Brownies

We need to fill our days with "something".  School work doesn't always work out because they don't want to, or he gets frustrated because he can't do something or figure something out….which makes me frustrated.  

So, I've decided that we're going to cook or bake (let's be honestly, it'll probably be just baking:o) something two or three times a week.  Plus, we get to eat the yummy things we've made.  Yesterday we made carrot cake muffins and today we made 5 Minute Brownies (yes the ones from Facebook).  We might need to find a little less fattening things to make:o)

And because I want to write down all of the funny things Amelia and Caleb say, here's a couple from today.

I was telling them we need to start up our chore list again and that at the end of every week, they'll get an allowance.  I told them that then on Sunday, we could give a little bit to God.  He said, "How are we going to give it to him?  Will the mailman take it and fly it up to Him?"

Then on the new tonight, they were showing brand new baby cheetahs at the zoo and I said that they were so cute we should get one for a pet.  Caleb said, "No way!  It would ruin our life!"

SNAKE!!

We were in the garage this morning.  The kids were riding bikes and getting all of the toys out and I was running on the treadmill.  (The treadmill faces the wall, so my back was to them).  Caleb, very politely says, "Snake.  There's a snake."  He didn't scream or yell, which was pretty good, I thought, because as soon as I turned my head around and saw it slithering towards me, I jumped off that thing so fast, it's a wonder I didn't fall!  I quickly grabbed my phone…because my phone could be a life saving device, you know.  We watched it slither, slowly, under the garage stairs - our only way back into the house.  So, we walked out into the shade, at the end of the driveway and researched what kind of snake it might be.  I concluded that it was a corn snake and nonvenomous, right about the same time Amelia informed me she had to go to the bathroom.  I made my way, quietly (as if that would help) up the stairs and into the house and unlocked the front door….where we could all safely get inside and eat a snack!

A little later, I heard Wrigley howling - more than usual - and found him investigating the snake, which had decided to come out of the garage…….that or there is another one that looks exactly like the first one, and if that's the case, we're never going outside again.

They're both checking each other out.

 Wrigley literally howled like this for about 15 minutes.  

 This picture was taken from the safely of the sunroom:o)

It finally made it's way through the fence and into our neighbors yard, where I hope it stays!  Oh and let's not forget to mention the giant cockroach that took up residence on our living room ceiling yesterday.  And when I say, giant, I mean about the size of the palm of my hand!  I'm over these southern bugs and reptiles!

Memorial Day Weekend

Our weekend started out with a date for Shawn and I!!  

I seriously can't remember the last time we went out…..a.l.o.n.e!  It was so nice. 

(Blurry pic taken by Caleb…but I was putting it up anyway:o)

 Saturday we headed to the beach with our friends, The Plot's.  Needless to say, the beach was packed.  It was a beautiful day and we had lot of fun.

 The water's still freezing, so Amelia would go get wet, then walk back up to our spot and get warm.  She did this a hundred times.

 Sunday, we stayed at home all day.  

And did yard work, all day. 

I feel like we got a lot done and my arms and legs have to show for it (the vines here are like Jumanji and have taken over, with huge thorns.  I decided to just climb in them and get them all down).

Sunday evening, we went on our first big bike ride since Caleb learned with no training wheels.  It was so much fun!  We went all over the neighborhood and saw streets we didn't even know where there.  We'll definitely be taking more of those this summer.

Yesterday, Shawn and Caleb went fishing and Amelia and I headed downtown.  Our first stop was The Accidental Artist to paint pottery.  I asked her what she wanted to paint and she said, a princess on a horse.

 We compromised, since there was no princess on a horse, and she painted a princess dress...

 …and a horse, both they will put magnets on.

 Then we headed to the Cow Cafe for a little lunch and ice cream.  

 After that, it was back home to get ready for friends to come over.

I LOVE our backyard!  It was 85 degrees and stinking hot in the sun.  But, not in the backyard, which is completely shaded.  This is going to be our favorite hangout in the next few months when it's unbearable to be outside.

Amelia, Molly, Emma and Sophie….the girl table.

 Sheppard and Caleb…and Wrigley, waiting to catch some food.

 Joe, Mike and Shawn.

 Me, Liz and Averi.

 Great friends!

We had a great weekend.  Now to relax and hope for no rain tonight, so we can watch Caleb at his t-ball game.

Projects

This has been a busy week.  Shawn came home on Monday….we were all very excited!!  Wednesday, our old windows began coming out and the new ones were put in.  The two big dining room windows, kitchen window, office area window, and two of the master bedroom windows were left to be replaced when we moved in.  

Old dining room window (4 windows).

 New dining room windows.  One big middle window.  

I think I like this better.

 The outside.

 This morning, they took out our old front door, which turned out to be a bigger project than they had planned for...

 …And this is what it looks like so far (it's lunchtime).

 Amelia decided that her dollhouse needed to be fixed too.  She was beating it with a hammer yesterday:o)

Here's to a great, long weekend!!

Mother's Day Weekend

We started out weekend out with a little baseball Friday night. 

Amelia brought her baby and thankfully, we were right next to the playground, so "they" (see her baby at the end of the slide) could play and I could watch them both at the same time.

 Getting a little instruction from his coach.

 Swinging away!

 After the game, we went to grab pizza with our friends, The Kempf's.  On Saturday morning, we went to a friends' birthday party, came home with just a couple of hours to rest and then headed to The Cromwell's for some more fun with friends.

 Caleb and Levi were on the deck shooting the Nerff guns at Gavin (the first kid diving to the ground), Amelia (I'm not sure what she's doing) and Vivian (doing the duck and roll).

 Gavin with his girlfriends, Amelia and Vivian.

 Today we went to early service at church, followed by a drive to Chuck E Cheese, followed by more driving to Wilmington.

 Before heading home, we had to stop for a little frozen yogurt.

 Happy Mother's Day!  

I love these sweet kids and am so happy God gave them to me!

TBall Game 2

 Amelia kept wanting to go talk to Caleb.

And getting her to sit in the stands is nearly impossible, so she got to play with the big girls. (Oh, there were little girls there, but she didn't want anything to do with them.  She just followed the big girls around the whole time).

 Getting some instruction from the coach.

 Caleb and Sheppard.

 Our next game is on Friday!

Brady's 8th Birthday

"When burdens press, and seem beyond endurance,

Bowed down with grief, to Him I lift my face;

And then in love He brings me sweet assurance;

'My Child! for thee sufficient is my grace'."

These four lines, written in 1885 by a Swedish man named, Carl Gustav Boberg, are what the hymn How Great Thou Art is based.

"My comfort in my suffering is this; 

Your promise preserves my life."

Psalm 119:50

"I will turn their mourning into joy,

I will comfort them, and give them gladness for sorrow."

Jeremiah 31:13

And because of this…

"I will sing of the LORD'S great love forever."

Psalm 89:1

Happy 8th Birthday, Brady!

We love you and await the day when we can hold you again!

Water Weekend

We got a glimpse into what our summer is going to look like over the past two days.  Yesterday we went to a pool party for some friends down the street at the YMCA.  It was awesome!  Caleb got comfortable enough to use his goggles, put his head under the water and see everyone's legs and Amelia is getting more and more brave as she tries to keep up with Caleb.  There aren't any pictures because I was in the water the entire time making sure no one drowned.

Today, we headed to the beach with our friends, The Plot's.  We found a new friend (kid in the red hat) once we started finding little fish and krill (we think) in our buckets of water.

 Caleb, Emma and Amelia.

 The water was still freezing, but they didn't care.

 Caleb playing on his new SurfSkate.  We bought it yesterday and I honestly don't really know what to do with it.  I'm thinking it's just a fun float toy.

 He's getting a little too brave for just me to watch.  I need another set of eyes on him.  

 Guys fishing near us caught 2 baby sharks….which leads me to believe the mommy shark can't be far off.  (I'm not really a huge fan of the ocean and Jaws was on last night:o)  We also saw a pod of dolphin, at least 10.  

It was a great weekend and I think tomorrow will be a relaxation day before we start this weeks fun activities!