Super Simple Cereal Bars

I needed to whip up a snack for kidlets simple and easy. Of course I always loved when my mom would make fruity pebble bars (twist on rice krispe treats) 

So I decided to go with that. Here is the recipe - simple and easy. 

3 tablespoons butter

4 Cups mini marshmallows

6 cups cereal of choice

First melt the 3 tablespoons of butter in a big pot over low/med heat. 

 Stir in the 4 cups mini marshmallows.

Stir over low heat until melted smooth.

Remove from heat and add in the 6 cups of cereal of your choice. Today I used fruity pebbles and then did a batch of chocolate lucky charms. Because I had big boxes of them and wanted to use some - that's why.

Stir to coat.
Then dump onto a spray buttered cookie sheet or in to a 9x13 pan. I just did a cookie sheet cause it was closer. :0)
I like to spray my hands and press down to flatten, push together. But you can use waxed paper if you don't wanna touch the food.

Let cool. Cut into squares and enjoy! Simple, easy, kids love.

Birdseed Feeders for little ones.

I will be making little birdseed feeders with my preschool kids tomorrow at our local Homeschool Co-op. 

I like to use ricecakes because then the birds will eat the entire thing - leaving only the string behind. 

To string up the ricecake you will need to poke a hole in it. This part is the trickiest because if you are not gentle you will crack it right in half. 

I chose to use a straw and wiggled it gently back and forth with a little pressure to make my holes. I broke 2 outta the 12 pack. Not too bad. 

 Next use yarn or ribbon to string the feeders. You want to do this now because once the seed is on - they are messy!

 

To adhere the seed to the ricecake the traditional way is to use peanut butter. But since we have a highly allergic little one in our class, I am choosing to use vegetable shortening. (Crisco) 

 

 

Spread on both sides. 

Then gently press the ricecake into a bowl of bird seed. 

 

 

Cover both sides - pressing on it with your fingers a little to make sure the seed is sticking. Then find a nice place outside to hang it up! 

Beautiful and fun. The kids love watching how much the birds (or squirrels -  yes they like them too) have devoured them. :0)

New Baby!!!! Anna Alysha is here ... and lesson learned....

So today my bestie Jennifer and her husband Shawn welcomed a new addition to Marxville. Man alive was her hospital room full of people. And KarKar couldn't wait to see what it was like and decided to check herself into the birthing suites too. But her little Connor had to stay put a while longer with a shot to slow her labor down. But Anna Alysha is here!

 Hmmmm. What?? Assmerelda...?? ha ha the story with that goes - Everyone had an opinion on Whether they liked Anna Alysha or Alysha Anna better and if any of you frequent Marxville you will know that opinions are not just given - they are demanded. With love right? That's what it is... anyways. Jenny got fed up last night and told her mother screw it all I am gonna name this kid after dad and you. Assmerelda Ester calling her A$$ for Short for Dad and Ester after Mom (it's Sharon's middle name) So when Jenn told the nurse that story she lovingly made up the name for the bassinette. Assmerelda!

It's even more funny to me because up until the day my little niece was born my Xbil and sister in law smart enough not to be - kept the name secret and She actually was named Esmerelda. Shocked us all but fits her and is pretty today.

Anyways... here I am with my little Anna...

And in other news... today I took a rest on the couch for an hour while the kids played legos. I was reading a book and Wyatt was playing my iphone. Wasn't paying attention and the little stinker erased half the stuff off my phone!!!!! I am sooooo sad to say my 63 floor tower on Dream Heights, my level 20 tree on Dream PetHouse and my new Zoo on Dream Zoo that was REALLY making me happy.... are no more. :( :( :( What a sad sad day for me and my iphone.

I also thought I had lost my running apps but thankfully he just moved those into another folder.

Oh a good note he taught me to make new folders in my pictures! Never knew how to do that but now I do! Got one labeled TY Whatever that means... ha ha. I did figure out how to change the name of the folder too. So I did learn a few things. How to make picture folders and to not doze off when Wyatt is playing my iphone.

Later Taters! Nighty Night!

****Editing to update*****
 Guess Wyatt is teaching me many new things. Ha! I figured out that since I synced my phone to itunes yesterday - my apps were there. And I was able to transfer the lost ones back with minimal data lost! Go me! Guess I should thank Wyatt for all this new knowledge about my phone I am getting... ha!

Ramblings about never buying a Mercury Monterrey Van

I would just like to say - if anyone is thinking of buying a Mercury Monterrey Van... dont do it!!!!!! Curse Justin for getting me this stupid thing! But so THANKFUL for my awesome friends Rich and Joey for working with me! It is so nice to know mechanics for friends but when your car is a piece of crap it doesn't help much! NOTHING can go easy for me with it. I am so buying Honda next so I can just drive it in to Joeys work and have it out of there in an hour! Honda North baby! :)

But so thankful for all the crap Rich and Joey and whomever else gets their help on the car by the time it is done with. Shawn you up for helping tomorrow???

It needs this special tool, so we buy the special tool to get the parts off and now this part went bad and it needs this and that. URGH! ha ha ha. But PRAISING God for the guys and for Jenny and the girls who hang out with me and the crazy kidlets while the work is being done. (the true work is making the food and caring for the kids - and SOMEONE needs to play and keep the moves up to date on Draw Something! Right???)

So the checklist of things needing fixed on my van is going slower than expected. But that is ok. Chugging along I guess. At least I get to hang with Marxville instead of a stinky garage though :) See Bright sides to everything.

So I am carless tonight. Had to have a part ordered and dad picked me up. I guess that means I can pretend I am not home and everyone will leave us alone tomorrow right? ha ha. I am sure the kids will still come knocking. I love living in a place with lots of kids actually. Well except for poor Wyatt. Living here is not fun for him. He can't run with the big kids because of the parking lot. But at Marxville he rules the yard! Oh the stories I could tell about him and his girlies but those are not PG so we will leave em off my family oriented blog! But after a night of running wild he zonked out! Never woke up from the moment we left their driveway. That is unheard of for Wyatt. I already warned Alyssa if he stirs at ALL to call me! Or she might end up with him wet! Eeks! We are on top of it tonight though.

Alrighty then.... Here are a few cute pics. Took the kids to the bike trail today and actually didn't get a picture! What is wrong with me! It was so fun, bike trail and then Burger Hut 2!

Here is Aubree and little Artie the 4th... 

 The kids and I painted rocks the other day for my edge of the landscaping.

 We also spent a day this week at Moraine. I LOVE IT THERE before all the Public school kids are set loose! Thank GOD for homeschooling!!! Oh and if you see this pic large - Wyatt is in it. He is peeking out between the baseballs.

 Wyatt loves to blow "wishes"

Marxville today.

About 13-14 years ago I would say - I helped my best friends Jenn and Shawn move outta their bedroom into their trailer. It was great times and exciting! Now is the start of a new move for them. Building their own house behind their trailer. Today Shawn was clearing Trees at Marxville and he let the kids help. We liked yelling TIMBER and watching Shawn pull them down. It was kinda humorous that we had a row of chairs watching him do the work. The smell of the burning fire kinda made me reminded of leaf burning days in the fall and got me excited for bonfires in the summer.

I love Marxville. I am exited to see the changes that are long over due for them. Happy for Artie and Aubs to be taking the move from the "bedroom" into the trailer that Jenny and Shawn made. I suddenly feel the urge to break out in "The circle of Life!" and hold up a lion cub. hmmm. Well pretty soon we can be holding up a new little Bowser. Jenny is 36 weeks now. Time is ticking! Induction day scheduled but if she wants to come sooner any day will work now :)

Here is Shawn and Tristan. :-) It was nice cause Shawn was having the kids help with the fire and things too. I really appreciate how Shawn coaches baseball then comes home and gets the boys chopping wood and helping with the fire. Sometimes we want to ship him away but some days like today we will keep him.

 And here is my tough guy Mr. Wyatt. Grrrr Don't you just feel the strength!

It was a really nice day today. Jenn and Shawn's son Alex, and LeAnn and Dan's daughter Abby made first communions so we had a luncheon at Highland Golf Course first. It was nice being with all my Marxville friends. Jenny and Shawn, LeAnn and Dan, Mike and Kelly, Karlee and Joey, Rich, Aubree and Artie, Big Art and Sharon, Kathy, Helen and Sarah, Greggie, Ross and Jess, Deb, etc etc. I love how well the kid play together - today was an exceptional day with no mishaps! Wyatt and his girls Addy and Lexi, Alyssa playing with Abby, Tristan and his buddies Alex and Andy.

And even more success - we came home - got baths and showers and left ALL ticks where they belong - not with us! This is a big thing for the Irwin kids! Cause they love to try to make them pets!

New week coming up. Rich is gonna put new brakes and rotors on my van. Checking off the list the things that I need to get done. Tristan has Clinic and his EKG friday. Prayers always appreciated!

Blessed

Tonight I just wanted to tell you guys how blessed I am to call Alyssa Jane, Tristan Charles and Wyatt Daniel my kids. I love those guys with all my heart. Alyssa and I were looking back a year and a half ago in pictures of our family right before their dad and I separated. We were talking about life before and after. Changes... My kids and I have come a long way. Here the kids are on that outing. We will spare you the pictures of me with them. ::::eek::::

Life can be tough some times now. No other adult to lean on to parent these kids. Sure they still have a dad but at my house it is me myself and I. But I am completely blessed with these three. They stick together like no other brother and sisters I see. They love and care for each other. Sure they bicker and fight but when the day ends (or begins) they are snuggling together. And yes they all three have separate beds but this is how they sleep... taking turns with who gets to sleep with Wyatt.

 And playing together always. Sometimes even nicely! ha ha

I am always so proud when I hear how they act in Sunday School etc. The teachers are quick to tell me  that Tristan does great memorizing his scriptures and Alyssa is always answering the questions. Tonight my kids went to EBS (Easter Bible School) and all three of them were showing me their songs and singing tonight before bed. I guess even little Wyatt was doing motions and dancing. Alyssa said his teacher kept having to snag him back into his class spot cause he just got singing and dancing away from the group. He was so excited about being in with the big kids.

I am just blessed tonight. Had a great time of prayer and talking before bed with them. And then I hid Easter Baskets. And as I was hiding the kidlets baskets I noticed all over the house a trail of notes. Look here, look there ones. My kids have hidden "something" (I think cards) for me too. And that is so special to me. That they care about me like that. My heart is just over flowing with love right now. (stay tuned for a post tomorrow where easter candy is in full swing and they are driving me bonkers! ha ha)

So I settled into bed to read my bible and sometimes I like to look at all the notes I have written in margins and front covers. Tonight my focus fell on this... and I wanted to share.

PRAY -

... Your kids will become influences for good

... Your kids will find NO pleasure in the ways of the world. 

... the Word of God over them. 

Ephesians 1:17-23 (put their name in) ¹⁷ I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. ¹⁸ I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, ¹⁹ and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength ²⁰ he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, ²¹ far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. ²² And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, ²³ which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way. 

Ephesians 3:14-21

¹⁴ For this reason I kneel before the Father, ¹⁵ from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. ¹⁶ I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, ¹⁷ so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, ¹⁸ may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, ¹⁹ and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

 ²⁰ Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, ²¹ to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. 

Ephesians 5:15-20

¹⁵ Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, ¹⁶ making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. ¹⁷ Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. ¹⁸ Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, ¹⁹ speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, ²⁰ always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Philippians 1:6, 9-11

⁶ being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. 

 ⁹ And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, ¹⁰ so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, ¹¹ filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God. 

Colossians 1:9-13

⁹ For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,¹⁰ so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, ¹¹ being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, ¹² and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. ¹³ For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 

Thank you Dear Lord Jesus for caring about me to fill my home with love. Your love and strength have gotten us so far and I know that together we will be strong. Let me always be a good mom. I pray for patience and a gentle spirit. GOD YOU KNOW I NEED HELP ON THIS ONE! And help us all to be quick to forgive each other when the patience and gentleness is lacking. In Your Precious Holy Name. Amen.

A lot of updates. Divorce Filed, Name Changed, and What We Did This Week.

Well it has been quite a BUSY week since I updated last. Thank you all for the comments and calls, texts and cards for caring about my family and the loss of our puppy. It really does mean the world. Mom said tonight Alyssa found dog hair in her house and sat in the corner holding it crying. Awww Made me ache for her. Patches was around before she was born.

Anyways... This week I have accomplished a few things.  First I have applied and am getting signed back up to take a few college courses. Please pray the financial aid comes through. I had to file with Justin and my tax return from 2010 and I hope they call me in to discuss things or I will never get any help. I checked separated in the box so hopefully they will take note. But if God wants me to go - He will make a way. Isn't God awesome?

Second my car - totally on the fritz. Thanks to some AWESOME friends at Marxville - who helped me out with changing the plugs and wires. Rich got me a list of things I have to fix now. One step at a time. That is how things are going this week. Got my oil changed. Check. Need to figure out why the check engine light still was coming on Sunday. Need new rotors, a new flex pipe on my muffler (I think that is what it is called) and my stabalizer bar or something or other is broke. Get this all fixed and I should be good to go for a while. :) I like my van. It doesnt have a ton of miles so I will fix what is wrong and keep going with it.

Today I went to the lawyer and Justin and I filed for divorce. We signed papers and back in the mail they go tomorrow. So as soon as the lawyer gets them back - 90 day count down till that is done.

I also changed my name back today. You can do it BEFORE you get the divorce final but it has to be in the process. So that is filed and in a week I should have my official papers. So Linda Palma Noullet it is again. Very strange feeling over this. I prayed. I pondered. It was a tough decision for me to make. But finally I decided to do it. No turning back now. My years of easy times of saying Irwin with an I, are over. I think I shall marry a Smith or Miller next time. Something super simple! ha ha. Ok so all available men who have complicated names - sorry no luck for you.

My Aunt Marianne is visiting us this week from Philly. It has been really nice seeing her. She came and walked with me Friday, saw my house, we hung out all evening. She is really cool. We are a lot alike. I really have a great family. I am blessed. Tonight was when we all got together and wished her a happy birthday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!! wooo hoo. Here I am with her.

My kids had a field trip for homeschoolers to Playthings Etc this week. Yes going to a toy store IS school!!! It was so fun and interesting.

Swimming Lessons for everyone are going well.

Dad and Mom snagged me some patio blocks so now I can sit out back without sinking into the dirt/mud this spring. Thank you awesome parents!

Alyssa had a teddy bear Karate workshop with her best friend Nicole. Tamara made matching uniforms for their teddy bears. So cute!

Here is Mr Wyatt and Me at Co-op Last week working on Puzzles.

 

The week was full! The kids and I worked on decorating some cakes and cupcakes... 

 We did a lot of puddle jumping...

 Alyssa and I have been practicing our guitars... She is so cool people. Trust me they say this is cool... I don't know but I just go with it.

 And we had some patrolling the parking lot with guns and Wobbly Carts. It's safe.

I am sure I packed a lot more into this week but I am also sure I am loosing your attention if you read this far into my ramble. You get a cookie! Hey I did bake those too this week but sorry - took them to my Grandmas and there are NONE left!

Keep me in your prayers as I have a LOT of changes going on this month... and prayers are always good. I love you all! Thanks! Night!

Still sick... blah.

Well Alyssa's test went well on Monday. She managed to hang in there and not get sick till after the test. Me too. But unfortunately.... we all ended up at the doctors Monday afternoon. According to the Dr we all have a virus and allergies. So I have a PAGE to help me dish out meds. Tristan and I have our Antibiotics. All 3 kids have eye drops. All 3 kids have to take cough meds. All 4 of us got allergy meds. Tristan and I have our allergy nose spray. I am giving tyelonol to whomever has a fever or head ache at the time. I have my cholesterol meds. I swear that is all I do all day long. And listen to coughs and deal with my own feeling tired from no sleep since Thursday. Thankfully I can open the windows. Today I took down the plastic. I am sure we have another snow to deal with this year but I needed the windows open. I cleaned them and I feel all good about it. :-)

So hanging in there. Thank you all for praying we will get Alyssa's results in the mail sometime this week. Please keep the rest of us in your prayers as we really are tired of this. A week already and I am tired of sickies!!!!!!!

Lots of updates with a BUSY week.

What a AMAZING day weather wise we had! It was so nice we headed out to Marxville for lots of outside play time and to make Jenn grill for us. Oh so what she is 8 months pregnant with her fourth kid... (I know you  heard that story right? Etopic Pregnancy 9 years ago, her one tube cut and burned after her last kid... and WAH-LAH she is preggo again. Ha ha... opps sorry I am not laughing)

So anyways - awesome night with friends and food. Here is Alyssa and Baby Artie.

I have been having a busy week. Still practicing away on my guitar. I had a super proud moment tonight. Alyssa had her dad restring her guitar and when I was tuning it on Sunday I broke a string. So I texted him when he was in Butler to please stop over and put a new one on. He is always in Butler now because he got his apartment and is working on moving in. But he musta got busy... So Finally I broke down and Youtubed it to figure out how. I did it! I successfully changed her string, got it all tuned up and we are ready to go! I am so proud of me! Seriously people I was afraid of the strings. Not anymore! I can change them! woo hoo!

So I did learn this from my little brother. Note: NEVER take all the strings off at one time. Change one at a time because if you do the tension is released on the neck and it can warp or crack the neck. Good point! Never woulda though of that. So one at a time.

I have  been working on finger exercises. Plucking away at my Ode to Joy and such. I added a new guy into my routine. Found a guitar app for my phone. So now I have three teachers and a brother. I am actually pretty proud of my progress.

Wyatt is doing AMAZING in swimming lessons this time around. I think having two younger kids in his class has helped him completely! He is loving it!

No more "Mom" "Moooom, I want MOOOOOM" It is heavely. Thank you LORD!
Tristan started a Rock Wall Climbing Class and is LOVING it too!

A few more things this past week, we had homeschool co-op on Friday. I worked on March going in like a lion and out like a lamb with my preK class.

We are winding down in our homeschool year. Lots of Field Trips coming up. Monday is "The TEST" for Alyssa. Her 3rd grade standardized boring pointless annoying... opps, um super important test. Pray for her cause she is nervous.

The boys ate Cheese from a can and made mustaches on themselves, 

And oh yeah... I dyed my daughters hair. opps. lol It is 28 day wash out people! I LOVE it! She does too. My dad... not so much I am sure. Ah well... it is all good.