Reading Comprehension and a Lap Book!

My second born son has always had an issue with reading comprehension. In every subject he gets A's but when it comes to remembering what he has read it is difficult. So before this becomes a bigger problem I have discovered a super fun tool called a Lap Book! I think it will be so fun for him to be creative and also will help him to remember what he read and have a visual to go with it! So today we are off to the Library after we pick up big brother. I'll post pics later this week!  Stay tuned

Picture from Homeschool in the woods

The Cutest Wreath Ever!!!

Saw this on TipJunkie. Don't you {say it just like Paula Deen } just luvet? {love it} I have to make one!  

My Latest Etsy Item

So, for Bunco last week I had to bring a prize like we do every month but this time I went for a home decor theme and a guinea pig test......if the lucky winner loved it then I knew it would be a hit! It was a SLAM! I knew I loved it but we all have our own tastes don't we?

Here it is.....the latest Pemberley Court Original

{this is the Salt Lake LDS Temple}

{the Los Angeles LDS Temple}

{the back}

and now they are available in my etsy store. I've already had a custom order for 5! Available with most any temple or favorite photo for that matter applied to the top!  Go on, check it out, Christmas is coming......I know what I'm giving this year!

Oh Where Have I Been? And a Homemade Halloween!

I don't know....life, just gets us all so busy sometimes doesn't it? Well, these three kiddos had a little something to do with it! This past week they were able to bring a favorite stuffed animal to school and so they all brought their BAB's {Build A Bear Workshop}

For FHE {Family Home Evening} last week we went to the Peterson Home. Dori, who is Blake's Sunday school teacher decked the place OUT! She was in costume as the most amazing witch! 

We also decided to go old school and do a homemade Halloween this year. I have to say it was so much more fun than going to the party store or mega halloween store like we have dome many times in the past.

I was a disco ballerina doll..wore a wig and a huge hot pink tutu that I made for $6.

Isn't she the cutest Candy Corn Witch! I have to admit I was a little disappointed in her choice at first but.....we came up with our own cute design. She was a happy lil witch and I was happy with the design and execution.....except for maybe the corset, hey....I made the whole thing with out a pattern, wouldn't suggest that on the corset but 30 button holes later it turned out  kinda cute!

$6.00 including the had...we had the boots and leggings.

S.W.A.T.  {$0}

Oh, you didn't know we had Ozzy with us and David Beckham? That's how roll!

One happy lil ghost! {another home made costume...it was our theme this year}

Lil ghost....$6.00

Just a chuckle....at/with Martha!

Click Here!!!! I love Martha! I am so sad that she is not on NBC anymore and is only on the Hallmark channel which we used to get......now its gone! Hmmmm do I want to upgrade our package??? OK I think the whole thing was staged but still fun! Toile in a college guys bedroom? I love it my self but come ON! LOL

A Hansel and Gretel house and Cake Balls!

Tonight for Family Night we had these........sinfully good! I however, didn't take a picture of my double chocolate confection so I borrowed this one from Bakerella. The Red Velvet looks amazing huh? Thanks to a Stake Leadership mtg last night (they served these there) I was inspired to make some for the fam! Oh and the kids {and their Dad} LOVED them!

Bakerella

The kids tonight.....having quiet time with their library books. Blake is reading his first Book Fair book complete with 3-D glasses. Those sharks are jumping off the page!

Saturday we had the opportunity to visit The LDS Los Angeles Temple's Visitor Center. It was so fun! Totally interactive and we LOVED it!

After lunch at In and Out, dessert at Diddy Riese with friends our family went to check out this awesome Storybook style house in Beverly Hills. It was built in 1921 in Culver City and then moved shortly after to its present location.  This is where Walt got his inspiration for the Seven Dwarf's house! 

The kids infront of the Witches house! 

Cami was ready to move in! Isn't the gate adorable?

The Friendly Beveryl Hills squirrel/chipmunk? Who knows the difference? Anyone??

He just came right up to the 6 of us..kids and all! The kids freaked!

Meal Planning

Do you do it? I can't live with out it! Do you dread when it is 4:30 in the afternoon and you have no idea what you will have for dinner? Take out? Left overs? Cold cereal? For me, its panic time if I don't know what we are having for dinner. 5 hungry people asking you whats for dinner can be a little overwhelming when you are not prepared!

So.....I scour the internet all the time looking for ideas, stock blogs, put it on my FB status that I need an idea for dinner {sometimes i even post some of my own} and call my sisters and good friends and ask: "whatch makin for dinner tonight?"

The trick to good meal planning is: set a budget, how many days will you plan for? Then, I borrowed the Food Nanny's idea and added a theme for each night. This makes it sooo simple to plan and organize when you know what type of food you will eat that night. {We eat A LOT of Mexican food in our family. Can't get enough. All 4 of my babies were made on that cheesy spicy goodness.}

I will usually ask the kids and my husband what they feel like for the week (or 2 weeks if I'm doing it that way). It's usually the same things but they appreciate that I ask them what they want. I do like to change it up every so often and will throw in a new food or recipe on Wednesdays. They are now really liking Tilapia!  Try it with season salt and dill! Delish!!