EXCELLENT Pictures!!

No, not mine. I can only dream these are mine! These were taken by a husband of a fellow Mom's Club member. Check THESE out!!

Pat-a-cake

I got bored this weekend, so I decided to bake. I found some NEW recipes and went for it. This was "Brownie Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting". They were not difficult, but each one has almost 400 calories and about 19 grams of fat. SO, they are heart attacks in a muffin cup. But yummy.

They are very rich and very brownie-like in texture. But I can eat almost anything with a cream cheese frosting! Just not a lot of it...

Then, on Monday I had bananas that I needed to bake with as they were a little past eating condition. I googled and here is what I came up with:

Banana Nut Muffins with an Orange Glaze

I wasn't sure at all about having an orange glaze on banana nut muffins, but let me tell you - there's no going back! I don't think I'll ever make a plain banana nut anything again!

Then, I found this. Chocoate - Chocolate Chip Banana Nut Muffins

To be honest, I haven't even tried these yet. But my friends at Bunko, school and book club loved them! When I have more time I'll post the recipes in the sidebar like Amy does, but I haven't quite mastered that yet.

We also had the lunar eclipse. Here are some pictures from my driveway. Not great, but I never claimed to be a photographer!! These were taken while I was shivering in the driveway:

I love baking and taking the food places. I just know that the eating part won't help me lose any weight!

Kids Perceptions

The other day the kids were playing with Polly Pockets together. We have two boys and about eight girl Polly Pockets. Anyhow, this is what I hear.

"Hey, let's let them have parties!"
"Yeah! You take the girls over there for their party. OK?"
"OK, we'll get out all of the Stampin' Up stuff to stamp...."
"And I'll put the guys over here to drink BEE-EER!"

All I could do was laugh. Still. These kids seem to Keep Me Laughing.

They make me laugh.

As most of you know, Michael has been going to speech since he was 18 months old. Me, being the mom that I am, always thought "Well, he might need speech, but at least we caught it early! It's all about early intervention, right? I'll be proud when he is in kindergarten and doesn't NEED speech anymore!!"
I was a fool. Of COURSE he still needs speech. Don't get me wrong, he is now understandable. (When he started pre-school at the age of 3 the teacher couldn't understand him. Luckily I was teaching across the hall and could interpret!) When he IS finished with speech, I'll be so proud. But I love him as he is. And as he was.
He now sings "If your happy and you know it then your fathe will thurly thow it!" And I love it.

Molly was deciding what to take to show-and-tell today and she wanted to take her "chickmunk". I laughed at that chipmunk - which is actually a gingerbread doll!

And what do they use to go swimming underwater? "Gobbles". Of COURSE!!

I LOVE Snow Days!!

I know, I know, they drive most moms crazy. But not me. Nope, I love them. Having a leisurely breakfast. Hanging out in pajamas. Spending time together, either stuck in the house or playing outside. I think they're the bomb. Here are our TWO snow days this week!!

Chris and the kids made new snowmen. Well, Chris made them, and the kids helped decorate them! Then, it REALLY started to snow!!

We had Tuesday and Wednesday off school, so today we went sledding at Slab Cabin Park here in State College. What a great time! Take a look...

Molly liked being pulled around by her big brother!

This was the run that we made. For the most part we pulled the kids up, but Molly hiked it with me 3 times or so! We really had a blast. Molly said her favorite part was "when we tipped over". Hey, I never said I was a GOOD sledder!!

The kids liked throwing snow balls into the creek. Mikey kept edging closer and closer, and I was afraid he'd fall in.

And because I never post a picture of me, here you go. Not a great picture, but a picture none-the-less.

We also made and decorated 4 dozen cupcakes for Michael to take to school tomorrow. (Note to self: just BUY them next time!)

AND, we made pretzels with a kit from Auntie Anne's pretzel shop. They were yummy, but it sure would have been easier if we could have just DRIVEN to the mall to get some!

So, that was our two snow days. And we can't WAIT for the next one!!

My husband, Chris

I got tagged by Denise to do this, so here goes.

What is his name?

Christopher James Solo

How long have you been married?

6 years, going on 600. Oops, I mean 7.

How long did you date?

3 years, then engaged for one year

How old is he?

36 - younger, but I trained him well!

How old are you?

I'll be 39 in October. And I thought I was only 37 until Bunko last month. That was a bummer...

Who eats more sweets?

Definitely me. By far.

Who said I love you first?

He did.

Who is taller?

Chris, but not by too much

Who can sing better?

Definitely him. Without a shadow of a doubt.

Who is smarter?

Again, definitely him. Since we got married he has caught up with me on the Master's, and is now passing me by getting his PhD. I'm so proud!

Who does the laundry?

Me. When I bother to do it, which is NOT often enough.

Who does the dishes?

Usually me, since he is bathing the kids at the same time. If I slack off, he'll do them.

Who pays the bills?

Chris. Mostly online.

His guilty pleasure?

Chips, salsa, and a beer.

Who sleeps on the right side of the bed?

Chris does.

Who mows the lawn?

Chris. I've haven't mown the lawn since we lived in OH.

Besides you, who is his best friend?

He isn't that close to that many people. Tracy Cook? Meatgazer Clark? Lance, V or Matteo? Oke or Spike?

Who cooks dinner?

Me. But he's a better cook, and much more original. Sometimes he cooks if I don't feel like it.

Who drives?

He does. All the time. Unless we go out, and then I drive us home usually.

Who kissed who first?

He kissed me.

Who asked who out first?

Gosh, I don't even know. I guess he did...?

What was your first date?

We went to the National Zoo. Just a fun day out!

Who proposed?

Chris did. He rowed me out on my parent's pond in the morning of our big annual 4th of July party. It was great.

Who has more siblings?

I have a brother and a sister, but Chris is an only child.

Who wears the pants?

Chris.

What is your favorite thing about him?

That he loves me for who I am. That he is SUCH an involved daddy. That he is everything that I always wanted, but thought I'd never find.

I tag A.K ., and Erin and Patricia.

And my sister be-atched about it until I added her to the tagged list, so here you go, Keeko!

Updates with new videos

See the Playin' the Buckets and This Little Light of Mine posts below for new videos...courtesy of Uber-Husband...

Yes, Chris hacked into my account. Check out how modest he is at a post lower down on the blog called "This Little Light of Mine"!!

Playin' the Buckets

Once upon a time (read a long, long time ago) way back when I was young, dumb, and single...

Heather and I went up to D.C. to visit Chris. Actually, a BUNCH of us were gathering in D.C. that weekend, mostly Drill Team people from our college days. We had a tiny bit to drink while we were out that weekend (read entirely too much for our own good and way too much for our health) and were outside of the nightclub. I was sitting on the curb (read puking in the gutter) and Heather wandered up the street a storefront or two. She "met a friend" who was playing the buckets for extra change. In her most convincing tone (read drunken stupor) she took over the sticks and started playing his buckets. She actually got a larger crowd than he had (from what I'm told) and then he took his sticks back because I'm sure he was afraid she would want her cut of his takings.

Fast forward to Sunday afternoon. We took the kids to a women's basketball game on campus, and take a LOOK at the 1/2 time show!!

Yup, dudes playin' the buckets. I just HAD to call Heather!! We both had a good laugh, and these guys were actually very very good.

We met some friends for the game. Hojae, his son Ian, and Sumi, his mom is missing. She was at home sick. It was a shame she missed it, as I missed talking to her. See, here is a photo. No Sumi....I promised Hojae that I'd blog and give Sumi a hard time for missing the game!

Also this weekend the kids decided to play a little hockey.

They play with their hockey sticks and a rubber ball. Molly's goal is Michael's bedroom door, and Mikey has to get it past Molly. They LOVE it. Especially when they are the one winning...

Oh, we also played Trouble this weekend. The best $8 game in the world, because usually they will play it on their own.

What a great age the kids are! When they were tiny, I was so sure I had made a mistake wanting them so close in age. Now?? Life is good. In every way.