Fun and Educational? Is that possible?

Once the kids in my life reach a certain age group (usually 5-12) I try to get them presents that are both fun and education. Usually that means, books, educational toys or activity books that promote creativity. I loved reading as a kid, I still do and I love when I hear that a kid loves to read. After spending almost an hour at the toy store last night and not finding anything that we thought was right we gave up. Today we stopped at Barnes and Noble and I think I found something Riley will like!

Monster Trucks

I love Monster Trucks! I found this out one night when we went out with some friends to my first Monster Jam. I loved it. The whole thing was pretty excited, the noise, the stunts, the big trucks! I want to be a Monster Truck driver when I grow up. One day I was with Amy and Riley was playing Monster Trucks on her phone. I had to have the game. The funny thing about it was the day that I was stuck on a board and had to give my phone to Riley to finish the board for me! I have Monster Trucks for the XBox too. Tonight we were at Toys R Us looking for a birthday present for Riley. We happened upon a display of Monster Trucks and look at what I found! Monster Mutt!

Troy Burgers

My husband makes the best burgers. Around here we call them "Troy Burgers". Even the picky 4 year old nephew loves them. Although I'm pretty sure he'd eat anything that Uncle Troy makes. But back to the Troy Burgers, there are certain items that go on them. Worchester Sauce, salt, pepper and McCormicks burger seasoning. I try to make them but mine never turn out the same. Tonight I shoveled out the grill and have the burgers going at an attempt at Mrs Troy Burgers. Hopefully they turn out as good as his!

It's Snowing Again

The news has been warning us of another snow storm for today. It was a slow start to the storm and so far we have about an inch and a half on the ground. I am actually hoping that this doesn't turn into the 15 inches they keep saying. With Troy being sick there's a good chance that I am going to work by myself today and I don't really want to deal with the snow. Isaboo is loving it. She keeps coming in from outside covered in snow! Of course she then jumps up under the blanket to warm up!

I Will Not Get Sick

It seems like everyone around me is sick or has a sick kid. The latest victim is my husband. I am doing what I can to get him healthy and prevent myself from getting sick too. Today I stopped at Target and picked up the stuff I needed to make chicken and dumplings along with nyquil, juice and disinfectant wipes. I will not get sick!

Faith, Dream, Trust & Inspire

Tonight I saw as hard work, dedication and determination can truly make a dream come true. You can not expect things to just be handed to you but if you put your Faith and Trust into something your Dream can come true and you may be able to Inspire someone else to do the same.

Awesome Husband!

We got a new DVR for the bedroom this week. I hope Troy realizes that now that I can watch my shows that I taped in the living room in the bedroom that I may never leave the bedroom again!

Why Yes, I Am Spoiled!

Troy hates buying me flowers. He hates spending money on something that will just die. But he does love to see how happy I get when he surprises me with them. This morning I was sitting at my computer sipping my coffee when he comes into my office with this beautiful bouquet of roses. He made sure to get the multi-colored ones because they had the yellow ones in them. I posted a picture on facebook and got a lot of ohhs and awws in the office. I was talking to him later and said, "I have a dilemma." "What's that?" He asks. Well you see I had these pretty flowers and I could bring them home and see them when I was at home, or I could leave them at the office and only see them when I am at work. His solution.... we stopped at Bachmanns on the way home and he bought me another bouquet to bring home! I Love my husband! He's the greatest!

Playing in the Snow

Troy was cleaning off the roof this afternoon and Bear decided that the shovel and the snow must be attacked! He would wait for Troy to pull the snow down and he would jump at it as it fell. He was whining and growling, making all sorts of noises trying to get the snow to come down. He looked so happy as I watched him through the window that I had to go grab my camera.

Effortless Dinner

Sometimes you need an effortless dinner. Tonight I had planned breakfast for dinner and while at the store to pick up apples to make pannekoekens we were in the frozen section and Troy was looking at the frozen pizzas. Breakfast for dinner turned into effortless frozen pizza. It's been a rough week and I really just wanted something that was simple and easy to do. This is not something I do on a regular basis but it just seemed right tonight.

We've Got Green!

Two weeks ago I planted seeds to try to grow herbs. I have Chives, Parsley and Basil. So far my chives and parsley are starting to grow! I was surprised to see something starting to grow. I hope they continue to grow and my basil comes through too!

It's Cookie Time!

It's cookie time! I was looking at the prizes that the girls can get for selling so many boxes. What I was surprised at is if they reach 2000 boxes not only do they get an ipad they get a prize from each of the goals leading up to the 2000! How cool is that? Did you also know that if you don't want the cookies you can donate directly to your favorite girl scout?

Pink!

So my favorite color is purple. If I'm buying something I usually try to get it in purple. But, if purple isn't available or someone else already has it I default to pink. The year I turned 31 I sort of panicked. I didn't do it when I turned 30 and it wasn't an OMG I'm in my 30s type of thing, it was more of, I'm 31 and I haven't done anything! So I dyed my hair. The first time I did it we tried purple and pink streaks. Well as it turns out the purple makes my hair look gray. Not exactly the look I was going for. So the next time we did just pink. And then the time after that we added more pink. Until finally she was bleaching streaks and then dying my whole head pink! I was starting to get over the whole "pink thing" around Christmas 2009. But then last year about this time, a friend of mine's daughter, Kassie, was waking up from her coma. As part of my way of supporting Kassie I decided that I will continue to dye my hair pink until Kassie goes home. To read more about Kassie and her incredible journey visit her caring bridge site at http://www.caringbridge.com/visit/kassieharms. Last weekend I went in to have my pink done. She tried a new brand. By last Wednesday instead of looking like it had been 3 days it looked like it had been 3 weeks! So I called and Regi fit me in tonight to have my pink redone.

The Joys of Owning a Home

I was in the bathroom this afternoon and realized that the window was leaking. Troy pulled the molding off of the window and sure enough the wall was wet. He went outside to scrape the snow off the roof and throw some roof melt up there to hopefully melt down the ice damn that has reformed. I know a lot of people are having problems this year. Hopefully it doesn't cause us too mach damage!

Good Day

I had a really good day today. I had a yummy breakfast, I met Josie, saw my Amy, saw Mikayla, saw Steph, saw Christina, met Josie, got a taste of what it would be like to work an awesome job, bought Girl Scout cookies, got a pedicure, ate at Big Bowl, got ice cream and now I get to hang out with my hubby! This morning the fog was frozen on the trees and it was really pretty. I was really good that I grabbed my camera on the way out the door!

BINGO!

Tonight was a fundraiser for Centennial Middle School. For $5 you got 15 BINGO cards. The prizes were items like gift cards, tickets for Saints games and the grand prize was a tv. What a great fundraiser. There wasn't a ton of people there but hopefully they raised some money for the school. I have a picture to post but it is trapped on my little camera right now.

It hasn't Died?

I brought this plant in from outside last fall. My idea was I could keep it alive this winter and put it back out in the spring. It's in one of those places that is kind of out of sight, out of mind so I am pretty sure it's been watered maybe twice since October. Tonight I saw it sitting there, mostly brown, the dirt was all dried up, but there were flowers blooming! I was amazed! I brought it into the kitchen and pulled all of the dead off of it, watered in and brought it back into the living room. Hopefully it lasts until spring so it can go back outside!

Bored

Poor Bear is bored tonight. Sabrina is in jail for peeing on the floor and Isaboo is in jail for being up on the counter. It's naughty puppy night in the Montour house! So Bear is hanging out with Mom and Dad watching tv because he has no one to play with. He gets spoiled when he's the only one out. He's got such a rough life laying with Dad, getting pets and all of the attention.

Good for about a month

I spent the past two days creating February's calendar of meals. Then I spent today making my grocery list and looking for coupons. I wasn't going to go to the store but I realized that if I didn't go today I'd have to move some things around on my calendar. I had already printed it twice so I wasn't up to doing it a third. So I went to the grocery store and got most of my groceries for the month. I need to go to Rainbow for a few things but for the most part I am done grocery shopping for the month. Thank goodness we redid the kitchen and I have more cupboard space now!