First Day of School

Yesterday was the big day.  The first day of first grade!  I could tell Logan was a little nervous.  He got up as soon as I went to his room to wake him.  He didn't want to eat anything, normally I can't eat breakfast 'early' either so I don't force him.  He did finally want toast though.  I went over with him where the bus would drop him off at school, its different from last year.  What his teachers name is, so he could ask for directions.  There was going to be staff there to help the younger students find their way around.

We had his bookbag all ready to go, we just had to put his water bottle in and head out the door.  Cole had spent the night at his grandparent's house (my parents) the night before, him and my mom showed up to see Logan get on the bus.  Logan & Cole were both grouchy and wouldn't let me get a picture of them together...

Logan waiting for the bus...

That's his new favorite shirt we bought while back to school shopping.  We watched shark week this year and he is now obsessed with sharks.  When we were picking out what he would wear last week, I had originally had another outfit picked out.  He saw that shirt and said, "no!  I have to wear the shark shirt.  Maybe I'll meet another kid because he will say he likes sharks too!" How cute is that?!  Its so hard as the boys' get older and putting them in situations like that.  When they are unsure of themselves.  Plus Logan has always been fairly outgoing and its hard to watch, as he grows, become more shy. 

His first day seemed to go well, I wasn't home when he got home yesterday though, my mom picked him up and brought him to work for me to talk to quick.  He said it was fine and he likes his teacher.  Hopefully that holds true throughout the year.  He told me last night when I was taking him to bed, that one of his friends at football said she's mean, he said to me he's wrong, she's not mean I like her.  I really hope that is the case!  Why can't the teachers that I had still be there?!  It would be so much easier!! 

Cole hasn't been joining us too much at football practice.  It started with him just staying with my mom during practice.  Then he didn't want to come home with us, he wanted to spend the night with her.  So we'd let him.  One day would turn into two days and sometimes three days.  Its gotten to be  a problem.  Though there are worse problems to have. I guess I should just count ourselves lucky that he has a mamaw that wants to spend time with him and he wants to spend time with her.  We have enough of the other kind of grandparents, the ones who are too busy to attend sporting events or too oblivious to spend any time with the grandkids. Honestly I used to care but frankly I don't anymore.  I would like to tell these people how it is though because their not only hurting a relationship with their grandchildren but also with us too.  If I could I would change ALOT of things....

Anyway, I <3 this picture.  He just picked his chair up the other day and moved it to the edge of the field to watch practice.  He looks like he knows what he's watching.

Watching the game...

Back to School with Mission Tortillas

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Mission Foods. All opinions are 100% mine.





Who else out there is looking for quick, easy and healthy snack and lunch ideas?  I know I am.  Well you really need to check out Mission – Back To School.  They have some AMAZING ideas for fun and healthy lunch ideas as well as after school snack ideas.  With football practice we could really use them here! 

I can't say I've ever used Mission Tortillas before but I was surprised at how many things they can be used for!  Not only can they be used to replace the bread in an everyday sandwich, they can also be used for breakfast with eggs, meat, cheese or even fruit!  As well as snacks or dessert.  They come in a variety of sizes such as small (6"), medium (8") and large (10”).  They are also a healthy alternative since they  Contain 0 grams Trans fat per serving and are cholesterol free.

Mission Tortillas are a great item to keep on hand in your pantry for every meals as well.  I know money has been a big concern in our home, especially at the grocery store, it seems like I'm spending more and more every time I go.  With Mission Tortilla's on hand you can check out their website, Mission – Back To School, and they have a section that includes family meals for $10!

Logan has really been excited to pack his lunch this year in school, we even bought a lunch box while back to school shopping.  My big concern was coming up with new and exciting ideas instead of the same old bologna and cheese or pb&J sandwich.  Some of the new things that we will be trying with the tortillas are the very berry delicious burrito and the pb&j banana burrito.

Be sure to check out Mission Tortillas which are available in grocery stores nationwide and also be sure to check out  Mission – Back To School for some new menu ideas!

What To Do...What To Do...

This past week has been a semi crazy one for me.  Dr's appts, being sick, getting ready for the new school year to start... I can't believe Logan will be a big first grader next Wednesday. 

I found out who his teacher for the upcoming year is & I'm not too happy about it.  I've been hearing some pretty terrible things about her. I don't want to get into what I've heard here, in this public forum but its bad, not abuse bad but still makes you wonder WHY she's still a teacher.   People are suggesting that I call the school on Monday and demand he be put in a different class.  The problem is I'm not really a confrontational person.  I mean put in a situation where something has been done to me first of course I can stand up for myself or my family but I have to be in the right place or frame of mind to do it.  Most of the times I can just let things blow over and be like "whatever."  Plus I'm also a big believer in the whole adage that everything happens for a reason.  Maybe he's ment to be in that class only we may not know that reason for awhile or we may find it out next week...who knows.

I just don't want to be THAT mom, kwim?  I also don't want Logan to fall behind this year when he's finally caught up.  He had a little bit of a hard time last year in reading and by the end of the year he was right where he needed to be.  Plus its just hard for me because growing up, we just sucked it up and dealt with the teachers we were given, at least in my family.  It was what it was.  You learned to deal with different kinds of people that way. Heck, my 2nd grade teacher had his paddles lined up around his room, one even had his name on it!  I can't IMAGINE letting my child in a classroom like that now!! 

So any advice out there in blogland??  I sure could use it now, time is running short, I HAVE to call Monday morning if I'm going to have any shot in getting him moved....

Win a FREE Weekend Stay!!

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Hampton Hotels. All opinions are 100% mine.



How cool would it be to get a FREE weekend away with friends?  I know as a mom to two young boys' it sounds like heaven & darn near impossible.  Well, right now my friends over at Hampton Hotels is running a very cool contest,  Hampton Chain of Friends Sweepstakes. It is super cool, they are giving away 100 first prizes daily that include weekend stays  for the winner and three of their friends. 

I can't imagaine how great it would be to get away for a weekend with three of my friends.  As much as I love my boys' & I do, believe me.  I could really go for a girls weekend away.  I've been planning where I'd go if I won and who would join me.  Its been pretty difficult to choose!

I automatically thought about my knitting gals,  I've been missing them SO much because football has been taking my every minute.  We could have a fabulous 'knitting retreat'  Maybe somewhere I've always wanted to go, such as Maine?  Or North Carolina?  Maybe even Canada or California so I could meet some of my other knitting pals? ;)

Or I could make it a nice family weekend away and take a trip to Philadelphia.  Maybe take the boys to see their first Phillies game?  Or possibly catch an Eagles game?  Eat some cheesesteak??? mmmm.... 

I don't think so...as much as I love my boys & the Eagles, a weekend away with my knitting group is how I'd choose to spend my weekend away! 


So, what are you waiting for??!  Check it out and enter today! Hampton Chain of Friends Sweepstakes

Burning Hands & Jalapeno's

I just have one thing to say today...


When you are cutting up hot peppers, WEAR GLOVES!!! 

I'll start from the beginning....

In the garden this year Ryan grew a few different hot pepper plants, jalapeno's & habanero's.  So we decided to make & can some salsa.  Perfect, we have a boatload of tomatoes & peppers.  So we got everything we needed on Sunday and got down to it that afternoon.  I started chopping onions and the peppers.  I realized that we had forgotten to pick up gloves, the recipe I had had a reminder at the bottom to always wear gloves when chopping peppers.  Well I said something to my lovely husband and he was like oh you don't need them.  In his defense he did grab me a pair of rubber gloves from his truck but they were too big and bulky for me to use so I didn't bother.  I cut up ALOT of peppers that day, about 10 + cups worth.  Not long after I was finished and washed up, my fingers started to burn a little.  As time went on it was getting worse and worse.  It really felt like I had held my hand over an open flame for a few hours.  Luckily it was my left hand, I could still do some things with my right. 

After much googling, I had my hand in many things.  I big tub of yogurt, a bowl of milk, iced down white vingear & tomato paste to name a few.  I finally fell asleep (or passed out) around 4:30 am.  The only thing that ended up making it feel better was a bowl of ice water.  It was better by morning just a slight sting that I can still sort of feel under my nails. 

So, a word to the wise...wear gloves!   I know I will....

I promise...sort of...

Ok, I promise this WILL not be another post solely about football...I feel like that's all I'm writing about anymore.  Its just taken a huge chunk of my life right now and honestly its all that I really have on my mind.   That and the serious disgustingness that is my house but you can see I'm really concerned with THAT right now....

Last night at practice ( I know...but I said SOLELY, there will be more to this post, promise.)  we had a huge turning point.  Logan really didn't do anything different but they actually put the two teams together and started running plays.  I think since he finally got to see how it was all being put together, he 'got' it. He wasn't rotated in all that much and I'm ok with that.  As long as he gets put in a little we're all good.  I don't think he's ready to be out there for any length of time anyway.  I'm not one of 'those' parents that thing that their kid is the sh*t and its only their first year at a sport.  Seriously, he's not.  As I was saying, it really wasn't the best practice for him, he got knocked down twice, hard while he was rotated out and on the sidelines, it didn't look accidental to ME but when I spoke to the coach he said the kid thought Logan was part of the play and he apologized (the coach) to me because it was his fault.  Whatever.  Anyway, after practice Logan came running up to me and was the most talkative about it then he's ever been.  I was shocked.  We had to go to the actual midget field to get their game uniforms and he was crazy excited.  When we were in the car I asked him if he finally likes football and he said YES!  I couldn't believe it.  Even now he's still saying he likes it! 


So anyway, as I said above football is all I've been really thinking about lately.  Mostly because its all we DO anymore but also because Logan wasn't crazy about it and I was torn on what to do.  Ryan and I feel strongly in the way that if you sign up for something you are committing to it therefore there is NO quitting.  Ryan feels a little stronger about it than I do but I've been standing behind him on it.  Honestly Logan has been still participating and not fighting, not throwing fits, not disappering to the bathroom halfway through practice and not coming back.  He's been out there getting knocked down over and over and over again.  While I think he can do BETTER, he's still been sticking it out and yes all the above mentioned things have been being done by other kids on the team.  Logan is aware there are ways to 'get out' of practice but either he's too scared too or part of him really does like it.  Hopefully now that games are fast approaching he will continue to like it.  Even just a little. 

Ok ok, sorry promise no more football talk this post...

I thought that I'd be getting more knitting done since I have those two hours a night while I'm sitting at foo...Ummm...I mean sitting in the grass at that place outside.  But honestly its just been too hot to even think about holding knitting.  I've worked on  a few more rows of the front of Coles sweater. 

The back is all finished.  I'm really happy with my color choices though they are hard to see in this pic.

this is all I have finished of the front.  I'm just now starting the chart.

I was compiling my Christmas knitting list in my head the other day, I think I'm soon going to have to put this on the back burner so I can get moving on the things I want to make.  Its not really anything hard or involved but I'm doing some knitting for a few people this year and I don't want to wait until the last minute like usual. 

Ok well see it wasn't ALL about football, I did have a little knitting thrown in there ;)  I really wanted to write about something else going on but this has already gotten alittle longer than I like so I'll have to save it for a different day!

Football & End of Summer

Isn't he so friggin handsome?!  Maybe I'm just biased but I love to see him in his uniform!  I can't wait to see his game uniform!! 

Things are going a little better on the football front.  I think he's starting to like it a little more.  Hopefully Saturday he'll like it more so, its their first scrimmage.  He just frustrates Ryan & I because we KNOW he can do a better job he's just not trying for whatever reason, I think he's being shy because he doesn't know the kids on his team or at least the ones he's been tackling.  When we go over drills or whatever at home he GETS it and he does it for us but not for his coaches.  We've started going for ice cream after practice on Friday night, well two of his coaches were there this past week.  Logan was by a bench and put his milkshake down, stood back from it, got in his stance and ran for the milkshake like he would tackle it, EXACTLY like he should be doing at practice but for whatever reason doesn't.  Then he said, after we both said thats how he SHOULD do it, " I hope my coach saw me."  WTF?!  Show them AT practice!!! 

I was just sitting here thinking that school is soon going to start, officially two weeks from yesterday he will be back in school.  Where did the summer go?!  I think this was our worst summer ever, we did NOTHING.  I was going to stay home tomorrow and clean (god knows my house needs it, I'm never home anymore!) but I think I'll let it be and take my boys out for lunch and maybe for a swim.  It'll be clean some day, right? Besides, who needs folded laundry? ;) 

Diaper Rashes & Butt Paste....

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Boudreaux's Butt Paste. All opinions are 100% mine.


I remember when my oldest son was only a few months old and he had a pretty bad diaper rash.  Nothing was clearing it up.   I was talking to my sister in law on the phone and contemplating calling the dr about it.  I'll never forget it...she told me to try Butt Paste.  "What?!"  I said.  She's like "no really, its amazing.  It actually stays on but when you want to wipe it off it is easily removable.  Seriously, its magic."  So I went to the store the next day to get some.

My son's rash was pretty sore and red but by the next diaper change after I applied the butt paste, the rash was already starting to clear up.  I couldn't believe it, I was sold! 

I think one of the greatest things about Boudreaux's Butt Paste is that it was specifically formulated by a pharmacist with direction from a respected pediatrician to provide effective diaper rash care.   It comes in many convenient sizes and also has a handy flip top cap.  Plus it has a nice, pleasant scent! 

 Over the years I have told many people how amazing Boudreaux's Butt Paste is.  I even remember going home from a friends house and getting our tube to give her because her twins had a terrible rash and nothing was helping.  She called me the next day and said it was totally gone! 


Now I'm giving you the chance to request a free sample of  Boudreaux's Butt Paste.  Check it out today! 

Wait...They'll Give ME Money for Shopping?!

So, I was poking around on the internet this morning and somehow or another I found out about this really cool site.  At least it seems pretty cool, I haven't actually tried it yet.  Its ebates.com, all you have to do is sign up with them and then whenever you do any online shopping, go to their website, search out the store you want to shop at and go through their link.  There are a ton of stores that participate with them.  When you make a purchase you get a certain percentage of your total back from ebates.com.  They are also giving you a $5.00 bonus just for signing up. 

Too bad I don't need to buy anything right now...though I'm sure I could find something, just to try it out ;)

Monday Night Football...Practice.

Last night was the first night of full equipment practice.  I'm not very happy with the fact that his uniform is HUGE on him.  When we got to equipment pick up they were short on small sized pants and apparently jerseys too.  So we had to take a medium.  His pants are suppose to stop at or above the knee, his go to his ankle.  The good thing is its only his practice uniform, hopefully the game uniform will be a better fit.  I had overheard a coach talking to a friend and apparently our first scrimmage game will be August 14th, crazy!  This is also our first full week of practice. I think we'll all pretty much be sick of it by Friday ;)

So not much else has really been going on.  Trying to keep up with the house when I am home and also work on the decluttering project.  I didn't get as much done this weekend as I had hoped, nothing really even to post about. 

I'm upset about the fact that its August already, soon time for back to school.  I'm not ready for it, I like having both boys home.  What am I going to do when Cole goes to school?!  We didn't really even do anything this summer, I guess that's what I'm bummed the most about.  Not that we have ever gone on huge vacations but we usually do more day trips then we have this year.  We're hoping to get to the Aquarium in Baltimore in the next few weeks, we'll see though. 

I have some other personal family and friend things going on.  A lot of drama.  Haven't decided yet if I want to blog about it all or not.  Maybe later...