Rudy Family Rukus~Parenting tips and humor meet in one big "rukus"

I am kind of a crafty person.  I am not good at coming up with my own crafts but I am really great at copying others work and making it my own with my own little touches.  So when my friend recommended I try making toilet paper snowmen I jumped all over that idea.  My kids are on year round school and we are off track right now and I am desperate to entertain them.  I took my question to Pinterest and found this great idea .  I then ventured to Hobby Lobby and our mission was underway. We also went to Target and got the cheapest TP available because I didn't want to use my expensive super soft kind for a craft (I know call me crazy but I'm weird about my TP). Supplies: 2 Rolls of TP per snowman jewels or buttons for eyes and mouth black pom poms for the front "buttons" orange pom pom for the nose ric rac ribbon for the hat ribbon for the scarf ribbon to tie around end of hat snowflake or pom pom for hat felt sheet for hat (we used black) white broadcloth

This year our family wanted to put more significant meaning into our holidays.  We were looking for new traditions to bring us closer together as a family and to also help others at the same time.  When I heard about how Scholastic and Kellogg’s® teamed up I knew this was a perfect way for our family to be motivated to not only serve others but also help us feel the true meaning of Christmas. The program we registered for is called Every Day is a Big Day.  As your family completes each Mini Mission™  you can earn free Scholastic books for your and family and a chance to win prizes for your school and community. You can visit  http://minimissions.scholastic.com to register your family for the Every Day is a Big Day program. As you complete each  Mini™ Mission your family earns 2 free Scholastic Books. Also as each mission is completed you are entered into a sweepstakes where 131 prizes will be awarded to schools and communities each month. You can also download free monthly storie

Have one of your  favorite photographers do some quick snapshots of you and your kids and then post them on  Facebook.  Does wonders for your self esteem…. Well if you have friends like me!!  See what you think.   Also this little man (ahem NOT so little man) went and had another birthday.  He made me a list of birthday gifts he wanted and clipped coupons for those gifts so he got everything he asked for.  Love that he is 11 and frugal my work is done….. And yes I am aware that I haven't blogged in forever.  

I love Easter.  I love the reason we celebrate, I love the bright colors, and I love taking pictures of my kids in their new clothes.  It makes me smile.  Hope you all had a lovely Easter too.

Don't all 5 year olds play Jewels (Zen version) and wear beatsbydre and accessorize with packing bubbles.  Just mine?  Oh okay..... I'm thinking she's ready for the runway....That hair is everywhere.  When the seasons change around here our dry hair struggles.  Good thing she is so fashionable! Joining up with Lolli at Better in Bulk , Angie at Seven Clown Circus , and Alicia at Project Alicia and wordless wednesdays everywhere.

When Firmoo contacted me about trying out a pair of their glasses I was thrilled.  Although I don't wear glasses my husband does and he is always in need of a new pair.  So we went to their site and picked out a great pair for him to try out. He has been wearing them for about 10 days and he LOVES them.  They fit well, the prescription is correct, and they look great on him.  Well see for yourself. The glasses shipped quickly and safely.  They came with a hard and soft carrying case, a cleaning rag, and mini tools for fixing loose screws or parts.  I loved that because I just thought the tools were really cute!   My husband says the only thing he doesn't love is sometimes after wearing the glasses all day they are a little difficult to clean all the oils off.  But with a little elbow grease they do come clean. I personally think they are very flattering and love how they look.  Of course I am a little biased ;) Firmoo has a large variety of prescription, non-

My fabulous friend Emily hosted an awesome Girls Night Out.  Although she didn't call it that. I am because it involved Girls (aka female bloggers), it was night time, and it was not at my house (YAY for not having to host or clean).  It was so much fun because it involved two of my very favorite things (ya that's a song) working out and FOOD! We got to check out the newest boxing gym here in the Salt Lake Valley and let me just tell you I am over the top impressed with this place!!  It is called Title Boxing Club you can check them out on Facebook .  They post specials and motivation all the time and the boxing class schedule is on there too.  (You will definitely see me there at several classes) Ok so now for the pictures. Those are 100 pound bags and they are awesome.  They have 60 of them (that's a lot by the way).  We did a one hour power-hour workout using the bags and body-weight exercises my shins were sweating people that's how intense this workout was!  

If you have kids you have pee stains I know it.  If you don't lucky you or you are a liar and in denial.  I have pee stains on more than one mattress.  I also have sweat stains on pillows because well I sweat a.lot .  It's a gift I know. I digress. Anyway I have tried many different ways to get urine/pee out of mattresses and I have been very unsuccessful so I did a google search and what do you know?  Another mom had pee stains too.  So I borrowed her recipe and it totally worked so I am sharing it with you. All you need are these few house-hold ingredients and a spray bottle.  I bought a really expensive one (NOT) I used one I had for my kids hair.  It worked great. You will need: 3 Tablespoons Baking Soda 8 ounces Hydrogen peroxide 1 drop dish soap Mix together well and use right away. My mom discovered that if it is not mixed well the baking soda will clog the sprayer.  You also can't store this apparently it doesn't last in the bottle and it is no longe

1. W hat is a hobby you would love to learn and why?     I would love to learn to play the cello.  I think it is the coolest instrument ever... well besides the piano and I already do that :) 2. W hat do you wish you could have delivered to your house but does not deliver? Frozen yogurt all day every day LOL! 3.  What's your favorite snow day activity? Inside and out? I love when my kids play outside in the snow and I get to stay inside in the quiet.  Oh wait did I say that out loud? 4.  Would you meet a stranger from an Internet dating site? Nope never.  I have heard too many horror stories; although any of my blogging friends I have met in real life have been awesome! 5. I f you had to spend 35 hours in a car with 4 other people, who would you choose? My husband and my kids.  They seriously make me laugh and after 35 hours I think we would all be pretty "punchy" I think we might laugh until we cry. Don't they look hysterical.... Linking up with Mama M.

We have some serious spring fever at our house.  Today the sun was out and I sat on my porch in my sweats and felt the warm sun on my face I could still see my warm breath in the cool air but I tried to soak it in before the next storm moves in.   Of course I forgot to pull out my camera so here are some great patriotic shots from this fall. I can almost feel the sun on face can't you? Linking up with Lolli at Better In Bulk for Photo Story Friday/GMYBS

This year I wanted to make Valentines memorable.  I am not sure why.  It is not in my nature to go ALL out for holidays.  I am not THAT mom.  I am not a super decorator or celebrator I just don't love it.  This year I got a bug though and I decided Valentines Day was going to be LEGENDARY!!  I put it to my Facebook Friends and they did not disappoint with the suggestions.  I also went to Pinterest for ideas and also no disappointment although Pinterest does tend to make me feel inadequate on a good day. Those Pinterest guru's are super over-achieving crazies... ahem.  So I made my cool craft from Monday's post .  Then I decided to create some pretty great Valentine's boxes. And my cute friend Jane suggested a Valentines Cafe at home with my children as servers.  I LOVED this idea.  I went to the store and bought aprons and craft paint and made custom server outfits for each child to wear.  I made a family favorite for dinner. You can see that recipe here in my blog

We live in a snowy place and we have yet to do any sledding.  I know lame mommy!  Luckily Dad came to the rescue this week and built a tiny sledding hill Hooray for daddies!! Linking up with Lolli at Better in Bulk for Photo Story Friday. Hosted by Cecily and Lolli