Backyard BBQ

Always fun to spend time with Uncle, Auntie and Cousins. 

 

Picking black berries

Playing pickle ball

Roasting marshmallows

Good food + good conversation + good company = good times

 

 

 

Ice Cream & Beach Time

Add those two things together with good friends and you have one heck of a fun evening.

 

 

Camp Out

Last night we had a camp out.  A backyard camp out, but a camp out nonetheless.  Both kids were so excited they could hardly contain themselves.  We trekked out blankets, pillows, sleeping bags, flashlights, lovies, and of course a special camp-out snack.  Carmen was amped and ready to tell stories, look at the stars and play games.  Due to no nap, she promptly conked out in about 5 minutes once her head hit the pillow.  It took Maxy far longer to settle down and he kept shouting 'the stars are coming, the stars are coming.'  After thrashing around and turning circles, he finally settled in and fell asleep too. 

Fast forward a few hours...we wake up to Carmen literally kicking and screaming apparently having some sort of a bad dream.  The fussing and crying continued for quite a spell (sorry neighbors).  We begged and pleaded for her to stop, tried everything we could to sooth her and calm her down but it took a long, long time.  Finally, back to sleep.  Unfortunately, there were two more of these episodes throughout the short night.  One of them woke Max up at 3:45 and when he woke up, he was alert and ready to start his day.  Into the house he goes with Daddy who tried to get him back down for some shut-eye.  20 minutes, later they are back in the tent.  He was passionate about wanting to go outside; the crib wouldn't do.  We get him settled again.  Settled is him sleeping across my pillow as I'm sandwiched in-between both kids.  All four of us finally back to sleep, for a little while.  6:30 rolls around and Max hears a crow.  He bellows 'crow, crow, crow' over and over again (again, sorry neighbors).  Back into the house Daddy and Maxy go, this time up for the day.  Carmen and I get to sleep a little while longer.  7:30 rolls around and Carmen wakes up, opens her eyes, looks at me and smiles.  'Mom, sleeping in the tent was so much fun!'

Hmmm...apparently someone has little-to-no recollection of the sleepless night.  I'm glad at least one of us had a good time.  Not sure we will be camping any time soon.  It will take me a while to recover from our back yard camp out!

Froggy

We found Carmen sleeping like a froggy this week.  I recalled the picture I took when she was almost a year old. Lamby is within arms reach in both.  I guess some things never change.

December 2011

August 2014

Family Pic

It's a rarity we get a photo where we are all looking and no one is crying.  I had to share.

Helping in the Kitchen

Today we made granola bars.  The kids were a big help.  Well, Carmen was and she is always eager to cook or bake. Max is eager as well, but his helping needs a little polish.  I think I told him at least 32 times to sit on his bottom or knees, he attempted to turn on the gas stove a handful of times (though not successful) and he successfully licked the top of the brown sugar canister and also put a fist full of raw flour and rolled oats in his mouth, which he promptly spit out. Needless to say this baking adventure came with lots of comic relief.  End product was a batch of yummy, quickly gobbled up granola bars.  So easy to make and worth sharing the recipe. 

Super Easy Granola Bars

Ingredients: 

• 1/4 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 2 tablespoons ground flaxseed
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 2 cups old-fashioned oats
• 1 cup all purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
•  1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 cup raisins or craisins     
   

Two easy steps:

1) In a large bowl, beat butter and brown sugar until crumbly, about 2 minutes. Add egg; beat well. Stir in flax and honey. In a small bowl, combine the oats, flour, cinnamon and baking soda; stir into creamed mixture just until blended. Gently stir in raisins.  

                           

2)  Press into an 11-in. x 7-in. baking dish coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 14-18 minutes or until set and edges are lightly browned. Cool on a wire rack. Cut into bars. Yield: 1 dozen.

 

 

3 Sleeps

Daddy has been away for three sleeps. 

That's a long time. 

However, we've been keeping ourselves pretty darn busy...

Painting many masterpieces

Movie night with popcorn

Swimming with Auntie & Cousins

 

Backyard dinner and playtime

More fun with friends:



 

 

While we had a fun weekend, we are all glad daddy is coming home!

A funny

This morning Carmen woke up early (pre- 6:00 AM).  I went to her room since I heard her getting up.  She looked at me and said, 'Mom, you slept hard last night.'  A bit confused, I said 'because I have crazy hair?'  'No, because you have a maze on your face,' she said very matter-of-factly.  I couldn't help but laugh.  Pillow lines = maze in her world.  It was very cute.

Sunday Sunshine

With 80 degree weather, we spent our Sunday...

running through the sprinkler

 

having fun with squirt guns

 

and building sandcastle creations (no actual sand, but dirt) 

Carmen was very proud of her masterpiece

Catnap with Lamby