4th Weekend Fun

We had an amazing, busy and FUN weekend - how about you?

On Friday night Daddy and I went out with some friends for an "adult date" - I think I'll tell you more about that in a separate post.

Saturday morning while Daddy went for his crossfit workout, the kids and I tried very hard to find some garage sales (note to readers: if you list a garage sale on Craigslist - HAVE a garage sale and BE OPEN when you say you will be).  We eventually stopped by Starbucks for a Strawberries & Creme treat for the kids then took it to a new park we found with a cool train. 

Em got a bit energetic about the whipped cream and made it into mousse for her hair.  :)

Saturday evening we went up to our old stomping ground meeting family at Daddy's great aunt Zia and uncle Evo's house then walked to the junior high to watch the big fireworks show.  Matt & Alanda brought the kids, both sets of grandparents were there and cousins George, Carla, Kevin, Christine & Baby Jack were there also along with Zia & Evo.  The cousins all had so much fun playing together before the show began and they REALLY enjoyed the fireworks!

Love this one!  Miss Em could have been me 28 (I mean 29 years ago)!

My All-American Girl

Zia & Evo

McGee and Evo had so much fun together!

My little giggle-box!

The kids had SUCH a great time playing together (like they always do)!

Cousin George bought all of the kids little glow sticks that they had fun twirling around and making necklaces out of.

Grammy & Papa

I had lots of fun taking fireworks pictures this year - here are just a few

Watching the fireworks show

A fantastic finale

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For the actual 4th, we went grocery shopping as a family first thing in the morning, came home and I got my dessert in the freezer then we went to the noon service at church (Daddy plays worship).  It was lots of fun hanging out with our friends afterwards too.  Came home and the kids napped then we welcomed our neighbors to our 4th of July block party.  The food, the people and the fireworks were terrific!  It was another LATE night for the kids (not in bed until 11pm and midnight the day before), but it was just what summer is all about.

Sharing Means Caring

I'm so thankful to have my children only 2 years apart.  So close in age they are instant playmates and I hope will always be good friends and dear to one another's hearts.  However, at 2 and 4 years old, much of our time seems to be spent refereeing between the two and their idea of "sharing" leaves much to be desired. 

On some lovely days, they can color next to one another peacefully, play outside in the sandbox or with the hose in pure childhood abandon and have a tickle fight filled with giggles and laughter.  Yet other days seem to be filled with endless battles that may include screeching, whining, a hit or two, maybe even a bite (Miss Em has quite sharp teeth and poor McGee is usually the recipient).

An example of a lovely day...

It would be easy to blame all of the scuffles on Miss Em's immature 2-yr. old understanding of "sharing" - which is her taking whatever she wants and saying "Mine!".  But this would be too simple. 

Despite being 2 years older in age and somewhat in maturity as well, McGee can still sometimes be a bit possessive himself, desiring whatever it is his sister wants or has.  Their sharing troubles are a two-way street we are trying to navigate as best we can.  I'm realizing more and more what different personalities my babies  have and the challenge we have as parents taking their unique characters into consideration while parenting.

Then this week while at the farmer's market, my sweet little sunshines showed us they really do understand about sharing.  Our youngest started it by giving her last little bite of cookie to her brother.  Not only did she give it to him, she said, "Here Myles" and popped it in his mouth.  Can you say, "Awwww?"  Daddy and I did.

A few minutes later McGee and I came back to Daddy and Em after procuring our blueberries and he only had one left from his two sample berries he was given.  I thought for sure he had gobbled it up, but instead he went over to Em and said, "Do you want a blueberry Em?  I saved it for you."   Again, "Awwww."

It's just so nice when they "get it".  When they care about one another and share what they have because they know it will make the other person happy.

Then it's moment's like this photo, where I can see the love between the two of them and I know that our world is just as it should be:

Wishing you a very blessed Sunday!

A Lovely June Day

We woke up a little later than usual, I went for a run and then we all went downtown for the weekly farmer's market.  There were people, music, LOADS of fresh fruits and veggies and lots of fun to be had.  We enjoyed a picnic lunch and the kids and Daddy finished it off by sharing an oatmeal chocolate chip cookie.  I even bargained a bit and paid only $3.57 (all I could dig out of my wallet and purse) to buy McGee a $4 package of fresh blueberries.  A perfect June day.

Mm...mmm...good!

Spring Break Family Time

One of my favorite things...a family picnic

It began with pb & j on wheat bread enjoyed by the creek behind Mommy's house.  Two teens trying to be romantic and enjoying young love.  Picnics have always been a favorite of ours.  We received a picnic backpack as an engagement gift from my parents.  I think we need to dig it out and begin using it again - just the two of us.  Oh but why go just the two of us when we can go all four?  Yes, our family picnicking together, truly what could be better?

Giddy fun in the park

Swinging together

Hiking together

Running, falling, then brushing ourselves off to do it again

Laughing

Exploring

Pouting about having to have our picture taken

Cooperating with the camera

My boys

My independent little girl

and some wildlife

Really - what could be better?

Monday Must-Haves

Welcome to another edition of Monday Must-Haves, a place for me to share with you those things I can't live without.  The products or ideas that make my life easier and happier.  Shall we begin?

1)  Little Green Clean Machine (aka: Lifesaver) - 

My parents bought one of these months ago and we borrowed their brand-new one when some mysterious black spots showed up in the carpet in various places.  We still had it when one of the dogs threw up on the carpet and when my parents saw it on special at Costco, we told them we would buy theirs from them because I wasn't sure we would be able to part with it and it's magic powers to clean our carpets so well!  

Prior to the Little Green I was anticipating spending around $100 to have our carpets professionally cleaned due to little spots here and there, but so far I've always been disappointed with the results of the professionals, not to mention it's difficult (especially in winter) to have a day where the kids and I + the dogs are not in the house for an extended period of time.  Enter into my life the Little Green and now my carpet worries are wiped scrubbed and sucked away!

2)  Easy Lemon Cookies -

Oh my word - these have been my downfall this week!  Daddy, who doesn't have a big sweet-tooth and prefers cheesy snacks, asked me to bake a batch after I had only a few left from bunco.  These are just so deliciously soft and chewy I could eat an entire batch if I gave in (not very helpful with my Wake the Bear Challenge)! 

I'm going to be a bad influence and give you the SUPER SIMPLE recipe:

1 (18.25oz) package lemon cake mix
2 eggs
1/3 cup vegetable oil

1 tsp. lemon extract (or if you're blessed to have a fabulous lemon tree like me, then squeeze juice from 1/2 a lemon - I think this is my secret weapon ingredient)
1/3 cup confectioners sugar

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Pour cake mix into a large bowl.  Stir in eggs, oil and lemon extract (or juice) until well blended.  Drop teaspoonfuls of dough into a bowl of confectioners sugar and roll them around until they're lightly covered.  Try NOT to eat the dough (like me), for as my McGee would say, "There's raw egg and you can get sick!"  Once sugared, put them on an ungreased cookie sheet and bake for 6-9 minutes in the preheated oven.  The bottoms will be lightly brown and the insides chewy.  My oven seems to bake pretty fast so my "happy" number is to bake them for about 7 minutes, they may seem a little underdone, but the light brown on a few tops assures me they are ready and will indulgently chewy and scrumptious!  Enjoy!

3) An Abundant Supply of Junk Towels/Rags -

Nothing earth shattering or exciting here, but after the week we've had and a large cranberry juice spill last night at dinner, junk towels and rags are a definite Must-Have item in our household.  Forget paper towels for spills (do they even absorb much anyway?) - we just grab a junk towel/rag from under the sink, wipe it right up then toss it into the garage in front of the washing machine (no we don't have a special junk towel/rag hamper).  Easy-peasy-lemon-squeasy!  You can thank a new Disney cartoon "Chuggington" for my new favorite line.  Hmmm..Chuggington might be a future Must-Have now that I think of it...

**The above is strictly my personal opinion and I have NOT been compensated in any manner for items recommended. If you have a product or idea you would like me to review, please send me an email at CABean03@yahoo.com.**

Superbowl Sunday

We are football fans for sure, and even if we weren't I'm sure we'd be celebrating Superbowl Sunday.  For the last few years we've been enjoying having friends over to watch the game, gorge on high-calorie food and chat (as best we can amidst the craze of a house full of children).  This year was no exception and we had a fantastic day!

The appetizers...oh the mushrooms sauteed and baked with cheese..mmmm!

Miss Em after being caught sneaking some grub...

The fun and mess all over the house...

The cutest couple - they survived the loud, crazy house with all of our kids (hopefully they'll still want some one day)!

Scott and Alex...nothing sweeter then a father and son sharing some playtime

Another one of the cutest couples...

Adorable Alex...

Christine and I...

and the goofy boys...