A Week of Summer in Spring

This last week the weather seemed more like summer than spring. It was De-lightful!

I can't wait for summer schedule. We eat breakfast, the girls get dressed, we have worship and they spend the rest of the morning outside until lunch. Which gives me incentive to do yard work. Even if it is just weeding one flower bed.

After lunch if there is time they head back outside for a half hour or so and then it's down for naps, right during the heat of the day. I stay in and clean while they nap and after naps, you guessed it back outside they go. I love it. The house stays a bit cleaner. . . well not cleaner but less cluttered.

This past weekend I finally managed to make the breakfast I have been planning since mid-winter. Huevos Rancheros (recipe to follow) and Pina Coladas on the back porch. My Beloved was very happy with this choice. I'm on the look out for some umbrellas for our drinks. I am pretty sure that Party City will have them if Winco doesn't.

After breakfast and worship the girls begged to put on their swim suits and play in the sprinkler.

My Beloved just purchased a new spray nozzle with something like 7 settings so they had fun playing with that.

This is how we do a water slide!

"Oh no, slides wet!" Beloise doesn't care for being sprayed with a hose. I don't either. I'm planning on picking up a little swimming pool this weekend or next.

Ballerina's art is getting better all the time. 

This is one of the pictures she drew recently. Things at least remotely resemble what they are supposed to be.

She's also become rather creative with her block towers.

Cheater Huevos Rancheros

When I don't have much time but want a taste of Mexico to remind me of that trip we took before we had kids, this is my go to recipe. Oh how I miss the Coco Bar.

Per person:
2 eggs
1 corn tortilla
shredded cheese
salsa
fresh cilantro, if you've got it.

• Heat canola oil in a small frying pan for your corn tortillas. Place corn tortillas in hot oil for about 30 seconds per side just to warm them, give them a tasty flavor and make them a little more pliable. 
• Fry your eggs as desired in a separate pan.
• Place a warmed corn tortilla on a plate top it with some cheese, your eggs, more cheese and some salsa.

See why this is the cheater version. . .

~And So That's What She Did.

Children at Play, Cheap Date and a Chicken Update

I love listening to my children interact with each other. 

Ballerina: Belly what number do you like the most?

Beloise: Green

Ballerina: That's not a number, do you like 3 or 4?

Beloise: 3 or 4

Ballerina: You like 3?

Beloise: Yes.

Ballerina: Okay.

Little Mommy.

This one likes to pull every book off of the shelf.

Spinning and saying I'm flying mom, I'm flying. And yes it was laundry day :).

Her wings? A butterfly headband from her first birthday.

Cheap Date Saturdays!

 Interesting story about this wine. On the night that my Beloved proposed, February 26, 2006, I had a glass of a delicious sparkling wine that I have been searching for ever since. We went to Fred Meyer last night and as is usually the case bought more then we came for and this wine somehow ;) made it's way into the cart. Popped it open today and, if my taste buds have a memory reaches six years back, I do believe this is the very type of wine I had that night. Moscato in case you were wondering.

The sun kept moving due to the large tree in our neighbors yard so we had to keep moving to stay in the heat.
We also added BBQ chips and pretzel m&m's to our chic fare. :) (Redneck . . . remember.)

Crazy, how fast these birds have grown. They have been upgraded to the dogs old kennel until my Beloved can make them a box outside. They have most of their feathers and yes, Ethel is still ornery.

 As you may have noticed we have been avoiding yard work. This week has been about spending time as a  family. Appreciating the blessings that God has given us and marveling at his amazing grace and love toward us. As for house work, if the house is clean the kids are asleep so . . . I don't take many pictures of that.

Guilty conscience much?

Perhaps.

Kid Pictures

Please enjoy this selection of random pictures from the last two-three weeks. . . 

"I'm sleeping see. . . "

Nanna and the grandkids

Bedtime stories with Ballerina.

~And So That's What She Did.

The Week in Pictures

This week . . .

Thumbelina became Belloise' chauffeur.

Somehow I believe this is a true indication of their individual personalities.

We enjoyed a little porch swing reading time.

Belloise entered one of my favorite baby stages. When she wakes from a nap she insists on handing me every stuffed animal and pacifier from her crib and then I must also carry her.

Friday she gave me everything including her pillow.

This frog is her favorite. A gift from Nanna.

By the way you are banned from examining the background of the previous two pictures. It was after a birthday party weekend and I am pretty sure a bomb . . . or two may have exploded in our house. . . don't judge.

MMM I made one of my favorite meals. I used PW's fried chicken recipe and it turned out beautifully.

As a side note I also purchased her cookbook this week, after having borrowed it from the library and deciding that two weeks was not long enough. 

That is one cookbook that MUST be owned!

It's not just the recipes and witty writing, it's the pictures, the lifestyle portrayed . . . it's what she's sellin' and I am buyin'

When I cook with it I close my eyes and imagine my neighbors are 3 acres away in every directions.

It's pure bliss!

Penny has found the girls favorite hiding spot.

She thinks it's her new bed.

I found this a local discount store. The picture made me laugh but my Beloved loves it for his shiny noggin'. He had been looking for something better than my body lotion for his head.
Review: "I like it."

Have a blessed week everyone.

~And So That's What She Did.