Pumpkin Whoopie Pies

Pumpkin Whoopie Pie Recipe! (complements of Rachel Ray)
1 stick butter
1 c. brown sugar
2 eggs
1 c. canned pumpkin puree
1 Tbs. pumpkin pie spice
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
3/4 tsp. salt
1 2/3 c. flour

Filling:
1/2 stick butter
2 pinches salt
4 oz. cream cheese
1 c. confectioners sugar

Preheat to 350. Whisk butter and sugar until smooth, then add everything else, but fold in the flour at the end. Make 24 mounds on baking sheets and bake for 10 minutes or until springy. Cool completely. Put 2 halves together with the filling to make your whoopie pies. Note: These may be frozen for up to 3 days and still be good.

Weekend at the Museum

On Friday we went to the local Children's Museum. It cost $12 for the whole family, and it was totally NOT WORTH IT! They had some cool stuff, all jammed into one room, but my kids didn't even touch any of it. They went down the slide maybe twice, Easton ventured into the castle so I could take a picture, and then the rest of the time they played with the train table and the dinosaur figures. They could have done this at home....FOR FREE!!! Oh well, now I know better, and we won't be back to pay a second visit to that museum ever again.

On Saturday, we took advantage of the Smithsonian Free Museum Day, and took a day-trip out to Fort Walla Walla. The boys loved it! We saw tons of little-boy-friendly things. They also had a bunch of living-history demonstrations going on that day too, so the boys got to help the blacksmith hammer out some metal hooks. We had a great picnic, toured through the famous historic main street in Walla Walla, saw the Whitman College campus, and enjoyed a peaceful drive home through wine country (while all the boys napped in the back of the van). It was a beautiful weekend, and probably the last hot weekend of the year. We were glad to enjoy it in the great outdoors.

Count your many blessings

Today, I am extremely grateful! Scott has been without work now for 3 months, and things have been slow in the job market, and we hadn't been getting much of a response from employers, until now! After lots of prayers, personal and family fasts, he just had an interview last week, has one this week in person, is being flown out for an interview the first week of October, and just advanced to the second round of hiring for another job and will probably interview with them later this week. Oh, the blessings are plentiful in our house!! Scott did a personal fast on Tuesday, and before he left the house to go do his volunteer work, he said, "I'm not even fasting for a job this time, I'm just fasting for an interview." And no joke, 2 hours later he was called to set up an interview, and they just keep coming. We get very excited to see that the employment world isn't completely stagnant, and that someone is paying attention to the resumes when they come rolling into thier offices. Its just nice to be noticed! Now if I could only convince all these prospective employers that they would be the smartest people in the world if they chose my husband to fill thier open positions. He's the best!!

First Day of School

Easton just started his first day of preschool today. He was very excited about it and loved his new Spiderman backpack that he picked out. When it came time to go to school though, he said, "No, I don't want to go to school!" (Uh-oh!) But when we finally got him ready and were out the door, he seemed warmed up to the idea. When we got to his school, he met other kids in his class coming off the bus, and followed his teacher into the classroom. He put away his backpack, and put his name tag on, and then I gave him a big hug, told him I loved him, and left.

Note: This is a full-time preschool (4 days a week, for 1/2 day) at my Mom's Elementary school, and she is only 4 doors down from his classroom.

I stayed at the school to help my mom put together a shelf in her classroom, and I admit, I wandered down the hall and peeked in on Easton a few times. I saw him eating his lunch like such a big boy with all of his friends at a table, and then saw him riding tricycles, and playing with everyone on the playground. He seemed to be doing great.

I went home and waited another hour, and then went back to pick him up. When he saw me, he ran toward me and gave me a hug and said, "Mommy, I had a good day at school today." He is such a big boy and I can't even believe it! He told me all the fun things he did at school that day, but of course didn't know any of the other kids' names. This preschool will be such a good thing for him, and me, and get us ready for Kindergarten next year. Hooray for school!

p.s. I know I took a lot of pictures, I'm a dork, but it was my first 'first day of school' experience, and I was a little excited....and nervous.

First Solid Food

Max had his first real bites of solid food this morning starting off with some yummy rice cereal. The first bite he just let sit in his mouth for a little bit figuring out what it was and what to do with it, but once he swallowed, he went to town! He was grabbing for the spoon and opening up wide for more and more. He loved it! I only gave him a tablespoon full, because thats all they suggest you start with, but he finished it and wanted more. Maybe tomorrow I'll give him 2 tablespoons full. Max is quite the chunky kid, but the way he acts around food, you'd think I've been starving him for weeks! Hopefully this pattern will continue through his toddlerhood, because I can't get his brothers to eat anything!

Almost a backyard

Scott has been slaving away trying to finish my parents' backyard. He's been putting up a retaining wall, fence posts and slats, and filling in dirt to make it all level. We now can see the light at the end of the tunnel and it almost looks like a real backyard. One whole side is fenced in, and the gate is up on the other side, the dirt is almost filled in and leveled, and the retaining wall is just a few more bricks away from completion. It looks great and I personally can't wait until I can send my kids out into a fully fenced backyard to just play thier hearts away!

Potty Training Brings Me Joy!

Lets just say that Luke is exhibiting his independence in very humorous ways. (The front was even more fun, but a little inappropriate for the internet.) Oh yeah, and he's doing great at the potty training thing!

5 Months Old

These are approximate measurements since there is no doctor appointment at 5 months.

Weight: 17.5 pounds

Height: 26 inches

Eyes: Turning brown/hazel

Hair: Not much, but still a medium brown color, a little darker than my other boys.

He is such a happy boy, most of the time. He has been fussy lately because one of his bottom teeth will be coming in soon. He smiles often, but rarely giggles, and has rolled over from back to front once, in fact it was just 2 days ago. This month he also attended his first fair and first football game. He is enjoying his exersaucer more, and loves his little yellow fuzzy duck that he attacks and tries to bite the head off of. Max is still squishy and lots of fun to cuddle with, and we love him so much!

A Princess?

While looking through the photos in my wallet the conversation went like this:

Easton: "Mommy, you and Daddy got married."

Mom: "Where did we get married?"

Easton: "In the temple."

Luke: "And Mommy was a Princess!"

Hopefully, they will continue to think that for years to come, afterall, I am the lone Queen of the castle.

Christmas in August!

It seems as soon as school starts somewhere, the Christmas displays are up in full force. I haven't even started thinking about what my kids will be for Halloween, let alone deciding on Christmas presents yet. I feel like I am so far behind! I think there should be a law passed that doesn't allow Christmas stuff to go up until at least mid-October, because by then most people are at least prepared for Halloween and that stuff is starting to be Clearanced off the shelves. Anyone have any good Christmas ideas for thier kids? I need help!!!

Star Jar!

On Sunday, we officially started potty training Luke. He turns 3 in about 6 weeks, and we are going to be at my parents for quite a while, so I thought now was as good a time as any. I went around town looking for plastic pants to put over his underwear, and basically found out that they do not exist after shopping at every store in the Tri-Cities, but I did find these cool star marbles and a jar at the dollar store.

On Sunday, we pulled out his brand new Lightning McQueen underwear, and the Star Jar, and explained to him that he wasn't going to wear diapers anymore (except during sleep time) and that each time he went potty he would get to put a star into the jar. When the jar is full he gets to go to the store and pick out his prize.

It was a hit! We had been doing trial runs with him for about a year now, but I was never ready to give it MY full effort as the mom who has to clean up the messes and drag the poor boy to the bathroom. But he and I were both finally ready, and so far, after 3 days, he hasn't had any accidents at all today, and he has asked me to go to the potty about 3 times now. He is, dare I say, basically potty trained! He has done awesome, and I'm sure loves all the praise and attention he is recieving for his efforts. I'm sure he'll love the Star Jar even more when he gets to go cash them in for some awesome toy in a few days. Luke Rocks!! (pardon the pun)