What a fun weekend!

We went to Lincoln State Fair this past weekend. We have really made our rounds at the fairs around here this year, we kinda live out in the sticks so we try to take advantage of what there is to do as a family and try to have fun at it! We stayed overnight there and did some shopping and just some extra running around too. We took Brianna to Chucky Cheeses, she had so much fun and I'm pretty sure Tim had just as much fun! I got some really cute pics but unfortunately won't be able to post them until we get our computer back. It had to be shipped back to get the hard-drive fixed, I think it's fried! :(
My washer's switch went out last week so I've been making several treks to and from the laundromat, not fun! We checked out the washers and dryers at Sears, they are so nice and also very expensive, really unnecessarily so. I guess they know they have you over a barrel, it's something you HAVE to have! I think we're going to just bite the bullet and buy a new washer AND dryer, I'm afraid if I just get the washer then by the time the dryer dies the matching model won't be available any more! Soooo, I think I'll be making a call to Sears tomorrow, I don't think the store near us has them in stock so they'll have to be ordered. That means several more trips to the laundromat, it makes me realize how much we take for granted things like that!

Can't believe its been so long!

Oh, what a last couple of weeks it been! I think I would be here all night if I were to completely catch up with everything that's been happening around here. Don't worry, I'll just hit the highlights!
My parents were able to stay for a week visiting with us, we had so much fun together! Brianna of course remembered my parents but Tyler was a bit hesitant at first. It didn't take him long though and he was in my Dad's lap listening to stories or being sung to. Yes, although my Dad doesn't sing in public, he does sing to his grandchildren and he also plays his "trumpet", a sound that has been entertaining kids for years! Mom and Brianna had a lot of fun too, writing on the sidewalk making "treasure maps" and cooking together in the kitchen. One morning while Tyler and I slept in, Brianna was in the kitchen with Mom making her own little concoction. She wanted to make me a birthday cake and had water, milk, bits of cheese, and little pieces of a tortilla torn up in a bowl and was trying her best to get a cake made! Needless to say, while she went to the grocery store with Mom, I quickly got rid of her "cake" and she was none the wiser when she got back! I have so many pictures to post but our computer is down, yes AGAIN, so they will have to wait for a later post! Thanks Mom and Dad for coming to visit and for making my birthday so special! The blizzard ice cream cake was great!

Ready for company!

The house is clean, the laundry done, the fridge is full, and a cake is made especially for Dad and Mom. Dad loves white cake, and I enjoy decorating, I'm certainly not a professional by any means, but just love to make cakes. Today my parents are coming to visit, we are all very excited to see them! Brianna got up this morning asking about them, she loves Grammy and Grandpa, they take a lot of extra time with the grandkids playing with them and reading lots a books. It is so hot here right now that we'll probably be inside most of the day, it is a really dry heat here and it cools down considerably in the evenings, that's the only time to be outside! Of course, I'm sure Mom and I will have to squeeze in a shopping trip or two, can't forget the important things in life! :-)

Not sure when I'll post again but when I do I'll have lots of photos to share!

Backyard Snapshots

Sometimes it seems like unplanned photos end up turning out the best. That seems to be the case with my children anyway. That's what happened today. Tim was out washing the truck and Brianna headed out to help him, but since he was already done and I had my camera with me I figured a couple pictures wouldn't hurt! Brianna's hat didn't match her clothes at all, so I had to change my camera to black and white, I'm so glad I did, I like how they turned out! Tyler was very intrigued with our little cocker spaniel, Sophie. She really seems to like him, loves seeing him and wants to get as close as possible to him. It's a good thing she's pretty small, she accidentally sat on his leg while I was trying to get this picture! He seemed more annoyed than hurt, I think he was getting tired of her in his personal space!

Rice Krispie Ice Cream

This is probably the simplest dessert that you could ever make but it's also really good. Great for summertime.

1/4 cup butter
1/2 lb. marshmallows
5 cups Rice Krispies
Vanilla Ice Cream

Melt butter; add marshmallows. Stir constantly until melted. Remove from heat and add Rice Krispies. Press into greased pie plate. Fill with ice cream and freeze. Top with pie filling of your choice. (I used blueberry, it was really good.) Take dessert out of freezer and let sit 5-10 minutes before serving, this gives the Rice Krispies time to slightly soften.

Playtime Pals

Brianna and Tyler really like playing together, that is, most of the time! It's really interesting, Tyler has a distinct fussing sound that he makes when Brianna has done something to him or taken a toy away from him, thats usually when I have to intervene! Even at this age, I try to let them figure things out on their own if they can, I think it will help them,(and my sanity) as they get older and encounter different ideas and opinions. This little tent was Tyler's Christmas gift from my parents and even though Brianna hardly fits in it they somehow squish together and have fun!

Nothing Much

OK, I know I really shouldn't be on this computer right now, I should be putting the 3 loads of laundry away that I did yesterday and are still sitting on the dining room table, SHHHHH, don't tell anyone! Or, I should be washing the rest of the laundry that didn't get done yesterday, or should be giving my house a good cleaning! It really seems like there is always something to do, like I just never get completely caught up. I know this is normal with 2 small children but knowing it doesn't make it any less frustrating at times! Never mind me, just my time to vent a little bit! :)

On the bright side we are so excited that my parents are going to be here next week! Brianna is really looking forward to them coming. She got a prize the other day while we were shopping, for being a very good girl. She's been asking for sidewalk chalk for a while so I used that as an incentive to be good and it worked! I don't do this much because I feel that my children should be good just because that's how we have taught them, but neither do I think it hurts to have something to look forward to. Anyway, she is really looking forward to drawing pictures with her new chalk with Grammy! I'm sure Tyler is looking forward to seeing Grandpa and Grammy too, he is just too busy napping at the moment to care!