Thanks Giving Photo Shoot

EGGS?!?!?!

Okay, I thought I was a fairly good mom. I try to be consistent and follow through. I am told often by some that I am maybe too harsh, so you would think I would have some what behaved or respectful children. NOT!!! I got a phone call Monday after work, from Riley, telling me that TJ and Mason had egged the neighbors house. I automatically knew it was the "MEAN" neighbors since why on earth would you not torment people who hate you and would eat you if they could. Well I was mortified. The reactions from the boys went sort of like this:

TJ " I didn't do it"

Mom "Where is the egg that was on the counter?"

TJ "I don't know, Mason told me to do it"

Mason " I did not"

TJ "Yes you did"

Riley "I knew they did it but I just sat and watched TV"

TJ "It was only one. And Mason told me too."

Mason "No I didn't"

I decided that they would all have to go over and tell the Bates (neighbors that eat small children) what they did and clean it off their house. I was so embarrassed that MY kids had done something like this. I know they do crazy things all the time but this! Eggs! UGH!!! I was so mad!! I call one of the city officers to see if he would come and scare them to death but he can't unless it is reported. So I told Chris to call the officer on duty, I was not okay with them (TJ) vandalizing someone else's house. But he didn't understand me so he didn't actually call. Oh well.

I marched them out the door and we were not even down the stairs when Mr. Neighbor started to yell at me. He said that if my kids egg his house again he will call the cops. I told him I had already done that and I was bringing them over to clean it up. He already had it done but I did make them pick up the egg shells.

Well come to find out, this was not the first time TJ had thrown eggs at there house. He also had thrown tomatoes and rocks. NICE huh. I was absolutely furious. They had not told me because they didn't want to cause problems. Now if you haven't already gathered there is quite a history with these people. They are very particular and rake their rocks and wash their asphalt. Enough said. We are not their dream neighbors. But if my kids are doing stuff that harm people, animals or property. TELL ME!!! I can't beat them or fix it if I don't know about it. Maybe they thought I didn't care what the boys did or that I wouldn't give them any sort of a punishment but they were wrong. After a good cry with Heather about how my kids are As#$%, I gave TJ his stiff punishment. And no one got to watch TV.

$4 Meals

Ever since I watched Oprah and she had a family that was really thrifty and spent an average of $4.00 per meal, I have been racking my brain trying to figure out dinner for my family for $4.00. I have found one so far, and felt I needed to share. One of my favorite blogs I follow is Pioneer Woman so I'm going to steal her format but just so you all know, I'm not nearly as precise as her. So here goes nothin'.

Your Doggie Floats my Cheezy Potatoe Boat.

Ingrediants you will need:

1 Box of Instant Potatoes $0.50
1 Package Hot dogs $0.89

8 oz Cheddar Cheese $2.50

I buy my cheese in 1-2 lb packages and so you just need a 1/2 pound which works out to about $2.50. Also I didn't figure in the milk or butter. Most of us have those things on hand. Please don't pay attention to the Kool-Aid stains on the cupboard. I'm out of bleach.

Don't forget to clip the Box Tops. Most schools collect them for money. It is a great program and my kids love taking them to school. They get stuff for bringing them.

Make your potatoes by following the instructions on the box.

It says to make sure not to let it bubble over. So a word to the wise, from the unwise,

Don't Multi-Task!

Let them sit and cool for awhile so they thicken up.

Slice hot dogs lengthwise. Making sure you don't cut them clear through. They should sort of fold out to make a boat. Spoon potatoes onto sliced hot dogs.

Slice cheese and place a piece on each boat. Bake at 350* for about 20-30 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Add some steamed broccoli and a cute plate and you have a great dinner kids will love for about $4.00. I'm looking for some more dinner ideas for the $4.00 mark so if you have any, send them on over. Also if any of you find some great sales pass it on. We all need some of those.

CSI????

Blood all over the house to make it look like a crime scene. It was in the kitchen, my bathroom, the car seat, walls in the hallway, and the boys bathroom. We didn't need the paramedics cuz TJ had it all taken care of with a roll of paper towels and a rubber band. I did have 3 witnesses that told the same story so we found the guilty suspect. This is what happens when I'm gone for 30 minutes. Mason gets mad at TJ and throws scissors. They were only together for 15 minutes.

Grandpa Dale took him to the doctor and he had to get 3 stitches. I think this is the longest stretch we have went with out a major accident. 10 months. Its a record.

Missing a Moment in History

I guess this is me whining and being a brat so please don't hold it against me.

I don't get to go to the Midnight showing of Twilight. I have been waiting months and months and months to go with my friends to the midnight showing all dressed up like obsessed crazy people. This event will be a moment in Twilight history and I don't get to be part of it. It's like when I ask my mom is she remembers the Kennedy assassination, she can tell me where she was and what she was doing. Or when I think about 3rd grade, I think of watching the Challenger explosion in the Harwood Elementary gym. And when people who were around in 1969 are asked about Woodstock, they either say "I was there and it was the most incredible experience of my life" or "No, I missed that one, but I heard it was great." And in the future when my children ask me, "Did you go to the midnight showing of Twilight?" I will have to say

NO.

Why you ask, will I be missing this incredible experience. Well for starter, I'm old and that is really late and I have to drive 60 kids to school the next morning. (I could take the morning off so that is just a little problem.) The big, huge, monstrous, enormous, problem is that I can't leave my 4 kids home alone while I go to the movie and it is not likely I can find a babysitter to sleep over.

My life is over!!! I want to go soooo Bad!!!! It is not fair!!!! Why me!!! It's not fair!!! Everyone Hates Me!!!! IT IS NOT FAIR!!!!!

Now that my fit has been thrown, I love my children and would never leave them home alone while I went to a movie. I also think they are way more important than a movie. But seriously, it's Twilight.

It 8 o'clock. Do you know where your kids are?

Notice the lovely blockage in the hallway. Now this is the logic of my children. Block the hall so the cat can't get away. I guess the closed door to the bedroom isn't enough to keep Jasper, the cat, from running away. (And yes, I'm a MAJOR Twilight fan)

Apparently this new game they came up with to play (torture) the cat is:

Lock the cat in Mason's bedroom.

Turn the lights out.

With flashlights, search for Jasper.

Think of how terrified this cat must be. So Sad!!!

Now all of the kids were in the bedroom with the exception to my couch potatoe.

Halloween Night

Super-Riley!
It has been a very long time since there was not snow for Halloween and this year we were lucky. The kids were able to go out by themselves and without coats. It was awesome. Heather brought Jake and her nieces, Hanna and McKayla to join us for Trick-or-Treating. It was so nice to be able to send the kids on there way and not worry about them, too much anyway.

Cute little pumpkin, happy as a clam

Pretty as a Barbie Princess

Grrrrr! TJ as an Alligator

Mason, Are you a Pirate or Clone Trooper?