Archive for Family Stuff

Week #15 Saturday Top Five Laughs

Saturdays Top Laughs dentistmelsbbutton-11

We are joining Mel over at The Mommyhood Chronicles for week #15 (for us) in the Saturday Top Five Laughs of the week.

5. Crushed Bones and Poison Bloody Death compliments of Amelia Bedilia when I told her to label it “Baking Soda”. She’s been hanging out with B, can you tell?

Crushed Bones

FFR Poison Bloody Death

FFR Baking Powder
She’s not our best speller…takes after her dad and yes, he’d say the same thing! ;)

4. “Picture it, Mommy, picture it!” Jr. said about his “school work”. My phone crashed this week and I think I may have lost the photos of school work, as I could not find them on my phone or computer. :(

3. Goats are very curious. They got a hold of our son’s glove and then were fighting over it. They tried to nibble on our oldest’s iPod. They thought the stiff brush B was trying to brush them with was something to eat. They were trying to catch sunbeams on each other’s backs. When the dog got loose and ran down to the barn and jumped on the goats stall, all they did was paw the ground and shake their heads at him.

2. We went to the mall for a girls day out yesterday and because of traffic etc. I had the girls watching for cars and people as I backed out of the Panera Bread parking lot. Amelia Bedilia goes, “Ah mommy, the snow bank!” I told her I didn’t care about the snow bank or the curb because I didn’t have to pay for those if I backed into them. I cared about people and cars! Yeah, can’t tell money is on my mind…sigh.

1. The other day I napped in the afternoon and woke up around 4:15pm when my husband came into the room. I jumped up and said, “I’m late for the newspaper!” My husband said, “It’s 4:15 in the afternoon.” I was so dazed and disoriented it took me a few minutes for that to sink in. I just stood there trying to focus…it was weird. Robert and the children laughed and teased me about that one for the rest of the day!


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A JOLLY TIME Pop Corn Recipe for Valentine’s Day

 FFR image for posts

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There is nothing like snuggling up with your loved ones around a classic bowl of good ole popcorn! Jolly time might even inspire you to write a love poem around those light , fluffy kernels of buttery goodness!

 

This Valentine’s Day why not treat your family to some Jolly Time Pop Corn! Try out the recipe below for a special Valentine treat for the kids or any loved one! We sure did! We made the Choco Cherry Hearts for the family… and don’t worry if you do not have a heart shaped cookie cutter … we made ours into balls instead and put them on the sticks and they turned out great as popcorn pops! So any way you “pop” it this is a great Valentine’s treat! Throw them in the children’s lunch or surprise a loved one with a bouquet!

 


Choco Cherry Hearts Bouquet Recipe

Choco-Cherry-Heart-Bouquets

Makes about 8

Ingredients:

12 cups popped JOLLY TIME® Smart Balance Butter Light Microwave Pop Corn (about 1 bag)

1-1/2 cups dried tart cherries

1 (1-pound) bag mini marshmallows

1 cup white chocolate chips or chopped vanilla candy coating

¼ cup butter

Red food color

Long lollipop sticks or thick bamboo skewers

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips or dark chocolate morsels

 

Here’s How:

Mix popcorn and cherries in a large bowl.

Place marshmallows, white chocolate, and butter in a large saucepan. Cook over low heat until melted and smooth. Stir in a few drops of red food color to tint the mixture pink.

Pour marshmallow mixture over popcorn; toss gently until well coated.

With wet or buttered hands, press mixture into a 3-1/2 to 4-inch heart-shaped cookie cutter (place cutter on a foil-lined baking sheet; press in popcorn, then lift cutter off).

Insert a lollipop stick in the base of each heart.

Allow popcorn hearts to cool completely. Meanwhile, melt the dark chocolate. Drizzle over hearts.

Allow to harden.

Wrap hearts in cellophane and tie with ribbon; stand them up in a vase or jar as a centerpiece or gift.

You can find more flavors, recipes, and inspiration from America’s first family of popcorn ~ celebrating its 100th birthday this year! Please visit Jollytime.com for more information on this product, coupons and free offers!

Link to Jolly Time Pop Corn promotions (coupons and free offers with UPC submission)

 

 


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More Kids – Wordless Wednesday

Nope, we are not having a baby! We just got our second oldest daughter’s goats over the weekend! We were suppose to get her a goat last year but the one we found fell through. We took the summer off from looking and started our hunt back up in the fall. We found them in Wisconsin in November and because we wanted them bred, the owner kept them for the last two months to make sure they had ample time with the billy goat.

B decided on Oberhasli dairy goats. They are sweet natured and docile. The males (or wethers a.k.a. casterated males) may be used for meat. She named them Annabeth and Hazel. If both goats successfully give birth we could have anywhere from 1-4 kids come spring, as twins and even triplets run in their family and many goat families. That means our goat flock could grow from 2 to 6 or more very easily this year. B will probably keep one, give one to her sister for her birthday and sell any others. At least that’s what she’s thinking right now. We are looking forward to having our own goat milk as it is very hard to find for B’s soap making business.

Excuse the watermark on my photos, they are for our farm and I just didn’t want to take the time to make new ones for this blog.

Loony Acres Annabeth and Hazel-2

Loony Acres B and Hazel-2
B and Hazel getting better acquainted.

Annabeth and Hazel traveled very well. It was a bit of a struggle to get them in the dog crate we used to transport them but once they were in there together they settled in nicely. By the time we got them home they were curled up together and hard to get OUT of the crate! Once we got one out, the other pretty much followed.

We have an old barn. It’s all open in the bottom so there were no real stalls. We have had to create each of the stalls for the horse, the cow and now the goats. My husband built their stall out of free wood pallets. A friend gave us the idea to use wood pallets to make the goat’s pasture and then we came across the idea for the stall when googling “goat stalls”. ;) It is very rough looking but it does its job, was cheap and I think my hubby did a good job. I’ll post about the DIY goat stall separately. I have to try and get better photos. The barn is so dark that it’s been a challenge.

Here’s to our “new” kids!


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5 Ways to Save on Time and Money at Healthcare Clinic Chicago

I am a member of the Collective Bias® Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper amplification for Collective Bias and its advertiser. #HealthcareClinic #CollectiveBias

Screen Shot Healthcare Clinic Chicago

It has always been important to us to do everything we can to keep our family healthy. In the past when our large family has been under the weather it has taken us a l-o-n-g time to get over colds, the flu and even the chicken pox (7 children had it one after the other!). We are very grateful for our current health. It isn’t very often we get sick but when we do there are things that help us get healthy again. For example, when my husband gets wax build up in his ears to the point he can no longer hear, he goes to the Healthcare Clinic Chicago to get his ears candled or cleaned out. He has done this a couple of times, dropping by the clinic while out on errands or after work. No appointment necessary. It is very convenient and time saving for a busy parent.

FFR Robert's Ear Healthcare Clinic Chicago 2

The Walgreens Healthcare Clinic in Crystal Lake, IL has been very clean when we have dropped in and the Healthcare Providers have been courteous and personable. Both of these things has given us confidence in the professionals caring for our needs.

5 Ways to Save on Time and Healthcare Costs for Parents

1. As stated above, the Healthcare Clinic takes walk-ins. No appointment necessary, though you can schedule one should you desire to do so.

2. Use the Walgreen app to find a healthcare clinic nearest you.

Walgreens Healthcare Clinic Chicago

Put in your information, customize what you are looking for and a list of clinics near you will come up:

Walgreens Healthcare Clinic Chicago_1

3. Save on costly and unnecessary trips to the ER by visiting a Walgreens Healthcare Clinic, since they are open on weekends and evenings.

4. With Walgreens Prescription Savings Club, club members receive 10% savings on all Healthcare Clinic services. Please note Walgreens website states: This discount cannot be used in conjunction with insurance.

5. Healthcare clinics have on-site pharmacies. No need to go elsewhere for prescriptions.

FFR Blondie Healthcare Clinic Chicago 2

As you can see, Walgreens Healthcare Clinic is very convenient and affordable. The next time we visit a Healthcare Clinic Chicago it will probably be to see if our youngest daughter’s ears need to be candled because we have a funny feeling she’s taking after her dad in that department!

What about you, have you ever visited a Walgreens Healthcare Clinic?


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Celebrating Valentine’s Day as a Family

Ah! Love is in the air – Valentine’s Day is coming!

Valentine's Day February 14

I remember the days of being Sweethearts –  going out to dinner, flowers, & candy.  My…My… can things change once kids enter the picture.  Valentine’s Day has changed in our house, we now celebrate as a family.   Here’s a few inexpensive ways to make Valentine’s Day a family event!

1.)     Make heart pancakes for breakfast – Make your favorite pancake mix, add a few drops of red food coloring.  Stir up the batter good and cook them.  When they are done cooking, take a heart shaped cookie cutter and cut out your heart pancakes.

2.)    Heart shaped sandwiches for lunch – This is a good craft as well as lunch.  Build your favorite sandwich and then use the heart shaped cookie cutter to cut out a really cute sandwich.

3.)    You need flowers for Valentine’s Day – Material needed:  a few sheets of colored tissue paper and a pipe cleaner for each flower.  Take the tissue paper and lay them on top of one another and then twist a pipe cleaner in the middle.  Fluff out the tissue paper to make tissue flowers.

4.)    You can’t have Valentine’s Day without chocolate –  My favorite is chocolate covered strawberries.  Buy strawberries at your local store and a bag or a few bars of your favorite chocolate.  Using a microwave safe bowl, melt the chocolate in 30 second intervals at first.  Stir the chocolate.  Once the chocolate starts to melt only microwave about 10 seconds or less, be careful not to burn the chocolate.  Use oven mitts to take the chocolate out of the microwave, it will be very hot.  Then dip your washed & dried strawberries into the chocolate, I sometimes use a spoon to coat the berry.  Place the chocolate strawberry on wax paper to dry.

Enjoy celebrating Valentine’s Day as a family!

 


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React Mobile App

This is a sponsored campaign with Mums the Word Network and React Mobile. All opinions are my own.

React Mobile

Have you ever felt like you need to do more to insure your family stays safe? I think we all have. React Mobile is a free safety app for Androids and iPhones that allows you to call out for help with the touch of a button if you encounter any kind of danger or safety issues!

The React Mobile App is very easy to use. All you have to do is download the app to your phone. Here are the specific features of this app:

– SOS Alerts email
– SOS via text
– SOS to Facebook and Twitter
– SOS to dedicated user console
– GPS location tracking
– 911 button/prompt
– Group SMS messages

The app will give you several options right from the get-go.

React Mobile_4

You can sign up using your email or Facebook account. I choose to register using my email.

React Mobile_5

At the bottom of the app you have four different choices: Map, Send SOS, Contacts (you can add your own contacts) and Send SMS Message to broadcast to your contact list.

React Mobile_6

The SOS messaging system allows you to alert authorities, family and friends if you are in trouble or need assistance with the swipe of your finger.

React Mobile_1

The React Mobil App even has a “Follow Me” feature and your family can follow you in real-time for those non-emergency situations where you may feel unsafe and just want to touch base with those you love. How reassuring is that? I can see this being very useful when you have teens in the house!

React Mobile_3

There is a “Settings” feature that allows you to post your alert message to Facebook or twitter, as well as a setting to choose which country you are in. The React Mobile App is currently only available in the USA and Canada.

React Mobile App_2

To learn more about the app, check out the video below:

React Mobile Personal Safety App from Robb on Vimeo.

You can also connect with React below:

React Mobile Web site: www.ReactMobile.com
Apple iTunes Download: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/react-standard-edition/id522851588?mt=8
Google Play Download (available on select smartphones): https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.reactmobile.lite


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Week #14 Saturday Top Five Laughs

Saturdays Top Laughs dentistmelsbbutton-11

For the 14th week, we are joining Mel over at The Mommyhood Chronicles in the Saturday Top Five Laughs of the week.

5. The little boys asked to go to “Toyland”. They meant Disneyland! ;)

4. We were talking about school and grades etc. My husband jokingly told our oldest daughter that if she were in public school she would “kiss up”. Amelia Bedelia said, “You guys can kiss people?”

3. This week I found our youngest calls bright yellow cars “bumblebee” cars. So cute!

2. Jr. has been at it again, drawing!

FFR Jr's Drawings 012814

1. Jr. was burping on purpose and my oldest daughter called him out on it by telling me. Then Jr. exclaims, “Purpose rude! Me rude!” (meaning burping on purpose is rude) and continues to burp. Sigh. What am I going to do with that boy? If he’s like this at three, what will he be like when he’s older? I’m kind of getting scared.

Share some of your funnies this week!?


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My-Baby-Book App

FFR Featured Post

My-Baby-Book app is a cute little app to record all the necessary information from your pregnancy test, pregnancy through to your baby’s first 18 months of life. I think it would be a great tool since so often I would write down milestones on sticky notes to add to our baby book….once I got around to it. Then I would end up losing them or misplacing them. Whereas with the app I always have my phone on me and it would be easy to grab it and make the necessary notes in the My-Baby-Book app for milestones baby reached as they happened. Very handy and convenient. Busy moms, techie moms and moms trying to go digital will appreciate what this app has to offer by way of storing important dates, times, milestones etc.

The home page needs to be swiped to start the app and takes you to the cover of the My-Baby-Book app, which allows you to edit and personalize it with your baby’s name:

My Baby App_1

My Baby App_7

The next page is the table of contents. The main menu is a bear with building blocks…cutest menu I’ve seen yet! The main menu is located in the top left corner when not in use.

My Baby App_2

Here’s what Kim, mom of two, had to say about My-Baby-Book app:

What a useful app! I love that you can store all of your baby’s growth information on your phone or tablet so when you’re at the doctor it’s on hand and easy to update. My favorite is the baby’s firsts section. I’m always writing down on post-it’s when my daughter does something for the first time. The post-it notes have been piling up since I haven’t had time to dig out her baby book to write them in. Great features and super user friendly!

More of the Table of Contents:

My Baby App_3

There’s even a page for details about Mommy and Daddy:

My Baby App_4

A page for pregnancy notes:

My Baby App_5

Growth charts:

My Baby App_ 5

There are even pages for baby’s firsts and birthday details:

My Baby App_7

Overall, we think this app is very useful!! It can be found on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/app/id780610409


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Children’s Art Work – Wordless Wednesday

FFR Children's Artwork_B's Finger Drawing

I love my children’s art work. I use to be so anal about it as I use to save every drawing. When we moved from our townhouse we literally went through bags of children’s art work from our older girls. They were like, “Mom, why did you keep this?” I seriously hated the thought of throwing anything away. Several children later and I was completely over it. Though Jr. has been making it hard lately. Wait ’til you see what he’s made this week in my Saturday Top Five Laughs post!

A few weeks ago B brought me this drawing of her finger. Her first attempt, mind you! She has always loved art, drawing, painting, etc. And with Miss Moo’s arrival she had to put it on the back burner, so she’s been having fun getting back into it again. B says she has so many interests there’s not enough time to do them all! I can completely relate to that! There are so many things I’d love to do but cannot because of time constraints. Maybe we should split our time between all the things we are interested in and see if we can get even a little bit accomplished in each area? Kind of like setting up daily, weekly or monthly activities for ourselves. Hmmm…..something to think about.

Do you have a favorite hobby? Any artists in the family?


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Week #13 Saturday Top Five Laughs

Saturdays Top Laughs dentistmelsbbutton-11

Can’t believe I have been consistent for 13 weeks for the Saturday Top Five Laughs! Woo hoo! Once more we have joined The Mommyhood Chronicles in the Saturday Top Five Laughs of the week.

5. Last week I went out to lunch with my “farm” buddies – other women farmers and farmerwannabees – and my friend, who also has cows (beef and a Jersey) shared with me that conventional farmers do not allow their cows to go the bathroom during milking. Now I could be wrong, but I swear the cows at the farm we grew up going to and buying milk from went to the bathroom during milking. Nova Scotia friend Elaine, are you reading? What does the N farm do? Anyhooo…Miss Moo going potty has been an issue for us. So C told me to hold a bucket under Miss Moo’s tail when she went to go. B did this ONCE and Miss Moo has stopped going to the bathroom during milking. Miss Moo knew what she was doing was wrong and was taking advantage of us beginners! I am still shaking my head at that. My pregnancy and sensitivity to smells stopped me from continuing to milk Miss Moo, but so did her bathroom tricks. I think I’ll have to pick up milking again…if Miss Moo will let me. She would not let anyone milk her one evening when B and my husband went to a farmers market. She waited for B to come home! She’s definitely B’s cow.

4. Our three year old ‘s drawing of a snowman from a gift card envelope. :)

FFR Jr.'s Snowman 011814

3. Jr. and my husband – snuggle buddies and partners in mischief – these two definitely love each other!

FFR Jr. and Robert

2. I bought a new garbage can to store animal feed in and this is what the little boys did with it before it got taken down to the barn….why buy toys, right? Then I had to take it from them because they started to do stupid stuff. What my husband likes to blame on the “S” gene (for stupid gene).

FFR Little Boys antics

1. We still have our Christmas tree up. Yep, we do. I bet it stays up until the end of January.


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