Living the Dream

I've been visiting family this last week and have enjoyed every minute of it! The other night,  I was playing pickle (a baseball keep away type game) outside of my brother's home while some of the kids were riding bikes. I asked my brother, "don't you feel like you're living the dream?" He's got great kids, a wonderful wife, a house, a job and we were all outside just enjoying the lovely evening.

Life is good. Sometimes life is stressful or boring for me but overall, I can't deny the feelings that I often get as I look at my family, Life is wonderful and I am blest.

I'll post pictures of the fun we've been having soon. I love summer and GG not being busy ALL the time.

Parenting and Muffins

Hey Hey!!! I'm baking some yummy Apple Pumpkin Muffins(recipe below) while Miss Boo takes a nap. I LOVE nap time. I'm fearing the day that she refuses to take a nap. I think nap time is what keeps me sane.

I'm currently in the middle of evaluating my parenting approach. I feel like a helicopter mom, hovering anxiously waiting for my child to freak out. I keep telling people that my daughter is crazy (she's not really, just busy and hilarious) but I think I'm the one that is on the verge of crazy. When I take her places, like the children museum I feel tense because its a situation I can't control. Church is another place that I get tense just waiting for her to do something that creates a scene. I just find myself trying to take deep breaths. 

When she's in a fight with an object or with another child over an object her eyes get so big and her mouth opens wide for her "AHHH" scream.  She can be a feisty one.

We just need to find a way to teach her how to share, not to hit me, or whine to get what she wants. And I have a suspicion that it will have to do more with training us, the parents, rather than her. 

Despite all this I can't tell you how many times my heart just overflows with love and joy for this sweet girl.  She makes my heart happy.

This is her playing with her newest cousin. She's learning how to be a helpful, loving sibling someday.

 The last few days she's found my old headbands and started wearing them. She also loves playing with my nailpolishes. Taking them in and out and lining them up.

Here's the recipe for the muffins I'm making:

APPLE PUMPKIN MUFFINS..YUM
2 1/2 C Flour (you can sneak in wheat flour here, you really can't tell)
2 C Sugar
1 T pumpkin pie spice
1 t soda
1/2 salt
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 C pumpkin
1/2c vegetable oil
2 C peeled, finely chopped apples (about 2 apples)

STEUSEL TOPPING
2 T flour
1/2 C Sugar
1/2 t cinnamon
4  t softened butter, cut into dry ingredients

Directions: Combine first 5 ingredients in bowl. Set aside. Combine egg, pumpkin and vegetable oil. Add to dry ingredients. Stir in apples. fill muffin cups 3/4 full. Top with Stresuel topping. Bake at 350 for 30-40 minutes (I found it takes less, I'd start checking on them 20-25 minutes)

Green Cake

My sisters are in town visiting. So today we had lunch. I left Boo with the Gentle Giant while she napped but my sisters left their 6 kids with Grandpa....poor grandpa....or poor kids. Not sure who to feel more sorry for. :)

We ate at the Green Gateau (french for Green Cake.) I had a French Dip sandwich, I think they called it the French Connection or something like that but GOOOD! Big and messy the way a sandwich supposed to be.

I bought Boo a some sunglasses. I felt like I was paparazzi trying to get a picture of a celebrity here:

This pair might be alittle big but hey, they were only 79 cents.

well that's all I've got folks. see ya!

Its been awhile, or at least I feel like its been awhile since I've posted. Not a lot has happened though. Just bumming through while Gentle Giant finds plenty to keep himself busy...seriously, busy. He's been busy with a tenure class for teaching, started up summer grad classes (getting closer to being done), football camps have begun, and church callings keep him quite preoccupied. And me, well, I take three hour naps while Boo is sleeping. :) I know I should find something to do but I just can't convince myself its worth it, so I dream away.

Boo has been keeping herself busy by pushing around her grocery cart full of toys. Its so funny. I wish I had a picture to share. I just call her cart lady. Seriously looks like a homeless lady.

She also has discovered that she can climb into the tub and thinks that is great fun.

We went to the Zoo (no pics) but while we were waiting for our friends to show up we walked around the rose gardens. I couldn't get her to look at me for a picture. Too busy running.

 This is her signing "water" with her one finger to her lips even though its supposed to be three fingers to form a "w". She's got her own language. :)

I love this outfit but she was not going to let me get a good picture. Feisty one, she is.

 Gentle Giant's brother who came to visit us a couple of times this month. It was fun to have visitors!!!

Our Anniversary Breakfast 

Well, I guess that it. Tomorrow GG leaves for football camp and I'm doing a garage sale at my parents. If I don't make at least $10 I think I might be very upset for how long it took us to set up today.  Anyway, until next time folks!