Family Fun Friday: Just pure silliness!

I have posted some pretty hefty posts this week so I thought I would just share some of our silly funny photos from a few weeks ago! They were done in my phone's photo editor and well... it was a raining night! Bhahahaha Enjoy!

Pumpkin on alert!

The girl!

Doodlebug!

Peanut!

And one of me that was just fun!

Hope you had a good giggle on our family's behalf! The husband was not so willing and well.. I can't say I don't blame him! LOL Have a GREAT fun Friday with your family!

Twin birthday Survey!

I love being a mommy to multiples! Multiple Teens I am not so sure of! Ha! Just kidding! So, since they are now 13 and able to"legally" give me permission with  parental permission (haha ~ that's easy right?!) to post their answers I though I would experience the JOY of being a momma to twins and share their candid answers to a Birthday Survey I gave them, and will continue to give to them for as many years as they will allow me to post their answers!

1. If you could give yourself a name instead of the one you were given what would it be?
Peanut= Juan (pronounced hhhwan)
Doodlebug= Frankenstein (I got that off the movie Big Daddy)

2. What was the best thing that happened when  you were twelve?
Peanut = Evelyn (His girlfriend)
Doodlebug = Middle School Football

3. What is it like being a twin?
Peanut = It was fun
Doodlebug = Fun

4. When you are older, married and have kids- do you want twins of your own?
Peanut = NO!
Doodlebug = Yes, one will be crazy!

5. What are you looking forward to happening now that you are 13?
Peanut= PHONE (hint hint!!)
Doodlebug = A wining season

6. What is a piece of advice you would give to someone younger than you?
Peanut= Don't do drugs and stay in school!
Doodlebug = Always be crazy!

7. What is a piece of advice you would give to someone older than you?
Peanut = Don't do drugs and stay in school!
Doodlebug = Always be crazy!

8. If you could be a super hero what would your super powers be?
Peanut = Laser vision and blend in with my surroundings.
Doodlebug = To shoot lightening out of my butt!

9. Who do you admire the most and why?
Peanut = Mom - she makes me food!
Doodlebug = Mommy, she cooks for me!

10. Favorite:
Soda: P= Dr. Pepper   D=Big Red
Candy: P= Sour skittles  D= Skittles
Movie: P= Lets be cops   D= The Fast & The Furious
Song: P= Go hard or go home  D= Down with the sickness
TV Show  P= WWE Raw  D= South Park
Rainy Day Activity: P= Football  D= Video Games
Color = P= Purple  D= Blue
Article of Clothing = P= Basketball shorts  D= Tshirts & shorts
Sport = P= Football!  D= Football
Memory= P= Scoring a 54' Touch Down!  D= Kemah Boardwalk!

These boys of mine I love so much! I am truly blessed to be a momma to them both! Love ya boys!

Family Matters Friday: Flexibility

As a mother to kids who are really not so little anymore the way in which my husband and I parent is changing. I mean let's look at this logically. One is fifteen and a half, and the other two are almost thirteen. They are not so little and the things they can need direction in (spiritually, emotionally, and even physically) is no longer so cut and dry. It seems that often there is more beneath the surface much like an iceberg.

This season in our parenting I am learning more about flexibility and how sometimes even when I might say no, it isn't the best answer just because it always has been. There is many things in my own life both professional and personal that reminds me that I am also being tested in how flexible I am. 

One thing I want our children ( might as well say teenagers) is that in order to be happy in life... it takes a lot of endurance and flexibility. 

 Our latest need for flexibility is coming up so very quickly. The twins first go at Track and Field and well it means I must remain flexible in all that I do. I want this experience for them to be the most stress free and let's be honest. If parents stress..... the kids feel it and then all we are teaching them is that new things, different things, will always be stressful. I don't want to create that kind of environment to either our home, or their belief system.

If you aren't flexible while your children are growing ... they will never learn to be flexible as well. See... my kids know where my limit is. There are a few things in our home and lives that I refuse to be flexible in ~ and that is our morals.

When your raising children .... no one tells you to take the time to evaluate where you are right now and where your children are. I am telling you to do that. Not only will you create a system that works for your family, but you will also be teaching them how to do it later on in life as time arrives for them to do so.

Family Matters Friday: Starting the day off right! (Smoothie Recipe)

One thing I am grateful for is being home in the mornings to see the husband and kids off for their day. I like to know everyone has what they need when they leave, and that they either have a full tummy or something with them to eat when they are hungry. I am NOT a breakfast eater but this week I have enjoyed drinking a smoothie on the way to work. I am still fighting the same cold that hit me last week and honestly it hasn't gotten much better, I just adapted and got on with my life instead of allowing it to derail me completely. Tuesday however, I had a huge desire to get as many natural vitamins into my body as possible and the best way to do that is with fruits and veggies. I love salads, and I love smoothies. Thankfully so does the majority of my family. We always seem to be a "dentist family" on most things. (Ya know 4 out of 5 prefer) We are working on finding what works for the one who is skeptical and I feel confident that we will find what he likes too.

One of our favorite smoothies is a "Cherry Berry Banana Smoothie". I didn't snap a picture but it is the most beautiful shade of pink you can imagine! And it tastes so good! I use my Ninja, and when I am making these smoothies I use the large pitcher.

Cherry Berry Banana Smoothie

2 to 3 large frozen bananas
1 cup of vanilla light yogurt
1 to 1 1/2 cup of frozen "Cherries and Berries" fruit
1 1/2 cups of milk

Blend all the ingredients together. By using frozen fruit you do not need to add ice and the frozen bananas help to make the smoothie thick and creamy. What an amazing start to any day! I do not add sugar. There is enough sweetness from the fruit and yogurt!

I also would add 1 to 2 cups of raw spinach to this for myself. I can't convince the family to try it but it just ads a bit of freshness and it got in some good leafy greens!

Family Matters: Balance!

That's right! That one word that sounds so lovely and comforting yet often is so hard to achieve. I think I might have figured out why! Have you noticed that when you focus on something a whole lot it becomes so very important to you? Like you begin noticing things on that topic, people use the word or concept around you, it is talked about on the news, it maybe is trending on facebook in the stats on the side, etc.

Let's use the word "diet". You decide that you want to lose ten pounds. All of a sudden you notice others around who are wanting to lose weight. It is on the news in t heir "feel good" stories or health stories. You are in line at the grocery store and you see a magazine cover with all of these "Diets that work". You over hear conversations about losing weight. It's everywhere.

Balance however ... is something that is often only talked about wanting to be achieved. You might see a few success stories but not many of them have the same outcome nor the same path taken. Simply put finding balance is NOT a clear cut science. Want to know why? Because your perspective of balance is most likely different than mine. We have different priorities. We have different goals. With that said, how can we achieve balance?

Balance: (In my own words) Is having things in proper proportion. Look below for a perfect image that explains what I am talking about. (It is NOT my image, and I am not using it to infringe on copyrights! It just was a visual of my definition.)

Using the image above I will share what my priorities are and where I strive for balance to keep it all at a level keel. *Disclaimer: I designated priorities by the size of the ball .. not their position!*)

Left side
Two red balls: 1 is my classroom, the other is my home.
Keeping organized both in my classroom and at home are what allows me to be functional in both places at the same time. If those are out of balance, that whole side is off!

White ball: My writing/ blogging/ etc
Writing for me right now is HUGE. I have dreams and goals that I am reaching for that in time may change this side of the balance. Taking time to blog and designate writing days and how I spend my waking hours that are not being devoted to my husband and children .... are often found right here.

Right side
Tiny white ball on top: My time (The occasional hair cut or color, painting of the nails, suntanning. Running, or any other activity that calms my mind and gives me a pick me up.)

Big white ball: Husband and our marriage (Yes I know that this ball is larger than the kids. It should be. )

Red ball: Children (As they get older they don't need as much of my immediate attention, though they still get a lot. )


NOW, because I know some of you may be wondering why I didn't put my relationship with God on that priority list, allow me to explain. He is in all of those priorities. If what I do in my classroom doesn't glorify Him I am wasting my time. If how I manage and take care of my home does not glorify Him I am out of balance. If my writing doesn't pint upwards, I am wasting my time and I am out of balance. Same goes on the other side. See... my relationship with God influences the balance I desire for and seek for in my life.

Do you know what your priorities are? Until you do, you will not even begin to know where you are out of balance to begin with!

Family Matters Friday: Can't beat them, Nerf them!

For Christmas Santa gave each person in our home a Nerf gun and some ammo in our stockings. Nothing big, nothing major but tons of fun!

I simply say if you can't beat them definitely Nerf them! We have gone girls against boys, and while we are outnumbered, we can still divide and conquer! We have played the parents against the kids, and again while we are outnumbered we can still divide and conquer!

Truly the one night we really all participated was one of the BEST nights of our week since Christmas. Do you know why? We play! And we play together! We laugh. And we laugh together!

Whether it be game of Uno, Mario Kart, or the Nerf War playing together has been the glue that holds us together and tight as a family. The kiddos get to see their parents playing and having fun, and we get to embrace those moments with them. Sometimes, no let me change that. Most times we get TOO serious in this life that we miss out on the pure innocence that comes with playing . Yes I am a planner and I like to organize. Yes, I could be called a "neat freak" by some, and actually LIKE to clean. BUT .... beyond on that I like to see my family enjoying themselves. In fact, I LIKE to enjoy myself too! It doesn't mean that I don't take care of things around the house. While the kids have free access to the wii... it doesn't mean they play all the time. They don't even want to really and it is fun when we all decide that we want to and play together. It's all about a good balance and spontaneity. That is why... my gun... stays at my side when I am working on the laptop!

This isn't a long post .... so do yourself a favor. Make some time today and go play with your family! Tonight we are ordering pizza, playing on the wii, and maybe just maybe ... darts will fly. :) It's been a wonderful vacation in our home, and I am sad to see it quickly come to an end.

Family Fun Friday: July 12, 2013

This weeks' family fun shot is from yesterday!

We went with some friends to one of our local water  parks ~ or in this case wave pools! Fun stuff! And as you can see from the picture ~ tiring stuff! Playing in the waves, having water fights, playing water tag, and tube races can wear you out! In the summer time we usually can be found around some body of water via water parks, the wave pool, a friends pool, something at least once a week! As you notice "the girl" isn't in these shots, but she also is enjoying some time in water with some neighbor friends of ours who took her along on their family vacation! What a joy!

Family Fun Friday ~ July 5th 2013

Fun! Every family needs those fun moments in their lives where time stops, and the only motive is a good time. One thing I have been learning as a parent, is it is wise to have fun with your kids. It is a bonding time, that couldn't happen if it was to be removed. A time that removes the harshness, and allows a freedom of youth to come in.

The pictures I am sharing is not from today ~ but rather last night! We had a get together at our house with a few friends to celebrate the 4th of July. As you know, we moved in January to a completely different county. In our old neighborhood we were unable to pop fireworks, because it was illegal.

Here is a face book status that the husband posted about last night, so you can see the JOY that came from this moment of sharing with our kids ~ isn't just one sided.

""Well I must say that I was totally rocked last night. I was never allowed to do that without the threat of tickets(popping fireworks) where I used to live. And then all the others got involved and I was like whoa. I will never go to another park to see fireworks. My kids got to hold their first sparklers. This place rocks. The (name of subdivision removed for privacy reasons) has got it goin on. Sorry if that sounded goofy but I do love it here.""

The men were like kids in a candy store, and the children were purely in awe! It was so much fun!

It was hard to get a picture of all the kids at the same time with sparklers in their hands. One of the kids (and his mom) left before this picture was taken, but you can see how much fun and how tired they were becoming on their face.

All down the street and through the neighborhood we were united in family fun. It was loud, beautiful, and purely amazing!

We had an amazing spread of food too!
Momma's Slap Ya Silly Pulled Pork (This is an easy recipe and the next time I make it I will share the recipe!)
Hot dogs/ grilled sausages
Pasta Salad
Potato Salad
Grilled cheese corn salad
Veggie tray
Cheese Dip w/ Tortilla Chips
A Bacon Ranch dip w/ Tater chips
Cup cakes
Happy Birthday America Cake
Chocolate Brownies w/ peanut butter frosting

A few more random pics of our guests having a good time!

 

 

 

Missing from this pic is several adults, and several kids! The firework fun started right after and was unable to snap pics of it all! Every single person who made it was truly a treasured part of my life!

 

The clean up is done, and the fun is had! This truly was a fun share for the first Family Fun Friday!