74. Take Avie to visit the Foley Train Museum in Foley, Alabama.

What a neat little place to go for the kids to run around and climb on these old trains from the Louisville and Nashville train lines. This museum is housed in the original train depot building that is over 100 years old.

Best Friends and Cousins!!

15. Plan weekly craft projects with Avie for 6 months. Make it a habit to continue on after the 6 months by putting it on the calendar. (21/24)

Craft Project # 21 - Make candy rings. Another craft project that my sister-in-law brought for the kids to do. She found this on Amazon.com for $5!















Avie holding up her finished project . . . and with her fake smile. lol!

15. Plan weekly craft projects with Avie for 6 months. Make it a habit to continue on after the 6 months by putting it on the calendar. (20/24)

Craft Project #20 - Build a car!

My amazing sister-in-law is the queen of fun crafts. She brought this craft during their Spring Break visit for the kids to do. She found this at TJ-MAXX.

15. Plan weekly craft projects with Avie for 6 months. Make it a habit to continue on after the 6 months by putting it on the calendar. (19/24)

Craft Project #19 - Make a Southern Belle Easter hat.

A friend of mine invited us to go to the Easter Egg Hunt put on by the Navy this year. My niece and nephew were in town visiting from TN for their Spring Break so it was neat to be able to bring them along too. The flier said that there would be craft tables so I figured I would leave this weeks craft up to the Navy. :)

I am laughing here because she totally did not like her hat. I had to bribe her with a lollipop so she would pose and take this photo. HA!

15. Plan weekly craft projects with Avie for 6 months. Make it a habit to continue on after the 6 months by putting it on the calendar. (18/24)

Craft Project #18 - Dye Easter eggs with Avie's cousins: Elle and Miles.

This was the first time that Avie dyed Easter eggs. It's been so neat now that she's older to do fun things like this. The kids had a blast and surprisingly didn't make too much up a mess for mom and Aunt Jenn to clean up.

15. Plan weekly craft projects with Avie for 6 months. Make it a habit to continue on after the 6 months by putting it on the calendar. (17/24)

Craft Project #17 - Make more Easter decorations from Pop and Grandma Nancy.
Avie is saying, "Thumbs up mom!"

56. Learn how to make Siapao.

One of my favorite Filipino foods of all time is Siapao!! I have always wanted to learn how to make it so I could stock up my freezer. They are the perfect snack or meal and thankfully Avie loves these little meat treats as much as her momma does!

A close family friend's mom said that she would teach me how to make it so we planned an afternoon and us girls got down to business. The recipe is surprisingly easy and the dough recipe is very yummy!!

The giant 3 tiered steam pot. I asked where she bought this and of course she said, "The Philippines." Hopefully I can find something similar here or on line.

Kneading the dough.

Avie watching Grandma make the siapao.

Waiting for the finished product. I obviously was too busy stuffing my face at the end because I forgot to take a picture of the final product. Take me word, they looked like the real deal and tasted pretty amazing! Can't wait to test this in my own kitchen and stock up the freezer.

85. Take Avie to Animal Kingdom at Disney World.

March 11 - 13, 2010
Knowing that Matt was going to be on Spring Break soon from FSU I wanted to do something fun for all of us and get away. We are so blessed to have such a hard working daddy so I knew this would be the perfect time to cross this off my 101 list and to give Matt's brain a break from his daily grind. Words cannot express how much fun we had as a family on this trip. Memories were made to last a lifetime!

Checking into the Lodge and looking over our Welcome Package. Our room overlooked one of the Safari's and we were able to see all sorts of animals from our balcony. Avie's favorite was seeing the zebra's and giraffe's while eating our breakfast out there.



On Kilimanjaro Safari Ride - Our favorite part of Animal Kingdom.

The moment we arrived at Animal Kingdom and Avie saw the face painting, she kept asking to get a "tiger face". So on our last day, she got her wish. She kept "roaring" at people - it was such a hoot! It was the best $8 we ever spent!

Avie really enjoyed bird watching - who knew!


One of my favorite pictures! Not even 10 minutes on the road and she is knocked out! If you're wondering about the blue winter hat - well it's her favorite hat that she insists stay in the truck and she wears it when we are on the road. Hey whatever makes the girl happy. :)

15. Plan weekly craft projects with Avie for 6 months. Make it a habit to continue on after the 6 months by putting it on the calendar. (16/24)

Craft Project #16 - Make Easter decorations that Pop and Grandma Nancy sent.

15. Plan weekly craft projects with Avie for 6 months. Make it a habit to continue on after the 6 months by putting it on the calendar. (15/24)

Craft Project #15 - Paint flower magnets with GG (Avie's great-grandma)

I bought this craft when Walden Books was going out of business at our mall. It was a great snag for under $3. GG was getting ready to go back to Michigan so I thought this would be something special the two of them could do together.

19. Read one parent/self-help book a month for a year. (12/12)

#12 - MARCH - Making Children MIND without Losing YOURS by Dr. Kevin Leman

The author who is a father of five, equips the reader with seven principles of Reality Discipline that show you how to:

- get kids to do what you want them to do
- foil finicky eaters, turn off temper tantrums, and minimize sibling rivalries
- use authority and decisiveness to show your kids you're not a pushover
- know when to take the little buzzards by the beak (HA!)
- set suitable allowances, curfews, and privileges
- put yourself back in the driver's seat

He uses a lot of humor that I could relate too and am just thankful that Avie is an angel and I really am reading this book, knowing my luck, for our next child. ;)

Can't believe it's been a year since I started reading one parent/self-help book every month. Time has flown by and time to cross another 101 task off my list! How exciting!

19. Read one parent/self-help book a month for a year. (11/12)

#11 - FEBRUARY - What the Bible Teaches About . . . Guidance by Peter Bloomfield

Peter Bloomfield dispels the notion that there is just one perfect plan for our lives, and urgest us to follow the Scriptures which provide all we need to live lives that are pleasing to our heavenly Father. (exert from back of book)

19. Read one parent/self-help book a month for a year. (10/12)

#10 - JANUARY 2010 - Shepherding a Child's Heart by Tedd Tripp

This book was recommended by a friend of mine from my old church in Michigan who is a wonderful parent and whose opinion I respect. This is a sound biblically-based guide on how to raise your children and how to speak to the heart of your child.