Knock You Naked Brownies

So, I'm "That Mom" at Brenna's school.  You know the one I'm talking about.  The mom who volunteers every time, who buys and sells for every fundraiser, and who gives gifts to teachers and directors for every occasion.  I've logged enough hours at that school that I should be on the payroll.  Not that I'm complaining, because I love it!  The school has been a blessing for both Brenna and me and I enjoy spending time with these ladies.  Her teachers and the Director and Director's Assistant are real sweet hearts.  So, I've passed along little "happys" for each of them on every occasion.  That's alot of occasions;  Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentines, Easter, and of course Teacher Appreciation Day.   By the time I got to Teach Appreciation, I was out of "happy" ideas.  So, I did what all Southerns do and I made a desert.  Southerns fix food for all major holidays, birthdays, weddings, births, and funerals.  Everybody likes to eat, so you can't go wrong.

The desert I made is something wonderful!  Oh Yes!  These brownies are amazing, truly a chocolate gift from God!  So with my little helper by my side, we got busy on some Knock You Naked Brownies.

These brownies took the better part of a day to make because of all the different layers and all the waiting.

Spring has Sprung......Right into Summer

Another Spring, which lasted all of about 2 weeks according to the thermostat, is in the books and we've been busy kicking off Summer.   I'll be rolling out some fun stuff over the next week.  Until then, here's our school Spring picture!

The McAlister's Take Disney - Part 1

Oh my!  Where to begin?  This was a vacation like no other!  We got together with Jacob's twin brother and his family for a McAlister Family Vacation.  Brenna enjoyed all Disney World had to offer with her two cousins Ella and Leah.  The kids had a fantastic time!

Planning was fun and alittle frantic.  There's alot that goes into a Disney Vacation; hotel, tickets, flights, dining reservations, tours, and just managing what to fit into your time there and what to leave for next time.  As part of our vacation celebration, I put together goody bags for the girls.  They were filled with fun stuff that I thought might come in handy while we were at the parks.  Mickey Mouse ear hats, light sticks, flash lights, portable fans, princess jewelry, water bottles, bubble necklaces, princess chap stick, princess bath wash, activity books, and finally I made personalized autograph books so the girls could collect the signatures of their favorite characters.

The McAlister's Take Disney - Part 2

Day 2 Continued:  We stayed at the Disney Contemporary Resort in Magic Kingdom.  The monorail runs right through the lobby, which made things very convenient.  The hotel was beautifully designed, with A-frame supports that allowed for wide open space throughout.  Here's a few shots around the hotel.

This was the view from our balcony

The McAlister's Take Disney - Part 3

Day 3 Continued:  After breakfast at Chef Mickey's and a quick bus ride, we walked through the gates of Animal Kingdom and headed straight to Africa for an African Safari.

The McAlister's Take Disney - Part 4

Day 4: We visited Dinsey's Hollywood Studios. We got there shortly after the park opened and got lucky enough to walk straight in to Disney Junior Live! Disney Junior characters are some of Brenna's very favorite. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse is the only reason she got interested in Disney World to begin with. The puppet stage show included 4 her of favorite tv series; Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Handy Manny, Little Einsteins, and Jake and the Neverland Pirates.

The McAlister's Take Disney - Part 5

Day 5:  We're Magic Kingdom bound to finish up where we left off.  They had Extra Magic Hours, so we were able to hit a few rides before our breakfast at Crystal Palace.  The kids had been dying to drive the cars, so off to the Speedway we go. After they got their adrenaline rush we headed off for breakfast with Winnie the Pooh and the 100-Acre Wood crew.

Just Because..........

I love her sweet smile!

And the Rainbow Fades Away

Well, after 24 long weeks of lesson plans, craft preparation, and a whole lot of patience and restraint, our Noah's Ark Rainbow Club finally came to a close.  Over the course of 24 weeks, Brenna earned all five of her club badges!  I'm so very proud of her!

The club takes a break for the Summer, while we focus on Vacation Bible School.  I'll be teaching the preschool Bible Adventures at VBS again this year, so my work isn't over yet, but I sure do appreciate the break.

Along with Brenna, most of my kiddos will be moving up since they will be starting Kindergarten in the Fall.  Our children's program for K-5th usually has a different focus each semester, so I'm not sure what activities will be coming in August, but I'm sure she'll enjoy it.

Princess Brenna

Thanks to a friends birthday party, we got an early start on our Disney Princess dress-up.  One of Brenna's friends had an all girls birthday party at Tutu's and Tiara's where the girls got to dress up like their favorite princess, complete with glittered hair, make-up, manicure, jewelry, and shoes.  Then they moved to the Royal Party Room, where they drank pink lemonade from china tea cups and ate popcorn from crystal bowls.  After cake and popcorn, the girls put on a fashion show where they got to strike a pose on the stage.  The girls had a great time!  Now Brenna's really looking forward to getting all dress up again and having breakfast with the Princesses as Disney World!

Easter 2012

My mom and dad came over for a visit the week before Easter.  Dying Easter eggs with Mawmaw has become a tradition for Brenna and after weeks of waiting she insisted we do it the day they go here.  So they got busy decorating eggs and the Easter tree.

Soccer - Week 2

After the very exciting start we had in our first week, we got dealt a very hard blow the second week.  There was a super-sized 5-year old who was super-fast and dominated the game on both sides of the ball.  She had legs as least as long as mine!  By the end of the first half, even her coach was asking her to please pass the ball, so her teammates could at least get a kick in.  She was the only one to score on both teams.  It was a tough game all the way around, as Brenna came home with a swollen and bruised fat lip after a failed attempt to steal the ball.  Brenna was alittle disappointed about the game and some tears were shed over not scoring goal.  While we try to impress upon her the importance of just having fun, she seems to have a competitive nature that just won't be beat!  I can't imagine where she got it from..............

Pecan Pie

I've already stated on here before that I'm not much of a baker.  But, since my parents were coming over for a visit and because Jacob likes them so much, I baked a pecan pie.  Anyone can cook right, advancements in food preservation have taken all the hard work away.  The results may not be as appetizing as the made from scratch option, but for those of us who are willing to cut a few corners, you can cook anything out of a box or jar.  Or in my case, Both!

Texas Blue Bonnets

Family Fun Day at Long Meadow Farms

Last week our neighborhood hosted a family fun day with lots of fun for the kids.  There was food, a train, a bouncy house, rock climbing wall, and lots of games and give-aways.  So, Brenna and all our neighborhood friends met up for a good time!