Kite Flying

Yesterday was the National Kite Festival. We had a great time trying to fly our kites. The wind was being kind of difficult, but the boys had a blast running the kite all around anyway. There were so many people that it was dangerous too. Our big kite dive bombed a few times and luckily no one was underneath it. As the boys ran around they got tangled up with other kite strings now and then and accidently crashed a couple of people in the head. In between flying kites they played football and we had some snacks. The cherry blossoms are out and Nana is here visiting so it was an all around great day. We were just missing Matt, but he was at a scout camp out--in heaven doing a night vision course. We be going back to walk around the blossoms this week so I'll post more pictures.

Easter

We hope you all had a HAPPY EASTER!  We had a couple of families over and had a nice dinner and a big easter egg hunt outside.  We had a fun time and it almost felt like we were at a family party.  

Doesn't Nate look happy to be in this picture?

Cam caught on pretty quick once he found out there was candy in the eggs.

Sam being Sam.

Philadelphia

The First One

Love this time of year!!!  I like to walk around my yard and see the growth each day. We are headed to Philadelphia tomorrow to visit some of our old favorite places. We are also taking the boys to a Star Wars exhibit at the Franklin Institute. Gotta go finish getting ready. Hope you all have a lucky day tomorrow!

Gear

Matt came home pretty happy Saturday night. He finally purchased some things he has been tracking for awhile. He was trying to snag a great deal on ebay, but no great deal was to be had. So, with the help of a 20 percent off coupon, some birthday money and the "necessity" of having-the right-gear-because-I'm-a-scoutmaster he was able to bring it all home.

I complain sometimes of how much time scouting takes, but I really am happy to see him interested and doing such a great job and I know all the work will also benefit our boys too.






I've tried to post this many times and the pictures wouldn't upload so lets hope this time works.

Here is one I forgot to add last week. What a funny job/hobby these guys have!

Last Friday I got to meet Matt in NYC to stay for a night. We had a great time. We love walking around the streets of NY and we did A LOT of that. My feet were even sore for a couple of days. I took the bus up on Friday morning which wasn't as bad as it sounds. I would even do it again, especially for the great price. I walked around, had lunch, went to the Guggenheim museum and saw an interesting exhibit by a Chinese artist and also their permanent collection. I like Kandinsky.

Then I met Matt at the hotel which was on Broadway overlooking Times Square. Very cool. We had dinner at a little Thai restaurant and I even tried real sushi, and liked it. We went to a late movie (I don't want to talk about my attempt to get us show tickets) and then walked back to the hotel in the freezing wind.

Saturday we thought we would go to the Statue of Liberty. We hadn't gone for many years so we were very surprised to find soooo many people there. We knew we wouldn't have time to go all the way out and still make our train so we decided to go the art museum. After the subway ride and the walk across central park we got to art museum and realized we wouldn't have time to see it properly either. So, we just walked all down through Central Park and thought about bringing the boys someday soon.

We made our train and read most of the way home which was a treat. We really appreciated everyone who helped us with our boys. It was so nice to just be with Matt, to sleep in, and to go where we wanted whenever we wanted to. We do love those boys a whole ton, and I was happy to see them again.

Aunt Diane Loves Me

I was cleaning out my night stand last week and I found this button that my Aunt Diane gave me many years ago. So, Diane if you are reading this, you should know that this button meant something to me, because I still have it after about 14 moves in three states. When I pulled it out from between old letters and cards it made me laugh out loud and then almost cry, which was weird. I was in high school when she gave it to all her nieces and nephews. My friends thought it was really funny (in a good way) and they dared me to wear to school all day, and I did. High school girls don't normally wear buttons like that to school, so I think I was brave.

I just wanted to post this for valentine's day to point out that you never know how far your love is going to reach. We should all try to love a little more! Thanks Diane, maybe I'll wear it tomorrow. Love you all!!!

Doesn't that just make you happy?

Old Man!

Here is a birthday wish for my sweetheart! I'm sure he would love anyone to call to remind him how old he is.

It is a freezy rain day here. I took these this morning when the boys ran out to the bus. I thought the ice on the bushes made some cool textures.

Totally Chocolate Dinner

We had a very nutritious dinner tonight that I wanted to share. Ok, just kidding. It was the opposite of nutritious but it was good and the boys ate a lot, which doesn't always happen. Here is a recipe for Chocolate Brownie Waffles. It makes a ton of waffles so, if you have a smaller family you might want to half it.

4 c. flour
1 1/2 c. sugar
1 1/3 c. cocoa powder
2 T. baking powder
1 t. baking soda
1 t. salt
1 t. cinnamon
4 c. milk
4 large eggs
2 t. vanilla
8 T. unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
1 1/3 c. semi-sweet mini chocolate chips

Mix dry ingredients then add the milk, egg and vanilla. Whisk until smooth. Stir in melted butter and chips and let batter stand for 5 minutes while the waffle iron heats up. Serve with whipped cream, syrup or any other toppings you like.  YUM!

Cookies

It must be Sunday night because we are having cookies. This is one of our favorite things to do on Sunday. We all get a glass of milk and eat hot cookies one after the other. I always thought Sam was our cookie monster, but Cameron is challenging him.

Most of us are dippers.

This is Cameron saying "Pees, Pees, Cookie, Cookie, Cookie" 

(With the accent on the second syllable of cookie.)

He is so cute!

So, we are in the basement, the boys playing, me on the computer, Nate trying to catch some of the Superbowl, and Matt brings me down a very black and very stinky cookie.  Oops!  I did one of my famous moves and forgot the last batch of cookies.  I burned 'em good.  I don't think I'll post a picture of those hockey pucks.

Losin' Teeth

We are slow to lose our teeth around here, but Spencer has now lost another one.  So that makes his total 2.  It was barely hanging on when he got home from school, so he pulled in out and was pretty pleased.  Isn't he cute.  I love the way his eyes close when he is happy and smiling.  He is going to look so different when he gets human sized teeth.  His baby teeth are so tiny, they look like cat teeth or something.