Easter Tea Towel & Paula Deen Salad

Nothing very exciting going on this week...

In celebration of it being Friday and having two positive parent/teacher conferences, we stopped by the bakery on the way home from school today.  

And I tried a new recipe to go along with our BBQ chicken sandwiches tonight:  Paula Deen's Frito and Corn Salad.  I thought it was good and I'd make it again, but next time I'll mix the Fritos into individual servings or just serve it as a dip because I'm afraid the leftovers will be soggy. 

I got in a spring/crafty mood tonight and got the sewing machine out of the closet to try to make a bunny tea towel.  (I don't really know how to make ruffles--there is probably a much simpler way.)  I used a fabric scrap from something I'd done for Alexee a long time ago, added a strip of grosgrain ribbon and sewed a button on for the tail.  Can't wait for spring!  The weather keeps teasing us...we've had some 60+ degree days lately, but then Wednesday we had sleet and yesterday it was cold and rainy and it even hailed a few times!  It seems like a long time since the lawns have been pretty and green.

The kids wanted to have a sleepover in Rhett's room again tonight.  When I left the room, R and C were in the bed and A was in her sleeping bag writing by flashlight.  :)

Have a good weekend!

Playgrounds and Presidents

It was a four-day weekend here due to a teacher work day on Friday and parent/teacher conferences (Presidents Day) on Monday.  Friday night Alexee had her first friend sleepover--she was SO excited! They were super sweet and so good.  I never even asked them to brush their teeth or get in bed...they just did both on their own.  I went up to check on them around 8:45 and they were in their sleeping bags watching The Little Mermaid.  They also played dress up, played with Joey the guinea pig a lot and had a tea party with dolls.  I think they had fun!  Rhett had a great time spending the night with our neighbor too.  He learned to make music videos with an app that Nate has on his phone, so Rhett and Alexee had been making a lot of those this weekend.

On Saturday, Crosby had fun at an indoor playground birthday party for his friends Cole and Reid.  I thought he looked cute in his party hat.  :)  I'm so glad he has these little friends his age to play with!

We got outside and enjoyed the sunshine and beautiful weather Sunday after C's nap.  We went to the church playground, then they rode their scooters in the parking lot and ran around in the sand at the volleyball area.  They didn't want to leave.

That night they were all going to have a sleepover in their sleeping bags in Rhett's room.  Crosby decided later that he would be more comfortable in his own bed, but he had fun hanging out with them for a while.  Here they are all cozy playing games:

Monday was cool and rainy so we had to stay inside.  That morning we made George Washington crafts for Presidents Day.  It's messy, but they always LOVE to get out the paints.

Rhett helped Crosby write a sentence on his.  Alexee is learning to sound out words:  "George married Martha and was our first president."  :)

Valentines Week

Rhett was out of school Monday due to some sort of rash, but he didn't feel bad (just itchy) so he went back to school on Tuesday.  He had a busy day that day and actually didn't want to miss.  He was scheduled to work at the EAST candy gram table at 7:15, his GT group was doing their skit for all the 3rd grade classes, and he had an after-school math club meeting.  I was at the school laminating place mats for the Kindergarten party and finished just in time to stop by the dining room to have lunch with him.  We sat at the guest table alone, and it was nice to get to hear about his day.

As a Valentine activity, one afternoon we tried this craft.  It wasn't as simple as it looked.  Our towers were all leaning and collapsed several times.  I was telling them about the Eiffel Tower being in Paris, the City of Love, and that it is said to be the most romantic city on earth.  Alexee found that hard to believe and said, "Even more romantic than ARKANSAS!??"  :)  

Even though they didn't stay standing for long, it was fun...and of course they were all happy to help with clean up by eating the cookies and icing.

I found this old picture to help them know what to build:

October 2000--I can't believe it's been that long ago.

In preparation for the school parties, Alexee and I cut out and glued LOTS of hearts on the placemats for her classmates.  We used the photo prop pictures for them too.

Snickerdoodle treat bag valentines for A's class
 Owl valentines for C's class

Bubble gum valentines for R's class

They also made cards to give to Mrs. Jillian when she came to babysat during Bible study this week.  :)

Alexee helped me make this little burlap heart for Jillian too.

Thursday morning they each had a gift to open at breakfast--books and puzzles, heart pencils and jellybeans.

Both A's and R's classes were doing ice cream sundae parties at 1:00.  I went to set up for A's party first.  

Mrs. D helped the kids do this fun activity to go along with making their sundaes.  

Then I went to Rhett's room for the 3rd grade party.  They were all busy looking at their cards from each other, and they also had ice cream sundaes.

ice cream bar and Mrs. C's festive decorations

Then we went to pick up Crosby.  He was happy to show us his bag of cards and treats, too.  (One of his favorites was Tucker's ninja valentine--he thought it was so funny.)  He'd had a fun day!

At home they had more special cards waiting in the mail from Grandparents, which they loved!

It was a really nice, warm afternoon so we played outside with friends for a while.  Alexee, Addison and Caroline drew a huge caterpillar with sidewalk chalk.

This was my 12th year to make cherry pie for Lane on Valentine's Day. We laughed about the fact that I don't really even like these pies, but it's tradition! :)

Hope you had a Happy Valentine's Day!

Mardi Gras Party

Our friends Steven and Lianne hosted a Mardi Gras party last Saturday night.  Lianne served several delicious appetizers, wonderful gumbo and king cake for dessert.  I don't think I'd ever eaten king cake until this weekend.  I see them for sale every year and think about buying one, but I never have.  She had a pretty wreath on her front door and had the tables decorated with masks and beads and had extra beads for everyone to wear.  It was a fun night!

This is the only picture I have of people--I wish I'd taken more!

Katie, Mary, Cameron, Lianne, me and Ali

Sweetheart Ball

Lane and Alexee had a special evening on Friday.  They attended the Sweetheart Ball (Daddy/Daughter dance) at school.  Alexee was really looking forward to it.  She said she didn't want to dance, but she couldn't wait to get all dressed up, have a date with her Daddy, eat dessert and see her friends!

That afternoon she took an early bath, then I helped her paint her nails and dry and straighten her hair.  She wanted her hair straightened with the flat-iron, no curls.  It was really fun helping her get ready!

She loved having a corsage--she just kept looking at it, and you could tell that she was trying to hold her wrist just right in all the pictures.  Precious!  

Don't they look so pretty and so handsome!

I'm thankful for their sweet bond.

 

She was two in the portrait hanging on the wall behind them.  She's growing up WAY too fast--makes me sad.

I drove Lane crazy reminding him to take pictures at the event!  He did great though.  :)

She had fun seeing all her friends, too:

She and Kylie were looking at their matching silver shoes.  :)  

Maylee was showing her corsage to Alexee.  M's mom told me that she just couldn't believe that she got to wear real flowers on her wrist for the party!  Too cute!

With Addison

What a memorable night for these precious girls and their dads!

***

I offered to take the boys out for dessert that night, but they decided they wanted to hang out at home in their pjs and make strawberry milkshakes!  So that's what we did!  I enjoyed my time with them too.