Backyard Camping

Look where we slept last night.

 

It was a long night crammed in between my 2 best buddies in 2 sleeping bags zipped together (Temps were forecasted to go down to 49 – I was worried they’d get cold – hence sharing a sleeping bag instead of each using our own). 

I will say, you get to hear a lot of pretty cool things in your backyard at random hours of the night, though.  I’d never heard deer “talk” to each other before.  Too bad they were talking to warn of the foreign object in the yard while they were helping themselves in our garden.  ;-)

You don’t need to go far to show your kids a good time!  Mine are already asking when we’re going to do it again.

Beignets

Yes, please!

They sound scary, don’t they?

They aren’t.

• First - mix the following:
  
• 2 cups flour
• 2 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 3 eggs
• 1/2 cup milk

• Second - in a saucepan, stir together:
• 2lbs of brown sugar
• 1 1/2 cups water
• Note – this sauce can be substituted with maple syrup
• Bring to a boil:

• Third – using your trusty cereal spoon, drop dough into sauce.
• Cook about 4 minutes on each side.

Dust with a little powdered sugar if you wish.  Really, what’s a dusting of extra sugar at this point.

Breakfast is served!

 

 

Just a note: The beignets weren’t crispy, as they should have been.  I would fry in oil and then give them a dunk in the sauce if you want traditional crispy beignets.

What is best about this photo?

We just went for a ride to the grocery store.  About 1/4 mile from home, I hear Monkey in the back saying “Mommy, he’s smooshing me.”

I looked back and found this:

I don’t know if I’m loving the fact they were getting along, the fact that they are so flipping cute or the fact that one of them was sleeping the most.

Ahh….  mother’s bliss.

Taking Advantage

T’s been working the past few days.  We don’t get any family time when he is so we were more than happy to take advantage of the beautiful weather today.  Unfortunately, duty called and we both had far too much to do around the house.

Ahh..  but an early dinner proved to be just the ticket to sneak in a hike before bed.

The Falls were pretty as always.

The kids even got an after dinner snack when we found some ripe blueberries.

Nom.

Enjoy summer while you can!  It seems like it’s already almost over – and it just began.

The Center of the Storm

We had some crazy weather around here this evening.

 

Over our house, the sky was blue but the backyard was under very dark storm clouds.

The sun was trying to peek out at me.

 

Then these 2 systems seemed to collide – it may have freaked me out more than it was warranted, but with all the insane weather going on this year, I couldn’t help but freak out a little.

 

It was pretty cool to watch the really white clouds come full speed into the dark clouds.

 

Then they just slowly melded together.

I enjoyed the show – and managed to stay dry as we only had a shower (though T’s aunt & uncle live nearby and they got pelted).

It seems other areas of The County weren’t as lucky.  I hope everyone stayed safe.

My Life is an Unfinished Project

 

Our playroom is needing some love.  I’m finally getting to it.

 

Yes, that is marker alllll over the window frame.  I tried scrubbing it but it won’t come off.  I was going to paint it but the window is being replaced next year.  The marker can stay.  ;-)

Oooh!  Look!  Curtains!  Well, darn.  They’re too short.

 

AND, there’s another window over there.  Still minus the curtains.  Poop.

 

And don’t forget the wonderful mess.  Yes yes.  The wonderful mess.  Those shelves are sure lovely but the mess never seems to make it off the floor.  (I have a solution I’m hoping to finally get to today).

 

And, of course…  let’s not forget the wall papered wall.  Do we ever have a lovely plan for that wall – if we can ever get around to peeling the paper and prepping the walls.  It’s a doozy.  The kids are going to love it.

That’s just the playroom.

Then you have the projects out on the breezeway waiting for me.  A desk to replace the card table my mother-in-law has been lending me [for 7 months now] and a cabinet waiting to be turned into a side table for the dining room.

 

Then there’s the coffee table I scored at a yard sale this morning.

Little Man’s bookshelf has made it outside.  It’s received its spackle and is moments from receiving it’s first coat of paint – I hope.

Oh, hi!  His dresser is [FINALY] done and in his room!  Notice the old dresser still there as well (to the right) and his books are all in a pile on the floor in front of it [because – you know – his bookshelf is outside right now].  We’re moving in the right direction at least!

Maybe today will be the day I get another project done?

I’m not counting on it. 

The weather is too darn nice to tie myself to a paint brush.

But a girl can dream, right?

It’s the Little Things in Life

My father-in-law spent an hour at our house yesterday giving the kids a big surprise.

It involved a bit of work but we finally got it up there.

After a quick trial run to make sure it was safe (or so he says – I think he just wanted to swing.  ;-), we let the kids at it.

 

Monkey loved it.  Little Man doesn’t “get” it…. yet. 

It reminds me of my childhood days spent behind my grandparents house with my bestest friend in the whole wide world, swinging away on the big old tree back there.  (Luckily for me, the kids can’t climb this one because I remember having to go after her mom once when she got stuck in that big tree.  *giggle*)

A huge thank you again to my father-in-law. 

The kids are going to get years of entertainment from your [our since I did get roped into helping – hardy har] hour of work.

Summer fun

  

 

I hope you are all having a wonderful summer.  Ours has been fun so far!