He can be a pistol.......

but that boy has got a heart.

So it's that time of year again....you know...project time? Yea...I'm equally excited. Can't you hear the enthusiasm in my voice as I type??


I mean...don't get me wrong. I love to be creative, and help my kids on projects, but sometimes the expectations are just over the top.


Fortunately for me...this time it was do-able.


Jack's little "project jubilee class" (the name says it all), is studying Australia as their first unit. Easy enough....as long as I don't have to sew a darn kangaroo outfit or something ridiculous.


The first project is to create the Australian flag, and you're graded on creativity, use of unique materials, etc. Maximum size? 9 x 13.


Any of you fellow bakers out there thinking what I'm thinking?? Mmmhmmm.....you guessed it. Cake.


Sigh. Okay, okay....I cannot take credit here. I'm actually SHOCKED that it wasn't my first thought, because I tend to gravitate towards baking and goodies (not something I'm altogether proud of, but let's move on shall we?) Nope....actually it was my husband's idea. But he knows me well, and so I was on it!!


And we all know how expensive these little innocent projects can be don't we? And in your mind your thinking...aww...a cake mix is a buck...a little icing, we'll be out the door for five dollars.


Yea. Not so much. Try twelve dollars. But let me back up a little in the story.


And I just have to brag on Jack here. I think I'm allowed....it is MY blog, right? ;-)


On the way to Wal-Mart (because that's the only way I was getting out of there for less than $20), Jack says to me, "Hey mom....do you think there is something special we can make for (we'll call her Susie)? She's allergic to eggs.

Now I realize that it might not touch your heart quite like mine, but I thought it was very thoughtful of an 8 year old, typically rowdy little boy to think about the poor child who's allergic to eggs.


And this is where I was extremely thankful for my long term love/hate relationship history with Weight Watchers. Because it was during one of my many memberships over the years, that I learned that you could take a cake mix and add a can of pumpkin in place of the oil, water and eggs, and voila...you had a less fattening, yet full of fiber cake. (And yes...I know that you can also use diet soft drinks or whatever, but those methods aren't tried and true at my house, and I frankly think those kids probably needed more fiber!!!)


So that is exactly what we did. 


Aforementioned can of pumpkin





Have I ever mentioned how much I love my Kitchen Aid Mixer??




It looks different with the pumpkin minus the usual ingredients....




And it is HARD work to scrape the sides and pour it into the pan




Now for the fun part......yes...I let him do it all himself.



Oh...in case you're wondering....yes I do buy my children clothing, but all FOUR of them have preferred Darwin's old USMC t-shirts for PJ's, and they have holes in them....but apparently that makes them more comfortable.  :-)

I get the feeling this icing was hard to squeeze out!!!!  But probably not half as difficult as trying to cut giant marshmallows into stars.  Clearly....he ended up with only one marshmallow star.  Icing seemed the best option at this point.

And there you have it....the Australian flag.  And he is quite proud.  So am I....but more so over the fact that he was putting into practice something we try to teach our kids...putting others needs or wants ahead of our own. 

I think there may have been a little disappointment today when Jack took the cake to school and the sweet little girl, who was allergic to eggs, still turned down the offer for cake....but you have to hand it to her....at least she's acutely aware of her condition and how it could adversely affect her. 

And I gotta' hand it to Jack....because it's the thought that counts. 

I'm just sayin'. 

22 things I learned this past weekend......

1.  When someone offers you (2) last minute tickets to the Auburn vs. Mississippi State game....you jump on the opportunity and worry about additional tickets you may need later.

2.  I can pack for said impromptu-trip-to-Auburn much faster than I packed in my pre-children days (not sure if that's because I've matured in my packing abilities and realized that I don't need 13 outfits & 15 pair of shoes, or if it's simply because I don't have more than one or two good outfits for said event.)  Regardless....I can be ready pretty darn quick.

3.  Parenting is hard work....I'm just sayin'. 

4.  To stick to my guns when I think walking from daughter's rental house to the stadium is too far. 

5.  Jeans aren't the best walking clothes when the walk is 2 miles one direction. 

6.  I should have started my fitness program long before now.

7.  Signs with pictures drawn by 8 year olds are perfect when you need two additional tickets. 

8.  There are still caring, giving, good people in the world. 

9.  That we cannot outgive God.  A man and his wife saw Jack's sign and informed us that they had prayed for a family to GIVE tickets to, and all they wanted to be sure of is that we weren't going to sell the tickets.  (Can I get a thank you, Jesus???) 

10. That ramps are better than multiple flights of steps after a 2 mile hike...er....walk in jeans when it's hot.

***At this point, refer back to number 6.***

11.  That I wasn't emotionally prepared for a 9/11 commemoration in a stadium filled with over 87,000 fans.  (Here...watch for yourself.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZVtWgKE1-0

11.  That regardless of which team you're rooting for, when remembering 9/11, you are completely united with every other American that you're standing next to, and that each and every one of them can respectfully become hauntingly silent at that moment. 

12.  That I don't understand penalties when Darwin & Jack are sitting clear on the other side of the stadium....without him to ask..

13.  That if you just watch which direction the referees point their arms, and listen to the crowd, you'll get the gist of it. :-)

14.  That after standing in line waiting your turn, Auburn concession stands still don't take your debit card, but yet direct you to the handy-dandy ATM machine just down the way, causing you to lose your place in line and have to start over. 

15.  That Mississippi State fans are actually very cordial.  They tap you on the back and let you know that you're getting sunburned. 

16.  That said concession stands don't list sunscreen as one of the items they sell.

17.  That even though you can feel your arm roasting, it's still a good idea to take a fellow Auburn fan (who turns around and gives you "the look" ) up on his offer of the sample sized sunscreen he has clipped to his belt loop.  (I would have laughed before too.....I think you will see later why now I wouldn't. )

18.  That even if your arm is already burnt, applying sunscreen at that point is still a wise decision and will keep you from frying any further.

19.  That it would have been good to use said borrowed sunscreen on more than just my burning left arm. 

20.  That there are some games worth burning for.

21.  That the 2 mile walk back is much longer and harder.

And last but not least.....I learned that you can still get sun poisoning, even if your sunburn doesn't cover a large area. 




I have no idea why I thought it was a good idea to let my daughter take this picture.





Or this one.....





Can you see where my cute little shirt was?????

























Oh....and I learned one more thing. 


22.  WEAR SUNSCREEN TO DAYTIME FOOTBALL GAMES!!!!!!!!


I'm just sayin'.