Up The Irish

We had a fun St. Patricks Day this year. The kids were super excited and talked me into having a little party for the kids in our neighborhood. We started the day off with Irish Pancakes which didn't go over as well as I had planned - they didn't like them :( Kami had her friend Adriel come over and they decorated cupcakes and cookies. Then we did it again in the afternoon!
It was a little crazy but that's pretty normal for us IRISH! The kids are really proud to be 1/2 Irish and told their friends that they didn't have to wear green because their blood is green! lol....... ah now, Dad you'd be proud! Ryan made a leprechaun trap for school and was seriously excited that "Lucky" showed up and caused some havoc in their classroom. I think he relates to the mischief of the leprechauns. We never make Corn Beef and Cabbage - mostly because I dont like it - so we just had a regular dinner. I did wear my 100% Irish Button, even to the gym. I guess Im pretty proud to be Irish. My friend asked me if I consider myself more Irish or American or both (because I do have US citizenship). I told her that I would never mention to anyone that Im "American" without saying I was born and raised in Ireland but I would say to people that "I'm Irish" and not mention my US citizenship....sooooo???? I dont know...Im proud of my US citizenship and feel patriotic about America but Irelands in my heart and always will be.

Good Morning World

I woke up early today to go to Walmart - my 2nd home - we needed milk, bread, eggs - the basics you know? When I left and walked out the doors of the store, the sun hit me in the face - blinding me - and I had the thought - WHAT IN THE HECK AM I DOING HERE WHEN THE SUN IS COMING UP? Suggestions appreciated........

5 Minute Chocolate Mug Cake

4 TBsp Flour

4 TBsp Sugar

2 TBsp Cocoa

1 Egg

3 TBsp Milk

3 TBsp Oil

3 TBsp Chocolate chips (optional)

A small splash of vanilla extract

1 Large Coffee Mug

Add dry ingredients to mug and mix well. Add the egg and mix thoroughly. Pour in the milk and oil and mix well again. Add the chocolate chips (if using) and vanilla extract and mix again. Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes at 1000 watts. The cake will rise over the top of the mug, but dont be alarmed! Allow to cool a little, and tip out into a place if desired. EAT!! (this can serve 2 if you want to be slightly more virtuous)

We did this for Family Home Evening last Monday and the kids had such fun making their own personal cakes. I think they enjoyed watching it rise more than eating it. Baili was there also we just didn't get a picture of her cake. It was a lot of fun and super easy.....try it with your kids.

Sticky Notes

Baili has been on me for a few days - ok maybe like a week or so - to do somethings that are of national security! I know lots of you loved her sticky notes before and Ive a feeling there are more to come. She gave me this note the other day:


Things you need to accomplish tomorrow:
Get Baili a check-up (glasses)
Get Baili's camera developed
And be a happy camper!


Am I being micro-managed?

Free PHOTO Giveaway

Leave a comment on Lynettes blog and be entered in her drawing for free GREAT stuff. Mention my name in your comment, even if you live outta state. Shes the one that did our family pix that I love. She's very talented. Heres a sample of some you haven't seen ....

The Immigrant Baili

what's up people!!!! This is Baili. I just wanted to say that a couple weeks ago, me and my madra'e went to California for a G.A.T.E. field trip! I was so excited until I found out that the whole thing was about work. Better yet the captain was role playing to be MEAN! so.....here are some pix of me on the boat AMERICAN PRIDE! so fun!

Three crazy peas in a pod...one explorer, one calm one and one cute chick...ME!

This is paradise, no it's just me and my mamma!

This is me trying to hid the fact that I had to sleep
in my bunk alone and not with Siona.
Anyways do you like the stain in the back?

look at how little the beds are that they gave

us! mom could barely fit !hahaha.....L.O.L.

This is me and my captain.

He said he did not want to take pix, so mom did.

The reason I was not too close to him is because I was afraid of him.!j.k.

Trying to be organized

I've mentioned before that I used to be very particular about my house and was known (at least within my family) for my organization skills! It all went out the door by the time baby #2 rolled in and Ive pretty much let things go since then. I just can't seem to stay on top of my house. Once I get going I don't mind cleaning and I still have the remains of an "organization queen" so I enjoy purchasing stuff to organize - but do I ever actually get it off the ground and into a system....umm not really. Over the years Ive tried different things like "LAUNDRY DAY"....should work right? Well it didn't really for me. I guess we have too much laundry for just one day and I iron (which seems to be a task of the past for most people I talk to) so that is like another chore unto itself - too much for one day. Anyway....I found this neat little system on Andrea's blog and loved it. The original idea is @ Sherbet Blossom and she explains how this simple little "system" works. So, any opportunity to bust out the un-used scrapbook paper is always exciting and my inner crafty chick started jumping for joy! This is what I created! It's simple and I just printed my tasks for the week but used her ideas as a guide. I also switched some of the days to work with my schedule - gym time is muy importante! I cleared off my bedside table and it sits there waiting daily for the fun to begin......

Last week wasn't exactly perfect but I did feel a sense of order as I followed a smaller daily list. I didn't get the fridge cleaned out or the cupboards wiped down but I did get bathrooms & floors cleaned which was an improvement from the past. I also liked the morning & night routine which kept me focused on the daily stuff. If you look real close on Wednesday, you'll see it says "Birthday Cards" so for those of you who normally get a b'day card a week after your birthday - times are looking up!

Fingers crossed - either way you know I love ya......

Scouting About

Jacob LOVES Boy Scouts. There's 5 boys his age that are good friends and attend scouts together. We drive carpool with three of them and I'm here to testify that they're a rowdy bunch and I honestly don't know how the Wilcox's control them for den meetings. I have *often* yelled at them on the way home from school to "SHUUSH UP" because I can't hear myself on the phone, and Baili just rolls her eyes now and tells me to hurry it up to get them all home. lol

However.....I love that they are good kids and have great bonds with each other. I think having good friends in your life is so important. It's nice that Jacob has a core group of fun boys to do stuff with.

We had a great time at Blue & Gold Dinner this year. The scouts were each arrested and put in Jail until someone "vouched" for them and they got out. Jacob was awarded the "MOST STITCHED UP award" because of his recent visit to the hospital for stitches.

Hotel California