Pudding Paint!

Every time I sit down to work on a craft activity for me, Ethan is trying to climb in my lap and help.  So, I decided that we should figure out a way for him to do his own craft!  I knew finger paint would go straight in his mouth, so we improvised!  Pudding Paint! We made vanilla pudding, divided it into a couple bowls, then added food coloring  to each bowl for a different color "paint."  

He had a blast painting until.....

he discovered how great it tasted!  

Then more ended up in and around the mouth than on the paper!  

 

My little Picasso!

Happy Birthday Chris!!

Chris turned 31 this past Sunday!  

I think Ethan may have enjoyed the birthday cake most of all!

We celebrated by going out to Clark's Fish Camp Saturday night.  It is a very interesting place...and lots of fun.  When you enter the restaurant, stuffed dead animals surround you.  Literally!  They had lions, giraffs, zebras, a bear, otter, baboon, elk, deer, birds, alligators, and so many more I can't remember.   During dinner you can eat outside on the dock where alligators and turtles swim under you waiting for scraps.  (Can you believe I waited over an hour to eat here?!?! ) 

Featured on the menu are mouth-watering entrees such as kangaroo, alligator, ostrich, antelope, rattlesnake, frog legs, and turtle.   Chris decided to try fried alligator tail for an appetizer.  He seemed to like it.  I lost my chance at the mother of the year award though-- I let poor Ethan eat it before I would!  He absolutely couldn't get enough, so after I ate my required "I tried it" bite, I let him have as much as he wanted. Then I ordered a safe shrimp dish for my dinner.  

Happy 31st Birthday, dear! We love you! 

Fishing...Sort of.....

Ethan got a fishing pole and life vest from my friend Jenna for his first birthday (Thanks, Jenna!!), and Chris couldn't wait to take his son on their first fishing outing. I knew Ethan would likely be more interested in either getting in the water or playing with the worm than he would be waiting for a fish, but I decided to tag along to get some pics.    

"I got it!  Let me hold it first!" 

Luckily, Daddy caught a fish quickly and Ethan couldn't wait to get his hands on it! 

 

"Um, Dad, my hands are all gooey now.  You'd better get that thing off my fishing pole." 

He soon decided that fish were a little too slimy and icky, and let Daddy handle that part.  

 "Here's the fish!"  

It was so big it's good that Daddy was there to reel it in...a whopping 3.5 inches!

"Dad, I can do it!  It's my pole anyway!"

I'm not sure who was supposed to be fishing, Ethan or Chris.   

 Ethan and Chris were frequently fighting over the Go!Diego!Go! fishing pole. I guess the boring black one we brought was not nearly as cool.  By the time we left the pond, I felt like I had twin 1 year olds and decided a cartoon fishing pole would be perfect for Chris for Father's Day! 

 Ethan eventually got bored watching Chris fish with the Diego pole, and so he and I went off and found this beautiful blue heron hanging around the edge of the pond. 

All in all it was a great time.  Ethan and Chris caught three fish, had lots of laughs and giggles, and definitely had the daddy-son bonding time that they both needed.  I enjoyed relaxing by the pond, thanks to the security of Ethan's life vest (thanks again, Jenna!!!).  We can't wait to do it again!  

The Yummiest Chocolate Cookies EVER!

Okay, so if you're like me, you can never find "the" chocolate chip cookie recipe and end up with numerous little puddles or bricks when the timer dings.  Worry no more! This "Neiman Marcus" recipe is the answer.  I've since thrown away all my brick and puddle recipes masquerading as chocolate chip cookie recipes. 

I know, you're thinking you've heard that promise before, at least that's what I thought when my mom called with this recipe and promise.  Well, I suspended my skepticism long enough to try them, and they were amazing!  Thanks mom!!!

Here's the email she forwarded to me: (intro and all)

An urban myth is a modern folk tale, its origins unknown, its believability enhanced simply by the frequency with which it is repeated.  Our signature chocolate chip cookie is the subject of one such myth.  If you haven't heard the story, we won't perpetuate it here.  If you have, the recipe below should serve to refute it.  Copy it, print it out, pass it along to friends and family.  It's a terrific recipe.  And it's absolutely free. 

Ingredients:

# 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened

# 1 cup light brown suger

# 3 tablespoons granulated sugar

# 1 large egg

# 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

# 1-3/4 cups all purpose flour

# 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

# 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

# 1/2 teaspoon salt

# 1-1/2 teaspoons instant espresso coffee powder

# 1 1-2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees.  Cream the butter with the sugars using an electric mixer on medium speed until fluffy (approximately 30 seconds).

2. Beat in the egg and vanilla extract for another 30 seconds.

3. In a mixing bowl, sift together the dry ingredients and beat into the butter mixture at low speed for about 15 seconds.  Stir in the espresso coffee powder and chocolate chips.

4. Using a 1 ounce scoop or a 2 Tablespoon measure, drop cookie dough onto a greased c

ookie sheet about 3 inches apart.  Gently press down on the dough with the back of a spoon to spread out into a 2 inch circle.  

Bake about 20 minutes or until nicely browned around the edges.  Bake a little longer for a crisper cookie. 

Yield: 2 dozen cookies.

Okay, so now you have it!  We obviously left the espresso out, and they were perfect!  Those of you who can cook (yes, you Courtney, Debbie, Kirsten, and probably many others too!), are no doubt thinking that it is silly to get excited about a chocolate chip cookie recipe.  What can I say to explain the huge rush of victory I experienced after years of puddle and brick results?  (Ahh, the little victories of a housewife!)  

If you're still not convinced, I gave a cookie to an expert taste tester, and the pictures below speak for themselves as to his impressions!

Yeah!  Mom can make real cookies now!

Wow, these are good.  Do you have some more?  

Hey, they're all gone.... and I'm pretty sure you ate more than I did!

Checking out the Florida Beaches!

We finally made it out to Jacksonville Beach.  It wasn't Ko'Olina, and definitely wasn't Lani Kai, but it was sandy, wet, and lots of FUN!  Ethan loves playing in the sand, and Inca loves trying to bite the waves as they crash on shore.  Ethan had a blast playing in the waves too...he knows no fear!  He kept walking deeper and deeper into the water, laughing as the waves crashed up against him.  I'm pretty sure if Chris hadn't stopped him, he would have been in over his head pretty soon! 

Book Tagged!

My great friend Joy "book tagged" me a while ago, and now that I'm semi-settled and have the internet back, here it goes:

The rules...1. Pick up the nearest book (at least 123 pages).

2. Open to page 123.

3. Find the fifth sentence.

4. Post the fifth sentence on your blog.

5. Tag 5 people.

The nearest book: (If the next book in the Twilight series were out, it would be a no-brainer, but (sigh!) it's not.) HISTORY OF JOSEPH SMITH BY HIS MOTHER

Page 123, 5th sentence: "As he was aware that we would expect him to bring the plates home with him, be was greatly troubled, fearing that we might doubt his having seen them."

Now I tag: Trisha Session, Tori Sessions, Debbie Sell, Amber Standage, and Cristina McLane!

Settled in Florida...sort of!

Well, we finally got to Florida, after Chris spent one month in New Jersey and Ethan and I spent the month in Kansas with my family. We are glad to all be together again, especially Ethan who rarely lets daddy set him down or walk out of his sight.

We had a lot of fun house hunting here, and found our dream house on the same day Chris found out we will be here in Jacksonville for less than 6 months before going to California! So, we left most of the boxes packed up, and moved into a temporary apartment. C'est la vie! (At least when you're in the military.) I'm being positive and excited about this, but I am looking forward to being able to settle down a just a little bit more in the near future!

Chris loves the Coast Guard so far, and is having a lot of fun fishing when they go on their two day cruises. (Rough life, huh?)

I am also excited about flying back to Kansas next week to see my family for another week and then bring Inca here to see her new home (or at least her temporary home.)

Happy 1st Birthday Ethan!

We celebrated Ethan's birthday a couple weeks early in Kansas, so my family could join in on the fun (and mess!) He was thrilled to have Chris back from New Jersey, and loved eating his first piece of cake! He started walking one week before he actually turned one, and is so pleased with himself. He loves to walk across the room and laugh at this fun new skill he has learned! We are so proud of him!

Our Little Virtuoso

In Kansas with my family, Ethan discovered the piano and trumpet thanks to his uncle Vincent! He loved playing "duets" on the piano every morning when Vince would practice. He loved watching Vince play the trumpet, sometimes he even tried to take it away and play it himself!

Gotta Love Grandparents!

Ethan is having a blast staying with my family in Kansas. The cold doesn't seem to bother him, although he hasn't really gone outside too much. He misses Chris, especially in the morning, but has lots of love and attention to keep him happy! His uncle Vincent loves spending lots of time playing with him, and Ethan loves all the attention. He continually ensures everyone in the room is watching him, and if someone's attention "wanders", he is quick to remind them of his wonderful presence. He was also very happy to be reunited with his 125 pound puppy, Inca. My parents also have two small dogs, and I think Ethan now considers himself part of the puppy pack. When the three dogs go to the window and bark, he follows right behind making his own barking sounds! (I'll have to get pictures next time.)

Ethan also loves all the fun new toys his grandparents got for him! This is better than Christmas for our little munchkin.

Look, I can walk!

Ha Ha Ha! Can't catch me now!