Tips on Thursday!

I'm BORED! How many times have you heard that already this summer??? Well here are a few more great Ideas that you can do to help beat the boredom.

Have a Quick Cash Jar. Put quick chores that your kids can do in a jar and have them pull them out. Have a cash or point value written on each job and your kids can earn some extra dough for summer fun!
Record how much they have earned and pay them each week.

Have a How does it work jar. Write down some things you want to learn about. Like how is ice cream made, how does a clock work, how do monkeys swing from their tails, how are Twinkies made? Then research it together and if possible make it together.

Go on a virtual field trip. Google places all over the world you probably won't ever visit. Have your kids write a paragraph or two about what they learned! Go to Bali, Tanzania, Indonesia, Italy, Tahiti! Take a virtual TRIP!!!

Make paper bag puppets and write a play and perform it! How fun!! Old MacDonald, Three little pigs, Goldilocks etc!

Have a relay race. Make an obstacle course. Play mother-my-I. Get out and get moving!

Think of a service project. Make cookies for someone who meeds a lift, go sing at a nursing home, visit someone who is ill or had a baby, clean out your closets and take the clothes to someone who needs it, write to a missionary and send them a goody box, write to someone in the military who is deployed and send them an gift.

Hope these help!

What's Up Wednesday!?

So I mentioned a few weeks ago that we hiked Mt. Timp. It was such an amazing experience! Since we got married, Rob has been asking me to do this hike. I always LAUGHED and said are you kidding??? I hiked this beast once when I was 8 or 9 with my family. I HATED IT! I wanted to go home the whole time! I remember just loathing the whole experience! I never wanted to do it again and couldn't understand when people said they wanted to do it. So, last year as I was getting serious about getting healthy, I told Rob I would hike it this year for his birthday. I thought it would be a worthy goal to work up to. If you haven't had the pleasure of doing this hike, it is HARD! It is straight up the mountain on switch backs that have no side rail to keep you from PLUMMETING to your death. I was dreading taking two babies and myself up this trail! As we started, I promise you I wanted to give up! At the 1/4 marker I wanted to sit down and tell Rob I would wait at the bench for them! I then told myself, You are Strong Annie! You can do this! I don't care how long it takes, how many rests you have to take, you are making it to the top! I would express gratitude for a strong body that was able to be under such pressure. I was grateful for the beauty of nature. I learned from that mountain that I can do hard things. That with the Lord's help I can do anything. I was PRAYING in stress, praying for help, praying with gratitude and most of all Praying to give thanks for my amazing Husband. Not only did he hike the mountain, he did it with Sawyer strapped to his chest, Ava on his shoulders and our backpack on his back. He was looking out for me and my comfort. All the while SINGING and Smiling! This is why I love Rob! In the face of adversity he is happy, joyful and lifting others. He has very little care for his own comfort. I learned so many valuable things on the hike that day. My Father in Heaven is aware of me. He sends beauty all around us to help us through the hard things. Even though it was hard I couldn't ignore the BEAUTY all around me. The cool breeze when I thought I would pass out. The shady spots the I made my destination markers. My WONDERFUL companion that inspires me to keep moving forward, believes in me and loves me. I am grateful for this experience! No I don't want to hike it again anytime soon! My LEGS were on FIRE for the next three days!!!

Tasty Tuesday!

Monday
Italian salad:
Use no-nitrate salami
mixed greens
pepperoncinis
tomatoes
feta or mozzarella
cucumbers
Italian dressing (my favorite is Girard’s Fat-Free Italian dressing)
bell peppers
black olives

Cut and assemble. Top with Italian Dressing.

Tuesday
Teryaki Chicken and Rice
4 Chicken Breasts
Teryaki sauce
Brown rice
Canned Pineapple
Bag of Asian blend frozen steamers

Marinate boneless, skinless chicken breast in Teriyaki sauce for 4 hrs. Grill on Barbecue. Serve with steamed rice, veggies and grilled pineapple slices.  No time to grill the pineapple? Sear it in a dry pan for three minutes on medium-high heat, or just serve fresh!

Wednesday
Spaghetti Pie and steamed veggies
1 package whole wheat spaghetti
2tbsp. olive oil
1 cup Parmesan cheese
3 eggs
1 carton cottage cheese (low fat)
1 pound ground beef or turkey
1 1/2 to 2 jars of your favorite spaghetti sauce
onion
green pepper
mushrooms
mozzarella cheese, grated
1 bag Italian frozen steamers

Cook meet with onion, green pepper, and mushrooms. Drain fat and add sauce to meat.

Cook pasta and drain. Place pasta in baking dish (9x13) and toss with oil, Parmesan and eggs. Top with cottage cheese and then meat mixture.

Bake at 350 degrees for 1 house.

Top with mozzarella cheese the last 5 minutes.

Thursday
Bean and Rice burritos with Grapes
Whole wheat Tortillas
Black or pinto beans
Pico De Gallo
Sour cream (low fat)
Avocados
Cheese (Reduced fat)
Leftover rice from Tuesday mixed with some enchilada sauce.
Layer, Assemble and wrap burritos. Serve with Grapes.

Friday
French Bread Pizza and salad
1 loaf french bread
Cut Green Peppers
Onions
Pizza Sauce
Mushrooms
Olives
Mozzarella

Slice loaf in half. Top with toppings and bake at 350 for 10- 15 minutes until cheese is melted. Serve with salad


 

You can do it!

Believe in yourself!

Tips on Thursday!

Summer Hair Care! I am a hairstylist so I am going to share some tips with you for Healthy Summer Hair.

1. ALWAYS get your hair wet and SPRAY it with leave in conditioner BEFORE getting into the pool.

2. Wash with a stripping shampoo once a week during heavy swim times.

3. Do a deep conditioner 1-2 times per month during the summer.

4. If you or your girls have long hair, put a cream leave in conditioner in your hair and then TIGHTLY braid it before you get in the pool. It will create a barrier against chlorine.

5. Keep it trimmed. Damaged hair is more likely to suck in the chlorine.

6. Try to let it air dry as much as possible since it will already be getting damaged from the SUN, HEAT, and CHLORINE.

7. Make sure you apply sunscreen to parts and tops of ears.

8. Rock the beachy waves. Let your natural hair out to play this summer.

9. Try one of these fun ways of wearing it up and out of your face.

10. Have FUN!!!

What's Up Wednesday!?

Hi Ya'll! Just wanted to let you know I have a new business! I am selling doTerra essential oils. I believe in them so strongly and they have changed my life! Because of my Gastric By-Pass, I can't take most medicines internally. I have suffered for eight years from severe back pain, headaches, colds, upset tummies, IBS, cramps, basically any ailment with no relief. Enter doTerra, I can now nautrally heal all those aliments and more. I love not having pain and not having to suffer. Since I ordered the Family Physcians kit, which is a variety of the most popular oils, not one day has gone by that I haven't used it. I love that I can use them on Ava and Sawyer and not worry about an overdose or a recall. These oils are not only for pain relief. They treat everything from hyperactivity, depression, weight-control, wound care, sleep problems, and general body care. doTerra has the most pure and highest grade essential oils on the market. They are a local company and growing by the minute. Please check out my website and explore all doTerra has to offer. http://www.doterra.myvoffice.com/elizabethalemaster/ I am happy to answer any questions and help you place your first LIFE changing order!

Also, we have been on vacation this week and doing lots of fun things. I will post all abou that soon. Hope you are all having a great summer!!!

Tasty Tuesday!

Here are a few QUICK dinner ideas. You can serve all these buffet style and everyone can make it how they like. Pictures from google:

Wraps
Fill a whole wheat tortilla with, veggies, Hummus, Beans, turkey, or any other thing you can think of. Some of our favorites are:
Ham, lettuce, ranch, mango salsa, and cheese
Hummus, tomatoes, roasted red pepper, cucumber, purple onion, and sprouts
BBQ or Buffalo Chicken with lettuce, ranch, corn, feta, and ranch
Turkey, guacamole, tamed Jalapenos, bacon bits, and lettuce
Fat Free refried beans, salsa, sour cream, guacamole, lettuce, cheese, and sunflower seeds.

Salad Bar
Lettuce, tomatoes, black olives, carrot shreds, sunflower seeds, cottage cheese, cucumbers.
Different Dressings.

Potato Bar-
Baked potatoes, chili, broccoli, cheese, ranch, bacon bits, BBQ pork, grilled onions, salsa, sour cream and ham.

Rice Bowls-
Rice or Quinoa, Beans, Chicken, BBQ sauce or Salsa, sour cream, cheese, teryaki chicken and veggies.

Turn it around

Pearls are created by irritation and discomfort. An oyster is irritated by a grain of sand. To thrive and survive, the oyster develops a hard shell around the grain of sand and it becomes a pearl. Through the process of discomfort, the oyster grows a beautiful pearl.

What in your life is an irritation? Is it a relationship, a friendship, a task or duty you have, is it a neighbor or relative? How can you make that thing into your own beautiful Pearl?

We have the choice every minute of everyday to choose how we interpret, see, and react to our surroundings. DO NOT WASTE TIME BEING IRRITATED! Turn it into a Pearl instead. Make life wonderful.

Let your light SHINE!

Be who you are! Be it FULL OUT! Be Present, Authentic, and LIVE OUTSIDE YOUR COMFORT ZONE! Had an amazing weekend at the rosperity Summit. LIVE IN THE LIGHT!

Tips on Thursday!

This week I am going to share how I make my Sundays and week in general easier by making Saturday a preparation day. When I take this one day to get the week ready, I am MUCH less stressed the rest of the week. Try it!

1. Meals- I plan all my meals and prep them. I assemble them as much as possible. I marinate and bag my meats, cut veggies, put ingredients all together in containers or Ziplocs. Then I literally pull the stuff out and cook it or make it. SO SIMPLE. It saves me on busy nights during the week. I even make my lunches. I make a few turkey, ham, and pb sands and keep them in the fridge. I add condiments or veggies on the day that I eat it, but that way I am not pulling out a thousand ingredients each meal. Also Packing Rob's Lunches are a breeze! I cook up a whole bunch of eggs to make egg sandwiches or burritos for breakfast. I assemble the portion of cereal or oatmeal in a container then that becomes my bowl to eat from.LESS THINKING, LESS mess, less work, less cleanup!

2. Clothes- I make sure all the laundry is done and I plan out our clothes for the week. I put each outfit in a hanging divider in our laundry room or our closets. I even put workout clothes and Rob's work uniform including socks all together so we aren't in a rush trying to find something. I make sure I look at the weather report and plan accordingly. I make sure that our Sunday Clothes including socks, shoes and accessories are ready, ironed, and all together so we aren't scrambling to get ready before church.

3.Bags- I make sure I have a car bag with snacks ready to go at all times so that when we run errands, we can just grab it and go. I have water, granola bars, nuts, apples, and jerky in there so as we are out and about we aren't tempted to eat out. I make sure our church bag is ready with snacks, coloring books, flip cards, magnetic paper dolls, and magic ink coloring books. I have my bag ready with scriptures, notebook, pen, ensign etc.

4. Schedules- I go over our schedule for the week and plan out our activities. I know what is happening when and have goals for the week. I set goals financially, spiritually, physically, mentally, and socially. I see what bills are due, what events we have, appointments, play dates, workouts, and Rob's School and Work times.

It is not always perfect, but the weeks I don't do this are so CRAZY!!! I want to scream! When I take this one day to plan, it goes so much smoother.

Tasty Tuesday!

Ok So I will Still do my Meal plans, But just the recipes, not the shopping lists...Sorry!

Monday
Cucumber Salad and Grilled Balsamic Chicken

Grilled Balsamic Chicken
Marinate Chicken in balsamic vinagrette dressing and grill

Cucumber Salad
Makes 8 Servings

INGREDIENTS:

• Cucumbers, thinly sliced

• 1 small white onion, thinly sliced

• 1/2 cup white vinegar

• 1/2 cup water

• 2 tbsp Stevia (truvia)

• 1 tablespoon dried dill, or to taste

DIRECTIONS:

Combine cucumbers and onion in a large bowl. Add the vinegar, water and sugar to a bowl and mix and pour over the cucumber and onions. Stir in dill, cover, and chill at least 30 min.

Tuesday
Low-Fat Baked Chicken Casserole and Strawberries

1 1/2 pounds of skinned chicken tenders

1 package of long grain wild rice, cooked (just used brown rice)

1 can of condensed, low-fat cream of celery or mushroom soup

1 small package of frozen mixed vegetables

1/2 cup water

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Fry chicken in a large skilled with water and a dash of

pepper. When fully cooked, cut into small pieces. Prepare rice according to package

direction. Blend rice, chicken, frozen vegetables, soup and water in baking dish. Cover

and bake for about 15 minutes, or until vegetables are done and dish is bubbling. Serves:4

WEdnesday

Stuffed Bell Peppers

What you need:

Bell peppers
Instant Rice (i used leftovers from the night before)
Tomatoes, fresh or canned
Spaghetti sauce
Cheese

First you need to cut your peppers in half (doesn't matter which way) and clean them out. Then steam them in water for about 5 minutes. I made about 1 1/2 cups instant rice in a large bowl.  I added a very large fresh tomato, chopped. Some spaghetti sauce for more flavor and then stuff the peppers. Top with a slice of your favorite cheese - I used Pepper Jack. Then bake for 15-20 mins at 375. Just long enough to warm them through and melt the cheese.

Thursday
Baked ChimiChangas with Green Beans

1 dozen whole wheat tortillas
1 pounds chicken, shredded (If I'm in a hurry, I buy a rotisserie chicken and debone it)
1 cans cream of Chicken Soup (reduced fat)

3 chopped green onions

1 can green chilies
1 cups sour cream (I use the fat free kind)
1/2 small bag frozen corn
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 cup salsa
1 cups of reduced fat cheese

Mix everything except the tortillas into a large bowl and spoon about 3/4 cup onto the middle of a tortilla. Roll the tortilla and line them up in a 9x13" pan. Smother with more cheese on top. Cover with foil. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes. Serve with salsa, chopped tomatoes and lettuce.

Friday

Zuppa Toscana Soup (Olive Garden Knock-off)

1 lb. Italian sausage (I use ground turkey)

4 russet potatoes, cut into bitesize pieces or thin, thin slices
1 large onion, chopped
1/2 cup cooked bacon, chopped or bacon bites
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups kale
2 cans chicken broth
1 quart water
1 cup fat free half and half

Cook sausage and drain. Slice into little bits. Place onions, potatoes, chicken broth, water, garlic in pot, and cook on medium heat until potatoes are done. Add sausage and bacon. Salt and pepper to taste. Simmer for another 10 minutes. Turn to low heat. Add kale and cream. Heat through and serve. (Don't add the kale until you are ready to serve and it will give it that crunch!)

Simplify

My goal for the year has been just this. To simplify my life so I am not so stress and overwhelmed. One great thing I have found is to be happy with what I have and where I am. If something is serving its purpose, lets not make more work and or clutter in our lives for more JUNK. I mean JUNK in both the physical and mental sense.  It's not about having what you want, it's about wanting what you've got.

Fit Fabulous Friday!

Week Three!!! So, this is week three of my intuitive eating guideline. I really suggest reading Naturally Thin by Bethenny Frankel it is SO amazing.

 Anyway here is the week three rule STRAIGHT from Bethenny. It has been the most helpful for me.
#3 Taste Everything, Eat Nothing. ( a little of anything is not fattening)
This means have a few quality bites of REALLY YUMMY food. Usually you only need a few bites if you really are listening. I usually start feeling sick around bite 4 of something. In the past, I would continue eating because of my thinking I would NEVER EAT IT AGAIN. Guess what? I ate it again and enjoyed it more having a few bites that were good.

When Something stops tasting good, STOP EATING! Don't keep eating just because it is there.

Have small Portions like you are sampling. This is super helpful at buffets and parties or BBQ's. Look at your options, choose what you REALLY want to taste, put a small bit on your plate and then enjoy it. If you want more, you can have more, but I bet you'll be full.

Leave some on your plate. Even one or two bites. NEVER FINISH ANYTHING.

Good Luck! Leave a comment if you have been trying intuitive eating.....

Tips on Thursday

I really LOVE being a mother. It brings me great happiness and joy. I always dreamed of being a mother! I daydreamed much of my teenage years about it. I made up job charts, names, planned home layouts, cut out pictures of decor and furniture, imagined schedules, fun family things to do. Then I became a mother and I forgot ALL THAT in the Chaos! I am starting to remember all that and it is so fun. Here are a few tips for being a present Mother.

1. VALIDATE your children. They are asking us Do you see me? Do You Hear ME? Does What I have to say matter? Am I important? My mother did an amazing job at this. I always felt like I was amazing, wanted, and important. When they show you a bug, rock, scab, say watch me, or tell a funny story, validate them. Don't brush it off with that's great, nice job, etc. Get in there with them and enjoy that little interaction. Ask questions about the bug, the picture, the story whatever. Have a little place in your home to display great things they have done. Have a little journal to record funny things they say or sweet things they do. VALIDATE THEM!

2. Have one on one time. Take them to the store alone, read with them, take them on a date, have them help make dinner, play a game with them. Anything to make them feel like they are special.

3. Play with them. Take time each day to Play. Play tag, go to a park and swing, put a puzzle together, play hide-n-seek, build a fort.

4. Be in the moment. Don't think about your to do's, your cleaning, your appointments. BE THERE.

5. Be deliberate and have a plan. Each week plan out a goal for the week. Daily do things to reach that goal. Think of something each day you can do for them, for yourself, and for others.

6. TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF! If you don't take care of you first you are worth-less to them. NOT worthless, just worth LESS then if you show up as your best self. Put on clothes that make you feel confident. DO your hair and make-up. SHOW UP! Be your best self and they will be their best selves.

What's Up Wednesday!?

We have been Having LOTS of fun around here. Swimming, Playing, Singing, Laughing, Crying, Throwing fits, (both me and the kids), Daddy has been pretty sick...But we have been finding things to keep ourselves busy. Like.......

Raiding the pantry! At least 8 times a day we search for something to eat! Ava is either really hungry or sick of pictures...

Ava has been obsessed with Red Riding Hood. She makes a cape out of anything she can find. Today it was her Pants.

Sawyer has been practicing his "Cheese" face. He is darn adorable!

Hope you are all having a Fantastic week!

Tasty Tuesday!

Here we are another week! Hope you enjoy!

Monday
Breakfast Burritos and Melon
1-2 cups grape tomatoes, cut in half
1/2 small sweet onion, diced
1 tsp olive oil
salt/pepper
4 large whole wheat tortillas
8 eggs (I used 4 eggs 4 whites)
2-3 Tb milk
salt/pepper/taco seasoning
grated pepper jack cheese/cheddar cheese
fresh avocado slices

Start out with tossing the tomatoes and onion in olive oil and sprinkling with salt and pepper. Roast in a 400 oven for 15 minutes.
While these are cooking scramble your eggs over medium heat until almost done and remove from heat.(they will continue cooking and you don't want them rubbery.)Season with salt, pepper, and taco seasoning.
Heat the tortillas in a fry pan on the stove about 20 seconds per side. Then put the warm and toasted tortilla on a plate and put the desired amount of cheese down the middle. Spoon on some of your scrambled eggs, roasted tomatoes and onion, and top with slices of avocado. Eat burrito style. Serve with melon of your choosing.

Tuesday
Grown up Grilled Cheese and Fruit Salad

1 loaf Sesame Ezekiel Bread (found in the freezer section of most stores)
Swiss Cheese Slices
Dijon Mustard
Spinach
Sliced Mushrooms ( I like the baby portabello at Costco)
1/2 Sliced onion
Pam
2 Cans Fruit Salad
1 small container of low calorie yogurt

Place mushrooms and onions in pan with a little olive oil. saute a few minutes not turning. You want the mushrooms to get brown and a little crisp. Turn after about 3 minutes and leave for another three or so minutes. When they are brown on both sides add a half  bag of spinach. It wilts down fairly quickly. Remove mixture from stove. Take your bread and spray both out sides with Pam. Place in pan and top with Swiss on one side and Dijon on the other. When cheese is melty, spoon veggie mixture on top and top with Dijon side. Drain Fruit salad and mix with yogurt. Serve on side on sandwich. ENJOY.

Wednesday

Margarita Pizza and Salad

Prepared store bought Whole wheat Crust (or make your own)

3 medium vine-ripened tomatoes (of course from your own garden is best!), chopped in large chunks

1 tsp minced garlic

1/2 tsp kosher salt

1/4 tsp black pepper

1 Tb olive oil

1/3 cup+ loosely packed fresh basil leaves, julienne cut

mozzarella cheese, shredded (fresh mozzarella is wonderful)

Parmesan cheese, shredded

1/2 Bag of Romaine Lettuce

Combine all ingredients except cheese and toss lightly. Sprinkle 1 cup of mozzarella on Crust. Spoon on tomato mixture and spread evenly over cheese. Sprinkle about 1/4 cup Parmesan on top. Bake in preheated oven at 450 degrees for 12-15 minutes or until cheese is starting to brown and crust is a deep golden. Let cool for 5 minutes. Sprinkle additional 1-2 tablespoons of fresh basil over pizza before serving. Serve with side salad.

Thursday

BBQ Turkey Sliders and Coleslaw salad

1 Pound Ground Turkey 90% fat free

1 Green Pepper (diced)

1/2 red onion (diced)

1 Cup STUBBS BBQ sauce

Whole Wheat Rolls

1 package coleslaw

1/2 cup olive oil Mayo

1/2 package dry ranch dressing

1 apple

Saute onion and pepper in pan add Turkey and cook until no longer pink. Season with onion powder and garlic powder. Add BBQ Sauce and simmer until bubbly and remove from heat. Let cool a little and add to rolls.

Meanwhile add mayo and ranch to coleslaw mix. Dice apple and add to mixture. It should be just barley not wet but not drenched in mayo. Serve on Side of Sandwiches.

Friday

Chopped Salad and Crackers

1/2 Bag Romaine Lettuce

1/2 bag spinach

4 hard boiled eggs (diced)

8 slices Nitrate Free Ham deli meat (Hormel Natural Choice) Sliced in strips

1 package cherry tomatoes

1/2 red onion sliced

1 small bag shredded carrots

Low Fat Ranch

Reduced fat Triscuits

Assemble all ingredients and toss with dressing. Serve with crackers.

Shopping List

Triscuits

Whole Wheat Rolls

Whole wheat pizza crust

Ezekiel or whole wheat bread

Whole wheat tortillas

1 pints cherry tomatoes

1 sweet onion

1 purple onion

1 bag romaine lettuce

1 melon of choice

Avocado

3 Regular tomatoes

1 bag coleslaw

1 package spinach

1 package coleslaw

shredded carrots

1 apple

1 green pepper

2 cans fruit cocktail in JUICE not syrup.

Low Fat Cheese

Mozzarella

Swiss slices

eggs

milk

1 small yogurt of choice

Low fat ranch

salt

pepper

garlic

olive oil mayo

basil (fresh or dried)

1 packet ranch dressing mix

Dijon Mustard

STUBBS BBQ sauce

Ground turkey

Hormel Natural choice Deli Ham

Hope I got everything!

You are enough!

You are perfect, God's Creation, and exactly who and where you need to be. Live your greatness!

Fit Fabulous Friday!

Hey Hey! So if you didn't bother watching my video last week, I will review principal 1 of my Intuitive Eating outline!
1. Eat on Purpose with Purpose
-Sit Down and chew your food. Chew it taste it let it register. Enjoy the flavors, textures, smells etc.
-Taste your food don't just snarf it down.
-Weigh out your choices. Is Fat Free just as good as the full fat? Use the lesser of two evils. If it isn't worth it to you to eat the better choice, eat a SMALL amount of the BAD thing.
-When you have a treat eat in on purpose, enjoy it, don't tell yourself you are cheating, just enjoy it and move on.

So here is principle Numero Dos!
2. Eat what YOU Need
-Pay attention to how much satisfies YOU. Stop when you are full.
-Eat a variety of foods and Fruits and Veggies. Lots of COLOR and don't eat the same things over and over.
-Stop eating when it stops tasting good. If you aren't enjoying it don't waste the calories.
-Eat what you like, Do you like a little meat or a lot, more veggies or more bread. Balance it out through out the day and keep asking yourself what you REALLY want. Your body will balance itself out. If you crave something heavy in the morning most likely you will want something lighter in the afternoon. LISTEN TO YOUR BODY.
- Make a list of the top ten meals you love in each category (Breakfast,snacks, lunch, dinner) and if they aren't healthy find a way to make the foods you love healthy.

So here's to a FIT FAB WEEKEND!

Tips on Thursday

Here are some GREAT ideas for your summer! You could do these with just your family, friends, extended family, or neighbors.

1. Have a dress-up photo-shoot/fashion show. Dig out the old clothes, dress-ups, or go to the thrift store and put funny outfits together and have a photo-shoot or fashion show!

2. Have an Art contest with Side walk chalk. Have all your kids and the neighbors make art on the driveway and give prizes (Dollar Store or toys you wanted to give away.)

3. Have a camp out- Set up tents in the front yards of your neighborhood and have a pot-luck dinner. Play games, have smores, and tell ghost stories. Then in the morning have a big breakfast.

4. Make a Club. Science, Art, Book club, Sewing etc. Hold weekly meetings and have FUN!

5. Movie Night or Morning - If you have a sheet and projector great! If not many cities and movie theatres have free or cheap movies. Everyone can make a treat or bring popcorn and have FUN!

6. Water Party- Slip and slides, blow-up pools, Splash Parks or go to the local pool together. Blow up water balloons or turn on the sprinklers. Serve Popsicles or snow cones.

7. Have an Ice Cream Party- Get ice cream and all the fixing's and have a banana split party!

8. Park Day- Take a sack lunch and play together at the park. What is better then that? You could do this weekly and meet at a different park each week.

9. Take Trax, the bus, or other alternate transportation to the Gateway or other mall. Play in the water at the Gateway if you go there. Take a lunch and make it an adventure.

10. Go on a Picture or regular scavenger hunt. Have a list of things to find and either take a picture of it.

11. Make a meal on $5. Either go to the store, dollar store, or dollar menu and see how far you can make your dollar go.

12. Make a music video. Do your hair and make-up, make up a dance and rock out to your favorite song!

13. Interview a grandparent, parent, or neighbor. Film it or record it and learn about the past.

14. Live like a Pioneer for a day. Turn off the lights, cook over a flame, play pioneer games and do laundry by hand.

15. Have an afternoon Reading time where you read a chapter book together aloud. Older readers and mom could take turns.

16. Play tag in the dark with a flashlight.

17. Go Star-gazing, Enjoy a sunset, or take a hike and enjoy the blessing of nature.

18. Keep a Journal of summer activities and take lots of pictures. Make a scrapbook of the fun summer you had.

19.Have a beauty day. Give facials, pedicures, or curl hair.

20. Play Volleyball, Croquet, Tag, Kickball, Foursquare, or Hopscotch together.

21. Go on a family walk or bike ride on Jordan Parkway or around the neighborhood.

22.Have an art day. Color, Draw, make a craft, or Paint.

23.Have a cooking day. Find a new recipe and make it together.

24. Find someone you can serve. Mow their lawn, clean their house, walk their dog, visit someone lonely, take a meal to a family.

25. Do service for each other in your home. Make someone's bed, take their shoes to their room, DO a chore for them, write them a kind letter.

26.Make a list of goals for the summer. Things you want to accomplish or improve over the summer.

27.Find a Pen Pal. Someone you can write to and send fun things to.

28. Hold Lessons each morning so you don't forget what you have learned. Review all you know.

29. Get a little summer job. Babysitting, Mow Lawns, sell things you don't need or use, Make hair bows or greeting cards and sell them door to door.

30. Have an End of summer party and send off balloons with well wishes for the new school year.

What's Up Wednesday!?

This has been an eventful week! I am sick and so is Sawyer. I assume as the normal protocol goes that Rob and Ava are soon to follow. I went into the kids' room today to find that they had pulled out EVERY piece of clothing they own and thrown them to and fro. Oh boy! I spared you all the pictures but it was bad! It is a good thing they are so cute! Otherwise I would be selling them as a two for one package deal! In other news, Rob is plugging away at school and doing great! It is awesome that he has time at work to do his homework. Heaven knows it wouldn't happen in our chaos! Sawyer is saying lots of new things and growing into a little boy. Ava is obsessed this week with hopscotch and makes one out of my scrapbook papers everyday. At least they are being put to good use! She has also started saying "Yes, my Mother, Coming, my Mother." Who knows where it came from! Here is a clip from two of my favorite mothers! Linda Eyre and her daughter Shawni Pothier Enjoy!