Super Stories

Here are my favorite books that I have read throughout the year. So find a nice quiet place, pull up a comfy chair, grab one of these books, wrap up in a blanket, and have your favorite snacks close by, and enjoy a nice long break as you read....ok, maybe in a dream world...but if you have a minute, you should really read these books!

Can You Cuddle Like a Koala - my favorite children's books by John Butler
The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything - my favorite story that Aaron wrote
Fablehaven - my favorite read aloud that I read with my kids
Pioneer Heritage - my favorite story from my family history
The BFG - another fun read aloud...LOVE Ronald Dahl books!
Even in Australia - my favorite tweak that I wrote from a story
Grandpa's Stories - the stories that Grandpa told me as a little girl
The Hiding Place - my favorite story...very inspirational!!
Stephanie's Story - my favorite blog to read
Book of Mormon - my favorite book!

Friday's Favorites

Oh man, this was a hard one to narrow down! I love all the recipes that I have posted...I wouldn't post something that was gross! But here are some of my favorites over the last year:

Bunny Buns for a fun new Easter dinner tradition
April Fools Poo Cookies for a fun April Fools prank
Chicken Enchiladas...chuck full of chicken, beans, and rice...yum!
Barnyard Birthday Cake - one of the most viewed posts
Creamy Black Bean Salsa Chicken - one of my favorite slow cooker recipes from 365 Days of Slow Cooking
Strawberry Romain Salad - I love taking this to parties...it is a crowd pleaser
Stromboli - a baked sandwich...another crowd pleaser
Breakfast Daddy - the perfect breakfast in bed meal!
Sweet Pork Salad - have Cafe Rio anytime!
Peanut Butter Fingers - because I have to include a peanut butter recipe on PB & Joy...so good!

Here's a bonus idea if you have "s'more" Peeps from Easter...the only way to eat Peeps!:

S'more Peeps

• Marshmallow Peeps
• graham crackers
• chocolate chips

Put Peep on 1/2 graham cracker and broil until brown on the outside and gooey on the inside. 

Load other half of graham cracker with chocolate chips and press together. 

 

Mmmm...instant s'mors without a fire and roasting sticks!

Enjoy!

Happy Birthday PB & Joy!

Today is a birthday,

We wonder for who.

We know it's for someone (thing)

Who's right in this room.

So look all around you

And find someone who.....

Is on you computer screen!

My goodness it's you!

Happy Birthday to you,

Happy Birthday to you.

Happy Birthday to PB & Joy.

Happy Birthday to you!!!

One year ago I set out to write something everyday for a year, to try new recipes, to find new and easy activities to do with my kids, to research and solve problems, to increase my spirituality, to have an outlet for creativity, and most of all to be a better mom. I did it!...Well, writing everyday...not the better mom part...that's a life-long pursuit, but this has helped.

What is the future of PB & Joy? For the next week I am going to post my favorite/most popular posts. Then I will continue to write...when I have something to write about...which will NOT be every day! I will continue my career in motherhood and if I find things worth sharing, then I will share.

Thank you for reading PB & Joy. That is what kept me writing...knowing that someone was reading. Sorry for all of the spelling errors and disgusting posts :)

In honor of birthdays, here are a few of my favorite birthday parties that we have had for Kaylee (Aaron usually chooses to go somewhere as a family instead of a friend party):

Princess Party

All Royal Princess were invited, dressed in their party gowns. They played Don't Eat Peat! Which I printed off for each girl for a party favor at the end. They decorated their own cupcakes with lots of toppings, and had a great time!

Chef Party

 Made their own pizzas

 Decorated their chef hats

 And decorated their own cupcakes for dessert

At the end I gave each girl a basket with a cookie mix and little cooking utensils so that they could be a chef at home.

Valentine Party

Decorated Valentine cookies and made cute Valentine crafts.

HaPpY BiRtHdAy!

Oxygen First to the Parent

"It's interesting to listen to a flight attendant describe what to do in an emergency on an airplane. They say that if the oxygen masks come down, "If you are traveling with a child, put on your mask first, and then help your child with theirs." Keep this in mind: oxygen first to the parent! A very important concept.
It is incredibly hard to help our children with their emotional development when we are drained dry ourselves. If the mother is dragging around like a beaten-up doormat, how can we expect the children to be emotionally healthy?
Look to your own emotional health--and look carefully. The most powerful lessons you teach your children are the ones you teach by example with your own life. Are you teaching them to take care of their health and get enough sleep? Or are you lurching through life sleep-deprived, overweight, and under-exercised? Do you teach them to take regular time off for fun and recreation? or do you keep working, working, working, and grinding yourself to a pulp?
Remember, oxygen first to the parent!
If you respect yourself, they will be more likely to respect you as well. And if they respect you, they'll respect themselves because they have seen how to do it! That circular lesson sets the foundation for so much more. Don't deprive them of learning it." - Merrilee Boyack, The Parenting Breakthrough

Soccer Mom

I have a confession: I do not enjoy taxiing my kids around to their sports practices and games. I do not enjoy spending one extra minute in my Mom-Mobile...yes, I have the traditional white Dodge Grand Caravan. I don't like fitting the "soccer mom" stereotype...that is until Aaron's last soccer game.
He scored a goal!!!
It was so exciting. It was the first goal that any of my kids have ever scored in a game. I was so proud and Aaron was beaming.

So I have come to terms with the stereotypical mini-van and I will even embrace the title of "Soccer Mom" for the small payment of occasional goals. It makes it all worth it!

If You Give a Mom a Minute

I can relate to the children's book If You Give a Pig a Pancake:

If You Give a Mom a Minute

If you give a mom a minute, she will realize that she needs to go to the bathroom.
She will sneak into the bathroom when the kids aren't watching to avoid them following her. When she is there, she will see that the last person to use the bathroom didn't leave her any toilet paper.
She will go downstairs to get some toilet paper.
As she passes the laundry room, it will remind her that she needs to put the clothes that have been sitting in the washer for hours in the dryer before they start to stink.
She will also start to sort clothes for the next batch because the pile of laundry just does not seem to be getting any smaller.
As she sorts the clothes, she will find a crayon in one of Nathan's pockets.
Seeing the crayon will remind her that Nathan has been especially quite for the last few minutes...and we all know what that means...Trouble!
She will go upstairs to find Nathan standing on a stool, pulling a box of cereal out of the pantry.
She makes it just in time to catch Nathan as he, the stool, and the full box of cereal plummet to the floor...but she was not quick enough to grab the cereal before it spilled all over the floor.
The loud crash will wake up Travis from his nap.
As the mom goes to get the baby, Nathan steps in the cereal and loves the crunching sound it makes. This only encourages him to pound on every little piece...grinding it into the floor.
Seeing the messy floor will remind her that it hasn't been vacuumed in weeks.
As she goes downstairs to get the vacuum, she sees Travis tight on her heels, heading for the stairs.
With super-human speed, the mom dashes to catch Travis before he falls down the stairs head-first.
And chances are...
If a mom of 4 suddenly sprints with a full bladder she will be reminded that she still needs to pee!
But if she wants to go to the bathroom...she will need some toilet paper to go with it!

Written by Me...when I had a minute

Honor Thy Mothers

Exodus 20:12 - Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.

 I hope all of you feel honored and loved today. I feel so honored to be a mother to these four kids. They may be whiny, and sometimes they make me worry, and a lot of times I get frustrated with them, and they are jam packed with personality and craziness that makes me frazzled...but I am honored to be their mom! They bring me the greatest happiness and joy I have ever known.

On the lighter side...enjoy this "Mother's Day Psalm" and Happy Mother's Day!!

Blessed art thou woman
For thou shalt be called mother
Yea, and thy chores and thy tasks
Shall follow thee all the days of thy life.

And thou shalt eat the bread of thine own baking
And thou shalt dwell forever in a dirty house
If thou doest not choose to clean it thyself

Thou shalt arise before the cock croweth,
And thou shalt say unto thineself
"Where are the offspring which were given me?"
"Yea, the sun has risen high in the sky,
And the hour is getting late;
Wherefore, I have been long at my labors."

And thou shalt say unto them, "Haste, arise and shine,
For I have many labors for thee to perform,
Wherefore, I have been many hours already preparing for the day."

And thine offspring shall linger in sleep
And shall say unto thee, "Thou didst not watch
The late, late, late show, as I did last night.
And mine eyes are heavy and mine bones acheth."

And thou shalt say unto thy offspring, "Get thee up from the cot
Ere I lay a hand on thee and go ye hither and scrub a sparkling tub
For thou hast left black rings upon its sides."

And thy offspring shall say unto thee, "I will go and do thy bidding --- in a minute."
And thy rage shall know no end, and thou shalt weep and wail
And gnash thy teeth mightily, nevertheless, thou shalt scrub
A sparkling tub thyself.  And glory shall be added unto thee
For thou didst not strike the lazy beast.

Thou are blessed about all others, and thy descendants shall
call thee blessed.  For thou preparest a table before them.
Thou cookest meat and all manner of tasty vittles,
And they shall sit at thy table with thee and partake with thee.

And they shall add glory to thy crown, for they shall let thee also
Wash the dishes, if thou wilt.  And when night falleth, thou shalt be POOPED!
And thy offspring shall say of thee, "She is an old woman, wherefore she
neither goes dancing, nor does she watch the late, late, late show."

Thy back shall acheth with arthritis, thy cane and thy husband shall be thy support.
Thy veins shall be varicose, on thy aching legs.
But thou shalt do thy labors with a smile, neither shalt thou gripe,
For in the day that thou doest, thy name shall be MUD.

Nevertheless, thou art blessed, for thou art crowned with the angels
On the second Sunday of each and every May.

Wherefore thou shalt be blessed about all others, for thou art Mother,
And thou shalt find peace and joy in thy offspring forever and ever,
If thou endureth to the end.
--Edna Everton Maurer