DOVE FAMILY

This past weekend, Matthew had his annual physical with his doctor. After taking all the numbers and the usual chit-chat, our docotor announced that Matthew's weight and height is at the point where he no longer has to use a booster. She did say that each car is different, especially those with benches in the back. She told us to measure him using the seat belt but in most cars he does not have to use a booster. Matthew's face of course lit up and I just sat there tears in my eyes. My baby is a big boy. I know we say it when they start walking, out of diapers, first day of daycare, first day of kindergarten. But when they are legally big enough to not have to use a booster...now thats big. Thats a sign of a big boy. Thats a sign that a momma's baby is growing. At least we know that we have the option of using the booster as long as the seat belt sits correctly across his shoulder.
http://www.gracobaby.com/Pages/Home.aspx

I love Wonton soup but the ones you get from the Chinese restaurants, although quick and easy is loaded with lots of sodium. So I decided to make my own version of it at home this weekend. If I may say so myself- I think it turned out really good. Dave liked it and so did Matthew! Here is the recipe! It is super super easy!

Ingredients:
Bag of Trader Joe's Frozen Chicken Wonton
2 conainters of Low Sodium Chicken Broth
2 garlic cloves
2 slices of ginger
1 box of mushrooms
1 can of water chestnuts (if you have it but its not needed).
1-2 spring onions
Handful of spinach or any other green vegetable (that night I only had sugar snap peas)
4 peices of chicken tenders cut up


1. Put a little olive oil on the bottom of a large soup pot. Add garlic cloves, ginger, chicken.
2. Add the mushrooms and water chestnuts
3. Continue to saute and cook until chicken and mushrooms are cooked through
4. Remove the garlic cloves and ginger (since I had littles ones eating this I didn't want them to bite into it. You can finely chop it as well.)
5. Pour in the two containers of chicken broth, water chestnuts, frozen greens or spinach.
6. Pour in the bag of frozen wontons
7. Cook for about 5-7 minutes
8. Pour in bowl and add chopped spring onions!

I remember seeing Borat in one of these but I honestly thought that it was just for the movie. The other day at the gym while looking through a Cosmo magazine- I saw it. Yes. Mankini on a runway show in Milan. I just can't see this on guys while laying out on the beach. I don't want to see it. I don't think my kids would want to see it. Do you think its HOT or NOT?

Our Disney trip is about 4 months away and since you all know that I am a planner and organizer- I have already started to pick up a few necessities for the trip. We have been to Disney many times before and I’m sure many of you have as well. Other than the normal necessities that everyone packs, let me know if you have some nifty ideas that you think I should pack on the trip!!!

Purex 3 in 1 Laundry Sheets- you are probably asking me why I would wash clothes while on vacation? I probably won’t need to wash clothes but I do have two stinky, cute, but stinky kids who have lots of accidents. My friend just returned from Disney and instead of toting around liquid or powder detergent- she purchased these and were a life saver. You throw the sheet in with the wash since one side has the soap that activates when wet. Then you throw the same sheet into the dryer with the clothes and the other side activates the softener and anti-static when it hits the heat of the dryer! Great idea! http://www.purex.com/products/detergents/purex-complete-3-in-1

Dr. Scholl’s Moleskin- Oh I am wearing sandals during the trip. I am bringing a pair of tennis shoes in the event I MUST and HAVE to wear them. In the June heat of Florida, I can’t wear tennis shoes all day in sweaty nasty socks. In preparation of wearing sandals at the parks, I am packing moleskin to help my feet.
http://www.amazon.com/Dr-Scholls-Moleskin-Plus-Strips/dp/B001OPJ8KS/ref=pd_rhf_se_p_t_4

Cute ponytail holders and head bands- I know we are supposed to be at parks all day, I know we will be standing in lines waiting to get on rides, crying kids all around me, pushing a stroller, carrying a bag full of stuff….but I “hafta” look cute and stay cool. So I have some super cute ponytail holders and sporty double headbands for those afternoons I gotta pull my hair up. I found some super cute ponytail holders from Claire’s but here are a few from Amazon! The double headbands are cheaper at Target, WalMart and Claire’s but here is one from Amazon!
Double Headbands:

http://www.amazon.com/prAna-Womens-Double-Headband-Gravel/dp/B004QQ5LZ8/ref=sr_1_8?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1330449300&sr=1-8

We let Matthew pick out a sport for him to take part in this winter and he chose...TENNIS! Not indoor soccer, not indoor lacrosse, not indoor wrestling, not futsal...but Tennis! We lvoe watching him and its such a great sport. I never played tennis in high school. Dave tried to get me to play tennis when we first got together and before we had kids but it was bad. So bad. I did look cute though with a tennis skirt, cute shoes and a cute top.
Anyway..back to Matthew- he loves it. He enjoys going, he really wants to learn and he practices as much as he can downstiars in the basement. Coach Mike is excellent with the kids, patience, spends time with each child and teaches them the right way to hold a racket, the correct swing and he teaches them how to have fun with tennis!

Matthew (wearing gray pants and a red shirt)

getting ready to hit a ball from Coach Mike.

Matthew's art teacher has asked each student to make a paper doll representing one or more of their family's nationality or heritage. Matthew is around the Filopino culture alot- he hears tagalog spoken on Sundays, he hears us talk about the Philippines and he eats Filopino food. He also is aware that mommy is from the Philippines and he is a mixture of wonderful nationalities like Irish, German, English, Filopino, Spanish and a little Italian. So we asked him what he wants his doll to be and he picked IRSIH! We found some cute golf green knickers, shoes and a green vest with a plaid bow tie. The doll even has a green hat with a four leaf clover, the Irish Flag and a pot of gold!