word-full wednesday

It is officially that time of summer.  The time where I miss my blogging friends because I am so busy with the kids I haven't made the time to check on my friends and read their updates.  If you are a blogger you probably know what I mean.  Having two kids home 24-7 is amazing.  I love their sweet little faces, but I also love when they go to school so I have a second to myself.  I just want to say I miss you all so much and I do read when I can.  There are so many new twitter friends I have made that also have blogs and I can't wait to read them.


Today is Layla's 2nd day at golf camp and I'm pretty sure she is loving it.  She practiced her swing last night in the backyard and I already think she is better!  I am so happy for her.

It helps that a few of her buddies are attending the camp too.  Everything is better when you get to be with friends.  Since I mentioned friends I must mention that I had a fun time this morning too.  I got to visit with a few mommy friends while the kids were golfing.

Us moms did lots of chatting and had coffee.  Hayden and his friend played monster trucks on the golf course patio.  It was a win-win!

Anybody's kids have super sensitive ears?  Hayden hates loud noises.  He doesn't like the swimming pool because it is loud.  He despises public toilets because they flush too loud.  If someone is squealing or screaming near him he will get up and leave.  I remember Layla having sensitive ears and she outgrew it, but he hasn't outgrown it yet.  Bless his heart.  It drives me bonkers.  At first I thought he might have a hearing problem.  I remember last summer when I had that horrible ear infection my hearing was super amplified.  Nope, his hearing is good.  He just has sensitive ears.

I miss reading recipe blogs and researching new recipes.  I am such a recipe nerd and I could read recipes for hours!  I'm excited about a recipe exchange Jenn {one of my dearest friends} is bringing back. You heard me right....bon appetite is back!  Starting next Tuesday we can link our blogs to her site to share our favorite recipes!

Have I mentioned iCloud on the blog before?  I love it.  Gary and I share an iCloud account, so we share a photo stream and I can see his photos and he can see mine.  If he is out of town traveling and he takes pictures of the scenery I can see those pics.  {as long as his is connected to wi-fi}  I have our photo stream set up to my Picasa account also.  When I open Picasa on my PC the pics will load right up and I can edit them.  I also have them linked to my online Picasa Web account so they are uploaded to the internet and I'm able to put them right on my blog.  I am no pro at iCloud.  I have played around with it to figure all this out, but I LOVE IT.  It makes my life so much easier.  The number one thing I like the most:  my pics are on private albums on the web.  If my computer crashes my pics are safe.  I may be in trouble if Picasa ever goes away though.  Let's just not think about that.  I have pictures stored there from YEARS past.

Check out Sipes and I.  I created this crazy effect with one of the many photo apps I have on my iPhone.  Isn't it the coolest?  I am almost as addicted to editing photos with my silly iPhone apps as I am reading recipes.  I could play with Instagram for hours.  But I also like these:

Let me know if there are any other fun photo apps I need to know about!

Now, I think I will pick up my Layla bug from a crafting birthday party and hit the swimming pool.   A late afternoon swim sounds just about right on this steaming hot Wednesday afternoon!!

golf camp

Layla started golf camp today at a golf course near our home.

She said she loves it!  That makes Gary one happy daddy!

I can't wait to see her progress as the week goes on!

our weekend

Sunday we had Gary's mom and sister over to celebrate the kids birthday's.  The kids requested cheeseburgers!

It ended up being a great day!  The clouds moved in and cooled us off!

I didn't get many pictures, but this one above captured our day.  We ate and laughed and played outside.

The kids loved our homemade griddle burgers.

{we cooked them outside so we didn't dirty up the kitchen}

They loved the weather even more!

Hayden took Layla on a ride around in the backyard.  Eventually it sprinkled a bit and they were catching rain drops in their mouths.  They make me laugh every day and they teach me so much.

Sometimes you just have to stop and enjoy the little things!

Splash park fun

Yesterday we met Jake and Vanessa at a splash park near our house.  Layla took a friend too! Hayden was having an off day and was being a little toot for part of the play date, but eventually he started having fun.  

We packed a picnic lunch and splashed and played until we got too hot and needed naps.

I think the kids had fun and I had fun watching them.  I'm also thankful for some mommy talk with Vanessa.  It's always good to have an adult conversation with a great friend! 

The boys had so much fun spraying each other with the spray guns.   For some reason they loved the blue one the most!

I love this palm tree and the shadow it makes looks like a snowflake!

Hayden never leaves the house without a base ball cap, in fact he never took it off at the splash park.   

I hope we can visit the splash park again soon.  It's great free entertainment!

my kitchen musts

You must add milk to your eggs before you scramble them.

You must marinate all meats including, but not limited to beef, pork, chicken and seafood.

You must make your own refried beans in the slow cooker.

You must sprinkle brown sugar on your banana bread before you bake it.

You must own a griddle.

You must cook bacon on a roasting pan in the oven.

You must use a slow cooker liner when you use your slow cooker.

You must find an old cookbook and read it.

You must let your steaks rest half of the cooking time before you serve.

You must have a cast iron skillet.

You must crumble chips of any kind Doritos, Cheetos or Fritos onto your salad at lunchtime.

7th birthday recap

Gary and I have planned the kids birthday parties up until this year.  We have always had a big bash the week between their actual birthdays.  It has been easy to celebrate both kids on the same day.  This year Layla didn't want a dual birthday, and I can't blame her!  We asked her what kind of birthday party she wanted and she said she really didn't want a party this year.  What?  She had a better plan!

She wanted to take a friend to Build a Bear for her birthday.  I think it sounded like a great plan and it's the best party favor a birthday party guest could ask for.  

This is how her 7th birthday played out....

Of course she had her traditional birthday cupcake for breakfast.   

She requested funfetti cupcakes with icing and sprinkles for her birthday cake.

7 candles.  gahhhh!  How is she 7 already?

Hayden was more than happy to help his Sissy eat cupcakes for breakfast.

[i promise he has shirts. it seems like lately i'm always posting shirtless pics of him. he likes to be shirt free in the summer.]

We opened gifts.

She loved her new {girly} Lego set.

The kids settled down for a Super Mario Kart marathon until it was time for Build a Bear.

Layla and I are all ready and about to head to Grapevine Mills Mall.  I am loving Layla's tiara.  She has worn that thing at least 4 years in a row on her birthday.  She loves it!

Sweet little ladies picking out their pups!

Layla shopped online in advance and knew EXACTLY what animal she wanted when she walked into Build a Bear.

Layla is giving Miss Sassy her first bath!

How cute are they??

I love the thought of a new animal being born and stuffed on Layla's 7th birthday.  These girls will remember their pets and this birthday for years to come.  I am thankful for all of Layla's sweet friends.  I know she wanted to invite them all to Build a Bear, but she understands how expensive that could have gotten.  She makes me proud every day and I am so thankful she is growing up into a sweet and thoughtful little girl.

After a pizza dinner, popcorn, M&M's and a movie we all fell into bed fast asleep and happy we had such a fun day celebrating Layla Kate!