I Can Count to Five!

He was so happy he wanted to share with every one!

Crafts

Camera Case I made last week ,just forgot to blog about it! I couldn't find one at the store, it was either to big or to small so I just made one.

Sorry to much flash!

Our rocks we painted yesterday.

A baby wipes case that I covered, I am supposed to teach this at our wards super Saturday in September so I am practicing, The Ric rack is to wide and shows to much of the case so I am going to try another one with different trim.

Did you guys know Martha Stewart's Crafts are at Wal Mart now??? I love her line! I think we spent 30 minutes in the craft isle, poor kids! Well Annalyse likes that stuff, Zander was getting antsy. I got the glitter stamp kit and cant wait to make thank you cards for all the wonderful birthday gifts I received!

Chillin at the river

So much for Wordless Wednesday!! We got board so we went to the river which is just a mile away, our Subdivision has two parks on the Guadalupe River.

It's a little bright! Don't you just love his big hat!

I think they were looking for shells.

The river is so low with this drought! It is usually about 3 or 4 feet in some points right now they can walk all the way across. Which is good for them, I don't have to worry about them drifting down stream!

To show you how high the river got when we had a massive flood one year, if you can see the tree on the right at the very top there are branches and stuff? That's how high the river got! Crazy!

Annalyse took this picture, like my bathing suite? Its all that fits right now!

We were only there for an hour before someone got cranky(Madden) so we headed home!

We also brought some rocks home to paint, after we are done I will post a picture of them!

Wordless Wednesday-Outside play

A few of there favorite things

Annalyse: play out side, watch TV, hold Madden, wrestle with dad, play on the computer, candy, shopping with mom.

Zander: Man Toys(Superman,Batman, Spiderman,Iron man), watching man shows, cuddling with mom, play out side, wrestle with dad, help mom cook, make messes, hold baby, candy.

Madden: mom holding me, milk, naps, poops, milk, smiling, milk, watching everyone, did I say milk?

Horse Feet

I'm laughing too hard to even post this!!!! This was just a few minutes a go, Zander was outside make a mess of the pinata's left over from Saturday and then started ringing the door bell (asking for help). I ran to the door to tell him to stop because Madden was asleep and when I opened the door this is what I saw.

What he did was he broke the feet off the pinata and slid them on. He then couldn't walk as you can tell because he is holding the wall just to stand up. He also could not get the horse feet off so he started ringing the door bell to get our attention.

Justin actually wrote all of that, I was laughing so hard I was crying and couldn't see to type! I don't know why it was so funny to me, I think he kind of looks like that guy from Chronicles of Narnia! He is the cutest kid ever!

Photo Shoot

Since I don't have a car today(Justin's a/c is broken)And stuck at home all day I tried to do a photo shoot of the kids. which is hard to do by your self! Zander wouldn't keep his fingers out of his mouth! And kept trying to escape! Annalyse will pose all day for me! couldn't get a smile out of Madden ether. here are some that I liked. Also Zander didn't have a plane white shirt, oh well! Just have to try again!

I shot these pictures in black and white, my camera can take them in lots of defferent colors, which I love. When I take them in color and change it to black and white(like in Pacasa) it is not as crisp.

Have a Happy Monday!

Surprise! Surprise! Surprise!

You have to say the Title like Gomer Pyle! My sweet husband through me a surprise birthday party Saturday! Can you believe that? I cant! I thought I was just going to go to the movies! A bunch of my friends were helping him out by taking me to go get a pedicure and then to lunch while Justin got everything ready. Come to find out he had been planning it for at least 3 weeks, I was wondering why no one was calling me!! He did such an awesome job, we had about 50 people come! Not all at once, we had some that left early and some that came late but dang! I didn't think I had that many friends that would want to come! I felt so special! And I got lots of things that I love, like chocolate and gift certificates to the book store! And lots of wonderful smelling things from Bath and Body works. All of you guys that were in on it and helped out were awesome! Thank you so much!!! I had a great time! Now you can talk to me!

My friend took the video, it might make you a little dizzy!

And it looks like there is a fire on top of the cake! Its just all 30 of my candles!! :)

Spit up

Yesterday (I guess I had a lot of energy!) I made some heavy duty spit up rags out of cloth diapers, and since they are boring I had to spruce them up a bit with some binding and ribbon.( the pink one is for a friend.) I need some more ribbon to finish the rest of them(you get 12 in a pack!) And I am sure we will need all of them! Except for the two cute ones I am going to give away!
We could also do these on craft night!
Today I am going to try to make a camera case for the, well camera!!
Good Friday to ya'll!

All Clean

I didn't get to do a post yesterday because me and my best friend the garbage bag worked on the kids rooms ALL day! I got 3 full bags of give way and one big bag of trash. There rooms are so nice and clean, I should take a picture because it will last longer! It just gets to a point that I cant stand and then I just go to town down sizing all there toys and junk. I just went into A's room to get her dirty clothes and 3 hours later and two big bag fulls of toys it was all nice again! It took me that long because in between cleaning I had to take brakes to feed the baby, change the baby and then do that all over again, he did do good just laying in whatever room I was in, or sitting on my lap while I went through toys. When I was in younger my mom would pay me to clean the boys room (I had 3 little brothers) because she knew I would throw everything away and organize it.

Does anyone know of someone that needs 0-3 mo. baby boy clothes? There nice and I don't want to just give them to goodwill if I know someone needs them. Also I think we will be out of 3-6 mo. pretty soon! He loves his milk what can I say! 5 more pounds and he has to get out of the baby car seat and into the toddler one! He is growing way to fast!

I'm glad you guys want to do some crafts with me! I think the first one will be appliqued shirts, should we wait until September to start? Or get going next month? And day time or Evening?

You know what I figured out yesterday while cleaning? That I like Black! The black garbage bag for cleaning, the black chair for time out which we had to use because Zander had pinched Maddens cheeks a little to hard and made him scream! My black dress that I am trying to get back into, black tee shirts that I ware all the time(black is slimming!), I had a black horse, I have only black picture frames(except in the kids rooms, there white) I have lots of black shoes, the computer that I sit at is all black, My counters are black, I am sure I thought of more, the things I think of while cleaning!!

The picture is of annalyse's bedspread(duvet cover, out of two flat sheets) that I made, my sister wanted to see what it looked like. I saw it at Target for $100 dollars and I really loved it so I tried to make one, it is not perfect but okay. I thought it would be easy to just sew ribbon onto it but keeping it straight was another story. Still it came out okay and way cheaper then the one at the store!

Morning Cartoons

This is how my kids watched there morning cartoons yesterday, I think they called them forts or caves? can't remember which, but in any case there goofy little kids! I think it was all Annalyses idea, she is the fort queen one day she made one all over her room and wanted to sleep in it at night, she started out there but got scared a scorpion was going to get her and got on her bed. Poor kids are sacred to sleep on the floor in the summer time! We haven't had anymore since Justin sprayed the house, but we are supposed to be getting some rain with the Hurricane that is hitting the gulf, and they like to come in when we get lots of rain. I didn't mean this to turn into a scorpion post again! Just wanted to show you what my goofy kids do! Its so fun to see there little brains work and watch them come up with the games they play. Lately its mommy and baby(wonder why?). The little baby is sleep right now and I should be folding laundry, but blogging is so much more fun! At least there all clean right? Anyone know a good maid for hire? Oh! and Ikea where are you? I thought you were coming to the shopping center that's only 30 minutes from me? And I thought it was this summer? Or is it next summer? I need your cute cheep organizing containers so I can get my children's rooms in order, please hurry I am so close to giving there stuff away. I could order it from you but I would have to give you my right kidney to ship it to me! So build fast okay!

One more thing before I go and be Cinderella, would any of you like to start a crafting group? I know a lot of you locals read my blog! And just don't comment! I saw someone start a "Not your Mama's crafting group" they do all kinds of cool stuff, so if any of you would like to join me let me know! We could start at my house and trade homes or always do it at my home doesn't matter! I would just like to have some friends get together and do some crafting!

Well now I took to long and the baby is wake, sorry laundry! Guess you'll have to wait!! And the other two are beating each other up so gotta go!!!

Leftover Berry Puree

Warmed and poured over hot french toast mmmmmm. De-lish!

One of the many things you can do with berry Puree!

You could also put it over ice cream, yogurt, as a dip with some pound cake, by its self with some whipped cream on top! Under or over some brownies, I am sure there are a ton more things you could put it on!

Super Moist Super Chocolate Cake

Happy Birthday to me!!!!!

Another year another chocolate cake! This one was made from a box mix which I usually don't do but the recipe sounded so good! And it is! I was going to sprinkle some powdered sugar on top to make it look pretty but I didn't have any, time to go to the store I guess.


Well I am the big 3 0 now, I can't believe it yet I still feel like I am in my 20's(don't know if I still look it any more after three kids!) Everyone keeps telling me its all down hill from now on, but I think this is where it starts, I am not the newlywed or new mom anymore, I have been married for 10 years have 3 children and life is in full swing! It feels good! I love my life and family!
Don't know what were going to do for my birthday yet, I'm hopping for a movie and dinner with my hubby(and baby:).
I do know that me and my thighs are going to enjoy that cake!!!


Super Moist Fudge Bundt Cake
1 devils food cake mix
1 4-serving instant chocolate pudding mix
4 large eggs
1 cup sour cream (not low-fat or fat-free)
1/2 cup warm water
1/2 cup vegetable oil (I use canola)
1 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
Place all ingredients except chocolate chips in a large mixing bowl. Blend with an electric mixer for 1 minute. Stir down sides. Continue to mix on medium speed for 2-3 minutes. Stir in chocolate chips. Pour batter into prepared (i.e. greased and floured) bundt pan. Bake 45-50 minutes at 350 degrees. Cool 20 minutes. Invert onto serving platter. I usually dust mine with powdered sugar for an elegant look before digging in.
Best served with a tall glass of cold milk!

Beef Stroganoff

Beef Stroganoff
Put in crock pot:2-3 pounds stew meat, I used deer stew meat

1 tsp. salt
dash of pepper
1 onion, sliced
Mix in a bowl and pour over meat:
¼ tsp. garlic salt
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 ½ cups beef broth or stock (made up from cubes or granules)
1 tablespoon ketchup
Cook in crock pot on low for 7-8 hours or high for 4-5 hours. When cooked make a simple roux by whisking 1/3 cup flour with enough apple juice (about 5-6 tablespoons) to make a thick but still pourable flour mixture. Whisk the roux into the crock pot and add 4 ounces sliced mushrooms.
Cook on high for 15-30 minutes. Then stir in ½ cup sour cream. Serve over pasta, rice or baked potatoes (pasta is my favorite option) I put it over mashed taters!

After reading this recipe again I forgot the sour cream!!! How could I have forgotten that! It still turned out great, everyone liked it including Annnalyse, she had two helpings. It was so simple and the meat was just fallen apart! Defiantly going to do this one again.
Another recipe from My kitchen Cafe, I'm loven all her recipes!

Fizzy drink

Left over berry puree and sparkling water=

Refreshing fruit drink!

Purple Oatmeal

Red Berry Risotto Oatmeal

from Marilyn S. ( she has a lot of recipes I am going to try!)

1/2 cup steel-ground oatmeal (such as McCann's Irish Oatmeal)

1 cup Arborio rice

1/2 cup heavy cream

6 cups water

1 vanilla bean, scraped (I used vanilla paste, you could use 1/2 tea. vanilla )

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 bag frozen raspberries, thawed

OR 1 cup ripe raspberries 1 cup ripe strawberries, quartered

In a rice cooker add all the ingredients, except the fruit. Cook until done. (Alternately, you can cook the mixture in a large pot. Bring to a quick boil and then lower to a simmer and cook, covered, for about 25-30 minutes. Remove rice and oatmeal from the rice cooker. Add raspberries and stir to combine. Stir in strawberries and continue to stir until the berries have turned the risotto slightly pink, 1-2 minutes. Serve immediately. If you are planning on saving leftovers and heating up in the morning, only add berries to each individual serving the morning of and not to the whole batch.

I made a berry mixture by putting mixed berries(I used the organic 3 berry one from Costco), sugar and a little water in a pan, heated until they were soft, then pureed them, put them in a squeeze bottle and was able to drizzle it over the oatmeal and make faces! I call it Purple because that's what color it turned when you stirred it all together! Zander and I really liked it, He eat it all up, I thought it was nice and creamy and with the sweet and tart berries made for a nice breakfast:) Annalyse my picky eater didn't like it at all but that's no surprise! I liked that I could put it in my rice cooker and it was ready in about 20 min.

Hi Ro!

The kids love the camera to! I am so glad we can make videos now!!! This one is for you Roshelle! :)

And yes Zander is chewing gum!

The baby says high to! He was making all kinds of noises and smiles until I got the camera out! And it shakes near the end because he was kicking my arm!

Diving girl

Annalyse was at a friends house the other day swimming and learned to do flips off of there little diving board. She loves the water so much! I can't ever get her out when its time to leave.

-coming up this week, chocolate goodness for me and my b-day, oatmeal in the crock pot, and hopefully some dinners!

Sorry about the background noise, they were having trenches dug for there sprinklers. And its swaying because I was rocking the baby:)

Orange chicken

I made Orange chicken last night, I think it came out real good, I got the recipe from blog chef he has a lot of good recipes I want to try, I love his blog and photos of the food.

Next time I will fry them like he said to do, this time I baked them like I saw on another blog.

My favorite time of day

Nap time! With this crazy summer going on and the kids at each other all day, I started quiet time, you don't have to go to sleep just stay on your bed and be quiet. It is usually when I put Madden down for his afternoon nap so I try to have them all down and quiet at the same time. Most days it works and I can rest for a little bit or just enjoy the silence! I love my kids to death but when there all asleep is the best part of my day lately!

I found some cute crafts to with them to hopefully keep them occupied and not fighting with each other. With having a baby, gas prices so high and the darn heat we haven't done much in the way of fun summer activities. Maybe next year!

I am also in a recipe rut, I can't think of things to make for dinners, I did find some recipes online to try so maybe I will have some to post for you guys. I am dying to get back in the kitchen and start cooking and baking again, but the little one is making it hard for me! Speaking of he just woke up so I must get off the computer.

Very big shoes to fill!

I know every one has the picture of there kids trying on dads shoes, but Justin's boots (not the brand my husband!:) Look sooo big on him!!! Before I know it he will be that size!!
This was with the old camera, its all grainy! The new one is a Kodak easy share HD z1285, 12mp 5x zoom. I am really liking it!

Deck update

Some of you (mom) wanted to know how the deck and landscaping were coming along. The grass is dead from the drought I am trying to keep the plants going. We still need to stain the deck, we have the stain just need to do it!!
This a little sitting area and walkway to the fence. I am working on the area between the garage and house now (I will go take some before pictures!)

Our new patio set, now we can eat outside! I love eating breakfast outside.

The gazebo still needs railings and benches, almost done.

This is a tiny flower on one of my plants, still messing with the camera, which is really nice just look at this picture! It reminds me of my mom because she likes yellow.

All in all its coming along, it seems like we have never ending projects around the house. I try to do some every night after Justin gets home, my break from the kids! And I like to work outside its a great stress relief (its been another crazy summer!)

The results are in!

The big kids had there yearly check up and the baby had his two month, so here we go!

Annalyse 48 1/2 inches, 52 lbs

Zander 37 inches, 31lbs.
Madden 23 1/4 inches, 14lbs.

Everyone checked out ok! Zanders Eczema is fine during the summer if he doesn't do a lot of swimming and his allergy's are gone during the summer months also. Annalyse is always healthy just losing teeth and no more snoring now that she had her tonsils out. Baby Madden is such a chunker! He doesn't miss a meal! Even when he sleeps for his 6 hours straight at night, he will make up for it in the morning!! I am so blessed to have healthy children!

The new camera I am trying out has video on it so now I can do little videos on the blog!!!

Party Party Party!

We had the kids Birthday party Saturday. I think everyone had a good time, they bounced until they couldn't bounce no more! It was just so hot until the sun went down! But that didn't stop them. They got all kinds of cool stuff from family and friends, thank you everyone! They just love having you over!

Next thing up is my 30th!! Wow! I can't believe I am going to be 30! I don't feel like the young married or new mom any more! But its all good!
P.S. My camera ran out of batteries at cake time so I didn't get a picture of them and the cake!!:(

But it tasted good!!!