Snugs

We've got colds up in this hizz-ouse.  This one woke up at 6 yesterday with a stuffy nose, I medicated him and went back to bed.  I'm thinking he didn't fall back to sleep as he followed Scott around all morning until he put him in his lap and then Clay instantly fell asleep.  Sweet thing.

Peppermint S'mores Popcorn

What do you do when you're keeping the sick kids home from church and everyone is grouchy and bored?  Make popcorn of course.  Lucy's 100th day of school is Monday and her homework was to bring 100 of something.  We did her homework this morning and did some marshmallow math and counting.  She now has 100 peppermint marshies in a bag ready to go.  When we were finished I noticed the recipe on the back of the peppermint marshmallow bag, and thought we'd give it a go since I had all the ingredients and needed a little blood sugar.  We popped our own popcorn and everything.  It's delicious!  Moods have been improved and our homework is done.

Peppermint S'mores Popcorn

1/2 tsp salt, divided
8 cups air popped popcorn (1 cup popcorn kernels and 6 TBL sunflower oil, popped in separate pot**with lid)
4 squares Baker's Semi-Sweet Chocolate
1.2 cup (1 stick) butter
40 mini-peppermint marshmallows
Preheat oven to 275 F
Sprinkle popcorn with 1/4 tsp salt in a large bowl and set aside.
In a separate pot melt butter and chocolate on low and stir frequently.  Once melted, add marshmallows and stir until melted too.  Remove from heat, stir in remaining salt and pour over popcorn.
Toss to coat.
Spread on a baking pan covered in wax paper.
Bake 15 minutes, stir and bake 10 more, until crisp.

I added valentine sprinkles to mine and incorporated the remainder of the bag of marshmallows that I had once everything was cooled.  I'm pretty sure I've eaten half the batch all by myself.

Under the Weather

Looks like we avoided winter almost completely.  With only one real illness since school started in August,  no snow storms or cold weather at all, I'd say winter has been kind to us.  I say that, but today it looks like we might be coming down with colds.  Trigg was up lots last night, which he usually does when he's getting sick, and I've been wiping noses today.  It's been a pajama and pizza delivery kind of day and it looks like a good "nap time" for everyone, including me.  Hmm...now just to decide weather I put the clean sheets on the bed first or just nap on the couch.  I'm leaning toward couch.

Stinker Face

Love love love this kid.

Ugh

Sometimes, it's just that kind of a day.

(Especially when you're a Sooner fan)

Homework

Don't Carpe Diem - An Article Worth Reading

This week I need to read this.  So often I'm just trying to get through the day, from one crawling minute to the next.  It's a groundhog day of making meals the kids don't want to eat, getting little bodies dressed, running to and from carpool, entertaining, loving, holding.... It wears me out and sometimes more than not, it's tough cookies being a parent.  I feel so often how sad I am that they are growing up so quickly but in moments like these it is just so difficult to savor the moment.  Most of the moments seem more salty than sweet.
I read this article in the middle of the witching hour this week...of course while Scott was out of town and the kids are running hungry circles around me.  It was just want I needed to hear.
Carry on Warrior.  Carpe Kairos.
Don't Carpe Diem, by Glennon Melton

Hairless Pets

This is Lucy's new pet. It's a rock named Emily that she found in the sandbox at school. I'm not sure if I should:
A. Feel guilty that my child is resulting to such desperate measures in order to have a pet.
B. Declare victory and thank my lucky stars that she's excited about her rock pet that doesn't shed and doesn't poop (qualifiers I have given her for owning a pet in the Sargeant household).

Angry Birds

Ah yes, the boys decided this afternoon it was their turn to stare at the giant screen.  We had forgotten that I have the free Rio version of Angry Birds on the computer so the boys and I played together for a while.  I later let them vault fat birds to their hearts content on their own.  They're so cute when they're together.  When I picked up Clayton from school yesterday, he asked me, "Can I have my Trigg?"  I asked, "Did you say your Trigg?" Sometimes that squeaky little voice is hard to understand.  He nodded and asked again, "Can I have my Trigg?  Can I have my Sissy?"

I LOVE that they're so close, and that they're ALL such good friends.  This little trio is so sweet.  I hope that their sweet friendship continues through the ages and that they're never "too cool" for one another.  I will be an angry bird if they do!

Zoo Crew and Barf Duty

It's January.  This time last year, we were in the middle of our kitchen remodel and we all had the flu.  This year we enjoyed the stomach bug in the wee hours of Saturday morning.  Lucy started hacking around 10:30 friday night.  Trigg began his hurling endeavor at 3am and I followed at 4am.  By the time they woke up the kids were fine but I spent the bed in day, I mean, the day in bed, with a splitting headache.  By Sunday we were all better and yesterday we tackled the Zoo with the Stewarts, despite the wind as it was a lovely day.
I do need to make mention that not only did Scott help shower off Lucy, change sheets and get up with me multiple times during the night, he also worked with the kids ALL of Saturday.  In addition to this he cleaned all of the barfed on sheets, blankets, quilts, pillows, beds, lovies...you name it.  He washed it, and washed it twice, then proceeded to do and fold all of the rest of the laundry.  Sometime during the day he found a moment to get Clayton to pee, and then later poop in the potty.  I give this guy a thumbs up.  He went to Panera and brought us chicken soup.  He hit up Walgreens for Lysol and gatorade.  He was an all around winning husband and Daddy this weekend.  Thanks Babe.  You really are the best there is.  I love you.

Silly Monsters

I have not ever done much for Valentine's Day for the kids.  Maybe exhaustion from Christmas is still lingering so the kids have always just taken the standard grocery store Valentines to school.  This year, thanks to Pinterest inspiration I kind of thought I'd try making some cute ones for the kids to give out.  It's good advertising too, right?  Kindergarteners and Preschoolers will tell their parents about me...maybe?

Anyway, we had fun none-the-less.

I joined in the fun as well.

Lucy's card will actually hold a lollipop.  I did my best trying to cut and paste one here for an example.

Anyhoo, Happy Valentine's Day all!  Show a little love.