Wordless Wednesday | Smooches

I have learned my lesson

You see this adorable little boy in the picture? He's not so adorable when he is forced to sit in an auditorium that has no music playing or performances. Boring awards ceremonies just are not for him and the 3 other boys that had to be dragged out for being too "active". At least I got to see my Chardie get her award for being the top student for Spanish III Honors. I had to get up outta there and thankfully the high school has a nice courtyard area with a little pond. Next time he is staying HOME! Lesson learned!

Briahnna's 8th grade Semi-formal dance

Last Thursday evening, Briahnna attended her very first school dance~ the 8th grade Semi-formal dance. We had so much fun shopping for her outfit although it was a challenge trying to find her size. I think the colors she chose were perfect.

She had so much fun and it was a big reminder that her middle school years are coming to a close. I won't lie, I shed some tears when I dropped her off to the dance. I could not wait to pick her back up so I could hear all about it.

Next stop, high school!

I want noooodles!

I don't know about you but when Dwayne and I were first starting out, Ramen noodles were a staple in our kitchen. Money was so tight that I used to find ways to make our packaged noodles into a gourmet meal. I have added everything from chicken wings, shrimp, scallions, cilantro and whatever we had available. We have always kept a few noodle packs on hand for those days when the fridge and pantry are looking bare. Now William has discovered "noooodles" and loves them. It is not unusual for him to request them for breakfast.

Every day right around lunch time William comes up to me with that sweet little face and says "Mommy cook the nooodles?" then he says "pleeeeeeeeease" Of course I say yes and he runs straight to the pantry to grab a pack. He gets so excited, it's the funniest thing. I guess I can't complain. He loves something that is super cheap and we always have it on hand. I still eat them occasionally to remind me how lucky we are to have all that we do. Ramen noodles will remain a pantry staple in the Ismail family kitchen :)

eBeanstalk makes toy shopping easy

Sometimes I feel like searching online for toys for my son can be a hassle. Do you go with digital toys, top selling toys for 3 year olds, or just stick to the classics? This is where I refer to eBeanstalk for help. We are really big on learning toys for our son and that is what makes eBeanstalk the perfect place online to shop. They offer so many toys for 3 year old boys as well as toys for 3 year old girls that match your child's developmental needs. You can choose items for specific age groups and gender. We have gotten several wooden toys for our son and he has enjoyed them. The quality is outstanding and I can feel good to hand them down to friends or family with little ones once he has outgrown them.

I was browsing through the eBeanstalk site and I really have my eye on this Band in a Box for my son. The first thing that attracted me was that it is a Melissa and Doug toy (my favorite brand) so I know it will be made to withstand the abuse from a 3 year old boy! If you are looking for toys for 3 year olds like I am (or any age up to 12) then I totally recommend you check out eBeanstalk. They make it so easy for busy parents :-)

Wordless Wednesday