Free chocolate tomorrow morning!

I found this post on one of my new favorite blogs: http://fistfullofcoupons.blogspot.com/

Check out the blog, tons and tons of great coupons and shopping tips.

Every Friday morning(beginning at 9:00a EST)May 8th through September 25th, Mars will be giving away a FREE chocolate coupon(up to $1 value) to the first 250,000 who submit their information online at: RealChocolate.com

You can get 4 per household!

Dinner with Charlie

We were having dinner a few weeks ago and as I came up to my seat to eat I found Charlie in it. I guess he is feeling quite at home with us now! Maybe it's time to look up some dog trainers because we just might be failing in that department!

my dream bike...

I saw this bike on Nie Nie's blog and fell in love. I want it I want it I want it! I want to be that crazy lady you see riding her bike everywhere she goes. I want to ride it to get groceries, and to go on bike rides with my kids, and maybe even to ride to work! Think of all the exercise! Isn't it adorable? This site is giving two away on July 15th which is one day after my birthday so I think I should be one of the two dont you?

Jake had his third grade program on Friday and he did great! I have to say I am so so so happy that Jake is my last third grader! They have so many projects that it's really nice when the school year is done. Before school even starts they have to make a paper doll that is dressed as an ancestor. Mid year they have to make a settlement (see here). After that, they spend tons of time on a China book that is amazing. This time they had to make a sock puppet made like an animal from the rain forest. In the past the animals we had to make were easy but Jake chose to make a monkey this year. I looked up how to make a sock puppet monkey online but when Jake and I were almost done making it I realized that it was not a puppet but just a sock monkey. (Remember these?) I'm blaming the diet for my stupidity. I told Jake that he could just hold it up and move it around like it was a puppet but he really wanted a puppet that you could move the mouth on. I tried to cut the back out of the monkey's head so the he could put his hand in and move the mouth but that did not work. So...it was back to the drawing board. I couldn't for the life of me figure out how to make a monkey puppet! Again, I blame the diet! Finally I found a website that explained exactly how to make a puppet with a mouth that moves and we were back in business! I actually think it turned out looking like Fozy the Bear but Jake was happy with the final product and that is all that matters!

Did ya ever want to learn how to make a bouncy ball?...

Make A Super Bouncy Ball! - The funniest home videos are here


I can't wait to make these with my boys! One summer project figured out, about 100 to go...

Duncan Trip

Brent's uncles planned a little reunion with the Arnetts to Duncan to see where Glenna's parents grew up. I wasn't able to go because we needed one of us to stay and work the shops but thanks to Glenna's blog I was able to get some pictures of the trip.

They found an old church building in Duncan to rent for the whole family to stay in. Luckily our family members were some of the first to get there so they got dibs on the big room with all the beds. I was a little lonely at home but seeing this picture I can't say I'm not a wee bit happy that I slept in my own bed. I guess all of the adults in our family stayed in the same room as all of the children.

Here's breakfast the next day. Looks like they were all having a great time even with no sleep.

This is the house Glenna's family lived in when she was born. The owner now uses it as a barn.
One of the stops on the tour was the cemetery where many of their ancestors are buried. This is Glenna's Aunt Doris sharing memories of Glenna's Grandparents. I'm so glad my children had the opportunity to hear these stories.
Sarah found a horny toad while they were at the cemetery. She named him Ahijah after one of her ancestors she heard about.

Some of the Krummenachers at the cemetery. From left to right: Sarah, Brent, Lisa holding Macey, Kate is in front of Lisa, Kim, Emily, Glenna, Steve, Andy.

Sarah, Emily and Rebecca goofing off.Looks like Nate is up to no good.

The whole group of Arnetts

Cake pops, take two

Brent's cousin Megan is getting married soon so Glenna offered to help do the food for her bridal shower. Glenna in turn asked if I could do the cake pops for this shower like I did for the shower Sarah and I threw last month. I didn't like the way they tasted when I made them the first time so I was worried about making them again but this time I think they were a much bigger hit.

Changes I made:
1. Better flavors (lemon, pumpkin, cherry chip...I really wish I wasn't dieting!)

2. Made homemade cream cheese frosting and used much less of it.

3. Totally skipped the step where you roll them into balls and refridgerate before forming the cupcakes. It's just not needed if you don't put too much frosting in.

4. Only used the almond bark. Chocolate didn't taste good to me.

I had a lot more fun making them this time! Makes me want to maybe make these cute cake pops for mother's day! (check out bakerella) I found these pictures on Megan's blog and had to show how out of control that shower was. And Kristen thought the shower I threw was out of control...Not even close! Those are some talented ladies! (My cake pops are in the pot to the left)

Wait! There's more!...

And no, I didn't eat even one thing on that table (just patted myself on the back)! The diet is going strong, down 9 pounds since Monday. Hopefully this week will be as good!