come sit awhile

valentine treats

tomorrow is the big "smootchie" day! 

as i keep kidding with jackson...though, he does have a particular sweetheart and he would absolutely die knowing that i was typing this right now

he is too cute...

here's the plan for 4th grade...via pinterest, of course!

did you know there were Strawberry Crush?  i didn't, until pinterest.  what did i do before pinterest?  probably alot...

these bottles are perfect for Valentine's Day!  we made tags "i've got a crush on you", backed them with red construction paper and hung them around the neck of the Crush bottles with burlap string

next up...Valentine Confetti

let me just say that this stuff is yummy!  white, unbuttered, unsalted popcorn...Wilton Candy Melts from Michaels (ours had confetti colors?) and Valentine M&M's...mix it all together let it 'dry' and bag it up! 

easy, peasy!

both ideas from Pinterest...you can find them on my Valentine Board! 

 

Happy Valentine's Day! 

xoxo

 

and keep your fingers crossed for jackson...hoping he doesn't chicken out

 

the Georgia Aquarium

not quite sure just how long this has been here for all of Atlanta and the surrounding areas to visit, but we just now made our way there

a field trip, if you will

it was alot of fun!  i do love this sort of thing...secretly,  i wanted to be a zookeeper when i grew up

no, really

then, i grew up...phew

we saw a ton of animals...from albino aligators to beluga whales, manta rays and whale sharks!  jackson was in heaven...all of Discovery Channel and Animal Planet right before his eyes

but this was big!  he finally got the nerve up to touch the sharks...once he actually did it, he did not want to stop

jackson said this day "was like vacation" 

we took that as a compliment and in my mind, i thought that he just might faint when we suprise him with Disney later this year

i can't wait...

 

just because

he wanted his picture taken...

no, really

he wouldn't miss a chance to act silly, like a 10 year-old

"i have to do everything around here..."

a couple of weeks ago...we were in full-on-rush-mode to get out of the door on time, and if you know me then you know i cannot stand to be late...to anything, even when it doesn't matter.  jackson was dragging...as always, enjoying himself with not a care in the world...and i was repeating myself for the 87 bagillion-th time 

"did you brush your teeth...do you have your lunch...get your jacket...gross, your mouth is still dirty...why is your lunch still on the counter?"...you know the routine

then just before the tears, yes, tears...he exclaimed in a very unhappy, distressed fashion

"i have to do everything around here!"

oh really?...around here?...seriously? 

at that very moment, i.seem.to.have.lost.my.mind!  we made our way out the door, finally and after several long moments of sitting in the car, in the garage...just sitting there...i explained reminded him of the responsibilities that take place in our family, him included...like it or not

he apologized many times over as i came up with a plan consequence, one that would help him understand "everything" that does indeed goes on around here

i apologized as well, for the losing my mind part...cause it wasn't pretty

once we arrived home from school, his usual homework would be completed and then he could resume the large amount of laundry that awaited me him (it had to be something like 3 loads) and then he would also be responsible for dinner...yes, dinner (i didn't care what it was even though a round of PB&J's quickly ran through my head) 

while this would be taking place, i would be found 'doing nothing' on the couch, which between me and you drove me nuts

it took him for-ev-er to fold and put away the laundry, especially after the spill of towels that happened which almost sent him over the edge.  in the end, the towels were a complete mess, which again drove me nuts...but i was determined to 'let them be'...

things are looking up around the garrett house!  i can assure you there is a clear understanding when it comes to who does what around here

oh the joy...

 

microwave popcorn in a brown paper bag

photo via pinterest

for jackson, popcorn is considered a food group...he would eat this stuff all the time if i would let him!  and i would rather him not eat all that microwaved, chemical-y stuff, if i can help it

i believe this happened when we ran out of the 'normal' popcorn and we just so happened to have a bag of plain kernals just waiting to be popped

i put about a 1/4 cup in a paper bag, folded the top over and hit the popcorn button on the microwave...yes, the microwave...but its not the chemicals

it burned of course, and the house stunk...i quickly threw the tainted corn on the back porch and i attempted another bag

you must listen for the "pop" to slow down...that was the ticket!  just a small piece of advice

we opened the bag and there it was...nice WHITE not yellow, popcorn!  we added some real melted butter and salt to taste...it DID taste real good and really cheap too $$

jackson was in love with the good stuff...in fact, he said it was better than the 'original'

 

{fort} under construction

there is a valley almost directly across the road from the cabin

wooded for the most part and infested with briars...

jeff thought it would be 'fun' to build a fort with jackson, key words here are fun and with

jeff had asked for a hatchet for Christmas...if you asked him about it now, he probably would have went with his chainsaw instead.  probably.

they found just the right spot and began chopping and 'building'...the fort was under construction! 

i have to give it to jackson, he did put forth a big effort...until he got tired or something

at the end of day 1 you could see the fort! 

he looks big here, doesn't he?

admiring the hard work

and playing with his new knife...he is definitely NOT an-all-work-and-no-play kinda boy!

after three days of work, the fort is still not complete but stay tuned for updates!  and cross your fingers that nothing happens to the fort, it could be devastating to everyone!

 

happy wednesday!

 

Merry {Christmas}

 

our goodies are set out for Santa...and Jackson is anxiously awaiting!!

 

Wishing you a Very Merry Christmas!

cinnamon ornaments

part of our Advent Calendar this holiday season includes making cinnamon ornaments and if you haven't done this before with your kiddo, find the time! 

it's pretty simple and with very few ingredients...i highly recommend it

you will need...applesauce, cinnamon and some people use glue, we did not

equal parts applesauce and cinnamon and stir to combine, i began with 1/2 cup.  i did add more cinnamon until i found the correct consistency to roll out like cookie dough

definitely not rocket science

they are drying on the kitchen counter...

do you make cinnamon ornaments? 

 

this is how we roll...

my parents have two 4 wheelers/ATV's, if you must...that we ride almost constantly when we visit the cabin.  now that the leaves have fallen and you can actually see through the 'woods', we have found more trails to ride on...

for hours on end

this {new} trail by far is now a new favorite!  there are a couple of places that are pretty steep and rocky which is what this whole thing is all about, right? 

nothing like three of your four wheels on the ground next to a drop off

this part of the trail was so pretty!  but perhaps not the best photos...taken while leaning forward, trying to distribute weight toward the front of the 4 wheeler while climbing steep incline

just sayin'

most of the time we wind our way through trails that reach from one side of the mountain to the other and the views from the top are beautiful!

jeff and jackson zooming past me and headed up the mountain in front of the cabin...another new trail

not quite sure who enjoys it more? 

maybe i do?

 

happy monday

 

post tennis

and because the last post was photo-less

happy monday!