The boys first Oklahoma trip!

See why I love my new sprinkler system!

My nice green grass!  I tried to get a photo while the sprinklers were going off but I waited a little too long!

Alright it's been a while, I know, but seriously when posting to FB and updating my status and adding photos is so easy what do you expect from me!  Well here is a brief overview. In April I flew to Long Beach California for a 5 day long conference.  This was the first work trip I took by myself, I flew into LAX  for the experience (my choice, which turned out to be a bad one).  I have now had the experience and won't ever do it again!  Let's just say the Department of Homeland Security was detaining someone less than 10 feet from me at one point! The conferences in Long Beach was fantastic but it was the National Conference for On Course (the new book we are adopting for the Orientation class at school) and I attended the National Conference prior to the Session 1 and 2 trainings.  So I left with a lot of excitement for the subject but a lot of missing pieces on how to use it in the classroom.  Just 3 short weeks after returning from Long Beach, I flew back to California to attend Part 1 of the training in San Francisco, CA.  This time I few out 5 days early and took Erin a long with me.  My parents watched the boys in Topeka while Erin and I took a much needed vacation.  We have never left the boys for this long of a time frame or even been this far away from them.  We expected them to miss us at least a little but but they didn't want to leave Grandma and Grandpa's house once Erin came back. I ended up being away from them for 11 days that trip! Once I came home from SanFran I was there for 2 days then flew back out to Baltimore, Maryland for 5 more days.  This was for Part 2 of the conference. By the time all the training had ended I was jet lagged and exhausted.  I was mentally drained from all the training and the time change was starting to catch up with me! I am happy to be home and very excited about my new skills.  Due to attending this training I will be able to create a new course for our students to take once they finish their GED's but prior to starting College.  We are hoping this will make the transition a little smoother and the students success rate higher! Guess we will see! All I can say for now is I am glad my next flight isn't for another 3 month!  At that time I will be returning to Long Beach to give my own presentation at a National Conference! I am excited and nervous at the same time!

At home we have been keeping busy with outdoor projects! The garden is doing well this year but I wish I would have planted more lettuce, corn and onions and fewer cherry/grape/roma tomatoes, I love growing tomatoes but no one in the family eats them, especially the small ones, so we struggle to find a good use for them! Right now they are solely being watered for Maks entertainment! He loves to pick them and put them in his bucket but like me he never eats them!  My cucumbers look great but they are not producing in this heat and the potatoes got taken over by weeds so although when I dig them there are more than enough they are sure hard to find in all the weeds!  My shade garden was neglected during my travels so I am struggling to bring it back but our new sprinkler system is helping but one end of it is not watered much so I still have to drag he hose out there for part of it.

Did I mention I got a new sprinkler system?  My dream has finally come true.  We had a well drilled a few weeks ago and the sprinkler system was put in shortly after.  I am still feeling out the sprinkler system. I had gotten estimates and had it laid out but they changed it when they arrived. I am going back and forth now on my decision to not add the extra zone (which would allow me to water the gardens on their own) but I guess we will see. I can have them come back out and change it if I want but I am testing it for a few weeks before I make a decision.  The other thing is that we got a new play set for the boys and in the back yard the sprinklers are the oscillating ones that spray into the air.  With the new wooden playset I am not sure I want that. I think we may switch out the heads and go with the fountain ones to help control the spray a little more.  We also got our new concrete poured for the new patio! I am loving the look but the stain sure makes it hot during these summer days!

Erin's job at the credit union is going well (oh ya, if you didn't already know Erin doesn't work for Dillon's anymore! He now works for Envista Credit Union). He is full-time now and starting to get the hang of all the paperwork that is required on Loans and such!

Kale has started at his new School (Central Christian).  He really enjoys all the new kids and activities they do.  He lost his spot at Early Ed due to employee kids and grandkids getting priority.  This school has more bible content that he is used to but he is really liking it.  He prays before meals now and loves learning about God.  He teaches us his lessons each day when he gets home.  He is very excited for Maks to start in August. 

Maks is still at Miss Debbies until August.  We felt that he would be best served if he switched when they were starting more structured classes rather than the laid back "summer camp" feel it has at the moment.  He is really excited to start his new school but we are not sure how he will do in such large classes (10 kids per class).  At Miss Debbies the most she has ever had at one time is 7 and usually it is closer to 5.  Maks doesn't do as well with new as Kale does.  This summer Maks has started to play his first team sport.  T-Ball has been a great experience for him.  He loves to hit the ball and is finally coming around to actually chasing the ball when he is in the outfield!  Kids sports are very entertaining at this age to say the least!

Well that is about all on the updates right now! I will hopefully get more pictures added soon!

Tonight we relaxed and wound down before bed by playing the Leapsters! Kale has the Explorer out and Maks the Leap Pad!

Charlie has as much fun running in this as the boys do!

Maks has claimed my grass as his own!

Maks

Hiding behind the door to sneak pringles!

Maks riding his bike

Maks is my little outdoor boy! He loves anything with wheels! He is getting comfortable on the big bike now and loves racing his brother!

Kale climbing

Kale loves to climb and is always wishing he had a tree house...but for now this will have to do!

Yard!

 We have been having a great time working in the yard this year. We are really enjoying having the nice green grass! Thanks to our Aggrand organic fertilizer we finally have nice grass to enjoy!

My hyacinth are in full bloom already and my daisy's are as big as ever!  The tulips are looking great so far .... hopefully I can keep the dogs off of them. 

Our trip to the Kansas Cosmosphere

We took the boys to the Cosmosphere for a family filled fun Sunday! They had a great time looking at the space ships and playing on the interactive exhibits.  Maks was a little scared when we first walked down into the basement for the start of the museum but once he got through the first area he did very well.  Kale loved all the "spacemen" and was very surprised to find out how big "real" spaceships were! 

Kale in his new sweat band!

Maks at Kale's last basketball game this morning. He loved wearing the headband more than Kale did and Kale was the one that thought he had to have one!

Baskball and life.

Kale had another basketball game today, he is really starting to take to the sport!  Although I must mention he is still the first to volunteer at the end of the first quarter to sit out and let another teammate play! I like to call it good sportsmanship however, he would volunteer every quarter if  I would let him! ;)  He does very well when he is on the court.  It has taken him two sessions but he is now starting to understand how to rebound and race for the ball, as well as, keeping his hands up when on defense.  Today he made two baskets and had two assists, his best game so far!  I will be uploading videos shortly of the game today.  I believe one shows him making a basket and the other him dribbling down the court and then passing to his friend and teammate Jalen.  This was one of his assists but I turned the camcorder off just prior to Jalen making the shot!

This afternoon we are heading to Wichita as soon as Erin gets off work and everyone finishes their lunches.  We are meeting Josh to pick up something he bought for us on base and then we are going to have a fun family day in Wichita!

Gold Metallic Letters for Wall

Here is a picture of the letters I made from a Pinterest.  I first started with the cheap paper maiche (sp?) letter blocks! I think I got them for about $1.39 each. These just look like brown cardboard letters.  I then purchased a can of Gold Metallic spray paint.   I took them outside and started to put light layers of paint on them.  I did this on a very windy day so the paint took no time at all to dry! I put a few layers on let them dry and then Viola I had nice gold letters for my bedroom wall that look metal and expensive but actually super cheap, light weight for easy hanging and cardboard! 

Homemade Massage Bar (similar to LUSH Buffy bar)

This was my first try at a massage bar below is the actual amounts that I used and then below that are my suggestions on what you may think about and what I will try differently next time!


Lush Massage Bar Recipe

3 oz Shea Butter

2 oz Cocoa Butter

½ - 1 oz of the following:

      Ground Adzuki beans

      Ground rice

      Ground almonds

10-20 drops of essential oils (this just depends on your preference)

Mix together the Shea Butter and Cocoa Butter over LOW heat on the stove or in the microwave (using 10-15 second bursts) until blended completely.  If you haven’t already ground your almonds, beans and rice you should do so now (Note: when blending, grind the pieces to the size of YOUR preference).  After they are ground you will add the exfoliates to your butter mixture and stir in well.   

Next, add in your essential oils of choice.  In order to help the ground exfoliates stay in the middle of the mixture (as opposed to sinking to the bottom) you now need to put the entire mixture into the freezer.  Leave it in until the mixture turns an opaque color but do not leave it in too long or it will set entirely!  Remove from freezer and stir well so your ground elements are well mixed in.  Next spoon mixture into your molds making sure to bang them gently on the counter as you fill them to ensure all the air bubbles come out.  Last place the molds into the refrigerator until the bars have set, pop out of molds and enjoy!

Homemade Dishwasher Detergent

DIY Dishwasher Detergent:

1 box Borax (4lbs 12 oz)
1 box Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda* (3 lbs 7 oz)
4 oz unsweetened lemonade drink mix (like Kool-aid)  (another option would be to use citric acid)

3 cups Epsom Salt
Lemi Shine Rinse Aid 

Mix all ingredients in a large container.  Your best bet is to find something that will keep the moisture out and that will store in the amount of space you have. This is a large recipe. I found a scoop from an old drink mix. If you wish to make this with a friend it makes enough to split. You only use a tablespoon (or possibly two depending on the size of your dishwasher) at a time so it will last for a very long time!

*I found the Super Washing Soda right beside the Borax in my local Dillon’s Store.

Here is a picture of the ingredients I used (minus the Lemi Shine because for some reason I forgot to set it out for the picture! 

The Dreilings December 2011

We had family pictures taken this month! They turned out very well.....or as well as pictures can turn out with a 2 and 4 year old involved! Enjoy!

The Dreilings (2011)

This pose was all Kale's idea! He is quite the little model when he wants to be ;)

Brothers.

My little Maks is getting so big! He wanted a picture by himself on the stairs so this was his pose of choice! I can't believe how big my sweet little baby is getting, but don't let this innocent little picture fool you he is quite the trouble maker these days... just today he was trying to dig up the babysitters in ground sprinkler system with his bare hands!

Marisa's 1st Dance Recital

I wasn't able to make it to Marisa's first dance recital because I have been sick all day plus I had to stay home with Maks who is sick also. I sent Erin and Kale to record it for me and this is all they got recorded prior to the battery dying! Of course! Well at least part of our family got to go and part of the dance got recorded! ;)

2011 Kansas State Fair

Well it's that time of year again and the Kansas State Fair is in town. Living in Hutchinson the fair is our entertainment for 10 days. The kids are thrilled and wake up asking to go and fall asleep walking home daily! Day one was yesterday (September 10th), Kale got home from school and the first words out of his mouth were asking to go. We hesitated to take him yesterday because he had been complaining at school of having a head ache and stomach ache all day. They told us he had not been acting like himself most of the day but was still interacting with others. His temp never went above 100 but stayed very close for most of the day. When he got home we gave him his allergy meds and a dose of Tylenol and he was good as new. We still made him take it easy and ride in the stroller but we headed off to the fair after dinner time.

The girls went along with us. Monica had already been at the fair for a few hours but walked to our house because her stroller tire had deflated and she needed it aired up. It seemed like a good idea but the tire had a bigger hole in it and would deflate almost immediately after airing it up! Hopefully today Erin can help her change the tube cause that stroller will be getting a lot of use in the next 9 days!

Kale and Marisa love the dress the part at the fair! They both have cowboy/girl boots and they love to wear them with their jeans....Maks and Malea on the other hand could really care less! Maks actually fights us about wearing his boots and Malea likes her Abby Cadaby shoes much better! They are not in the least bit amused by the cowboy look!

Well on to the best part of the fair.....THE FRIED FOOD! This year there are some interesting new foods (most of which are fried but not everything). On the top of my list is the fried Kool-Aid! I wasn't actually able to find it yet but don't you worry I will! The first food of the 2011 State Fair that we consumed was an accidental find! As Erin and I were walking out to leave we found the Fried Cookie Dough booth! We had no idea it was there but once we saw it their was no doubt in our minds we had to try it! 2 minutes and 5 dollars later we were biting into what could quite possibly be the BEST fried fair food of the year, maybe century! It was AMAZING! One LARGE scoop of Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough is scooped up and dipped into a sweet batter then immediately dropped into pipping hot grease! The cook time is minimal but perfect to give you the crispy golden brown crust on the outside and perfectly warmed dough on the inside. The warm center melts the chocolate chips perfectly for a gooey center that is swirled with creamy chocolate (even though I have a love/hate relationship with the mess it creates) it is wonderful! The serving size was more than enough for me. One order consists of 3 Fried Cookie Dough balls. Coming from someone would can't eat a lot of sweets I was able to devour about one and three quarters of them before I decided I either needed a glass of milk or to just stop! Erin was perfectly fine with my inability to eat the entire plate of them because that meant he would actually get to try some! ;) In conclusion Fried Cookie Dough is amazingly wonderful, worth the money and something you should NOT eat on a daily basis (I don't even want to guess that calorie content in one of those)!

Other foods to come....within the next ten days I plan to eat at least one of the following: ear of grilled corn, baked sweet potato, Nitrogen ice cream, gourmet cupcakes, bacon wrapped meatball, caramel covered apple, fried oreos, homemade biscuits and gravy, an ice cream burger and possibly anything else I happen to walk by that I feel is worthy of being called fair food!

*Health Disclaimer....In my defense we walk A LOT during the fair, we never drive to get there AND I push the stroller the entire time we walk around so I burn at least part of the extra calories that I consume for these 10 days.....or at least I tell myself that I do! ;o) Oh and also, almost always when we get fair food I don't consume the entire portion by myself (that why I bring Erin)! So that has to help some too!

Well that's about it for now, I am working this morning to administer the Official Practice Test. After I get off work and the kids wake from their naps we are heading back to the Fair so watch for more updates to come but until then Happy Saturday.