Katie's "Tea-Party" experience...

My little Katie-bug got to experience a little bit of Texas history! April 15th was "Tax-day", and all around the United States, various "Tea Parties" were attended by protesters against the government's spending habits that have increased the national deficit and now want to increase our taxes to pay for it. Although there were a couple "Tea Parties" here in Houston, Chris and Katie were presented the chance to attend the largest Tea Party in Texas: in San Antonio, smack in front of the Alamo!

So, we allowed Katie to miss a day of school and she got to 'tour' the Alamo while she was there, and also take a peek inside the Ripley's Believe it or Not. Mostly, she got to witness history in the making! She may not have known exactly what those 10,000+ people were doing there holding poster board signs and wearing t-shirts with clever slogans, but she was there!

Katie had a really good time! Maybe she will read about it in one of her textbooks by the time she graduates high school... HA!

Calling All Robins!

Every year, each grade level at Valley Oaks Elementary has to complete a major research project. In Kindergarten Katie had to build a model of a spider for the "Bug Fair", in 1st grade, she had to build a model of an Australian home for the "World Feast", and this year in 2nd grade, she has to make a bird for the "Bird Fair". She chose the Robin. The project is not due until next week, but we have a busy family schedule for the next 2 weeks, so we decided to finish early.

Katie's Robins are made of felt, which Katie cut-out (after I traced the patterns). I then sewed two halves together, and Katie stuffed them. (Chris sewed the last part together.) We both hot-glued the red chest on, the darker brown wings, and finally the 'googly-eyes'. Katie formed the nesting material. Lastly, we found a package of small wooden eggs at the craft store, so Katie painted them blue all by herself!

She's inherited her craft-skills from her mommy! Yay!

The Easter Bunny came and went...

This was the confetti eggs wars!

Eating snow-cones while in the hot-tub!

Whew! What a weekend! Thank goodness I was able to enjoy it since I took my math final early Saturday morning! Welp, Easter morning I awoke to the sound of Nathan dragging his Easter basket out of his bedroom and into the living room! (That was my cue to wake up and grab the camera!) Katie was already in the living room with all her Easter basket stuff thrown everywhere. It was a good morning! The kids were SO excited!

A little later in the morning, just as we expected, it rained cats and dogs! It didn't last too long, and the sun came out and it turned out to be a spectacular beautiful day! We headed to my mom's house around 2 p.m.

There, we all enjoyed social time with the rest of my family, snow cones, a couple eggs hunts, the hot-tub, and good ole' confetti egg wars!! I LOVE holidays!!

Chocolate Bunnies + Jelly Beans = Easter!!

This was a dessert I ate last weekend while in Austin... a HUGE diet no-no! (But it was oh-so-yummy!)

Easter is just around the corner, which means the temptation to devour those chocolate bunnies, the scheming of hiding all the pink jelly beans for ourselves, and the gobs of hard-boiled eggs our children will be decorating will be at our disposal! As of today, I have lost a total of 37 pounds on my diet, and I don't want some overgrown floppy two-eared hopping rodent to mess that up for me! SOOOO, below are some Easter food favorites minus the calorie overhaul! Enjoy!

HERB BAKED CHICKEN

6 oz. Chicken Breast 1 lemon, halved 1/8 tsp. dried crushed basil 1/8 tsp. dried crushed thyme Morton's Lite Salt and Pepper to taste In shallow baking pan squeeze 1/2 lemon over chicken. Sprinkle with 1/2 basil and thyme, seasoned with salt and pepper. In prepared 400 degree oven, bake uncovered for 40 minutes, basting occasionally. Turn. Squeeze the other 1/2 lemon and sprinkle with the rest of the spices. Add salt and pepper. Bake 30 minutes or more until tender.

DEVIL EGGS

2 oz. of 1% Cottage Cheese
1 Egg (Hard-boiled)

Combine egg yolk and cottage cheese. Season to taste.

CREAMSICLES

1 Pkg. Vanilla Supplement (A Quick Weight-Loss product)
12 oz. Orange Diet Soda

Whip in blender and freeze or chill in separate containers.

RASPBERRY LEMON PUDDING

1 Pkg. Lemon Chiffon Supplement (Another Quick Weight-Loss product)
1/4 cup of raspberries
4 oz. of water

Blend together and chill for 1 hour.