Karo Crunch

I just made this caramel corn that I found on Pinterest, and can I say how easy and yummy it is!

It took about an hour to make, but it's worth it. First, I popped the popcorn and then spread it out on foil lined pans. Next, I mixed up all the ingredients from the website. I only let it boil for about 3 minutes instead of the 5 recommended. Followed the rest of the directions by stirring it every 15 minutes for an hour. Let it cool (or eat it off the spatula). OH. MY. WORD. It is even better than I thought it was going to be. Just look at that gooey goodness.

Things to Do in Nashville (or Middle TN) with Kids

I've searched over and over for free (or almost) free things to do with all the kids this summer. We've started making out "bucket" list, and I'm sure we won't get to half of them, but here's some of our list of possibilities.
1. Visit the zoo. We purchased a membership to Boonshoft Museum to use this summer at area places including the zoo. It's $5.00 to park, and we'll take a sack lunch to enjoy at the picnic tables.
2. Visit the Science Center. Science in Toys opens June 16th.
3. Go to the Discovery Center.
4. Splash at the Splash Pad and have a picnic supper with Dad.
5. Paint some pottery ($3.00 per painter on certain days, plus the pottery--my kids have a $5.00 a piece limit when we go)
6. Go bowling!! Kids bowl for free at several area bowling centers. All we'll pay is shoe rental!
7. Visit the Farmer's Market (or several) in our area.
8. Play in the sprinklers in our yard
9. feed the ducks at Centennial Park. See the Parthenon from the outside (they love the Percy Jackson movie)
10. Go to the cheap summer movies here and here.
11. Go to VBS at our church. The kids LOVE this (and it's FREE).
12. Go to Beechbend Park or Nashville Shores. so it's not free, but it's a fun special treat get-away close to home.
13. Ride the Go Carts and play Putt-putt here.
14. Go to the library for story time and to read.
15. Make stuff!
16. Learn about something new--a place we want to visit, an animal, a foreign country, a new food.
17. Watch a movie at home when it's too hot or too rainy to get outside.
18. splash in the puddles around our house during a rain shower.
19. Visit dad at work and have lunch
20. have a yard sale.

Home Almost Six Months

June 11th marks six months home. My home time has flown by!!! Here are some updates on what Louba can do now:

• TALK! she is a talker and will talk with anyone who will stop and listen. Right now, she's speaking in 6-7 word sentences. I can understand most of what she says. She gets frustrated when you can't understand her. 
• Her favorite things to say/ask: "Whatcha doing?" "Where you goin?" "I like your fingernails" (but only if they are polished. She does not like a french manicure). "Go fast momma!" She does not like to stop when we are in the car. 
• PRAYERS. She says her daycare lunchtime prayer at dinner every night, and "now I lay me" at bed time. Most of the time it's in a whisper.
• Her TRIKE. She loves riding her tricycle outside or in the house. The Easter bunny even brought her a kitty helmet to wear.
• BUBBLES. she likes to blow them, pour them out, play in them.
• EAT. She's finally trying new things thanks to daycare. She'll eat chicken nuggets now, green peas, fish sticks, spaghetti, french fries, chicken tacos, chips, salsa, bananas and peanut butter, pbandj sandwiches, and loves milk and water. She's even gained a couple pounds since January. 
• CLOTHES. she wants to wear dresses ALL.THE.TIME. if we go shopping, we have to look at shoes. 

Book List

Since I'm a Reading/Writing/Language teacher, I thought I'd do a little blogging on what I've been reading and writing.

Books I've read over the last six months to a year:
Hunger Games trilogy--who hasn't? I love this trilogy. The kids love this. JD has seen the movie and is listening to the second book.

Matched and Crossed dystopian society. Boys and girls are matched to their "perfect" mate the year they turn 16. They are also given a "last supper" on their 80th birthday to control the population for optimal living.

Divergent A close second to the Hunger Games. Love this book and can't wait to read the second, Insurgent. Tris must choose her new adult life after she finds out secretly she is a divergent.

Why Me?

I ask this question a lot. Not for pity from anyone, and not that I am angry at anything or anyone. But why did God choose me to parent three of the most precious children in the world? I am not the kindest, gentlest, or even most compassionate person. I am selfish, needy, and like to be left alone. But He gave me three of the most amazing things in the world.

My first born. My all-star. My sweet little man. I love this kid. I love his kind heart, his dirty knees, and the way he holds his sister's hand when she is scared. I love how he gives everything 110%, no matter what it is. I love that he still holds my hand and gives me kisses. He is a helper. He wants to help others. He is learning to serve alongside his daddy at church and that just makes me smile.

1 Corinthians 15:58

So, my dear brothers and sisters, stand strong. Don't let anything change you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord. You know that your work in the Lord is never wasted.

My princess. My dancer. My softball sweetheart. She is FULL of personality. I see so much of me in her and it scares me. She has the most beautiful blue eyes. I love how she tries new things. I love how she makes up songs and belts them so loud. I love that she tries to teach her little sister how to pose for pictures or what she should wear. She is growing up way too fast (and frustrates me beyond belief). She is growing in God and I see how he is truly working on her heart to lead her to Him.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

My Russian. My unexpected surprise. My smile in the morning. This girl is amazing. She surprises me everyday with the new things she's learned. In four short months, she has learned English, gone to school, and left everything she ever knew to join our family in the US. She loves. She loves to get attention by asking everyone she sees, "What's your name?" or "Whacha doing?" or "Where you goin?" She loves to give me hugs and kisses even when I don't ask for them. She loves her bubba and sissy. I am excited to see what God does with this little one. I know she is going to move mountains with her personality and like-ability.

Jeremiah 29:11 

For I know the plans I have for you declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 


I am blessed to be the mom of three beautiful children. I am still in awe that my God has given me this amazing gift, one that I am so not deserving of. 

First Day of School

Today, Louba started daycare (or Louba school). I go back to work on Friday, and this was what we decided to do. She's used to being around lots of kids (hello, she grew up in an orphanage). We were a little nervous that she would think we were "taking her back" to the orphanage, because the school is very institutional looking when you first walk in. We visited the school a couple of times to get her used to walking in the door and realizing that we weren't going to leave here there. We've talked about her going to school for a while now. We've really built it up, in hopes that it would get her excited about school. When we turned onto the road that the school is on, she ask, "Are we going to Louba's school."

"Yes," I said.

"YEEESSSS!!!" fist pump from the back seat. I think she was pretty excited (she told Eric she was cited last night about school).

I picked her up after lunch today to ease her into going and being away from mom. She even ate while there (two servings of cereal for snack, and two servings of peas for lunch). When I walked in, she finally saw me and I got the biggest smile. She immediately  began telling me that she got to use scissors today.  Before we even got out of the door she said she wanted to go back tomorrow. We may try nap time at school tomorrow.

Some of my favorite "Pins"

These are some of the things I've pinned and actually used:

Bathroom cleaner: http://pinterest.com/pin/133771051401601392/ (AMAZING cleaner! Gets all the gunk off the shower walls and floors, even on the gross bathroom at our house).

Cake Mix Chex Mix: http://pinterest.com/pin/133771051401596791/ (Like a mini cupcake. Fast and easy. I did thin with about 1-2 tsps of shortning)

Laundry Detergent: http://pinterest.com/pin/133771051401333267/ (clothes come out super clean with very little detergent. I also use vinegar for my rinse instead of regular fabric softner).

Household Cleaners: http://pinterest.com/pin/133771051401323775/ (Great, economical cleaners. No strong, harsh odors to deal with).

Jule's Valentines with glow sticks: http://pinterest.com/pin/133771051401404475/

JD's Valentines with glow sticks: http://pinterest.com/pin/91690542383338161/

Spelling App: http://pinterest.com/pin/133771051401581897/ (both JD and Jules love this)