“Turn on the Speed!”

We have had lovely spring weather for the past few weeks. Saturday we took the kids on a bike ride around the neighborhood. As we were leaving Parker turned to Adam and said, “Dad, I’m going to turn on the speed!” True to his word, he sped off and then stopped at the stop sign to wait for us. As an aside, we’re working on bike etiquette and rules since the freedom of wheels underneath him is a bit intoxicating for this little boy. He frequently rides off into the sunset, and it requires one of us cutting him off at the pass to catch up with him. He may not be getting his driver’s license at sixteen. Anyway, after he “turned on the speed” we continued on our walk to the kids’ favorite hill. On the way down the hill, his speed got the better of him and he hit the pavement, HARD. Luckily, the doctor was in, and after a bath and some antibiotic ointment, he was on his way to a full recovery.

All Aboard!

See if you can follow this train of thought. On Sunday Madelyn said, "Sunday dinner is my favorite." Adam responded with "I really like Sunday meals too." Parker jumps in with,"Yeah, and when I go to the mail box I get the male and when Madelyn goes, she gets the female." I would love to spend a day in his head thinking all his thoughts. Meal+mail+male+female=a great ride on the Parker Express!

Making a Splash

Winter is still very much alive and kickin' here in our part of the country, but yesterday Madelyn and Parker started swimming lessons. It seemed a little strange to bundle them up in full winter gear and head off to swim, but that's exactly what we did!

Parker had not done lessons yet and felt a little nervous, thinking he might have to put his whole face underwater for 20 minutes straight (that's the preschool equivalent of .1 second), but it didn't take him long to figure out the water was warm and that this would be a great way to spend Saturday mornings for the forseeable future :)

Madelyn did a great job as well. Her first swim lessons were when she was just younger than Parker and it took several lessons before she stopped crying and was willing to loosen the vice grip around the teacher's neck when she was in the water. Oh what a difference a couple of years makes! Yesterday she got right in the water and within minutes was going across the pool holding onto nothing but a noodle. I can't wait to see her progress!

In other news, namely the kitchen, I tried a new recipe this week that I came across on the blog http://www.chocolateonmycramium.blogspot.com/ (how could I not love a blog with that name?!) It was wonderfully simple and I thought I would pass it on.

Triple Chocolate Brownies

1 package (3.9 oz) instant chocolate pudding

1 package (18.25 oz) chocolate cake mix

2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

Prepare pudding according to package directions. Whisk in cake mix. Stir in chocolate chips. The mixture will be very thick. Spread into a greased 10 x 15 x 1 inch cake pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until top springs back. Dust with powdered sugar. Makes 4 dozen.

They are lighter than a traditional brownie, but are wonderful nonetheless.

Dishwashing Success Story!

There has only been one year in our 7 1/2 years of marriange that we have enjoyed the convenience of a dishwasher, and that one year wasn't this past year! Shortly after we moved into this house the dishwasher died.
While at a local do it yourself center Adam noticed that some appliances were on sale and we decided to get the new dishwasher. Buying it was the easy part, installing it was the "growing experience."
I won't explain all the details; suffice it to say that by the time it was all said and done it had taken 24 hours and been installed three separate times (and consequently uninstalled due to leaks and other catastrophes!) But now it's done! We were thrilled to load that thing up with all the dishes that had accumulated in the 24 hour period and watch it work. In the end, I am very impressed with Adam and his utter determination not to be taken by an appliance--You did a great job!

This picture was taken on the first day of installation, towards the beginning of the day, which is why Adam is still smiling!


Parker was Adam's other trusty assistant.



We sent the kids to the basement to play when we thought it was only going to take a couple of hours to install. By the time the second day rolled around we had to sweeten the deal by providing a "cookie picnic" in the basement in the fort they had made with the dishwasher box. They were so patient and did remarkably well even though the project was seemingly endless.

A Romantic Dinner For Five, Please

We have enjoyed a gloriously, if not uncharacteristically, warm week here in Michigan. We got all the way up into the 60s and it lasted long enough that ALL the snow melted! There has been sunshine to clear away the gray skies and it has been a much appreciated mid-winter break.

Yesterday morning however, winter made a comeback. It was only an inch or two of snow, but for some reason it was really slippery. Adam called on his way home from work to tell me that he had slid off the road and needed me to bring the snow shovel. We arrived and got him out, then made our way back home to have our Valentine pancake breakfast. The kids thought it was really fun that Cupid turned our milk pink with his magic arrow!




When they got home, the kids went down to play and Adam and I prepared our fancy dinner at the fanciest restaurant we were willing to take three kids--home! We set the table with a table cloth, candles, and goblets that we haven't used once since we received them as wedding gifts. The best part? There were no plastic plates or cups (except what we gave Meredith--fancy does have limits, you know) and the kids used their fanciest manners. Parker even brought some pennies from his piggy bank so he could pay the handsome waiter (a.k.a. Dad) We had salmon, rice, and grilled vegetables--and the kids ate everything! I'm thinking we might need to break out the "fancy-ware" more frequently if it gets results like this! To top off the meal we enjoyed cheese cake. It was a really fun night and is the beginning of a great family Valentine tradition.

When Meredith saw me preparing the cheesecake she pulled up a chair and got her apron down and before I knew it, I had a helper!

When Parker realized that we were having a special dinner, he wanted to be dressed for success so he went and put on a button-up shirt.

Happy Valentine's Day!

A Closet Encounter

At the beginning of the school year I arranged the girls' closet so that Madelyn would have access to her clothes. This had two purposes: She has always been an independent kid and likes to be able to do things herself, and putting clothes away is my least favorite part of the whole laundry process! I installed (doesn't that sound professional--it is a wooden dowel with holes drilled on either side and strung up with a rope) a second rod on one side of the closet at just her height. I then made some of these nifty labels out of craft foam and my trusty Sharpie. She loves the control it gives her and I love that she gets to put away her own clothes! I just installed a rod in Parker's closet last week and it seems to be equally successful!

Hot Chocolate Therapy

So, I really love living here in the Midwest. I like the seasonal changes. For a few months, I even like the snow that seems to fall incessantly. I don't mind shoveling the driveway, wearing 5 layers IN THE HOUSE just to stay warm, and I like building a snowman with the kids as much as the next mom, but unfortunately my winter tolerance ends before the winter season does!

This is where the hot chocolate therapy comes in. My best friend gave me this recipe years ago and it has served me well through many a winter season. I used to make it in a respectable quantity (which is the quantity I'm sharing with you), but I now quadruple the it so I can share the chocolatey goodness with everyone else I know who needs a break from winter!

1 1/2 c. powdered milk
1 1/2 c. flavored powdered creamer
3/4 c. white sugar
3/4 c. cocoa powder
1 tsp. salt

Add 1/4 c. per mug and stir in 6-8 oz. hot water.

This is a recipe that allows for a lot of flexibility; I like to try a different flavor of creamer each time. Hope this warms you up too!