just one of those days!

You know, the kind that you roll out of bed with a fussy baby at 5:30am after a long night of receiving next to no sleep. The kind that after refereeing a couple of squabbles you decide to go and fix breakfast only to run out of pancakes because the kids wanted thirds. Once the kids were cleaned up, the baby crawls to you crying due to messy britches. You change that. Figure out something for your own breakfast (you didn't get pancakes) and then your second child hollers, "mom, I went poop!". Fix that. Come back to eat your breakfast standing up just to insure you can swallow. Mid-morning snack time now. Second child spills water all over the clothes you just put on her. Change those. First child doesn't like the cartoon you picked out so she throws a tantrum. Fix that. Take a shower. Baby's awake from nap. Poopy again. Change that. Second child wants lunch (yes, even though it's only 10:30am, she's been awake for nearly 5 hours!) Lunch time everyone! Oh, bummer. All we have are apples and peanut butter. That works. Apples and peanut butter everywhere! Second child has peanut butter from her head to her toes- literally. Once she is washed and her clothes are changed AGAIN, I hear the toilet lid slam. Yep, second child did not close the toilet lid and third child decided it was a fun bucket of water to play in. Not cool. Clean him up. First child is now hollering, "mom, I'm all done and I need washed!" Clean her. Sit for two seconds and hear a crash. Third child fell down the stairs and was stuck between the rail. Bloody lip. Soothed that. By this time, it was time to just go for a drive. Everyone gets locked in their seats. Nobody gets hurt. Nobody makes a mess. Just peace and quiet...at least one could hope. Second child goes into hysterics because her skirt is too puffy in her car seat. Pull over, fix the skirt, fix the seat belt and continue on. It's 11:30am and I wonder why I'm ready for bed....

Going to the Dentist

For most parents (and kids) going to the dentist is a drudgery. Thanks to my siblings positive outlook on it and Small to Tall Pediatric Dentistry here in Olympia, my girls loved their visit and look forward to the next! Both Pear and Jovie passed their first visit with flying colors. I think picking out their tooth brush was their favorite part.

Here is a video of them re-enacting their visit to the dentist. Snippets in time like these really make me smile. They push me through all of the squabbles and messes and training times. The video may be boring to you, but to me, it's a joy. Enjoy!...or be bored.

Am I dreaming?

I know you know I haven't been posting on here very frequently. Well, that is, if you actually come here to see what I'm up to frequently. But, you may not know why. Let me tell you. WE ARE BUYING A HOUSE!!! A NEW house! With plenty of space! With a private back yard! On a dead end street! With a beautiful kitchen! And....a playground in the back yard! Am I dreaming? It still hasn't sunk in yet. It probably won't until a few months after we move in. But I feel like I'm dreaming. But if I'm dreaming, I probably wouldn't be so tired by the end of the day. You see, we are still working on projects to complete this here duplex we are living in. In fact, I really shouldn't be blogging but rather painting the final touches in the kitchen. Ah, oh well, I'll get to that. Yes, so we are finishing the remodel on the duplex, taking care of 3 kids, figuring out the finishing touches on the new house, Stephen is working his day time job +2 side jobs and we are packing and organizing so that we can move in approximately 30 days. We are busy. I don't mind a bit! I will be posting more on the new house and the completed duplex soon. But for now, I'm off to finish more projects!

Happy Birthday Baby Dude!

My little Pike turned one year old today. As overused as this phrase may be, it is true, I am amazed how fast time flies. This year has been very hard, very fun, very trying and extremely blessed. Pike has giving me more kisses and snuggles than both of my girls combined. He is the sweetest little boy. His laughter is contagious. And, as annoying as it may be to have your hair pulled and your belly kicked in the middle of the night, when he turns over to cuddle, it almost makes up for it! (He doesn't sleep with us all the time but lately it seems more often than not.) Pike loves to push toys and furniture around the house to support his chubby little legs and their attempt at walking. However, when he lets go, he drops to the ground and crawls as fast as a race-horse. Pike loves food and continues to let the world know that by making loud grunting noises and squeals as he eats. Unfortunately this love of food drives him to pick up every scrap and crumb he can find on the ground and the scraps of bread or other items containing wheat don't agree with his little body. Pike loves to be outside, he'll crawl with bare knees on concrete or gravel but if you stick him on grass, he won't move an inch. Don't even try to get those toes to touch the grass, he'll bring his feet to his chest and begin to squirm immediately! I have so enjoyed my baby boy this year. Happy birthday little Pike Henry.

I can taste the memories...

Do you have certain foods that bring back memories? Fried chicken- Grandma's house. A slightly under-baked chocolate chip cookie- an afternoon snack made by mom. A fresh croissant- the air in Paris. And a Mocha Coconut Frappuccino- the days over 7 years ago that Stephen brought me my favorite treat from Starbucks while at work. Before we were dating. Before I knew he would one day be my husband. I had a crush, but nothing more at that time. The fun thing is, they stopped making the Mocha Coconut Frappuccino after that year and just now are bringing it back! I went to Starbucks the other day with every intention of getting an iced mocha but when I saw that, I just about jumped out of my seat! The barista asked me as I pulled up to the window, "so you've had this before, huh?" I didn't give him my life story and the memories it brought back I just said, "yes! And I'm so glad I can have it again!"

cinnamon rolls

Cinnamon rolls have always been a favorite of mine. As a child, on occasion, my parents would treat me and my siblings to Cinnabon cinnamon rolls. Most kids would probably start with a half, maybe end up eating a whole. I ate 2! I ended up sick on the way home. That didn't taint my love for the sweet rolls of goodness! Here is my tried and true recipe:

Rolls:
2 packages active dry yeast
1 cup warm water
2/3 cup sugar +1tsp sugar
1 cup warm milk
2/3 cup butter melted
2 tsp salt
2 eggs slightly beaten
7 cups of flour

Filling:
3/4 cup softened butter
1 1/2 cups sugar
3 Tbsp cinnamon

Icing:
4 oz butter
4 oz cream cheese
1 tsp vanilla
1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice

Directions:
In measuring cup dissolve yeast and 1 tsp sugar in warm water. (I can tell the water is just right when I can swirl my finger in it and not be scalded.) You will know your yeast is active when it bubbles and becomes foamy.

In mixing bowl with paddle attachment combine 3 cups flour, salt, milk, butter, eggs and yeast mixture. Beat on med-high until well combined, about 2 minutes. Scrape down bowl and change attachment to dough hook. Add additional 3 cups flour. Knead and add additional flour as kneaded to create slightly sticky, ropy dough. Turn dough onto lightly floured surface and turn dough a couple of times to create a smooth, elastic ball. Place in buttered bowl, cover and let rise 2 hours or until doubled.

Roll out dough into a 15"x20" rectangle. Spread softened butter over entire rectangle. generously sprinkle filling onto dough. Roll up dough. Cut into rolls approx 1 1/2" thick. (I use dental floss to cut my rolls. Get a strip of dental floss. Slide under dough gently. Cross the floss to create an 'X' and pull tight. Voila!) Place rolls in buttered pan butting rolls up against each other to encourage upward rising. Cover and let rise 1-2 hours, until just reaching the top of the pan. Bake at 350 F for 20-25 minutes, until golden brown. Let cool for a few minutes, generously top with the icing and then devour these delicious rolls!

These can also be made the evening before if you wish to serve them for breakfast. Once you roll them up and place them in the pan, refrigerate over night and then follow through with the rising in the morning. You may have to add an additional 30-45 minutes to the rising time though. Or, if you keep your house cool as I we do at night (60-65 degrees) you can prepare them right before bed and let rise overnight. (So long as your house is cool, they shouldn't rise too much.) Then bake them as soon as you wake up!