Alien Buddies for ipad

I need to get back to my blog.  I've neglected it long enough.  Perhaps Alien Buddies is the best way to get back to writing again?!  I have tried out Shake-a-phrase  and loved it.  Alien Buddies is a preschool app for the ipad that is by the same makers as Shake-a-phrase.  Although I don't own an ipad, I can only guess that Alien Buddies is of the same amazing quality.  It looks engaging to small children.  My boys love colorful games and anything to do with aliens.  If we had an ipad I'd be jumping on this game.  

Tomorrow only, Alien Buddies will be FREE!  This will be in conjunction with MomsWithApps, Friday event.  Please check them out!

Menu Planning Monday

I'm trying something new.  I'm going to share my menu for the week and my grocery list based on my menu complete with my coupons that I used with my list.

Monday: hot dogs and cheese burgers, home made mac and cheese, and a veggie that I'm going to let the kids chose.

Tuesday: raviolis and garlic sticks
I bought these a few weeks ago when Shoprite had them for 79 cents a bag.

Wednesday: eggs, bacon, and toast
The boys love breakfast for supper!

Thursday: ham, left over mac and cheese, and a veggie that the kids can chose

Friday:  Chinese food
I hit up a sale a few weeks ago on beef and broccoli and fried rice that were frozen.

Saturday: oven baked chicken, rice, and veggie

Shoprite:

·        Fresh Salsa 3.99

·        Alexa French Fries  4.99 plus 1.00 off coupon

·        Pepsi 5 for 5

·        Mountain Dew 3.49

·        Cracker Barrel Cheddar Chesse 1.99 plus 1.00 off of 2 coupon

·        Milk 3.99

·        Ham 3.99 a pound

·        Irish Cheese 4.99 a pound

·        Ranch Dip

·        Bread 2.99

·        Capri Sun 1.99

·        Crescent Rolls 3 for 5 dollars 40 cent coupon that doubles plus on-line 40 cent coupon

Produce Store:

·        Celery .79 cents a stalk

·        Baby Carrots .99 cents a bag

·        Lettuce .79 cents a head

·        Red onion .59 cents a pound

·        Sweet onion . 59 cents a pound

·        Cucumber  3 for a dollar

·        Tomato . 89 cents a pound

·        3 rolls . 25 cents a roll

CVS

• Finish dishwashing tablets 2.99 plus 1.00 off

I’m using my 7 dollars in RR to buy as many as I can

You're never too old to hear it Happy birthday honey

It never fails, I'm always sick for my oldest son's birthday or shortly after his birthday I get sick.  So, this is a bit overdue!

This year it was bronchitis. It does beat the year I had H1N1, though.

Happy birthday Joshua,
 14 years ago I had been given an amazing gift.  It was the best gift anyone could receive...it was the gift of you.  I remember finding out I was going to have you and thought to myself "How can I do this?  I'm so young!"  But I did.  And I'm so very happy I did.

 I remember as I was having you, the midwife put you on my belly and yelled "It's a boy!" I wasn't prepared for that; we were told you were going to be a girl.  Your Aunt Jessie and Pop were so thrilled that you were a boy.  Pop started crying when he came in the room and thanked me for giving him a grandson.  I swear the moment you were in his arms was the same moment that you wrapped your little finger around his.  He has spoiled you since!

I've loved watching you grow into this incredible young person that you are over the years.  You really make a mom proud to claim you as their own!

Thank you for letting me be your mom!
I love you,
Mom

Lots of blogging to come soon

I'm sorry I'm not keeping up with the blog right now.  I'm working on a lot of volunteering and starting to delve into lots of complications with Jon and Matthew with their IEP's.  We're entering the beginning stages of due process.  NOT FUN!

PYHO: SOS

Jonathan has been so disrespectful lately.  I'm tired of the yelling, hitting, punching, stomping, screaming, etc.  He's been horrible lately!

I try to count to 3 with him, I've tried rationalizing with him, grounding him *grounding means taking a privilege away for a day*, yelling, spanking *yes, I went there* and it's not working.

I don't know how to get through to him.  I am struggling with his diagnosis and how to discipline him.  I have tried catching him when he's doing something good, doing more positive than negative and it's not working well.

Any suggestions as to how to positively discipline a 6 year old little boy on the spectrum with ADHD?  I just want me sweet boy back :(

The Force was With Us

This past weekend we had Jon and Matthew's Lego Star Wars party.  We had 10 kids in our backyard mostly from the boys' kindergarten class.

When the kiddies showed up they were given a padawan vest lego style.

They completed an obstacle course of jumping from hula hoop to hula hoop,  crawling through a tunnel, and ending up in a tent of Star Wars characters.  I told the kids that when they entered the tent they would be dubbed Jedi and would have the power to defeat Darth Vader.  We had a pinata of Darth Vader's head for the kids along with a light saber.

I had planned on the kids playing with different Lego sets we have but when I asked Jon and Matthew to clean up, they put all the sets together.  Instead we completed Star Wars puzzles from Target's dollar section.

Next we ate, snow ball popcorn, light saber pretzels, a Star Wars Lego cake

 and drank Yoda Punch.  I didn't get a picture of it though.  I used Sierra Mist and Lime Sherbet.

The boys had a wonderful time but I have to say next year may be in a bounce house.  Much easier on this tired mama.

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles

Last weekend we had planed an outdoors party for Christopher's 4th birthday.  We had chosen a theme of planes, trains, and automobiles since he loves all three.  We worked with the colors red, blue, and yellow thinking it would be easy to find those colors.

We had 3 activities that we did and had planned a 4th but had to move in doors so we had to scrap the 4th activity.

1st the kids played on rugs we have with trains, Hot Wheels, and Cars.  I had buckets at each area so the kids could easily reach them.

Next we had the rice buckets that I had made. I put them directly on the rugs.  I had planned on putting them outside but the ground was still wet.

While we were cleaning up the floor from kids who threw rice all over the floor, the kids played with stampers.

I had planned on having the kids play with gliders but that wasn't being done inside.

We had snacks and cake last.  I had fruit salad from Costco, pretzels and dip, nachos and salsa ranch dip.  The kids love this so I thought it would be a hit.  

I made 3 different cakes, one was a chocolate air plane,

 one was a vanilla car, 

 and last was red, blue, and yellow tie dyed strawberry cupcakes

The airplane was a big hit until I did this....

I hope I don't do that this weekend with Jon and Matthew's party if we still have it.  Matthew is sick.