Sunday, July 26, 2015

Keeper of the Lost Cities {book review}

Dylan is an avid reader.  He falls in love with books, talks about them all the time and even re-reads them. Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger is one of those books. After we went to the library last, Dylan told me that he borrowed a copy from the library for me to read, because "you would really like it".  He's such a sweet boy.
It's a Fantasy Fiction book written for upper elementary/middle school aged kids.  The main character, Sophie, is a 12 year old girl living in San Diego, CA and discovers she is an elf, not a human.  She goes to the elf world attends school there and learns about elf ways and her powers as an elf.  It was a cute book.  I can totally see why Dylan loved it.  It was fun to talk with him about different parts that I was reading and different aspects of the book.
I give it 4 stars!
~
Here's the links to the other 15 books I've read so far in 2015!:
(15) Forevermore - Cathy Marie Hake
(14) Mean Mom's Guide to Raising Great Kids - Joanne Kraft
(13) Into the Deep - Colleen Cole
(12) Fancy Pants - Cathy Marie Hake
(11) The Antelope in the Living Room - Melanie Shankle
(10) Beyond a Doubt - Colleen Coble
(9) And the Shofar Blew - Francine Rivers

(8) The Power of Blessing - David Timms
(7) Emily Ever After - Anne Dayton & May Vanderbilt

(6) Without A Trace - Colleen Cole
(5) Sparkly Green Earrings - Melanie Shankle
(4) Take Four - Karen Kingsbury
(3) The Lipstick Gospel - Stephanie May Wilson
(2) A Little Salty to Cut The Sweet - Sophie Hudson
(1) She's Gonna Blow - Julie Ann Barnhill
~
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Saturday, July 25, 2015

Week #30 {2015}

Sunday. When your a little brother you pick up sayings from your older siblings...
Monday. Some friends met us at the pool and we had a blast.
And we had {THIS} for dinner.
Tuesday. Lately Chris and I have been doing our T25 workouts in the morning. While we workout the kids are usually doing this:
Ry loves when we spike his hair.
Can you guess where we went? 
Payton ran up and asked me to take a picture.
Then Rylan wanted a turn.
Dylan wanted to join in the fun too.
When we got back home they built a house...
for his Skylanders to live in.
As we were driving out of a tract of homes {aka: subdivision} we saw this sign. 
Matthew 22:39
I love living in the South.
When I got home from my book club that night, I found Ry asleep on the floor outside his door.
Wednesday while Dylan was at a game day with his youth group, Payton, Rylan and I made a bunch of waffles, ate some and froze the rest.
Ry got some fun mail from Publix.  He was so excited to have an apron just his size.
Payton also got some fun mail from the Colorado Tooth Fairy {aka my sister, Jeannine}. Isn't this Elsa hat adorable?!?!
Thursday Payton had an eye appointment,
and Ry took some awesome pictures while we were there.
Payton was tripping out over her dilated eyes.
And since it was National Hot Dog Day, we jumped on the bandwagon and ate hot dogs while having a floor picnic.
Friday Rylan said he drew a Hello Kitty as he was putting his crayon above his ear.
Then we went to the pool again.
Rylan has been begging Chris to take him golfing...
So we hit up the Kings Creek putting greens.
Payton took a break and joined me on the porch to rock.
Saturday Chris grilled a beautiful and super yummy lunch.
Then we parted ways.  Chris and Dylan went golfing and Payton, Rylan and I went back to school shopping. {Yes, back to school shopping already... boo!}  Ry was super amped about it, can you tell?
Crazy kids.
We stopped by Sonic on the way home.
Awhile later, the big boys got home, and Chris and I finished the night watching the UFC.
Another great week is in the books!

Wednesday, July 22, 2015

1 John 4:19

Last week at VBS Rylan learned 1 John 4:19. Each night they said it outloud together with hand motions, then they whispered it, said it in a squeaky noise voice and then they shouted it.
This afternoon, Rylan was saying it over and over for a solid hour. 
"First John chapter 4 verse 19 - We love because He first loved us."
This momma's heart is proud.

Monday, July 20, 2015

Pecan Chicken Salad Sandwich {recipe}

Here's another awesome {aka easy} super yummy quick lunch or dinner that I got from my sister, Jeannine, years ago that we make ALL the time. It would also be fantastic to serve at a bridal/baby shower type party. The sweet pop of grapes really makes this chicken salad amazing. Plus serving it on croissants or even squaw bread takes it to a whole new level.

Pecan Chicken Salad Sandwich
{serves 4}

1/2 cup light mayo
1/2 cup light sour cream
1/4 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
1/8 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped
2 - 10 oz cans white chunk chicken
1-1/2 cups red grapes, halved
1/4 cup pecans, chopped

Mix together mayo, sour cream, pepper, salt and dill. Stir in chicken, grapes and pecans.

Serve on croissants or squaw bread. 

Please, please use fresh dill. I've make it with dried and it's just not the same. And I usually just snip it directly into the bowl with kitchen sheers.

You can cook and chop your own chicken {which is fantastic} but using canned makes this a quick throw together meal.
Linking up at: Momfessionals

Saturday, July 18, 2015

Week #29 {2015}

Sunday. Bedtime with Rylan cracks me up. Here he is adjusting Blues Clues.
"Ok I sleep like this." - Rylan
Then as I was walking out he asked for Snoopy and snuggled up like this:
Monday we went to return books to the library. Dylan had re-read these books over the past 2 weeks... Yes, he had already read those books prior and loved them so much he got them again. {Wish I could read that quickly!}
At the library Ry likes to go to the block room to build me a "backyard". The red and yellow blocks are flowers. =)
These two really do love each other... even though 2 seconds later they were bickering! LOL!
This guy got caught taking Dylan's Lego men apart.
I heard about an old gas station that served "Amazing Mexican food "{especially homemade tamales}, so we went to check it out. It's called The Old Oak.
Payton couldn't believe we were eating at a gas station. 
The street tacos were good,
and the tamales were okay. 
but we will stick with eating at Tito's for our Mexican food fix!
~
Tuesday. While we were eating at The Old Oak yesterday, Dylan was playing at a friends house. The friends mom had called me because Dylan had stepped on a ninja star while running in the grass...barefoot. So today {Tuesday} we ended up at the doctors office, to get this cleaned out and a tetanus booster shot. 
He's supposed to compete at a taekwondo tournament on Saturday so the next 4 days are going to be filled with laying on the couch, reading, playing video games and watching tv  to allow his foot as much time to heal as possible. {Yeah, getting a 10 year old boy to do THAT is going to be SO HARD. LOL!}
~
That evening Payton and Rylan had their first night at VBS at our church.
The theme is "How sweet it is to be loved by Him".
While they were at VBS, I went to my book club group thing-e-ma-jiggy and got to see this beautiful sunset on my way back to pick them up.
Wednesday we had some movie stars in the house.
And remember my post about the Busy Day Cake? Well my MOM had been making a similar recipe for years that called for Bisquick! Funny huh?
Side note: Did you know you can get my blog posts emailed to you? Since I don't really post on a set schedule, you can be sure not to miss out on any riveting, life changing things I might blog about. =) Just enter your email address on the right side bar!
~
I volunteered at VBS the next 2 nights and had a good time with the 5 year olds. I got to see Rylan while we were passing in the hallways and at worship time. The 3 year old class is A-DOR-ABLE. I wish I could have gotten video. They were so intense on the dance moves and listening to what the leaders were telling them.
I did find this picture of Rylan online though.
Thursday morning Payton lost another tooth!
And Rylan decorated his bedroom door with Wiki Stix. And was obviously pretty proud of himself!
Thursday night was the last night of VBS and there was a family part at the end.
We sang and danced and the kids pastor spoke for a few minutes.
Ry got bored/tired and wanted to leave because someone told us there was ice cream outside.
And they were right!
Friday morning Payton came down the stairs very excited because the tooth fairy visited.
We watched an episode of Good Eats where Alton Brown made some chocolate waffles...so Dylan jumped up and made a batch himself.
And they were fantastic!
Ry was lining up the video games...again.
Then P and Ry wanted to lay on my back to watch some tv WITH a blanket on...and the heat index is something crazy like 103°.
Saturday we headed out early to the tournament and swung by Dunkin Donuts on the way. I can turn down donuts all day long. I'm not a fan...unless it's a blueberry cake one from DD. Then it's on like Donkey Kong.
Rylan like his donut choice too.
Back at home after the tournament I got some snuggle time with Carmel {and Rylan too}.
And P-Girls and I watched some Gilmore Girls. While there are some not-so-appropriate parts for her to see, I let her watch a little bit {of the good stuff} and she thinks it's the greatest thing ever. She tells me, "Mom, don't you watch Gilmore Girls without me!"
I had taken that picture to send to my sisters who were getting ready for my parents 50th Wedding Anniversary party. They kept sending me pictures and videos of everything they were doing to prepare {since I wasn't going to be there} so I was still involved. Then I got to FaceTime with everyone during the party.  So fun!
~
Linking up at: Momfessionals