Who wants to see a little boy

without this much hair?

I think I’m gonna have to wait until I have at least 5 comments before I can be persuaded to share after pics!

Happy Birthday John!

John had a pretty good birthday I think.  It started off with a present.

I wonder what it could be?

His favorite cereal, of course!  So, he got to eat that for breakfast.

Then, company arrived, Aunt Kathy and Mamom (sorry Mamom, I didn’t get a picture with you in it, I guess you always had your camera over your face when I was using mine!).  Time was spent exploring the content of Aunt Kathy’s purse.

There were a few presents to be had, some letter factory videos,

a scooter (no more sneaking Ruthanne’s),

and a new piggy bank.

I finished John’s birthday treat (chocolate cupcakes, I decided brownie cupcakes, with chocolate icing) just in time!  I really like how it turned out.

About to make a wish…

One candle down, three more to go.

I can’t believe John is 4.  He seems to be getting older and growing up!  I guess he is officially a preschooler not a toddler anymore!  I love that boy and his silliness!   Life would surely be boring without John!

Anyone have a snake hunting dog I can borrow?

About a month ago our yard guys noticed we had a couple of snake holes in the backyard near the wooded area. I freaked and stressed about it, wondered what to do, googled, you know the drill. I finally read enough stuff that I thought well I haven't seen one and it will likely stay in the wooded area and non-poisonous snakes are actually good, right? Thats what I kept telling myself. But, I'm going to the bathroom today and as I'm leaving the room I look out the window and see a bird flying low to the ground "playing" with something. Oh, wait, that something is a snake! It starts slithering up a tree slightly and then we lose sight of it.

Luke does go outside to investigate but doesn't see it. All I saw is that it looked dark but that it had some kind of lighter pattern (I think anyways). Oh, and it was slithering across the grass from the open area to the wooded area. Ahhh, not feeling so good about that. I'm constantly scanning the grass looking for it. And, we just ordered a swingset for the kids, and I don't even want to hang out in the yard any more! Tell me to be strong, or how to get rid of it! The county dept won't do anything unless you know where the snake is, they won't hunt for it.

Yuck, yuck, yuck! I DON'T LIKE SNAKES!

A little late…

Paul’s cake.  I can’t believe he actually ate any.  These days he is being pretty picky, won’t eat what I offer, but of course, go figure, was trying to eat mulch and grass at the park this afternoon!

Oh, and at his 1 year check up the Dr. started looking at the curve, laughed and said, he’s actually on the curve!  For weight anyways, for height he was still hovering over it!  He was 24 lbs 11 oz and 32” tall.

Cereal Bars

So, I'd happened on a recipe I thought could be adapted to a healthy cereal bar. I think I did it! We have lovely apple cinnamon cereal bars now!

Combine the following in a saucepan and bring to a boil to thicken:
1 3/4 cups mashed fruit/applesauce
1 tbsp sugar/honey (optional)
sprinkle of cinnamon
splash of vanilla

Combine the following in a large bowl
1/4 cup butter or coconut oil, softened
1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup whole wheat flour
3/4 cup quick cooking oats
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Original recipe called for a 9x9 pan but I thought a thinner crust and more fruit was better so I use a 7x11 (or 8x12 or whatever size my pan is, definitely smaller than 9x13). Grease your pan. Spread and pat down 2/3 of the oat/flour mixture in the pan. Spread your slightly thicker fruit mixture over next then sprinkle over the remaining oat/flour mixture. Bake at 400 for approximately 20 minutes. Let them cool to at least warm before you slice into them. Enjoy!

My sweet boy...

That John, he can be trouble (remember the market on the legs?), but he can be super duper sweet too! The other night he was in lots of trouble. We found handprints on the bathroom wall, I thought it was just wet handprints and it would dry, nope lotion, supposedly he couldn't find a towel. I told him he should obviously ask for one! Then, in his room we noticed more marks on the wall, looked like water again, but no of course not, vaseline! He's been sick and we keep vaseline on the table with tissue so he can help protect his nose. I guess it was too much temptation. Oh, and these marks were not just let me wipe my finger off they were let me see what kind of design I can draw. I guess we will be spot painting the walls (tacky I know but that is what has been done in this rental so it won't be out of place!).

Anyhow, Luke was pretty upset and and was telling John that he might have to use his own money to fix the walls if he does something else. Well, little John gets a little teary sad and says that when he gets his money (for his birthday from Mimi & Poppa) he is going to get Ruthanne an American Girl doll. Who could be mad at that sweet boy?

(And just so you know, the kids don't even get enough birthday money to get something that expensive, they aren't that spoiled! And, Ruthanne has two American Girl dolls already so its not like she's deprived!)

10 Years????

Wow, where has the time gone!  Luke & I have been married for 10 years today!  I wish I had a picture of us on our wedding day (on the computer), but I don’t and I don’t have a scanner.  Oh, well!  So far we don’t have any big plans for tonight, our would be babysitters will be busy I’m sure (there is a function at church tonight), but maybe we’ll get out soon!  But, I do have a photo from a cocktail party we went to recently. 

Love ya honey!  Can’t wait for the next 10 (and more!).

My little Garden

Well, I have some other posts I need to get caught up on, but I needed to share my excitement about our garden, ITS GROWING!  I’m so pleased!  We’re growing tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, and melons.  I have cucumbers and squash that are about an inch long and a few flowers on a tomato plant!  Woohoo!  Here is a picture:

I have plants in earthboxes and straw bales (five of each).  The earth boxes seem to be doing better (and have rave reviews, so I think they are worth the $$) but the straw bales are doing all right (and are much cheaper, but have to be replace every year/every other year).  In the back from left to right are tomatoes, squash, melons, cucumbers, and more tomatoes and in the straw bales from left to right are tomatoes, tomatoes, squash (wintery), melons, and squash. 

I am going to NEED to figure out how to preserve some of this as I can already tell I will probably have 10-15 cucumbers ready here in a couple weeks!  I need to be finding a freezer and figuring out how to can some things!  Exciting!

Handmade Birthdays

I think we are mainly going to do a handmade gift for the kids birthdays coming up and then get them a swingset for the backyard.  The contenders are this one and this one so if anyone has some suggestions, let me know! 

Anyhow, Paul is getting a self-binding blanket (tutorial from Tara) and a butterbean doll (pattern from bit of whimsy prims).  I got them all done today and they don’t look half bad!  I’m not sure I’ll do another blanket like this with minky because it doesn’t hold a crease but it was really easy and it is pretty cute!

 

Next is John’s doll, but thankfully I have until May 28!

Happy Birthday Paul

Well, in one hour my baby boy will be 1.  Can I postpone him turning one as long as I don’t let him smash any cake?  The kids kept saying that he’s not a baby any more.  Well, I am just going to be in denial! 

He has to go to the doctor tomorrow for his checkup so official stats will come then but I know he is around 25 lbs (we’ve stopped gaining weight like crazy since he started moving).  He has eight teeth and stands and walks along furniture.

Here are some fun pictures of Paul I took recently.

We love the little stinker!