For the birds!

Thanks to my cousin for this easy craft!

3 1/2 cups birdseed
3/4 cup flour
1/2 cup water
3 tablespoons corn syrup

Mix, fill in cookie cutter of your choice, use straw for string hole, bake on lined cookie sheet for over 1 hour at 170 degrees, cool, string, hang, and quietly wait for the birds to find their special valentines!

Mountain Biking - Take 1

I always have a plan, but my plan does not always end as expected. For a few months I have been wanting to take the boys on a real mountain bike trail. With temps reaching in the 80's today...lets go! We loaded up 3 bikes (I planned on hiking with Fran) and headed to the trails.

Only 1/4 mile into the trail, Alex hit a down grade slope and could not brake as intended. Unfortunately, it only takes 1 scare and alligator tears to call it a day! We turned around and completed our 1/2 mile bike ride.

We will give it another year and try again...until then, we will stick to our hikes and nature walks, leaving the bikes for the streets and BMX park.

Sunrise Cheerleader

Nothing better than getting up WAY before sunrise to cheer on our cousin for her first 1/2 marathon. You know its early when a 3 year old says "Everything looks differently outside. There are so many lights!"

We made it to 4 places along the 13.1 mile course to cheer her on along with over 5,000 other runners. It started off rainy but as the runners descended upon downtown, the sun broke away the clouds. "RUN...AUSTIN...RUN!"

Another Proud Eagle!

Alex got the Eagle Award this morning for his kinder class. Each month he has been hoping for this award so we were so happy he finally earned it!

"Eagle Awards are given to students who demonstrate quality character traits during the month."

SoCo Saturday Afternoon

After the games, we headed to view, compare, and reserve our RV for the BIG road trip this summer...more to come on a later date. I do have to say though, if you are lost for ideas to keep kids entertained go tour your local RV rental place. Our kids had the best time running from RV to trailer to RV.

Speaking of trailers, on this gorgeous afternoon we ended up at the SoCo trailer park. Lunch at the Wurst Tex Grill and Bar-B-Que-T filled our bellies. Then we crossed the street to show off our favorite candy store to Daddy. Unfortunately they did not have the Starlight Cinnamon Mints I have been searching for to make Valentine's Bark...argh!

Saturday Mornings

Our typical Saturday morning...running from one gym to another. Both boys scored during their games today! And yes, our I Phones keep 2 kids quiet while the other plays :)

I brought these granola bars for all the players as a treat after the game. They were a big hit!

Cake Balls

Since I had a few hours to myself this morning, I attempted to make a new pound cake recipe from a boxed cake, instant pudding mix, and sour cream. Unfortunately I flipped the pan too soon and the cake crumbled. "What to do with yummy cake crumbles?"

Duh...cake balls! Crumble the entire cake, add a can of frosting, toss in some liquid coffee creamer until you reach the perfect consistency to mold a ball, freeze, dip in your favorite kind of melted chocolate, sprinkle with last years Valentine's Day left overs, and OH MY GOODNESS!

Remembering one of our favorite trailer sales them for $2 each, this single cake flop easily made 18 balls! I could be rich in another city...if only I had the time :)

I forgot to mention...

...why I have so little time this year compared to last! Someone insists on riding her new pink bike 1/2 a mile to the elementary school each afternoon to pick up the boys. What use to be a 5 minute ride (uphill) has now turned into a 20 minute struggle of one determined 3 year old making it all the way home by herself!

I have to admit, she is pretty darn cute and I am proud of her determination.

Orphan Leia from Texas!

The new year has been keeping us VERY busy! With basketball 3 times a week, 2 games on Saturday mornings (sometimes falling at the same time but 2 different school gyms), religious ed., play dates, and out-of-town guests all while battling Austin's cedar fever season and the 7-day "please don't make it to my house" flu that is quickly making its way around the elementary.

In the little spare time we do have, Fran is obsessed with Princess Leia (thanks to her Star Wars crazed brothers) and the Annie soundtrack. So this morning she requested Princess Leia "balls" for her hair style and wore the $3.99 boots I scored this week at the local Goodwill (while shopping for...an Annie red dress!)

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Ringing in the New Year!

We escaped to the country for 5 nights to unwind from the holiday stress and prepare for a new year! The warm days in the beginning were filled with wood and paint projects, shooting the new BB gun, and blowing bubbles as the days crept by.

Then some friends joined us (along with a COLD front) as we rang in the new year. 7 kids on a hay stack, deer hunting, fishing & fireworks. Does it get any better?