Not exactly NASCAR

We had some fun Friday night.  It wasn't a NASCAR race.  It was the Pine Wood Derby!  Eric loves the Pine Wood Derby.  Last year was a little bit disappointing for him.  His car did fine, but it didn't win.  Every kid wants to win, not just do fine.  This year was no exception.  It was his turn to race.  He excitedly put his car up on the track, they pulled the release lever and his car went about three feet and stopped.  I couldn't believe it and neither could Eric.  I could see the disappointment and the tears ready to fall. The weights on the bottom were dragging on the middle part of the track.   Dean wasn't able to be there so the very nice Brother Romero helped us take the weights off and move them to the top of the car.  They called him back up to race and his car did great.  So great that he ended up winning the derby.  He did in fact look like he had just won a NASCAR race.  He jumped around giving the boys high five.  It was awesome.  His prize for winning was a three layer cake with a chocolate car on top.  He was in heaven.  On the drive home he told me he is going to ask his scout leader if he can use the same car again next year.  Why mess with perfection?

Peanut-Chocolate Popcorn

Friday night is popcorn night at our house.  It never fails that around 9:00 Eric comes up the stairs and asks me to make a bowl for him.  I was thrilled to find a new popcorn recipe in Parenting magazines April issue.  It was delicious and easy.  Here's the recipe if you want to try it.

Peanut-Chocolate Popcorn

Serves 6-8

Arrange 8 cups popped kettle corn in a single layer on cookie sheet lined with waxed paper.  Place 1 cup milk chocolate chips in a glass bowl and microwave on high in 30 second increments until melted.

Drizzle chocolate over popcorn with a spoon.  Sprinkle 1/2 cup chopped honey-roasted peanuts and 1 cup Reese's Pieces over chocolate.  Chill, uncovered, in the refrigerator for 15 minutes.  Break into small pieces.  Store in an air tight container. 

I made a few substitutions. Instead of chocolate chips (because I didn't want to put it in the refrigerator) I used chocolate bark instead.  I didn't use honey roasted peanuts either because I don't like them.  I used regular salted peanuts.  It turned out yummy.  I buy the Popcorn, Indiana Kettle Corn in the red bag from Wal -Mart.  Eric and I love it.

St. Patrick's Day

I forgot to post these pictures of St. Patrick's Day.  Andrew was so cute.  Ms. June, his teacher, made him the little hat.  Love it!!!

Disney on Ice

Katie and I went to see the princesses on ice last week.  I got her all dressed up and told her we were going on a date.  She had no idea what we were doing and happily talked the entire time we were driving.  When we got to the parking lot I told her what the surprise was.  She was so cute and excited.  She even thought she would be ice skating with them.  We had fantastic seats.  She loved every minute of it, except maybe the Mulan part because she has never seen Mulan.  She was even more excited when she got nachos at intermission.  I wasn't quite willing to fork over $15 for a snow cone in a princess cup and nachos were her second choice.  I was so happy to spend some one on one time with her that didn't involve grocery shopping. 

So, I haven't posted in a really long time.  Frankly, there hasn't been much to post about.  One event I didn't post about was Eric's last orchestra concert.  The fourth and fifth graders from the entire school district performed together.  I think there were more than 650 students.  They did a fantastic job.  I absolutely love that Eric plays the violin.  He enjoys it so much.  I really hope he sticks with it all the way through school. 

We've been battling sickness around here lately.  Katie and Andrew were first to catch the bug, then lucky me and now lucky Charles.  The weird thing is that none of us have had the same sickness. 

The Pine Wood Derby is tomorrow.   I thought we had another month but was sadly mistaken.  We had to get started and Dean was working so I had the opportunity to cut the car out myself.  It's not easy to cut that little block of wood into something that looks like a car.  I did it though and it turned out just fine. 
Eric's been painting and getting it ready for Dean to put the wheels on it. 

Saturday we got seven gallons of paint for $35.00 at Home Depot.  It is high-end,  no VOC paint that usually sells for around $30.00  a gallon.  I love a good clearance sale. 

And finally, Disney on Ice  Princess Classic is coming to the World Arena on Friday night.  My sweet husband bought tickets for me and Katie.  She has no idea.  We're going to have so much fun getting dressed up pretty to go watch all of her favorite Disney characters.  I'm pretty excited. 

Roll over

I get to nurse Andrew when I am at work.  Somebody comes in my room to take over my class while I go nurse him.  I have a bad habit of comparing Andrew to the others when I am in there.  I watch all of the other babies rolling and crawling and sitting up.  I know most of them are one or two months (or more) older than him but I still keep thinking when is he going to roll over?  He comes so close.  Then all of a sudden it happened.
Last night I took Eric to Cub Scouts and while I was gone Dean texted me that Andrew rolled over.  I was so sad to have missed it.  Dean did get a picture right after it happened.  I haven't seen it happen yet but now I have something extra to look for when he's playing. 

Andrew 6 months old

Birthday Boy

Charles was the birthday boy yesterday.  Seven years old!!  I love to see my kids grow and change, I just wish it would slow down a bit.  He had been counting down to his birthday since Christmas.  Charles hasn't always loved birthdays as much as he does now.  On one of his birthdays he cried when we all sang Happy Birthday to him.  He's long outgrown that and loves being the birthday boy.  Friday night we went swimming with my brother Aaron's family and had pizza afterward with them and my mom and dad.  Saturday we had his official birthday party.  He wanted a bowling theme so I obliged and made the cake.  He could hardly wait for people to finish eating their lunch so he could move on to cake and ice cream, then presents and finally a trip to the bowling alley. 

I wish I had taken video footage of his bowling.  He was so cute.  He would run up and roll his ball.  A few times the ball fell out of his hand behind him.  He rolled a strike and was soooo excited I had to take a picture of the scoreboard.  It was a super fun birthday.  I just can't believe that he's seven.