Extreme Couponing (sort of)

Brady started couponing in March.  I have to say I was a little skeptical at first, but he really has gotten some great deals!!  Not exactly like Extreme Couponing the show, but Brady does like to watch the show and dream.  :)

Here's a pic of his receipt from his first BIG couponing trip.  At least every other line (maybe more than that) is a coupon deduction!  The receipt was longer than John Brady and Abby!

Once when we were watching Extreme Couponing, Abby asked why all the "couponers" were women.  Brady said because men aren't any good at it!

She found her niche

Abby takes guitar lessons and really enjoys it.  John Brady takes karate and enjoys it most of the time.  Emma has been without an activity since last December.  Ever since my dad bought horses Emma has been in love with them so what better way to foster her newfound love than to take horseback riding lessons!

Emma had a terrific first riding lesson this week!  Christie is her instructor and she is super nice.  I hope we didn't scare her when Emma's entourage showed up for the first lesson!  My dad took off work so he could be there for her first lesson and of course, mom came with him.  Emma, Abby, John Brady, me, mom, and dad all sat "corralside" watching every move.  It was all so interesting.  Makes me want to take lessons myself!  :)

I think Emma did just great for a first lesson!  Of course, I might be a tad bit biased.  ;)  After Emma chose a horse named Leon to ride, Christie first taught Emma how to saddle and tack him.  Emma even had to scrape and clean his hooves.  After her lesson, Emma had to remove the saddle and the tack and then take Leon to the shower stall and wash him.  Emma will be responsible for doing all of this at each lesson which I think is great!

Riding Leon like a pro!  

Emma guided Leon around each post all by herself!

And when John Brady wasn't playing with the crickets Papa brought for him, he was all about Christie's two little Jack Russell dogs, Patty and Penny.

Whatever Wednesday

So I am sick with a UTI.  Yuck.  Hate them.  I've been working from my big chair with my feet propped up on my ottoman.  My kids are semi behaving which has been great.  They've also been at my beck and call.  Brady was able to come home and cook a yummy lunch for us.  So thankful for our flexible jobs!

Some of my thoughts while being a bit under the weather:

• Have you read the blog, Our Eyes Opened?  They are church friends of ours and their story is amazing.  Start from the beginning. 
• I did a photo session last week with some wonderful children who are up for adoption.  Very emotional.
• Brady and I are enjoying our Monday date nights.  Very thankful for grandparents!
• I am so ready for our beach trip and beach pictures!
• I'm thinking about selling picture frames at my studio.
• Emma starts horseback riding lessons tomorrow!
• Trying to decide what color to paint John Brady's American flag bedroom and Emma's horse themed bedroom.
• I miss Hobby Lobby.
• My kids seriously crack me up!

Happy Wednesday!

29 Painted Ladies

For Christmas my mom gave the kids butterfly growing kits so they could grow butterflies in the spring.  About a month ago, 30 Painted Lady larvae (10 for each kiddo) arrived in our mailbox. The kids were so anxious to put the larvae in their butterfly pavilions, but had to wait through the larval stage and then the pupal stage.  So the kids opened their extra large pavilions (yes, my mom spoils them way too much!), put them in their rooms, and waited anxiously.

After about 2 weeks, the chrysalids formed so it was time for them to be moved into the pavilions.  Once the butterflies emerged, the kids were responsible for feeding their butterflies until it was time to release them.  Each of them mixed water and sugar in a bowl.  Then they placed a paper towel inside to soak up the mixture.  The butterflies would land on the paper towel and suck the sugar-water.

All of the larvae survived except one of Emma's.  So we had 29 butterflies at one time! We decided to have the grand releasing last weekend.  Since the butterflies had been sharing living space with Domino and John Brady, I'm sure they were more than ready to be released!  

the chrysalids

removing the butterflies from the XL pavilions

Abby's smile was priceless as she watched one of her Painted Ladies fly away

pondering the flight of butterflies OR scheming about what he's going in the pavilion next!

one of Emma's wanted to hang around for a while

the kids were so worried about this one; he was missing a wing

Watching the larvae develop into beautiful Painted Ladies was amazing!!  I highly recommend it!!

We took time to appreciate our teachers

We participated in the Apples of Gold Teacher Appreciation Banquet at our church back in April.  The church supplies the table, the white tablecloth, and the dinner.  We bring everything else, from the flatware, cups, and plates to the decorations.  Apples of Gold has become a fun little project I share with Joy each year.  Thank you again, Joy!  This year we decided to do a candy themed table so we decorated the table with Emma's, Abby's, and John Brady's favorite candies.  The candy made the table so bright and cheery!  I decided to get a little creative and make caramel apples to place in each plate.  They turned out really cute, but let's just say I will probably never make caramel apples again!  :)

My apple didn't turn out so well.  Actually, it didn't turn out at all.  Mine is the one on the left behind the yellow cup.  It's an impostor.  :)

Emma with Mrs. Hewitt and Mr. Hewitt

Abby with Mrs. Morgan and Maitland

John Brady with Mrs. Cole and Mrs. Galloway

Brady watched little Maitland (or rather Maitland watched as Brady make funny car sounds) while Mrs. Morgan went through the dinner line.

I do believe Brady still has the hang of it!  It's really not too late to add to our brood, honey!  ;)

A huge thanks to all of our teachers!!  You made the 2010-2011 school year a success!!

Thanks Daddy!!

Whatever Wednesday

I've been trying to come up with some healthier snacks for my bunch.  Lucky for me, my kids love fruit and they love peanut butter.  I found a fruit/veggie dip that was made from combining peanut butter and cool whip.  I love any recipe that sounds yummy and only has two ingredients!  I mixed a half cup peanut butter with a half cup of cool whip and boy, was it yummy!  I can't wait for my kiddos to try it!

Whole grains, whole grains, whole grains!  I hear this all the time on commercials, ads, cereal boxes,  etc.  I don't like whole grain bread (unless it's slathered with Amish butter).  I bought sandwich rounds (essentially pita bread) by Nature's Own.  They were much softer and looked easier to use for a sandwich than whole grain pita bread.  I made a turkey and cheese with a very thin layer of mayo on toasted sandwich rounds.  To add a bit more flavor I added bacon bits.  The sandwich tasted great!  Just wish I could have added a slice of a homegrown tomato on it!  :)

Brady saw my farmers market cookbook and some sweet potatoes on the counter.  He knows what is coming!  hee hee!