My little red headed pea was so excited to go, her and Maria did all the lifting!

HEEHEE she wanted to keep this whole box for herself (-:

Proud Girl Scout Leaders Daughters right here!

Now to get them sorted and passed out…..stay tuned for part two of Our Troop’s Journey Through Our First Cookie Sale!

On this specific night before the meeting my Co-Leader Abby called a few places and was happy to report Joseppi’s pizza on Hoover Rd would open early just for us to meet there.  How cool are they?

So of course the first order of business after the beginning ceremonies would be to make Joseppi’s thank you cards(-:

The  girls were actually pretty excited  to have the meeting at a pizza shop because everyone knows if you go to a pizza shop there is going to be pizza!

The girls had so much fun and we were able to have our badges presented for our yarn crafts we did a few weeks before.

(I took  a picture of the  girls getting the badges but WOW  they were bad LOL)

Before we left the girls got a picture with the guys that saved the day!

So thank you again Joseppi’s Pizza!! and for those of you that want to show them some love you can order online if you’re in the area!

http://www.joseppispizza.com/11/

I ran to the Dollar Tree and got tiny terracotta pots and little butterflies.  Then I ran to Lowes and got potting soil and seeds.  I have snack baggies at home and we were finally getting them the patches with our troop number on them.   So there it was a take home project was born!

I love putting these ideas together and since we couldn’t plant a tree yet or a Truffula Tree

I chose the Burpee Cosmos mix because they spout practically overnight.  I put soil in the snack bags and seeds in another, placed the pots in paper towels so they wouldn’t break and was just plain excited for our little Girl Scouts to get their bags.

So we all met at the theater, the girls all had their own snack money from Mom and Dad and ordered for themselves they all got the same thing so no one’s feelings were hurt.  We used the troop funds for the tickets (special thanks to one Momma who made a generous donation to the troop!) The girls got all settled in….

Unfortunately we were missing a couple (they got their bags later though!)  The girls sat in two rows keeping them close with one leader on the end of each and parents on the other ends in case we needed potty time they couldn’t go out alone.  They were wonderful the giggles and smiles were contagious.  But I wondered do they understand what it’s really about? That’s when I looked down my row and saw my daughter crying not a sobbing loud cry but a quiet, had to put the popcorn down and wipe her eyes cry.  She got it.  The part of the movie she teared up at was when Ted got out of town and saw the devastation, there were no trees, no grass.  There was nothing.  After we left the theater we had the girls go outside to the bench so we could grab the bags and talk about the lesson and the take home project.

It was very sunny but cold!  All the girls understood the lesson and were excited to plant their flowers.  Yet a little sad after we explained some of the movie to them.  So we had them make silly faces and promise to help mother nature and the earth!

Did YOU know you had to show your tongue to make a silly face??? LOL  We then had the girls stand in line for the fun patch!  These girls LOOOOVE their patches!

Abby is the head leader so I always ask her to hand them out besides I am the troop photographer right??! (that’s little Drake following his momma (-: ) Phoebe was supposed to come but decided biting her sister’s head was more fun and stayed home…no movie for biters!

The badge was cute!

The girls had a lot of fun and one of the take home instructions to the parent was to bring in a picture of their daughter holding the finished product.  Because that is also the beginning of our Gardening badge too!

Since I had bought the take home project I thought I would make Phoebe one too she is a girl scout in training you know, we visited my Gramps that next day and the weather was perfect so to the front porch they went.  Phoebe needed no help of course she can do it herself (trust me I tried!)

Pyper was an old pro you know from those years of back yard gardening with me LOL

When they added the butterfly the project was complete! I took Py’s picture for the scrapbook ….

And of course my little girl scout in training’s picture too but just for the at home scrapbook (-:

So there it is lesson learned and project completed all with smiles, a few tears and a better appreciation of the environment.

As Dr. Seuss wrote “Unless someone like you…cares a whole awful lot…nothing is going to get better…It’s not.”

The girls had begged for so long and we resisted but one morning I woke up and said YES we can get another kitty.

So after work on a cold day January 3, 2012 we went out to look for a new kitten.  The first place we went to was just scary but the second place EUREKA!  All I wanted was an orange kitty because rumor has it they are the friendliest.  We got to a place where they had two orange kittens so we had to decide which one.  I let the girls decide it was hard, until we found out only one was a boy so there you go easier than we thought!

We couldn’t wait to get him home….we named him a week before we got him Paddington but that sounded plain compared to Petey Peteman PHD and Professor Puffington….so Chad called him Saint Paddington I liked Paddington Peabody and got out voted since Pete is a doctor and Puff is a professor Paddy is a Saint…..we have a weird family.  Paddy made himself right at home even tried to get a snack, clearly being the new guy he didn’t know the no felines in the fridge rule.

It didn’t take Paddy long to fit in, in fact we didn’t see much of Pete and Puff for the first week he was there! When we did see them Paddy tried to play but they would hiss and run, kind of like Paddy trying to play with Pete when he joined our family.

It took a little over a week for Puff to realize how awesome his new brother was, Pete on the other hand is our little old man and still just want to be left in peace!

Of course we all knew he was awesome when he got here….that is until I saw a flea one lone flea…time for your first bath Paddington….Don’t hide!

He was a champ Dad of 2 Peas ran to the store and got the shampoo he did so good I hardly got any scratches! He sure looked tiny all wet cute little guy.

But the one thing about Paddy that just cracks us up is he always looks like he is smiling. He is such a good cat especially with Phoebe just like Puffy they let her play with them and don’t care if she carries them around. Paddy fits in with all our Peas: Pete, Pyper, Phoebe, and Puffy….

So welcome to our home Paddy! We love you! Now lets talk about the no felines in the sink rule…..

Py was having so much fun, she got her Safety Patch and a new helmet and visited the Fire Station in the first month.  (I got to go too)

When January rolled around it was Cookie time and I text Abby to see when we would get our order forms there were already people selling at work.  unfortunately, there was a death in her family and our meeting was cancelled.  Jo claimed the same and no they aren’t related never met until they started the Troop.

The next meeting was in February now we were behind with the cookie sales and even missed an opportunity for the girls to win prizes with the initial orders.  I then got a text from Abby that the parents needed to be at the next meeting for what I assumed to be direction for the cookie sale…..Boy was I wrong.

Apparently, Jo the co-leader had never turned in the girls membership forms along with the forms the money.  Therefore, our girls were not a Troop.  Jennifer from Council came in to explain to the parents that we were not an official troop and with this being said we could not sell cookies until we were.  Also, the girls needed another leader to work with Abby or there could not be a troop.  The look on Abby’s face the whole time Jennifer spoke was heartbreaking so I volunteered.  Yes, me….the woman who works full time has a 7 year old and a 3 year old pea whose mentally disabled Mom just came to live with her family…..volunteered.  What the heck was I thinking? I thought about becoming a leader at the initial sign ups for Girl Scouts because so many girls needed a troop but I thought maybe next year.  Nope, this year it is and I have to say…..I absolutely love it I think I was born to do this co-leading with Abby.  Abby is awesome when most people would have prosecuted Jo for taking off with the Troops money she kept giving her a chance to give it back.  Eventually, Jo did give the money back but not ALL of it.  I hope it was worth it to her for less than $200.00 and all the supplies to disappoint 12 little girls 2 of them who never came back to the troop because she was their Grandmother. Shame on you Jo.

Now as for me I have jumped in head first, Dad of 2 Peas has been amazing while I attended meetings and training in a rush to get leader status so we could sell our cookies and become a troop.  Without him I couldn’t do all this he takes good care of Mom and the youngest Pea while the oldest and I do out Girl Scout things.

So here we are and I am super happy to say this is the best, Abby is wonderful we think alike and have the girls first attitude.  She has become a great friend and I look forward to all our adventure in Girl Scouting! There is nothing we can’t do together!

First she added Golden Grahams -

 The Teddy Grahams not one but two kinds of Teddy Grahams -

We needed two bowls because we have a lot of girls in out Troop (-:

Then chocolate chips -

LOTS of chocolate chips!

And pretzels the recipe called for potato sticks but we looked everywhere and couldn’t find them so we switched it up.

Then mix it all up!   (with CLEAN hands of course!)

Your hands may get a little messy

Doesn’t it look good?

She was so proud and did it all herself she even put it in the little individual containers for the girls.  Now shouldn’t there be a badge for that??

Now comes the youngest pea she wanted to make her own treats for Valentine’s Day so what better than the Teddy Bear Snack Mix?? and yes she did it ALL by herself.

A while ago Dad of 2 Peas bought a huge container of cheeseballs I kept the container for scraps of ribbon but hadn’t used it yet.  I pulled it out for Phoebe to make her mix it was perfect for her!

So again we used Golden Grahams ……

Teddy Grahams…….

She wanted to add marshmallows! …….

Lots of marshmallows!!!

We found the potato sticks ……

We used tiny cjocolate chips for tiny hands …….

Added more of EVERYTHING to fill to container……

And shook it up up to mix it now she was the proud pea and I am one proud Mommy !

So to sum it up here are each of the peas versions of the Teddy Bear Snack Mix :

Pyper:                                                            Phoebe:                                                  Golden Grahams                                           Golden Grahams                                        Teddy Grahams 2 kinds                                Teddy Grahams                                 Chocolate Chips                                            Mini Chocolate Chips                          Pretzels                                                         Potato Sticks                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               and then Phoebe had to out do her sisters mix and added the Mini Marshmallows~! 

Go ahead and let your littles make thier own version of the Teddy Bear Snack Mix they will be so proud to do it all themselves (-:

Every Christmas season our the Peas host a cookie party.  We have invited the same families the last three years and have seen several additions to those families each year.  It’s our way of seeing some of our friends at least once a year and let the kids have fun and get messy.  (ok the adults get pretty messy too LOL)  This year we had a few cancellations so we were able to invite a new family to join in and they had a blast I mean who doesn’t love cookies right??

Our invites always include the BYORP rule, that’s right bring your own rolling-pin (-:

I whip up the white icing and Dad of two peas always mixes the colors the girls love watching him.

Phoebe was just wanting to eat it!

A little socialization before we dive in…….

First some healthy snacks make sure the girl’s hair is out of their faces…….

some giggles………..

some sanitizer…………..

Finally!!  So how we work this party is simple, we always get the pre-made dough and give the kids their own roll.  They get wax paper, plenty of flour and we always have tons of cookie cutters.

This year was the most exciting for Phoebe because she could do almost all of it by herself.

Pyper my little perfectionist (-;

Aunt Lisa to the rescue, last year they were attached at the hip this year Lisa was able to watch, enjoy and even make some of her own cookies.

Almost everyone is one picture !

I love Phoebe’s mini rolling-pin it’s the perfect size for those teeny hands!

As the kids got their cookies cut out Chad was baking as fast as he could to keep up…..

And let’s not forget REAL MEN BAKE!

Quick clean up by rolling the plastic table-cloth and it was time for a pizza break while the cookies get finished baking and cooling we ate dinner…

One last table-cloth change and on to the icing!! We use little cheese spreaders for the icing since the little hands can hold them better.

She was so proud to ice her first cookie all by herself….

Pyper was very serious about her cookie decorating….

We always let the kids eat the first one hey  decorate (-: that’s the best part!

YUM!!! Pyper is an old pro she loves her cookie parties (-:

Phoebe sharing decorating tips with Dena …………

OHHH sneaking more icing in the mouth I see…..

Lisa made a cookie tree with some cookie cutters that she brought over she did great!

More icing….. WHAT! no wonder she was awake all night!

Py wondering where she would put the rest of the cookies, she ran out of room in her tins.  We made so many this year we filled 8 tins and 4 plastic cookie holders.

My biggest joy is getting the take homes ready for the kids this year I was able to find these cute gingerbread train baskets from Target, all the other gingerbread themed things were from Oriental Trading Company.

We try to get something different ever year for the families to take their cookies home this year JoAnne Fabric’s had these and they were awesome very deep to fits lots of cookies.

Cookie also always give each of the kids their own “Riley Girl’s XX Annual Cookie Party” ornament we hang them on the tree and let them look for them to take home.

And there you have it The Riley Girl’s 4th Annual Cookie Party…..we can’t wait until next year!

It was just another Sunday visiting with Gramps, Pyper stayed with Chad at home so this trip it was just me and the little one.  Phoebe loves her one on one time with him and Uncle Ben so she was in heaven. 

Soon after we arrived we got a call from my sister, to make a long story short we decided on this day that it was in my Mom’s best interest to move in with me and my little family.  I admit I wasn’t surprised or shocked my sister had taken my Mom the day of my Gram’s funeral to live with her and her family (8 hours aways) a year and a half ago.  She hadn’t been with Mom like my brother and I had she had no idea what to expect and what was all involved.  My sister hadn’t lived close to home since she was 18 and now approaching 40 (hmmm she may not approve of my putting her age out there) our Gram passes away but not before deciding that my sister was in the best position to care for out Mother.  I love my Gram but I even knew then that I was the one.

Mom moving in with us means some big changes, some little changes but changes none the less.  We only have a three bedroom home so the peas will be getting bunk beds and will share a room.  Mom will get Phoebe’s room and although I just redecorated both their rooms I will have to redecorate again for Mom I’m pretty sure Tangled isn’t her favorite kind of decorations!  

The oldest pea insist we get Gram her own chair to sit in she had one at my grandparent’s house and at my sisters.  She also insist Gram get a padded seat at the dining room because the wood chairs will be to hard on her butt.  I love this child, Chad spoke to her about her Grandma Cheryl coming to live with us and she was excited she has asked every day when is she getting here.  She can’t wait to color with her and do crafts like they did before she moved away.  Thank God that they are young enough to adapt to change. They don’t care that they have to share a bedroom or that they have to share a bathroom with Grandma they just can’t wait to have her here.

When my Mom first fell ill in 1984 my Grandparents didn’t flinch to take in all 4 of us, I am forever grateful for them.  I want to live my life as much as I can to make them proud So to take my Mom in and care for her well….I didn’t flinch.  The one thing my Gram made us promise was to not let her be put into a home we will not let that happen as long as one of us kids can help it.  So as my brother cares for my Gramps in his own home I will take care of Mom in mine.  Growing up we all lived in a cape cod all 6 of us!  So for 5 to live in my home will be cozy and manageable.  Who knows maybe one day Chad and I can afford to get a place with more room but for now we will be great. 

For my Sis I know this is hard for you, you did an amazing job with Mom,  you got her off more than half the medication she was taking, she dropped some much need weight and she was happy; but we all know how much she missed Grandpa and the rest of the family.  You are doing the right thing by letting her go.  But you should always be proud of what you accomplished with her.

Mom will miss my sister and her grandbabies (and their little pug too) like crazy but that’s what Skype is for (-: and she will have to get used to cats because I know one cat that will LOVE her LOL (-:

So to close this post February is approaching fast and I have a lot of work to do to get prepared for our Plus one but I have an amazing husband and children and we are ready (well emotionally anyway that paperwork….that’s another post)!

Be sure to follow my other blog once I get it up and running it will be all about our adventures with Mom.  http://momof2peasplus1.wordpress.com/

“originally posted 2010″

 Every year I make this delicious concoction for my co-workers and friends.  Over the years we have made some slight versions as my husband doesn’t quite care for milk chocolate….I know who doesn’t like chocolate ??? that would be Chad (-:

So here is the recipe follow along with the pics too!

 The ingredients :

5 cups of Corn Chex

5 cups of Cheerios

8 ounces of salted/or unsalted peanuts

10 ounces salted mini pretzels

12-16 ounces Christmas M&Ms

2 12 ounce bags of white chocolate chips

2-3 tablespoons vegetable oil

 Mix together all the Dry ingredients and set aside; then put the chips and oil into a microwave safe glass bowl I love the Pyrex large measuring bowl.  Put in microwave on high for one minute; stir; then another minute and stir if this doesn’t melt them all you can heat for 30 more seconds at a time until done ( 3 minutes max or it could burn). The bowl WILL BE HOT! BE CAREFUL!

Pour over mixture and blend until all the dry ingredients are covered. Then spread out over wax paper to dry make sure you have a large spot to spread the love. 

 Once it is all dry break apart and put into an air tight container or if you are giving it away I have put it in those ziplock containers with the red lids.  I have put it in zip lock baggies and this year I found these bags from Oriental Trading Company and used them.  I added a tiny reindeer and a tag!

The finished product but in peanut butter!

This year I got better containers than the bags above –  they better appreciate it LOL!

For the peanut butter version replace the white chocolate chips with peanut butter chips and the M&M’s with Reeces Pieces.  I have a lot of friends who like this one better.  I tried butterscotch once and it was waaay to rich!

***this year 2011 my friend Angela suggested peppermint white chocolate so we’ll give it a whirl!”***

I hope you like it!  (Just another thank you to Judy who gave me this recipe at OR you are the best!)