Smell the Roses

I got these for Valentine's Day...2 dozen crimson and cream, from my three sweeties. Today they are open and full and beautiful and they smell sooooo good! Actually, the cream ones are looking more baby pink as they open up, but I love the combo. They may be my favorite flowers ever. Usually, I like tulips and stargazer lilies for something different...but these are just absolutely gorgeous. And I think roses are more romantic. :-) You did good, honey.

Funny Things

Alec's funny thing: A few weeks ago at lunchtime, he had carrot on his face. I said, "I love you carrot face." He replied, "I love you, carrot Mom!"

Emma's funny thing: Today before naptime, Emma was on the potty. She made up a song. (While patting the side of her leg, supposedly like a spanking) she sang, "Noooooo spankin's, nooooooo spankin's, noooooooooo spankin's, noooooo spankin's when you noooooo listen, nooooo listen, noooooo listen, to the Bible!"

I got such a good laugh out of that. I mean, first of all...she realizes that there is a consequence for disobedience and that has something to do with the Bible. But also, if you could have seen her face. It was like she was singing on a music video, with her eyes closed and her head bopping from side to side...she was SO into it.

I post these things because my blog is how I keep a record of some of the priceless moments that I get to enjoy as they grow.

(Disclaimer: we are NOT abusive parents. We correct our children out of love in a Biblical way. I think that most of our readers can appreciate that. )

Snow Dive!

For those of you who haven't seen it on facebook:

This all came about because a few of the boys in youth at church were daring eachother to go swimming in the snow. Aaron decided that he needed to show that he still has what it takes to keep up with the young punk kids. :-) It was pretty awesome.

More Snow Pics

This is what Aaron found when he opened the garage door.

The first chunk.

Cookie checking it out. The look on her face was priceless. "What the heck?"

Pretty...but a pain. :-)

Progress! Great job, honey!

The ginormous icicles hanging from our roof!

Took the trash to the curb last Friday after the other snowstorm. Waste management never tells us if they're cancelling pickup or when they're resuming pickup...so there it has stayed.

Got Snow?

Here's the snow pouring out of the playset. The glider and swings are almost covered up. You can see how much the composter is covered in the corner.

Our front steps...what steps?

Again, you can't even see the porch for the snowdrift!

We've gotten at least 20 inches so far and it's still coming down!

Apparently, Arkansas is the new frozen tundra.

BUT, it's supposed to be 60 degrees on Monday...we shall see!

Chocolate Oatmeal Muffins

My friend Carey, who has twin girls, just four months older than A&E, came up with a great muffin recipe that combines chocolate (for the kids/husband) and fiber (which all of us need, but particularly for the older crowd). I like it because it subs applesauce for shortening, making the muffins really moist, and healthier. I also like them because they aren't too sweet. She makes hers with wheaties and oats...but I just made them with oats. Here's the version that we made yesterday:

Chocolate Oatmeal Muffins
1 cup flour
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
3/4 cup milk
1/3 cup applesauce
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 egg
1 1/4 cups oats

Combine all dry ingredients (except the oats). Add milk, applesauce and vanilla. Beat on low (or use elbow grease) for 2 minutes. Add the egg and beat another 2 minutes. Stir in the oats.
Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 mins. The yield for me was 18 muffins.

The kids helped me stir this recipe up on Monday after Mom's Day Out. They had so much fun mixing it up and then eating what they made later. They were really excited watching them puff up in the oven. Emma and I especially have been knocking them back...Alec and Daddy aren't quite as enthusiastic. To quote Aaron "they taste healthy." :-) They do...but I don't think they taste as healthy as bran muffins though.

Tomorrow is a snow day for sure, and I told them we'd stir up another batch. That made them happy.

Well, that's enough Susie Homemaker for today. Over and out.

Stir Crazy

The snack I came up with today. Peanut butter ritz happy faces. :-)

These pictures don't make it look like we got that much snow. But we got 7 or 8 inches.

That willow tree looks cool all iced over.

Lovies!

Me with a killer icicle we pulled off the roof.

Snow Cookie.

This was from the last time we got snow.

Alec with his lollipop that Aunt Linda put in his stocking.

And Emma with hers.

Both of them are looking stoked!

Thanks, Aunt Linda!

Today is our third snow day of the week...and tomorrow will be again. I'm starting to go nuts. For the last several weeks, the kids and I have had a routine of going to the gym almost everyday so they can play and I can workout...and we all run off some steam. At least once a week we hit Walmart or Sam's or McDonald's or Chick-Fil-A. Tuesday we got slammed with ice, sleet and snow (7 or 8 inches on top of the ice and sleet)...and we have been homebound ever since.

Aaron worked from home Tuesday and Wednesday, but braved the roads in the Pilot today. We took the kids outside yesterday, but they could only handle 10 minutes (and it took 45 to get bundled up). It's been in the negatives for wind chill...so that's understandable.

I'm just dying to get out of the house. Kind of an oxymoron for a "stay at home mom" right? But you know, usually I have the option of going somewhere if I feel like it.

We're supposed to get more snow showers over the next few days. I really hope Arkansas takes a hint from the last three winters of major ice storms and winter weather that we are now a state that would really benefit from road crews that are up to the challenge of plowing FOR REALS.