First taste of batter...

Joshua had his first real chance to lick batter the other day. He wasn't quite sure about it at first. The really funny thing is that the next day, he saw this red spatula as I was unloading the dishwasher. You should have seen him go crazy trying to get it. Little did he realize...it was clean...nothing good on it that time!

It starts early....

This is how I found the kids this morning. The love of TV starts early!

First turkey...

While we were at the ranch over New Year's, Mike and Jake were driving down to the river. They came across a bunch of turkeys. So, "they" shot one. To hear Jake tell the story is pretty cute. He was so excited and wants the feathers mounted to hang in his room. Not sure about that though.

When they brought it up to the house, we had to take a picture of the hunters. I think it's such a sweet picture!! It makes me so happy to see Jake and Sophia having so much fun at the ranch and getting to do new things. And, I think it's wonderful that Jake and Mike are having fun doing "guy things".

Roasting marshmallows....Texas style....

It's darn cold here right now. Mike has spent most of the day chopping down trees because next week is brush pick-up. So...in order to use up some of the wood (and occupy time) he busted out the fire pit and helped the kids roast marshmallows.

Sophia's outfit cracks me up. Really....let's hope her fashion sense goes up a few notches soon. Super cute in whatever she wears though!!

Teeny tiny kitchen....

I've tried the "cook for a day, eat for a month" idea once before. I think it was in the old house. No wonder...cooking in this little kitchen is fine most days. But, when you're making more than 20 dinners at a time...it's hard. Doesn't this look like fun??

Total counter space...maybe 2 sq. feet. Total floor space...about the same.

But, I did manage to get 23 dinners in the freezer, some french toast sticks and a bunch of muffins. So now we have 2 very organized freezers, plus a month full of dinners ready to go. No excuses for ordering pizza!!!

I got the idea and website from Kelly. Thanks!! Part of being a "fru-gal". Check it out. http://onceamonthmom.com/

At a party and didn't know it....

The kids in Sophia's class are starting to turn 4. The first one was today. The little girls mom is pregnant and has been really sick. So, I guess in order to "celebrate" at school, she gave the teachers some money and asked them to get pizza for today. Sophia has been talking about going to this little girls house for the party for a couple days now. I kept trying to explain...it was today...you had pizza...you ate with your friends...etc. It wasn't going well. There was no cake...so it wasn't a party (in her mind). Finally I told her "the party was today at school. That's it. You were there." And she said "OH...I was at the party...I just didn't know it!!"


Classic thought from a 3 year old!!!

Happy New Year!

Wow---2010!! Where did time go?? We rung in the new year at the ranch. We were up there for 5 nights...which is a very long time! The kids had a great time, as usual. Jake "shot" his first turkey...which means he was with Mike when it went down. They were riding down the river and came across a bunch of them. It's pretty funny to hear Jake tell the story. He wants the mounted feathers in his room. Not sure if I'm okay with that or not. He also spent one night at the river with Mike and Tim. A squirrel was shot...and eaten. Again...not sure if I'm okay with that. But, Mike had a point. Can't teach him it's okay to shoot something and then leave it under a bush. Got to start responsible hunting habits early. But...really....a squirrel??

Jake and Sophia helping Gramma bake a pie. We have a similar picture of me and Mary helping MeeMaw cook. Love this picture. Brad, Mary and I took the kids on an "adventure." This was taken in one of the caves down at the river. We were walking by this HUGE tree that had fallen down. These are the roots. In typical boy fashion, Grant, Jake and Joshua started hitting it and playing around. Sophia walked off towards the truck. Bike races on the driveway. The driveway is so perfect for lots of bike riding, skating and running!!!