Books*Books*Books

Boy do we love Books at this house. I think if the kids had it their way we would be permanently glued to the couch reading books and more books and more books! I thought I would share our current favorites.Max ~ This kid is on a Magic Tree House stamp collection rampage. Together we are on book #34 and he can not get enough of the Magic Tree House series. Max has his book reading path all planned out. Once we finish Magic Tree House we are going to read the Magic Tree House Research Books and then on to Junie B. Jones. Pretty sure he still secretly loves and just about has memorized, Where the Wild Things Are. After all it is all about Max and he likes that. He is just a little bit like his mother. Who ME?

Alexander and Barrett ~ I don't know were to start. . . .these boys love love love books like you wouldn't believe. They ususal have a book or two with them at any given time. They always keep me waiting when I go to pick them up from preschool, "Mom book!" as they point to their teacher. We have to finish whatever book their teacher is reading or for that matter starting. They are always up for a reading time at home, at the library, the bookstore, anywhere. These are the books that are a hit this week.

A Bad Case of the Stripes, David Shannon.

Horton Hears a Who, Dr. Seuss.

Horton Hatches the Egg, Dr. Seuss

The True Story of the Three little Pigs, Jon Scieszka

Giraffes Can't Dance, Giles Andreae and Guy Parker-Rees

How I became a Pirate and Pirates don't Change Diapers, Melinda Long. I seriously just want to look at the illustration all day. They are pretty much amazing and the story makes them creative play pirates like you wouldn't believe. Gotta love over hearing that.

How do Dinosaurs Go to School, Jane Yolen.

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie and all the other books that go with it. . the pig. . .the moose. . .the whatever. They love love love it.

My Monster Momma Loves Me So.

Jacqualynn Grace ~ She just likes to sit on my lap and listen for what feels like my whole life and when I am done reading with out fail she says, "2 minutes!" Currently she is reading and sleeping with, Too Many Frogs and You're My Little Love Bug.

I personally like to read Piggys, The Hungry Catapillar, and One Fish, Two Fish, Three, Four, Five Fish.

Any suggestions for my little bookworms?? We like to rotate books weekly. LOL! I can't believe I typed that, but it's true. We are serious readers at this house. I'm sure it is just a little phase that has been going on forever, but I'll take it while I can. Do share your favorites and Happy Reading to you!

Fun times in the kitchen

WOW! WOW! WOW! I don't know what else to write but WOW! Today the kids and I did a little cooking. . . Apple dumplings, from Pioneer Women Cooks or should I write the most amazing little treaty treats. Those little darlings of mine love it when we do a little something fun. This is how it broke down.

First Maxie boy gathered ingredients;

2 Granny Smith Apples

2 packages of crescent rolls

1 1/2 cups of Sugar

2 sticks of (salted) butter

1 tsp Vanilla

Small can of Mountain Dew

Sprinkled Cinnamon

Barrett Boy did the buttering of the pan. Go superman go! shhhhh. . .don't tell Barrett but all those boys are superman today.

Next we rolled up those peeled and cored apples in our crescent rolls. My little darlings thought that this was the best part of all. Well. . . except for the actual consuming of the little devil dumplings! I write that as I am drooling over them right now. Love them.

Speaking of eating it. . .Jacqualynn might have snuck a bite or two. Love her. What's a girl to do.

Look how pretty that is. Good job kids. You guessed it ~ those kids had to place each individual apple dumpling in the pan all by themselves. Love cooking with helping hands. Sense the sarcasm?My favorite part of the whole process. . . . Goofing around. A+ for Alexander.

Next we waited not so patiently while the butter melted. The boys dumped in 1 1/2 cup of Sugar and we hardly even stirred (per directions). Next we hardly stirred (per directions) in 1 tsp vanilla. Smothered those little dumpling with the calorie free topping (tehe) and. . . .The boys loved loved loved dumping just a touch of Mountain dew around the edges and down the middle. Sprinkle Cinnamon on top. Put them in the oven at 350 for 30-45 minutes.

And then we waited. . . . And waited. . .
And waited. . . dirty faces and all.

And then we enjoyed! Boy did we ever enjoy. Pretty sure everyone had a couple helpings and I caught Tim licking his plate. Yes it is a true story. . they are that good. I immediately packaged the leftovers to be consumed somewhere other than our home. They have already been delivered. :) So happy to say that the event was a huge success. . . and . . .it didn't hurt that those devil dumplings were beyond delicious.

Apple Dumplings
2 Granny Smith apples

2 cans crescent rolls

2 sticks butter

1 1/2 cups sugar

1 teaspoons vanillacinnamon

1 small can Mountain Dew

Peel and core apples. Cut apples into 8 slices each. Roll each apple slice in a crescent roll. Place in a 9 x 13 buttered pan. Melt butter, then add sugar and barely stir. Add vanilla, stir, and pour over apples. Pour Mountain Dew around the edges of the pan. Sprinkle with cinnamon and bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes. Serve with ice cream, and spoon some of the sweet sauces from the pan over the top.

Tiny Moment * Day 29

*While I said I was done with these never ending Tiny Moments I have this nagging thought in the back of my mind that I just can't quit. After all I am on day 28. . .I only have two left. If I were running in a race I wouldn't just quit two feet away from the finish line. That said here is Tiny Moment 29 ~ You think a dishwasher? You probably think I am one random lady. Well this is no ordinary dishwasher. This one has the ability to mimic the sound of rain. Delusional? It is possible that I am going crazy. Whenever the rain decides to pour my heart jumps for joy. I know . . crazy. I don't love the rain every day like those folks in Washington and Oregon do, but a little rain every once in awhile definitely turns my heart to home. Sure do miss you guys. The other morning I was lying in bed when I heard the sound of rain or so I thought. It brought a smile to my face. I was tricked. I hopped out of bed with a little extra beat in my step that morning. Tricked. I looked out the window. . .Tricked! Don't kill me . . .it was sunny and I was sad. On any other day I would have been thrilled. The sunshine equals hours and hours of outside fun. On this particular day my thoughts were in Washington and I was craving the rain. Call me crazy. Now whenever I hear the dishwasher I have a little laugh to myself. It's my own little version of home.

Safety ...psssshhhh... safety shmafety

Every once in a while you have to throw caution to the wind and trust in a doctor's ability to fix broken boys. The easter bunny was loony enough to buy this circle wheel of death and well, we were just looney enough to let the boys play with it...on the stairs. In our defense, we made them wait until they had been naughty so it we thought of it as a substitute for a spanking. :)
And heck, they had helmets on.
Oh yeah, the weight limit on the wheel O' death is sufficient to carry an adult, so if you want a turn come on by!