Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Mini Chefs




I had my mini chefs help me make Monkey Munch last night. I know at least one person wants this recipe so here it is:
Monkey Munch
9 cups Chex mix (or Life cereal)
1 cup chocolate chips
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup butter
1-2 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 cups icing sugar
Measure cereal into large bowl. Set aside. Melt chocolate, peanut butter and butter together in microwave or on the stove. Add vanilla. Pour melted mixture over cereal and mix until well coated. Spoon cereal into large ziploc bag. Add icing sugar. Seal ziploc bag and shake gently until coated. Lay coated cereal out on a wax paper-lined baking sheet to cool and dry.
**Recipe from Jon & Kate Plus 8 (or should I say Kate Plus 8?)**

Ramie



































































































































My friend Ramie and I had too much fun playing make-up and dress-up yesterday. We couldn't let our hard work go to waste... Hence, the photos. She's fabulous.

Friday, September 25, 2009

Anna Banana




Have to give a shout out to my little niece Anna today, as it's her third birthday! Happy Birthday, Anna!!

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Tiny Dancers


Found this video just the other day. Ava and her cousin Savanna, about a year-and-a-half ago (May 2008), pretending to be Dancing Princesses! They both have the cutest, rosiest, chubbiest cheeks ever!! I just wanna smoosh 'em!! (Love when Savanna wipes out from spinning too much, lol-- SO CUTE!!)

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

So Long Summer (It's been nice getting to know you)

That about sums it up!  Enjoy summer and all, but absolutely in love with Fall!!  Although--  I do love myself an Indian Summer and am not one to look a gift horse in the mouth.  So, from the looks of it, I'll be having my cake and eating it too!  I seriously have the theme song from 'Hannah Montana' going through my head right now, 'The Best of Both Worlds'.....  (such a geek sometimes...)
**For Kim's reading enjoyment :)**

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Pics at the Park


Went to my mom's today out at Antler Lake.  Got some really nice pics with the family, sooo... just couldn't resist and had to share!!

Saturday, September 19, 2009

Road Trip

It must have been last weekend or the weekend before, James' mom planted a dozen or so lilac trees and shrubs at the lake lot.  Well, they were in need of some watering this weekend while his mom was out of town so I gladly volunteered to make the trip while James and the kids hung out at home today.  I needed a trusty sidekick so I called on my niece, Cheyenne, to tag along with me.  Equipped with a variety of top-notch junk food (Joe Louis', screamers & Munchie Mix) we headed out onto the open road-- Just us girls!  The trip there went smoothly, the watering- even smoother, and before we knew it we were back on the road.  Because of construction we encountered on the way there I decided with James' help that I would take a different route home.  I appreciated the change of scenery as the usual drive to and from the lake was really starting to get old.  We made a pit-stop in Smoky Lake (love that little town!) to check out the giant pumpkins and stop in at one of the local greenhouses.  All was going well until we took an unexpected detour... or rather, some like to call it the 'scenic route'.  Basically, we got lost.  What should have been a one-and-a-half to two hour drive home, took more like 3 hours.  Don't ask me how, cuz I haven't a clue how it happened (must have missed my turn while busy belting out the lyrics to 'Kissed by a Rose'... try explaining that to your husband who is worried you may never find your way home).  Regardless, we found our way eventually! 

Leaps and Bounds

This past week, James and I celebrated our fourth anniver-sary.  So far, we haven't gotten too excited about any of our anniver-saries.  We are only into our fourth year of marr-iage which is only a tiny blip when you consider the couples who have been married 25 years and on.  Now there's an achievement!  I don't look at us and think 'Phew-- we made 4 years so far-- Hallejuliah!"... no, lol.  Too me, that only sounds like the odds are piled against you and it's a pure miracle you've made it too this point.  What I'm trying to explain is, we don't look back with the attitude that we 'can't believe we've made it this far'... It's not hard to believe at all.  We've worked very diligently at it.  I definitely enjoy realizing that we are better four years later, than worse from where we once started.  It seems that we are only improving!!  So just imagine the leaps and bounds we'll have made by our 25th!?!  James'll be serving me breakfast in bed every morning, refer to me as 'Queen Raquel', make my coffee just right, have all the laundry responsibilities and he'll send me to the spa every other weekend.....  Aaah, Utopia!
XOXO **Love you, James**
   

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Garden Fairy

My sis-in-law, Brandee, got me a garden fairy for Mother's Day this past May.  I found the perfect spot for her in my one-and-only planter, among my petunias. 
This morning, while getting the kids into the truck, I noticed just how pretty she looked in the sunlight-- especially with one of my morning glories entwined in her wings.  Naturally, I quickly grabbed a few pics with my camera (yes-- even during the early morning rush, I still managed to snag a few shots (AKA, taking the time to smell the roses).  She was the perfect model!  Isn't she beautiful!

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Rundle Park

Had a family bbq this past sunday with James' Dad's family at Rundle Park.  We sure are getting spoiled this September with some pretty awesome weather.  I think it was something like 26 degrees that day?!  They have a wicked park there for the kids and our picnic location was prime!  My only complaint would be the over-abundance of pesky wasps swarming around.  They're relentlous this time of year!  Fortunatly, we all escaped with not one sting to speak of.

Saturday, September 12, 2009

Tea Parties & Shopping!


Girls Day today!  Ava and I decided to go to the Ellerslie Greenhouse tea party along with my grandma and her husband this afternoon.  Ava, of course, was truly excited to be attending a real tea party!  We had iced tea, squares, scones, tarts... all good things tea party-ish.  And, for our listening enjoyment, they also had a really talented blue-grass band (Cabin Fever) playing live.  After browsing around, Ava and I took off to Dot's Fashion Warehouse for some late afternoon shopping.  Ava, my little fashionista, took great delight in giving me her cute, little opinion on what wardrobe colors I should choose!

Just Because

Had to post a picture of these beautiful roses my hubby surprised me with.  Lucky girl?  Yes, I am.

Thursday, September 10, 2009

First Day at Kindergarten!

























What a morning!  Ava and I just got back from dropping Aaron off at his first day of school.  I must say, he is quite a trooper.  He would have been just fine with me dropping him off but I insisted on getting him into the school, waiting with him for the bell, and yes-- peeking through the window, even after he had entered the classroom, to make sure he was okay.  I put on a brave front and shed not a single tear; just smothered him with hugs, kisses, a dozen 'Are you okay's?' (he was probably wondering the same about me, lol) and a million-'n'-one pictures.     

Sunday, September 6, 2009

Professional Paraders

Here are a couple photos from this weekend's parade in St. paul.  The Lakeland Rodeo was in town so we thought we'd take a trip up from the lake to watch the parade Saturday morning.  The kids always really enjoy this sort of thing and it's not hard to see why...  the candy!!  Of course, we headed back out to the lake after it was all said and done.  The guys were busy starting on the trailer's addition, and myself-- busy getting some R&R while attacking my beloved daily crossword and enjoying a great cup of coffee.

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Aaron's Beauty Parlour Experience

With Aaron starting Kindergarten next week, it was imperitive we have his overgrown goldie locks tended to at once.  Kirsten basically owns his head of hair, so it was only natural that we take a trip to her salon 'The Beauty Parlour', yesterday morning.  She's worked there now for over 3 months yet this was my first time visiting the salon (I know, shame on me).  It's a uniquely stylish place that could best be described as vintage glamourousIt also happened to be Kirsten's birthday so it was an extra nice visit.
Aaron was too funny getting his hair done.  Between the scalp massage, shampoo and haircut; his facial expressions were priceless!  Large mirror+little boy=funny faces!  When given the option to take it all off or keep his luscious long locks.... as always, he chose to keep it long.  What can I say!  The boy loves his curls (and so do I)!!

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

The Value of a Quarter Century

She's my baby sister, bosom buddy and best friend.  And today she's 25 years old.  How crazy is that?!  Sisters for a quarter century now (sounds nutty, doesn't it?)!  I thank God for putting Kirsten in my life and in my children's lives, as well.  And here's where I really lay on the cheese (my apologies, but there's really no other way to express my feelings without sounding slightly corny-- but it's worth it!): she laughs with me, she cries with me, she sticks by me even when I rock the boat, she encourages me to strive for more, she's freakin' funny, her heart is one of the most generous I've known, she's sensitive to others' feelings, she witnessed the birth of my first born (against her will, but none the less... lol), she adores my kids and loves them unconditionally, she covers my roots, keeps me stylish (I'm a work in progress...) and she's always got my back.  I could go on and on.... and on, literally.  To sum it all up, she gets me and I get her.  I love her dearly and look forward to the great things that are going to happen in her life; blessed that I can be a part of them.
Happy Birthday, Kirst!