Hmm what to write about...

So, as those of you who follow this blog might have noticed, I have not kept up with the blog since Halloween.  Yes, that is right, Halloween.  Man does that seems like yesterday to anyone else?  We had a busy but very fun Holiday season starting with Halloween and ending with New Years.  I made the boy's costumes this year and I was so glad that I was able to produce what Cooper had requested because it was so gosh darn cute!  String Bean told me he wanted to be Copper and Butter Bean to be Todd from The Fox and the Hound.  Cutest Fox and hound ever right??? You be the judge:

After Halloween came Thanksgiving, which for me was not a lot of work since my mother and sister handled all of the cooking and cleaning.  All I had to do was show up with the grandchildren and make sure they did not get in the way of the aforementioned cooking and cleaning. 

Christmas was so much fun this year.  Robert and I got most of our shopping done early so there was no shopping stress for us.  However, I did make three gallons of carmel corn for the nice ladies that watch the kids on Wednesdays so that I can go to Ladies Bible Class and act like an adult for two hours.  Except that I forgot said candy corn at home and did not have enough time to turn around and get it.  So sadly, we had to eat it all ourselves.  I know, tragic is it not?  Don't worry I made the nice church ladies some New Year's candy corn and almost walked out the door without it again had String Bean not wondered where his backpack was a mile from home.

The week of Christmas was fun as well.  We spent a couple days at Granny and PawPaw's and got to watch PawPaw cut down tree limbs in a cherry picker.  I had two very happy little boys who were happy to sit and watch Pawpaw fell limbs.  We then headed back home to Katy to get ready for Santa.  We had a great Christmas morning with the boys with lots of presents and hot chocolate and pancakes.

I then starting to pack up the food I was taking to my mom's and we headed out for lunch with parents.  After lunch with my parents we went to see Rob's parents and catch up with all the cousins.  To say we were tired that night when we got home is an understatment but I had leftover chocolate peppermint cake to look forward to.

I tried a several new dishes this year.  I made a cauliflower gratin and rosemary acron squash for sides for lunch.  My parents hated it and I will probably not be allowed to cook again but my sister (THE CHEF) seemed to enjoy it.  Now I would love to tell you about that chocolate peppermint cake but it is a sad and not pretty story.  Sad because the cake layers slid all around and it was a hot mess by the time I got it to my mom's.  Not pretty because I ended up having to invert it into a bowl from the cake plate to make a trifle out it.  But man was it tasty, at least I think so.  My parents probably hated that too!  I am guessing I will get to bring the cranberry sauce next year.

So here we are mid-January and it was 76 degrees today.  I am hopiong we have some more cooler weather because I am not ready for summer yet!

But mom, I want to ride the trebuchet!!!

After seeing Husband off this morning (he's helping his mom today, ahhh what a guy), me and the chicks went out to one of the local high school's pumpkin patch/carnival.  Of course, we had to do this for several reasons,

1. To take up time during the day while Husband is gone since I am spoiled beyond belief with a very hands on dad who entertains the boys on the weekends 
2. I needed to get some pictures (that did not happen!) of them near a pumpkin for the day very long from now when I get into scrapbooking
3. I thought they would have fun!

 Of course, they would not sit still for pictures so I finally gave up and paid the lady three bucks to get a decent photo of us.  Then I released them out into the pumpkin patch to roll around for awhile with the most orange of sqaushes.  Then we did the moonwalk and played a little pint size basketball and then headed over to the bake sale table to get them all good and sugared up.  I get such enjoyment out of them cramming cookies and cupcakes in their mouths! 
Anyway, then came the trebuchet. I like to call them catapults but the fancy french word seems to have caught on (mental note: look up difference between catapult v. trebuchet).

So they load the perfectly good pumpkin up and launch it and the instant the pumpkin explodes, String Bean says "I want to ride it!" I am in serious trouble, this child just watched a pumpkin get smashed to bits and he wants to go next! I think I will start making him wear a helmet from now on just in case.

Belly Art

In my attempt to distract my boys from all things that "go," I took the easel outside and told them to paint.  I suggested they paint the sky, the birds, or even the grass, whatever their little minds came up with.

 

So what did my two little stinkers paint?  Their bellies.  I mean they literally painted their bellies.  I then begin to see the wheels turning in String Bean's head, I can hear him thinking... I have just made myself into one big stamp!  So, they spent the rest of art time making belly impressions on the patio.

When they go tired of that they started painting my legs.  Note - red paint (even washable paint) stains your skin! 

Ahh well, at least they they did something else besides crashing cars!

Long live belly art!

One fine meal

Tonight I made something that made my whole famliy happy and I just had to share about it.  It may not look pretty (cassoroles rarely do) but it tastes great.  What is this ugly mess you see above that had my whole family asking for seconds?  Shepard's pie.  Meat, vegatbles, gravy and mashed potatoes all in one dish creating a wonderful homey dish that leaves everyone feeling full and sastified. 

This is dish I did not grow up eating.  I actually have my dear friend Alison to thank for introducing this great dish from across the pond (I love that phrase).  She was preggo with her first child and all she could stomach was mashed potatoes.  First I was shocked she was cooking in the first place but if Ali could make this surely I could too (I know that sounds a bit wicked of me but trust me Al and I's friendship is based on a healty competitve nature).  So five years later I have finally perfected this masterpiece of home cookery.  In fact Cooper told me that it was as good as snack and treats!  Now that is a compliment any mama would be proud to hear.

Who Cares if the Water is Brown?

So Aunt Jessica called and wanted to know if the boys and I would like to go to Galveston with her and her girls. Of course, I jumped at the chance to get some beach fun in with six extra hands to help watch the boys. Throw Aunt Becky in and we had us some fabulous brown water fun!
This was the boy's first trip to the beach and from the moment we got there they loved it. I thought Butter Bean might not like the water and String Bean would freak out over water in his face but it seems I was underestimating my boys. String Bean got braver and braver and kept asking us to take him further out. Butter Bean was determined to catch a bird and spent most of his time running after them.
We had a picnic lunch and swam some more and had to leave due to sheer exhaustion from holding String Bean  up in the waves. On the way home I realized that I did not get all of my back and felt the sunburn starting to set in. Fast forward two hours later and I make lobsters look pale in comparison! Luckily the boys did not get burned at all. Poor husband had to work but wanted us to go anyway. Hopefully we can make it back down there before the summer is over!

Its a bird, its a plane, no its super String Bean!

We had the best playdate today and I just want to share some photos! The kids decorated their own mask and got their own cape and super here badge to wear. They had fun running around even though I don't know if they were quite sure what they celebrating! I had lots of fun cutting all this stuff last night and playing with puff paint! Enjoy the photos, our new friends Karys, Luke, Jillian and Eli made the day super special!

Summer

I just noticed that it has been over two months since I last posted something! I guess you could say we have just been busy doing lots of little things this summer. We swim and ride bikes and go to play dates with our friends. Preschool will be starting up the first of September and String Bean is very excited. I know I should be excited too but part of me would rather just keep him home and teach him things myself! Isn't that crazy? I should be happy for the break during the day but I guess I don't see it that way. I recently went to the teachers' supply store and got several activity books and "learning toys" and was all set to start teaching him to read. I know I can still do those things but I can't help but feel I have outsourced part of my responsibility!

Enough of that, lets move on to Butter Bean.  Little Butter Bean is quickly becoming a little stinker of first rate. He likes to take away anything String Bean  is holding and smash all block tower within a 5 mile radius. The last of his teeth are coming in and so the biting episodes are back and poor String Bean is the recipient of most of them.

String Bean told me the other day that he wants Butter Bean to live in his room! I was so excited since this is our master plan. Of course, String Bean might regret saying that once it happens!

We have a super hero themed play date this Friday. I promise to post pictures!