Happy Halloween!!!

Happy Halloween (and first part of November)! Sorry we're a bit late, but here's a pic of the kiddos on Halloween! We've got our Captain Hook and our little baby banana! And lucky us...we got to trick-or-treat with Grandma!!! Thanks for visiting Grandma!!!

What Will I Be???

Today we were in the car on our way home - yes, I did make another attempt to run errands with the boys! Will I ever learn?!? They actually did very well today...I think it was probably the fact that we were running out to get candy for the trunk-or-treat tonight, funny how candy is the great motivator! Anyway, we were almost home and Garrett pipes up from the back seat, "Yea, I think I'll be an astronaut, a pilot and a grocery man." It was like he had been pondering it for a while and had just come to the all-important conclusion. I stifled my chuckle and asked why he wanted to be each of those specific professions. He just laughed at me for even asking, like it should be pretty obvious, and I admit the astronaut and pilot dreams are pretty obvious - even to a clueless mom, but I was just fishing for the reason on the 'grocery man' idea! So after he had laughed at me for even asking...he got around to answering. "The astronaut because I want to see Earth. The Grocery Man so you can buy food from me. The pilot so I can fly you around." So funny and so sweet. I love that his lofty dreams and aspirations involve me - selfish, huh!?! But honestly, when he's all grown up, I don't think he'll be considering the grocery profession just because Mom needs some fresh produce or that he'll base his decision to become a pilot just because Mom still has never been to Hawaii! I've got to take the love while I can!!!

Daytime Ramblings...

So, as for my last post...I got emails and comments about being a good mom and what mellow kids I have. Hmmmm, not quite the feel I got from my post, but thanks!!! I really needed that! After I posted, I read through it and realized I sounded like I was venting/complaining about life in general! I didn't mean it that way, and I guess I'm glad it didn't come across that way! And about having mellow kids...have you seen us lately? I feel like we're a whirlwind in a major path of destruction and noise wherever we go! :) Like yesterday...we enjoyed going out to lunch with friends and being the brainiac that I am, thought that I could run a quick errand while the boys were being so great! Within one minute of entering the store I start to hear "I'm HUNGRY!" What??? We JUST came from lunch??? How does that work? But, of course I've come prepared with a bag full of snacks so I hand him one...and then we proceeded to have a major meltdown over the snack that I handed the poor boy! FABULOUS!!! We just left the store - SO not worth it! The sad part is that this is my third attempt at Lowe's in the past few weeks and every time we've had a meltdown and ended up leaving within 3 minutes of entering the store...oh well, maybe trip #4 will be luckier and I'll finally be able to finish my projects. Well, that or I can wise up and actually go when Steve gets home one night! Hmmmm, there's a thought - errands without kids...how lovely!
So, again...a post where I'm venting...like I said, maybe this is my therapy! But when all is said and done, life is good! And honestly, they don't get much cuter than they are now!!! Even in the midst of the meltdown yesterday...I couldn't keep from laughing! Maybe that made it worse, but it was so funny! I'm sure the Lowe's workers were baffled by the giggling mom being trailed by a wailing 4 year old!!! But what can I say, they're cute even when their driving me crazy!!!

Blessings

I have spent the day reflecting on how incredibly blessed we are with our little guys. Though I admit, I had my share of frustrations today too...am I the only one who can't seem to finish ANYTHING without little interruptions every 30 seconds??? Literally, every time I sat down to paint or do anything...I had to jump right back up and fix a snack, turn on a movie, watch the amazing grape tricks at lunch - honestly, do kids and grapes make anyone else nervous? I was watching Garrett suck grapes into his mouth and I made a mental note to find a class for CPR and Heimlich training! How can I be a mom and not really know what to do in an emergency...it seriously has been years since I've been certified! How can they send these little bundles home from the hospital without some sort of CPR class or something? Anway, that's another post for another time!

So back to my blessings -I think this is part of my therapy for being so stressed today...focus on the blessings! We were outside today and I was just watching my boys...and it struck me how grateful I am for them and how I couldn't imagine life without them. I thought back to all the doctors who told us it would be too risky to have any more kids...WHAT??? How could we not have had Ethan in our family?!? He adds such much to our family and he can't even talk yet...I've never seen a kid who can communicate so well with his eyes! He is the happiest little guy imaginable! I am so grateful for both our boys and the adventures we've had and the adventures that are looming in front of us!!!

Another year older!!!

Happy Birthday Deven!


I don't know if you'll even see this...but we wanted to give you a big birthday shout-out anyway!
Hope your day is GREAT!!! We love you!

My Boys

We went to the zoo yesterday with some friends and had a GREAT time! We snapped the usual pictures of the giraffes and elephants, but this picture just makes me smile! I love my boys!!! But even more than that...I love that they love each other! They simply adore each other and it just makes me so happy! I know it's all fun and games now that they're so young...but I really hope that they'll always be best buddies!

Pumpkin Pancakes

Okay, so I just have to share...I made these and they were soooo yummy! They are from my favorite recipe website - allrecipes.com - of course! This is where I get all my new recipes these days! So kudos to Ruth and her delightful Pumpkin Pancakes! (http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Pumpkin-Pancakes/Detail.aspx) Here's the site if you want to browse the original...and read all the reviews! My personal recommendation...add chocolate chips...sooooo good!

Pumpkin Pancakes

2 cups all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons brown sugar (I added a bit more - just to satisfy my sweet tooth!)
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground allspice
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups milk
1 cup pumpkin puree
1 egg
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 tablespoons vinegar

In a separate bowl, mix together the milk, pumpkin, egg, oil and vinegar. Combine the flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, allspice, cinnamon, ginger and salt, stir into the pumpkin mixture just enough to combine.
Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium high heat. Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle, using approximately 1/4 cup for each pancake (spread out each pancake after pouring to help it cook all the way through). Brown on both sides and serve hot.

Legos and Life

So, I honestly think that playing Legos with Garrett is one of my favorite things that we do together - well, toy-wise that is! It's the one toy that I can handle playing with for more than a few minutes! I think he has a longer attention-span than I do - how sad is that! :) But seriously, I remember when he was younger and we would play with the big, blocky legos and they were my favorite then...but now that we've moved onto the teeny-tiny little blocks...the possibilities are endless! I know...I'm such a mom! But these are the things that light up my life right now!

On a more grown-up note...Steve came home last night with flowers for me! Well, he brought some chocolate too, but that's almost gone...so we'll just mention the flowers! :) He remembered that it was our 11 year anniversary of our first date! I can't believe it has been so long - and I can't believe that he remembered!!! Didn't we just start college and just barely meet??? But when I look back at it, and see the two kids and all the amazing adventures we've had (or all the every-day living), I can't believe that it hasn't been even longer! Crazy how that works! But thanks Steve!!! You are the best!

Fall is in the air!

Okay, I know this may be a bit random, but I am so excited for Fall. I realize that I live in Houston, where there really isn't much of a Fall season, but still, old habits die hard I guess! I've been hearing about the leaves in the mountains changing in Utah or the beautiful colors on display back home in Washington...and here I'm racking my brain trying to remember if we even get leaves changing colors or not! How can I not remember?!? I've spent two autumns here in Texas already...and I really can't remember how it goes. Maybe it's just because we don't follow the normal seasons that I grow up with...but still, you'd think I'd remember!

Today though, I cannot imagine a more perfect day - it makes me soooo excited for the cooler weather to come! Granted, it was still in the high-80's...but with NO humidity, it was a dream! I planted our fall garden and took the kids to the park and didn't dread the thought of sitting outside at T-ball practice tonight...it was PERFECT! So, here's to hoping for an actual autumn season - is that even possible here? I'll keep you posted!

Where did the week go???

Sorry for the lapse in posting. I don't know what has happened to the past week...although I think I may just be trying to block it all out!!! We were way too busy for our own good...not my favorite way to live life! In my decision to not put Garrett into preschool this fall, I promised myself that I would be better about having friends over and such. I ended up babysitting for quite a few of Garrett's friends last week so we ended up having playdates a bit too often! Lesson learned for the week...do not try to pack every playdate into a short period of time...the result is one tired, crabby little boy who has learned a bit too many things from his crazy little buddies! They probably need a break too...we've got total first child bossy syndrome going on!!! :) Best to spread those babies out and allow for some slow times too! But, we're on to a new week and determined to take it easy - well, as easy as it gets these days!

Happy Monday!!!