Officially a Kindergartener!

Clayton is officially a Kindergartener! He was up and dressed before I could even turn around. He asked if it was time to go, but I suggested we eat breakfast first! 

I think he asked a couple of more times if it was time to go, but I was able to hold him off with a chore or two. He happily fed the dog when asked. And I overheard him tell Maecie that while he was gone all day, she could take care of the dog!

Finally it was time to go and we had to take pictures...

 I've got my backpack!

I want to go to school too, Mom!

Heading out of the door...

We made it to the school!

Mom did okay too ... a little twinge as I left him there, already working puzzles, with only a "Bye, Mom!" as I walked out of the door. And then the rest of my day was consumed with preparations to teach preschool music and trying to get the girls acclimated to new people. Maecie asked numerous times "where Bubba?" and when we left the preschool it was, "Let's go find Bubba!" I think she and I will have to adapt the most!

When it was time to pick up Clayton, we waited in line for 45 minutes (so hoping that gets better after the first week!), and he joined us in the car! "Hey Mom! School was GREAT!" That was music to my ears!

As dinner was cooking, Clayton and Maecie enjoyed some brother/sister time in the recliner watching cartoons. I hope every day goes as well!

Already Five Months!

Folks, we have a FIVE month old in the hoouuussse!! And she is the light of our family! Clayton and Maecie adore her.... always playing with her, telling her stories and singing her songs. 

Lucie has eaten her first oatmeal cereal and is still learning how to work the spoon!

She knows how to stop people in their tracks ... when we go places, there are (at minimum) 3 people that comment on how adorable she it. It MUST be the hair! But who am I to say she is anything but the most adorable princess ever!!

Waterslide-A-Palooza 2012

It all started with a homemade slip-n-slide, made of foam board and plastic with a row of straw bales covered with a tarp to catch you at the bottom. Patrick and a buddy, Shane, had made it for Clayton's 2nd birthday. It was such a hit, that they did it again at Shane's house. They had to purchase the supplies over again and didn't like that idea. So then Patrick, Shane, and two other friends came up with a design to make it able to store and re-use. It has since been used at a friend's house once and our house twice. Waterslide-A-Palooza was born!

It's begins with the stairs that lead to a 12ft tall platform....

Then you proceed down  the slide ...

And you end at the stop sign...

The slide was 112ft long and 4 ft wide. It took approximately 3 days to put together. It was done over the period of 6 days,but there were some days when no building was occurring due to work schedules. We had people ages 1 (in an adult's lap) to much older going down and having a great time!

Clayton had the best time from day one! Maecie was excited for the slide, waking up and asking to put on her "babin' suit". However, the first couple of times going down made her nervous. She would cover her eyes, or only go down with her Daddy. But by the end of the palooza week, she was going down with friends and watching the entire way!

Here is Clayton showing off his moves...

On his knees

And on his stomach

Here is Maecie showing off...

Maecie surfing down the slide

She played so hard, she zonked out in the chair!

When the party starts to die down, you amp it up with BUBBLES!!

But the best memory made, was the "family train".... (Lucie will have to join the fun next year!)

So long Waterslide-A-Palooza 2012 .... see you next year!

Cute Outfits ... Cute Girls!!

This weekend kicked off our Waterslide-A-Palooza (more pics to come on that later). As soon as she could, Maecie wanted to put on her "babin' suit". And after she had that on, she then found her tennis shoes and wanted those on. All together, she looked like a cute girl ready for a run!

She was even stretching for the day!

Later in the week, I began to pull out clothes for Lucie, realizing that I needed to start dressing her in her 3-6 month clothes or else we would lose the window on some great outfits! Here is one of my favorites!

Look at that color ... those polka dots! What's not to love?! 

Had to include this way cute face!

And just so you know, she is always on the roll, here is a way cute pic of my sweet baby!! Love love love her!!!

How did I get so lucky to have such adorable girls??

No Bake = No Win!

I like to think of myself as a decent, avid baker. I can make bread, rolls, cinnamon rolls, cookies, cakes, etc.  I find baking to be therapeutic. Even more so, I  REALLY like love eating the fruits of my labors! However, with the summer heat, I don't always like to turn on the oven. Here enters no-bake-cookies. 

A No-Bake-Cookie is generally made with sugar, butter, peanut butter or pudding, milk, and oatmeal. Then you can flavor how you like with chocolate, coconut, peanuts, or any other addition you prefer. The possibilities are pretty endless. They are cooked on a stove and do not require baking since they have no flour or eggs. I have found some truly yummy recipes like seen here and here. And I've tried them. But for some reason, they don't work for me.

My first batch came out too dry. I decided I must have added too much oatmeal. My second batch came out too wet. They wouldn't set up. You couldn't even pick it up off of the wax paper. I don't think I allowed the wet ingredients to boil for the length of time required.

Hmmm ... so I gave it one more shot. 

The third time, I made sure the wet ingredients boiled as they needed to. I added the oatmeal just a little at a time so it didn't get too dry. Then spooned them onto the wax paper and waited. They set up ... they weren't too dry ... and after they cooled, I tasted one. It was then that I realized, I don't like them all that much. 

Sure it was sweet, it was a yummy combination of peanut butter and chocolate, and it didn't crumble in my fingers. Yet I just did not like them. To me, it wasn't a real cookie. There wasn't that crispy outer texture with a chewy center and melty chocolate chips that makes a cookie a cookie. It didn't satisfy my "cookie craving". I guess for me, no-bake-cookies are a no-win! Better heat the oven...

**I will say that they were a hit with the kiddos. Of course, there isn't much sugar they won't eat!! **

4 (and a half) Months!

When life gets busy, we get behind on the blogging. Such is life ...

 Lucie is now 4 (and a half) months old!! She is really starting to fill out and look more like her siblings did as babies.

* She is so much more alert,

 holding toys,

 playing with her brother and sister, 

rolling over,

 and wanting to sit up as often as she can. 

She is pretty stinkin' cute and I might have to say, we love her to pieces!!