First day of 6th grade

This past Monday was Matt's first day of school for the new school year. It is his first year in middle school. All the papers that the teacher have given Matt for me to sign have some pretty specific "rules" for each class, and every class is different. None of the classes seem to use notebooks. They all want him to use loose leaf paper in a binder. He has a binder, but it is for all the papers that he will be doing in school or bringing home. Notebooks hold paper easier and nicer than a binder anyway.

This year Matt and I have to get up at 6am (I am not normally a morning person) so that he can get the bus at 7. The bus stop is at the end of our street, so not to far away. I joined him at the bus stop of the first day, but since then, I have let him go by himself. There are three other neighborhood kids at his stop this year too. Oh and the bus driver he has this year is nicer than last years. Hopefully there will not be any issues on the bus like there were last year.

Matt's 12th Birthday Party

Today was Matt's little party. I just invited my sisters family over to play/hang out. They had never been to our new place, so it was the perfect time to have them over. It was kind of nice to have a low key party where I didn't have to play hostess for long. Once everyone knew where things were, they just helped themselves, which was nice. 

Matt got some pretty cool gifts that my sister made. She showed me the grenade a few weeks ago and I asked her if she could make one for Matt. She also made a bomb and a stick of dynamite. They are soo adorable.

We got him a couple of books. I know boring. He hates to read but has been totally into the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books. I found a Zombie Diary series and Undead Ned, all are written like the Wimpy Kid books. He thought they were funny and are next to his bed on top of the books he is currently reading. We also got him the Guitar Hero Metallica game. He is really into the music I use to listen to back in high school. Oh and a bomb bird mug. His favorite Angry Bird. Maybe now he will stop using my butterfly mugs. LOL

The weather was perfect out. Nice and cool and sunny out. I even had to put pants on because I got cold. Although I have been cold most of this summer and have hardly wore shorts much. 

Birds I printed out and colored for our front door. I thought they were cute and needed a little something else.

Angry Bird Birthday - Prepping stages

This Sunday is Matt's birthday. We can't afford a big party like we normally do because I am no longer working, so we are just having my sister's family over. Matt has asked to have an Angry Bird's theme to his little party. So, like most people do nowadays, I hit Pinterest for ideas.

I made Pig Goody bags. The birds tend to get the main focus and I thought the pigs were cute. Inside the goody bags we have stickers, gummies and cookies all Angry Bird themed.

We also found this cute little printable for "Angry Bird Poop" that I just had to have. Matt got a kick out of it too.

I bought all different colored plates, cups and plastic wear to represent the different birds. I have seen some places that put faces on the plates for the birds and just used a clear charger on top of the plate for the food. I didn't have the money for that and honestly thought I had enough bird things going on. However, I had to make our blue cups into birds.

What party isn't complete without a Pinata. Seeing how a pinata always gets beat up, I had to make a King Pig, cause well the birds don't get beat up, the pigs do. After working my butt off for days making it, I didn't want to have the kids beat the crap out of it and ruin it. Matt also loves it and wants to keep it after the party. So, we decided not to use it as a pinata, but as a table centerpiece. LOL

Seeing how this is suppose to be an Angry Bird party and not the pigs party, I had to have more birds around. So I printed out some pages to make Angry Bird balloons. All the kids were attacking each other (and me when I went into the house for a minute) pretending they were the bird they had.

No party is not complete without food. Of course they sell crackers that look like Angry Birds now, which the kids were acting out as they were eating them.

And of course there is the cupcakes. Instead of a cake, I figured these were easier to make. I have a ton left over that I will be bringing to a cookout on Sunday.

You can find all the items I used to make all my things here:
Balloon, pinata, and goody bag printables
Angry Bird Poop Printable
Angry Bird Cupcake Idea

Grilled Corn On The Cob

I love summer corn. It is so sweet.

We live down the street from a farm (Applecrest) that grows and sells so many veggies and fruits in the summer, so we are always there to stock up on fresh veggies that we don't/can't grow ourselves. I found out today that they are part of a CSA. I might have to check that out.

During the fall festivals that Applecrest throws every weekend starting in September, they grill corn over huge open charcoal grills. The corn tastes sooooo yummy this way. Of course it also costs as much for a half a dozen as one of the grilled corn at these events. So of course I had to start grilling my own.



This is how we grill our corn on the cob.

I have herd that you can soak the corn still in the husks in cold water for 30 minutes or so, but I don't and my corn comes out plenty moist.

Preheat the grill so it will be ready by the time you are done prepping all your corn. I was just making a few tonight, normally I do a bunch cause my "boys" love them.


First you pull back all the husks (but do not take them off) and remove all the silk. Nothing worse than having silk stuck between your teeth.

Then you smother the kernels in butter. I use Country Crock. After the cob is covered in butter, you fold the husks back over the cob. Do each ear one at a time. Kinda gets messy with the butter. I like to use a frosting knife to spread the butter.

Then you wrap each ear up in aluminum foil twisting the ends so it seals up the ends. Then you pop them on your grill. I use our gas grill most of the time. Charcoal is reserved for when we have guests or a party. I cook them for about 30 minutes, turning them a few times to make sure even grilling.

Unfold we caution. The corn will be super hot and super yummy. No need to put on any butter because it was cooked in it already. Enjoy!

Dinner Plans for the week of 8/20 - 8/26

Monday: Pulled Pork, green beans, mashed potatoes and salad

Tuesday: Grilled Chicken Salad

Wednesday: Spaghetti & Meatballs and salad

Thursday: Sausage with peppers & onions, salad

Friday: Steak, Roasted Potatoes & salad

Saturday: Chicken Cacciatore over Ziti, salad

Sunday: Baked Mac & Cheese, salad

Slow Cooker Pulled Pork

1 4lb pork roast (shoulder or butt)
1 c barbecue sauce
1/2 c apple cider vinegar
1/2 c chicken broth
1/4 c light brown sugar
1 tbsp prepared yellow mustard
1tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tbsp chili powder
1 large onion, chopped
2 large cloves garlic, crushed


1. Place the roast in the slow cooker and pour in the barbecue sauce, apple cider vinegar and chicken broth. Stir in the brown sugar, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, chili powder, onion and garlic. Cover and cook on high 5-6 hours or until the roast shreds easily.

2. Remove roast from the slow cooker and shred meat using two forks. Return the shredded pork to the slow cooker and stir the mean into the juices.

3. Serve on a grilled hamburger bun or by itself. Add extra barbecue sauce, if wanted. (I always do)

Homemade Barbecue Sauce

I love barbecue, but hate the sweet sauces you get already made. I am more of a vinegar sauce type of person. That and the hubby is diabetic, so the less sugar the better. Anyway, I found this recipe awhile ago and have been making it all summer long. It is not my sauce, just one that I love.

Big Al's K.C. Bar-B-Q Sauce

2 c ketchup
2 c tomato sauce
1 1/4 c brown sugar
1 1/4 c red wine vinegar
1/2 c unsulfured molasses
4 tsp hickory flavored liquid smoke
2 tbsp butter
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp chili powder
1 tsp paprika
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp salt
1 tsp ground pepper

1. in a large saucepan over medium heat, mix together the ketchup, tomato sauce, brown sugar, wine vinegar, molasses, liquid smoke and butter. Season with garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, cinnamon, cayenne, salt and pepper.

2. Reduce heat to low and simmer for up to 20 minutes. For a thicker sauce, simmer longer, and for thinner, less time is needed. Sauce can also be thinned using a bit of water if necessary. Brush sauce onto any kind of meat during the last 10 minutes of cooking.



If you want to can the sauce for later use (this recipe makes a ton of sauce), follow these directions:

Boiling Water Method

Using the hot pack method, process the jars in boiling water for 35 minutes for pints and 40 minutes for quarts.

Pressure Canner 

Process the sauce for 20 minutes for pints and 25 for quarts at 10 lbs pressure.