Tonight's trivia question

While reading and answering some trivia questions before bed, we came across this particular question and Lex caught me off guard with her answer.


A colony is a place ruled by people from another country.
True or False?

Nojah: I think that's true.

Alexyss: False, "A colony is a group of ants."

So you ask, what is proper attire for a young Wallowa County basketball player?

Well, the answer is, it really doesn't matter as long as you've got the moves and have your boots on.

Got Smoothie?

This is about the time of year we start making daily smoothies. Our favorite for sure is mixed-berry. These are highly recommended by our family (and the neighbor children).

2- 6oz Lucerne (light) yogurt Passion Orange Pineapple (you can use any flavor of course but this is a fave)
1-cup frozen blackberries (Your choice of frozen fruit combinations)
1-cup frozen blueberries
1-cup frozen raspberries
2-6oz cups of apple juice (just fill up the yogurt cup twice and pour in)
1-2 tablespoons of wheat germ (optional for increased folic acid, & a little fiber) or protein powder if you would like.

If too thick add more apple juice and less if too thin. This makes enough for a family of 4. I just use the yogurt containers for cups for the kids to keep down the dishes and recycle them when I am done.

So there you have it! Throw it in a blender and enjoy! Great way to get your fruit in for the day!

By the way this photo is not staged, this is what Nojah looks like each and every time he drinks a smoothie. We're working on that :-)

Through the eyes of a child

For 2 years Alexyss has been asking to get her ears pierced and for 2 years I told her that she would have to wait until she was at least 8, and she held me to that. The only rule was that she would have to care for them and Tob and I felt that she was ready for that this year. So her and I planned a weekend get away to do a little ear piercing and shopping as her birthday gift and more importantly just have a little one on one mama daughter time.

We were planning on going to Boise but plans changed that morning and we headed to the Tri Cities instead. We stopped at the mall to do a little wandering around and spent about an hour in Claires before she was brave enough to take her seat in the piercing chair. They did both ears at once and she intently listened to all instructions they gave her and demonstrated that she could clean them herself. She proudly left the store with blue sapphire earrings, reporting that it hurt, although there were no tears shed at the scene.

This weekend I let Lex take the lead. After all it was mostly about her (and a little about me getting to spend it with her). I spent time listening to her plot against her brother coming up with pranks to play on him (much to my regret I gave her a few ideas), then she told me about who she "loves" at school (and I was sworn to secrecy so I can not tell). She is seriously a crack up and I loved listening to her. In addition to shopping and piercing ears we swam, ate at Red Lobster (her choice), then headed to 3D Alice in Wonderland show, played a couple games of Blink and finally layed down to sleep.

The next morning she woke up about 8:30, we enjoyed a large breakfast and then headed for the pool for another hour to swim. I didn't join her in the water this time, but she kept me fully entertained with cannonballs, dances, and great attempts at floating on her back. After the pool we had coffee (she had an Italian soda) and read a book at Barnes and Nobel. After a ride on the 75 cent mall pony and fear the security guard would kick us both off we headed for the Rollerarena.

When we finally found the roller skating rink we spent 2 hours skating, doing the hokey pokey, dancing, and laughing. I haven't been roller skating since I was little and it was SO much fun not to mention a great conclusion to our trip.

Well, almost, we had to stop for ice cream first.

and enjoy a nap on the way home so that......

We could be ready for a full day of sunshine and powder the next day.

I couldn't have asked for a better more needed weekend with my little girl. Life goes by too fast and it's moments like these that make me realize how important it is to slow it down and take the time to enjoy life through the eyes of a child.

Alexyss turns 8

Alexyss has spent the past month or more planning her birthday party. She made out many an invitation and many a list of "needs" prior to the big day!
I will share one of her lists with you :-)

Stuff I need to Git Befor March 7
Bancy Ball's
Tety Beres
Stiky era rings
Godstoppers
Tatos of horase
Ice Crem
Pop
7 Peeple
cooies
cake
Nospaper Strene

This year Tob and Lex had this great idea to make their own pinata and that is just what they did. I am not sure why they chose an alien in particular (maybe because it could look like anything and be ok?) but it turned into an out of this world alien party. I must say I was impressed with the outcome. Tob had a hard time allowing them to destroy it after the many hours spent making it. Lex though, felt differently and was so excited to be first that she didn't take the time for dad to get out of the way before breaking the stick over his ribs, and yes dad does have a mark to prove it.

Lex had 6 little girls over to celebrate her special day and they created their own "alien birds." Climbed trees, played games and.....

consumed alien cupcakes


After the party was over Grandma Teri and Grandpa Wes and Great Grandma Dru came with dinner to finish off the birthday evening. After it was all said and done I would consider it a success. Lex and I will be traveling out of town on a special girls trip next weekend to complete her birthday gifts.