The Combs Krewe

We've been enjoying our Chick-fil-a coupons from the First 100 Event we attended. This week Piper discovered ketchup and LOVED it! I made a homemade pizza for the first time in a while. Man, do I love homemade pizza! The little kids and I picked up a couple of friends and headed to Sunshine Park. I totally underestimated the difficulty of directing a four-year old and a three-year old on bikes plus a two-year old on a tricycle while pulling a two-year old and a one-year old in a wagon down the street where people were dropping off kids for camp. Yeah. Duh, me. But thanks to a kind woman's help we made it all in one piece! I think everyone had a good time and was ready for a popsicle when we got back home. We tried banana "ice cream" this week. You just slice up ripe bananas and freeze the slices then stick them in the blender and blend until smooth. You can eat it right away for a "soft serve" texture or refreeze it for something more like...

June 2012, Week 3 Keeleigh and I visited the homeschool resource room on campus searching for material for the 2012-2013 school year. The boys helped me make our first batch of homemade laundry detergent. For under $5 we made enough concentrate to last for at least 160 loads of laundry! The little kids visited the Floores one morning. Carley showed Ryland how to drive. We tried to hit the playground early and enjoy the little bit of shade. The kids love drawing with sidewalk chalk! I traced around each of the kids. Piper thought that was so funny and kept laying down smiling waiting for me to draw her some more. Seriously, could she get any cuter? "It's hot outside," Ryland tells me. He was happy to head upstairs to cool off with a snowball! At least someone is enjoying the hot and humid weather. My tomatoes are soaking up the sun on the balcony and grow, grow, growing. Can't wait to have a garden someday! This one was from ...

June, Week 2 I made black bean quesadillas ( click here for the recipe ). Everyone (except Keeleigh) ate them up . Ryland even said, "Good food, Mommy!" This recipe is definitely a keeper. Keeleigh constructed a play tent for the boys. They loved it! We had planning on going to Fontainebleau State Park Wednesday to let the kids play on the beach for the afternoon, then Keeleigh suggested we camp out for the night. "Why not?" we decided. It was our first family camping adventure---so much fun! I see many return trips in our future. Jackie and I needed to go buy Keeleigh's birthday present so my friend, Melissa, volunteered to keep the boys, Keeleigh stayed with a friend, and we got a date night (Piper joined us but we didn't mind!). Hears photographic proof that I'm a cheap date. We used my coupons from the First 100 Event and got all of this food for $2.66. Good deal! This shot is from the Causeway...I love seeing NOLA in the d...

May Week 2 Saturday...hanging out on the playground waiting on the "super" moon to rise. I was unimpressed. Sunday, Keeleigh and I happened to match for church. Monday....Piper's figuring out how to use the phone. She has held it up to her ear and mumbled, "Hello," but I can't get a picture of this to save my life. Tuesday...I have a lot of help in the kitchen. Here Jathan is stirring some cornbread, and Ryland and Piper are inventorying the cabinets. Wednesday...Piccolo tried on the beta version of his homemade harness. He couldn't walk on the tile floors! Thursday...Keeleigh kicked backed and enjoyed reading on the balcony. Thursday (again)...One minute Ryland was coloring at the table; the next time I looked over he was asleep like this. Friday...Jathan was going to use these stickers on his "J" worksheet but Ryland got to them first! Later he decorated Piper as well.

April Week 3 Saturday Piper learned to open the cabinet door. We actually installed child locks on them when Ryland learned to open them as a baby but this one is opened so frequently that it has become loose. Babies love playing in the cabinets so much that I hate to stop her. Look at that grin! Sunday We went to the Strawberry Festival where we enjoyed some chocolate covered strawberries (along with some other sickly delicious fair food) and the kids rode a couple of rides a piece. Keeleigh's hair was looking fabulous after a spin on the Remix 2. Monday At the Strawberry Festival--random, I know--Keeleigh bought a pet iguana named Piccolo. We're learning what it takes to raise him and how to tame him. I actually broke down and petted him yesterday. Maybe someday I'll get the nerve to hold him. You know, before he's a 6 foot lizard crawling around our house. = ) Tuesday There was rain drops on the window pane and a storm brewing in the background. I...

April 2012, Week 2 Jackie and Keeleigh went to pick up our new (to us) table on Saturday. I was so thrilled to have a nice big table with room for everyone and it came to us 100% free. Thank You, Lord, for Your provisions! Sunday evening Ryland and Piper were hanging out on the bed with their daddy and the thought occurred to me that we're quite the technologically advance family. Ryland knows exactly how to turn my Kindle Fire on and get a game started! Wonder who he gets that from? I had rearranged the furniture in our living room on Saturday for a fun switch and also to accommodate our new table. I ended up setting up the dining area near the balcony door and moving the couch. On Monday Ryland discovered how this set up might work to his advantage! Yes, siree, he was busting out of this place and lookin' cool while doing it! Throughout the week, we've settled into using our big table--it's really quite a change from our old one. We've each tri...