Eat More Chicken!

Every year Chick-fil-A has a dress like a cow day and they offer you a free meal to just be silly!  We decided to participate this year...Just for Fun!  The girls painted cow print shirts and hats the night before.

 Colleen wanted to participate so she got to paint with washable fingerpaint!!!

 Then on Friday morning, they dressed up and got breakfast for free.  Easy and fun...but Tyler was total embarrassed that he would not sit with us!

Dive In!!!!

Between all other activities, events, and other summer adventures, we have 2 swimmers in the SE YMCA summer swim league.  Lyndsey has been waiting for summer swim team for at least 6 months! She went to a swim instructor during the winter to learn all the strokes because she wanted to be on the team SO much!  She is the youngest on their team at age 5, but she is a force to contend with in the water.  She swims up in the age 8 and under for most of the relays, and she has always helped the relay win!  For her first meet ever, she proudly came home with 1st place in 25 Butterfly, 1st place in 25 Backstroke, 2nd place in 25 Breaststroke, and 4th in Freestyle. 

Coach Loraine quizzing her on what stroke she is about to do...a must.  With her ADD personality,  sometimes she forgets which stroke is which and which one she is doing right now!!!

Lauren is enjoying another year of swim league!  She is again excelling each week and bringing home plenty of ribbons!  For her first meet this season, Lauren brought home 3-1st place, 2-3rd place, and a 5th place.

Both girls are looking forward to trying out for Baracudas in the fall!

D-D-D-Dora the Explorer!!!

Day #3 of our B'ham mini-adventure!  Dora & Diego at McWane Science Center.  Actually, Lyndsey and Colleen loved this floor, and they explored for HOURS. 

Off on a treasure hunt to find clues...

Checking out the map...

The purple planet...

The 3 older kids found plenty to do on the other 3 flours!  Tyler loved the program to perfect your shot!

Playing "science" games!!!

Waiting for the IMAX...

Riding the tight-rope bike...

We had a great day at McWane, and no one was ready to leave when Dad said it was time!

Alabama Adventures Waterpark

So we are still in B'ham today!  JM has drove up this morning and joined us on our mini-adventure.  We decided to try Alabama Adventure Waterpark.  It is a place that we have been "meaning to go to" for the 7 years we have lived here, but we just never seem to get there.

Tyler, Corynne and Lyndsey started the day off with a ride down this slide.  It was so much fun!

Colleen and I hung out at the wave pool most of the day.

At the little kid water play area while the big kids ride some rides!

The LAZY RIVER was relaxing!

It was a fun day.  The water park was OK.  If you grew up going to White Water or Wet-n-Wild in Texas, this park would be a let down.  JM & I were a little disappointed.  But our kids have never been to those, so they had fun.

Happy July 4th!!!

After shopping at Canton, Texas, I was so excited to get home and make this wreath for our front door. I just love it!!!

And I love these Patriotic Kids also!!!

We decided to change things up a little this year.  While surfing the internet last night, I came across American Village 4th of July celebration.  JM is working today, but I decided to go and give it a try!  The kids were very skeptical, but I think they enjoyed all the learning activities once we got there.  We visited stations about clothing of the colonial times, manners, and crime & punishment.

Lyndsey participated in a few colonial games.

Tyler met Ben Franklin!  HAHA!!!

The girls loved the encampment and learning about how the soldiers lived.

A few more colonial games.  This one brought out the competitiveness of my children!!!

Then it was time to wait for the fireworks...

Happy Independence Day!!

Learn a little, play a little...

We spent the last few days reading books from an iPad app MeeGenius about The United States Flag, The National Anthem, and The Statue of Liberty.  They are great little informative books on an easy reading level or the books can be read to you.  The girls enjoyed each little book, and we made a 4th of July lapbook to help explain the importance of the holiday.

Homemade Iced Coffee

So I was being the very type A home accountant the other day and discovered that my wonderful, sweet, amazing, supportive, hard-working husband is spending an absolute FORTUNE on ICED COFFEE every week!  I have always been the type to stretch a penny where I can so I can spend it somewhere else.  I love to use coupons when I can, buy in bulk to save, and we EAT all our leftovers! When I saw how much he spends on coffee, I was in shock.  A few days later, I came across this Perfect Iced Coffee recipe by The Pioneer Woman on Facebook.  It is EASY.  I bought Starbucks coffee on sale at Target and gave it a try.  I figure that I am only out $8 if he doesn't like it.  The Pioneer Woman website goes into a lot of detail with pictures and her humor, but basically you take this...

and it makes this much iced coffee...

She says that it will keep in the refrig for up to 3 weeks, but I don't know because all of this is gone within a week at our house.  For reference, I do NOT drink coffee of any kind!!!!  My hubby loves it.  I think he drinks more iced coffee now than before.  He says it is even better than at Starbucks.  I don't know if I believe him, but I will keep making it every Friday since it saves us $175+ a month!!!!!