Blog Stats from the year 2011!

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2011 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

The concert hall at the Syndey Opera House holds 2,700 people. This blog was viewed about 10,000 times in 2011. If it were a concert at Sydney Opera House, it would take about 4 sold-out performances for that many people to see it.

Click here to see the complete report.

Highlights from our week at the Breakers with the Boys!

Easter Highlights 2011

Saylor Blue (photo by Lacey)

Sawyer and his Raggedy Ann Doll (Photo by Lacey)

Court (Photo by Lacey)

Cavin (Photo by Lacey)

Beau (Photo by Lacey)

The kids got Build a Bear Gift Cards in their Easter Baskets!

Sawyer’s Easter Goodies

Saylor Easter Bunny Teeth Sucker

Easter Egg Hunt at Gma Pam’s

Saylor’s Easter Basket Goodies

Cavin’s Easter Basket

Easter Breakfast. We had Quiche and Belgian Waffles with Fresh Strawberries.

Saylor’s Easter Loot

The Easter Bunny hid Cavin’s Basket in the Washer.

Each of the kids got a Golden Egg with Money in it!

Saylor’s Easter Basket Once Again

Chocolate Dipped Strawberries at Grandma Debi’s.

Grass Nests that Tami and I made.

Saylor and Mommy

Sweet Baby Girl loved hunting for treasures at Gma Debi’s Egg Hunt.

Gpa Ken

Grandpa’s Cute Garden full of hidden Easter Treasures.

Grandma Pam’s Easter Egg Hunt

Cavin

The Jelly Bean Prayer

This is such a cute idea for Easter. Thanks Michelle!

I love this Bed. It would be so cute in Saylor’s new room!

 

Happy Birthday to my Handsome 7 year old!

I can’t believe you are 7 years old. Where do the years go?  I love you so much. You are such a wonderful boy.

I am so proud of who you are and who you are becoming. You are very very special to me.

Love,

Mom

General Conference Packet for Kids

Thanks to Angela Roberts for this wonderful Conference packet for kids. I have mine all printed and ready to go for this weekend! Click on the packet below to get your copy!

I JUST ORDERED MINE!

Isn’t this the most beautiful Pink Christmas Tree you’ve ever seen!

Mine is on it’s way to my house right now! I cannot wait!

Getting ready for Valentine’s Day!

Fun with Shrinky Dinks

Sawyer’s Valentine’s this year! Thanks for the darling idea found on the blog Singing with Birds found HERE!

The story behind our Lemonade Stand

 

In 2009, I had this great idea to start a little Lemonade Stand with my kids.  I searched online, I searched party stores etc to find the perfect Lemonade Stand or something I could turn into a Lemonade Stand. I really wanted a Tiki Bar made out of Bamboo. I couldn’t find anything that was reasonably priced or anything that I loved. I decided to design our own Lemonade Stand. I searched online and found a wood cabinetry company that was going out of business. They let me come get all the wood I wanted for  $25.00. I drew up a sketch of what I wanted it to look like and my Dad, my Brother and a family friend named Joe, went to work on putting it together for me.  We put casters on the bottom so it wheels easily in and out of our garage.   I painted it and put the finishing touches on it.The Stand started out as a great way for me to teach my kids how to work and earn money and save money but it has turned in to so much more….
We opened for business late summer 2009. The Lemonade Stand was such a hit with all the neighborhood kids that we set regular business hours. We even set up a Facebook page under Daybreak Lemonade Stand so the parent’s know when we are open and what we are serving. I have personally had so much fun doing the Stand and I love seeing each of the kids faces each week as they line up and try to decide what they want to get that day. We have a Lemonade Stand “Playlist” that we turn on each week with songs including The Big Rock Candy Mountain, A Spoon Full of Sugar, Lollipop Lollipop, etc. I try to change up the Lemonade flavors. Some of the drinks we have served include: Pink Lemonade, Fresh squeezed Lemonade, Fresh Squeezed Mint Limeade, Strawberry Lemonade, Snow Cones etc. We pull out lawn chairs, bikes for the kids to ride, Sidewalk chalk, etc. and the party begins. The kids sit on the lawn and enjoy their treats and then go off to play. The Mom’s sit and mingle while the kids run around. I have seen the Lemonade Stand bring people out of their homes and out to our front lawn to mingle and get to know each other.
In the Fall as the weather get’s cooler, we change out our Lemonade Stand Sign and replace it with “Warm Up with some Hot Cocoa and Fresh Baked Sweets” and we serve hot chocolate and donuts.
It has been so fun to see who shows up week to week. I have had girlfriends from High School show up and bring their kids. I have had cousin’s drive from other cities nearby with their kids. This past summer was fun because my cousin’s from Michigan showed up and surprised me. We have Grandparent’s who come, lot’s of Cousin’s and even a Great Grandpa that comes frequently. I have a group of Mom’s that use the Lemonade Stand as an incentive for their kids each week. The Lemonade Stand is their kids reward for being good. They get to come pick out what they want!I love this little tradition we have going and I look forward to many more years of serving sweet treats to these sweet kids!