Oh, how time flies!

My little Emily turned 7!  We love her to pieces!  She helped decorate her birthday cake and loved taking a few friends to SkyMax then home for Chinese food.  She is such a happy and joyful little girl!

May School Moments

 Ben and his group worked on their Invention for a month in science class - the product, a back-scratching mat for dogs.  He was completely involved and interested in this creation!  He was a great salesman and looked so handsome...not that he was trying to impress a cute girl in his group... ;)

Below - the school did a walk-a-thon to continue fundraising...  Mitchell and I went with the kindergarten group (below - Emily, her sidekick Mia, and Mitchell)

 And again with the 2nd graders.  Love how Annie is RIGHT behind the convertible carrying the principal the ENTIRE time, often elbowing the boys out of the way so she could be in the front.  :)

 Saturday night - I got to join one of my favorite families as they skyped with the oldest daughter in Idaho as she opened a letter that would announce her assignment for the next 18 months as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  Simply amazing.  (She is headed to Ecuador!)

 Annie and her softball team - they are The Pony Patch.  She fell in loved with the sport, despite a rough start...

 And runs home to score!!!

 Emily was Little Miss Muffet in their poetry play - her little buddy Annabelle was the spider.

 Mitchell, Emily and Mia FREEZING at a softball game!

 Annie and I joined Annabelle and her mom Lisa (one of Annie GS leaders) for a Saturday night in Amish Country.  We went to a program called The Secret Keeper Girl - all about modesty and faith and self-worth.  It's just so nice to have Annie hear about modesty from someone besides me!  It was a little over the top and a bit drawn out, but we all had a great time!!!

April Happenings

Mitchell and I decided to have a tea party one afternoon - he was super cute drinking his orange juice out of the little cup.  Let's face it, peanut butter and jelly always tastes better cut into little squares and served on a fancy plate!  Mitchell and I were able to join the FIVE kindergarten classes on their field trip to the Akron Zoo.  This is our little group that we ran around with - Mitchell, Emily, and Mia.

 Yes, the outfits are just perfect for the two of them!!!  Next year Mia is going to the school where her dad is principal; it's going to be a sad day for Emily and her buddy!

 The little friends we met up with while wandering through the mazes (Mia, Grant, Mitchell, Cohen, Vivian, and Emmer-Pie!).

 Annie's first softball team (that she did more than one practice with) - The Pony Patch.

 Mitchell is my little helper when cleaning up after Ben's soccer games.  He loves to carry my chair...about ten feet, and then I take over!  Love this little guy!!!!

Father Daughter Dance

 The girls had a great time at the Rock 'n Roll Father Daughter Dance at school...

 This is my favorite thing to help plan and work at during the year.  This is the girls signing in, getting corsages, and glow bracelets!  Below, Andy and Brian watching the girls dance while the dad hang out in the corner.  :)

 After checking people in, I worked behind the refreshments, refilling drinks and snacks and throwing away half-filled cups.  Annie came to say hello!

 Emily being so careful to not spill on her favorite dress, one she wore as a flower girl 18 months before!

 Miss Stacey - the mastermind behind all planning activities!  She is simply amazing with her organization and ideas!  LOVE working with her!

Someone Just Turned 35!!!

 Happy Birthday to my sweetheart!  It was a sleeting, freezing night.  You choose to stay home with the 3 younger kiddos and do movie night while I took Ben to his soccer game and froze.  Just what I wanted to do!  :)  We had a fantastic lunch at El Jalapeno.  For your birthday, you got gum and your favorite gummies.  :)  And a few suits from Jos. A. Banks...

But the dessert - the delightful dessert....

 I like peanut butter cups (not as much as you), but I wouldn't choose them instead of a snickers or a kitkat...unless they are prepared like this!!!  Holy Smokes!  Introducing...my new favorite dessert!  So good that I have to post the recipe...and if anyone wanted to make these and bring me a few, I wouldn't get mad at you!

from www.hugsandcookiesxoxo.com

I AM NOT SURE IF YOU BROUGHT YOUR STRETCHY PANTS BUT YOU'RE GOING TO NEED THEM! THESE ARE WORTH THE CALORIES, TRUST ME! THIS IS A TRUE PEANUT BUTTER LOVER'S TREAT! LET'S GET STARTED!
GRAHAM CRACKER CRUST:
1 STICK BUTTER
1/2C. SUGAR
1 1/2C. GRAHAM CRACKER CRUMBS
MELT THE BUTTER IN THE MICROWAVE IN A BOWL. STIR IN SUGAR AND CRUMBS. LINE AN 8 INCH PAN WITH NONSTICK FOIL AND PRESS THE CRUMB MIXTURE IN. BAKE ABOUT 9 MINS AT 350 AND LET COOL. ONCE COOL, LINE THE CRUST WITH SNACK SIZE PEANUT BUTTER CUPS TO COVER THE BOTTOM.

PEANUT BUTTER CHEESECAKE:
8 OUNCES CREAM CHEESE
1 EGG
1/2C. SUGAR
1/4C. PEANUT BUTTER

ELECTRIC MIX CREAM CHEESE AND SUGAR. ADD EGG AND PEANUT BUTTER. POUR OVER PEANUT BUTTER CUPS AND SPREAD OVER CRUST. BAKE 30 MINUTES AT 350. LET COOL COMPLETELY.


PEANUT BUTTER GANACHE:
In microwave, combine:
1/2c. heavy cream
8 Tablespoons butter until hot.
Stir in:
6 ounces peanut butter chips until melted and smooth. Stir in 2T. sifted powdered sugar and pour over the bars. Chill firm before cutting. Cut into 9 squares and drizzle melted dark chocolate chips on top of each bar. Keep chilled!

recipe an original by Hugs & Cookies xoxo

Happy 13 Years!!!

 So, our anniversary fell on a Sunday this year.  I can't even remember what we had for dinner, but we knew we wanted banana boats for dessert!  The kids all worked together getting the wood for a fire, including the branches that fell in our yard from the neighbor's house...

 Totally NOT staged!  Andy was trying to get it lit, and everyone needed to make sure it happened!

 This little guy was on a roll...no nap and ornery as could be!  Wait, I think we had something with our squash, zucchini, onion medley, and he did NOT want to eat it.  Well, veggies must be consumed my little friend...

  Getting the eggs.  For some reason our chickens don't lay their eggs first thing in the morning; it's typically throughout the day and they are done by about 4pm...

 Well, one little 2 year old found out that he was NOT going to get a banana boat with everyone else until he ate a veggie or two, and that mom was really serious about it - despite the fact he had been warned many many many many many times.  (Mitchell is still under the impression that if he closes or covers his eyes, we can't see him.)

 Emily was the magician - she got him to eat those vegetables and then helped him create his yummy dessert and helped him put it in the oven!

 So excited!!!

 Banana Boat - slice a wedge out of the banana, spread it out, toss in some walnuts, chocolate chips, and a few marshmallows (unless you are like Andy and add some peanut butter too).  Wrap up in aluminum foil, toss in the coals for a few minutes, then open to brown the tops of the yummy sugary-goodness...Cool slightly and devour!

I may or may not have perfected this method in the oven...oh, yes, and happy anniversary to my Andy!  Thanks for the flowers and planning in advance!!!  I love you more than yesterday but not as much as tomorrow!!!

A Warm Day & My Anniversary Gift

 We made everyone's favorite side dish...I can't remember the name!!!  Anyway, yummy tomatoes, fresh cheese, basil, basalmic, and a little s&p.  Divine!  Although, there are never enough!

 Bubbles...then chalk in a rainstorm...thank goodness for Saturday night baths!

 Over a year ago, I bought these adorable, soft, flowly dresses from LandsEnd.  I couldn't wait for the girls to wear them!!!!  They sat, sat, sat - then hung, hung, hung... Despite my many suggestions that they would be so cute, the dresses remained unworn.  Until, the day the girls decided the dresses were getting too small - you kidding me?!?!  I told them that before we could give them away, they HAD to wear them at least once!  Then, I played the anniversary card.  Below, the dresses after church, complete with matching white sandals.  My heart just melted...

 We tried and tried and tried to get a great picture...we have lots of 'goods' instead - care of photgrapher Ben!

Spring Break in Toledo!

We found an awesome Groupon for a Wildlife Safari in Port Clinton - on the way to Toledo, so we stopped in to feed the animals!  Way fun!  Sadly, none of the outside areas were open until May, so we will just have to go back!

 The llamas were a bit intimidating...but the bison were downright scary!  They drooled all over our car!!!

 We bought the pellets and carrots to feed the animals and everyone wished we had more food - the animals loved when Mitchell would hold the cup because they could just grip it and pull it from his hands and get all the food!

 Hello friend!!!

 The beautiful longhorns...Andy was worried about them scratching the paint on the car, but we made sure to save them some food our second time around the park.  These babies are so incredibly gentle!

 This was an interesting animal - I think it was a Scottish Yak.

 We spent our first morning with the Smiths!  Love them!!!  They were our friends in Canton before they moved away!  They have 4 boys that my kiddos just adore.  #2 was in Ben's class in 2nd grade.  #3 played on Ben's baseball team for 3 years.  #4 was in preschool with Emily.  Andy and the Dad did Cubs together with #2 and Ben.  Annie just jumps in and plays with whoever is available and Mitchell is babied by them all and completely spoiled by Mrs. Smith.

 It was time to go and run to meet the Castles at Imagination Station, but we couldn't find BEN!!!  He was off a few streets over at the creek with all the boys.  Can't even tell you how much he loves being surrounded by guys in his world of girls that he has always lived in!!!

 Mitchell and Annie with my sweetest Miles (he might marry me when he grows up!) at the Children's Museum!