Summer Fun

Here's a few pictures from the rest of the summer.

 

 

Tag team video game playing...

 

I think Lady is squished...

 

Out back pool fun...

 

We took a trip to Baltimore to visit Aunt Elisha, Uncle Jonathan, Caleb, Esther & Anna.

 

Andrew got a big boy bed.

We went to the Museum of Natural History with some friends.

 

I'm sure our summer was filled with other stuff, but this is all I had pictures for.

August Beach Trip

The beginning of August we took a trip to the beach at Fort Fischer.  The kids love the beach and this spot you can usually find a parking space.  I like this spot because of the real bathrooms.  Plus it is close to the aquarium.

 

 

Kathryn's inventing new Olympic sports.  Wave jumping...

 

...and pail flipping.

 

If you visit the aquarium, you have to stick your hand in the alligator.

 

They added this wonderful playground area next to the snack shop.  The kids had fun playing and Eric & I had fun not having to really keep an eye on them!

 

This is why I don't like the ocean.  or lakes.  or anywhere I can't see what is swimming near me.  Jellyfish sting.  The lifeguard was spraying another lady's sting when I got to her.  I guess that was a busy time of year for them.

 

Family pic where we are all looking at the camera and all attempting to smile.

Strawberry-Banana Mini-Muffins

I don't cook.  I bake.  I do not claim to be related to Betty Crocker or Martha White.  Most of what I bake started off as a box mix that was revamped.  Or a combination of already prepared things.  Once in a while though I come across a from-scratch recipe that is a winner.  One that I can do every time with a very high ratio of smiles.  This is my go-to.  The kids love them (so does the dog if you aren't careful).  One of the first times I made them, Andrew ate half the batch by himself. 

This was almost 2 years ago.  He was 15 months and sneaky muffins from the counter already.

I have another misplaced picture of him sitting under the piano with the muffin box eating with this huge grin on his face.  They are good.  And from scratch.  Why wouldn't I fix them any time I have a banana that is past its prime?  I keep pre-chopped, frozen little bags of strawberries for just such a baking occasion. (I freeze about a cup's worth of chopped strawberries.  When they defrost you get this yummy juice and very mushy strawberries that work very well in these muffins.)

I thought I would share my recipe with you.  You are welcome.

Ingredients:
1/4 Cup canola oil
1/2 Cup milk
1 egg
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 Cup white sugar
1/4 Cup brown sugar
1-3/4 Cup all-purpose flour (I have used bread flour before)
1 Cup chopped strawberries
1 or 2 riped bananas (at least 1/2-1 Cup mashed)
Cinnamon/Sugar mix

Directions:
1.  Preheat oven to 375 and spray a mini-muffin pan or use liners.
2.  In a small bowl (I used my 2-cup measuring cup), combine oil, milk, egg & vanilla.  Beat lightly.  In a large bowl, mix flour, salt, baking powder, sugar & brown sugar.  Toss in strawberries to coat with flour.  Pour in liquid mixture.  Mash bananas in the first bowl and add to muffin mix.  Stir together.
3.  Fill muffin cups.  Sprinkle with cinnamon/sugar mixture.  Bake at 375 for 12 minutes.  Cool for a couple of minutes or as long as your kids will let them & remove from pan.

I always forget to add the cinnamon/sugar on the second batch.  Oh, this makes 1.5 batches-ish.  All depends on how full you fill the cups.  The original recipe I modified said it made 8 muffins.  Who has an 8-cup muffin pan?? Oh, and my kids have already gotten into this batch.

4th of July

We celebrated the 4th of July watching a SwampDogs baseball game with the Hazens.  (Just to tell you how mixed up I am right now, I typed Blue Rocks.  That was the team in DE.  Yes, I've had my coffee for the day.)  Then we went to the 4th of July celebration at church.

 

Noah & Kathryn didn't care much for baseball.  They were hanging out waiting for the fireworks.

 

The church had fun little games set up for the kids to play. Andrew kept going back to the water.

 

 

Someone insisted on her face being painted.

 

She's flying like a butterfly...

 

Kathryn's 4



The end of June my baby turned 4.  And all the sassiness that comes with 4 showed up as well. She wanted a Strawberry Shortcake party and lots of friends.  Nana & Granddad, Grandma & Grandpa, and Aunt Elisha, Uncle Jonathan, Caleb, Esther & Anna were also able to party with us. 

 

I was cheap and took my own photos.  I did edit them before they were printed, but I couldn't find the edited versions to show you.  Here are a few of the raw ones.

 

 

 

There is a farmer's stand a couple of miles away with what is (usually anyway, not necessarily this time) really good corn.  Granddad taught Andrew how to shuck it.  Looking back this may be a very useful skill in light of our up-coming move.

 

Kathryn & Nana made the party favors.  We hid little strawberry plants inside of the berries.  Kathryn is adding seeds.

 

Pre-celebration-keep-the-kiddos-entertained with color-it-yourself-magnets.

 

Strawberry Lemonade cupcakes with strawberry lemonade icing.  Oh my, they are good. You can find the recipe here (you'll thank me later). Aunt Elisha used candy melts and made the strawberries for the cupcakes and the wording for her cake. I had seen that you place a piece of wax paper over wording or an image to trace.  Then just peel when dried.  It makes writing names & words on cakes so much simpler!

 

Table spread.  The fruit water was a big hit!

 

Party guests :)

 

Being the crafty mommy that I claim to be, instead of spending all that money on a pinata, I made my own.  I was going to show you how I did it, but I've neglected that post on my craft blog.  (*shakes head*) I spent a few days (and about 10 glue sticks) to get this really pretty.  Loaded it up the morning of the party.  Brought it out. Went to flip it upside down to hold it up for the kids to pull the strings.  And the bottom fell open without being touched.  Didn't get enough tape on it. 

 

 

So I just shook the rest of the goodies out.  The kids didn't care.  Oh well.  I'll know for next time.

 

Nana kisses for the birthday girl :)

Baton Rouge (June 2012)

The beginning of June (last year... told you I was behind) we took a trip to Baton Rouge to see my Grandmother and the rest of the family that is still in that area.  We drove from NC to LA.  We broke the trip up with stops in Atlanta (going with Grandma & Grandpa and coming with Nana & Granddad).

 

We found Waugh, AL.  Not much. I think we found a sign that said it was the Community of Waugh and a few houses.  But it isn't everyday you see your last name along a highway.

 

 

Grandma took us & the kids to Chuck E. Cheese one day.  The kids had a blast! 

 

Andrew's version of skeeball.

 

Kathryn "teaching" Grandma how to play.

 

Uncle Rick & Kasidy took us to LSU to see Mike.

 

Snuggling with Grandma Nancy before passing out for the night.

 

Uncle Rick, Aunt Beth & Kasidy took us to New Orleans for the day.  No trip is complete without a stop to Cafe Du Monde for beignets.  Andrew even got a cup of coffee!

 

Have to do the must-do-picture on Bourbon Street.

 

Andrew kept wanting to go back into the "castle."

We walked over to the Aquarium of the Americas.  We were so hot and tired we thought the big air conditioned building would be nice.  The kids were too scared to pose by themselves.  Thankfully Daddy & Uncle Rick were brave enough to go with them.

 

Saying goodbye to Grandma Nancy until next time.

 

Stopped in Rome on our way back home.  This was leaving Chick-Fil-A with Nana & Granddad.

 

I am sure I am missing details, but it was nine months ago.  We had fun on our trip and I am so glad that I was able to go see Grandma.  I hadn't seen her since my brother's wedding and hadn't seen Uncle Rick since I was a freshman in High School!  It is wonderful having family you can just pick up with after almost 20 years.  Love all of my Baton Rouge family!!

Wow, it has been how long?

Something was said to me about having two blogs and yet not using either one of them.  And they were right.  I haven't said anything on here since last July.  Seriously.  What am I doing that I can't stop and say hi once in a while?

I'm not even sure where to start.  We have done so much since last July.  Multiple trips to see family, Christmas, birthdays, a trip to Disney, finding out we are moving half-way across the country, etc.  The kids are playing their "I have allergies and don't feel like doing anything" card at the moment.  I will try to write a bunch of posts today & tomorrow and have them automatically post every other day. 

We are alive and are getting busy.  59 days until Eric starts his new assignment...

But I won't leave you without at least a couple of pictures...