My So Called Life: Summer Bucket List

How many times do we hear over Summer Break..."I am BORED" from your kids. This summer break I wanted to change things up. So the last week of May, I sat down with the kids and we put together a list of fun things that we can do through out the summer; aka Summer Bucket List. 

Here are just a few pictures from this Summer's Bucket List.

Geocaching, throughout the whole summer

Cinderella Movie Marathon with Little Girls - June 10th

4th of July - Fireworks

Visit to the Zoo - August 1st

Visit to the Zoo - August 1st

Tina - Oil Belt Church Camp - July 6th 

Billy Jr. - Oil Belt Church Camp - July 6th

Sammy - Oil Belt Church Camp August 3rd

Family Bowling Night - August 2nd

Ice Cream Sundaes - July 15th

Nature Hike - Red Hill State Park - June 17th

Nature Hike - Red Hill State Park - June 17th

 I wished we had more time during the Summer to do things together. I know there will be coming a time when each one of my loving kids are not going to do fun things with their old mother. 

Little Bitty



My So Called Life: Youth Group

I Love my Youth Group!
I have the privilege of working with a handful of 5th and 6th grade students. I love the fact that I am a  part of these wonderful kids life. I can have thee longest day at work. Be in a bad mood. But come Wednesday night, my mood completely changes. They are fun, silly, outgoing, energetic, and they love hanging out with their youth leader.

 Minute to Win It, one of the many ways we have a 

little fun in the classroom settings.

Jar of Candy, just a little treat for winning a game 

or answering a question about the study.

"O is for Oreo'

Scatter Ball, one of their all time favorite games 

that the kids love to play.

Little Bitty 

My So Called Life: Monday Mornings

5:30 am Monday Morning

Beep, beep, beep...."Lord help me make it through another busy day." I whisper a short prayer before rolling out of bed. I hit the bathroom, brush my teeth and change into my work out clothes. As I make my way to the kitchen for my morning coffee I stop by Jr.'s room to get him up for school.

"Good morning, Buddy. Time to get up and get in the shower." He wipes the sleepy from his eyes and makes a 'b' line for the bathroom still half a sleep.

As I start my coffee pot, I hear Rose (our 3 year old Pit Bull) wrestling around in the laundry room. I open the door to found out she got sick in the middle of the night. Just one more mess that mom will have to clean up. I grab the leash to take Rose around the yard...oh yea she got sick again. I really need to make sure the kids stop feeding her table scrapes. Rose and I make our ways back into the house, I can smell the coffee brewing.

"Thank you, God for coffee."

With cup of coffee in hand, I finish my mourning rounds. Vicky's room is next. This is one teenager I wish would get up and ready the first time. Not Vicky. Not even the the 3rd, 4th time. But no. It takes about after the 8th, sometimes even the 9th time before she gets up. She really is not a morning person. By the time she gets up and ready, the three other kids are ready, animals feed, and trash taken out.

I round up the kids, I manage to get them all in the truck. As we make our to the Jr/Sr High, I am reminding everyone of their schedule for today.

"Vicky, yearbook after school. Also there will be a Pork Roast in the cork pot, if can make some rice and steamed veggies.  Billy, walk Rose and make sure the cans make it to the street tonight. Love you both, have a good day, I will see you when I get off work around 9pm."

Next stop grade school, to drop off Tina and Sammy.

"You two, need to make sure you bring home a an AR book to read. Also make sure the two of walk home together, lets not have what happen last week. Love you, have a good day. I will tuck you in when I get home tonight around 9pm."

Last week Sammy decided that she wanted to go to Hailey's house after school. She told Tina, plus tired calling the house but dad did not answer. So when I got home, the kids said that Sammy was at the neighbors, bit no sign of Sammy. I freaked out for about 30 mins trying to call and drive around looking for Sammy. New set rule in the house. You most talk to an adult before going out.

Me time! With it being such a beautiful spring morning, I figured I would just stop by Red Hill State Park and walk the trails instead of hitting the gym. A different change of scenery would be good for me.

I love it out here. It was still cool out, morning dew on the ground. The birds chirping, flying from tree limb to tree limb. The squirrels wrestling around on the dead leafs on the ground. I had totally forgot about my hectic morning.

"Thank you, God for this peace. You know what I need and when I need it." 
(Psalm 139:5)

I finished walking through the trails, just talking with God. For 30mins I felt Eve. Walking through out the garden or in my case the woods and fully clothed. Just enjoying the present of the Lord.

In the middle of my hectic life there is God. "He fills my life with good things." (Psalm 103:5)


I have learned to embrace Monday Mornings and allow God to be more part of my life.

Little Bitty

Party Time: Rainbow Style

Happy Birthday Sammy 

With my youngest daughter turning 10 this year I wanted to do something a different then just cake and ice cream type of birthday party. 

Young Artists at work. I turned my dinning room into a art studio. Purchased some small white canvas and other art supplies. Placed a birthday table cloth on the table, gave the perfect space for these little artists some room for their creativity.

Did someone say Twister? My oldest daughter, Vicky and two of her good friends joined the fun as well. Watching the teenagers play Twister was a bit too funny.

Overall, I feel that the party was a successful. All the kids got to take home there mini master pieces, eat rainbow cupcakes, take some funny photos in the rainbow photo booth, and play a few games of twister. 

http://littlebittyinthemidwest.blogspot.com/2014/03/little-bittys-recipe-box-rainbow.html?m=1

Little Bitty

Recipe Box: Rainbow Cupcakes

So with St Patrick's Day being today, I figured I would take advantage of Pinterest and see what new dessert I can make for my fellow co-workers. I came across this really easy idea for cupcakes.

St. Patty's Rainbow Cupcakes

Ingredients:

1 Box Cake Mix (I used Funfetti), Eggs, Water, Oil Frosting (I used Easy Frost, easy to use when you are frosting cupcakes)
Mini Marshmallows
Rainbow Candy (Air Heads Xtremes Sweet Sour Candy)

Directions: 

Bake cupcakes as directed on the box. After cupcakes have cooled, apply frosting to each cupcake. Next you place a Rainbow Candy on the cupcake, place to where it arches like a Rainbow. Next use the mini marshmallows to help keep from not sliding off the cupcake. I placed marshmallows all round the base of each side of the Rainbows. Plus the mini marshmallows look like clouds. And enjoy.

My co-workers loved them. They were such a big hit that I figured I would make these for Sammy's 10th Birthday Party (which is in two weeks).

Little Bitty

Holiday Fun: St. Patrick"s Day Treat

 Happy St. Patrick's Day

Candy Rainbows and Gold Chocolate

One thing I notice that does not get old in my house, is the fact my kids love all the corky things I do for holidays. I think it is because most of time it involves sometime of treats.

So for St. Patrick's Day I put together these cute and easy treat bags. I already the blue treat bags and white paper. So I purchased Rainbow Twizzlers and a bag of Rolos. Placed candy in the treat, tie bag closed, and add a little white cloud with child's name.

Little Bitty

Holiday Fun: Easy St. Patrick Day Decorations

Happy St. Patrick's Day

On St. Patrick's Day, everyone is a little Irish Here are just a few quick-and-easy ways to add some St. Patrick's Day cheer to your home.

I had a few of the items already, but a quick trip to the Dollar Store, I was able to add a littlr Irish to my home.

"Luck of the Irish"

 Simple wreath, add pink flowers and ribbon, with a "luck" sign, the perfect touch for my front porch.

"Three Leaf Clovers"

I bought a package of glitter three leaf clovers, and with a little double sided tape on the back, I was able to add a little green to the front door.

 

"Leprechaun Hats"

Found a package of small Leprechaun hats and placed in a few spots within the house.

Placed in my living room, I have these two wooden tool boxes that my son made when he was in Cub Scouts. They were not really been used until I had seen an idea on Pintrerest. And now I use them all the time. with it being March and St Patrick's Day approaching, I wanted to add a little Irish touch. I had purchased white flowers, green three leaf clovers, butterflies, and Irish flags, arranged it all in my tool boxes to add that Irish touch I was looking for.

 Little Bitty