Pinterest test--- fire starters

Pinterest, Pinterest, Pinterest.  oh what a time consuming  neat idea!!!!

I know most of you are on it.  It took me a while to start... why?  because I was scared.  Very scared.  I knew it would take up time that I did not have.  I put my feet in the water once, I  admit it, I was a lurker.  i was able to look all around and see what it was about without actually signing up.  Thinking that this was going to help me to not become addicted.  It worked for a little while, but my printer got quite a work out--  you see, i would copy all the cool recipes, ideas etc and then have them all around the house (literally)  THEN Pinterest did this horrible thing---  it went wonky on me and made me sign in, just to lurk!! (at least I couldn't figure out how to) so I did it, I broke down and created a board.  And create I did---  it has exploded with all kinds of ideas that I know I will never do or even plan to do, but makes me feel cool that at least I look as though I could be crafty ha ha.

So, I have actually tried a few of these fun finds on Pinterest.  Some have been great successes, some, well, not so much.  Since most of these are all over all of the boards I thought I would share my successes and failures...  stay tuned, i will try to do it once a week----  but juts know, I am me, and my plans do not always turn out as expected, but try I will!!!

Disclaimer...  Some of the items I have were from the days prior to my board when I just printed out the idea without the source, wish i had the source for some of them, feel bad that i can not give credit where credit is due---  but just know, none of these were from my brain---  i am not that creative.


That being said...... here is my FIRST test...

Fire starters (for lack of a better title)
take an empty toilet paper roll---  we have a LOT of these each week
take lint from the dryer--  again, I think this stuff multiplies over night
put lint into roll and wala---  a perfect little package to start your next fire.

Sounds like a great idea, it is easy (and cheap) enough---  I already have all of the supplies on hand.


Verdict:
We had a cook out dinner tonight.  I was all excited to show Kirk my ingenious invention --he just looked at me with that "really? what is this"  look.  All I  had to do was say "pinterest".  I know he secretly laughs at me, but at least he just smiles and moves on to my face.  I also think he is curious to see if they will turn out -- if nothing else it has gotten me into the kitchen a little more often ha ha
ok, back on track---
It really did not work out very well.  It lit on fire but really did not do the job that I thought it would/should.  Now, there could be a few factors that caused this idea to fail so i will not base it on tonights trial only, we will try it again...
--was it too stuffed full of lint?--- i told you it multiplies overnight so these babies were STUFFED.  Kirk pulled some of the stuffing out and it looked like it might work better
--it was REALLY REALLY REALLY windy.  Did I mention that the wind was blowing? The fire kept being blown out, had it been a less windy night I really feel that this would have taken off.

I have a few more of these left, not sure what I will use them for, camping trip? maybe, we shall see...

mom

A baby asked God, "They tell me you are sending me to earth tomorrow, but how am I going to live there being so small and helpless?" God said, "Your angel will be waiting for you and will take care of you." The child further inquired, "But tell me, here in heaven I don't have to do anything but sing and smile to be happy." God said, "Your angel will sing for you and will also smile for you.And you will feel your angel's love and be very happy." Again the child asked, "And how am I going to be able to understand when people talk to me if I don't know the language?" God said, "Your angel will tell you the most beautiful and sweet words you will ever hear, and with much patience and care, your angel will teach you how to speak." "And what am I going to do when I want to talk to you?" God said, "Your angel will place your hands together and will teach you how to pray." "Who will protect me?" God said, "Your angel will defend you even if it means risking its life." "But I will always be sad because I will not see you anymore." God said, "Your angel will always talk to you about Me and will teach you the way to come back to Me, even though I will always be next to you." At that moment there was much peace in Heaven, but voices from Earth could be heard and the child hurriedly asked, "God, if I am to leave now, please tell me my angel's name." "You will simply call her, "Mom."

Happy Easter 2013

not sure why blogger won't flip my pic...
They clean up so nice don't they?!  Sam is in love with his suit!  He really enjoys wearing it.

Eater basket hunt throughout the house..  so fun! Don't mind the stain stained shorts Sam is wearing...  why is it that the most aweful looking pieces of clothing are the ones pulled out to wear---  every time?

web fight

one of Sam's favorite gifts at Christmas was the Spiderman web shooter.  (basically silly string in a spiderman tube that you strap to your arm and they can charge $8 per can)  It was pretty cool and fun.  I sent the kids outside to try out the shhoter, but I could not send Molly out without arming her as well. I gave her a bottle of plain old silly string.  (actually with the present Sam got a few extra bottles of plain silly string-- it was intended that these bottles could be used with the spiderman get up to save some cash--  they are the EXACT same size, but of course they do not work--- what a SCAM!!!! grrrr-- do you feel my frustration?!)

so, Molly has now decided to check out her can.. mean while she is getting "webbed"

and webbed

and webbed!!!! just check out that sweet mischeivious grin Sam has on his face!!!

So cool!!!

Now time for the stand off...

and now she gets the hang of it....

both attack one another

until it turns into all out war with a spidy chase...

oh, but wait...   he has her can---  she chases him-- and catches him.  the only thing she feels she can do now is hang onto him, and he keeps running!!!

Now we just have plain ole silly string wars...  its still fun!!!

coyote catcher

The Coyote  Catcher:

Sam had his first big project of his school career.  He had to "invent" something, write about it and then present it to his class.  Prior to this assignment Sam and I had been talking about pets (those of you who know him know that Kirk is not a pet person)  Sam was trying to come up with a pet that he could have that Kirk would like.  I told him that kirk might actually go for an outdoor cat... but we can't have an outdoor cat because of the coyotes that roam our neighborhood.  He then started "inventing" a way to get rid of the coyotes.  A week or two later his teacher presented the class with their assignment.  I thought it was perfect timing. 

We had fun creating it---  it is a whole lot easier to invent something than actually creating it that is for sure.  Let's just say there were several adjustments to the actual idea.  It was cute-- 

 There is a pit.  There is a net.  There are STRONG magnets on the net. 

 The coyote (or lion in this demonstration) walks slowly to the kitty and then BAM--  he falls into the pit

 

The net encompasses him

 

and boom, the coyote is taken care of 

  

 and the sweet kitty is free to live.

AWESOME JOB SAM!!  now if only it would work---  we might could get one if it did ha ha
wish I had a video of the actual trapping of the coyote--  it was pretty cool.  And Sam was able to demonstrate it when he presented in front of his class.

UPSTANDER!!!!!!

I got an email from Sam's teacher a few weeks ago telling me that we might want to come to the assembly that week, as Sam was going to be given an award.  

This award is presented by the teacher for those students who stand above for the whole 9 weeks.  To say that we were PROUD parents would be an understatement.  One thing she said when she presented the award was that she heard from other teaches about him as well.   He is officially an UPSTANDER!!! 

I had a caterpillar left over (from a baby shower) and so I thought I would use it to tell Sam how proud we were of him.  He was also able to celebrate at Gatti town!  It pays to be an upstander :)

Oh me, Oh my, check out that EYE

"It's all fun and games until someone loses an eye"  We have all heard the phase, and I am almost positive that if you are a parent you more than likely have uttered these words from your very own lips...  and there is always a good reason.

Someone is bound to get hurt

especially if someone is flinging books at the other under the bed.

a book with a pointed, sharp edge.

 

Day 2

 

Day 3

Day 4

do you need an explaination?

thanks mom for the pic!

flash forward

YIKES!!!!!

 I am a little scared....

  I have just seen my life 14 years into the future

 Molly--- sweet

 innocent

all grown up

Molly is all girl--- a rough and tumble, prissy, frilly sparkling girl.  She loves to wear all things pink, frilly, full of glitter-- and be barefooted.  She loves to dress up-- and change her outfit several times throughout the day.  She prefers ruffled skirts to jeans and pants.  She NEEDS to wear "pink sparkly lipstick" and bright nail polish.  She loves to watch me put on my make-up.  She loves to wear powder, and always wants more.  Occasionally I will make her day by putting on a little eyeshadow-- you know the kind that you can't tell that you are wearing it?  One day she just begged and begged me.  Her hair was already "all dolled up".   I had a weak moment, those beautiful blue eyes batted at me one too many times I guess.  I put make up on her-- I was her hero, she thought she was "beautiful"~ ~  I almost cried--- and  I vowed not to put mascara on those beautiful long eyelashes of hers ~ ~  ever again. 

ahhhh, peace

I have no other words....

just a reminder

Pine Derby car race 2013

Sam's RA group at church holds an annual Pine car derby race.  This was Sam's first year to participate.  He was excited about it.  We did not have much advance notice, so the car had to be completed in just a couple of days.  I think Kirk and Sam did an awesome job in the amount of time that they had.  

here they are sanding the car LATE one night (just a couple of nights before the event) to get the process started

Each grade competed against each other---  Sam's car came in 2nd place overall in his grade!!  woo hoo!

All of the kids got a ribbon--  Sam's was for best "Hot Rod" category!

I had to work on this particular weekend so I had to miss the whole event.  Kirk took the kiddos and got video for me so that I could see it.

Congrats my sweet boy!!!  Wish I could have been there to cheer you on---  but I know that Daddy and Molly cheered extra loud to help make up for my cheers!  I am so happy you had sucha good time and I am so very very proud of you!!!

Boosterthon 2012

Sam's school is a part of the Boosterthon for fund raising.  It was Nov. 1st- first thing in the morning.  I am not sure whose idea it was to have a fun run bright and early the day after Halloween, but it was an interesting day none the less.  The kids were tired from not only a late night of trick or treating, but also on the down side of a major post Halloween sugar rush.
Sam was up for the challenge though---  he was determined to run all the laps...

he needed a little water break along the way, but he kept going, never stopping even as he sipped his drink...

Daddy, Molly and I cheered him on every time he went through the giant tunnel

he was like the energizer bunny...

he kept going and going and going

time for a high five from daddy, Molly and me

and LOOK------  He did it...  all 35 laps

but did that stop him?!  NO---  he just kept on running.  He completed the 35 laps quickly, one of only a handful, who ran that quickly--- he still had like 14 minutes left to go--- so he continued on the whole time.  Here he is showing one of his buddies that he got all of his laps completed.

The Boosterthon was done, check out that sense of accomplishment on that precious face!!!!

Congrats Sam---  we are soo very very PROUD of you!!!  way to give it your BEST!