Author: Laurie

Blogger · Business Owner

I’m Coming to Arizona

Laurie5 Comments

Hey lovely readers and friends. I’m coming to Arizona the week of May 1st to speak at Bloggy Boot Camp – Phoenix and would LOVE to meet up with you!

Tiffany from the SITSgirls is hosting mini-conferences all over the U.S. to unite and educate bloggers who want to network, learn, and party other bloggers in your area. {{squeal in delight}}

There’s an impressive list of speakers:

Jyl Johnson Patee of MomItForward, #GNO & EVO 2010

Laurie Turk of Tip Junkie

Sugar Jones of Sugar In The Raw

Kadi Prescott of Digital Kadi

Cindy Hopper of Skip to My Lou

Kim Demmon of Today’s Creative blog

Kelly of ChildhoodClothing.com

Loralee of Loralee’s Loney Tunes

Lisa of Lisa Leonard Designs

I hope you can come. There’s going to be a special Mom-preneur track for those who want to learn how to sell things online and through your blogs. I’ll be hooking you up with my tips as well.

Since I’ll be in Arizona for a few days I thought it would be fun to have dinner and meet up. If you’re interested, leave a comment or e-mail me and I’ll tell you where and when.

I can’t wait to meet you in real life!

Mother of Boys

Sweet!

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My dear friend Lisa made our lives a little sweeter with her amazingly soft and melt-in-your-mouth cookie recipe. It took me 4 times to master it – not batches mind you – but 4 different attempts. Granted, I’m no master in the kitchen.

Huge thanks to Lisa for her fabulous secret recipe and making me look good in the eyes of my boys.

Mother of Boys · Party Planner

Happy St. Patrick’s Day

Laurie4 Comments

St. Patrick’s Day is one of my favorite holidays. Mostly because there are no expectations and no gifts involved. It’s simply a fun day to wear a weird color and celebrate. It falls on our Spring Break so it’s even more fun that I get to include the older boys and their friends in all the festivities.

We played several games which you can print out for free over on Executive Homemaker. This is my Green Day Memory Game that I made into a poster board with ribbon to hang the cards.

Today little Emily asked me why the Memory Cards were all attached. I giggled and told her because I used to have a lot of time and enjoyed making things like that. However, the real reason is that I’m a complete control freak and when D1 & D2 were toddlers they made games very difficult to play. Attached to a posterboard, all the cards stayed where I wanted them to. {{LOL!}}

All the kids drew silly faces on green balloons. I was amazed at how much they got into this, especially the older ones. Turns out they thought there was a prize involved for the craziest face. {{Note to self next year}}

We played St. Patrick’s Day Bingo with rainbow Skittles.

I also read a short story about the Legend of St. Patrick and then ask them questions which are on the back of a puzzle of a Leprechaun.

While the younger kiddos were playing games with me, I had the older girls hide 6 pots of gold for the older boys to find. Once found – the boys hid them. Afterward, we took them outside to play Red Rover. They came in hungry and thirsty, ready to eat green food and drink.

I just love having these little people in my home. One of them commented that I have a party for every holiday. I told her, “I’ll take any excuse to have you in my home sweetie!” That pretty much sums up why I love to do what I do – I love creating memories. Good and happy memories are very important to me and if I can do that for my kids and maybe someone else’s kids to; count me in baby.

It was a wonderful day and I can’t tell you how blessed I feel to have spent it with friends.

Mother of Boys

Science Night at the Intermediate School

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While I was volunteering in Davis’ classroom, his teacher reminded me about Science night. She was telling me all about it and all of her preparations for the big day. I knew that if Davis’ teacher was involved, it was going to be amazing. So that night I packed up the boys for another adventure.

The boys were in heaven in 12+ tables of hands-on experiments and projects to make. Drake saw the goggles and said, “Hey that’s Nemo’s!” He was so cute as he insisted on wearing goggles at every single table – even if they didn’t require them. {{snicker}}

I only have a couple pictures of Dylan because he was a dude on a mission! He explored and absorbed everything around him. Even from across the room, I could see his little brain working to make sense and learn from every table.

We ran into this little cutie and Drake lit up. He took her over to his favorite station – the one with dirt – of course!

Davis made this seriously impressive circuit with over 10 wires, light bubs, and batteries. His goal was to use as many objects on the table as possible. I think he succeeded. Drake and Davis stayed at this table for almost 20 minutes.

Needless to say, everyone had an amazing time. Huge thanks to all the Science teachers and faculty who made the evening such a cool hands-on experience. It was truly amazing to see children from 3 – 11 years old engaged and memorized. Now if I could only do that in my own home. {{wink}}

Mother of Boys

Pinewood Derby

Laurie2 Comments

Pinewood derby was last week and Holy Moly was it a doozy. The actual race day went well and Dylan placed 6th. He was pleased and I was relieved!

Jason went out of town very last minute and therefore I was left to make my first pinewood derby race car. I was in panic mode as Jason pulls out all the stops every year to ensure a winning car. I’m talking special sandpaper for the nails and wheels, graphite on the thingy mabop, and specific weights which are supposed to do something that I just don’t understand.

My goal was not to be dead last.

Graciously the Scout Master took pity on us and helped cut the car. At least Dylan didn’t have a block of wood on wheels racing down the track. HA!

Good news is we found a cool gator skin and made it look as fabulous as we could. Although, we barely survived the official weigh in where Dylan might have gotten in a scuffle defending Davis from kids with a football. {{long story}} At least there was some bonding time for mom and Dylbil. {{the bright side}}

Disaster barely averted and another memory made in Scouts. Gotta love it. We grabbed a friend and ended the night savoring ice cream cones because mama needed a treat. Naturally, I told the boys it was their reward for wonderful behavior and a job well done for Dylan. But we all know mama needed some comfort food from the trauma of a very long single-mom week. {{wink}}

Business Owner · Family Cruise Director

Superhero Academy Birthday

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Drakes birthday party was so much fun. Not only to plan and put together but also to execute. Since the kiddos are getting older, there was zero drama and everyone was all smiles. Yep, even the birthday boy. {{which is sayin’ something}}

I took the opportunity to play around with my creative talents and really have fun with this party. My other 2 boys birthdays are in the fall – the busiest time of year – so I really wanted to enjoy this one and went all out.

You can see all the details as well as free files over on the Batman Birthday Party – Superhero Academy on Executive Homemaker.


Look like a Superhero


Vanish the Villains


Mighty Muscles


Battling the Batcave


Opening Up Presents


Blowing out Candles on the Cake

Yeah!! Drakie is four years old and officially a superhero, the batman variety. He hasn’t taken off his cape since we bought it for him last week. I honestly didn’t think anything would replace Lightening McQueen.

Mother of Boys

I So Want This!

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Drake’s birthday party is this Friday and there’s a ton to do. Lisa and I took Drake to the toy store last week to find out what on earth he wanted. After seconds, it became obvious.

He kept saying, “I so want this!” {{fists raised in air backwards}} Over and over again. It was hysterical.


Batman


Batman


More batman {{seeing a trend?!?}}

Needless to say, we had a blast at Toys R Us. I don’t know who had the better time, Drake or Lisa? I’ll let you be the judge.

Lastly, our adventure ended at the party store where we stocked up on batman accessories and even bought a Batman costume for Drake to sport on his big day.

There’s SO much to do! I’d better get to it… {{sigh}}

Mother of Boys

I So Want This!

LaurieLeave a comment

Drake’s birthday party is this Friday and there’s a ton to do. Lisa and I took Drake to the toy store last week to find out what on earth he wanted. After seconds, it became obvious.

He kept saying, “I so want this!” {{fists raised in air backwards}} Over and over again. It was hysterical.


Batman


Batman


More batman {{seeing a trend?!?}}

Needless to say, we had a blast at Toys R Us. I don’t know who had the better time, Drake or Lisa? I’ll let you be the judge.

Lastly, our adventure ended at the party store where we stocked up on batman accessories and even bought a Batman costume for Drake to sport on his big day.

There’s SO much to do! I’d better get to it… {{sigh}}

Mother of Boys

I So Want This!

Laurie6 Comments

Drake’s birthday party is this Friday and there’s a ton to do. Lisa and I took Drake to the toy store last week to find out what on earth he wanted. After seconds, it became obvious.

He kept saying, “I so want this!” {{fists raised in air backwards}} Over and over again. It was hysterical.


Batman


Batman


More batman {{seeing a trend?!?}}

Needless to say, we had a blast at Toys R Us. I don’t know who had the better time, Drake or Lisa? I’ll let you be the judge.

Lastly, our adventure ended at the party store where we stocked up on batman accessories and even bought a Batman costume for Drake to sport on his big day.

There’s SO much to do! I’d better get to it… {{sigh}}