Grayden's books

I started reading to Grayden before naps and bedtime when he was about six months old. Now at 16 months if I try and put him down without reading to him first he gets upset and points to the rocking chair where we usually sit. Today while I was spending the usual morning hours at the kitchen sink, Gray went to his room and brought out a couple books to read. He loves the books with the flaps that open up and is particularly in love with a Sesame Street book right now. I love these pictures of him sitting on the couch looking at his book. Sesame Street is some serious reading.

Time to Blog Again?

My daughter recently informed me that my sister was sick of looking "games galore" on my blog. Ok my non-blogging sister, I hear you. But wait before I attempt to post again let me put Gray down for a nap, finish unloading the dishwasher, reload it and change a couple loads of laundry first...then after I make my bed and hang up the laundry in my room, wipe down my bathroom counter, get Gray up from a nap to pick Lauren up from school and grab Luke's prescription on the way home I'll get this post done. But then I'll have to start dinner, get Nathan to soccer practice, help with homework, force my kids to practice piano, pick Gray up from hanging on my leg and get dinner dishes cleaned up. Blog, what blog? Oh that journal thing I'm supposed to be keeping on the computer so I can make it into a book someday and my kids will realize what a wonderful, fulfilling childhood they had because I kept track of every day, every activity and every recipe....Recipe? Now that is something I know how to share. After canning 31 jars of peaches this weekend I didn't really think about dinner on Sunday night. That's when my kids think it's really cool that we are having french toast for dinner and they don't really know it's because I forgot to plan ahead. Kids are so forgiving. Unfortunately this recipe is not....

Fluffy French Toast

Is it pancakes or is it french toast? Who cares! It's seriously yum! Next time you are in Walmart and they have oodles of french bread on clearance for $0.64 you'll want to buy numerous loaves to freeze just for THIS recipe.

Combine
1 cup flour
1 3/4 t baking powder
1/2 t salt
1 t sugar
1/4 t ground cinnamon

Combine
1 cup whole milk
2 whole eggs
1/2 t vanilla extract
1/2 t maple flavoring (just subt. more vanilla if you don't have this)

10 slices French Bread

Heat skillet over medium high heat and brush just enough vegetable oil to coat. After combing each separately, combine wet and dry ingredients, stir just until combined. Pour the batter into a 8x8 or similar size dish and dip pieces of bread into the batter, flipping to coat both sides. Place immediately on hot skillet. Flip when browned and brown the other side. Serve and enjoy!

There you go she-who-will-not-be-named! Now you can look at Fluffy French Toast for the next several months!!

Games galore

We attend 3 games a week on average with Nathan playing basketball and Nathan and Lauren both playing indoor soccer. I love watching the kids play. I hate when I miss one of their games. Nathan scored his first points in his basketball game last week. He turned towards us in the bleachers and did a double arm pump with the hugest smile on his face. It made my whole week. I found myself smiling about it the next day in the car. He told us we could start calling him "Jimmer Jr." He also scored a goal in the soccer this week by slamming in a penalty kick over a whole bunch of 7 year olds heads. It was awesome. Unfortunately, Lauren got picked up by a losing soccer team who had some girls who decided not to play (wonder why?). She was such a good sport. She would always make sure to slap hands with girls on her team that scored a goal. And she made some mean catches as keeper. I love watching my kids do anything. It fulfills me. I'd be so bored without them.

I love this picture of Gray. He is in his usual spot on Daddy's lap attending another sporting event. He is such a good baby for all the dragging around he endures.

Field trip to the Firehouse

Luke's class took a field trip to the firehouse recently. It unexpectedly starting snowing pretty hard the morning of his field trip. I couldn't stand the thought of someone else driving him in that weather (even though it was down the street about 3 blocks), so i decided to go along. I was glad I went because I got to take some cute pictures of our funny little guy!

Grayden's random toys

My mom still doesn't let me live down that when Lauren was about 6 months old I didn't know what kind of "toys" to buy her. Of course my mom, mother of five, thought it was funny but being a first time mom I didn't know that "random" household items (if safe) make the best toys. Grayden has no interest in baby rattles, teething rings or squishy animals. He loves anything that is NOT a baby toy. His current favorite...an empty water bottle. He also loves the rubber pastry brush, old cell phones, and clean wipes (to name of few). He has even learned how to roll over just far enough on the changing table to pull a wipe out the box when we are changing him. Lil stinker.

Too big?

I gave Grayden his bottle in the bouncy seat this morning like I do for every feeding and headed over to the kitchen sink to work on the breakfast dishes. A few minutes later I heard the usual clunk of the bottle indicating he was done. He usually like to sit and play for a few minutes while his food settles. When I turned around to go pick up the bottle I found him SITTING UP in the bouncy seat! It was so hilarious I went and grabbed the camera. I think maybe this means he is getting too big for the bouncy!