Eating Healthy...

I LOVE to cook. I love to read new cookbooks, love trying new food, love making new food. Oh, and I LOVE to watch food network, and tend to get obsessed with some of their shows.

Due to the fact that I am still holding extra weight from too long ago to admit... (and Brookies pregnancy didn't help). I need to drop some stinkin' weight. And my love for food isn't helping my big butt disease. Unfortunately my work out routine isn't cuttin' it either. So, enter my new favorite cookbooks...

The Biggest Loser Family Cookbook, and the Clean Eating magazine. I heart them!

Very Yummy and good for you meals!

Woo Hoo!

I will be sharing these fabulous recipes with you on my recipe blog... at

http://bigfatmommyrecipes.blogspot.com/

Happy Eating kids!

I just posted my new favorite Fish Tacos recipe. It was delish!

Mommy Time Out...

So, I have clearly become a total and complete slacker. I know this is no shock to any of you. I love to blog, I love the people I have met because of my blog. I am out of things to say...

Okay so that last statement isn't true. It's NEVER been true. :) But, I have felt as if I have lost control of my kids, and I don't really care for the raving lunatic I have become.

So, I have taken a break. I have read at least 10 books since the Christmas break. A few were fabulous, and some not so. I have worked out, (not as much as I should) but still worked out. I've played mindless games on facebook, which I'm embarrassed to say I enjoy. :) I have hung out with my kids and husband as much as possible. I have tried a number of new fun recipes, which is one of my favorite things to do. I have played nurse maid to sick kids, and then been sick myself. In fact the last time my husband came home from a trip we were all laying around in the living room, sleeping bags and all. Everyone was feeling under the weather so we took a few days off to watch movies, eat soup, and cough on each other.

I am ready for Spring, and to enter the "outter world" again. Hibernation is hopefully over...

I hEaRt ChArLeStOn...

The Jail... it just happens to be voted "The Most Haunted Building in Charleston"

Considering how "haunted" the city is suppose to be, that's saying something!

I just couldn't get enough of the gorgeous historic homes!

They were so amazing!

We got to go on a Ghost Tour of the city.

It was so much fun, we visited a few graveyards, and heard some spooky stories.

I just loved the city. I am far from a "city girl" but Charleston is intoxicating. I have completely fallen in love with the city. The history just seemed to suck you in. It was so amazing! I would so love to go back, again and again.

Great Vacation, thanks Scotty and thanks Norm and Laurel! It was so great!

OvEr the RiVeR and ThRu the WoOds....

I'm not sure why my stinkin' pictures ALWAYS post out of order! I even double checked,

and still when I posted they went crazy. Crap!

To GrAnDmA & GrAnDpA's hOuSe We gO...

The day after we got to Seneca, Grandpa, Daddy, and Sam went to Atlanta

to pick up Auntie Katie from the airport.

So, Grandma and I took the girls to see Santa.

Brookie was so funny she ran right up to Santa and hugged him. Then, it was as if she went into a coma, because she wouldn't even look at him for the rest of the visit.

The best part was that Avery (who is 8) still doesn't like Santa. When she was little she had a nervous breakdown when we went to see him. EVERY YEAR!

So, now that she's a "big girl" she pretends to like him... ya know until she's staring him in the face and then she won't have anything to do with him.

I had to talk her into sitting by Savannah in the picture. She's hilarious!

We were looking for something to keep the kids from dying of boredom at the mall. Thank goodness there was this cute little train riding thru it.

I thought the older girls wouldn't be too happy about having to ride the baby train with their baby sister. I think they secretly loved it too!

This was one amazing mall!

We spent a good part of the day here, and didn't see a half of it.

And, of course because my pictures posted funky...

this is Miss Brookie on the plane. She was a fun bundle of energy THAT DIDN'T

DOZE OFF ONCE! Yep not once from Utah to South Carolina!

She's lucky she's cute!!

We had so much fun in South Carolina, and the little we saw of Georgia was fabulous too!

So much to post... and so little time!

I have SO much to post!

December flew by in a flash... I'm still not sure where the whole month went!

Now here we are into a new month and a new year...

But first I need to post all the fun stuff we've been up to.

We went sight seeing around Seneca, South Carolina. Gorgeous!

The girls and I got to see Santa at the Mall of Georgia.

Avery built a fabulous snowman in our front yard... in the dark!

Savannah turned 11!! And, her crazy Mom took her and her stinky friends

to the movies. She picked the Princess and the Frog for her

Birthday Movie. Yes, she's 11! I love her!

After a crazy Birthday her Mom was lame and just bought a cake.

But we did all love it.

So, busy busy December... we did also happen to Celebrate Christmas.

More to come, I'm still unpacking and getting laundry under control.

What to do...

These are my stinky kids. Aren't they cute?

Yeah, well looks can be deceiving...

They are particularly stinky lately. What to do?

Do you ever wonder as a Mom, if you're doing things right? How to teach them? How to show them how to become responsible, and respectful? Do you ever wonder if the whole generation is incapable of respect? How to handle yourself, when things don't go according to plan? Do you ever wonder those things, or is it just me?

Lately I have had a harder time with these questions. Or more importantly, the answers to these questions.

During this time of year, I get so excited to watch cozy Christmas movies with just the tree lights on. I plan on all the fun season friendly treats I'm going to make, and what cute neighbor gifts I can have the kids deliver. I love to drive around and look at all the beautifully decorated homes. I love even more to drive around and mock the tacky decorations! I like to plan out the fun Holiday Season activities with the kids.

This has not been one of those years. I couldn't find the Christmas Spirit if I was hit over the head with it.

I officially have the naughty kids in the neighborhood. I have also officially won my spot in the crazy White Trash Mom hall of fame. I had to chase a kid across my neighbors lawn/snow bank, to grab him by his coat and drag him home. My kids have a medical condition... their ears block out the sound of my voice and they CANNOT LISTEN to me. Cannot listen to their Mom... nope not at all. I have officially turned into a nag, I have to repeat myself, and repeat myself, and repeat.... and repeat. In fact I've decided I get more results when I have conversations with the wall.

Lately however, the blatant disregard for my opinions and requests is NOTHING compared to what those stinkers have been throwing at me. And I mean literally throwing at me!

So in light of the events that have transpired in the Alger home, I AM NOT IN THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT. I'm not feeling it. I'm feeling like I have rotten kids, and I have failed as a Mom. How exactly do you bake cookies and listen to Christmas music when you just want your kids to be in bed asleep so there are no more knock down drag out fights that you have to physically break up? How do you teach your kids about the real meaning of The Season, when there is NO peace in the home? No really I'm asking...

So, what do I do? How do I be a good Mom. Right now, I honestly have NO idea. I never had any illusions about being a great Mom. I knew I wasn't, but I thought I could at least handle my kids. I don't put up with crap. I really don't, so why do they act as if they were living in a lawless half way house before showing up on my doorstep?

Okay really, I need some guidance here. Since it's not really kosher to beat them into submission, I'm out of ideas.

Help, from MommyGrinch...

Oh and Merry Christmas

Averys Big Day!

Miss Avery Lyn had her Special Day November 29th.

She was so precious (if only that lasted)

Congrats Avery we love you tons!

Oh CRAP!

Yes... This is my Brookie.

Yes.... we have had ANOTHER broken limb in our home!

Yes... I DID make her wait overnight before I took her in!

Yes... Once again, I SUCK and have officially WON the

Mother of the Year award!

She is alright now, and her hot pink cast is now in the trash. We are even done with the splint. Thank Goodness. She's still a little timid about her arm, and she is now using her left hand more than her right. She's always used her right hand more, but now she might just be a lefty like her big brother Sammy!

Now I know there is only a few weeks left in this year, but it would be REALLY nice if we could go the rest of this year with NO MORE broken freaking bones. Oh, and my Christmas wish is to learn how to decide it's time to go to the ER, instead of waiting until 4 am before I decide I should have taken the still crying kid in about 12 hours before!

Crap!

Holy Cow is it seriously December already?

I have been such a slacker, I apologize... I'll work on a couple posts for ya, I know you're all waiting on the edge of your seats!

Grandpa Woody & Grandparents Day!

Averys 2nd grade class had Grandparents day, and we were lucky enough to have Grandpa Woody come. The program was so cute, and Grandpa is the best! It's so fun to see how much he loves being with his Great Grandkids.

He went to Averys classroom and saw her desk and had some cookies with her after the performance. Grandpa Woody we love you!

A Few New Recipes to Check Out... Enjoy!

bigfatmommyrecipes.blogspot.com

"school" pictures

Miss Attitude...
The 5th Grader...
The Sassy 8 year old...
The Boy...

All my little Stinkers...

(thanks Cecily! :) )

Color Me Mine, Birthday

Miss Avery and Shannia at color me mine for Averys Birthday!

How perfect is that? It was so much fun, and their projects turned out adorable!!

Happy Birthday Avery!!!

My little Artist Avery is Eight!! Holy Cow! She had a lovely birthday full of all her favorites! Her daddy took her and her friend Shannia to Color Me Mine and she got to paint her own piece of pottery. (photo to follow shortly) Shannia gave her a huge tackle box full of art supplies! Heaven!

On Little Miss Averys big day she conned me into a trip to the mall, where she got an array of makeup from her Grandma Robin, and Lime Green Chuck Taylors from her Mommy and Daddy! Not to mention 84 pieces of gel pen bliss her Daddy found for her. I would say she had a great day!

Happy Birthday my little princess. I don't know where the last 8 years have gone. Really, where?

One last Hurrah before school started...

We took the kids to St. George for a few days before school started. We swam in the hotel pool, which was the big hit! Went to a few St. George "hot spots", like Jacob Hamblins home, and Brigham Youngs winter home. The kids weren't so sure it was exciting but we went all the same. We also took them to the historical Tabernacle and the BEST part.... we ate at In n Out! Oh yeah baby!! It was a fantastic way to get ready for school. We actually drove straight from St. George to the school for the "meet and greet" with their teachers the day before school started. We got home set out school supplies and first day of school outfits and here we are 3 1/2 weeks into school. Geez... it's already flown by! right?

DrOp Off IsSuEs, aGaIn!

Okay well it really wouldn't be me if I allowed the car pool situation to pass my by without unleashing me views onto you... my lovely "blog family" :)

So... new school year. New drop off / pick up lane at the elementary school. Oy...

It's a whopping 3 weeks into school and I'm already plotting the deaths of many of the carpool, suv'ers at the drop off! I HATE the drop off situation, I'm using the word hate... about morning drop off!! It's going to be a very LONG school year!

This year we do not have kindergarten, so we have sidestepped that landmine. phew... Although we have now moved onto the "big kid" side of the school and I dare say it might be worse! There are TWO lanes for drop off. TWO! Of course you don't want to actually drop kids off in the second lane because they would have to cross in front of cars to get to the school. So, it would be safe to say that the first lane if for drop off, and the second lane if for PULLING OUT OF DROP OFF AND LEAVING WHEN YOU'RE DONE! Well, that is a complicated task to pull off I guess. So instead people pull up into the first lane... drop off their kids... pull SO close to the car in front of them they can't pull out of line. So they wait, and of course the car in front is on her PHONE, and it's not the perfect spot to drop off her kids so she's sitting and waiting as well. And before you know it... everyone is WAITING and no one is actually dropping kids off anymore, and no one is getting out of the way either!!
And this is even better... then there will be a 3 or 4 car space and the next car has decided to let their kids out at the end of the line, and NO ONE has decided it's a good idea to go around that car and pull into the empty spaces!!
Seriously, it's NOT ROCKET SCIENCE HERE!!
Riddle me this Batman... Why does carpool drop off have to be so painful? And heres another question for the masses... when 75% of the Prom Queens I mean Moms are not even dressed yet WHO IN THE WORLD ARE THEY ALL TALKING TO ON THEIR CELL PHONES?!

Okay I'm done! well... for now... it is of course only the first month of school.
Heaven help us all...

BaCk To ScHoOl... already?

Savannah and her backpack from preschool, and yes she IS using it for 5th grade. She thinks she's hilarious! (I think she's pretty funny too!)

I really just can't believe it's back to school already! I mean REALLY, where did the summer go? I'm in mourning over the loss of our Summer... it was a good summer and it will be missed... sniff.

Anyhow, the kids started school. Yay!

Sammy was a little nervous about 1st grade, but he did just fine. And, don't worry we already suffered the first tragedy... he lost his Lightning McQueen lunch box on the first day! Yes I said the FIRST DAY... so at least we have that out of the way, right?

Avery is my little hero. She walked right in and sat down and started organizing her school supplies into her desk. Love her! She has a new girl in her class this year and the little girls Mom asked if she could introduce her to Avery because she looked like she was good and settled. Avery and Sydney are cute little friends already, and sit by each other in class. It couldn't be more perfect.

Savannah is the big kid, and I have to say I'M NOT READY!

She is hilarious, and she is in fact toting that Princess backpack to the 5th grade. She even made me get her princess folders too. And she laughed at how funny she was the whole time she packed her bag for school. Goof ball! She wasn't so sure about her teacher, because her BFF wasn't in her class. So far it looks like she's going to love her class and her teacher... so all is well... phew!

So tonight I'm toasting my diet coke to School. WeeHoo!

Cast On... Cast Off...

Avery FINALLY doesn't have a cast anymore! phew....

After a couple attempts the x-rays finally said it was healed!

Thank Goodness!!

She was a good sport, even though it wasn't too hard. The cast was waterproof and she was allowed to swim in it. She still is my daughter, and on nights it was really wet she would get out the blow dryer and dry it off before bed. (I love her)

She kept saying she was afraid it would smell like a foot like Sammys did! (hee hee I wonder where she heard that!)

But it's off now, all is well ~ and we are getting ready for school to start...

Where did the summer go?

The Splash Park...

We have had so much fun at our new little splash park! It has all the fun fountains and a great fake little river thing, ya know that the kids won't get swept away in.

We love it!! Woo Hoo!!

I especially love letting Brookie run free until she completely collapses when we get home. (top picture) Nothing is better than that!!

Happy Summer, I'm not ready for it to be over!