Start of Summer

If we are not washing away with rain, we are melting in the heat and humidity!!!  Boy has it been hot lately...90's and humidity close to or above 90 as well.  Nothing else to say but HOT!!!!   We usually don't turn our air conditioner on until July, but with this heat and two little boys, we had to cave. 

Today, we took advantage of the heat though.  The boys and I spent about an hour or so out in the sprinkler.  I would have loved to spend the whole day, as would The Boy, but The Baby would not have it.  We ran through the sprinkler, played baseball in the sprinkler and had a great time out in the water and sun.  The Boy's hair is getting to be so light already.  I can't imagine what it will look like when August comes around. 


The Baby watching The Boy run through the water





Hello handsome!!!





Trying to spray me




Love him!!!




Hitting the water with a bat




My Honeysuckle is going crazy!!!




Love my Tiger Lilies



Top Ten Summer Activities

10. Vacations
9. Glass of cold wine/margarita/pina colada
8. Kids playing outside
7. Sleeping with the windows open
6. Sitting out in the evening
5. Pool
4. Beach
3. Sun Tea
2. Sitting out in the sun with a good book

1. Grilling with the family

Fishing with Daddy

The Boy got to go on his first fishing trip this morning.  He and Daddy went with some friends to a local park all morning.  About 30 minutes into it, I received a text saying they caught one!!!  When they got home, I asked The Boy about it and he was so happy!! 

Happy Memorial Day!!!

H is for Hero

I am very pleased that it worked out that H is this week, for Memorial Day.  I am going to embrace this opportunity to teach The Boy about Hero's, i.e. military, firemen, policemen, doctors/nurses...etc.  I may even throw in a Super Hero (he LOVES Spiderman).  Here are some pictures of our Letter H activities.

H is for Hero and Hat

Matching his H and h to his Hero's

Hero's: Super Hero, Nurse, Military, Firemen

Funny Boys

These picture make me laugh.  These boys are so adorable!

The Baby wants to vacuum so bad. He cases me around when I am vacuuming.  Here he is with he and The Boy's vacuum trying to make it work.

This was back in March.  Thy Boy was relaxing while watching Mickey.



Here we go!!

This is from my first grocery store trip awhile back where The Baby was big enough to "drive" with The Boy.  It did not last long.  The Baby was NOT interested in driving.  He wanted to be with Mama...can you blame him.  Look at the determination on The Boy's face.  He is ready for the Indy 500!

Crawling

The Baby can finally crawl as of May 1, 2011!!!  Look out Boy!!!  Here comes the Baby!!!!

The Baby FINALLY Has Some Teeth!!!! (and about to pop a third)

Texas...na...Oklahoma Sheet Cake

My family has made this cake, well, for as long as I can remember.  We should call it the Oklahoma Sheet Cake, but...well...I think I will from now on.  Introducing the Oklahoma Sheet Cake!!!

This delicious cake just melts in your mouth!!  It is so heavenly and light and creamy with the perfect amount of pecans.  However, in my book you an never have too many pecans. :)  This was the first time I made it, back in March, for The Hubby's birthday.  My mother has always made it and this year, I decided to give it a try.  It came out divine!!!!  He was very pleased and it did not take long for us to finish it off.  It is perfect warm, but gets even better for breakfast the next day!  A slice of this and a cup of coffee, you are good to go for the whole day!  The recipe my family has used for years is also the same one Pioneer Woman uses so I will link to hers.  I hope you give it a try.  It sounds a little difficult, and scary, to make but is really very easy.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I. 

I think I will have to make one for no reason at all...wait, it is a holiday.  Even better!

The Boy is a Pilot

Along with all the amazing talents my father has, he also has a full time job...teaching the Air Force how to fly RC-135's (He used to fly the KC-135's).  One of our visits home, we took The Boy in to see him and my dad wanted to show him the simulators.  The Boy was NOT interested in these strange looking things, with lots of buttons an gadgets.  After trying for awhile, we gave up and went on to lunch.  Our last visit home, it took all we could to drag The Boy away from these buttons and gadgets.  He thought it was the coolest thing.  He had sooo much fun flying the simulators.  I can only imagine what he will be like on our next trip home.



Chairs for the Boys

My Dad can do anything.  He is one of those guys you can ask to make or come up with something and he will find a way to make it happen.  The week of our wedding, I thought everything was under control.  Only, to hear from the church the day before that we had to provide the candles and they had to be no-drip.  I have never heard of such a candle.  I was starting to become very concerned that we were not going to find them, not a store sold them.  Then, my calm daddy stepped in.  "I'll take care of it."  Whew, one thing off my shoulders.  I knew I could count on him.  He  called me within minutes with a box of like 200 no-drip candles!!  AMAZING DAD!!! 

To go along with his calmness, he LOVES to wood carve.  When the Boy was born, he made a Rocking Horse for him.  I was in shock!  He has also made, a sled, a wagon, and now rocking chairs for both the boys.  My Dad always ceases to amaze me with his talent of woodcarving.  I wonder what he will come up with next. 





I wrote the boys names on them but tried to block them for this...sorry it didn't come out as smooth

Japanese Magnolia

There are many things to love about this time of year...the smell of fresh cut grass and flowers, seeing everything come to life, finally being able to play outside and have cookouts, windows open all the time, and the blooms on my Japanese Magnolia.  I love the sweet luscious smell the blooms produce.  The tree produces MANY blooms and fills the yard with its magnificent aroma.  We have had this tree for three years, the first year it was a beauty.  I could not wait for the following years to enjoy its smell and all.  But for some odd reason last year, all it did was produce leaves.  It still looked great, but I want my flowers!!!  (Maybe I'm a little demanding :) )  I was so excited last night when I walked over to look at our Magnolia to find not one, but two flowers and many more buds.  I believe this is a sign and start to a great summer!!  Happy Memorial Day Weekend everyone!!!

New Challenge

Like most of you, I'm sure, a challenge is always fun.  I like to set goals for myself and reach them...at least try.  My new challenge is to become a better coupon clipper.  Every Sunday I cut coupons from the paper, take my coupon book with me to the store, and save about $10-$20 with coupons.  Not bad!  However, I want to take it a step further and try to save more.  Nothing like Extreme Couponing...I don't have time for that with two little boys to keep me busy.  I would love to try and save at least $100 a month with coupons.   

I recently went to a 2 hour class, not even long enough, about couponing.  I learned you could use manufacture coupons with store coupons and which store double coupons.  I never knew you could join coupons...BRILLIANT!!!!  I may be trying a few things at Target on my next trip.  Like I said, the 2 hour class was not nearly enough time to learn how to really get your use out of coupons.  Some people really go for it, but I am not interested in that.  I wish the Commissary had their own coupons so I could double some up there.  That would be helpful.  I guess I will start trying out a few other stores to see if I really can save a little more with just a little more couponing.

(Is couponing even a word?  It is now I guess :) )

Flashback Friday-Guess the Baby!!

Soccer

The Boy is on his first soccer team this spring. He LOVES to run and kick a ball so the
hubby and I thought, why not!  He is having so much fun playing, not to mention a lot of his friends are on his team which makes it even more fun!!  Here is his individual and team picture...

Heaven on a Plate

Some of you know how much I love The Pioneer Women, but Martha Stewart is an awe!!  I wish I had a snippet of her knowledge when it comes to cooking, gardening, cleaning, crafts...well...anything!!  I have always loved her, even in her prison years, and watched her show.  I was sad when we moved out here that I was not going to get her show anymore.  I am a subscriber to her magazine and now, thanks to my brother for my birthday, her FOOD magazine.

The other day, I was flipping through my Martha Stewart FOOD magazine I came across the most delicious looking dessert.  Matzo Chocolate-Mint Ice Cream Cake is a melt in your mouth dessert and pairs wonderfully with a cup of coffee.  It is very simple to make and takes no time at all to eat. :)  My Hubby said, "This is not good for my waistline, but it is GREAT!!" 

Onesie Dresses

My Hubby came home one day and asked if I could make something up for his coworker whose wife is due in June with a little girl.  I was so excited!!  I LOVE to do crafts and it was something itty bitty for an itty bitty girl.  I jumped all over it and immediately knew what I was going to make.  Onesies are a godsend.  They don't move around when you pick up and hold a baby and a lot of cute dresses, and boy clothes, are more than one piece.  Why not turn the plain white onesie into a dress!

Using a onesie, I cut out enough fabric to wrap around the waist like a skirt.  After I hemmed the fabric, I pinned it on, allowing some ruffle, and sewed away.  I made two of them.  When I was done with the skirts they looked to plain.  I decided they needed something on the body.  The yellow fabric has white hearts all over it so I thought, a flower with a heart in the center would be cute.  Then the other fabric, all the strips, I thought would make a cute cluster of hearts.  I hope these work for them.  I have never made anything like this with a onesie.  I always tell my friends that I make things for, if it doesn't work give it back so I came make something that does.  I will pass this on to them as well.  Nothing worse than receiving something adorable that falls apart.  I think these little dresses came out to be adorable.

Flashback Friday

This is a favorite of The Boy.  He was probably about 7 months old here.  I just love his expression and how his arms are out.  He's too funny!! Happy Friday!!

Wordless Wednesday, Happy Easter

Top Ten Baby Items

10. Pack N' Play
9. Bumbo seat
8. Swaddle Blankets
7. Teethers
6. Orajel :)
5. Puffs and MumMums!!!!!
4. Nursing Cover
3. Bouncy seat
2. Baby Bjorn

1. Swing

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