"I shipped myself"

...this is what my 2.5 year old angel said to me the other day. She approached me (while looking a little upset) and announced- "I shipped myself".
After picking my jaw up off the floor I asked Avie, "What did you just say?"
And sure enough she repeated- "I shipped Mommy".
Of course my initial reaction was to be overcome with rage, thinking this was something she overheard from her father...but then I noticed she was also holding her knee.
I took her hand and discovered that she had a "boo boo" as we call them around here. I quickly did the math and then asked-
"Ava, did you TRip?"
"YES! Mommy, I shipped myself. I has a boo boo".

Whew. I was thrilled to learn that she had not learned any profane language that day (and Tom would be spared a looooong lecture). We were able to cure our obvious lack of communication with a bandaid.
But I am betting that one day, (like in her teenage days) it's going to be a lot harder than a cartoon bandaid to fix things.
I love 2.5 year olds and I love my little shipper.

Chocoholics

Today we made brownies. Yummy brownies of course, but also stupidly-easy-to-make brownies. I think Bryn could have made these by herself if she was given the chance...
I got the recipe from our friend Dixie. She got it from somewhere else, so I don't know who to give the proper credit to. Either way this easy-peasy, lemon squeezey recipe needed to be shared.
AND the best thing about it is these brownies are not as crumbly as regular ones. They stay together pretty well (thanks to the pudding I think), so you don't have to cringe when you give it to a 2 year old.

To whip up your own batch all you do is mix a package of instant chocolate pudding with 2 cups of milk. Then add a box of chocolate cake mix and a small package of chocolate chips. Mix 'er up and spread it out in a large cookie sheet. Cook them at 350 degrees for about 22-27 mins and then enjoy (after letting them cool off of course, because it would be stoopid to try and take a bite right away as you'd probably burn your tongue--I'm just saying).
Also, I added a sheet of parchment paper to line to cookie sheet, the brownies pulled off like a dream. A yummy. chocolate. dream.
Did I also mention this makes a nice BIG batch of brownies, just in case you had to make a bigger batch for a bake sale or maybe you were suffering from a raging case of PMS and a "small box" just won't cut it. This recipe makes a lot more than those wussy brownie mix ones (12 servings, my a$$). So enjoy!
And you are welcome internet!

And as if you needed proof that these are delicious both before and after baking...here you go! (at least I can say that my girls get it honestly!)

Life on a Northern Farm

Yes, still more vacation. We spent a couple days at my In-Laws farm in Ohio.
A real farm.
In the middle of nowhere with "fresh" air, lots of corn and other farmy stuff.
Although it was a nice change of pace, it confirmed my theory that I am truly a city girl and I think I would shrivel up and die if I had to live way out next to nowhere.
It did however, make for some neat pictures. I love old barns.

















We also spent some time with Tom's good friend at their farm as well. They had about 9 baby kitties. Friendly, not so smart kitties that kept coming out to play. Needless to say, Bryn and Ava spent the whole time hugging and squeezing and calling them all "George". (sorry about that Frank and Dixie)!
I am happy to report that no kitties were harmed on our visit!




The good news is I will not post any more vacation pictures (not too many anyway). I will spare you the 3000 others I have saved. Partly because I am just too lazy to go through and edit them all.
Now we are up to date with our lives.
We anxiously await Bryn starting Pre-K next week and the impending hurricanes that seem to be coming our way.
Good times.

Vacation (The Ohio Part)

After our visit in Kentucky, we made the trek to Ohio.
We spent lots of time running around, and the girls spent lots of time playing with their aunties.
We enjoyed the Columbus Zoo. We were also lucky enough to meet up with some old friends of ours. Connor was Bryn's first Best Friend, and although it toook a few minutes, they were best buds soon again.



My little sisters are the best help around. It was so nice to actually have a free hand now and then. Bryn and Avie are pretty enamoured of their aunties.



We also enjoyed some animals that we do not see at our local zoo here.
The tigers were eager to come out to play. Although I enjoyed being so close to the tigers, I wasn't feeling too safe with the mere sheet of glass between us (especially when you could see all the ginormous paw marks smeared along the glass.


And some cool waterlife...which is right up Ava's alley. I am sure she would've spent all day watching the Nemos and Dories if I left her there with some juice and a snack (which was very tempting).






At the end of the zoo, we are all tuckered...and I also enjoyed a bit of lovin (which I only seem to get when someone is horribly tired and cuddley, but I'll get it when I can get it).



We also celebrated a barage of birthdays, my 25th birthday (just kidding, we all know I am 33 years young), Tom's birthday and my little sister's 30th birthday (honestly I think 30 even sounds older than 33, so it was all good).


Ava also enjoyed her first braids! So of course I had to document that occasion. And you would too if you had an Ava that cute!


I did my best to try and take some non-people pictures. These are from my Mother's garden. Just some quinessential flower pictures, but I actually like 'em. And because her flowers are so nice, it looks like I can take a picture! It was fun as I tried playing with my zoom lens a little more.

Vacation (The Kentucky Part)

Whew. We are home. I have washed myself out of the 7 loads of laundry from our vacation and I can almost see the countertop through the remaining mail. We are almost back to our normal chaos!

While we were away, we we lucky enough to miss the adventure that was Hurruicane Fay. We were also lucky enough to not have too much damage. Although we had to empty the freezer in the garage as that power was knocked out. From the flooded ponds and downed palm trees in the area, I'd say we were relatively unscathed.

I have also learned that 2 weeks is just too long to be away. By the end of the second week, Bryn and Ava were begging to sleep in their beds...and I was praying they'd return to a normal bedtime routine once we arrived home.

We spent the first week with my favorite and best in Kentucky. I love Andie. I love Kentucky. It was a great time. Lots of laughter and "jazz hands".

Bryn and Ava played very well with Miss Sophia and Emma. In fact, they were so very similar, it was kind of eerie. Watching those girls play brought back many memories as Andie and I were 4 and 5 when we met in kindergarten.
These 2 girls ate about a billion popcicles.




We did lots of playing on the playset.



Some climbing.



Some walking, flower observing and dog loving. Ava totally adored their dog "Solly", despite the fact that he probably could have eaten her whole! She just patted this ginormous head and said "Aww, he's so cute!"



What a great start to our vacation.

33

Yes, it's true. Someone may or may not have turned 33. Although there is nothing particularily significant about this number, I am starting to feel a little older. I have noticed little things too, such as a wrinkle or two (or ten). I can no longer eat a bag of M&Ms like I used to without some negative side effects and a good day now is when I am regular (I am sure fiber and I will become very good friends pretty soon).


I still refuse to believe that I am an adult. I look around at my life, my children, my husband, my house and I wonder just who the heck this stuff belongs to.

Then I think of how very lucky I am. Well, that and the fact that Tom has 5 years on me.

Word association with 4 year olds.

On vacation, we spent a week or so with my best and her family. Andie's daughters are about the same age as my daughters, so we knew it'd be a hootin-nanny of a time. What is so especially cool, is Bryn and Sophia are about the same age as Andie and myself when we met many moons ago.

While sitting around the table, we decide to try some word association for fun.

Me- "Okay girls- what do you think of when I say cake?"
Bryn- "Bake"
Sophia - "Eat it!"

(alright, I am thinking this may be pretty fun)

Me - "Okay, what do you think of when I say Daddy"
Bryn- "Batty"
Sophia- "Eat it!"

Hmmmm...I think I see where this is going...
Me- "what you do think of when I say dog?"
Bryn- "Bog"
Sophia - "Eat it!"

Sophia's Mom interevenes to help with the obvious confusion.

Andie- "Wait Sophia, what do you THINK of when Miss Jill says a word?"

Once again I try.
Me- "What do you think of when I say Bird?"
Bryn- "Mird" (saw that one coming)
Sophia- "Wear it!"

Andie and I look at each other in a fit of giggles. Word association with 4 year old was not our best idea.

I are crazies

So, Tom just called me to let me know that he's flying back tonight...we will be leaving for our vacation on Sunday! Yes, the Sunday that is in less than 24 hours one.
Crap. I am all a fizz.
So, while I try to pack for the family, clean the house, do laundry, go get the supplies for a 12 hour drive, finish up as many bows as humanly possible and make arrangements, I thought I'd post some recent pictures of this week (because who knows when I will have another moment).



Ava best said it this afternoon while she was running around, shaking her head to Metro Station's- Shake It, "I are cazies, Mummy"!!!
I just smiled to myself and thought, the apple doesn't fall too far from the tree now, does it?




Oh yeah, look...more rain today. (imagine that?)
Oodles of it. This was just before I think I saw a couple cats and dogs fall from the sky.