friday funday

Last Friday was quite a busy one in our household but boy was it a lot of fun!

Despite you-know-who getting into a permanent marker, we made it out the door to dance class...

Ains has moved up to the Preschooler class and gets to wear pink! She also gets to do tap!!

From dance we went to paint pottery. Caleb got a little into it and made an absolute mess! Pottery was followed by lunch with Grandma! What a treat.

It took a little convincing but my tender headed daughter finally agreed to let me curl her hair.

This was after about an hour in dry hair with no products. Isn't it precious? Unfortunately, just like her momma, her hair didn't hold it very long.

And the Friday Funday ended with a visit from Mimmy and Pippy. I'm sure this is Ainsley's definition of a perfect day. I think we may institute Friday Fundays as a calendar constant. Today was dance, Chick-Fil-A with balloon animals, and the start of Valentine's crafting! Any suggestions for next Friday?

favorite cookie recipe

Over the holidays I picked up some Orange Cranberry Oatmeal cookies from Earthfare and they were AMAZING. I set out to find a recipe so that I could make them at home. They were that good! Luckily, the internet is limitless and I quickly happened upon a good recipe. These cookies are too good not to share. Here's the recipe:

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon grated orange zest
• 1 teaspoon orange extract
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 3 cups rolled oats
• 1 cup dried cranberries
• 
  
• Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar and white sugar until smooth. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla, orange zest and orange extract. Combine the flour, baking soda and cinnamon; stir into the butter mixture. Stir in the oats and cranberries. Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets.
3. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden brown. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 2 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

Make sure that you don't overcook them. They're best when they're still chewy. Enjoy!

fun in the snow

white christmas

For the first time in my lifetime, we had a white Christmas. It started late in the day so it didn't affect our plans and we had no where to be the next day. The kids were dying to get out and play so by mid-morning, we bundled up and headed out.

Pretty...

Caleb was a little perplexed. He hasn't seen snow since he's been mobile so this was his first one-on-one experience. He wasn't so sure...

'Just what is this stuff Mom?!?...'

'...And how am I supposed to walk in this?!?...'

'...Wait, this is FUN! And you said I can eat it, right?'

I think Ains is over the whole camera thing. This is what I end up with all too often...

Finally I got a smile. I think she was just ready for me to put the camera up so that we could have some fun.

Kayla even got a little frisky and romped around with us. She wasn't keen on my snow angel but she loved running with the kids.

And this fine masterpiece was quite a feat with the wild child that I lovingly call my son. This isn't the nice Frosty that you see on the tv shows, this is the one found at the interstate truck stops evidentally - complete with oil cap nose and trusty hat.

it's been a week...

We have had quite the week around here with the majority of the household falling victim to nasty colds. We finished off our wasted week (wasted because there was a lot of time spent sleeping, shivering, aching, etc...) staying in for NYE. Unfortunately, Kayla fell victim to the human need to entertain oneself. She was a good sport and has been fully rewarded for her participation. Poor doggie.

And speaking of Kayla, today is her 8th birthday. She was treated to her normal bowl of scrambled eggs. I believe they were inhaled in record time. Love you girl!

silly boy

More than one use for a toy cowboy hat...

Woody might be looking for that tomorrow.

christmas morning

ainsley's preschool christmas program

Ains is second from the left.

Part 1:


Part 2:

cookie playdate

Meet Zoe...

This little sweetie is in Ainsley's Marvelous Monday's class at preschool and they will also be in dance class together this Spring. Later today we will be going over to her house to make and decorate Christmas cookies with a few other preschool friends. Caleb will be playing with Zoe's little brother, who just so happens to be in Caleb's preschool class. Ains is beyond excited and has even given thought to her outfit (she wants to wear a dress). Here's a little snippet of one of our conversations from this morning:

Ains: I don't want to go to Zoe's this afternoon.

Me: Why not??

Ains: Because I want to go at this time

Me: You mean right now?

Ains: Yeah, I want to go now.

Me: But I have a little work to do first before we can go

Ains: Well you can work at Zoe's. You could work in the car on the way, I'll drive it.

This girl cracks me up. She's quite the problem solver already.

goin' on a sleigh ride

The Arboretum shopping center has free sleigh rides on Friday nights and during the day on Saturday. We rode out last Friday to see what it was all about.

Ains was SO excited!

Caleb was more interested in the big tree they had set up.

Oh, I think the sleigh is coming!

It is! (she likes to jump for the camera)

Meet Spongebob, the horse...

Finally going for our ride (Brr... it was cold!)

It was a nice ride and Ains had a blast. She would have stayed in the sleigh all night if it weren't for others wanting their turn when we got back.