Make your own pads of paper

Makenzie and I had a girls day out, we went to the Cheesecake factory

 for lunch then we saw Soul Surfer (great movie, very inspiring) and then on to Josh's Sno Shack for snow cones.  We had a great day and when we got home it was craft time.  Have you ever made a craft from a cereal box or from the box from pop cans?  We decided to customize our own pads of paper, it's super easy and ANYONE can do it!

1. Cut out cereal boxes, the sides from boxes of pop, popcorn, anything that looks cute to you! My daughter Makenzie wants to use some packaging from the American Girl store, you could also use cute cards, the list goes on and on.

  

2. Trim your paper to the same size as your cereal box (you need a front and back piece that are sturdy).

3. Your front, back and inside paper are all cut to the same size

4.  We used two paint stir sticks and large bull dog clips to keep everything in place

5. Next you paint some mod podge onto the top to bind all of your paper together.

6. Let dry 1 hr and then re-apply another 2 coats of mod podge for a total of 3 coats

This is the finished pad of paper, cute huh!

Here are a couple of cute cereal boxes

and of course something from American Girl

Arlington, TX for nationals

Last week the kids and I headed off to Arlington, TX for Stage One dance nationals.  We had a great time but it just wasn't the same without Kevin, he's so much fun and the leader in our family but he had to work. Although he was able to fly in Friday night and join us for a fun filled weekend.

The Legacy Project dance team, I'm going to blog more about The Legacy Project next week...you won't want to miss it!

Miss Shayna working on makeup

A cute doll

A clown and his friend

I'm pretty sure that these two = Trouble (notice the capital T)

I have a video of the kids dance to share with you, they worked really hard this past year to get to this point and we are really proud of them! Also, a huge THANKS to everyone that encourages her in this hip hop passion.  The kids have worked hard but without Shayna and Adam it wouldn't have all come together so please remember to check out The Legacy Project!





After the kids competed at the shootout(this is saved for the best of the best) on Saturday we went to Pappacito's which is one of our favorite restaurants, actually we love all the Pappas restaurants!

The Legoland Discovery Center in Grapevine, TX (near Dallas) was so fun!  I recommend that you pre-purchase your tickets to get in so you don't have to wait in the long line and you can do that here.  Enjoy some pics of this fun play place.

The back of this mixer really turned...very cool!

Waiting in line to see the 4-D movie

Ok, I'm not into sports so I can't remember who this famous basketball player is but Kevin knew. He's all made out of Lego's and is WAY taller then Kevin.

This was my favorite part.  Miniland was so amazing!  I took a bunch of pics of it but I will spare you all the details.

Legoland Cafe

They had 2 rides and this was one of them.

Buzz was built totally out of Legos too.

We met some friends that we hadn't seen in about 6 years for lunch on Sunday.  Kevin graduated with Erik and he was in our wedding.  He's now married and has a cutie patootie daughter.

Makenzie had been patient this whole time but deep down in her little heart she was dreaming of this...

She said she was in shock that she got to go to the American Girl Store

We had heard that the line to the Salon was normally very long and sometimes up to 6 hours of waiting but we ended up coming at the right time because we had NO WAIT!  Josefina got a chair right away.

This was the finished result the fishtail braid.  It looks a LOT better, Josefina has been well loved and her hair has taken some torture and abuse but it's nice and tidy now.

Happy 4th!

Happy 4th of July to all of my friends and family and a BIG thank you to all that have served our country or are serving at this time, we appreciate all that you do and the sacrifices you make for us!

We went to a park in Tulsa and watched the Grace Church Fireworks show

We celebrated at home 

These Hearts, Forever Ended Yesterday CD review

The artists These Hearts is releasing their new album called Forever Ended Yesterday on June 21st, 2011.  I had the opportunity to preview this album and I'm sad to say that I didn't really care for it.  The reason I didn't care for the music was I think they really need to tone the vocals down just a bit and they need to sing within their range but I do think the band has some potential and would like to keep track of how they do in the future.  Please keep in mind that I'm probably on the older end of the spectrum for the target age range for this group because I'm 38.  I let my 11 year old daughter and her 13 year old friend listen to it and they seemed to really like it, actually my daughter now has their CD in her room so it looks like she really liked them a lot.  I'm happy that this is a Christian band and their lyrics seem fine but I would like to see a little more heart put into their music.

If you would like to listen to These Hearts here's a You Tube video


THESE HEARTS is also on Facebook, My Space and you can check them out on Amazon.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog.  Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endoresments and Testimonials in Advertising."

Miss Oklahoma

Last year our dear, sweet friend Taylor Upson(now Coggins, she got married and Kenzie was her flower girl) asked Kenzie to be her Oklahoma Star in the Miss Oklahoma pageant and Makenzie LOVED it and had a great experience.  This year Makenzie decided to go for it and be an Oklahoma Star again.  Miss UCO, Rachel Hill is her mentor this year and she is a great role model for Kenzie.  They had a great week hanging out together on and off stage.  Here are some of the pictures from their fun week.  If you are interested in the Miss Oklahoma pageant click here for more info.

Being silly at a luncheon

Practicing their stage walk

Makenzie in her white dress

Makenzie and Rachel on stage 

Makenzie with Bailey Chambers, Miss Green Country Outstanding Teen

Makenzie with Lacy Russ, Miss America's Outstanding Teen 2011 and the only winner ever from Oklahoma

Kenzie with Miss Oklahoma 2010 Emoly West

and Kenzie with mom

and Dad

and some friends!

Makenize and Alethea met last year and got to hang out together again this year!

Field of Vision-movie review

I had the opportunity to check out the new Family Movie Night movie Field Of Vision.  Our family was very excited by this opportunity because we like to have a family movie night a couple of times per month but, we always struggle trying to find age appropriate movies with 9 and 10 year old children.  We believe the song, "Be careful little eyes what you see" and since my children are growing out of the animated movie stage and into the real actors stage it has become more and more difficult to find a great family movie.   We are always on the lookout for a great family movie and this one seems to fill the bill!  It is appropriate for all ages, it kept the interest of my 10 year old daughter because she loves anything with horses, art and books and my 9 year old son loved all the football and action in the move.  My husband and I were both impressed that the movie covers many childhood and teen issues like bullying, telling the truth even when it's hard and building friendships.


Here's a brief synopsis of the move.


Through mysterious footage captured on an old malfunctioning video camera, Sinclair High School's star quarterback, Tyler McFarland, learns that some of his teammates have been bullying Cory Walker, a troubled new transfer student. Aware that sharing this information with the coach might get his friends kicked off the team and ultimately cost the school the state championship, Tyler must choose what's more important: winning or doing what's right.


Content Description:
Sex: None
Language: None
Violence: Shows a boy being bullied
Drugs: None
Nudity: None




Check out this trailer for a peek at the movie.

Field of Vision Movie Trailer from Moms4FamilyTV.com on Vimeo.






Click here to go to the Family Movie Night Facebook page and don't forget this film premieres Saturday, June 11th at 8/7c on NBC. 

"Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Wordle

As most of you know I love to read The Real Housewives of Oklahoma blog because they are a fun, kinda crazy bunch of ladies!  They had posted about wordle a couple of months ago and I still had not gotten around to playing with it until today!  I was on Facebook and saw an adorable gift that Mrs. Hart had made so I decided to head on over and check it out.

I pasted my blog address in and this is the wordle that popped up and I like it a lot, it's fun and it's FREE!  Who doesn't like free?  Hop over and check out WORDLE and if you make something leave me a comment with the link so I can see it.

This is the one we made for Punky Monkey Missions, which is my 10 year old daughters blog.

Go play around with it and have some fun!

Courageous-A Movie Review

Tonight I had the honor and privilege to go to a screening of the new movie Courageous that's coming to theaters on September 30th, 2011.  The movie had me laughing then crying then laughing, ladies be sure to bring some kleenex because you will need them! Everyone needs to go see this movie, it's A-mazing and WILL change lives.
COURAGEOUS will capture your heart as you meet four officers, their friend Javier, and their families. 
If you liked Fireproof or any of the other movies that Sherwood Pictures has produced then you will LOVE Courageous.  Sherwood Pictures makes amazing family movies, no bad language, no sex scences, a tiny bit of violence in this one but it does go with the story.  I wonder what their next movie will be, they just keep getting better and better.


Here is a preview of the opening scene


Although the movie was rated PG-13 you don't have to worry about foul language, nudity, etc. I was given this rating due to a violent scene when the police are in a shootout with some drug dealers and it's not really that violent compared to what's seen on TV these days.


Take your dad, your husband, your son, actually any man in your life.  They all need to see this movie.  When the movie ended, it asks a question and men in our movie theater started standing up all over and shouting "YES".

UPDATE:Since the time of this review the movie has been released at theaters and has had a wonderful response.  I took my husband to see it and it changed the way he looks at being a father to our children.  He was a wonderful dad before the movie and is even better now(if that's possible.  Take my advice go see COURAGEOUS!

Robert Pierre, A Christian teenager that can sing!

I was just given the opportunity to review 4 songs by the Contemporary Christian musician, songwriter and guitarist from Orlando, Florida, Robert Pierre.  I was pleasantly surprised by his work which I would consider a soft rock/ballad style and wanted to share some of his songs.  He's currently getting ready to release a new CD called  I’m All In, which will be released this summer.  My favorite song is Identity because as a mom to a tween this is exactly the kind of music that I encourage her to listen to, I want her to know that she doesn't have to follow after the world and what it has to offer her and she has an identity in Christ and has been set free.  By the way, she does LOVE this song and so does my 9 year old son.

If you would like a free preview of 4 of his songs click here.  The four songs available to preview for free are Jesus, You Hold Me Now, Breaking My Heart and Identity,  I'm encouraging my readers to help me promote Robert Pierre by liking his Facebook page  and and following him on Twitter account as well as checking out his website.  This young man has a wonderful future ahead of him, he hasn't even graduated from high school yet but is already an incredible Christian artist.

Here's his video Jesus, enjoy!

Happy Mother's Day 2011

Since I think most of you that read this blog are mom's or you have a mom I decided to post some funny things we found on You Tube...ENJOY!!!!

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!