Catching Crawdads

It was a cool 82ish degrees out today! What a difference 10 degrees makes! Gage, Maia, Dane, and I headed out to the library first. For some reason the library put computer video games in the kids section. Totally defeats the purpose of me dragging the kids there (except Maia who enjoys reading) as the boys run straight for the computers and could care less about books. So as usual I pick a couple out for them. Then we went to the city park to play in the creek. We brought some plastic cups and bowls to catch "fish". I had no idea Gage would catch a crawdad! It was huge! Didn't really want to walk in the water anymore for fear my toes would be pinched off! It was a good day, hopefully we will be back there again tomorrow to play! I LOVE SUMMER! I will post pictures of the giant crawdad later as my computer states that it has 'internal errors' and cannot load my pictures. Piece of crap.

92 Degrees and Loving It!

Alright, so it was a little warm out today. Almost slightly uncomfortable, but I am not going to complain because it is the nicest weather we have had in a long time! We were down 3 kids today so it was just Dane hanging around. We got up and decided to head out to the city park before it got too busy. I was surprised that there was hardly anyone there. We were the only ones on the playground for a very long time and it was 11:00. Maybe it was just too hot for Washingtonians to leave their houses. Well, I just thought I would come in out of the heat to post some pictures of the Dane-O playing in the pool, but I think it is hotter in the house. And Dane is currently throwing a fit over not getting to have any of Dad's "alligators" (that would be Gatorade). I think I will put him in the car and go for a nice relaxing drive. Maybe he will take a nap, yeah right! Maybe we will head over to the bay or something where we can get a nice breeze off the water.

Homemade Cinnamon Rolls!

Who's the best mom in the world??? Yeah, I am! Who stayed up till midnight making homemade cinnamon rolls so her kids would have a yummy breakfast in the morning??? Yeah, that's me!

These are sooo far from fat free. A stick of butter and a cup and half of sugar! MMMMMM! I haven't even gotten to the icing yet! I will save that for when the kids get up!

I think I am delirious from sugar and being tired but I cant sleep! I will just set these beauties on the table for them, maybe they will eat them without the icing and let me sleep in.

Yeah right!

Just a shout out to my husband!

It was six years ago today that I had my first date with my husband. Yeah! I don't usually keep track of that sort of stuff, I figure actual wedding date and birthdays are more important and enough for me to remember. If our date hadn't been on the 25th I probably wouldn't remember, but it was payday. Payday was always the 10th and 25th. So here's to you dear husband of mine!

You are a great man! You always, always put your family first. I couldn't ask for a better husband and father to our kids! The other day when you said you had achieved pretty much everything you have wanted to do, and it was my turn, I was truly touched. And as I sit here and think about what I would love to do, you have pretty much given me everything I could ask for. A wonderful family and the opportunity to stay home and take care of everyone. You give me freedom away from everyone also to do things I love, be with my friends, craft, photography, volunteering, which lets me know you care about me getting "me time". No matter the circumstance you always do what is best for others before yourself. You are a caring, giving, loving, wonderful husband and the whole world should know that!

Love ya! xoxo

Disney Tickets for a Buck!!!

Disney tickets for a buck!! What a deal!! Only drawback is they are from the 1970's and wont get you into the park anymore! Those who know me well, know that I am a Disneyland freak. To me it truly is the happiest place on Earth. I tear up the moment we walk up to the Disney gates where they have the music pumping throught the park. I have been there 3 times in the last 4 years, one of them being our honeymoon. My husband is a good man to put up with all the trips there. I can honestly say that working at Disneyland is one of my dream jobs. I really don't care what I would do there but dressing up in a costume would be at the top of the list. I don't have a lot of Disney memorabilia, just pictures of my family visiting. I am more into the vintage Disney stuff. So I bought the 2 tickets on EBay for a buck a piece, just to have a little piece of Disney history.

This one is from 1975 a Welcome to Disneyland Ticket.

This one is from 1978, a Disneyland "B" Attraction Ticket. You could only get on certain rides with certain tickets. I believe they had A-E tickets.

Funny Video of the Week!

Funny little clip! Made me laugh.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwSqdL7fiE8

I still wish I knew how to have the video on my page instead of just the link. I will figure it out eventually!

Camping Weekend!

Well, we just got back from our camping trip last night. It was so much fun, but I am glad to be back to my own bed and bathroom! We rented a tent trailer but it was a bit small for our family. We were all able to sleep in it, but there was absolutely NO storage space whatsoever! So I was constantly moving clothes and food from one bed to another. Also sleeping on a small pull out bed with a 6 foot 4 man did not promote a restful nights sleep either. I should have snuggled in between the kiddos. Oh well. My only other complaint was sharing a bathroom with 50 other families. It can get pretty nasty. Yuck!

So anyway, we went camping near Leavenworth with my husbands brother and cousin and their families. I love camping with them. They are all easy going and fun to hang out and talk with. My absolute favorite part is dinner time, as it is more of a dinner party then camping. Patti and Cheri always make the picnic tables so pretty and make super food!

And also, Patti always brings fabulous cheeses to test out! Thank you Patti!

Saturday morning I woke up at 4:30am and had to go to the bathroom. By the time I trekked up and back I couldn't fall back to sleep. Just to darn uncomfortable. So about 5:30 I got up and decided to go in to take a shower. After that I sat around outside for awhile being miserable. I was tired, I couldn't get coffee without waking everyone else up so I got in the car and drove into Leavenworth. Thank goodness for Starbucks!!! It was open so I sat there for about an hour sipping a mocha. I almost fell asleep in one of their chairs!

We were suppose to leave Sunday morning but "encouraged" my husband to go for a visit to my parents house over near Winthrop. He was all for that so we left Saturday night and got to my parents around 11:30 and fell into a nice comfy bed!

We had a super time and next year I think we will be getting a camper with a bathroom!

Banana Bread Help

So, I used to make a damn good banana bread. Unfortunately I have misplaced the recipe and have been on a mission, for about a year now, to find something comparable. My dear friend the Beav (Kate) makes the best banana bread my HUSBAND has ever tasted (OK me too!). Beav brought over her tasty loaf (of bread) and as he dove into it says "oh honey, you have to get this recipe!"

All right, I know where she got the recipe, so I thought I would give it a whirl. This recipe is from Lance Armstrongs mom. Beav read the book and got it there, I got mine from the Internet doing a Google search on "banana bread Armstrong". Hopefully it was the same one.

So I have all the ingredients for this except buttermilk. I hate it when a recipe calls for something that I don't normally have in the house. Who has buttermilk in their house on a regular basis?? Anyway, I figured there must be a way to find a substitute for buttermilk. So on Cooking Light 101 they say you can use 1 tablespoon vinegar and then whatever milk you have to create 1 cup. I was a little worried when the batter seemed to be separating a little, kind of like oil and water together. All in all it turned out OK, not the best, definitely didn't taste like the Beav's. Next time I will make the trip to the grocery store. But here are my other problems that I have been having. It may be due to a crappy old oven that doesn't cook evenly but maybe someone has the answers for me.

1. The bottom half of the bread is always darker than the top half. Is my oven rack too low? Too high??

2. The top browns much too quickly? Can this be solved by tin foil?? Lower temp, longer cook time?? Oven rack too high?

Maybe I just need a new oven!

Photoshop Fun

Thanks to a blogger I came across, I read her instructions on how to photoshop your head onto someone elses. While she is much better than I at it, here are some of my creations. I will get better in time....Hopefully this isnt against the law. What??? Too much time on my hands??? My house may be a mess, but at least now I have a picture of me and Owen together!!!

Me and Owen, I think I am in love.....






Me at some awards thing, I cant remember what it was I go to so many! Good grief I sure look good!

Is it so sad that I am totally laughing at myself right now, thinking how funny I am???!!

Monster

This is so cute.. I have seen it before but ran across it again.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTWY0FHcj6Y


I havent quite figured out how to put the video on the blogsite yet. Maybe someone can tell me how as I spent forever trying to figure it out!

EEEWWWWW! Strep Throat!

Strep throat has invaded my house!!! All 4 kids have it, Maia is on her second round! The kids doc suggested that I go in and get checked too (just in case). As soon as she said it, my throat started to get sore. It may just be in my head or it could be that little Dane swiped my pop the other day and I continued to drink out of it! Wonderful! I have never had strep throat before, I dont even have tonsils. I didnt think I could get it. I guess if that were the case it would be called strep tonsils. Well, its been an expensive week at the doctors office!!! The summer is off to a SUPER start!!! At least its nice out! The book I requested at the library is in and I really want to go get it, but I am paranoid that the kids will pass it on and someone will find out its MY kids that gave it to them. Hmmmm, just have to wait till the hubby gets home!

Fathers Day Fun

What a great Fathers Day! We started off the day by sneaking off to the grocery store to get Dad an apple fritter and then to Starbucks to get his non-fat mocha no whip. It was about 830 when we got back and all the kids were bouncing around the house. Dad reluctantly got up and ate his doughnut and read his fathers day cards. Then it was off to the city park. It was sunny and the kids had a great time running through the trails and playing at the park. Dad relaxed a little in the sunshine.....

.....while I pushed the kids on the tire swing.....

Then we came home and Dad spent the rest of the day building a fort in the trees for the kids.

By the end of the day everyone was tuckered out, especially this one.....


Thanks Dad for all you do! Your the best!!!

Finally a Sunny Afternoon!

My boys

We spent the day at my brother in laws house for his daughters graduation party. It finally cleared up and we had a pleasant sunny day! Yippee!! The kids had a blast running around the yard chasing eachother and playing with the other kids there.

Maia playing on the bar

Hot stuff and Dane

Gage

Davis

Lets hope for a sunny Fathers Day!!!

Friday the 13th

I didnt realize that yesterday was Friday the 13th until this morning. Maybe that was why I felt so blah! I am not superstitious but I will still pick a penny up off the ground or unconsiously avoid stepping on a crack. As the first day of summer vacation, I was trying to think of something fun to do with the kids. It was too cold to go to the park so we went to the library. We didnt stay long because my kids were the loudest, banging doors, running through the aisles and fighting over who got the footstool to watch me check out the books. After a stern talking to in the parking lot, where no one was listening to me, I decided we should go to lunch. Maybe everyone was just hungry. I was going to go to the local grocery store to the deli but made a last minute (bad) decision to go to Jack in the Box. For 4 kids meals and 1 hamburger/pop, it was over 20 bucks!! Ouch! That made me grumpy. The kids were bouncing off the walls so after losing my cool and yelling at them to go sit down, I felt silly. I think I was the one having the temper tantrum. They all grabbed their cups and started filling them up with 7 different flavors, and I told them to all sit and I would do it because they would just spill and then I would be really mad! Guess who spilled the first drink all over the table???? Yes, me. I realized I needed to chill out.
Our next stop was a gift store to pick up some Fathers Day cards. In the middle of check out, the crappy hamburger I ate decided NOT to agree with my stomach. Oh man! I had to get out of there. If I crapped my pants in public, there would be NO WAY my kids would let me live that one down, not to mention I am sure they wouldnt just keep it to themselves. I can imagine Gage (9yo) telling his friend Jack who tells his mom the funny story....... Or worse yet, my step son Davis (5yo) telling his mom the funny story. Now the ex wives club would have some good gossip. Anyway, I made it home. Barely.
I decided to stay home the rest of the day, which was fine. I cleaned out my office to get ready for decorating! Hopefully it will be a better day today!

What the HELL is with this weather!!!!

This is where I wish I was!!


Seriously now!!! It is June 12th and its freezing and windy and gray outside. I hate this! I think I heard it was warmer in Alaska right now. I am almost ready to pack my bags, throw the kids in the car and drive in the direction of sun. That might actually be fun! I was born and raised here but I do believe my heart belongs in Southern California, or Florida, or South Africa, or South America, well you get the picture. I have a serious case of cabin fever right now which has caused me to overload on carbs and if I have to watch Bob the Builder one more time.....

Today is the last day of school for my kids which I am soo excited for (although ask me if I still feel this way in 2 weeks). No more getting up and fixing lunches and getting everyone dressed and out the door by 8:30. Free to enjoy the summer fun!!! When summer arrives. That could be next June. I will think positive thoughts and maybe the east coast will throw some sun over our way!

Jumping In!

Alright, so I am going to follow the crowd and jump in to the blogging world. I have never been much of a follower but I always find it so interesting to read other peoples thoughts and daily happenings, maybe someone will be interested in mine. Hopefully I can be as witty and clever as other bloggers I admire..thats you Beav....and you too Heather. If I screw things up or offend someone...well.. stop reading now cuz I guarantee it will happen.

Here is my clan....the HMO's (his, mine, and ours)

Picture 1 is Ours..Dane who is 2 and our giant child

Picture 2 is Mine..Maia is 7 years old

This is Mine...Gage is 9 years old

And this is His...Davis is 5 years old

You will have to forgive me on the picture arranging as it took me forever and this was the best I could do. I will figure it out.