Homeschool Corner: Chick Fil A Field Trip!!! (in March)

Whoa, 

what?

Yep,

we got to go on a field trip

to our local,

and only,

Chick Fil A!!!

We don't have a large homeschool community
in our little town,
but I'll be derned if all of them
didn't show up for
THIS field trip!!!
They had to do the tour in about 4 different groups!

First we got a little history,
and the rules!

Then we saw and heard

that they pack all salads

and 

fruit cups

BY hand,

every couple of hours!!!

And the fruit comes in containers that 

we would buy ourselves from the grocery store!

They had bread their chicken,

every few minutes.

And no matter how often,

or how many different ways

the kids

(and maybe moms)

asked,

he would NOT give away the 

secret recipe for the breading...

mainly because he didn't know it.

They get it in premixed bags...

They go through a lot of sugar!

But only use it in their 

sweet tea

and 

lemonade!

(Ice Dream comes premixed)

He let the kids see the fridge and freezer...

And even let them hop in the freezer!

Haha!

Think it was cold in there?

Then we got a treat,

and it ended with 

each kid getting an 

Ice Dream Cone!

Thanks Chick Fil A!!!

St Patrick's Day - Martinez Style..

When I was a kid,

my mom always turned whatever food

she could...

green

on St Patrick's Day.

I have done it in years past,

but it was not very well received.

But I refuse to give up!

So I did it again...

Green grits

and

green eggs.

Green milk,

both in the cup

and

in the cereal!

Green sprinkles on my coffee...

why not?!

For dinner:

Kielbasa,

roasted cabbage,

and

green mashed potatoes!

I think the green mashed potatoes were

the last straw for my kids.

They informed me that that was a little

over the line.

Sheesh!

And this is how Ms. Priss dressed

(Thanks to my bestie,

Aunt Teena!)

She won a prize for "best dressed"

at our homeschool co-op!!

Jackson Turns 8! (In March)

My second baby boy child

turned 8...

in March.

Which means he is now

8 and a HALF!

But I am thankful I have found a little time

to post a few updates

and can maybe get us up through the end of March...

soon...

(hahahah!)

We decide birthday plans as a family.

We give our guys options

then discuss them together 

and come up with a decision and a plan.

Last year we celebrated Jackson's 7th birthday

with

 a family camping trip 

and 

a family celebration.

This year,

after much discussion,

he decided on a party...

A Ninja Party!

My sweet boy is pretty much obsessed

(as much as Jackson gets obsessed with stuff)

with ninjas!

He has been a ninja for the past 3 Halloweens

and is asking to be one again this year.

Sigh...

So thanks to Pinterest,

we pulled one together.

A sweet friend came over and helped me 

(did most of the work for me)

make 20 ninja masks

and 

20 red ninja belts.

(because I don't sew)

Then thanks to help from the local hardware store,

we made:

swords using silver spray painted 5 gal paint stirrers,

nunchucks from foam insulation tubing,

red and black duct tape to decorate them,
and
red and black construction paper throwing stars!

Even my dad jumped in to help!!

Rico is modeling the belt, the hood and 

absolutely holding the sword UPSIDE DOWN!

Oh well...

Whose idea it was to give a bunch of 8+ yo boys 

wooden swords and foam nunchucks...

I will never know.

(not my best mom-idea, but they had a blast,

and no one got REALLY hurt)

My middle sis,

Her daughter

and

my daughter.

 Mr T looking more like an undertaker 

than a ninja here...

But totally showing off his 

"ninja skills"

here...

The boys,

and girls,

trying to see exactly how many this airplane 

can hold at one time..

Rico practicing on his 

hand drawn ninja silhouette.

I was super proud of how this turned out,

that kid can draw.

I seriously have 

NO

idea where 

THAT

 talent came from!

(see it in the tree?)

Sister close up... 

Girl cousin sliding.

Lex wants a sister so bad.

Sorry girl,

you are stuck with 

three stinky brothers.

Tony Cruz jumped on for a ride.

Cake Time!

I am SUPER proud of that banner 

hanging behind the kids.

All this took was a printer,

black card stock,

white paper

and my handy paper cutter!

Here comes the cake!

I make the kids cakes every year.

I enjoy it...

This was my take on a 

Ninja Cake!

Complete with white chocolate throwing stars!

I think the birthday boy liked it!

Cutting the cake.

Red velvet on the inside.

After eating cake,

the hood went back on

for the opening of the presents...

But no one could see

 his facial expressions,

so his big brother helped him take it off.

So we could see this smile.

(yes, that is cooking oil - to go with his new camp fire popcorn popper!!)

Then mommy couldn't resist this shirt...

it just fit the theme way too well!

(Warning, if ninjas attack...I'm using you as a shield)

Sweet cousin Lucy,

post birthday cake.

After our friends left,

we got some great quality time 

with my sister,

her husband

and 

their daughter.

Cousins!

March Randomness - (yes, March)

We had a busy busy March!

There will be individual posts on the exciting stuff

like,

Jackson's Birthday

St. Patrick's Day

Chick Fil A Field Trip

Updating our homeschool room

and

Easter Egg Decorating

but here is how we spent the rest of it!

Dressing in your 3 yo brother's jeans because they were in your drawer..

and they fit...

sort of.

Camping with our Cub Scout Pack

(well the big boys and daddy did - 

the littles and I joined for just the day)

Eating this beauty

And making beeswax candles...

the old fashioned way!

Because that is how Cub Pack 8 

does Scout camping trips!

Eating out on our screened porch,

more times than I can count...

and 

enjoying listening to the thunder roll around us

and the rain come down...

we all enjoyed that!

Making decorations for Jackson's Ninja Birthday Party...

4 kids sharing one beater

(bless their hearts!)

Opening windows

to let the spring breeze flow through...

then this kid coming

pulling up a chair

and

propping this little feet on the windowsill!

Chillin!

My sweet hubby helping my bestie groom tear stained hair from around 

her puppies eyes.

(the things people (and those that love them) do for their pets...)

Seesawing "adult style"

at my 8 yo's birthday party.

Peeing in the yard,

because you are 3 and the bathroom is too far away

and because you can...

while your 1 1/2 yo girl cousin looks on

trying to figure out what you are doing,

then trying to figure out how she can do it too...

(at your olde brother's 8th birthday party)

(senior yearbook picture???)

Taking selfies 

with my bestie

and

my mommy.

Eating dinner with my sis and her crew...

say Cheese Lucy!!!

The "we have to go because Grammy is in town"

trip to Chuck E Cheese 

especially if she is in town to celebrate a birthday.

Me taking advantage of the SUPER long tables 

to sort out basketball picture orders...

Chilling shirtless 

in a grocery cart

playing on mommy's old phone,

because its comfortable?

Then a mommy & me church date 

one Sunday night with this guy!!