This FRIDAY, MAY 11th is Friends & Family discount day at Walgreens.

Since you are all my friends & family, I thought I’d share. Buy that last minute Mother’s day card or make-up – whatever you may need and get 15% off.

Get the coupon here.

Be sure to stop in and love on your local Walgreens pharmacist while you’re there.

X doesn’t ask to spend her money on too many things. She really is a good saver.

The kids had received $25 for Easter and E was quick to spend his on (of course) Legos. X, on the other hand, didn’t see anything she had to have at Justice or Target so she saved it.

She came to me last week and told me she knew what she wanted to spend her money on but she was pretty sure I would say no. Don’t you love when your kids start out by saying that? I do – it means they have a good grasp on what I consider important or appropriate!

She told me it was getting her ears pierced for the second time (and of course she added, “you know, like you have it!”)

I surprised her by telling her I didn’t mind at all if she got it done. I guess I kind of see it as one of those things like waxing. I’ll take X to get her eyebrows and lip waxed if it makes her feel better about herself. It’s superficial, I realize, but it’s a tough world out there. If she’s comfortable in her own skin and likes the way she looks – I’d like to think her morals will continue to win out over the peer pressure to fit in.

Now. Ryan didn’t like the idea of getting her ears pierced again. He told her no and knew she felt defeated so I decided to make my attempt to plead her case.

I couldn’t use the rational I just previously explained – he would never understand that type of  girl mentality. What I did say was that there have been a lot of things that we have said no to that she has respectfully accepted.

Such as: hair feathers, short shorts, bikini swim suits, hair highlights, Sperry’s, contacts, fake nails, and a phone.

Phew! Just the thought of her having all those things that she’s asked for makes me disgusted.

I argued her case stating that 2 piercings (like I have) are common and still look classy. Plus, it’s a pretty decent use of her money as it’s not something consumable or a fad that will be gone tomorrow.

He wasn’t hard to convince. He went back and told X that she could get it done.

After I got off work on Saturday – Clair’s became the first thing on my agenda.

The lady suggested we fix her current “first” holes because they were uneven (something that has always bugged her). I agreed to pay for the fixing.

In no time, no tears, and not so much as a flinch – she had all 4 earrings in (with 3 new holes).

This is the ear that had the rogue hole. You can see how far off it was based on the 2 earrings placement now.

This was her and Kyla playing on her iPad Saturday afternoon when we got back.

Oh, and I feel I must state that the shorts X has on is the shortest she owns. Their like workout shorts – what I like to consider this decade’s version of Umbros. She knows she is only allowed to wear them on weekends around the house.

Outside getting ready to teach E how to ride his bike without training wheels, I captured this picture of her earrings.

When I saw this picture the only thing that went through my head was: “Maybe we should consider contacts because these glasses are ruining my pictures!!”

I opted for just taking her to the eye doctor and they adjusted her frames so they wouldn’t fall down her nose all day.

Until she consistently shaves her legs I don’t think she’s ready for contacts. Those are two things that need daily attention. Until she masters the habit of shaving and applying lotion, I don’t foresee moving on something as expensive as contacts.

Regardless of all that – I think her double piercing look terrific. So does she.

I let her wear a ponytail every day this week so far knowing she wants them to be seen.

Oh, how I love my Panini maker.

I’m not sure what warming up the sandwich while impressing deep lines into the bread does to make it so yummy – but it does!

I saw a recipe for Chicken Bacon Ranch Panini on Pioneer Woman that looked mighty yummy. I didn’t follow this recipe but I suppose I followed it’s concept.

I must interject a funny story here. I was having breakfast with a friend from church last week and was telling her all about the Pioneer Woman. You know, because she has the amazing ability to make anyone want to cook. Anyway, this old man sitting next to us totally jumped in our conversation and starting talking about how he too, loved the Pioneer Woman. I was a bit in shock.

It would have been totally awesome if he brushed the bangs out of my eyes as well.

Those who know that story are laughing. Those who don’t, I’m sorry – I’ll have to tell that one later. My panini story is just begging to be told.

Rotisserie chicken was on sale at our grocery store. I bought 2 of them and tore off all the meat and used it for 2 different recipes (the first being the paninis, second was chicken enchiladas).

I also bought some freshly made sourdough bread from the bakery of my grocery store, and then spread melted butter on one side. I think sourdough bread makes the best paninis.

For Ryan, I made his on the standard Udi’s bread. Oh – and I made his sandwiches first – before the sourdough bread was even opened  so that gluten wouldn’t get mixed up with non-gluten.

Then I piled on tons  of goodness. Freshly sliced sharp cheddar cheese, freshly fried bacon, chicken, mayo, and red onion.

Then cook away.

I made a salad for a side dish – with Bacon, red onions, and Blue cheese dressing. Oh, my yumminess.

You just can’t go wrong with bacon and red onion – one of my favorite combinations.

But then, all around, the Panini and salad combination is high up on my favorite meal combination lists.

Maybe second only to broccoli and bacon pasta.

Or maybe to the cinnamon rolls and coffee combo.  Now that’s really my favorite combination. And if you added a side of bacon to that – seriously – epic.

So go try one of these fabulous combinations.  Invite me if you’re having the cinnamon rolls and coffee. I’ll never turn you down.

*Major shout out to my darling girl for taking some great photos, thus inspiring me to write a post about paninis.

I noticed E riding his bike today extra relaxed and doing tricks. My first thought (that I let slip out of my mouth) was, looks like you’re ready to learn how to ride a bike without training wheels.

I imagine something like, “done. I’m totally doing this” went off in his brain because he didn’t let it go all afternoon.

Finally around 7, after Ryan got to a point where he could take of the training wheels and what not (surely no one thought I was that competent), did I agree to do it.

I bought $1.50 flip flops at Old Navy so that every child at my house would have shoes to wear. X is wearing them.

Just sayin’.

I told E to go put some jeans on in case he fell he wouldn’t scrape up his legs. He got changed completely on his own. I loved that he grabbed his “skinny” jeans. I think they look cute but Jackson (his BFF from across the street) said, “dude, you have skinny jeans?”

“Look Mama – no training wheels!”

While we waited for his tires to be blown up we watched Carter bite it in the ditch something bad.

He was fine though….so like good friends, we laughed at him.

Especially when he tried to get on it upside down.

Oh boy, those skinny jeans. Cute as the come.

The support crew that he had was quite something. The girls all chanted, “Let’s go E, Let’s go!” and nearly every single of them told him he needed to stop leaning.

Which got him frustrated.

It made me frustrated so I could hardly blame him.

Luckily it only took about 45 minutes before he really started understanding and acting on what we were telling him to do.

Poor Ryan was dripping in sweat.  I basically stood in the middle of the street while he ran up and back with E.

I like being the photographer.

X learned when she was 6 1/2 so E is a year ahead of her. Not for lack of ability or effort on her part, just circumstances.

I like teaching in this neighborhood anyway. It just seems more “childhood-ish” (if I can make that word up). Hmmmm – more suburbia instead of master planned.

Finally, Ryan was pooped so I handed him the camera and took my turn in helping E.

Please forgive the cleavage. I’d like to blame Ryan for it since he was taking the pictures, but in essence there wasn’t much he could do to control it.

Sadly, however, not being able to control it doesn’t mean that you can’t take pictures it (and only it).

Which is why I say I’m glad I’m the photographer. Less photos for me to trash at the end of the day.

I have the master touch. He was riding quite well after I stepped in.

The look of panic.

That picture deceivingly makes me look really thin.

I love it.

I think I’ll print it and hang it up.

This one…not so much.

But look! He’s doing it all by himself!! And smiling! What more could a mom ask for?

Turning was a little tense….for both of us.

At this point, we called it a night. It was getting dark and E hadn’t even ate dinner.

I praised E for his effort and hard work. He really did a great job!

If he’d only put this kind of effort forth towards reading……

I met a friend in Boerne at the Bear Moon Bakery & Cafe for some coffee this morning. It was delicious.

When I came home around 9:30, I was feeling guilty for taking so much of Ryan’s morning work time leaving him with E but when I pulled in the driveway that guilt melted away pretty fast.

My husband is such a kid at heart.

I know this was just as much for him as it was for E.

Look at that new air conditioner…isn’t it pretty?

It should be – it sure cost enough.

And that sweet looking bug zapper hanging there….yeah, I don’t care if that thing is pretty or not – as long as it kills the flies and gnats that are everywhere.

I need to state for the record that they hadn’t successfully gotten 1 car down the track when I threw a car up to them – it landed on the track – and cruised down the entire distance of the track successfully.

It was a proud moment for me.

If nothing else this provides a clear example of why this house is better than our last.

Which he needs because he keeps saying lately, “I wish we still lived in our old house but that we had robots to do all the work for us.”

Ahhhh, sweet innocence.

After they called it quits, I took over playing with E. There was nothing I could do to compete with Hot Wheels track from the roof but I tried: Trampoline Jumping and going to Michaels Craft store for some more “bead crafts” as he calls them.

Then I went to work and Ryan tried to decide how he’d be able to get some work done with E. He rationalized since we would have paid $40 for childcare, why not offer a Lego reward (for less than $40) if he played well on his own and didn’t bother him more than once an hour.

Even if a $10 Lego set kept him busy for 2 hours it would be 1/2 price of what a sitter would cost.

Well, it worked!!

And now there are more Lego sets hidden in my room for the next day’s good behavior.

That husband of mine, he’s pretty inventive.