Rachel lost her first tooth!

 

First I must say that this was absolutely unexpected which made it kinda funny! I had just been talking to my mom a few days before on the phone and said “Rach should be getting ready to lose her first tooth soon, Hunter had lost one by now hadn’t he??”

Then last night, the kids are laying down to watch a movie in the living room, Andy was putting laundry in the washer, and I was working on my Taco blog post. When all of the sudden I hear Rachel say “ My tooth just fell out” ….. I come out of the room, and kept saying did she just say she lost her tooth??? I was completely lost. She had NEVER said anything about it being loose…Nor had I noticed it being loose when helping her with brushing her teeth, nothing!!! So, I was a bit confused as I heard those words, but low and behold, indeed the teeth had fallen out! In our family tradition, here she is sporting her new look!

 

She was beyond excited!

 

El Tacodor Dinner Game Review & Giveaway:

 

 

Who isn’t up for a night of Mexican and fun?? Well with the new Old El Paso El Tacodor Challenge game, and some taco’s you can have both!! You can download the instructions, scorecard, and challenge sheet at El Tacodor. Here are some of the examples of the challenges:

• Crunch Time: Name at least 10 animated movies within 1 minute
  
• Meat-n-greet: Pick a partner. Correctly name 5 of their friends.
  
• Lettuce Play: Act out different animals-no noises, your partner must guess 3
  
• Lime Light: Cheer, “We love tacos, yes we do! We love tacos, how ‘bout you?”
  
• Say Cheese: Pronounce the name of everyone at the table backwards!
  

My kids love Taco’s so this was an exciting oppurtunity for us. We were very excited to pick a Taco night to try this out. My kids helped with the prep of making them, setting the table, they were excited to get this game going. What a blast! We laughed, we ate, perfect way to end a stressful day at work or school. We love to play games and this got us interacting at the table. Here are a few pictures from our Taco Game night!

Here is a video of my kids doing one of the game questions:

Now you can download the game at the site HERE.

Or Thanks to MyBlogSpark and Old El Paso you can win a Taco Game Prize Pack. Where you can receive (2) coupons to purchase Old El Paso dinner kits and a $10 gift card to purchase any additional meal needs (i.e. meat, cheese, lettuce, etc.) Plus the Tacodor game!

Win It:
Tell me what your favorite Taco Toppings are. (This first comment is mandatory to enter)

Extra Entries:
For each extra entry you MUST leave a separate comment or it won’t be counted.

• Follow me on Twitter (link on Right sidebar)
• Follow my blog
• Blog about this giveaway and leave me a link back to it (3 extra entries)
• Put up my button (on my Right sidebar… worth 4 extra entries)
• Tweet about this giveaway (leave me the link)

Giveaway ends October 29th, 2009 at 10pm EST. Winner will be chosen by Random.org. The winner will have 48hrs to contact me or I choose another winner.

Product for this review was provided by Old El Paso and the prize pack through MyBlogSpark.

A Field Guide to Burying Your Parents by Liza Palmer Book Review:

 

 

About the Author:

Liza Palmer lives in Pasadena, California with her dog, Poet. She has written two plays that were performed in Los Angeles, and is a graduate of The American Academy of Dramatic Arts-West. She is the author of SEEING ME NAKED (5 Spot, 2007) and CONVERSATIONS WITH THE FAT GIRL (5 Spot, 2005).

My Thoughts:

I really enjoyed this book. I must say at first the title was a bit concerning..but it also peeked my curiosity. It was very well written and kept you reading. It was one of those books that will get your emotions going, but it also can make you laugh. I love books like that. I just attached with the character Grace and felt like I needed to know more about her. Maybe because she reminds me of myself in a lot of ways.

Book Summary:

Grace Hawkes has not spoken to her previously tight-knit family since her mother's sudden death five years ago. Well, most of the family was tight-knit-- her father walked out on them when she was 13 and she and her two brothers and sister bonded together even closer with their mother as a result.
She's been doing her best to live her new life apart from them, but when their estranged father has a stroke and summons them, Grace suddenly realizes she's done the same thing he had done...abandoned those who need her most.
And need her they do, for inside the hospital walls, a strange war is unfolding between the pseudo-kindly woman who is their father's second wife and the rest of the original Hawkes clan. Upon reconnecting with her brother and sisters, Grace will find a part of herself she thought was lost forever. As they unravel the manipulative deception of the second Mrs. Hawkes, Grace will finally be able to stand up for her family-- and to remember what a family is, even after all these years.

This book will be hitting shelves in December and I will be offering a giveaway closer to that date. So be sure to check back! Happy reading!

 

The book for this review was provided by Hachette Book Group, and the opinions are all mine.

Simple Woman's Daybook:

For Today October 19th , 2009

 

Outside my window.... it is beautiful and cool. Perfect temps...in the low 70's. Reminds me of fall in Maine. We are really enjoying it. 

I am thinking.... tomorrow starts the start of a new schedule for us all, and it is going to take some getting used too. Early to raise, earlier to bed! Lol

From my imagination...Not much this week. Working on some alphabet stuff with Sage, getting her to learn her letters, and to write them. We are having fun with it. 

I am thankful for.... my friends. They are a great inspiration to me. I miss them lots, and hope they know how much I think of them.

From the kitchen... Something in the crockpot. Its a dance night, and that means no time to cook dinner. Need something quick, for when we get home. 

I am wearing..... surprisingly light weight pants, t-shirt, and my croc sandals of course! 

I am reading....  Lots, and lots of books! My most current read is Leaving Carolina by Tamara Leigh... Wait to you see my list of books read for Fall into Reading! 

I am hoping.....this week goes smoothly. Lots going on in the next few weeks. Getting very busy! 

I am creating... a happy home... Do you ever feel like you fail as a mom? I have been lately, and feel like my kids are not as happy as they could be. So I'm trying to work on getting the kids their one on one time, more... Not always an easy task, but trying. Any tips are always appreciated.

I am hearing....silence, everyone is at work, or school.... and Sage is watching cartoons as she wakes up this morning.

One of my favorite things....trips to the park. It is such a different experience just taking one kid to the park, instead of 3! We enjoy our trips, and like our time together, or spent with friend playing. 

A few plans for the rest of the week: Rachel has dance, Cub Scouts Tuesday, library (no story hr this week) and then a time at the playground, lots of reading, fun with my kids, and then celebrating Rach's birthday at Build-a-bear (she is very excited)

A picture I am Sharing.…  A better picture of Hunter with his newest tooth missing! He is having fun trying to talk with this newest gap between the teeth! My little man is growing up!

 

Every other Friday at our house…

 

looks like this….

 
Hunter playing Big Fish, Little Fish!

Sorry

Hunter was blue, he thought he was going to win!

Then sage got the number she need (btw she is saying YES in this picture)

 
To do this!!

 
And Rachel was just having fun!

We have a family game night every other Friday, the opposite Friday's are movie nights. We make each one special with special snacks, and the kids each get to pick a game to play. We do them on Friday, so we don’t have to worry about bedtime. Much fun, for our family! When do you have game nights?? and how often??

Today is my Best Friends Birthday,

 

actually more like a sister to me. We spent a good majority of our high school years together. She is a great inspiration to me, and when I just need to vent she is there. Even though, I moved 1600 miles away, its like she is still right next door. I love that, I can count on her on the worst of days, even if its just to listen to me cry or complain. She gets it!
I’m sad that she has been going through a lot right now in her own life, and I can’t be there to support her with hugs, and my actions. I do try to encourage her with my words, letters and cards… and I hope that I make a difference. She is an amazing person and deserves more than she gets most of the time, but she is blessed in lots of ways.
I hope she has a great birthday and knows how much I miss her and love her!

Happy Birthday Holly!!!

Four Foods on Friday # 92