Wordless Wednesday {A Superstar Never Sleeps...}

{ ...well...maybe sometimes... }

A Little Bit Flashy, a Little Bit Splashy and A Little Bit OCD...

{...a little bit flashy...}

Emily got a new pair of Twinkle Toes...and boy are they flashy!

But to her...the sparklier...the flashier...the better!

{...a little bit lot splashy...}

Alex and Emily have started taking swimming lessons at the local YMCA on Monday evenings...and they are having tons of fun!  Emily said she wishes every day was Monday!  They are becoming good little swimmers...but need more practice with their arm coordination...it's so funny to watch the difference of having them move their arms out of the water {perfect!} and then try and move their arms while in the water {Ha!}  It's fun watching them...however...the instructor prefers the parents observe from the workout room upstairs through a large window...which is no problem...except I feel kind of like a creep while people upstairs are on their treadmills and walking the track...while I'm standing there peering out the window taking pictures of the swimmers below! Well...of course I was only taking pictures of Alex and Emily...but they probably didn't know that!  Ha!  I think next week I'm going to join those on the track...minus my camera!  But I also snapped some fun shots after their lesson during their free swim!

{...and a little bit OCD...}

Alex may not keep a tidy room or care if his clothes match...

...but he sure lets his OCD show when it comes to putting things in order like all the crayons from the crayon basket!  They looked so pretty and organized...it broke our hearts when we had to put them back in the basket...but he was careful to keep them all together!

Do you have a favorite pair of flashy shoes or let your OCD show with certain things?  I've probably already mentioned it before...but I could let the laundry pile up and let the dust bunnies move in...but I can be a little controlling when it comes to the pictures being straight and in perfect place and the pillows arranged just right around here!  Weird, I know!

"Not Me!" Monday

 

I am not really excited about this getting started...

...this is not a definite sure sign of Spring...at last!

Alex did not have his baseball evaluation day this weekend...and he did not run as fast as he could...

{checking his stats so far...}

...throw the ball as hard as he could...

{he does not get his hands mixed up!  He's a true lefty...but plays baseball, basketball and golf right-handed and tennis left-handed...go figure!}

...catch some ground balls, pop ups and fast pitches...

...and hit some homeruns...

{okay...he does not need a bit more practice for that to happen!}

{...sigh...doesn't he look so much bigger than last year?  Really!}

Emily did not have a great time on the playground while Alex was showing us his skills...

{and if you look closely...that is not dirt on her forehead...really...she did not get a big goose egg playing tag at a friend's house and run smack into a chair!  ...nice bruise...}

I did not finally get a great start on trying to exercise more by walking laps near the school before picking Emily up...did not sprint the last lap...did not feel as though my lungs were going to burst right out of my chest...and then did not let Emily talk me into eating lunch at Steak 'n Shake where I absolutely, positively did not enjoy a Peppermint chocolate-chip shake...{ugh}...I do not have a lot of work to do on my will power!  Geez...not me!  {It was not so delicious, either and so worth it to me...ahem...}

So how about you?  Do you get geared up for The Biggest Loser by grabbing a bag of Chex Mix...or let your kids skip brushing their teeth for one night and make sure they brush extra good in the morning?  Not me, either!  {Especially when Dad's an oral healthcare professional...ahem... he's not reading this is he?}

Be sure to head over to mckmama's and see what other might not be doing too! 

Have a great Monday!

Mad {Dogs} *UPDATED

Do you all get excited for March Madness?  I do a little...I'll admit...I get caught up in the hype...and when Dan's home...you can bet that all the tv's in the house are turned to basketball!

But we're definitely excited for the Butler Bulldogs!  Go Butler!  How fun if they can come back to Indy for a WIN! 

{I really wanted to get a super-cute recent pic of the kiddos together in their Butler shirts...but...as you know...the laundry and I just don't get along...and I'm afraid it has taken the shirts hostage somewhere...so, until I can get them back...}

Let's Go Butler!

*FINAL FOUR!

{Sweet} Potato Soup

It's no secret...I'm not much of a cook...I don't really enjoy grocery shopping...and I'm just not organized enough to meal plan and make a list.

But I do love to cook...when I have time...when I make the time...and I especially love these super sweet helpers...

Last night we made Potato Soup and Alex and Emily were very eager to help me peel and cut the potatoes and put them in the pot...

Alex even helped me clean up!  He didn't want to touch the potato peels, so he used a pair of gloves to scoop them out of the sink!

And while Emily helped cut the potatoes...notice what Alex was doing instead...

{...filling the glove with water...good grief!}

I always try to make a conscious effort to involve them when I'm cooking...because even though it's not as often as I'd like...it's nice to make the most of the times that it does happen!  It's so much fun! 

I think it turned out really good!  I've made potato soup before...but it's been awhile...and even though the weather's getting warmer...it was a little chilly and it sounded good!  I also have some yummy leftovers for the next couple of days when it's rainy and crummy out!  Perfect!

 

And as proud as I am of myself for making a hearty dinner...and of the kids for being such wonderful sweet helpers...they had macaroni and cheese for dinner instead! 

{I said they loved to help make it...not eat it!  Oh well... Emily informed me that she hates potatoes!  Um..You like mashed potatoes...I told her...and french fries... go figure...}

Emily ♥'s mac 'n cheese!

{look closely...she found a heart on her spoon after she ate a bite!}

And hopefully they'll always love helping me cook...and someday {soon} they'll enjoy eating more of it too! It's also really nice when they can help themselves when my hands are tied on the computer doing other important things... and they're able to make their own mac 'n cheese and hot dogs and pbj or waffles or toast... the simple things. It helps me out tons and it also helps them appreciate the little things that I do all the time...and I think they like the independence... well...sometimes!  

After dinner Emily tried her 3D bubbles she got for her birthday...it was really windy...so the bubbles were blowing away and popping before she could really get the true effect...but she still looked cute!

Potato Soup

{courtesy of Recipezaar.com}

6-8 medium potatoes

1/4 cup butter

1/2 cup flour

6 cups milk  {I used 3 cups milk and 3 cups half & half}

2 tsps chicken bouillon

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

1/2 lb cheddar cheese

1.  Peel, cube, boil, drain and 'mush' potatoes to consistency you like

2.  In separate pan, melt butter, add flour and cook while stirring for about a minute

3.  Add half the milk and stir until lumps are out of flour mixture

4.  Add remaining milk and on med-high heat, heat to boil

5.  Stir almost constantly or it will scorch

6.  After boiling, turn heat off and add remaining ingredients

I did not add the cheese to the soup pot...instead I added sour cream, shredded cheese and crumbled bacon to my own bowl for 'baked' potato soup...and I thought it was delicious!

So what are you having for dinner tonight?  How do you meal plan?  {help!}