Lets train

Yesterday the girls and I made our annual Tie Dyed Easter Eggs.

Here are the ties that we picked out to use:

Last month, we cleaned out Kevin's clothes and got rid of the majority of his wardrobe, including tons of his ties. I didn't give away the ties, instead I kept them for making our Tie-Dyed Eggs.

 

Tutorial on how to make the Tie Dyed Eggs {HERE}

Here are the ties cut up and wrapped around the eggs:

Here are the eggs after they have been Tie Dyed:

 Egg #1

 Egg #2:

Egg #3

Egg #4

 

 Eggs #5, #6 and #7

 TOTAL FAIL. I don't know what happened to these eggs. The colors didn't transfer at all. 

I have never had more than 1 flop a year. Don't know what happened to these ones.

I was going to toss them out, but decided to keep them, they have a perfect analogy for us on Good Friday.

The eggs that didn't keep the color are a good reminder that these eggs aren't perfect.

Neither am I. And, neither are you.

Which is why, today.....on Good Friday I am so thankful that Jesus died on the cross for me and for you. Even though we are far from perfect, God sent his one and only perfect Son to die on the cross for us.

I'm thankful for the cross....but, I'm even more thankful that Sunday is coming!

So glad we get to celebrate our risen Savior this weekend!

Happy Easter!

Happy Friday!

Are you ready for a 5 on Friday post?
 

{ONE}
Last Thursday was the last day of school.
Every year on the first day of school & last day of school, I take a photo of the girls.
It is so fun to see how they change during the school year.
Claire first day & last day of Transitional Kindergarten:

Goodbye TK, Hello Kindergarten!
Side Note: I am so, so, so, thankful we have a Transitional Kindergarten in our school district. TK is for kids who are born September through December. Claire has a September birthday & we had the choice to send her to TK or Kindergarten this past year. I am SO glad we chose TK and waited for Kinder until this Fall. (I blogged about our decision last year on THIS post)
It was 100% the right choice for her & I have no regrets about our decision.

1st grade was a huge year for Kate. She grew up SO much! She is such a big kid now! I can't believe just 9 months have passed between these photos!
She started 1st grade still having her 2 front baby teeth and ended it with those teeth missing & adult teeth growing in. She thrived this year and I am so proud of all her hard work!

I just love 1st Day & Last Day photos!

Are you following the World Cup?

I just love the World Cup. In 1994 the USA hosted the World Cup and my parents got tickets for us to see 2 of the quarterfinal games at Stanford Stadium. It was so fun!
I have been hooked on World Cup ever since then. Can't believe that was 20 years ago.
The World Cup is especially fun this year because one of my friends Chris Wondo is on the US team!

{THREE}
Speaking of soccer, as you might have known, I got a soccer scholarship and played college soccer at the University of Colorado. After I graduated from college I moved back here to California and coached high school soccer and played on some co-ed indoor leagues. But then, 8 years ago I got pregnant with Kate....and I haven't worked out or played soccer since then. Not once.
Well, some friends needed another girl to play on their indoor soccer team this summer and somehow they convinced me to be on their team.
Monday was our first game, so I dug out my bin of college soccer stuff and suited up for the game.
Kevin took this pic of me right before I left for the game.
Everything I am wearing is from college...15 years ago! Ha!
I am not going to lie, I was nervous about playing again because I am SO out of shape.
And, wow, I really am out of shape. The game was super fun, and I am still a little sore.
I am glad I am playing on this team because I needed to do SOMETHING.
8 years (and 3 kids later) is way too long to not work out.
This gave me the kick in the pants that I needed.
I might even go on a run this weekend so that I can breathe easier for next week's game.

It is an over 30 co-ed league, so it isn't that hard core.
I did get "carded" before the game when I went to register.
The sweet man who owns the indoor soccer place told me he needed to see my ID because I am playing on over 30 team and he didn't think I was over 30.
He said to me: "Do you go to college at Colorado? You can't play on this indoor team. You have to be over 30 years old"
He is my new best friend.
BLESS HIS HEART.
I think that is so funny that I got carded to register for a soccer team.
I was flattered he thought I was under 30.
Thank you, Rodan + Fields for my younger looking skin :)

Speaking of Rodan + Fields and looking younger, it's time for Freebie Friday!
Who wants a FREE ESSENITALS Product from Rodan + Fields....like our Sunless Tanner?!?
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You will also get 10% off your order and FREE shipping!
  Email me to place an order or if you have any questions.

melissa_larson17{at}yahoo.com
This deal is good starting today Friday 6/20 and ends next Friday 6/27
Now is a great time to try out some Rodan + Fields products.
As a reminder, ALL products come with a a 60 day empty bottle 100% money back guarentee.
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Our AMP Roller is one of my favorite items.
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Be sure and check out Shay's blog today!
 I am honored to be over there for her Pajama Party this month! Love Shay & her blog.
Shay interviewed me, it was fun. This month, the theme is all about Summer!
 You can check it out {here}

Happy Friday!
We have another swim meet this weekend...seriously, what did I get ourselves into by signing the girls up for swim team this summer? Ha! It's a big commitment, but it has been so good for them. They are working so hard at practice and it wears them out.
Hope you have a great weekend! 

A few weeks ago, I was browsing Pinterest & saw 2 super cute Christmas treat/snack ideas.

I didn't pin them, but made a mental note that I wanted to make them with the girls.

Our Christmas Break starts late this year...December 21.

Usually, I have a week off school before Christmas & I look forward to that week so that the girls & I can do Christmas Crafts & Baking. Since our break starts so late this year, I making sure I do some crafts/baking before hand. Our first activity was yesterday!

The first snack called for my favorite...powdered sugar donuts.

Donut Snowmen!

  Here is what you need:

 -mini powdered donuts, wooden shish kabob skewers, fruit by the foot, mike & ikes, apple o's, peachy o's, gum drops, mini chocolate chips & black (or brown) cookie icing.

I love these powdered donuts...Can we have a moment of silence for Hostess going out of business?

Take 3 donuts & put them on the wooden skewer.

Add a peachy O or Apple O & then a gum drop for the top hat.

An orange Mike & Ike for the carrot nose.

Use other colored Mike & Ike's for the buttons.

Use mini chocolate chips (or the icing) for the eyes & mouth.

 The fruit by the foot is the scarf.

Viola! Powdered Sugar Snowmen!

 The girls had a fun time making (and eating) these.

They were cute, but they were MESSY.

Powdered Sugar everywhere. EVERYWHERE.

Also, make sure you get powdered sugar donuts that have small holes...the Entemenn's brand wouldn't work as well because the donut hole part looked WAY too big & candy didn't fit in there. I used Little Debbie. Hostess would have been perfect also, but RIP Hostess.

I saved the leftover candy for our Gingerbread Houses that we are going to make next week.

 The second snack we made was:

 Mini Chocolate Donuts, Pretzels, Red m&m's, Black Cookie Icing

 Break off pieces of Pretzel to make antlers, stick a red m&m in the hole to make the nose & add the eyes with the frosting.

I don't like the way chocolate donuts taste (I know, I am weird) but these were just too cute! 

Here are 2 things I made last year for the December Pinterest Test Kitchen that were cute & that I plan on making again.

Homemade Snow Globe Gift Card Holder:

Christmas Tree Brownies:

Click HERE for the step by step of each project.

Linking up with Jess: