Cinnamon rolls and slip-n-slides

I haven’t blogged in a week which is a really long time for me.  I can only blog when the boys are asleep and lately Mr. Ford thinks he doesn't need to nap.  But today my ears needed a break from all of his talking so he is in the bed.

The weather has been nice so we have done a lot of playing outside and such.  I have even started the Couch to 5K workout plan with a friend.  No, I don’t plan to start running 5K’s, but I would like to look a little better now that it’s summer and pool time.

Next month my June goal will be not to eat any cinnamon rolls for breakfast.  It’s a problem around here.  Even Bitty enjoys them!

 We went out to Puddin and Pop’s house last week to feed Jim, the horse.

 I have major OCD tendencies with cleaning.  I will admit that I run my vacuum cleaner about every 2 or 3 days.  Ford often times likes to help me clean.  Today he swiffered for 30 minutes!  I’m training him well.

 John Brantley loves Trey’s closet.  If he isn't grunting at his baseball caps up on the top shelf then he is rearranging his shoes.  I know drives Trey bonkers.

 Soon he will be big enough to ride Ford’s tractor!

 Mr. “I can do it myself”

 We like candy around here.  It seems like we are getting suckers for various reasons and usually that causes a problem.  It seems that we end up with one sucker, but two kiddos who want it.  Good thing Ford knows how to share…. JB, not so much!

 Sunday before church

 When we were leaving church on Sunday I asked Trey if he would drive my car through the car wash.  He thought it would be a better idea for me to wash it.  Well, while he played golf that afternoon the boys and I got to work.  

 Ford was the official squirter.  

 And in true John Brantley fashion he needed to taste the bubbles.  He’s not even talking and he has already gotten his mouth washed out with soap!  

 While Bitty napped yesterday we got out the slip-n-slide and the pool.  It was a good day for that!  

Please keep my dad, BoomPa, in your prayers.  He was diagnosed with bladder cancer, and yesterday underwent surgery to remove the mass.  Now we are playing the waiting game until we hear the results from the pathology report.   

Mayfair, Mother's Day, and 11 months old

 On Saturday, Senatobia had its Mayfair, spring festival, if you will.  This was probably the best one yet and of course Ford enjoyed the children’s entertainment!

 John Brantley is becoming harder and harder to keep contained.  He desperately needed out of his stroller so he could get in on the action too.

 After we finished at Mayfair I decided I wanted to ride my bike.  BoomPa got his trusty air pump out and fixed my tires, with the help of Bitty of course.

We love to play outside when the weather permits.  Ford has more riding toys than any child I know.  After he had driven most of them he decided to hook John Brantley up to his tricycle and take him for a spin.  Naturally, John Brantley was thrilled for a free ride.  

 Since we had spent most of the day outside we decided to continue on.  We went to the farm to see some cows.  Now, Bitty had never seen a cow up close and personal and let’s just say this field trip excited him thoroughly!

 Sunday was Mother’s Day…. And because of these two little darlings I qualify!

After church we went to the country club to eat lunch.    

 Ford got another birthday present this weekend.  It’s a rocket launcher, but he decided to make it a backpack blower for now.  He walked around the house Monday morning for about an hour “blowing” the leaves and the grass!  I love my child and his imagination.

 John Brantley had his first Oreo.

Yesterday I got a text message from Trey saying that we should all go on a picnic to the new farm.  I fixed supper and off we went.  

Notice the cookie cake I made!!!  I planned on getting it out of the pan, but it wouldn't budge!  

 We had a really good cell phone free time on our picnic.  After we ate we drove around the farm on the gator.  I had fun, but my allergies didn't!

 We switched sunglasses

 John Brantley wasn't feeling the love.

Yesterday my baby was 11 months old.  It’s scary to think that next month he will be 1.  He is so much fun and seems to brighten everyone’s day that is around him. 

He loves to be outside.  If I ask him, “John Brantley, do you want to go outside?” He will start kicking and grunting.  When he gets really excited about something those little legs start moving.  He seems to like music and I have caught him dancing a few times.  I think he got his Daddy’s rhythm. 

When Trey is getting dressed for the day I will take John Brantley in our bedroom and put him near Trey’s closet.  He starts “ewwwwing” and “Aahhhhhing” at all the baseball hats.  He loves hats.  Ford has a hat rack in his room and John Brantley always wants one to chew on.

When he gets fussy I can take him into Ford’s bedroom or his bedroom and it seems to calm him down.  I guess a nice change or scenery is a good thing.  He loves to sit in your lap and pretend to drive the car.  He jumps around and squeals.

He is still being breast fed.  He doesn't sleep through the night.  And he won’t wear shoes.

I believe he is thinking, “I’m cute and I know it!!!!”

I was very Martha today

Do you love chocolate?  I love chocolate a “big bunch” (Ford saying) and I could easily say I might be addicted to it.  With that being said, April was a VERY difficult month for me since I set a personal goal to give up chocolate.  I will have you know that on May 1, bright and early, I had some chocolate and it tasted fabulous.  Absence does make the heart grow fonder. 

I decided that I was going to give up candy in the month of May.  Then I realized that I had eaten a Hershey’s kiss at 8:00 A.M. on May 1.  That wouldn’t work.  My next thought was cheese or chips and dip, but that was Ford’s birthday and we ate Mexican TWICE that day.  So, I decided to go with wine.  No, I don’t drink wine that much, but I like to have 1-2 glasses a week.  So May is my “No Wine Month”.

Back to the chocolate topic.  Okay…. This could be life changing for some of you people who are chocolate lovers like me.  I saw a recipe for this on Pinterest and decided to give it a try.  You make a 3 layered dessert: chocolate chip cookies on the bottom, Oreos in the middle, and brownies on the top.  BAM!!!!.... It almost put me into cardiac arrest.  Pinterest said you can use slice and bake cookies, but I made my own cookie dough…

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

½ cup butter, softened
½ cup shortening
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
½ cup sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
2 cups (12 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips

Beat butter and shortening at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy; gradually add sugars, beating well.  Add eggs and vanilla, beating well.

Combine flour, soda, and salt; gradually add to butter mixture, beating well.  Stir in chocolate morsels.

For regular cookies bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes.

Fill the bottom of the muffin tin with cookie dough.  Don’t forget to spray it first. 

 

Press an Oreo on top of the cookie dough.  

Next comes the brownies… Now you can make homemade brownies if you have lots of time on your hands, but I chose a nice box of brownie mix. 

 And finally I poured brownie batter on the top of the Oreo.  I baked them at 350 for 15-20 minutes.  I honestly don’t know how long I cooked them.  I pulled them out several times and stuck a took pick in there because I didn't want them to dry out. 

 And if you were wondering…. Ohhhh my gosh… they were Slap Your Momma Good!!!!  No, I would never slap my mother… It’s just a figure of speech for DELICIOUS!!!

I continued to feel very Martha Stewart all day today.  I went Wal-Mart shopping and actually bought some meat that wasn't boneless skinless chicken breasts or ground chuck.  Actually, I don’t buy our meat at Wal-Mart because Fancy flips out, but today I did but some meat there… some kind of pork tenderloin that was already seasoned.  I felt very much like a domestic housewife.  And if that weren't enough for you I got out the sewing machine!

 Now I can’t take complete credit for this idea, I actually saw it on another blog that I read so no one be too impressed.  I have lots of scrap fabric lying around the house.  I decided to put it to good use.

 I cut it into strips.

 Then I sewed it onto plain white note-cards.  As I was sewing it I kind of crinkled it up a bit.

 And this is how they turned out!!!

Trey and I help teach 9-10 grade Sunday school and I am going to make enough for the girls and boys to write a nice message to their mothers on Mother’s Day!

When I’m not playing Martha Stewart I am usually playing outside with my boys.  Thank goodness the weather was nicer this week and we were able to get outside and enjoy the Mayberry air.

 Would you please get a load of John Brantley’s hair!!!  It’s starting to curl in the back.  We love it!!!

The other night I told Trey that he needed to mow our grass.  I am kind of the grass mowing Nazi.  When I see a twig sprout up I tell him it needs to be mowed.  I like a nicely manicured yard, but even more so since I decided it would be a good idea to put our house on the market.  Yes, I am crazy… I know.  No, we don’t have house plans.  No, we aren't about to build.  And I have no clue where we would live if someone wanted to buy our house.  I’m just trying to make sure everyone in Mayberry has something to talk about!!!  With that being said, I decided that Bitty needed to have his picture taken on the lawnmower since I have about 1,000 of Ford on there.

 Gran and BoomPa gave Ford this construction man get-up for his birthday.  He doesn't seem to understand that if he would pull the goggles up a bit higher than his nostrils wouldn't be covered and the glasses wouldn't fog up.  Whatever works though!

 Ford went to rotary with Trey today at lunch.  Therefore, Bitty and I had a nice quiet lunch.  He grunted at me a few times and we stared at each other some too.

 The little terrorist is into everything.  He started messing with my cookbooks and I said, “no no!”  He knows that word because he hears it hundreds of times a day.  Well, after I said, “no no” he turned around and flashed this smile at me.  The next thing that happened wasn't too funny.  He grabbed a heavy cookbook and it smashed his toe.  Poor Bitty!

Happy weekend to all and to all a good night!!!