Baltimore

What a fun birthday! For all the lack of planning we had before this trip, it turned out to be a great discovery. One that we already have plans to go back and re-visit. Baltimore is a wonderful city packed with family friendly things to do. We didn't do anything indoors except browse a few shops, but the day was too beautiful. One could simply sit by the water and people watch for hours. When traveling with four small children, that is not an option, so we walked and took it all in. Outside.

We ended the night at a Mexican Restaurant in Harrisburg where they sang to me. John had no idea what to think. They were just glad I had ice cream to share. 

Ella and Peter had funny pronunciations of the city we saw. Peter called it "Billtimore" and Ella called it "Ballteemore." John just kept asking if we were back in "Danbill." I was blessed to spend my 29th birthday with my husband, kids, sister and niece. This week marks two more, Ella turns 5 on the 18th and John turns 2 on the 21st. Bring on the celebrating.

A Great CD & Bad Shark

If you are looking for a good listen and you're a mom, check out this CD. A mom from my MOPS group wrote to Sara Groves about this album and asked about a fundraiser for the Agape Center in Bloomsburg. They sent our group 50 CD's for free and we donated money as a group for them to Agape. I can already say that I am going to need tissues when I listen to more of the songs. I feel like a total sap sometimes, but after having kids, when I hear songs about them, I just can't fight that lump that forms in the back of my throat. So check it out. It's also a great gift for a new mom if you're looking for ideas. 

Speaking of motherhood....

This child pictured above is my Middle Man. He loves attention. His downfall is that he whines a lot. The good/bad thing is that he's super persistent. He tries whatever method necessary to get what he wants. Later in life he'll probably have a good job because of that. Right now, however, I could lose my mind some days trying to parent him. His mind makes for some of my best stories. So does his mouth. 

Today, he was mad because I would not let him wear shorts. It's 60 degrees outside. He whined his way over to me and flopped himself across my lap. So I squeezed him and held him close, started kissing him on the cheeks and asked in a silly voice, "Oh Peter, do you need some love, love, lovey, lovey, looooooooove?" Pulling away from me he looked at me in the eye and said, "What I think I might need is some SPACE." I looked over at my sister (who is here for a few weeks YAY!) and we both busted up laughing.

Then....

tonight was a shark. He loves to pretend. Well, this shark decided to do something bad. My niece had made a stinky diaper. It was neatly packaged up and on its way to the trash. Peter intercepted it somehow and decided to throw it. Oh, excuse me, the SHARK decided to throw it. The shark had good aim because it hit his sister square in the face. Sick. Andrew grabbed him and gave him a talk about how we never throw diapers and then gave a much deserved swat. Next thing I knew, Peter was screaming really loud. Ella finally asked him, "Why are you still crying Peter?" His reply was, "Daddy killed the shark! When he swatted me, the shark died." I can't say I'm overly sad about this particular death.

Bubba, thanks for always giving me something to write about.

Three Pies

Ella's Pre-School went on an outing this Friday...

 Standing by her classmates learning about pumpkins in all varieties. She learned that if you carve one and stick a candle in it, it will glow. She also learned that the small orange ones make great pie.

At Whitenights, they have some very fun slides.

Ella really liked the one with the pink playhouse. She giggled all the way down each one.

Green Moon Sand. She said, "Peter would really like this stuff."

This is my girl with her admirer.  He said to me, "I have lots of fun with Ella, she's great." His mom said he talks about her all the time. It was so cute. He saved her a seat with all the boys on the hay ride. His Grandma goes to our church and he's such a nice little guy. 

Having fun on the hay ride.

They had all kinds of displays around the field. All the kids just laughed as we passed each one.

She picked a pumpkin from the patch.

She put it in the bag and wouldn't take it out!

She held it behind the scarecrow sign.

Then even when I asked her to show the pumpkin for the picture she said no. So there's her pumpkin in the bag.

It was a beautiful day for an outing with 16 preschoolers. I finally got to meet more of the parents while we watched the kids play and have fun. Peter and John were home with my friend and when the hayride was over, Ella didn't want to keep playing with her friends. She wanted to get two more pumpkins for her brothers and get home. I love that even when she's excited to be out by herself she still thinks about "the brothers" and even wants to get extra pumpkins. She informed me that the kind she picked out make great pie. "Now that we have three of them, we can make three pies!"

Rest Assured

Lest you think my children are out on the sidewalk with a "free to good home sign" I wanted to post the pictures of the highlights of our week so far. While it's had it's lows, these past few days have brought about some laughter with walks, meals, and just silly times as a family. 

Andrew was going to be late for dinner so I decided to take the kids out for a walk. I told them we could make a picture with the things they found on our outing. They came back with sticks, rocks, clovers, a dandelion, leaves and almost a dead butterfly but we decided against that. Ella took the beach rocks out of my pot on the porch, but I guess that counts too. Now I just need to figure out how to get this "masterpiece" off my kitchen counter without crushing them. The leaves and flowers have shriveled and this is a big box lid.

While cutting up the halibut for dinner the other night, I happened to notice that some the slices were in the shape of fish! The kids really enjoyed this. Peter especially. Since he loves pickles, my tartar sauce was a hit as well. 

These 1 inch thick pieces of fish are dipped in egg then seasoned bread crumbs with grated parmesan cheese mixed in. Cooked for about 15 minutes at 350 degrees, until the fish is flaky. So good.

The pellet stove is on in full force. No heaters yet, but that may be coming soon. The boys were pretty excited about sitting in front of the warm fire in their oh so cute pajamas.

As if the kids needed one more reason to visit their Dad's work, Andrew put plastic bags around them to slide faster down the stairs. The top is tied behind their necks and he made arm and leg holes. They were cracking up the whole time and I got it all on video. 

This is my new shirt from Forever 21. I love bikes and the French language, which I took in high school and have mostly lost, but I hope to change that someday. I'm still debating whether or not it's okay that I'm shopping at Forever 21 when I'm almost 29 (less than 2 weeks). I guess that's the point of their store name. Doesn't matter how old you are. If you don't care what people think (to an extent) you can wear clothes that make you look 21 FOREVER. Here's to the fountain of youth and my fun shirt.

By the way, thank you to those of you who have been so encouraging about our struggles this week. Funny thing, I was on my way out to the van today and sort of feeling sorry that I couldn't try the new Pumpkin Spice Latte' at Starbucks because that would just be something I could do without. I reached in my back pocket for my phone and found $10!! I never keep cash in my pockets so I have no idea where it came from. You know, I got that drink since we were doing our weekly Target trip and it was SO GOOD. I think because I thought it just may have been straight from heaven. Smile.

Oh Deer.

"There are many qualities about the outdoors that deserve our appreciation. The open farmlands, the green forests, the rushing rivers, And the inesapable fact that nowhere in all this beauty will you find a decent place to hang a clock. Out here, time passes at its own pace, according to its own schedule..we just accept this. After all, what's the rush? That's what the whispering prarie grass seems to say, and the truth be told it has a good point. A turkey gobbles from over the ridge- a majestic bellow that demands we ease up. We will. The appointments can wait; that meeting can be rescheduled. So slow down, breathe deep. As the wind in the pines just reminded us, there's plenty of time."-Mossy Oak

 I had no intention of writing another blog today, but that was before Andrew came home around 1pm with this.

I'm not going to lie. I feel bad for this animal. I also know that hunting is something Andrew really likes to do and for the past week or more, he's been practicing in our basement with weapons like a warrior. This deer was shot with Andrew's crossbow. I guess there really is something about boys and the need to feel the rush of something. Be it hunting, fishing, cars, bikes, sports...who knows. I'm just learning that raising boys is interesting due to that fact. Even when I tell the boys to stop pretending to shoot stuff, they figure out some other way of acting like barbarians. So be it. Sorry to my vegetarian friends, but we love good jerky, and that is what this very deer will be providing shortly. Good job Mr. Provider.

Our friend Ed has been with Andrew on many of his excursions outdoors. John just kept saying, "Dad! It's sooker big! Sooker big Dad!" (super big) I think despite telling Andrew that the deer was scary, he was the most impressed by the big animal in our yard. 

Apples in Abundance

"Good apple pies are a considerable part of our domestic happiness." -- Jane Austen

Apple Crescent

1 pack of Pillsbury Crescent Rolls

1 Can Apple Pie Filling (we cut the apples smaller to fit)

Cinnamon & Sugar Sprinkle

(we added caramel sauce too)

Roll up all those ingredients into the crescent and bake about 12 minutes at 325 degrees. 

The can of pie filling went farther than I thought, you could actually use 2 packs of rolls and still have enough filling. I already snuck a taste since it's for tonight's dessert, it's marvelous. Vanilla ice cream will be on the side.

"Surely the apple is the noblest of fruits." -- Henry David Thoreau, Wild Apples

"We are born believing. A man bears beliefs as a tree bears apples." -- Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree." -- Martin Luther

We've been enjoying our apples lately, that's for sure. Ella made the art pre-school that is pictured up top, and the two pictured here, were made by Peter and Ella for a friend's birthday. My kids would pick apples over most fruit. I believe I would too. They go with Peanut Butter, Caramel, Chocolate, Cool Whip, and they even compliment meat. We put them in oatmeal. We put them in pies. This week we enjoyed them wrapped in dough with cinnamon ice cream-the ever loving DUMPLING!! They are a symbol for lots of people. Teachers, History, "An apple a day keeps (insert whomever you want) away,"  and the idea that there are 3 parts (skin, flesh, core) but only 1 apple (the Trinity). In the end, they're good for a number of things, even as stamps. 

Target did well with their new kitchen towels. Since Ella is learning so much about apples in school this month, I figured I would, you know, reinforce the idea at home. Wink.

Enjoy the apple!

Weapon of Mass Destruction

"It's an intense start to the day when you bring your third born downstairs to find that your first born has literally beat your second born with a tube of Go-Gurt. Unfortunately, it popped open and there was proof of her frustration in his hair, on his clothes, and all over the floor and chair. As I was wiping it off his head, I started laughing at the site it must have been and the fact that his hair was full of pink goo. You can't be serious all the time..."

 

This was the status the other day on my Facebook. It was no joke and I am still hearing about this incident from my boys. Ella would just as soon forget about it. She says, "I've already told this story too many times." When the kids ate Go-Gurt today, John said, "Dodurt, Bubba's hair!" Well, he didn't have any in his hair today and Ella was banned from tubed yogurt for 2 days. She's eating it the way most people do. From a bowl with a spoon. What a concept. I started buying the healthier kind of Go-Gurt by the way, just in case you think I bomb my kids with sugar first thing in the morning. Anyway, my mom called and said she wished I had a video camera copy of this war with pink goo. I have to say, I wish I did too. The story from Peter, was that he thought she was going to eat 2 tubes and Ella says she was just going to put it away. She got so mad that he was accusing her of something that she just started hitting him. So in the end, one tube ended up wasted anyway!! It was everywhere. I'm not even kidding. It was like my kitchen was a canvas with Go-Gurt as the paint. Oh and Peter too. He was also the canvas. The look on his face when he met me at the kitchen door with his head covered in slime was one I will probably not forget for quite a while. He didn't know whether to cry, laugh, or head for the bath. At that point I really thought it was just on him. Until I rounded the island and saw the destruction. How could that little tube possibly hold this much yogurt and still have more left? Who knows. I spent the first 15 minutes of my morning not getting breakfast for the kids, but getting breakfast off one of them, as well as the chairs, floor, and table. Not the best way to start the day, but looking back and seeing the scene in my head makes me chuckle. I did not give Peter a bath. His hair was sticky and smelled like fruit for the rest of the day. That's one way of smelling good I guess.