Best idea ever

Thank you to my mom and pinterest for this genius idea...

Amazing! Must try now!

image from www.squawkfox.com

I used my mom's advice and tweaked the recipe a little using 1/4 cup kernels and set the microwave for 2 minutes.  Mine popped perfectly with the full two minutes while my mom had to stop hers early.  Just depends on your microwave.  This was the perfect treat for our family movie night as Brendan and I each had our own bag.  He chose to have his popcorn plain and I added a touch of butter and Parmesan cheese to mine.

It tasted just as good as air-popped (which is my favorite way to pop) with the convenience of using your microwave and minimal clean up (the mug I used to melt the butter).  It is so much cheaper which is why I never buy microwave popcorn anyway.  Just brown lunch bag and bag of kernels!

Enjoy.

World Prematurity Awareness Day

Today, November 17th, is World Prematurity Awareness Day.

This is my preemie.  Our son Brendan.  He entered the world unexpectedly early at 30 weeks.  He is now a healthy almost 6 year old and in kindergarten.

One out of every eight babies will be born too soon.  Chances are you know someone who has had a baby born before 37 weeks.  These families may spend countless hours in a NICU or neonatal intensive care unit.  Sadly, some of these parents will come home with empty arms as their babies grow wings. 

So today please say a prayer for all those babies that are born too soon and click here if you would like more information about the March of Dimes.

We could have had a craft show...

We had a pretty impressive "swag table" for our annual girls weekend.

I found this image via pinterest and thought it was perfect for our theme, Mamas and Margaritas

http://thegreenbeanscrafterole.blogspot.com/2011/04/socko-de-mayo.html

Our creations (all goodies found at the Dollar Tree!)

My aunt surprised us with a little something...

a redneck wine glass with a chalkboard base!  She even adorned them with our names.  It is such a fun glass.

Then my sister in law surprised us with these...

Lighted wine bottles!  She's been collecting wine bottles and hoarding strings of lights to create these for all the girls!  This was a bottle I gave her and she just sprayed it with a clear frosted paint and then made different bead designs for each bottle.  I love this so much!

My cousins brought delicious cake pops

Seriously...so good.  I think I ate half of them!

We joked that we could have been at a craft show with all our gifts for one another.  Guess we have a theme for another year!

The girls

My aunt (or my second mother) is very special to me.  I grew up watching her and my mom have such a close and special relationship.  We are lucky to have the type of family where we aren't just moms, sisters, aunts, nieces, daughters, and cousins

We are friends.

This weekend I am lucky enough to be spending time with my aunt, mom, sisters, and cousins.  We are doing nothing but eating, drinking, and laughing.  We tell funny stories about our lives and our past.  We talk about our kids and the goofy things they do.  It is our girls only time.  Time when we don't have to worry about the our everyday life.  We get to unwind and relax. 

It happens one weekend each year.  My mom and my aunt showed us girls the importance of family from an early age and now that we are all grown...we are the best of friends.

Love you guys!

My dad

Today I am honoring my father.  He was a very proud Marine who served his country in Vietnam.  I only ever heard bits and pieces about his time as a Marine and Vietnam. 

He lost his battle with small-cell lung cancer on March 31, 2004.  He was 56.

The only times I can recall him telling me about Vietnam were on a couple of occasions. 

The first being when we were out shopping for my mom's Christmas gifts.  We were at Uno's in Birch Run and I just asked out of curiosity about his time as a Marine.  He quickly told me he was there in 1969 for awhile and then his brother went over there later and he (his brother) was in the Army.

The second being when he had already been diagnosed with cancer and had only a little time left.  He was angry and frustrated and told us he should have just died in Vietnam.  He was the leader of his battalion and lead his men into battle.  He talked about how he watched them die right beside him yet he got out.  He made it home. 

I treasure these stories.  This is a part of his history. 

Brendan loves the American flag just like his Grandpa Paul

God bless all the veterans (past, present, and future).  Thank you for your dedication to our country and for keeping us safe.

The fun "new" Lila

It has happened...

Lila is in the nosharinggimmeitismineandnotyours stage.  Everything is "Eye-ya's".  Even if you are holding it, eating it, reading it, talking on it, or looking at it.  She will march herself up to you and proclaim it as her own. 

My phone.  She thinks it is "Eye-ya's."

My hot coffee.  Hers.  My breakfast. Hers. My book. Hers.

Then when you don't give into her and say "It is mommy's" that is when the claws come out.  I have been slapped, bite, and now scratched by her because I would not give her what I had.  Lila has become very familiar with the time out corner.

She scratched my neck this morning because I turned the Cat in the Hat off for two minutes to watch a special on organ donation on the Today show.  Then she took my phone when I was talking to my mom and declared it "Eye-ya's" and had a conversation with her about Dora.

Her other new favorite word is NO and no is usually followed by "No Eye-ya's" for any of the above.  This happened a lot yesterday when my friend and her three kids stopped over.  Every toy they touched was followed by "No Eye-ya's!"

Not even going to call it the terrible twos because I know what happens after two when they turn three (horrible threes) and then four (horrific fours).  Five has been much easier (thank you kindergarten!)  She is just asserting herself and knows what she wants:)  Plus it is funnier the second time around and especially when she does this to Brendan.

Check and Check!

Over the weekend, Brendan was excited because we were able to start checking some more activities off the bucket list.

First up was decorating and carving pumpkins!  Lila painted her pumpkin while Brendan was at school.  She had so much fun "exploring" the paint.

We carved our pumpkins a couple days later (and after a grouchy Lila went night-night).  I was most excited about the oh-so-delicious pumpkin seeds and Brendan was excited about carving.  He helped me get lots of seeds while Jason cleaned out his pumpkin.  He drew his own face and I helped him carve it out.  He also helped draw my jack-o-lantern face.

Second check was Trick or Treating!  We went to a local church (where our friends attend and Brendan's old preschool) and participated in "Trunk or Treat."  It is such a fun event and there were around 400 people this year!  The kids decorated a bag for collecting treats, walked around the parking lot for trunk or treat, had donuts and cider, and Brendan and Jason went through the haunted tunnel.  Lila was excited to see her best buddy, "Dew".  She stalked him the whole time!

On Halloween, I helped out at Brendan's school for his class party.  They had SO many yummy treats and a fun parade that we ran out of time for the activities/craft!  All the kids in his class are so sweet and his teacher is wonderful.

Last on our list was our neighborhood Trick or Treat.  My mom came over to pass out our candy and we met up with our friends for a few houses.  Brendan was on a mission and would run to any house with a light on and Lila took a slower approach and scored a few extra pieces of candy for being so sweet. 

About halfway through, Brendan declared his legs were tired and we made our way home.  He helped pass the candy out and made sure to tell the kids, "Only one piece!  Only one piece!"  Lila made her way back to our neighbors for a little visit.

We are all exhausted today (at least I am!) and are spending the day relaxing and eating some yummy treats.