will hold you over until the next meal!}

Next, as a part of our History Class this year we decided to try a recipe from the colonial times ... Hasty Pudding!

I thought it tasted a lot like cream of wheat ... the girls took a few bites and said it was OK but weren't big fans of it overall. All in all we probably wouldn't make it again, but it was fun to try for the sake of 'school' work.

And finally ... last week I made Cinnamon Chips with Fruit Salsa and boy-oh-boy it is my new favorite snack! I saw the recipe on 2 different blogs on the same exact day {and these are not people who know each other!} so I figured it was a sign that I was meant to try making them! haha

I'll link you to the recipe because I didn't get a picture - but basically it takes about 15 min total for a really yummy snack. {Oh and word to the wise ... don't try to use the Low-Carb Wheat tortillas - just go for the regular ones, trust me they will taste better!}

Here is the recipe! Thanks to Sarah and Ashlee for both posting the recipe {and getting me hooked!}!

I won!

A big THANK YOU to Dawn from My Home Sweet Home for having a giveaway that I WON!

She is sending me a CD from Straight No Chaser ... a really cool group that is new to me ... I love the way they sound and can't wait to hear the whole CD.

Thanks again Dawn!

Are you wondering ...

Why my photo is the big central photo on our new blog header?? Well it IS June, which IS my birthday month and you know I AM all into myself and being vain and all that ...


hahahahaha .... totally kidding!!!

I picked the photos I wanted in Picasa and had Picasa made a collage for me and this is how it turned out. Totally random - but I liked it so I decided to go with it. Hope you all know that I'm really NOT vain and into myself! =)

New Blog name ... new design

Yes I have changed the name of my blog yet again! Why, you may wonder? Well, I love Wellspring Academy and we still are Wellspring Academy - but my blog is about so much more than just our homeschooling adventures. In fact, that is a very small part of who we are as a family. Our family and our blog reflect so many other things ... our family adventures, our fun memories, the crafty things I enjoy, etc. So I felt like the blog should be more about our life as a whole, instead of just the one area of our school life.

So why did I choose this title?

My husband and I heard this song years ago, before we ever had children and it quickly became a favorite during the baby/toddler years. Despite being weary parents who had trouble finding time for each other we would always claim this truth: 'Well, there's no place that I'd rather be
Well, it's two hearts And one dream
I wouldn't trade it for anything
And I ask the Lord every night
For just another day in paradise'

This is what this song means to me ...

Even though we live in this small house,
even though our budget sometimes feels too tight,
even though the washing machine breaks down at the worst moment,
even though a kid gets sick when you were looking forward to date night,
even though you have a change in plans when you least expect it

~~~it's ALL worth it because ~~~

It's the hugs at the end of a long day.
It's sharing our hopes and dreams for the future.
It's the snuggles and kisses from little girls.
It's the homemade art work that graces our fridge and walls.
It's a puppy who is happy to see you.
It's making memories and cherishing moments.
It's creating a legacy of family and faith.
It's Just Another Day in Paradise and we wouldn't have it any other way!


Here is the full song by Phil Vassar:

The kids screaming, phone ringing
Dog barking at the mailman bringing
That stack of bills - overdue
Good morning baby, how are you?
Got a half hour, quick shower
Take a drink of milk but the milk's gone sour
My funny face makes you laugh
Twist the top on and I put it back
There goes the washing machine
Baby, don't kick it.
I promise I'll fix it
Long about a million other things

Well, it's ok. It's so nice
It's just another day in paradise
Well, there's no place that
I'd rather be
Well, it's two hearts
And one dream
I wouldn't trade it for anything
And I ask the Lord every night
For just another day in paradise

Friday, you're late
Guess we'll never make our dinner date
At the restaurant you start to cry
Baby, we'll just improvise
Well, plan B looks like
Dominoes' pizza in the candle light
Then we'll tippy toe to our room
Make a little love that's overdue
But somebody had a bad dream
Mama and daddy
Can me and my teddy
Come in to sleep in between?

Yeah it's ok. It's so nice.
It's just another day in paradise.
Well, there's no place that
I'd rather be
Well, it's two hearts
And one dream
I wouldn't trade it for anything
And I ask the Lord every night
For just another day in paradise

Well, it's ok. It's so nice.
It's just another day in paradise.
Well, there's no place that
I'd rather be
Two hearts
And one dream
I wouldn't trade it for anything
And I ask the Lord every night
For just another day in paradise

For just another day in paradise
Well, it's the kids screaming. The phone ringing
Just another day
Well, it's Friday. You're late
Oh yeah, it's just another day in paradise

Sweet Shot Tuesday

Is it really Tuesday already?!

We had a gorgeous Memorial Day weekend here. Lovely weather and lots of relaxation. And finally .... beach time!

I have 2 sweet shots to share - first Joy and the little baby girl that we babysit, I love how Joy was helping R at the beach and playing with her. It was so cute! Gosh, it's hard to believe my girls were that little, in a way it seems like forever ago, and in another way it's all happened in the blink of an eye!

And here is Hope just loving every minute of the sand, sun and surf!

click on the button below to go see more Sweet Shots!