Chatter Boxes

On the hunt!  We enjoyed a beautiful Easter afternoon with the Morozovs and my sister.

Oh what great joy!

It was a wonderful Easter.  John and Alex hid 87 eggs (they said it was too many...I say it was just right!).  The boys enjoyed hours of play time with friends. 

Here's a look back.  2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

Happy Easter!

So here's how getting a family picture for the Christmas card played out this year.  I prepped my family (all three men in this house) ahead of time that I was going to make it as painless as possible.  They all despise wearing "picture clothes" and posing in various places and taking several shots for one useable picture. So I tried not to over think it.  I used the timer on my phone camera and we stayed in our own yard at locations I scoped out ahead of time (Bailey was my stand in model).




Then it was time to get the family in the picture.  John had the brilliant idea of bringing out a prop box.  So we'd take a couple "serious" pictures than take a couple goofy ones with well-chosen props.

Take #1:  As soon as I set the timer for the first picture we heard horse hooves quickly coming our way.  Pete made it to the fence in time to get in the shot.  So...we went with it.  He hung around long enough for a few more takes that included Carhartt.  Bailey (who is still very precocious and without boundaries watched from his kennel.   You can feel badly for Bailey but only if you haven't met him...otherwise you would understand completely).

Take #2:  Okay but a little awkward.  Pete still looks like he's photo-bombing our Christmas picture.

Take #3:  It was at this point that we decided we needed Carhartt in the picture.  But you see, Carhartt is an old dog and not as spry as he used to be.  So we called him to come to us and he did...just not in time to get there before the timer went off.

So on to Take #4:  Carhartt made it and miraculously Pete is still hanging out too.  But now Carhartt looks awkward.  This is when I say, "One more, I think we can get it with one more shot".  And my family lets out a collected grunt.  I am not swayed however.

And that is how we got our Country Christmas Card.

And now for the goofy prop picture.  Pete and Carhartt ran off as soon as these antics began.  And yes...for those with a sharp eye...John is holding a chicken.

Thank you to all the boys (equine and canine included) for their cooperation and support.

Since the clock and calendar are about to click over to a new year, it's probably time to document our holiday highlights.

We were lucky to spend time with both sides of our family this year.  First with the Robinsons...
(Blogger is driving me out of my ever-lovin' mind and I can't get pictures in the right order or size...and I give up!)

My sister made me this blanket and I love it!  So soft and cuddly!

The boys with their Christmas Eve PJ's from Grandma

Colin asked for cowboy boots and a cowboy hat and Grandpa and Grandma delivered!

Seth wanted "indoor soccer shoes" and once again Grandpa and Grandma came through.

As a Christmas gift this year mommy and daddy gave Seth and Colin their own rooms.  They spent the night before at Aunt Kelly's while John and I worked on getting their rooms ready.  It was a complete surprise.  They each opened a small box that told them they could find their present upstairs.

This is how you transport a Christmas tree in the country.

I love decorating the cabin for Christmas.  We hunt for a real tree on Christmas Eve and decorate with whatever we can find.  This year we found the perfect tree.  Some years the tree is tiny and other years its gigantic.  This year it was just right.  And I made garland out of cedar branches and real live holly.  I feel like Laura Ingalls!

The boys with cousin Lane

We had a wonderful Christmas...now onto the new year!

Just a few pictures from this year's baking extravaganza.

Seth is helping tie ribbons on popcorn balls but he also seems to have the "umm...am I gonna be able to eat any of this?" look on his face.

Kelly is way more crafty than I am.  Every bit of these are homemade.

Both boys loved shaking powdered sugar onto the honey cookies. I hope my Grandma sees this picture and smiles.

Baking Extravaganza 2014 totals:
25 loaves of pumpkin bread
80 honey cookies
70 popcorn balls
15 bags of dried apple chex mix
30 or so decorated sugar cookies
and a partridge in a pear tree

For a look back - 2013, 2012, 2011 (and recipes)

Since we're one week from Thanksgiving it's probably time to post pictures of the boys from Halloween.

Halloween this year was chiiiiilly!  The boys refused to wear coats even though I assured them that their coats would fit underneath their costumes.  Still...they flat refused.  In comes Love and Logic parenting. John and I bundled up and headed out with Batman and Rafael, the ninja turtle.




15 minutes later we were back home after rescuing a sobbing ninja turtle who was "freezing to death".  I refrained from saying I told you so.  That is anti-love and logic. Instead I said we can try again next year.

They were fine going home to get started on their candy haul.

For a look back to Halloween past...2013, 2012, 2011.

Today John and I celebrate 8 years of wedded bliss.

We enjoyed a beautiful evening at our house with good food, good friends, and blowing stuff up in the front yard.   Sounds like a good 4th of July plan to me.

I used a few new recipes (and one old one) so I thought I'd share.  We grilled steaks using this rub recipe from "American Grilled" with David Guas on the Travel Channel (I don't watch the show but saw him on The Today Show.

And finally for dessert I tried this rustic peach and mulberry pie.  John and the boys picked wild mulberries we have growing around our property.  John made the crust (he's better at it than I am) and I did the rest.  It was delicious.  Very little sugar and healthier with only one pie crust (and we substituted Coconut Oil for butter).  I will definitely be making this dessert again.  Super easy (especially if you sweet talk your husband into make the pie crust)

Happy Easter!

While my parents were here for Christmas we got to celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary.  We had a "fancy dinner" out...little boys included.  I wasn't sure how well the boys would do but after some initial complaining about having to wear fancy shoes...they did great!

Waiting patiently for everyone to get ready.

Mom wanted a family picture.  I won't tell you how many takes it took to get this one.  It is a handsome bunch I must say.

We got the boys to behave for the initial 15 takes by telling them we'd do a goofy one at the end.  John ignored the instruction.

Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad.  We love you.  Thanks for loving each other all these years!

We enjoyed a quiet Christmas morning, just the four of us.  My parents arrived later that night and the family fun began.

This year the boys bought presents for mommy, daddy, and each other.  Colin got daddy a calendar and notebooks.

Seth made us a picture at school.  We got a kick out of the reindeer.

John got a straight razor.  So fancy!

We enjoyed being able to relax and take our time opening gifts.  They both asked for their own six-pack of mini "diet cokes" (the term diet coke covers all carbonated beverages) from Santa.  And Santa delivered.  They also got lots of craft supplies which kept them busy most of the day.

We joined my parents and sister at Kelly's house for our traditional Christmas Eve soup.

Grandpa gave the boys straw glasses (see below).  They were a hit!

Grandma gave the boys new pj's.

Can't help being goofy!

We gathered at our house the next morning for the Robinson family Christmas.  Grandpa made a big yummy breakfast with all of our special requests (lil' smokies for Kelly and orange rolls for me).  The aforementioned straw glasses made their debut. 

John and Colin reading The Night Before Christmas

This was arguably the best part of the day.  Seth read Luke Chapter Two almost by himself.

It was a very Merry Christmas indeed!