My Little Fun Machine

We've had a very social week--lots of playdates, playgroup, storytime. . . Who knew a 2 year-old's calendar could be so packed?

I've started trading off babysitting a couple mornings a week with a neighbor who's little girl, B., is just a few months younger than Bugaboo--they get along great and just this week have started actually playing together instead of just talking about it and then ignoring each other once they get together. We love having friends so close.

And then there's our playgroup friends--I am glad that K. invited me at the beginning of the school year because its been really fun getting to know some other families here in Charlotte and most have kids the same ages as my two, so with a couple of them, we've gotten together in the afternoons as well for all 4 kids to play.

And of course, what would a day with Bugaboo be if it didn't include one humongous mess. Bugaboo and E. got into the packing styrofoam I forgetfully left out in the living room.

They looked like they were caught in a snow storm. Luckily, the vacuum worked pretty well, even on their hair, which E. thought was pretty funny. Bugaboo, not so much.

And finally, the quote of the day, from my little daddy's boy, "Mama go work, Daddy stay home." We wish there was some way that we could trade off every other day, but I don't think that is going to happen any time soon.

How Do You Eat Your Pancakes?

It's Pancake Tuesday again. We had quite the variety today--whole wheat, banana, chocolate/banana, and even a couple with macadamia nuts thrown in (YUM!) And we each have our own way of eating them.

There's Daddy-o who loves the peanut butter/syrup flood, my chocolate/banana/macadamia pancakes with powdered sugar--I couldn't decide if maple syruup and chocolate went together so I didn't even try.

And the kids have developed the habit of "dipping" and "sprinkles" with their pancake strips. Bean piles the sugar on and dips with each little bite.

Buggy doesn't really double dip--he doesn't need to since he usually shoves each strip in and probably swallows them whole (and makes a big sugary mess with each bite--at least it means he's eating less).

And of course this means that the start of Lent is here. I've decided to change my goal from last year a little, so I'm going computer free when my kids are awake (so I can still sneak on here early in the morning and at naptime if everyone actually goes to sleep)--I figure that gives me a little more flexibility, but still keeps the spirit of the "fast". And in order to help along with my goal to eat more healthily (is that a word?), I'm also cutting out chocolate, candy, and cookies. I guess this year is the year of loop holes--I can still have dessert, just not most of the desserts I'm used to :)

Speaking of my goals, its been 2 months, and I feel like I'm making some progress in most areas--I'm up to running 5.5 miles, I've mopped my floor this month, social activity is alive and well, and I'm working on the others. It's nice to see some progress.

Great Parenting

Recently, we've started to doubt our parenting skills. Maybe its because our kids ask for bedtime stories based off of Budweiser commercials (they were watching the Superbowl with us and LOVE those horses). Or it could be the growing list of crazy messes Bugaboo has gotten himself into lately. Or the fact that when I went to a parenting night at the preschool, the example the teacher used of how NOT to get out the door in the morning sounded like she had been a fly on the wall at our house.

I'm getting no acknowledgment for the work I do taking care of them--

Me: B, who makes your food?
B: Donkey does.

And as I think I mentioned once before, Bean has never been in the disillusioned state where her parents are all-knowing, wise heros. She will often ask me a question, and then as soon as I answer, tells me I'm wrong.

So the other day, I asked her: "Bean, did you know that some kids actually believe the things their parents tell them?"

Bean: "Are you telling me the truth?"

Back to the books for me. . .

Adventures in Baking

I had an appointment cancel this morning and was excited about the prospect of an extra hour. After a very productive household day yesterday, I thought it was time I did some crafting and was ready to start a sewing project for a long overdue gift, but Buggy had other ideas. He wanted to bake.

He has been really interested in helping me in the kitchen lately, but this is probably the first time he's actually initiated it. So I told him I'd go look up a muffin recipe that I saw yesterday and wanted to try. And then I got a little sidetracked--there were a couple phone calls I needed to make that I didn't get done yesterday since our phone wasn't working, so I quickly took care of those, but before I finished the second one, I got a whiff of the delicious combination of cinnamon and vanilla.

I didn't think much of it at first since we had french toast for breakfast--I just thought the smell was lingering. And then it got stronger.

Buggy had decided he was going to start without me. I'm kind of dissappointed that I didn't get to see his face when he added baking powder to the mix and got a nice bubbly foam, but if I'd been around, there's no way I would have let him do any of it.

So now I won't be doing any baking because we no longer have baking powder, cinnamon, or vanilla. And Bugaboo used up at least a week's baking budget, not to mention the book he ruined. That was a full bottle of Costco vanilla--good price, but still means I lost almost a pint of vanilla. Now I'm kicking myself that I forgot to get more cinnamon when we were at the bulk spice store on Tuesday.

But our house smells great.

Reedy Creek Nature Center

On Friday, we found an awesome local place to hike. There are about 10 miles worth of trails which means there is plenty of area to explore with the kids.

We did a little "fishing",

found some deer tracks,

observed a butterfly for a long time while eating our snack of "trail mix-up",

and found a lot of beautiful moss.

And finally, does anyone else remember Phoebe's run through Central Park on Friends? I wish I'd gotten a video of this.

Confusing Times

Bean: "I think the world is confusing. It looks like winter but it feels like summer." Our weather was so nice this last week. 60's and 70's every day--totally feels like San Diego and we're loving it. Last weekend, we took advantage of it and washed our car, for the first time since we moved here. Yeah. It had been a long time.

I love spring, especially when it comes the first half of February. We're just a happier family when we can be outside.

And if we can play in the water at the same time, it makes it even better. Bean even got our the bikes and washed those, too. I'm sure they could use it since they get used to drag all types of dirty things around the driveway.

Now they're saying it might snow next week. Guess we just have to be happy with whatever warm weather we get.

And It's Decided

You know how I said that I think I'm done with the cookie decorating. I just came home from the post office where I was going to mail the cookies, only they were out of the flat rate box that I wanted, the next size up not only was going to require me buying bubble wrap in order to keep the cookies from rattling around until they were cookie dust, but also cost several dollars more.

And as my kids were running around like maniacs and the lady is telling me all my options and all I'm seeing is how crazy it is to spend $15 to send someone a dozen stale cookies, I just couldn't make up my mind and decided to go home and find my own small box to send them in.

So I dragged my kids out to the car, wrestled them into their seats and drove home, wishing I hadn't just wasted 30 minutes of what should be naptime.

Well, when we pulled in the garage and I started unloading the car, I realized the box of cookies wasn't there. I'm pretty sure I set it on top of the car while I was putting the kids in, so it looks like that cookie dust was created a little sooner (and cheaper) than if I'd mailed them.

Sorry Uncle J., but I really don't think that we were meant to send those cookies.

And that has pushed me over the edge. Next year I'll stick with my pink snickerdoodles.

A Little Bit of Sweetness

I had decided that this was going to be a sugar-free Valentine's Day, but the other night we were making cards and decided it would be nice to send some treats to Daddy-o's little brother who is on a mission for our church right now. Now, 10 cookies in my belly later, I'm not so sure it was such a great idea.

Not only did I eat too many cookies while working on them (although at least I made these smaller than I usually do), but I had some problems with the frosting, too. I think I've just about decided that even though I like the effect of a plate of pretty cookies, I don't really love the process of decorating sugar cookies. I only make sugar cookies a couple times a year so I tend to forget between times, but it's been the same experience here and here .

I do love my sugar cookie recipe--my mom always made a sour cream sugar cookie and I think its so much better than traditional sugar cookies--I even love the cookies with nothing on them.

Sour Cream Sugar Cookies

5 cups flour

2 tsp. baking powder

2 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

Sift together.

1 cup soft butter or shortening

2 cups sugar

2 eggs unbeaten

1 tsp. vanilla

1 cup sour cream

Cream butter, sugar, eggs, and vanilla until light and flufft. Add alternately sour cream and sifted flour mixture. Refrigerate until easy to handle. Roll out and cut. Bake 8-10 minutes at 425 degrees.

I did try something a little different this time--I cut out a smaller heart from a couple of the cookies, making a window in the cookie, and dusted those cookies with powdered sugar. Then I used lemon curd as the filling and made a cookie sandwich with one whole heart and one window cookie. They were really good. So good that Daddy-o and I were too busy eating and I forgot to take a picture of them.

And finally, doesn't it look like he just finished eating a bloody heart?

Needless to say, the kids had a great time decorating them.

The Kitchen is Done!!!

(Or, pretty much done. Done enough to take pictures. Are these projects ever completely finished?)

So, after a lot of promises (and sorry its a day late--had some camera-to-computer issues last night), the moment you've all been waiting for has arrived (I know you've all been sitting here for the last 5 months wondering when I was going to get these pictures on here. ;) Believe me, I've been wondering, too.)

Before: Ugly light box, popcorn ceiling, uninspiring cabinets with no trim After: Smooth ceiling, crown molding on the cabinets, and a color that actually brings out the colors in the countersBefore:

After:

Before:

After:

Now we just need to decide on the light fixtures so we can take down the $6 porch light that replaced the fluorescent lights, but for now, we can see and the cupboards have doors so I'm happy, and so glad that this project is over. Not so excited about starting the next one of the list after I've seen just what it all entails.

Bean's Yard Tour

Both kids are a little obsessed with the camera these days. Maybe its because they see how much attention I give it. Anyway, here's what Bean came up with the other afternoon when she snagged it from me for a few minutes. (She actually did a whole sequence, following the dog walker you can just barely see in front of the house--I didn't realize what she was doing and now wonder what they guy thought as she took his picture half a dozen times.)

Even in the winter, the trees are pretty.

The bike fixing station. The other thing the kids are obsessed with are our tools. Wonder why :)

And. . . Speaking of tools and house projects, guess what is FINALLY finished?! I'll give you a couple hints: here and here I hate to drag it out one more day, but I didn't get pictures earlier in the day when there was enough light, so I will post them tomorrow!