Bein' a mom is EXHAUSTING

"Mom, mom, mom - pay attention to me, no me - I'm boooooored - What are we gonna do now? Can I have another snack (#26 this morning alone)? Can I play more video games (Hour 20 coming up)? I'm boooooored. What is there to do? What are we doing next? What are we doing tomorrow? Why's it gotta rain EVERY DAY? Did I mention I'm booooooored?"

All this after I meticulously planned an activity PACKED "summer camp" for my 2 sons and niece for 5 straight weeks. THIS is day 5. Oh joy.

We went to see Alvin and the Chipmunks at the movie theater today. FREE family film fest at Regal and all. So, the morning went like this. "I have to pee." (Of course you do, we just sat down and if we get up an entire summer camp full of children will steal our seats). Then Logan unwittingly rested his hand in the cup holder and pulled back a hand full of ABC gum, which he proceeded to get EVERYWHERE in an attempt to get it off. Then Cai had to pee. Pull down the pants, sit him back far enough on the potty - wasn't expecting the full force jet stream to come shooting out and completely SOAK his underwear. SO, off the underwear come and Cai goes commando for the rest of the film. "I'm hungry. I'm thirsty. I finished off everything within the first 30 seconds of the movie, can I have more now?" Kid next to me jumping all over his chair and later, me. Wanted to STRANGLE said kid, almost did.

Let's see...pool, playground, craft time, video game time, cartoons, cooking class (check out the AWESOME homemade pizza!), dancing lessons, reading time.....and they're still boooooored.


Now, those who know me KNOW I am by NO MEANS a crafty mom. But, you gotta admit, these are pretty darn cool! The kids were so obsessed with Kung Fu Panda that we made our craft day all about the Panda. Paper bag and construction paper puppets...Po, Tai Lung and Tigress to start. Tomorrow they're gonna try to recreate Viper, Master Monkey and Mantis.


Okay, off to make Blueberry Pork Chops.....don't ask.

Slip 'N Slide.....Wham-O!

There is nothin' better than a Slip 'N Slide on a spectacular summer day. Especially when the kids have the brilliant idea of propelling themselves down a Little Tykes Slide and onto the Slip 'N Slide track for even faster fun! The after dinner sun provided some fantastic light in which to catch the gorgeous colors! Again, please to enjoy....

Kids Cook!

Tonight was the kid's first cooking class and what better way to kick it off than with a ridiculously gooey, nasty dessert? Rocky Road bars and all with no help from the resident adult! Please to enjoy...

Summertime!

Summer is finally here and with it all of the excitement, relaxation, and fun! Unless you're a parent and are the one having to plan, organize, and entertain 3 very "bored" children. ;0) Then vacation is really nothing but work!

So, my niece is spending the summer with us and we have a TON of fun things planned. Everything form craft days to cooking classes, field trips to movie days, a weekend Olympics and a week in which the kids will learn everything about Haiti in prep for Moise & Phoenix's July homecoming. Their crafts will be those of Haitian influence, their cooking classes will center around Haitian food and each day will bring a new Creole word or phrase and little bit of 411 about the country.

The kids are REALLY looking forward to cooking classes and want to film it and make their own cooking blog. We'll give it a go, so check back here for the link to that blog once we get it up and running.

Jasmine's first weekend here consisted of pool time, playing ball in the backyard with uncle Jeremy, Kung Fu Panda (which ROCKED), the awesomeness of 3D chalk on the driveway, board games and FUN FUN FUN!

Check out the pics below and check back often for summer fun updates.

God MUST have a sense of humor....

These are just a few of the weirdest looking animals on the planet. Enjoy!

Nuff Said...

Jolie, the Cockapoo

Killdeer - So cool

Okay, so I know this is random, but I have to take nature where I can get it now that we've moved form the farm. So, while Jeremy and Logan were playing soccer in the backyard over the weekend we heard a very loud, very insistent bird. Our search for the boisterous bird quickly turned up this little girl.

After some googling, I found out she's a Killdeer (thus named because the sound they make sounds like they're saying "kill deer"). Anyway, they are ground nesters and have these beautiful speckled eggs. Whenever perceived predators approach, the mom will run away from the nest a put on a little show. She stumbles around, contorting her wings as if they were broken in an attempt to make herself more appealing to the predator than her precious eggs.

Totally cool little bird. I'm gonna try to keep an eye on her nest to see of I can catch the hatching on film.

And there's your NatGEO lesson for the day!