What are u??

I took the 43 Things Personality Quiz and found out I'm a Romantic Money Managing Extrovert

I guess her name is "Gray"

S, miss artsy....had to make a collar for the cat in case she got outside. Well, the cat HATES it. G will get it off and S will see it laying on the floor and pick it back up and put it on the cat. G tolerates it tho she will walk around with it and fall asleep with it.

Vote for Hailey..Ends Monday 7pm

Voting is now open and will be open until Monday evening at 7pm. Please only vote ONE time. I will be watching the votes and seeing where they come from, anyone voting more than once will be removed from the contest. Please keep in mind this is not a popularity contest so while it is perfectly fine for your friends/family to vote, please only have them vote one time during the contest.

You can vote at: www. kandilamont. blogspot. com

My Kindergartener!!

Click to enlarge cuz u just can't see it good.


S came home today with this today. OMG her writing is getting better and better check out the spacing. Don't ya love the yellow zebra hehe. Sentences, sight words and reading books....makes me a proud momma!!! Half of the school year is already over, why do they grow up??

Pumpkin Cake

I discovered this from Jill. Then Megan made it so I had to have my turn. I didn't even wait until it cooled off completely its good. Next time I think I might add some pumpkin spice to the batter or just used the spice cake instead and make the icing. Here's how mine looks......

2 ingredient Pumpkin Cake Recipe

Back in the groove.....

I can't believe its January already. That long school break was really nice and today started our first day back to reality. S is back in school, it's weird that they started them on a Tuesday vs. yesterday. We were able to sneak in a dentist appointment for S which I was nervous about but she did wonderful and didn't take my camera opppsss!! She also started up skate lessons again yesterday. She got ice skates for Christmas but we had to send them back to get a different size so we should have them for next Monday. When we got to the rink yesterday the parking lot was PACKED!! I can only imagine it is from the results of the show and that everyone wants to try it out. I like the smaller classes since u really get more for your money but thankfully they separate them according to levels of experience.

I finished up another class of school and waiting on my next book to get here. I am really not looking forward to this class. The good news, is after this class it should be smooth sailing...ok with a little ripples here and there but nothing that I can't accomplish.

So on goes my day, laundry day that is...and lil H is sad since her sister is not home. When I dropped S at school this morning she got out we said our goodbyes, we love u's, have a good day and S closes the door. H says, "Mommy, I am going to miss....Shelby" Sisterly love...I love it!!!


more news next time......

Kids Tea Set

This tea set is the CUTEST thing EVER!!! I absolutely love it...

This was a Christmas present for the kids. It's from Constructive Playthings this was money well spent. It is a six piece service set and a tea pot with a milk and sugar. The tea pot and sugar have removable lids. Online it doesn't show the chrome rack that comes with it but it is included. I got the catalog in the mail and spotted this for the girls. It's made of ceramic so I just make sure they play with it on soft surfaces so they won't accidentally break. The age limit on the web site suggests 5 yrs and older.

Christmas 08

I have fallen of the wagon with blogging as you can tell. Life has just gotten in the way holidays, my school work, kids and of course the school winter break. Preparing for Christmas ate up most of the month. So Christmas has come and gone it's sad. The kids had a great time this year its so magical when they are little. Why can't they stay little forever?

Our Tree

Making Gingerbread houses, the kids always love making these. The icing came out wonderful this year. We saved all the leftover candy from Halloween for them to use. Yes, I've been hanging on to it...no since in wasting money, right? It's all going in the trash anyway.

H inspecting her Candy Cane ornament.


to be continued...........

Here it is!!!

Her solo performance. This is from the in-laws camera. A videographer was at the show so I can't wait sit with S and watch the show together. I'll have to wait until Feb tho. They also too photos I am excited to get those back as well!!

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing

This show was awesome the instructors worked so hard on all of the details and choreography for all numbers. It last two hours, it started last since they had a line of people out the door to get into the show. Of course we got to the rink early to get good seats. I can't wait for spring show and next christmas. This Friday we have the family Christmas show its going to be FUN. I can't wait to put on a pair of skates and see if I can attempt to do the moves Shelby has learned. I hope H will at least try to get out on the ice I am sure she will be scared.

This was after the show she was showing off for the family hahah!!


Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing

Holiday Show on Ice- Ft Bragg

December 7th 3pm @ Cleland Ice Rink on Ft. Bragg

http://www.fortbraggmwr.com/FlyersforWebsite/holidayshow.pdf

U can also read the story from the Paraglide Section D1

http://paraglide.nc.newsmemory.com/

Ms. Kitty

Yes, we still have the mystery cat. My FIL, keeps asking when we are going to name her. S replies, "We don't know her name, we call her Kitty". Prior to Kitty showing up at the door step we had other plans for the kids and an animal but for now we have Kitty and apparently it happened this way for a reason.

Thankfully, she is a good cat. I was afraid she would tear up my new couches but we haven't had a problem. We did see a worm, YUCK!! so we got her some medicine and haven't seen any since....now to get her fixed!! After E (a friend of mine...an animal lover that has a zoo, not literally lol) saw her...she thinks she is at least a yr or so old. S has her all scrunched up in this pic so she looks bigger I think...maybe she has just gained weight since we have taken her in and a pic adds 10 lbs right?

I have been saving money on food for her, a lovely $4 coupon in the Sunday paper on IAMS cat food..ended up paying $3 for the bag!! At least she is saving me some money.

For you cat owners what kind of litter to you use?? I picked up Fresh Step but it doesn't clump like the package says it does. We haven't had the smelling issue it just doesn't clump!

Ice Skating, Ft. Bragg

So I finally remembered my camera, fresh batteries and memory card. Here it is her solo routine, minus the decor and spotlights....

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing - Photo Books

I love it, it just warms my little heart...memories in the making, oh sweet memories!!! I just can't wait for this show.

Polar Express Train

I know seriously stop with the Christmas related blogs, right?

The Polar Express Train

It goes along with the book. You board the train head up to the North Pole to pick up Santa and enjoy hot chocolate the book reading all in your fluffy pj's. Of course the trip would not be complete without the bell. Interested, find a train near you and check out the video.

I seriously wanted to do this last year but J was in Iraq and it would not be the same without him. The drive is about 7 hours or so from here. They could quite possibly be reserved already but its worth a phone call.

Elf on the Shelf

Elf on a Shelf

OMG, I just love this and I am sooo excited that I stumbled upon this yesterday on, Our Ohana. If u have little kids that "Believe" this is a MUST!!!! U really can use an elf of your own or if u are crafty make your own. I want the book to tell the story for kids, but it would be fun to make my own elf for the kids to pass down after all it's a "tradition". This would make a fun gift for someone having a baby.

From "Elf on the Shelf" the Tradition,

This charming tradition began for our family when my children were very small. Plagued by their desire to know how Santa really knew who had been naughty or nice, I searched through the Christmas decorations for a plausible explanation. Nestled among them was the answer; a small elf doll from my own childhood. With that discovery, the idea for the elf tradition was born.

At our home the elf would arrive around the holidays, usually at Thanksgiving. His sole responsibility was to watch my children's behavior and report it to "Santa" each night. The next morning after the children awoke, they discovered the elf had returned from the "North Pole" (with some parental assistance) and was hiding in a different place. My children would race each other out of bed to try and be the first to spy him in his new position.

Over the years the tradition was perfected and rules were even introduced. For example, to better preserve his mystique the children were not allowed to touch him; however, they were allowed to talk to him. For obvious reasons, he was not allowed to reply. Eventually, my children even gave him a name - officially adopting him into the family.

Unwittingly, the tradition provided an added benefit: it helped the children to better control themselves. All it took was a gentle reminder that the "elf was watching" for errant behavior to be modified.

I never dreamed this simple tradition would lead to so many Christmas memories for our entire family. It is my earnest desire that The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition will bring as much joy to your family as it has to mine.

Make it your own,

Christmas is coming....

Since Christmas is upon us I thought I'd share some of the kids favorite things.....

How can you not love Fancy Nancy??

My mother-in-law started the girls on the Fancy Nancy book series, last year!! This little girl is so darling, the illustrations are bright, colorful and very detailed. Everything in French sounds fancy and of course my girls can not eat ice cream without making it fancy. They have easy readers too for those with kid beginning to read. I would love to see them come out with a movie!

I love IKEA!

My aunt introduced me to them if ever get a chance to go to one of the stores, GO it's a MUST!! We have the KALAS the kids textile set. I actually picked up another set when I went to the Atlanta store a couple months ago and a table and chair set too, SVALA. $40 bucks real wood with two chairs I painted it pink and purple. I love all the products we have bought from them.

Brain Quest

These are AWESOME!! They start at age 2 and go up. It's perfect one on one time with your kids while learning at the same time. We take them when we go out to dinner it kills time when you are waiting on a table. They are small enough to fit in to a purse. S sometimes opts for this instead of choosing a book at bedtime. The Brain Quest website has a listing of all the products. You can find them at Target and Toys R Us.

Melissa and Doug Responsibility Chart

S got this last Christmas, she loves it and so does mommy!! The one we have is just a single board and it has the magnets on the back. I wish I would have gotten this version instead. U can interchange the chores out on ours they gave blank ones also so you could make up whatever you wanted to add.

Leapster L-Max

S's favorite games are Letters on the Loose, Kindergarten, & Animal Genius. She has a couple other but these are the ones she plays the most. H also picks it up and draws with it, colors in pictures. They have a new version Leapster2, you can hook it up to your computer and see your childs strengths and weaknesses. I love it, it's educational and portable!!

I highly recommend the Leapster DVD's they sell them in a set of five now, Amazon has them. My kids love to watch them, which is how Shelby learned her ABC's sounds. As you can tell we are Leapfrog lovers in this house. We also have Fridge Phonics, Word Whammer, USA puzzle map & Phonic Railroad. The railroad is not as popular these days, ebay is where I got ours last year.




I have recently discovered a toy site I thought I'd share Fat Brain Toys! Go check it out they have what appears to be unique, quality toys.

Military Welcome Home Banners

20,000 Banners and Jumbo Cards for our Troops!

Do u need a sign? Better jump on the bandwagon!! Spread the word this is a great business that supports our military members

so if u need the direct link its www.buildasign.com/troops


From Build a Sign....

Hello,

I'm an employee at Buildasign.com, and we just launched a promotion in honor of Veteran's Day. We're giving military families a free customizable banner to help welcome home their loved ones returning from overseas or the option to send a free customizable jumbo card to a loved one overseas. I was wondering if you could offer me any tips or suggestions on who to get in contact with to get the message across to people that can take advantage of this promotion. Also, it would be great if you could help spread the word by posting about our promotion on your blog. The link to this promotion is www.buildasign.com/Troops.

We are giving away a total of 20,000 banners plus jumbo cards to support our troops at home and abroad. Thank you again, I greatly appreciate your time!

Best,
Katherine Chen