Top Ten Things That Will Probably Happen When Mom Is Sick

Top Ten Things That Will Probably Happen When Mom is Sick:

#1-Dad will probably get to work and find that his to-go coffee

mug has coffee and SOAP in it.

#2-Someone will give the baby a marshmallow so that she may

explore many fibers, hairs, and items that will attach to her sticky self.

#3-The kids may make frozen waffles for breakfast and

use a whole container of chocolate syrup as the topping.

#4- A snack may consist of animal crackers with melted

cheese over the top and dipped in ketchup.

#5-The tinging sound in the background may be your

two little boys dropping their die cast Thomas trains

down the laundry chute.

#6-"Why don't you play a puzzle?" means that each child gets

out their own puzzle and proceeds to dump all the pieces to all

the puzzles into the center of the same table.

#7-Your babysitter for the day goes by the name...."Gamecube".

#8-You have a countdown to the second as to when Dad is

going to be home.

#9-Your child may have spilled a cup of juice and may have

wiped it up with a bath towel and may have thrown it down

the chute and it may have dyed your husband's underwear bright

pink when you dig into the laundry in a few days.

#10-Cereal for dinner!

The Easter Bunny WAS HERE!

We definitely teach that the real meaning of Easter is the day Our Savior rose from the dead, but we also weave a tale of the Easter Bunny joyfully making spring 'presents' to hide as gifts for us to help celebrate that most wonderful day with us.

So, yesterday the kids were playing in the yard by the sand box. I know we have about a hundred bunnies living around our neighborhood and I noticed a new hole that was created by a rabbit to cool himself in the warm temperatures.

I looked at Nick and Noah and asked them to fill the hole with some of their sand.

Nicky looked over at me...crestfallen.

"But, Mom, we can't do that."

"Why?" I asked. "Did you make that hole?"

"No." He replied, looking troubled. "The Easter Bunny did."

I was trying not to smile. "Why would the Easter Bunny be here in June?"

Nicky, looked over at me and made a frustrated face (That little child face that clearly states that parents do not see what is right before their eyes) and stated, "He has to make them to put the eggs in them, Mom."

So, alas, this tale ends with a cute hole remaining by the sandbox waiting for eggs.

Fun: Summer Bubbles!

Here is a recipe for homemade summer bubbles with everything I had on hand:

11 cups water

4 cups Ajax dish soap

1 cup light corn syrup

Directions: Gently stir together in a clean gallon container. Let sit overnight without lid. Then use whatever you have around the house to make the bubbles. We used: slotted spoons, a strainer, cookie cutters, and the best bubble maker was a metal cooling rack.

This was hours of fun for the kids.

Enjoy!

Easy Caramel Dip with Apples

Ingredients:

1-8oz. brick cream cheese

1 cup brown sugar

1-tsp. vanilla

Apple slices

Directions:

Set cream cheese out at room temperature, to soften. When softened, add the brown sugar and vanilla to the cream cheese in a bowl and stir until completely combined. Refrigerate for 1 hour. Serve with apple slices. 

This is a kid and adult favorite at my house! 

Silly Lilly

This past weekend, we visited the farm. On Sunday morning, we gathered in the kitchen and Kim picked up our little Katie to hold. Lilly, their dog, had to go potty, so Kim took her out without a leash. "She'll be okay." As she went through the door, my dad calls out, "You want to get the paper while you're out there?" 

I feel like Kim has enough in her hands, so I join her and take Katie and go to get the paper. Mam and Pap's dog, Lady, follow me down the drive toward the paper box. Lilly, a tiny Shiz Tsu, has no fear of Lady (a much larger dog) and comes running behind and jumping at Lady's face. Kim, afraid that Lady will tire of this treatment and bite thus Lilly's head off begins calling Lilly, to no avail.

Lilly, continuing to snap at Lady, receives her first 'snap' back from Lady. Kim, now sensing danger, gives up the calling of non-responding Lilly and goes for a broom.....for what, I am still not sure, but I think it was the first thing she could find. 

Lilly, is now tearing large circle eights and avoiding Kim at all costs. I am concerned that Lilly will end up in the road (where vehicles barrel down at around 60 miles per hour) and become puppy powder. I stopped half-way down the drive and keep Lady with me while Kim continues to attempt to catch Lilly.

"Just jump on her!" I yell. I have little experience with dogs, but Lady seems content to stand by me and watch Lilly. Poor Kim. Then unwise Lilly comes back to Lady and jumps at her face again.

Poor Kim sees this situation and simply states, "O.M.G."

I am now holding Katie and keeping Lady still to avoid adding anything to this scenario. Kim is now calling for assistance from my brother, Mike. I look at the house and see many observers in the windows, but no one seems to want to come and join the fray of: two women, two dogs, a baby, and a broom.

Finally, with the help of a bratwurst for Lady, Lilly is secured and placed in time-out, the paper is retrieved and delivered to said Pappaw, and two women in their pajamas screaming wildly while waving babies and brooms got their cups of coffee.

The End.  

It's The Pits!......Well, the Fire Pits, Anyhow!

This past weekend, my brother, Mike, and my sister-in-law, Kim, were with us having a BBQ at our parents' farm on Saturday night. The idea of roasting marshmallows came up and it was early in the afternoon, so Mam and Pap decided to get a small metal fire pit. 

Kim and Mike, who were going in to meet Vincent (new nephew), offered to stop at Walmart and get the fire pit. They did so and while my husband, Mike (we'll call him Mike#1), was grilling the supper, my brother, Mike (we'll call him Mike#2), was assembling the fire pit (we'll call it Fire Pit#1). 

I was in helping my mom with supper prep when Mike#2 came in and said, "I can't believe it. There is no bag of screws in the box!"

So, I went out to the garage where Mike#1 is searching through all the plastic and cardboard for the rogue bag of implements, yet coming up empty. I ask Mike#1 if alternate screws can be used. This was a negative because they are 'special'. I sigh. There is no bag.

Mike#2 arrives with wife, Kim#1, in tow and she begins the search and goes through every piece that was present. She finds nothing, either, and asks her hubby, "...if alternate screws can be used." This was a negative because they are 'special'. She sighs. There is no bag.

So, the decision is made for Mike#2 and Kim#1 to return Fire Pit#1 to Walmart for a replacement. 

45 minutes later, Mike#2 is out assembling Fire Pit#2 while Mike#1 is still grilling. However, they had run out of Fire Pits#1 at Walmart, so they had to get Fire Pit#2 (the more expensive fire pit) with a $20 off discount. Mike#2 was satisfied, because Fire Pit#2 was a better fire pit than Fire Pit#1. 

Ten minutes later, we hear a loud, "YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!!" bellowed from Mike#2 about Fire Pit#2. Mike#1 comes out to inspect the trouble. Mike#2 is cursing. Mike#1 is laughing. There is a missing leg in the box for Fire Pit#2. Mike#2 is frustrated, but is in acceptance mode. It is the 20 mile drive to Walmart that is angering Mike#2. Kim#1 searches for missing leg and is hoppin' mad and demands restitution!  Angie#1 is pretty fired up, also. Mikes #1 and #2 attempt to calm Kim#1 and Angie#1, with little success.

Mike#1 states that dinner will not wait for Fire Pit#3, so Mike#2, Kim#1, and Angie#1 decide it will have to wait till after dinner. 

Kim#1 is afraid to hurt Walmart manager#1, so decides it is safer to stay at the farm. So, Pap#1, Mike#1, Matt#1, and Mike#2 go to Walmart. They are not happy with the service at Walmart. They threaten to send Kim#1 and Angie#1 back to Walmart with Fire Pit#2. Walmart is scared and gives pre-assembled Fire Pit#3 to Mike#1 and Mike#2 as an offering. A dozen doughnuts and a watermelon were also purchased.

While waiting for Fire Pit#3, Kim#1 and Angie#1 and kids numbering 2-6 are outside playing and setting up a circle of lawn chairs. Angie#1 is fading. Kids #3-#5 are fading. Kid#6 is refusing to give in to exhaustion. Kim#1 and their dog, Lilly#1, are sitting and waiting. Misquitoes#1-#1,000,000,000 are feasting on Angie#1 through Kid#6.

Finally, Fire Pit#3 arrives. It is intact (see scared Walmart note) and is fired up for s'mores. Sadly, Angie#1 has, by now, faded completely and never gets to see Fire Pit#3 in action. 

Now that's the Pits!