Celebrating 40 Years of Marraige

Tonight we took Grandma Kathy and Grandpa Bob to Lo Sole Mio to celebrate their upcoming 40th Wedding Anniversary this Sunday. The kids were all excited. They have been seeing the pictures of their wedding day nearly 40 years ago. Alivia, at least, had some idea what we were celebrating. Being married 40 years is a big deal!

Good food, family and fun...oh, and let's not forget 40 years of marriage to celebrate! That's what great nights are made of.

Happy Anniversary...and many more!

Lunch with Alivia

Since beginning first grade, Alivia did not want us to eat lunch with her at school because she feared she would cry when I left. Today we surprised her at lunch time.

Addison, Asher and Leah (who ate with her sister) were so excited as they ran inside to eat like the big kids in school. It was fun to see Alivia in her element, with her friends.

And, Alivia did not cry when we left. She actually invited us to join her for lunch again, real soon.

Lunch time!

Emma, Leah and Alivia

What's for Dinner?

There is one question that does not get easier with time, "What's for Dinner." So far, "Whatever you are making," has not worked for an answer.

We have a limited menu, which makes my job as the one who prepares dinner difficult and just plain boring.

Things on our option list are pasta, tacos (with lettuce and cheese), cheese pizza, grilled chicken breasts, chicken legs (and only Chris, Addi and Asher eat chicken), deli night - where I make something that resembles subway sandwiches, breakfast night, pasta bake, an occasional hotdog (for Chris and maybe one-two of the kids will eat that - why I don't know) and that is about it. YAWN!

Eating out is something we rarely do. Don't get me wrong, I would love to eat out. But, with our picky eaters, they end up coming home and eating anyway. So, eating out is a total waste of money at this point. We are leaving eating out to the kids' special dates with Chris and I for the time being.

At lunch time, Addison and Asher will eat just about anything. We love soup in the winter, any fruit and any vegetable. Their favorite foods are steamed broccoli and a broccoli, cheese and rice dish. Seriously, if it is a healthy food item, Addison and Asher will eat it. Now, if Alivia is home for lunch, she will not eat any of their favorite foods. Come on, I am not a short order cook. Actually, I am not a cook at all!

We don't eat any red meat at home. Alivia only eats a cheeseburger from McDonalds and Turkey peperoni, by her choice only. She is just really picky. Addison and Asher generally will eat chicken and sometimes turkey. Addison actually loves chicken and her new love, shrimp. I don't eat meat generally. I usually have chicken or shrimp maybe once a year. I would like to eat more seafood, but I would never buy it for just myself (nobody else likes seafood). I get my fill of fruits, vegetables, salads, and carbs.

I am bored. I need to find more food options so I can stop yawning through dinner.

Any suggestions?

Let's Bounce!

Today we met some friends (and were surprised to see even more friends) at Bounce U. We arrived at noon, and about 12:15 the morning bouncers cleared out to make more room for us to play. The kids ran, bounced, slid and completely wore themselves.

After we did our school pick up, Addison went up to bed all by herself taking a nap until dinner! I think she may have just bounced herself out!

Spring Cleaning: The Basement

Last week...I took under the basement. The basement had to be cleaned and cleared out, but it was a very overwhelming undertaking.

One day, the kids were occupied in their imaginative play in the basement, so I took it upon myself to get started with the toys. By saying get started, I mean I took out all of the toys out of the toy room and dumped them all out on the main basement floor. I took all the toys that were upstairs downstairs and seriously just dumped them at the bottom of the stairs.

Over the next couple days, the toys just sat there. I finally had time to put them in baskets on Friday evening, sorting and getting everything organized on Saturday. And....for the results...

First - the DUMP

But, that was only the beginning! Next I had to take on the utility room. Seriously, what a mess. I had an idea up my sleeves, so I had to clean out and eliminate the unnecessary (crap). And, we had a lot of crap!

Okay...now for the after of the utility room and basement!

As you can see, the kids got their own space. They wanted a play room...so I tried to give them that. It will have to do...for now. Until we come up with the next plan.

Now, I have cleaned and cleared nearly 2 floors of our home. Now, for completing the main level. I have started on it, but have a ways to go.

Although it is supposed to be spring...there is still snow on the ground. So, I have time to finish, right?!

Spring Snow

What gives...isn't it spring. It has snowed the last 2 mornings. Today it seemed to snow all day. Ugh! Where is spring? The ducks on my morning run were all huddled together. They don't know what is going on, either.

Today the kids made a snowman and watched movies. Perfect spring snow day. Let's hope the March lion gets the heck out of here soon.

Looking at the Kitchen!

Dinner with the Grandparents...

Last night we were lucky to have Grandma Kathy, Grandma Pat, and Grandpa Bob bring us Mama's pizza for dinner. The kids were so excited they made the house shake. Let's just say, they make it completely obvious that they love their Grandparents!

Alivia sang to them while listening to her Ipod, then Addison and Alivia "danced" before playing London Bridges with Grandma Kathy. We then looked through some of the latest Austin photo books. Addison was asleep before they even left! What a fun night!

Another Day in Paradise

Today.

Today, I woke up tired, on the wrong side of the bed.

I went from Wednesday morning when I woke up to last night at 9:30 with only 1 hour nap (thanks to the lovely Addison and Asher).

So, needless to say, I was crabby and just plain spent when I woke.

Now, I can say I am more tired.

With all my energy, I decided to load up Addison, Asher and our friend Leah and take them shopping. I had promised Addison to go to the Westroads play space (they really like that for some reason), so that was to be our first stop. They played for probably 40 minutes before I thought it was time to shop.

I needed to buy a gift. I do not browse typically, I shop for what I need and get out. I am not a big shopper. Von Maur, Addison' favorite store, did not have anything that caught my eye. So, we walked across the mall, out to our car, and over to Borsheims.

3 kids in Borsheims probably does not sound very smart. They were, overall, quite good. Okay, Asher needed a little reminding, but overall they were good. Found the gift, stopped at Pottery Barn Kids, before making our way to target to pick up some things for dinner with Grandma and Grandpa tonight. After trucking them around Target, we made a quick run to the bread store before FINALLY getting home.

The kids practically laid in their food at lunch, hardly talking. This is rare. Within minutes, Asher reminded me that we were late for nap in a not so subtle way.

Within 10 minutes, all 3 kids were sound asleep.

Maybe I should nap. Hum...

Well, maybe after I finish making more brownies and cleaning up the kitchen.

Fudgy Saucepan Brownies

They taste much better than they look!

After the beautiful weather yesterday, today it turned cold on us. So, what better way to fill up our time than to bake brownies! I had a little help, okay lots of help, as Addison, Asher and our friend Leah helped a lot. They added the ingredients, cracked the eggs, and ate some batter, of course.

Here are the ingredients from the recipe found in Betty Crocker's Cookie Book, 1998 addition (love this book!):
1 package (12 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips (2 cups)
1/2 cup butter or margarine
1 cup sugar
1 1/4 cups flour
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
3 eggs, beaten
1 c. chopped nuts, if desired (we did not add nuts)

Heat over to 350 degrees. Heat chocolate chips and butter in saucepan over low heat stirring until smooth. Remove from heat, stir in remaining ingredients except nuts. Then, stir in nuts.

Spread batter in ungreased 13x9x2 inch pan. Bake 25-30 minutes. Cool completely.

And, ENJOY!

Fun to bake and oh so yummy to eat!

Peaceful, but cool, morning in Shadow Lake