A Special Easter Package!

A package arrived today-these 2 couldn't wait to open it!

Mr. Popsicle himself couldn't be happier with this new contraption!!!!

This one didn't realize that you can buy jams for little girls AND Kanani's at the store-she is convinced Grandma sewed these just for her-no mind the dead give away of the tag & hanger???? he he he. 

You've made two little PEEPS very happy tonight! Thanks!

Plans Plans Plans

This kitchen remodel is a chunk of change-not as much as it COULD have been (thank you IKEA) but still....
I've enjoyed finding other ways to save some $ too-like using our "dishwasher fund" (which was set aside to buy JUST a dishwasher-expensive little suckers)-but instead of buying ONE dishwasher, we bought:

1 Frigidaire glass top stainless steel range,

1 Frigidaire professional series range hood,

1 Maytag stainless steel dishwasher

the Coleman camping grill we've wanted for the past 2 years

AND Bryce the bike he was wanting since he saw it on Amazon.com! :)

Craigslist-you are my HERO! Seriously all that with our dishwasher fund. So happy. Now to call the guy who wants to buy our Vintage Range. I will actually miss that part-it was the ONE thing about my kitchen that I liked when we moved in-it is the same one that is on Bewitched you know!? Double wall oven and a range that could slide back in when still hot to keep little fingers from getting burned accidentally! :( Oh well. Glad someone else will be able to appreciate it-and hopefully this will help the resale of this place someday?

Next on the docket-demolition & drywall. BOOOOOOOO!

Gettin' Ready for Kinder

Em went and received her kindergarten shots today :( She was much less than thrilled about it. I make her Dadda go with her because I can't handle it either. She felt a little better when they got to the room and saw this on the wall:

awwwww-love this about small towns.

But 4 shots later=no bueno

So as a pick me up, she & I went to do this afterwards:

She was THRILLED~she giggled and giggled because she didn't know what else to say. 

Look at those red cheeks from crying :( . I had to tie back the tear soaked hair too....so sad.

they spoiled her rotten and really pulled out the red carpet treatment for her. (which means we will be going back someday :) Cute kiddie mani/pedi for $20!!!! What a steal!

Meanwhile-back at the ranch-Dad & Bryce prepared for our family "end of spring break" BBQ tmrw. Homemade "Baked Potato" Potato Salad! Bryce is quite the chef. He can't get enough of helping out in the kitchen. 

So-all's well that ends well at the Martone Casa tonight.

LOVE me some Craigslist!

I don't know what it is-but I get a HUGE thrill from a great deal. HUGE! Therefore for me, Craigslist is where it's at! I've adopted the Duggar theory of "buy used, save the difference" and I LOVE it! Granted-I haven't brought myself to be able do that with clothes (unless tags are still attached but even then, it is few & far between). So-when I found these gems I was in HOG HEAVEN.

Pottery Barn bookshelf-$20

COSTCO desk

 (which I saw in the store 2 weeks ago and wanted-even at the $80 price tag, it was a good deal)-$40

Office Chair-$10

THANK YOU CRAIGSLIST! We finally have an "office" set up-which hasn't happened since......wait-EVER!
Mike has found some awesome deals too-like our second iPad2 for $300 on the CWU classifieds! Amazing deals are waiting to be stolen peeps. Just waiting! And I am all over it!

WHAT THE......

I am SORRY but I have NO CLUE why people find THIS beautiful! I just don't!

Nothing about it is beautiful to me-in fact it SCREAMS disgusting and gives me the heby jebies! GROOOOOOOSSSSS! What is this kid-like 3 years old? Hello MOM-give this kid a cup of milk for pete's sake. So sick and WRONG. Seriously. Apparently she did not get the memo that after 12 months old, there is nothing that the child is getting from you that he/she can't get from other sources-and therefore you are doing it for self satisfaction and THAT is sick. I'm not joking. The comments on this pict are: "Way to go mom" "you go girl", etc. etc. WTF? Are you kidding me?
Ewwwwwwww......sorry. Just needed to vent. So many people have been posting this crap about extended breastfeeding-like they are attempting to make it a freaking fad or something. I am also aware that this topic is like bringing up subjects like politics or gun control but whatever. It is obviously annoying the crap out of me.

Momma Munchkin Date

Mike and his buddies left this morning at 4am to go fishing for the day. So it's just me and the munchkins today. When the kids woke up they climbed in bed with me and after some morning snuggling, we decided to go on an outing together. I didn't tell them where we were going-but when we turned onto the street where the fun was located-I knew they clued in due to the squeals in the backseat!
It's been a fun afternoon with my kidlets.

Poor boy-still smiling, even thru all those war wounds. 

Kid tip #107: Listen to your momma and don't move the kiddie slide from the grass to the patio if you want to continue to ride face first down the toy. 

He said he will do a better job of listening next time. He is annoyed with the daily ritual of neosporining his ENTIRE FACE :)

Pinched!

We just PINCHED our neighbors! SOOO fun! Here's the documents for you to PINCH yours! Happy St. Paddy's!

Leprechaun Day.....FINALLY!

Oh BOY! Leprechaun Day (in everywhere other than our house-known as Saint Patricks Day ;) is a most anticipated day! Bryce woke up the past 2 days asking why the leprechaun did not dance on his face, and Emma hasn't helped matters-she's been telling him it was Leprechaun day since MONDAY! Wishful thinking chickadee. They have had a hard time containing their excitement to say the least! FINALLY-today was the day. Em & B woke up with crazy polka dot footprints on their faces-weird? And some festive trinkets to start the day. 

While getting ready for school they were startled to find THIS site in the bathroom! Oh wow! Looks like the Leprechaun was here too?

Yesterday we set the traps out at school in the hopes to lure a little fella into our classroom "Gnome Neighborhood" :)

There were some pretty cute traps this year. There is NEVER a child that is not overflowing with pride about their creation-Em & Bryce included. Yesterday they each got the chance to show their classmates their plan for catching a leprechaun & how their trap worked to do so! 

See the tiny footprints....seems the leprechaun visited Emee's trap! He even overturned the slide into it! tttt....tttt...But did she catch him?????

NOPE. Bummer. However-he did pay for his freedom. See? He left her a pot of gold in return!

There are footprints on Bryce's contraption too! See the shamrock on the side? And what a naughty leprechaun....he busted the side off B's trap! Ugh. 

Looks like he didn't catch him either-I spy another Freedom Payment left instead.

Our funny little leprechaun was in cahoots with THE LORAX! Can you believe it? And what perfect timing considering our theme of Dr. Seuss this month! Incredible I tell ya ;)

Anywhoooo-seems that the Lorax left us some rainbow TRUFFULA seeds to plant. Rainbow seeds???? Perfect for Saint Patricks day. (Plus the students are NUTS for the Lorax since our field trip last week)

The directions on the back said to plant them in a little cup of dirt & water them-it also said they were.....MAGIC! So what did we do? We planted them of course!

Each student was able to make a Leprechaun hair planter during centers today-so we just added the Truffula seed in there with the grass seed-who cares right? lol

There was a note from Lucky the Leprechaun that said he had left a treat for us to enjoy-but being the trickster that he is-he HID it....and our job was to find it. So coats & shoes on-a scavenger hunt was quickly underway!

 The kids followed rainbow shamrock clues until they finally reached THIS:

A fun & super simple game (exactly like Don't Eat Pete). One laminated copy for our classroom and one small copy for each of the kidlets to take home!

It was great fun today. Plus I have the best parent helpers :)

After school I was EXHAUSTED. The kids had their friend over for a playdate and since that would keep them occupied, I was planning a nice afternoon started with a few TYLENOL.

Such is my luck that when we went in to have lunch-as is routine after school, I was bombarded with more squealing and excitement. Would you believe it! That leprechaun had come back while we were at school! He stole the kids' lunches AGAIN! Just like last year. Oh boy. Good thing he always leaves us a map of where to find it. 

The kids did a great job following the map (Em has been crossing her fingers that whatever Leprechaun we got this year would steal their lunch & leave a "treasure clue map" again-I told her it is never a guarantee-different gnomes come on different years! lol) 

Whew-they followed the gold coin lined path & were able to retrieve their meals. (ahem....thanks for coming home & using your lunch time to help put this crazy plan into action Poobee :) 

(clover plate, rainbow waffles, green grapes, green yogurt, green juice & a gold Twix for dessert!)

Since he played a trick on them-he left them a treat to make up for it. They were ok with that plan :) (Thank you Pinterest for a cool idea of a new "rainbow" non edible treat!)

Back to the house for the annual viewing of The Gnome Mobile and a nap for me???? Probably not in the cards. BOOOOOO. lol