Listen to Brody talk! VIDEO (duh lol)

He loves his puzzles---has to tell me every single piece as he takes out and puts it back.  I love that he knows all kinds of things that start with each letter too!

Indoor snow day activity? VIDEO

I forgot to post these videos when I posted the snow day blog the other day.  I came around the corner and saw this happening.....yes it wasn't the safest game to play but both kids were having a blast so I wasn't complaining.  Check out how hard it is snowing out the window!

Check out Brody's dance! 2 VIDEOS :)

The end of season hockey party was at the Buffalo Wing Factory out in Ashburn.  Since we went early (4pm) we had most of the place to ourselves and the kids ran around like animals in between where we were sitting and the game area there.  Brody found this game mesmerizing.  He danced in front of this machine for over 20 minutes!  I can't remember the name of it but it's one of those impossible games to win with the decent prizes in it.  ;)

Last hockey game--Pics and VIDEO

The last hockey game of the fall season was about a week ago now.  (yes I am incredibly behind for some reason)  The "fall" season of hockey lasts a lot longer than other "fall" sports.  The season runs from September to March!  Travis' team was playing in the 5th place vs. 6th place game (out of 12 teams in the league).  I don't know what the final score was but Travis scored twice, Evan got one of them on video and his team won!  It was a great season.......below are some pictures from the awards ceremony and the video of Travis' goal (he's #30).

Receiving an award

CHEESE

Waiting for the rest of the awards to be handed out

5th place!

GOAL!

Travis' Awards Assembly

This took place about 3 weeks ago and I had been putting off writing this blog because I wanted to get a close up picture of Travis with his award.  Why don't I have it?  Well his teacher collected them all from the kids after the assembly to laminate them (which is great don't get me wrong) but then she had to take a bunch of time off to deal with her sick parents :(  --she had told me the sub was going to send them home sometime over the week she was gone---well that was over 2 weeks ago now.  I don't know if his is lost forever or whoever was supposed to laminate them for her didn't get it done or what.  Anyway here are the few pictures I do have from that day.  ;)  They have 4 or 5 things the teachers choose from for each kid---Travis got "Outstanding Effort".

Travis and Mrs. Anderson (I was sitting WAY in the back which is why they are so tiny)

Travis about to shake the APs hand :)

Waiting for the rest of the class to get their awards

Sitting down

Kids in the snow

Hindsight is always 20/20....always.  So in hindsight I should have taken the kids outside around 10 when the snow was pouring down and wasn't melting very fast.  But no I was sticking to my guns of "Travis must have all of this back school work done before he can go outside".  Ugh---it took him ALL morning to finish it.  Anyway he was finally done at about 1pm and we all got ready to go outside.  We got outside and it was raining.  :(  Bummer.....I was able to get 2 pictures of the kids together before Travis ran off to play with his friends.  I should have made him stay with us to make a snowman or something but I also didn't think Brody would actually stay outside.  He has never wanted to even step in the snow before but he stayed outside for a full hour "helping" me shovel.  He still refused to wear gloves though so his hands were FROZEN.  Here are the few pics that I got......

On a snowy day......

I am STILL harassing Travis to get his school work done.    For some reason in the last 2 weeks at school the wheels have fallen off the bus so to speak and he is getting NOTHING done at school.  I mean NOTHING.  We don't know if this is a medication issue or something else all together.......I am working with his pediatrician now in conjunction with his teacher but.....

On Monday morning at 640am mind you) I opened his backpack to find a folder full of unfinished work from school---there were 12 assignments in there and a lot of them were totally blank!  He came home with two more yesterday so clearly all of the grief and time working on this Monday night didn't sink in.  There are now still 3 assignments to finish........not to mention his speech is supposed to be Friday that he needs to write on note cards (and he writes so SLOWLY) and practice a bunch! 

Seriously the last few days here have been torture---I have yelled, been helpful, ignored him, set timers. bribes, taken things away etc and nothing seems to be really working.  He knows he can't go out and play in the snow until at least the 3 assignments are done.....and what is doing?  Making a small Lego because his brain "needed creative thinking time".  Someone please hook up my IV full of alcohol?  I need it BADLY.  Enjoy your day!  :)

Menu March 4-10 with links

Evan will be in Europe again Mon-Wed so I will be making at least one meal (Monday's) that he would never, ever eat!  lol

Monday-  Spaghetti Squash and Tomato Bake

Tuesday-  Leftovers

Wednesday- Crock pot Chicken Taco Chili

Thursday-  Leftovers

Friday-  Cheesy Salsa Tuna Burgers

Saturday-  Mini Pizzas

Sunday-  "freezer fest"  aka find something from the freezer

Monday's dish I will eat for 3-4 meals but that is because I am the only one eating it.  The chili on Wednesday makes a ton--enough for two meals for 2 adults and 1 kid.......

Snap circuits---Video

Mandy and Charlie got Travis this snap circuit set for Christmas and for some reason we were all afraid to get it out of the box.  It looked a little overwhelming and looked like something that would require a lot of adult help.  Well about a week ago Travis decided he wanted to try it......and next thing I knew he had already created something (the radio I think-lol)! If your kid is good at doing Legos on their own they should have no issue with this.  There are 300 different projects to do--the one in the video is the "motion sensor" but there is a trombone, car alarm, radio and so many more.  If you want to get one for someone you know for a birthday or save it for Christmas you can find it linked HERE. 

Butternut squash and carrot soup-Review

I promised to post any new recipes this week when I didn't have a real "menu".  So today I had a good friend come over with her son (so the kids could play and we could chat-lol) and decided that since it was a cold day we should make a soup for us to have for lunch.  I had all of the ingredients on hand already but you probably have everything but the butternut squash on hand daily.  If you want to follow along you can find the recipe linked HERE (it may make you "sign up" but it's completely free).  It was very easy to make except for cutting up the butternut squash---it is about the same price actually to buy the pre-cut and then you aren't hacking into it for 20+ minutes and turning your fingers yellow.  ;)  Everything roasted up nicely and then I put it in the pot on the stove and ACTUALLY USED MY IMMERSION BLENDER FOR THE FIRST TIME!  Sorry I had to yell---I got it for Christmas a few years ago and for some reason had never gotten up the nerve to try it.  SO EASY!  I will definitely be using it again--lol.  The verdict was......DELICIOUS!  We didn't do the croutons and they aren't really needed if you ask me.  It was a perfect warm soup on a cold day and only 144 calories per cup?  Sign me up!  Mmmmmmmmm.