Are you Idiosyncratic?

1. Finish this sentence - The last movie I saw in the theater was...
The Lorax in 3D, we all loved it!!

2. Do you have any idiosyncrasies? 
OMGosh yes! The things on my desk have to sit a certain way and I will keep rearranging them until it's just so! I have to have at least four pillows to sleep... one on each side, under my head and between my knees! lol Also I cannot touch any kind of paper product while my hands are wet. Idk when or why this started, but if you ask my mother I have always been this way! Ok now that I have made myself look crazy, let's move on! ;)

3. What is your favorite clothing store to shop at? Avenue

4. What fun things do you have planned for the week ahead? 
My son's 15th bday is Thursday, but other than that it's a pretty quiet week! :)

5. Bonus question! If you could change something about your home, without worry about expense or mess, what would you do?

Come join in the fun! Visit Acting Balanced to check out Monday Quiz About Me!

Easter, Pooping Animals and silly Grandma's

My mom is one of those really cool Grandma's. You know the kind you can talk to about anything and you know that once she stops laughing, she will give you the best advice! ;) When she gave me these adorable pooping (candy) animals to give the kids for Easter, I was not surprised and I knew the kiddos would think they were hilarious!

So, when I gave them to the kids and got almost no reaction I thought maybe I had entered the twilight zone... Not one of them laughed or thought it was funny at all! In fact, quite the opposite, they all sat there quietly with a look of... shall I say disgust!?

 The infamous "pooping" animals!

When we got home we broke them out and that's when the kids started to act like maybe these might be pretty cool! I guess that in the package a candy pooping animal is not much fun, but out of the package it's a blast! lol

 Here is Bigfoot's Chicken in action!

Art Takes Times Square

 Happy Saturday! Hope you are all having a great day! I entered a art and photography contest through "Art Takes Times Square". I would be so appreciative if you would take a look and vote for me!

 I have never entered a contest like this before because I have always been to chicken! lol This time though I thought "Well you can't get anywhere if you never try".

When you arrive at the page click the "Collect me" at the top and it will prompt you to log in. Just log in through your Facebook account if you have one (it's the easiest) and click the "Collect me" again. You should see a # appear where the words "Collect me" were if it has been entered correctly.

Here is the link to my portfolio!

Let me know if you have trouble and thank you soooooo very much! :)

Saturday PhotoHunt: Texture

For more photos and this weeks PhotoHunt check out The Saturday PhotoHunt.

Friday Fill-Ins

Hi all, another week is almost over and it is time for yet another weekly installment of Friday Fill-Ins! Janet asks the questions and my answers are underlined.

1. Ah, me...oh my this week has been a doozy.

2. Bigfoot's 15th birthday is what's on my mind most lately. It just does not seem like it is possible that this much time has passed since I gave birth to him..

3. When I talk to my best friend, I always feel better.

4. Taking a deep breath and visualizing what needs to happen is what's working for me lately.

5. I recently saw The Sitter with Jonah Hill. It was pretty hilarious.

6. Successfully cooking a new recipe that the whole family likes fills me with joy!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to hanging out with the kiddos and playing a rocking game of Pokemon Monopoly, tomorrow my plans include taking Bigfoot to Saturday school.... and cleaning out the car and Sunday, I want to just relax!

For more Friday Fill-Ins participants click here!

Black and White Wednesday #6

Awesome barn over at Green Gate Farms! If you live in Austin or anywhere near you should definitely visit them and buy some of their awesome organic produce! 

 

To participate in Black & White Wednesday, please visit these awesome blogs Like Christmas Everyday and Me As A Mother.

Wordless Wednesday

Happy Not So Wordless Wednesday friends! This sequence of photos was taken over the weekend, at the pool obviously. lol The kiddos decided that I was going to take loads of pictures of them under the water, which I took full advantage of because normally they don't like me taking tons of pictures. They turned out pretty cool actually! You can see the bubbles etc pretty clearly! 

 

Hope you all have an awesome Wednesday! :)

 

 Bigfoot was in the original picture when we thought hey the bubbles look kinda cool!

 Followed of course by Princess (please ignore my finger)! lol

 and not to be outdone by Spunky who imo looks like a mermaid! ;)

One of both girls cause it's too funny not to share! 

 

Click photos to enlarge

 

For more Wordless Wednesday participants check out these wonderful ladies: For The Love of Baby, Frugality Is Free, Clairejustineoxox, Living At The Whitehead's Zoo and 5 Minutes for Mom!

Saturday PhotoHunt: Reflect

For more photos and this weeks PhotoHunt check out The Saturday PhotoHunt.

Alone time

I need it.

No, I crave it.

I just never seem to get any of it!! No one in my house understands this and it is driving me insane! The hubby usually goes to his BFF's house three times a week. This week he missed Sunday. That means no alone time for me since.. well last Wednesday.

I fluctuate between simultaneously loving and hating these outings not that I need help with the kids but, because you gotta admit as a women we can be clingy. On those clingy days I don't want him to go, but on a normal day it's "See ya later don't let the door hit your ass on the way out!" lol

TMI so if easily offended stop reading here! Tonight we are gonna get it on, so naturally I ask him "Hey babe, you should go take a shower." To which he responds "I already have." Ugh, there goes another 30 minutes I could call my own! lol

Talk to me cause I need to know I am not alone! lol

Do you need or get any time "alone"? Can you live without it? How often are you able to get it? 

Black and White Wednesday #5

I know not the best quality photo, but I had to use it cause I love it and Princess is such a goofball! :) 

To participate in Black & White Wednesday, please visit these awesome blogs Like Christmas Everyday and Me As A Mother.

Wordless Wednesday

Click photos to enlarge

 

For more Wordless Wednesday participants check out these wonderful ladies: For The Love of Baby, Frugality Is Free, Clairejustineoxox, Living At The Whitehead's Zoo and 5 Minutes for Mom!

Fun at Grandma's

Friday Fill-Ins

1. Speed is not something I have control over at the moment..

2. Bigfoot's birthday is what I've been looking forward to!

3. One of the things I like most about traveling is staying in hotels! It's always nice to not worry so much about the mess etc..

 4. Laughter makes me think of love!

 5. A road trip is always a lot of fun! I am one of those that stops at every Historical site etc! lol

6. Bowtie pasta with red sauce, green beans and a leftover boiled egg from Easter is what I had for dinner last night

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to having cake and ice cream for dinner tomorrow my plans include a nice long hike with the kiddos & a surprise craft I have been saving and Sunday, I want to need to go grocery shopping! We are going to make Fried Catfish for the first time! Any tips appreciated!

For more Friday Fill-Ins participants click here!

It's time to Partay!

Hello, UBP Visitors! Thank you so much for stopping by! :)

Let's start with me. I go by many different names, Leanne, Mom, Phoenix and sometimes “Hey Lady!” lol I love hiking, cooking and doing crafts with my kiddos. That is basically what my blog is about, sharing crafts, recipes and of course pictures. Well that and the occasional random things that happen in our crazy world. We are a blended family so that always makes things interesting. We try to face it all with humor because without a little laughter what do you really have?

 Me after a fun night out with the girls! :)

 The hubby and I, Easter 2011' We will celebrate our 8 year anniversary this coming June.

And of course our adorable brood, they are an awesome bunch of kids! A mom could not have asked for more interesting, creative and loving kids!

Here are a few of my favorite or meaningful posts: 

Funny quotes from our kiddos: Out of the mouths of babes

Bigfoot's graduation from Middle School:  My best hopes and wishes for you, my son

Princess's broken wrists the second time... The terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day

and of course the hubs and I, our love story: Love, we all need it

I also have a photo blog Photos By Phoenix if you would like to check it out! I love taking pictures, it is one of my many passions. It brings me lots of pleasure to capture all the different moments life brings to each of us. I may not always take the best photos, but I am trying to get better. Any tips would be appreciated. I hope you enjoy my photos.

 

A special thanks to 5 Minutes for Mom for hosting this fun event every year! I am really excited cause this is my first year to participate. I am looking forward to checking out all the awesome blogs at this years Ultimate Blog Party! I hope you enjoyed visiting and that you come back soon!

Out of the mouths of babes

I just found this post while cleaning out my archives, it's just a few quotes from the kiddos throughout the years, but I felt it needed to go into rotation so here it is! lol

Below you will find funny quotes that have come out of our children's mouths! lol

• "I hit it with my thumb toe!" said Spunky when she hit her big toe on the door.

• Princess used to say "Wanna piece of meat?" when she meant to say "Wanna piece of me?"

• I said "Spunky, are you licking your muddy knee?" she says "Well I don't wanna eat my boogers!"

• Today, while dancing with her balloon, Spunky (who is six mind you) said "You are my husband and you are just my type!"

• I asked the boy, who is twelve, to help me with dinner by opening a can of beans (the pop top kind) to which he replied "I don't want to, I might break a nail!" LOL!

• Jeremy was vacuuming, T-man jumps up and looks around the corner all crazy, so I ask "Are you afraid of the vacuum cleaner?" He says "Yes" I ask "Why baby?" and he says "My mom never vacuums unless we are having company!" LMAO!

• I was telling Bigfoot about how I was cheating to find out the end of a movie the other night by googling it and he tells me "So how'd that work out for ya?" lol smart ass!

Black and White Wednesday #4

To participate in Black & White Wednesday, please visit Like Christmas Everyday and Me As A Mother.

Wordless Wednesday

My mom and son this Easter! Definitely on of my favorite photos taken! :)

Click photos to enlarge

For more Wordless Wednesday participants check out these wonderful ladies: For The Love of Baby, Frugality Is Free, Clairejustineoxox, Living At The Whitehead's Zoo and 5 Minutes for Mom!

My bed, it rocks!

1. Which three words would describe you best?

 Goofy, Loyal and Loving

2. Describe your favorite place in the whole world.

Warm, fluffy, full of pillows and love! My favorite place is my bed! ;)

3. Sunsets, Sunrises or Full Moons?

Well since I am rarely (never) up before the sun rises.. can't pick that one. So I am gonna go with Full Moons cause I am a night owl! Sunsets though are really gorgeous!! 

4. If you were to get reincarnated what or who would you want to come back as?

This is really a hard question to answer... Took me forever, but I would want to come back as some families well loved cat! lol

My question is as follows:

How was your Easter Sunday? Was it as filled with drama as mine? 
 

  
Come join in the fun! Visit Acting Balanced to check out Monday Quiz About Me!

Saturday PhotoHunt: Awesome

The awesome Banana Pudding we had for dessert last week!

For more photos and this weeks PhotoHunt check out The Saturday PhotoHunt.

Friday Fill-Ins

Hi all, another week is almost over and it is time for yet another weekly installment of Friday Fill-Ins! Janet asks the questions and my answers are underlined.

1. Eggs are so yummy and versatile!

2. Watching Jeremy play with the kids is awesome!

3. When I look in the mirror, wait.. I am supposed to look in the mirror? lol

4. Great friends, family and good conversation these are the things I like for a special dinner!

5. Currently, the boys are playing video games while the girls are begging me to make Easter Eggs!

6. We LOVE playing board games.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to a nice relaxing evening at home with the family, tomorrow my plans include taking the kids for a hike aka butterfly catching and making Easter Eggs for hunting and Sunday, I want to have fun watching the kids hunt eggs and have a nice time with the family! :)

For more Friday Fill-Ins participants click here!

Black and White Wednesday #3

Rare, precious moments of getting along! :) 

To participate in the Black & White Wednesday photo contest, please visit Like Christmas Everyday and Me As A Mother.

Wordless Wednesday

At Mayfield Park on one of our many hikes this Spring Break.

Click photos to enlarge

For more Wordless Wednesday participants check out these wonderful ladies: For The Love of Baby, Frugality Is Free, Clairejustineoxox, Living At The Whitehead's Zoo and 5 Minutes for Mom!

Potty Dance

 I mean who could say no to this adorable face!?

One of my most embarrassing moments, as a parent, would have to have been when Bigfoot was almost 3 years old.  At the time, we lived in Ruidoso, NM.  It is such a small town there are few places to shop. The choices were WalMart, Walgreens or the Family Dollar (which is where we were when he decided he had to go potty).

He was desperate to go. He was wearing his big boy undies because I was frantic to help him potty train before our new baby arrived in 3 months. He had been doing the "potty dance" through the store for at least 5 minutes! I asked the woman at the checkout if they had a restroom. She replied, with a quick "Only for employees!"

Finally we were finished with our shopping and as we were walking out Bigfoot says to me "Mom, wait". Once outside the store, he pulled down his pants and proceeded to pee all over one of the pillars on the building! All I could do was stand there and laugh! Poor kid, he really did have to potty! I had a talk with him about it, but was very proud he didn’t have an accident.

There really should be public restrooms everywhere!

 Please visit The Robot Mommy for more Naked Robot Tuesday!

A must do.

The selfish philosopher rages.

Pastel Painted Popcorn

This is such an easy AND edible craft you can do with your kids. We did it over Spring break when boredom was at it's highest! My kids are a little on the older side (9, 11 & 14yrs) to be doing this craft, but anything crafty or food related makes them happy and keeps them busy. lol All you need is food coloring, milk, marshmallows, popcorn, a muffin tin and paint brushes.

What you need:

The food coloring tinted milk, sadly I bought "pastel" food coloring:

Everything ready to go:

The kiddos having fun with it! lol

Here are some examples of the finished project aka the not yet eaten pieces! lol

 Click any picture to enlarge.

I want to give a special shout out to Vicky of Mess For Less for the idea!