A day at the pool......

We don’t get out much.  I had planned that this summer would be full of fun activities.  But, it has not been.  So, I start feeling like a bad mom.  And the answer to that is…..get the pool out.  They both love it.  For a few minutes, anyway.  And probably for different reasons.  Sage likes to put the water in, and then take the water out.  Brady likes to splash in it, crawl around in it, and get in and out of it.  One thing they BOTH like to do is drink it.  Yuck!  Gross!  Icky!  The cups I gave them were to play with, but no matter how many times I tell them not to do it, they keep on doing it.  Oh, well.  They are still alive.

Once again, I can’t get a decent smile out of Sage.  The best pics of her these days are when I don’t tell her to smile.  And those are usually marred by her scraggly hair hanging in her face.  (That problem will be remedied in a few days when it is cut off!  Ha, ha!)  You will see a lot of snarls and stink eyes from her, but not ever a nice smile.  I pray it is just a phase.

Brady is great to give me a smile.  And eat dirty yellow dog balls.  And get wedgies with no diaper on.  And just be a really cute and sweet little girl.  I can’t believe that she will turn one in two weeks.  Where has the time gone?  She’s not a baby anymore.  I miss having a baby.  Could it be that I want another baby already?  Impossible!  I will not have children closer than two years together! 

Anyway, the summer is drawing to a close.  I feel like I’ve wasted a lot of time cleaning my house.  But the house has got to be clean, right?  That’s what he says.   We will just have to make the most of what is left of it.

Munson Reunion 2012

Bryce Canyon

Sage, Me, and Brady 

DeEtte, Aunt Gailya & Uncle Austin, Mom, Kim, and Toni

B is for Bird, Bear, and Bike/Discovery Center

I'm not doing too good with the whole pre-school thing, but we finally got around to the letter "B" and the number "2" today.  One reason for the delay is a broken printer.  I can't print out all the cute things that creative people have already put together, so we just got out the Cricut and cut out a few things.

 And, since this was so last-minute and out of the blue, the only snack I could come up with that started with a "B" was bread and butter. 

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Yesterday,we went to the Discovery Center with a couple of families in our ward.  It was a little over Sage's  head, but there were a few things she enjoyed. Her  favorite was the Vet Room.  She  loves animals, and loves to play doctor, so this was perfect for her.

Sage checking out a turtle

Lorna, Sage, and Mylee

4th of July - 2012

A is for Apple

A is for Apple

"A" snack:  Apples with caramel dip

Ever since I stopped working I have wanted to start "pre-school" with Sage.  Up to this point, I haven't had time to start teaching her about her letters and numbers, and i feel like she is behind.

FINALLY today, we were able to start.  

I figured I'd start with the letter A, and the number 1.  I got all of my worksheets and ideas from a website (which I can't recall right now) that I found on Pinterest.  

She was excited to have "school" and paid attention for about 10 minutes.  Then she was ready for her snack, and to get back to playing.  

We talked about a lot of different things, besides just "A" and "1"  We also learned about:

same vs. different

matching and sorting

the meaning of new words that start with the letter A - ex:  acrobat, ankle, astronaut

we traced come letters (which she did better with than I expected)

This is a great learning experience for me, as well as for her.  I just hope that she will get something out of it.  At this age, their little minds are sponges.  I can't believe how well she remembers other types of things, so I'm hoping she'll do as well with "school."

The letter "A" and the number "1"

Learning to write the letter "A"

 

 

Girlie Update

So, this is Brady.  She's almost 9 months old.  I can't believe it!  She is such a good girl....sleeps great, eats great, and hardly every cries.  She loves her sister to pieces.  Too bad her sister does not return the love quite as much.....yet.  Someday i know they will be great friends.  She is crawling now, and walks along things.  I think she will be walking before we know it.  And probably before we really want her to.  She loves to stand at the back doors and watch the dogs.  She likes to be outside too, but she tries to eat the grass so we have to be careful with that.  Her nickname is Boo-boo.  It started with calling her Brady Boo, and then just turned into Boo-boo.  Sometimes I call her Boo-bah-doo-bah, and once in awhile Sage will call her that, too.  It cracks me up!

I have to post this picture for memories sake.  The day before this, she got her first sunburn.  (Bad mommy!)  It's so funny because it's just her left cheek, and the top of her head.  I felt so bad!  But she recovered just fine, and didn't peel, or anything.

I'm so grateful to have another little munchkin in the house.  I can't remember what life was like without her.  She is such a sweet girl!

Now for her big sister.....

or, otherwise know as "Stinker!"  She is such a little stinker right now.  I'm hoping it is just because she is three, and is busy, busy, busy.  She's in to everything.  Asks a million questions every day.  Loves her dogs, bike, and being outside.  Likes to create mud.  Loves to "do my hair!"  And puts a "B" in front of a lot of her words..  B-mato (tomatoe), B-nanna, B-lax (Just B-lax (relax) while I do your hair, mom.)  She's always saying the funniest things.  When she's excited about something, she says "Hooray!"  When I clap for her and tell her she's done something well, she says "Bravo!"  I don't know where she comes up with this stuff!

She refuses to pose "nicely" for a photo, so we just have to snap away and hope we get something that is kind of ok.  She's currently in Glenns Ferry for a few days, hangin' with her cousins.  I miss her, but I'm glad for a little bit of quiet time.  We'll see her again in a few days up at the cabin for the Memorial Day weekend where I hope to get some good pics of her and her sister.

Orange Brownies

Let me start with giving proper credit for this recipe.  It is actually a Paula Deen recipe, introduced to me by a co-worker, Dorothy Kester.  I would have never tried this recipe just from reading the name of it, but after having the first bite, I was totally hooked!  I'm warning you right now, that they are sinful!  Once you take a bite, you won't be able to stop eating them! On with the recipe......

Orange Brownies

1 1/2 c all-purpose flour
2 c granulated sugar
1 tsp salt
1 c butter, softened (I make them with 1/2 c shortening, 1/2 c butter)
4 eggs
2 tsp pure orange extract
1 tsp grated orange zest
1 recipe Orange Cream Cheese Frosting (recipe follows)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Grease a 13x9 pan (I prefer them thinner, so I make them in a cookie sheet)

Stir together flour, granulated sugar, and salt in a bowl.  Add butter, eggs, orange extract, and orange zest.  Using a handheld electric mixer, beat until well blended.  Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 30 minutes, or until light golden brown and set.  Remove from oven, allow to cool and pierce entire cake with a fork.  Spread the Orange Cream Cheese Frosting over completely cooled brownies.  Cut into squares.

Orange Cream Cheese Frosting:

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
4 Tbsp softened butter
1 (1-pound) box confectioners' sugar
2 Tbsp orange zest
2 Tbsp orange juice

In a large mixing bowl, whip the butter and cream cheese together with a hand-held electic mixer.  Gradually beat in the confectioners' sugar until it is all combined and smooth.  Beat in the orange zest and juice.  Spread over brownies.

** In case you are wondering, one batch of the frosting is enough to cover the entire cookie sheet of brownies with ample frosting.

YUM YUM YUM!!