Wordless Wednesday

Valentine's Day Cake, Gifts and Games

It just isn't Valentine's Day without chocolate. Here is the dark chocolate cake Bailey and I made for Christian. This recipe is as easy as a box cake and taste even better!
Dark Chocolate Cake
1 3/4 cups flour
2 cups sugar
3/4 cup Hershey's cocoa
1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 cup milk
1/2 cup oil
2 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup boiling water
Combine dry ingredients in large mixing bowl. Add remaining ingredients except boiling water. Beat at medium speed for 2 minutes. Remove from mixer and stir in boiling water (mix by hand). Pour into greased & floured pan. Bake at 350o for 35 to 40 minutes.

Christian gave me a mushy card, a box of good chocolates and a new frig for the garage. Our second frig stopped working two days before Valentine's Day and that is was I wanted.

Both kids had Valentine's Day party's at school. They exchanged cards and played games. One of the games I had never seen before and I thought it would be fun to do next year was stacking large conversation hearts into a tower of 20. This was a test of fine motor skills and Bailey was the first in her class to complete the task. I was there to see it and didn't think to snap a picture if you can believe that ;~)
I had Bailey stack them up again at home.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Valentine's Day Hand Print

One of my favorite things to do with my class is hand print crafts. I feel like these crafts are the keepsakes that parents treasure for years. This year, for Valentine's Day, we may cards for the parents with a cute poem and a hand print.

To make the hand print more special, we placed a heart sticker in the palm to create this unique hand print. For more Valentine's Day ideas click here.

We're Ready For Some FOOTBALL

Today is Super Bowl XLIV (or 44 for those of you who are so good at Roman Numerals). The AFC champion Indianapolis Colts will play the NFC champion New Orleans Saints to decide the NFL champion for the 2009 season. We are big football fans and plan to watch the game here at home. I have planned a simple menu: veggies and dip, onion rings, cheese steak subs, and something sweet for dessert. Doesn't matter who wins, because we root for the Cowboys.

Bailey's Snowman

Bailey drew this snowman at school.

It is even prettier in person!

Wordless Wednesday

100th Day of School

Today is the 100th Day of School for the kids. Jack had to have a shirt made. I sewed 100 buttons into the number 100. The 1st grade had to dress like they were 100 years old. Bailey wore a dress that was Meme's. It only needed hemmed. We used baby power to put a little grey in her hair. Here is a picture of Seth, Bailey and Jack just before the headed off to celebrate the 100th day of the 2010 school year.

What a fun day!

February 2010 Picture of the Month

Yet another month has flown by for the Barger's. January was a roller coaster month as far as the weather goes. We took full advantage of the days in the 70s and try to say warm on those days in the 40s and 50s. Jack is doing very well at his new school. Bailey sold over 100 boxes of Girl Scout cookies (thanks to you all who bought) and has already finished her Valentine's Day cards and mail box. February will bring our 11th wedding anniversary. All is well here in the Lone Star State!

Jack Looses 1st Tooth

After days of wiggling, Jack's front bottom tooth finally decided to come out today while waiting to pick up Bailey in car rider line. Jack pulled it out and was so please with himself. He could hardly wait to show Bailey. Here is a picture of his new smile. We have been watching "Open Wide, Tooth School Inside" which is a book/DVD about 32 young teeth go to school every day and learn fascinating facts and tasty tidbits about dental hygiene - and end up having plenty of fun! The Tooth Fairy even makes a guest appearance. It is a super cute story that explains loosing teeth, brushing, cavities, and going to the dentist. Would hightly recommend to anyone with young kids.

Crock-pot Taco Soup

Here is something to heat you up on a cold day, Chicken Taco Soup.

1 can Chicken Breast 13 oz
1 can Diced Tomatoes & chilies 11 oz
1 can Diced Tomatoes 28 oz
1 can Green Chilies 4 oz
1 can Kidney Beans 15 oz
1 can Black Beans 15 oz
1 can Whole Kernel Corn 11 oz
1 pkg Taco Seasoning Mix
1 pkg Ranch Dressing Mix

Suggested Garnishes: sour cream, shredded cheese, chopped green onions, tortilla chips.

Shred the chicken. Combine all the ingredients into a crock-pot and stir. Cook on high for 2 hours or on low for 4 hours. Garnish with sour cream, shredded cheese, chopped green onions, tortilla chips.

Found this recipe on the can of chicken and gave it a try. It was great because you just dump in all the ingredients into the crock-pot and your done.

Wordless Wednesday

HHE Science Fair

Bailey entered "Keeping Roads Safe from Freezing Water" in the 2010 Science Fair. She froze water with different variables (salt, sugar, baking soda, and vinegar) to see what would be the best for keeping water from freezing. Her project was chosen as an alternate. She may end up going to the district science fair if one of the 1-3rd place winners cannot go. Good job Bailey!

Soles 4 Soles

Soles 4 Soles: Join the Weekday Learning Center in collecting gently used shoes of all sizes that will be sent to Haiti. We will be collecting these shoes beginning now and ending on Valentine's Day. Monetary donations to help cover shipping are also needed.

Bird Seed Hearts

Bailey's Daisy troop is planning on making these cute bird seed hearts for their February 3rd meeting. Birds are scrounging for food at this time of the year, so we thought we would help them out by creating a heart just for them.

Supplies Needed:
Bird Seed
Peanut Butter
String
Cardboard
Cut a heart shape from a 4" square of paper to use as a template. Use the cardboard and heart template to cut out one heart for each child.

Use a hole punch to create a hole at the top of the heart, insert the string to create a hoop for hanging.
Children spread the peanut butter onto the heart and then sprinkle the bird seed onto the peanut butter. They can place the larger seeds around the edge or just sprinkle randomly.

These bird seed hearts are a great alternative to the pine cone bird feeders we have seen in the past. Great project for early February!

BOWLING

Today, we all had off for Martin Luther King Day. We celebrated at the bowling alley with Kristi, Maya and Logan. But with me, it is never easy. We started at 10:00 am at Max Bowl and the had no lane available because of a league that was bowling. You would have thought that might have been something the guy on the phone might have shared with me the night before when I called to inquire about their hours and prices. Soooo, we went to AMF to find out they don't open until noon on Monday. Jack has a meltdown because "I WANT TO BOWL" and now he has to wait. We then wasted two hours at Chick-fil-A and returned to AMF to bowl a few games.

The kids love bowling. Here is Jack leaping in the air after bowling a spare.
All in all, it was a fun day even if it did get off to a rocky start. We had a great time with friends in ugly shoes! Click here to see more pictures.

Girl Scout Cookies

Time to order your Girl Scout Cookies!Bailey is a Daisy Girl Scout selling cookies for $3.50 a box. If you are interested in buy a box or two, please let us know!

Sick Sick Sick

This past week, we have all been sick with tummy troubles. Wednesday morning, I got a call from the nurse at WCE to come get Jack because he had thrown up. Luckily that was it for Jack and I sent him to school on Thursday. Thursday, however, was my turn to stay home sick. Thursday afternoon, the nurse form HHE called and said to come get Bailey because she had thrown up at school. Poor thing was sick all afternoon. I was feeling better by then thankfully. Friday, I kept Bailey home from school and she seemed to be doing better. Daddy was the one who had to come home from school on Friday. Thankfully, everyone was better in less than 24 hours. I have sanitized the house and we were able to host poker on Saturday night.

New Pets

Since Christmas, we have had an animal explosion at the Barger house. Santa brought Bailey and Jack a tank of Sea-Monkeys, a unique species of brine shrimp. Meme and Pobby gave Bailey an "Uncle Milton's Ant Farm" for Christmas as well. The ants arrived this past Saturday and we are now official Ant Farmer!

Per Bailey's request, we also bought a few new fish for the kids’ fish tanks. Bailey got two neon striped fish and an algae eater and Jack got two algae eaters. Bailey’s Beta fish didn’t enjoy his new tank mates and has already devoured the two neon striped fish. The algae eaters seem to be doing okay.

We also got some Zhu Zhu pets. These are my favorite "pet" so far!

Jack’s Transition To WCE

Update on Jack’s transition to Willow Creek Elementary School . This was Jack’s first week back in SCD (Server Communications Delay) at WCE. He got a few 4s, but mostly 5's (1=very poor - 5=great) this week. The only trouble spot was lunch. He got 2s Wed/Thurs. Not sure what was up with that except that he has been eating in the cafeteria with less supervision. Jack has lots of kids he knows from past years in his class and his teacher, Mr. Traughber, he had two years ago. This has made his transition easier too. They have him doing Handwriting without Tears and Fountas & Pinnell Leveled Literacy Intervention (a reading program). We are off to a great start!

Hash Brown Potato & Ham Casserole

Today was my turn to bring breakfast to my Sunday School class, Revelations, at AUMC. I picked a hearty Hash Brown Potato & Ham Casserole. It is a perfect fit to feed a crowd on a cool winter morning. I had several request for the recipe and decided to post it!

Hash Brown Potato & Ham Casserole
1 24-oz. pkg. Hash brown potato square patties
(Thaw/pat dry. Break into pieces & pat dry again)
Put in 9x13 greased pan. Bake @ 425o for 25 minutes.
Potato topping:
2 cups Monterey jack cheese
2 cups cheddar cheese
2 cups diced ham
1 Tablespoon green onion
8 eggs
2 cups of milk

Mix eggs with milk. Salt and Pepper to taste. Pour over cheese and ham. Bake 35 - 60 minutes @ 350o.

I also made this Christmas day with my left over ham from our Christmas Eve dinner. It is super quick to put together!

New Years Dinner

Pork ribs, coleslaw, corn bread, Texas caviar and corn were on the menu this New Years at our house. Everything turned out great and tasted delicious! Here's to a prosperous 2010!

Jan 2010 Picture of the Month

A new year and a new decade start today. We hope that 2010 brings lots of wonderful surprises, good health, success and happiness to all of our friends and family.

Click here to see past “Picture of the Month”