Memorial Day Weekend

Wow, this was the.
Longest.
Weekend.
Evah!
We packed so much sun and fun into a few short days, there's no way I can fit it all into one post. But am I gonna try? You betcha!

Let's start with Friday. Alex and Maggie spent the night at my mom and step-dad's condo on the lake, so they had a day filled with fun and adventure. I got a call from my grandma letting me know my dad was in town from Virginia, so I loaded up the little boys and went over for a visit! (Rick stayed home cuz he had to work early Saturday morning. Boo.)


Saturday morning was dedicated to housework, so the little boys and I cranked up some Adam Lambert and boogied while we cleaned! We were a little preoccupied, so imagine our surprise when we went to our backyard and saw this...

Our neighbors were having a birthday party! They had asked Rick if setting up a bounce house would be okay with us, and that our kids were more than welcome to play on it...he just forgot to mention it to me! It was like going to the fair...without leaving our yard. The kids loved it!


Saturday night was karaoke at Bowly's (of course), and our kids got to see their cousins for the first time in forever! Alexis, Brock and Ethan spent the night even! I didn't get any pictures of them together Saturday, but I had another chance on Sunday...at Steve and Kelly's first BBQ of the season!

Everybody had such a great time! There was swimming...

The Twinkies were there, and they did some swimming...

And also...swimming! Jack and Jacob were in the pool from the time we arrived until it got too dark to see outside, with only a break to eat and several rest stops for potty time. I'm serious, they were in that pool ALL. DAY. LONG.

There were also a couple of random-partner-draw cornhole tourneys (Rick and I were on a team for the second tourney and got 2nd place!)...

And we ended the night with a bonfire! It was awesome.

I know Alexis and Maggie don't look too excited in this picture, but they were worn out from the pool and the sun...plus, they may have been a little hypnotized by the flames.

And Monday, it was back to Grandma Jo's for a Memorial Day lunch! This time, Rick and the older kids came with us. It was a good visit, and I'm kicking myself for not getting more pictures!

Okay, I don't think I forgot anything...we were just going, going, going all weekend! And it's weird to me that today is Wednesday already...it really feels like Monday for some reason. Maybe my internal clock dedicated to keeping track of the days of the week got too much sun.

Valentine Cookies

I had Jacob and the Twinkies help me cut out and decorate these super easy cookies! You'll need plenty of flour on your rolling pin and countertops, cuz these suckers are sticky, even after refrigerating. Makes for a soft, yummy cookie though! Here's the recipe:

Valentine Cookies
1 c. shortening
1 c. sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
2 3/4 c. flour
3/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda

FROSTING:
1 stick butter
1 lb. powdered sugar
1/4 c. milk (approx.)
1 tsp. vanilla
red food coloring
*************************
Cream shortening and sugar well. Add eggs and vanilla. Sift together dry ingredients and gradually add to shortening mixture. Chill dough 3 hours in refrigerator or 45 mins. in freezer. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Roll dough to 1/4 inch thickness on floured surface. Cut with heart-shaped cookie cutters. (TIP: Keep dough refrigerated between batches.) Bake on lightly greased cookie sheets 7-10 minutes, or until bottoms are barely browned. Frost and decorate with sprinkles or as desired.
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FROSTING: Cream butter and 1 cup of the powdered sugar. Add 4-5 drops red food coloring. Mix remaining powdered sugar alternately with milk and vanilla until smooth and creamy.

Enjoy! And have a happy Valentine's Day!

My Twinkies

I can't believe I've been watching them for almost three months now, and I have yet to blog about my Twinkies! These two little cuties belong to our good friends Brian & Katie, and they also happen to be our godchildren. I love these babies so much! I can't believe I never offered to be their full-time sitter before, but I live about 25 minutes from where Brian & Katie live and work so it didn't seem like a good option for them. However. Lucky for me, in October, I got to watch the Twinkies for a few days while there was an illness at their other sitter's house. It worked out so well that I let our friends know how much I'd love to have those babies here every day!

Long story short, on November 9 they came to stay with me while Mommy & Daddy are at work, and I couldn't be happier! I look forward to seeing them every morning, and I'm pretty sure they like me, too. *smile*

We do all kinds of fun stuff, like:

Pretending to stir cookies...

Sometimes, we do more than just pretend...

We play in makeshift living room tents while we wait for the weather to be nice enough to play outside...

We, um, actually I'm not sure what this picture is about. But he sure is happy!

We make home-made play dough and have fun squishing stuff into it...

We create beautiful art and have our own drawers of art supplies...


We make big messes...

...and we help clean them up.

We make wonderful (and really loud) music...

We read lots of books, we know our colors and (so far) how to count to two!

And every day is full of laughter and these adorable smiling faces!


I tell ya, I have the best job ever!

I Just Couldn't Stay Away Any Longer...

I know, I know. I'm weak, what can I say? I was trying to ignore the fact that I even HAVE a blog

....but in a moment of weakness, I've decided to return.

After all, who am I to deprive my public?

I'm sure you've all been wandering listlessly through your days, awaiting an update of any kind...just something, anything, from your humble Coffee to get you through your day. And, like the celebrity I am, I've selflessly returned from my sabbatical to grant your seemingly improbable wish.

So what have I been up to, you wonder?

For your convenience, a bullet list:

• Threw a rockin' cool birthday/slumber party for Maggie, complete with personal pizzas, karaoke, and a movie. Have had to suffer through Supermom status ever since.
  

• Got to see my dad when he came up for a visit around Columbus Day, and took the kids to the Pumpkin Farm in Ligonier. Freezing cold, blustery day. Typical. Considered concealing myself in the bed of his truck just before he made the trek back to Virginia, then disregarded plan due to having to go 13 hours without being able to pee.
  

• Got a job (although, I think if you really plan to enjoy it, you can't really call it a J.O.B.) babysitting the Twinkies, starting Monday.

• I'm not even sure what this picture is about. Nothing to do with Halloween, however. But fun just the same.

• There have been multiple doctor visits due to my constant/chronic allergies; so far no miracle cure. I'm currently on an over-the-counter allergy med with decongestant, a nasal spray, an inhaler, and a nighttime allergy medication, in addition to the thyroid pill and dose of Tylenol I take every morning. Might as well add an anti-depressant to the list, seeing as how winter is already breathing down our necks.

• Family pic scheduled for tomorrow evening. Will post results as soon as they're available...will be our first professional family pic since before Jack was born. Timely.

• Listed some new items in my etsy store, and put my folk art dolls on SALE!! Offering a limited-time-post-Halloween sale, hoping to get some Christmas money, since I'm told the children will be expecting presents this year. Typical.

So, lest this blog post be all about ME, what's new with YOU? I've missed blogging, SO much, and will be making the rounds to visit you all throughout the week. Yay! Have a wonderful evening!