But I Like It

This morning we were getting ready to go to MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) group and I got Gwen dressed in this cute sundress and I told her to put on some shoes. She came in with one blue sock, one pink sock and black shoes. I told her that her shoes didn't really go with what she was wearing and she said, "but I like it mom." After I took a few seconds to look her over and giggle a little bit I decided to let her wear it. Aren't I a nice mom? :)

My two cuties. This afternoon it's the Easter photo shoot. We'll see how that goes.

Easter

Thanks to my fabulous Mother-in-law, Ben and I got to go on a date Friday night. We got these plastic spoons from a frozen yogurt place. We thought they looked like little shovels so we kept them for the kids. I know, you really needed to see these right? What can I say? Enjoy the small things.

No Easter would be complete without the rabbit jello mold. Here's ours this Easter.

I sang at church today and I made these hot cross buns to bring. I thought I overbaked them, but there were only two left, so I guess they weren't that horrible. :)


Look at this cutie that helped me with the jello rabbit.

I have no Easter pictures of the kids in their outfits... but will get some soon. I had to be at church at 5:30 this morning! After 7 services at our church, 150 got saved. That's what Easter is all about after all.

Paper Flower Bouquet

I know I've shown you guys this already... but I thought you needed a closer look. I spent so long on this thing that when I finished it today I said out loud, "it is finished." I have no idea how this will be used in Beki's wedding, but I am happy to say that my first paper bouquet is accomplished. I tried to keep the "something borrowed, something blue, something old and something new" theme in it. The something borrowed is a piece of my veil I wore on my wedding day. The something blue is the paper I chose with blue roses. The something old are buttons I got from Ben's Grandma when she was getting rid of some old craft things. Something new is the holder I got from Oriental Trading. :)



I like the buttons.

Completed

and almost completed... the paper flower bouquet.

Spring Flings

I don't know about you, but I get excited when I find an unusually large fruit.

We went to Ernie Miller Nature Center yesterday with our small group friends. It was a lovely day and the kids had a nice time walking the trails. Here is our beloved Andy sitting on a bench.

The kids were excited to check out this frog.



I love spring!

What's Up

I recently did a freezer meal exchange and made my mom's recipe for apple pie for part of my dinner. I felt like a true Amish person... except for I have electricity and an electric stove... but still.


This is one thing I've been working on. I'm beginning to redo Zeke and Gwen's bathroom upstairs and I found two frames at a garage sale that I bought. I spray painted them and put burlap in the background to hang as decorations above hooks for their towels. Right now there is a towel bar, but they can't really hang up their own towels on that. So I'm installing hooks so they can be responsible for their own towels. I plan on painting a wooden "Z" and "G" and gluing to the burlap so they know which hook is theirs.

My herb pots are all ready to go. Now I just have to decide what I'd like....

It has been such a warm winter and early spring that I thought I'd take a little chance with this crazy Kansas weather and put some things in the ground early. I'm going to wait a few weeks on tomatoes... but I really hope this year is a better year than last. I want my tomato sandwiches! Last year we had a problem of rabbits getting into our garden and having snacks. Well... Ben took care of that with this little fence. I hope it helps. I put in romaine lettuce, brussels sprouts (my new vegetable obsession), and broccoli. My kids LOVE broccoli and Gwen really likes brussels sprouts. I think Zeke will learn to like them.

I will try to be better about letting you know what is going on. I'm getting lazy when it comes to blogging... but I do enjoy looking back and seeing how blessed we are.

I think everyone should have their babies feet prints to remember how little they are. These are Naomi's. Love baby feet!


We tried shaving foam painting today. It consists of putting shaving foam on a pan and putting paint drizzled through there and letting the kids swirl it and play with it and then putting paper on top and lightly patting it and pulling it off. After it dries a few minutes you scrape it and the paint stays and the foam doesn't. We cut these pieces of paper into egg shapes to give to our friends.

Ben reading to "the gang".

Around Town Continued

First off, let me show you something interesting. This quilt was made by my Great Grandmother and is going on display in Nebraska soon. It actually has my Grandfather's name "Leland" and his birthday sewn onto it. My Great Grandmother had 12 kids and wasn't very educated hence the misspellings and backward "N"s. I must say my relatives had some interesting names. Riller? Codle? If you'll notice that Preston is on there. That's my mom's Uncle and who my brother Preston is named after. Let's just say my ancestors aren't exactly gifted in the quilting department. :)

Saturday mom and I ventured out alone and found ourselves at this little coffee shop. I've seen it before and said outloud, "I'm going to stop there one day" and I finally did. It used to be a gas station back in the early 1900's. I had a chai latte and it was like drinking a gingerbread man.


We also went to Pryde's Old Westport. They specialize in hard to find kitchen gadgets and items. Let's just say I LOVE IT and it is not for the claustrophobic.

I also love these whisk chandeliers in there!

In the back they have a pie shop where it is always "pie o'clock" they say and this stove is back there. We didn't get a piece of pie, but I had to snap a picture of this stove.

Around Town with Grandma

Ben took Thursday off. Thank goodness there was someone else to ride on the carousel with the kids. I get queasy.... and of all things they chose a teacup!


Here they are waiting... and yes, Gwen wants to wear this get up in March.

At the library working with magna tiles. Those things are genius!

Zeke talks about Dairy Queen all of the time. You can see if from our back deck. We hardly go there though, but Grandma took us. The kids were very pleased.

Bouncing Eggs on Rainbows and The Children

Here's sleeping beauty with her bed buddy really close.


a tea party with hats. I had on a Santa hat.

Love Gwen's pose!

We made paper plate rainbows yesterday with Grandma as a St. Patty's day display and then today I saw these fun little eggs at Hobby Lobby. I had to get them. So now we have happy little boy and girl eggs bouncing off of clouds. Wow... weird, but I'm LOVIN' it.

Stuff and the Best Banana Bread on the Planet

The dreaded hand foot and mouth disease is back in our house this winter. There is no medicine for this... just have to wait it out. It's bad and it seriously limits getting out of the house. Well... I guess that's the way the good Lord has let us know we need to stay home more this week.

Here's my girl with the first sign of hand foot and mouth.


She wasn't feeling well so she laid down in her bed and Zeke decided on his own to lay down with her to keep her company. I found them in there listening to classical music on the radio (Kansas public radio) and talking. Oh, and yes, Zeke had it too and it turned into infantigo and now that that is healing Gwen gets it.

Our Valentine's boxes we made last week. Gwen chose a butterfly box and drew her own name on the box.

With a suggestion from his mama Zeke decided on a frog box.

and now... what you've all been waiting for... the Best Banana Bread Recipe I've Ever Had! Up until this point, my mother's recipe topped the charts, but this one I like better. (sorry mom)

2C flour

1 1/4 C walnuts (toasted) (I used toasted pecans instead and not as much)

3/4 C sugar

3/4 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

3 very ripe, soft, darkly speckled bananas- mashed well

1/4 C plain yogurt (I used plain Greek yogurt)

2 large eggs, beaten lightly

6 T unsalted butter, melted and cooled

1 tsp vanilla extract (homemade if you have it!)

Bake 350 oven for 55 minutes in a loaf pan. YUM!

After the Doughnut