Making A List-Checking it twice...

No, I am not thinking THAT far ahead (although come December 24th, I will wish I had).  No, we are talking about THE list...the Dorm Essentials List for College Freshmen!

We just returned home from Freshmen Orientation...whew...we (and she) survived.  Met future roommate...highlight of trip, classes were selected (no 8am, thank goodness), ID was made, yearbook photo taken (be prepared), got lost-found our way (hey, part of being a freshie), attended endless dos and don'ts sessions, learned how NOT to crash your computer (back up EVERYTHING, especially that paper you've been working on til 3 am!!), when they say doing such-n-such will get you sent home...they mean it!, met tons of new friends (thank goodness for Facebook, won't be embarrassed when we can't remember names in August), and fell into bed exhausted each night!  (at least Mom and Dad did, she was busy catching up with everyone on Facebook!!!)

Now the fun begins (well, mom thinks it's fun...she wishes it were done already, and dad...well, he's a guy...no further explanation needed)  We spent the greater part of today at Target, Bed Bath and Beyond and the Container Store!!!  Roomie's mom must have had the same idea, as the girls were texting each other from store to store comparing notes and complaining their mother's were CRAZY!!!

We did manage to get quite a bit checked off the list!  I have learned this child is NOTHING like her sister.  She had her own ideas, knew what she wanted and was picky.  This one, INDECISIVE and could care less, truth be told!!!  As long as she has her cell phone, computer, iPad, food (meal plan), and a cozy bed...she is a happy camper!

So, if I am a bit lax (or more lax than my usual sporadic posts) you will know I am torturing my child to choose between pink or blue towels! LOL

Play Dough~

Yes, I know what you are thinking..."Lauren, aren't your girls a bit "old" for play dough???"  Yes, they are.  Will they admit that?  Ummm....NO!!! LOL

I digress...the play dough is NOT for my girls (who are 18 and 22).  Rather, it is for my sweet group of 2s and 3s I have had the pleasure of teaching this week at Vacation Bible School!  I haven't taught 2s in awhile, and after a week I now remember how exhausting it can be. If only I could bottle just a quarter of their energy. *sigh*

Tomorrow is our last day together, so we are bringing in a few special treats.  One of which is homemade play dough.  Super easy and non-toxic (unless they love salt!)

Jesus Loves Me This I know!

As you can see, it is super easy to make.

Ingredients:  1 C. Flour, 1/4 C. Salt, 1 C. Water, 1 Tbsp. Vegetable Oil, 2 tsp. Cream of Tartar.

Stir all ingredients over medium heat; add food coloring.  The dough will thicken as it stands, but make sure it is pretty stiff before taking it off the heat.  Kneed together and store in an airtight container.  You can make many different colors and if you want you can even add flavorings such as vanilla or peppermint!

The play dough is non-toxic, so no worries if a little one decides to eat a piece.  Let's face it, most 1-3s put everything in their mouths at least once!  (hope they like salt!!)

I have so enjoyed being with the little ones this week.  Seems like ages ago my girls were that age.  However, my recent high school grad couldn't resist playing with the play dough before I packed up the individual bags for tomorrow! LOL 

We are off to Texas for college orientation next week!  Two days crammed full of information.  Oh, and we get to meet her roommate and the parents for the first time.  Exciting times!!!

Will check back in when we return and I can catch my breath.



With Love...from Kylee~

To all my non-human counterparts...share with your human companions. (yes, my GG is guilty as charged)

They are really too smart for their own good!!!

Blueberry Season!

This is one of my most favorite times of the year, blueberry season!  We have had a few bushes in our yard now for quite some time.  This time of year, we can't pick them fast enough and the girls can't eat them fast enough.  One is currently out of town and the other working, but both know come this weekend a blueberry feast will be taking place.  They like them plain and au natural!!!!

This was the yield from just one day of picking!   Our bushes have gotten so big that we can't even reach the top branches anymore.  Our friends the Robins love them too however.  And, we are all about sharing!

Care for a Mint?

A very dear friend of mine purchased an old wooden herb crate for me several years ago.  I used to display candles in it from time to time in our family room.  Last summer I decided it would be a nice addition on our back porch, so hubby added some iron brackets to it and we turned it into a window box.  Since it is wood,  I don't like to plant directly in it.  So I purchased a plastic window box from Lowes to set inside it.  This year I decided to fill it with a variety of mint. 

I do have an herb garden, but hate to plant mint in it.  Mint is VERY invasive.  It shoots runners EVERYWHERE!!  There are tips and tricks that help (such as planting inside a coffee can that has had holes drilled for drainage), but I prefer to keep it contained, and even then it sometimes manages to escape!

This year I chose Apple, Orange, Peppermint and Chocolate...Smells heavenly.  I love to add it to iced tea, lemonade and to top off desserts.

This is one of those times I wish we had a scratch and sniff feature on our computer screens!  

Grad Party-Texas Style!

What??? We're not from Texas...

No, but our daughter will be spending at least the next four years plus (as she plans to pursue her Master's degree) in the great state of Texas.

So, what a better way to celebrate than to host a Tex Mex graduation party?

The weather could not have been MORE perfect!   Beautiful sunny skies, upper 70s-low 80s (by party's end), a light breeze and NO humidity.  Georgia in June??? That RARELY happens.  God was smiling down on her on Saturday that is for sure.

We held an Open House from 3-6, and the door was constantly opening and closing.  She had a wonderful time celebrating all her accomplishments with family and friends, a lot of whom have known her and gone to school with her since preschool/kindergarten.  It was also a great opportunity to see them all one last time before everyone's summer gets busy and they scatter next fall to many different universities and states alike!

The menu:
Taco Bar-Beef Tacos and Chicken Fajitas
The Fixin's: Lettuce, Cheese, Sour Cream, Black Olives, Jalapenos, Cilantro, Guacamole, Sauce (Mild, Medium and HOT)
Chips and SALSA, SALSA, SALSA!!!
Queso and Chili Cheese dip (YUM)
Black Eyed Pea Salsa
Carolina Caviar
And, a party would not be complete without dessert...Chocolate Fountain and Candy Bar!

So, without futher ado...the pictures!

Some recent photos of the graduate, a book for friends and family to leave Words of Wisdom for her, and a place to set cards and gifts.

Proudly displaying the flag!

Sporting the school's colors already!  Love those green skinny jeans!! (yes, mom needs to hurry up and figure out how to edit pics soon...sorry for the poor quality on this one, she took all the others!)

The spread!

We used sand pails purchased at Michael's for a $1 each to hold the various kinds of chips. It worked perfectly...even came with their own scoop (aka the shovel).  The little metal buckets holding the forks was purchased at Target, gotta love those $1 bins!!

Queso and Chili Cheese dip!

Thank goodness for friends with crock pots!

Mild, Medium or HOT???

Dessert anyone?

Candy Bar Baylor Style!!

As most of you know, our daughter played volleyball and coached.  We hung her old jerseys in the basement, along with pictures from each season for her friends to enjoy.  It was a lot of fun looking back at how much the girls on the teams have changed over the years.  Many of whom she is still very close to.

And, our daughter put together a 30 minute video for everyone to watch (she is much more computer savvy than either mom or dad), starting with the week we brought her home and ending with graduation.  Let's just say...her father and I are so thankful we watched it for the first time PRIOR to her party.  Let's just say...mom doesn't wear waterproof mascara and her daddy didn't fair much better!  It really was beautiful.

She is off to the beach with 200 from the church for relaxtion, time spent in God's word, soaking up the sun and playing a little sand volleyball (she stacked her team prior to leaving...she hates to lose). The perfect ending to a long school career thus far.