PTA Reflections Winners

Both, Bailey and Jack won an Award of Excellence in the PTA Reflections art contest. The theme for 2009 was WOW. I tried to take pictures of their artwork with the ribbons. They are on display behind glass at school and they didn't turn out so great, but you get the idea.

Bailey called her picture "WOW! City Lights At Night"

Jack picture was called

RainboW
Of
Wonder

The program offers students the opportunity to create works of art for fun and recognition. Students in preschool through grade 12 are encouraged to create and submit works of art in six areas: literature, musical composition, photography, the visual arts, dance choreography, and film/video. In its more than 30-year history, the program has encouraged millions of students across the nation and in American schools overseas to create works of art. Each year, the Reflections Program challenges students to create art that interprets a specific theme.

Happy Jack Barger

Isn't this the biggest smile you ever saw? What a happy boy!

JB and Thomas

Here are a couple shots of Jack playing with Thomas the Tank Engine and all the other engines from the Island of Sodor.

So glad we spent the money on that fancy train table ;~)

Holiday Party Mix

A friend asked me to make some of my snack mix for Valentine's Day. This is a great recipe and you can include candy to match any holiday or event. It is very similar to Cracker Jack's.

9 cups oven-toasted corn cereal squares
4 cups popped popcorn
1 ½ cups dry-roasted peanuts
1 cup packed light brown sugar
½ cup butter or margarine
½ cup light corn syrup
1 tsp, vanilla extract
½ tsp. baking soda
1 ¾ cups M&M or chocolate chips
1 ½ cups of white chocolate covered pretzels

Preheat oven to 250o. Grease large roasting pan.
Mix cereal, popped popcorn and peanuts in a large bowl. Pour into prepared pan. Combine brown sugar, butter and corn syrup in a medium, heavy-duty saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Boil, without stirring for 5 minutes. Removed from heat; stir in vanilla extract and baking soda. Pour evenly over cereal mixture: stir to coat evenly. Bake for 45 minutes, stirring ever 15 minutes. Cool completely in pan, stirring frequently to break apart mixture. Stir in M&M and Choc. Pretzels. Store in airtight container. Makes about 5 quarts.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cheesecake

For Valentine's Day I made a Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cheesecake. It was so yummy, I thought I would share the recipe.

Graham cracker crust (recipe follows)
3 pkgs 8oz cream cheese, softened
¾ cup sugar
1 2/3 cup (10 oz. package) Peanut Butter Chips
¼ cup milk
4 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 ½ cups mini chips

Graham cracker crust: heat oven to 325o. In small bowl, stir together 1 cup graham cracker crumbs (I use choc. Graham crackers), 3 tablespoons sugar and 3 tablespoons melted butter or margarine. Press mixture onto bottom of 9-inch spring form pan. Bake 10 minutes. Remove from oven.Heat oven to 450o. In large mixer bowl, combine cream cheese and sugar; beat on medium speed of electric mixer until smooth. In small microwave-safe bowl, place peanut butter chips with milk. Microwave at HIGH (100%) 1 minute; stir. If necessary, microwave at HIGH an additional 15 seconds at a time, stirring after each heating, just until chips are melted when stirred. Blend peanut butter chip mixture into cream cheese mixture. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in vanilla and mini chips. Pour mixture over crust. Bake 10 minutes. Reduce oven temp to 250o; continue baking 40 minutes. Remove from oven to cooling rack; loosen cake from rim of pan. Cool completely; remove rim. Cover; refrigerate leftovers.

SWEET Valentine

Jack brought home this SWEET Valentine from school. It is a cup cake paper, white tissue paper, red glitter glue and pom pom. What a cute cup cake!

Amish Friendship Bread

A preschool mom brought me a loaf of Amish Friendship Bread and the Starter to make more. It was so yummy! I could hardly wait the ten days to make my own. Well, the ten days are up and I made mine in a bunt pan. Took some slices of the bread and the starters to work. If you want some the next time around, just let me know ;~)

1cup Starter
3 eggs
1 cup oil
½ cup milk
1 cup sugar
2 tsp cinnamon
½ tsp vanilla
1.5 tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
2 cups flour
1 large box of Instant Vanilla Pudding
1 cup chopped nuts optional

Sprinkle ¼ cup of sugar and ½ tsp of cinnamon in the bottom of 2 loaf pans
Bake at 325o for 1 hour

Valentine Chalk

This Valentine’s Day we’re giving out chalk! That’s right, CHALK! Jack’s class has some kids on restricted diets, so, candy is out. We put six pieces of sidewalk chalk into a bag with the label attached that says “Hope this “chalks” up to be a great Valentine’s Day!” Turned out so sweet and very low cal ;~)

Cold Hands...Warm Heart

Jack brought this cute craft home from school today.

I just love hand print crafts!

ALL IN

The Kingwood Poker Club meets once a month for Texas Hold’em Tournament at our place. Last night, Jack wanted in on the action. Looks like he's going ALL IN!

ECMC & Touchable Bubbles

The last two days I have been at the Early Childhood Methodist Conference with the other ladies I work with at the Weekday Learning Center. It is a great experience and lots of fun. (It probably would have been more fun if I had been feeling better.) The Keynote speakers were Lisa Murphy, the Ooey Gooey Lady, and Anna Moo, writes and sings kids songs. There were also lots of break out sessions. I had two out of three that were pretty good.

My favorite new thing is Touchable Bubbles! In the Let's Get Moving breakout, they demoed these bubbles. I left the conference and drove directly to World Market to get some. These bubbles are so cool and they don’t pop as soon as you touch them. Not sure what they are made out of, but I can’t wait to play with them! WAY COOL!

Teacher Valentine

This year for Valentine’s Day, I made the kids’ teacher’s Scrabble Tile Pendants with a really cute poem from http://www.poemsource.com/. We passed them out early so they could wear them in the early part of the month.

Jack Paints A Robot

Jack asked for the water colors, water and a piece of paper while I was cleaning up lunch this weekend. I gave him the paints and paper and he sat at the kitchen table. A few minutes later he held up his picture and said “Look at my robot”.

February 2005-2008

Here are the past four years of the February Picture of the Month. Bailey and Jack sure are getting big!

Feb '09 Picture of the Month

It’s February 2009! This is a milestone month for Christian and me. On the 26th, we will have been married TEN YEARS!! I am working on ten years in pictures to put on the blog later this month. It has been fun to look back over the last ten years and see all that we have done.

Daddy/Daughter Date

Last night, Christian took Bailey on a Daddy/Daughter Date. They went to the Kingwood / Humble High School Varsity basket ball game. Bailey wore her KHS t-shirt and was so excited when she left. Christian took her down to meet and talk with the cheerleaders. The game went into double overtime (what a first game to go to) and Kingwood lost. On the way home, they stopped by Baskin Robbins for an ice cream cone.

Batman & Cat Girl

The duo of Batman and Cat Girl has been seen around the Barger’s residence lately. I’m thinking we are going to do a Batman themed birthday for Jack. How fun would that be?

Wordless Wednesday

JB....Superstar! Part 2

Earlier this month, I posted JB....Superstar! It included four pictures and the email from Ms. Kirchner, telling about the author, Jan Peck, and her visit the kid’s elementary school. Well, I contacted Ms. Peck to say thank you and here is her email responding back.

Dear Ms. Barger,
Thank YOU for writing. It gave me great happiness to see that Bailey and Jack were in the play, Way Down Deep in the Deep Blue Sea. I remember them because Bailey put her arm around Jack and announced that he was her brother. They were both excellent! I didn't realize that Jack was autistic--he was an incredible actor!
Again thanks for taking the time to write. I loved seeing and reading your blog.
Best wishes and golden fishes,
Jan Peck

Here is the book, Way Down Deep in the Deep Blue Sea, the kids acted out. It is really cute! Worth checking out ;~)

Scrabble Tile Pendants

Valentine’s Day is fast approaching and I am going to give these adorable Scrabble Tile Pendants to all the kid’s teachers. I found the directions how do make these off of Make and Takes. They weren’t too hard to make. Can’t wait to pass them out!

Flash Card Rings

I have a love hate relationship with flash cards. Love the educational aspect, but hate that they are everywhere. Tonya at Currently Crafting posted the instruction for these flash card rings. Basically, you punch holes in your flash cads and use a couple of book rings to keep them together. A simple, but effective method for keeping them organized. So, it is time to take your flash cards out of hiding!

It's A Date

Yesterday, our family went on a date to Zio's Italian Kitchen. I call it a date, because, other than special occasions, we rarely go out to eat. Mostly, because we had two little kids that couldn't sit still long enough to eat a meal. The kids are growing up and eating out has become a more enjoyable experience for everyone. This trip out was for no special reason. Just a little family time. How fun!

JB....superstar!

The following is an email that I got from Jack's inclusion teacher yesterday. I would have loved to see this. If she sends pictures, I will post them.
Hi Mrs. B,
I just wanted to let you know that we had an author (Jan Peck) visit today in the cafeteria. She called for volunteers to come on stage and act out parts of one of her books. Your baby raised his hand and went up on stage to play the part of a swordfish. Big sister was called on stage as well. They stood side by side and she introduced him as her brother (she is SOOO good with him!) He sang, danced, clapped, and said his part like a pro! He was the star of the show. Everyone cheered and clapped for him. He was so proud of himself. He sat like a little gentleman for the rest of the program...and it was an hour long! I am going to try to send you some pictures of it.
Have a great day,
Melissa Kirchner
Pre-K
Hidden Hollow Elem.

Cute Conversation Hearts Magnets

I made these Valentine’s Day Magnets for my preschool class and, of course, I had to do some for my own kids. They turned out so sweet. I just took the Necco ® Sweetheart individual boxes, cut the cover off, taped a picture behind the open heart window, wrote the date on the back and added a magnet. I can’t wait to give them out to all my mom’s!

Bailey's Blue Ribbon

Tonight, we went to the Humble Civic Center for the 2009 Humble Student Show for the Houston Livestock School Arts Show to see Bailey’s Rodeo Art Work on display. Her longhorn picture won a blue ribbon! YEAH BAILEY!!

Brownie Truffles

Make room for dessert. These Brownie Truffles were super easy and disappeared before I could take a picture of full platter of them. These five are all that is left. I made them for Jennifer’s baby shower, hence the blue and white.
Brownie Truffles
1 box (21.3 oz) dark choc. Brownie mix with choc. Syrup pouch (Betty Crocker ®)
¼ cup water
2 tablespoons light corn syrup (Karo ®)
Coating, such as sweet flaked coconut, nonpareils, nut topping and/or colored sprinkles.

In a large bowl, stir together dry brownie mix, chocolate syrup from pouch, the water and corn syrup until well mixed. Pour each desired coating into separate plates. Scoop up 1 tablespoon of the brownie mixture; using slightly wet hands, shape mixture into a smooth ball. Roll ball into desired coating to cover entire ball. Place on ungreased baking sheet. Repeat to make 28 truffles, rinsing has when mixture becomes too sticky to roll. Chill in refrigerator for 1 hour. Serve chilled or at room temp.

Note: To store the truffles, layer between waxed paper in an airtight container. Store for 3 to 4 days at room temp, 1 week in the frig, or up to 3 months in the freezer.

Q and U

Tonight, Christian and Jack were reading Disney Little Einstein’s Animal Alphabet . You can tilt the book to see a letter of the alphabet morph into a beautiful full-color photo of an animal. When they get to the letter “Q”, Jack tells Christian “Q and U stick together like glue.” You have to love it when the teacher’s words come out verbatim.

Jennifer's Surprise Shower

Last night, I hosted Mom’s Night Out, as well as, a SURPRISE Baby Shower for my friend, Jennifer. She is due to have a little boy on March 1st. She was surprised!! We had manicotti, chicken Alfredo, salad, bread, amaretto slushies and lots of cake and sweets. I had lots of help and it made it a wonderful event!

Bailey's Kwanzaa Picture

Yesterday, at the library, Bailey tells me “I need this book about Christmas around the world because I am going to draw this girl on the back.” The book was My First Kwanzaa by Karen Katz.

Here is the back of the book.

Here is Bailey's Picture. What a great job!!

Planet Heroes Theme Song

For Christmas, Jack got a Planet Heroes DVD sampler from one of the teachers at school. It has fast become his new favorite show. Here he is dancing and singing the intro. I love his flash dance move in the middle...Go Jackie Boy!!

Skippyjon Jones

Skippyjon Jones by Judith Schachner is my new favorite bedtime book. This book has been out since 2003, but it is new to us and the kids just love it. Skippyjon Jones is a Siamese kitten with an over active imagination. While in a time-out in his room, he imagines he is a Chihuahua in a Zorro kind of way ("My name is Skippito Friskito./I fear not a single bandito"). This book is full of rhymes and a very easy read. Too cute not to check out!

Super Heroes

Here are Mr. Incredible & Wonder Woman

fighting crime in our backyard.

Wonder Woman stops to pose for a picture...how pretty!
Mr. Incredible showing his pearly whites!

Gotta love that mask!

Look at me go....

Here is a short clip of Jack riding his bike. I missed him saying "look at me", but it's still cute!

January 2005-2008

Here are the last four years of the January "Picture of the Month"

Picture of the Month - Jan 2009

HAPPY NEW YEAR! As we start 2009, I thought it would be nice to look back at all of the happening of 2008. The slide show to the left is now “A Year In Pictures! The Barger’s 2008”…