Random Tid Bits

1. Isaak has had a sub for 2 days in Math. It's been so nice. Zero homework. I feel quite a bit more free.


2. The day Isaak had in school suspension, for playing essentially tag when he was in Walking Club he got all his homework done. Travis said he should have that more often. Um no! I emailed the Boy's Dean, as did Travis, and we both never got a response. Insert eye roll.


3. Mica's so smart in school, but does the craziest things. The other night I had him helping me make Chicken Quesadillas, with some toppings.
   
   I asked him to spray the Quesadilla pan. What does he do? He starts spraying the top of the Quesadilla maker, and not the grill part. Ya I did a face palm! Then I told him about the fictional character Amelia Bedelia. I find myself snapping at him a lot. He's a sweet kid, but just does the most dingy things!
   
   
   
   
   At least the Quesadillas turned out good!
   
   

   

   
   
4. Another day Mica was being critical about how I peel eggs. Travis suggested I boil a whole bunch, and let him peel them. He thought I did them just fine! I did just that. When I posted about this on FB I got a bunch of comments on how to make eggs. I can make and peel them just fine. Since Mica commented about them, it's his job now.
   
   He held the eggs as high as he could, dropped them, then peeled them. Hey whatever works son. I could care less about his process. It's a lesson...you complain, you get to do the job.
   
   
   
   
   
5. Mica has a partner for Science Olympiad, which is an extra curricular thing. Mica made arrangements that we would pick her up last Saturday at 10. I went to go pick her up. It takes about 15 minute to get to her house. When I got there she wasn't even up out of bed. She bowed out.
   
   I told Mica if it were him, he'd have to get up, and get ready in 7 minutes. Her Mom handled it differently, which is fine. She was grounded. Mica said she cried. He told her it's ok. I said, "I wouldn't have told her that." He said, "Mom if I would have said something harsh she would never talk to me again. She's sensitive." How would you have handled that if you were her parents? 
   

Egg Toss

My Aunt Sam loves Easter. It's one of her favorite holidays. She divides the kids up into two groups - including the biggest kids in college, and high school. They have to take a spoon with an egg in it and go touch my Aunt Becky, and go back to the next person in line. The process continues. If they drop their egg, they get another egg, but it slows them down. Whichever group is done first wins.

That's not the only game played. Our generation has to throw an egg back and forth to our husband. After each throw we have to take a step back. If someone's spouse isn't there a high schooler steps in. 

I got hit hard. Travis' nail hit it, and I caught it, but it broke in my hands. Talk about a mess! I even had egg in my hair. Yuck!

The kids have an egg hunt. It's mostly eggs filled with money, and random prizes. Some I've donated in the past with blog winnings.

Run Mica run!

Isaak runs from the camera. That kid only poses for pictures on his terms these days.

Playing a Trick on Mica

Mica hates eggs. We make him eat them anyhow. Poor kid!

He's hungry all the time, so at breakfast he either has eggs, almonds, pumpkin seeds, cottage cheese, or plain Greek yogurt. The last two we don't have nearly as much as we used to because it seems the boys and I have some issues with milk. It's not to the point where we're out of commission when we have dairy. We just have stomach issues.

Back on Topic:

Isaak and I went to the store this weekend. I saw these eggs that I've never gotten before - ever.

Nor would I even think of buying them - usually. I looked at the Chocolate Covered Marshmallow Eggs and said, "Hey Isaak do you want to play a trick on Mica?" He was most certainly in. 

We bought the eggs, and decided that I'd offer an egg to Mica. We both knew he'd say, "NO!" Then I'd give everyone else in the family an egg, Mica would see what kind of egg they were getting, and be mad that he didn't get one. 

That folks is how it went down. My scenario was so right. Isaak couldn't stop laughing.

Don't feel too bad for Mica! He did end up getting 3 chocolate covered marshmallow eggs.

Happy Easter!!!

I hope everyone that celebrates Easter has fun!

A few nights ago we dyed Easter eggs. It was our first time doing this at home.

Isaak was impatient, and only stuck his eyes in the dye for the matter of seconds. Mica kept mixing all the colors together, and wanting the color I was using. No we didn't end up with perfection.

Despite the craziness, the boys had a whole lot of fun. That's what was ideal anyhow. 

Isaak was so excited to dye Easter eggs!

 Mica was in a silly mood. Note the silly face he's making. What a goof!

Both boys were fascinated about the dye pills fizzing in the vinegar.

The end result. Isaak wanted his to stay out on display. I said, "Nope they have to go in the refrigerator. We'll eat them later." His eyes swelled up with tears. He said, "But I want to keep them forever." Poor little guy!

Easter

I'm saving all my good photos for my WW. Come back here on Tuesday night if you want to see them.

A few weeks ago I had Isaak and Mica's pictures taken with their fancy Easter duds on.

I'm not too crazy about the dark shadows below their hats in the next one. The boys like the next one the best though.

 Here's Isaak at the mall.

How was Easter for you? It was good on our end. 

I go a little overboard with holidays. The Easter Bunny I have a scavenger hunt every year. I was smart and had my station downstairs this year. Laundry was done, while I stuffed eggs. Daddy was in the kitchen, so no one would have a chance of seeing me. I hid eggs in their closets, while it was still awake time. The boys were outside playing; when I did that. Each hiding area had one main egg with a clue to the next hiding area and a dollar coin for each kid. The clues don't give them a direct answer as to where to go next. They have to think.

One year I did, "Rub a dub, dub 6 eggs are hiding in the __________." Then they have to figure out it was the tub, go find the eggs and get the next clue.

This year I decided to get a little harder. I had one that said, "I like to hop down the __________. Go find 8 yellow eggs." Well they put on their shoes and went outside to go look on the hill in the backyard. It was down the steps inside. That's ok, they got their exercise. They finally figured it out. They love the hunts. It does take some thinking on my part though. I kind of have to do a lot of it on the spot because otherwise even I get confused as to how many eggs I was supposed to be put here or there.

This year I hid less candy. Other eggs had mini erasers that were truck shaped in them; that I found at the dollar store. Isaak was really excited about them! Then the dollar coins were special to. I found blue stuffed bunnies for a dollar each at the dollar store to. Mica's asked for a blue bunny to match his blue bunny he got from preschool. I don't know why he wanted it. He's not a stuffed animal kid, but that's always been his favorite. He was very clear that it had to be a blue, boy bunny. Try finding that! They got 2 movies, an outfit and 2 DS games I got for a major deal at Christmas time.

The boys got to watch Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, which they got from the Easter bunny. It's not my pick of a movie, but I knew they would love it! Daddy finally came to life (he's not a morning person at all!); he talked to Mica about the artists the turtles were named after.

While they were watching their movie, I made the veggie tray for my aunt's house. It was 4 sections that looked like this:

Mini Sweet peppers flowers with cheese stamens and celery grass.

 Radish flowers with celery grass.

Mini carrots and cheese carrots; I cut out with a cookie cutter. More celery grass.

I made beer bread to.

Then we headed off to my Aunt Sam's house. There, we had a big meal, another egg hunt for the kids and an egg toss for the middle generation (which would be me!) I dropped the egg many times and it never broke. I caught the egg and it broke all over me. YUCK! I think my aunt should have given me warning that, that was to take place. I would have brought a change of clothes!

Here's my bucket head son!

By the end of it all the boys were tired and whiny. Isaak tried running from me when it was time to leave. He cried about having wrinkly hands in the bath again. This time he was like, "What's going to happen to me now Mom? Tell me!" Me saying, "Nothing." didn't fix his issue. He cried harder.

Mica begged to watch Madagascar 3. I kept saying, "No. If you are going to keep whining about wanting to watch that, you will go directly to bed." It was 6:30. He said, "Mom I'm not whining!" Then he said, "Ok if I stop whining can I watch it?" Total contradiction there! Mica also tried to argue with me about how we never ate lunch. We had a huge meal at my aunt's house! Then when we got home we had veggies, crackers and cheese for dinner. Somehow he forgot about all that.

Bedtime was at 7:30 last night.

Easter With the Extended Family

I wish I would have taken photos of the cheese/veggie tray I made! I spent awhile on it. It was cute. Oh well. Maybe I'll make the same thing next year.

The boys were bouncing off the walls all morning. They just couldn't wait to get over to Great Aunt Sam's house! I wouldn't let them eat very much candy. Mica's tummy hurt the night before. They already had coffee cake, which was loaded with sugar as well.

I knew there would be a hunt at Great Aunt Sam's house as well.

 Isaak wouldn't look up for a second!

Here's cousin Emerson during the hunt. He didn't hunt much. He just sat there and looked cool in the sunglasses I reviewed.

Aunt Terra helped the boys dye eggs.

We were explaining to Great Aunt Marsha that Isaak gives looks! Look that the photo above. Perfect example of one of Isaak's looks!

The boys got these planes from their hunt. They wouldn't fly well, but they kept trying and carried them around all over. Later on they got taken away by Daddy. Isaak and Mica were fighting with them like they were swords. BOYS!

Mica lost his 2nd front tooth on Friday. I sang a few times, "All I want for Easter is my two front teeth..."

We Got Caught!

Saturday afternoon:

• I went grocery shopping.
• I made Dirt Brownies. The boys were so excited about the gummy worms! 
• I spent some time making wrist bands and handkerchiefs for the boys. They loved the the wrist bands and could have cared less about the handkerchiefs.

I kept looking at the time. It was getting late. Dinner needed to get done, so I make these yummy veggie chicken nuggets. I used fresh spinach and carrots instead of frozen mixed veggies. I also make my own bread crumbs. The boys gobbled them up!

I spent most of the Saturday evening making a cheese/veggie tray. It was for our big lunch with extended family on Easter. I was crazy and cut out cheese with a bunny and carrot cookies cutters I have. That took awhile. What took even longer was cutting out the flower radishes. I cut out thin strips of celery to mimic grass. Everything looked very pretty. Guess what? I forgot to take a photo! I just want to slap myself in the face for that!

I also made a coffee cake. Not something I normally make. Easter comes only once a year. I messed it up and only did the first part. Daddy said, "Just let us eat that!" I'm like, "No!" I made it right. Yep I can be stubborn!  He said, "Let's just eat cereal." I said, "No!"

By the time the cheese/veggie tray was put together, dishes were done, coffee cake made and laundry was done it was 11 pm. Daddy came up from working in the garage and thought I'd be practically done with everything, hunt and all. I said, "NOPE I haven't even started the hunt!"

He started helping me. I sent him off to make bunny foot prints on Mica's drawing that he left by the front door.

I thought they were pretty good and believable for Easter Bunny prints!

Plastic eggs were all over the kitchen floor and the hunt was started. I came up with the clues and Daddy was stuffing eggs like mad. We had stuff everywhere.

Daddy was in the process of hiding some outside on the front porch.

THAT'S WHEN IT HAPPENED...I heard Mica walking down the hall!

I have to say that Mica and Isaak are SOUND sleepers. They only wake up if they are sick or having a bad dream. Well Mica was having tummy issues. Needless to say, I was not expecting him to wake up!

I'm so I'm quick with fibbing! Not that I practice lying on a regular basis!

Mica looked my way in the kitchen and said with a glow in his eye, "Mommy why are their eggs all over the kitchen floor?"

I said, "Well Mica you almost caught the Easter Bunny! He left that mess there because he heard you get up! He didn't know what to do, so he hopped away." Daddy actually had to chase him out the front door."

Mica went back to bed. We hurried to get done. We were almost done anyhow. 

One of the last clues said, "Gee wiz Mica, you almost caught me! Your Daddy had to chase me out of the house. Please pick up the mess I left in the kitchen. ;) Find your final prize where you keep the towels."

In the morning Mica bought everything. He was so excited that the Easter Bunny left prints on his drawing. He cleaned up all the eggs the Easter Bunny left all over the kitchen. ;)

Next time I'm pouring all the eggs and candy out on our bed. I'm locking the door to. That's what I did last year. I was in such a hurry, I just wasn't careful enough.

Hippity Hoppity Easter's on it's Way

I've been pretty relaxed about Easter this year. Usually I just put the hunt together the day or night before. I find if I do it too far ahead I get confused trying to figure out which eggs I was going to hide where.

The hunt I put on makes them think. I put clues in one master egg that stands out because it's bigger or a different color then the rest and give them a clue where to go to find the next set of eggs. The boys really get into it.

Mica loves the hunt so much that he asks me to put on a scavenger hunt for their cousins Evan and Elijah and then Mica and Isaak all join in. Maybe later in May we will do just that. Usually that hunt is just written clues that lead them all over the place just to find a special snack. I warn them ahead of time what the hunt is for. I make sure they know it's just for fun and not to get all kinds of candy or toys.

Back to Easter- I have to decide crazy spots to hide things. Mica wrote a letter to the Easter Bunny asking him to put Mica and Isaak's names on the eggs. I told Mica that I don't know where the Easter Bunny lives, so I couldn't send the letter out. So far the Easter Bunny just hid even number of eggs. Do I spend the time writing their names on the eggs, or do I just do what the Easter Bunny has always done?

We are having a big get together with extended family on Sunday. We'll eat two big meals and the kids will have another hunt there. I still have to decide what to bring to eat. I want to do one veggie dish for sure. I will probably do an additional veggie dish because we're usually lacking in veggies. I want one to be more Easter{ish}:

Source

I may just cut out slices of different cheeses then use a cookie cutter to cut out bunnies. Then put veggies and crackers on the same plate. I'll just have to see what I have time for.

I made brownies for Daddy's work today. I frosted them, put cookie crumbs on top of the frosting and put my carrot cookies on top. The boys were so jealous and wanted some in the worst way. One of those may be made for Sunday's dessert as well. That was ubber easy! It literally took only minutes to make. Minus the baking time, oh and I dropped an egg on the floor! YUCK!

We may have the Tooth Fairy and the Easter Bunny both visiting on the same night. That happened with the Tooth Fairy and Santa. Mica's bound and determined for that to happen.

What are your Easter plans?

Today I'm Returning Some Things!

When we had Mica's conferences I met the boys up at Mica's school. Well I didn't know they walked. I had stuff I bought from the Easter Bunny in the vehicle {not hidden well at all}. After conferences Daddy said, "Ok get in the Pilot." Mica saw everything. Today I'm returning it all.

No "Loop de loop" otherwise known as a Hula Hoop for Isaak. No Dove chocolate bunny's boys.

Instead Daddy picked up two $25 ukulele's. Isaak's been asking for a violin. Mica thinks he knows how to play the guitar.

They both think they are Kung Fu Masters as well. For some reason watching Ku Fu Panda, makes them proficient in Kung Fu.

We talked to two people that teach ukulele lessons and asked what to get them? They mentioned the ones Daddy got {which were on the cheaper end}. They are tunable.

I got Melissa and Doug garden tools for blogging around Christmas time. They are the line below. Imagine a few more tools.

Source

Gee, can you tell I'm a toy hoarder?  I pull them out for random occasions as presents. I usually don't hand over my blog winnings or earnings. I stash them away for special times.

I'm only getting the boys a little candy this year. The rest will be Annie's Bunny crackers. They have different flavors. The different flavors will go in different colored plastic eggs. We'll still have a scavenger hunt. The Easter Bunny hides in one special egg a clue for the next spot to find many eggs. They have to think to find them. The boys dig that! An example of a clue is: "Rub a dub dub 5 eggs are hiding in the ____." This hunt usually happens the night before. I have trouble thinking ahead. I get confused as to what eggs go where. It's better to be creative and spontaneous the night before. I might even make a few nests that look like this for the final prize.

Coloring Eggs

I have to be honest, I haven't dyed Easter eggs since I was probably 10 years old. I really did not know what I was doing.

I let Aunt Terra help them with this since it was her that wanted to dye them anyhow. ;)

Isaak was more into this then Mica.

Easter Morning

It was so hard getting pictures of the boy's on Easter morning. They were so excited, and running around like crazy.

 Mica was especially stoked. The only shots I got of him were with his head looking down on the ground for eggs and his backside.

Then we had another hunt at Great Aunt Sam's house. Thanks to Great Aunt Becky {Easter Bunny}.