Name discovery

If you didn't already know, the reason why we chose the name almostjello for our blog is because we did almost spell jello with our children's name. If you take the first letter of each kid (this was before Savanah was born) we spelled J_ L L O. Savanah was supposed to be a E name, but we never could agree on an E name.
So tonight, it being late and I, being in a weird mood started compiling all of our letters together.

Guess what we make... ready....

all jobs

or

jo's ball hehehe

or

Jo balls no that's wrong!

or

soal jlb

or

a Spanish twist los jalb

or

jolls ba

What do you get from your family letters?

Last Weeks Low Tide

Tide Pool
Man I love the discovery, explorative and excitement that the tide pools give you. My funnest thing with the tide pool is to see how far out I can get. My cousin Christa and her family made a day trip up just to see the Low Tide. We had so much fun. She has four kids Becca 14, Jacob 12, Miyah 7, and Jared 3. Her older kids are very helpful and watch for opportunities to lend a hand. Which I am so thankful for! They are good kids. Great examples for my kids. I didn't get many pictures, juggling everything I had, it was awkward to get to the camera. But we did get some good ones.

Christa and I on a huge fallen tree.

Everyone is exploring the rocks.

Owen on the same tree.

The crew. From smallest to biggest. Savanah, Luke, Jared, Lucy, Miyah, Jaeger, Owen, Jacob, and Becca. That's a lot of kids.

Apparently she likes to see how far she can go out too.

June

Aawhhh isn't it nice to look at a new month on the calendar. I tell ya by the end of the month you've got things written all over in it. It gets to look so busy and full. At a new month you can flip the page for a brand new clean slate (sort of). Although there are things scheduled in the squares it just feels different doesn't it? We get a new picture and everything. What a treat. Rarely do I miss marking off a day. That fact would be good to put on a 25 random list about me. Every morning I mark off yesterday's date.

I have a good calender this year. I'm sure you know, some years you score on a great calendar and some years you just hang on to switch out. I like a calender that has a spot for notes at the bottom and room enough to put times and events in the square for each date. This year I have a vintage travel calender. I travel via my calender picture. Ha!

30 things for Happy June!

1-Today marks 14 days left of school.

2-I can't believe I just posted about my Calender. Funny!

3-while posting my kids Lucy, Luke and Savanah got into my Scentsy candles, popped them all out of the containers and put them in a purse. Complete with candle shavings all over the floor/table/purse/Everywhere!

4-I'm excited to add two more at home for the summer

5-No really, I'm really am excited for summer

6-Today my seedlings poked their heads out.

7- I'm gonna have Sunflowers, Hollyhocks, and a triton to plant soon!

8- Its HOT today, more happy hot days for June

9-Sprinklers

10-which means at least 3 changes of clothes per child a day (can't possibly wear something that's wet)

11-towels hanging from the deck

12-Kool Aid slushies

13-I don't know why people in Seattle don't believe in air conditioning

14-Derrick's Temple work is ready to be done! Sunday the 31st marked one yr.

15-Farmers tan. My kids are already sporting a nice one.

16-I love all the blooms.

17-A family of spider babies hatched on my deck on/in my pots. I hate spiders. My rule with spiders is...If they come into my home then I can squish them. So I let some of them live on the deck. It is connected with the house. YUCK.

18-BBQ's with friends

19-park days and picnics

20-half naked babies/kids

21-bare feet

22-dinners on the BBQ

23-Otter Pops

24-My kids excited about starting another grade.

25-Luke turns 3 this month.

26-Swimming, swimming, swimming

27-one month closer to V.A.C.A.T.I.O.N

28-summer bleached hair starting

29-bike riding, rollerblading, river wading, parking playing, sleeping in, walks

30-maybe even house hunting (fingers crossed)

Peanut & Chocolate Chips on a Spoon

When I was little my big sister Shonda would always make this treat. Peanut Butter and Chocolate Chips on a spoon. Yum. I thought she was so cool for making it and I was cool too for eating it with her. And here are my kids... This post is for you big sister! I'm still doing it.
clockwise:

Luke: proudly holding up his,

Lucy: looking through her hair,
Owen: yum,

Jaeger: check it out,

Savanah: Hey where is mine!

Weekly Menu Planning

Happy Weekly Menu Planning~

I'm in the process of making my menu for the next two weeks. The first of the month is on Monday and around the 15th I'll have to do it again. When I look at the meals I have planned for a weekly and monthly basis I realize we eat the same thing over and over.

I need to shake things up a bit.

What meals does your family eat regularly?

Wouldn't it be fun to swap some basic recipes. Here is a list of dinners we eat regularly....

Tacos

Enchilada Casserole

Sweet-n-Sour Meatballs

Tortellini

Spaghetti sometimes w/meatballs sometimes w/out

Sloppy Joes

Grilled Chicken and Potatoes

Grilled Chicken w/ rice-a roni or vegetables

Stove Top Casserole

Cheesy Potatoes with Ham

Hawaiian Haystacks

Lasagna

Hoggie Sandwiches

Homemade pizza

So if you like one of these I'll send the recipe in exchange for another. This is one blog entry I don't want you to skip over, please leave me your families favorite dinner meal. Leave it here or email me at abredford@msn.com I'll post the recipes I get so we can all share and benefit.

I'm in a menu rut.

Highlights

This post is catch-up. Not that I've been slacking in the blog department or anything. But truth is I just upload a bunch of pictures and these were the highlights...Owen was sick for a few days last month. Notice the alcohol sock around the neck. This is an old Zirker home remedy. Its supposed to suppress a cough and help clear up the junk in the nose.

It works!

Tonight Luke brought me his church shirt. Long story short... First he brought me his shirt. Then he told me he wanted to take this bag of candy to nursery so he could share with his class. He really likes nursery. He doesn't bat an eye anymore when I take him, I actually have to drag him out. Actually if it weren't for the suckers that the Bishop gives the kids after church, I would never get this kid out of there. Knowing there is a sucker after nursery is a highlight for Luke. When he goes into the Bishop's office, Bishop usually shakes their hand before they can get a candy. I don't think Luke even takes his eyes off the candy jar while he shakes hands. He is a focus kid that's for sure.

Teacher Appreciation Week!

I made these Cake Pops for our teachers luncheon. It was a lot of fun. Zanda came down and helped me. We had such a good time laughing and chatting while doing this project. This batch I made with yellow chocolate, chocolate cake on the inside, and wrapped them individually with a little ribbon that said "Thank You"

Clockwise: Savanah, Luke, Jaeger, Andrew, Owen, Tom, and Lucy

We had friends over the other night.

What a moment....Food & Movie.

Need I say more?

I had to document this. This game is one of Luke's Favorites. He gets the checkers/Chess game down and moves and stacks and plays quietly. What ever rules he has come up with sure brings him lots of joy which equals lots of quiet mom joy too.

This is our dog, football.

Proof we do have pets. We also have three snakes, a bat, and about 6-12 other dogs am I missing anyone from our plush world.

I got another hair cut. I really chopped it. I love it. So easy.

This is our own personal Burning Bush. Did you know they have these over here?!

I might get in trouble for posting this picture. (hehehe) I love it though. The girls are showing me something and Brad is goofing off in the background. What large muscles you have there!

Jaeger turned 7 in April. He wanted a Blue Kirby cake. He did most of the decorating.

He did really good.

Happy Birthday!

This is from Easter. I can just hear his thoughts looking at the picture.

-"Oh, I just have to stop and open this one up before I go on.

-Just this one, if only I can open this...

-How do I open this?

-Almost,

-Be patient don't lose your temper, keep it together.

-I can do this!"

Shaving

Mark today on your calendar people. Owen started shaving.
Yip that's right.
My eight in half year old boy grabbed his Dads shaver, sat down in front of the T.V. this morning and shaved this legs, belly, arms and any hair possible to shave, since he has none! He started doing the hair on his head. That's where I drew the line.
If he only knew how high maintenance shaving is.
For now, though, I need a good story for leverage. So I'm documenting this one. After church Owen told me he informed his Sunday school class that he shaved! He said his teacher, Brother Smith laughed really hard. Yeah, I bet he did!