Strawberry Picking

This past Friday we went to a local farm and picked fresh strawberries. Andrew was super excited and Jonathan was just excited about life and then once we got their, well, the excitement waned to say the least. I'd estimate their interest lasted about 5 seconds. Then it was just my mom and I picking strawberries as fast as we could. Andrew decided the farm needed to be explored and all the animals needed to be caught. Shortly after we got there, I heard him say, "Here goosey, goosey, goosey." I hadn't seen any geese, so I looked to see what he was chasing. Guineas. If you've never heard or seen them, consider yourself lucky. They are loud, ugly birds, but they do eat insects, but mostly they are just loud and ugly. And don't want to be caught by 3-year-old boys!

Our neighbors had free-range guineas when I was growing up and these birds were confused and thought they lived at our house. They would perch on our fence outside the house and make the worst noise ever when I was trying to sleep-in. I've never forgiven them and I'm sure they have something to do with my strong dislike of mornings. But I digress, back to strawberry picking...

a guinea

Here's Andrew chasing the guineas. If you look closely you can see it on the far left side of the photo.

Jonathan didn't really pick any strawberries, but he did eat them if you made the mistake of putting them in his bucket.

His bucket was empty, so he was making a quick transfer.

All our hard work only yielded about 5 pounds of strawberries. As I was sweating in the hot, humid sun that morning, I was reminded of why I like to buy my strawberries at Dillons. But you can't beat the taste of fresh-from-the-garden strawberries!

Maybe we'll go again next year. Or maybe I'll get a babysitter and pick strawberries in peace.

The Silent Destroyer

Jonathan's current favorite pastime is to destroy the house. Inch by inch. Quietly, so that we don't suspect our sweet boy is really the Demolition Man.

Oh, and eat dirt and sand. These seem to be his new favorite food.

Another haircut

Keith gave Andrew another haircut this weekend. He was way past due and starting to looking like a woolly mammoth! But now I want the hair back on his head because he looks sooooo old with his short hair!

These boys love their daddy!

We joke that they are like white on rice to him all weekend. Mommy equals chopped liver when daddy is around. That's OK. Their stuck with me all week, and I get a few things done on the weekend while they cling to their daddy.

Story time before bed with Jonathan hamming it up for the camera.

Quiet little book reader

Oh, if only that were true...

Jonathan is little, and he does love to sit in his rocking chair and read books, but we wouldn't generally describe him as a quiet little book reader. I blame you, Dave Fleury, for our lack of "quiet." They are little and they do like books, but that's where your predictions ended.

(When I was pregnant with our cherubs, my brother-in-law, Dave, laughingly suggested we might have quiet little book readers, since his children are not exactly quiet either. It's as if they heard him, in utero, and came out loud and busy. I wouldn't know what to do with them if they weren't this way, so I guess it's good that Dave was wrong!)

Chicken Spaghetti

2 cups cooked chicken

2 cans cream of mushroom soup
2 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese

1/4 cup finely diced green pepper

1/2 cup finely diced onion

1-4 oz. jar diced pimentos, drained

2-1/2 cups dry spaghetti, broken into 2-inch pieces
2 cups reserved chicken broth from pot

1 tsp. seasoning salt

1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper (1/4 tsp. if you like it hot!)

1 additional cup shredded cheddar

salt and pepper to taste (I didn't add any extra)

Cook 1 cut up fryer and pick out the meat to make two cups, reserve broth. Cook spaghetti in same chicken broth until al dente. Do not overcook. When spaghetti is cooked, combine with remaining ingredients except additional 1 cup sharp cheddar.

Place mixture in casserole pan and top with remaining sharp cheddar. Cover and freeze up to 6 months, cover and refrigerate up to two days, or bake immediately: 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until bubbly. (If the cheese on top starts to get too cooked, cover with foil.)

courtesy of the Pioneer Woman

This is my new favorite recipe site. Pioneer Woman posts amazing step-by-step instructions with pictures. And it's all comfort food! I made this last night, thinking it was something Andrew would eat. Turns out he's on a hunger strike, but he did finally taste it and admitted that it wasn't too bad. *sigh*

Anyway, we all liked it and I didn't add any salt and pepper and only used 1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper because I'm a wimp and I wanted the boys to be able to eat it. I made this in two 8x8 pans and froze the one. Enjoy!

Happy Mother's Day

a few days late...

Trying to get a half-decent picture with these two is easier said than done!

I had a great Mother's Day! After church, we grabbed some lunch and then got Jonathan down for a nap. Andrew refused to nap, but Keith wrangled him while I took a nap. Then I went to Hutchinson for a mother/daughter dinner at my mom's church. While I was gone, the boys helped Keith install little solar yard lights around our front flower beds. I was so surprised I thought at first that I was pulling into the wrong driveway! What a great surprise! And when I came in the house, both boys were sleeping peacefully in their bed.

Happy belated Mother's Day out there to all my beautiful mom friends. It's not always an easy job, but it has the best benefits! Sweet little hugs, kisses, and I wuv yous. What more could I ask for?!

Friends

Andrew, Cameron and Christopher taking a popsicle break.

Christopher

Cameron

On Thursday, Andrew's friends Cameron and Christopher came over to play. It was a gorgeous day and so we played outside while Jonathan napped. They played and played and played until I declared it to sunny for boys without sunscreen and took them inside for a little Curious George movie time. And while they played so great together, I planted some flowers and read a magazine while thinking how it might be in a year or two when Jonathan is old enough to truly play with Andrew.

Yard Work

Amidst all the yard work, a potty break was needed. Andrew ran for the skinny tree in the middle of the front yard, and Keith quickly moved him to this tree by the house. I ran for my camera, but I missed the naked hiney by the skinny tree. This boy will find any excuse possible to pee outside. Hopefully the neighbors are understanding!

Note: If you come to visit, we make you work, even if you're still wearing your Sunday best!

Grammy trying to keep Jonathan out of the street.

Here are a couple more pictures from last weekend. (I am so far behind!) We put Andrew to work helping clean up Keith's mess after edging the lawn. We had no idea that picking up dirt and grass would be such a hit. You never know what is going to be a winner with a 3 year old! Keith would sweep up piles and Andrew would thank him. "Oh, thank you daddy for sweeping the grass in a pile for me." And now we have a nicely edged lawn and no stray grass and dirt piles!

Say Cheese...Family photo time

After taking 4011 pictures, we got a couple of cute pictures of the boys with Grammy and Grandpa. It wasn't easy! But we did it! I think the first one might even be frame worthy!

We had so much fun with Grammy and Grandpa! Even though the weather was cloudy and rainy most days, we found lots to do to keep us busy. After we dropped them off at the airport on Wednesday, Andrew kept saying, "But I want them to stay!" I know how you feel, bud!

Thank you for making the long trip! We loved having you visit and can't wait to see you in August!

Grammy and Grandpa

Keith's parents, known as Grammy and Grandpa to the boys, were in town visiting this past week. We had lots of fun, despite the weather, and we were all sad when it was time for them to go home. Here's a little peak into how we spent some of our time...

*Note: There are many pictures of story time, more than I realized until now. I think this is mostly because it is the ONLY time the boys hold still and therefore the only photo ops available.

Andrew and Grammy watching a production of "The Ugly Duckling" put on by the Wichita Children's Theatre.

Jonathan and Grandpa reading a book before bedtime.

Grammy and the boys

Andrew reading his "I Spy" book, while Grandpa reads his book.

Grandpa and Andrew watching TV.

Home Depot

Grammy and Grandpa are visiting this week, and we are having lots and lots of fun! On Saturday Keith, Andrew, and Grandpa went to Home Depot for a Kid's Workshop. It's a little program we recently learned about that takes place the first Saturday of each month where kids make little craft projects and the best part is it's free!

This month they made little wheelbarrows with a flower pot in them. So, so cute! Andrew was so proud of his creation! And the kids get a little orange apron. and they earn pins for each craft they create. Andrew wouldn't wear his apron this time, but maybe next month!