Summer Fever

Ok, so I'm going to whine and complain just a little bit. Even though I am constantly saying, 'Use a big boy/girl voice.'

I am so tired. Last night Maryanna came down with 103 degree fever. Poor thing. And I will say this, I truly enjoyed being able to comfort her - though I hated that she didn't feel well. I gave her a fever reducer and before I went to bed (at round 11:30pm) her fever broke.

I woke at about 1:30 am, checked on M and her fever was going back up. Gave her some Tylenol and went back to bed. Within 10 minutes I heard her throw up. What an awful heart-rending sound. The worst part was it got in her hair so I had to clean her up. Is there anything worse than a shower or a bath when you have a high fever? Afterwards, I tucked her under my down comforter while I went to put new sheets on her bed.

Once done, I gave her ibuprofen (I had to get the fever down) all the while praying it didn't come back up again. It was 3 am before I fell back to sleep. And Maryanna slept well the rest of the night. But I didn't. My Man had to be up at 5 am and the kids were of course up by 6:30.

So, I'm tired. But Maryanna feels much better and that's all I ask!

Baby Moves

Well, baby boy is certainly busy these days. He's moved for the kids quite a bit but they never feel it b/c they're too busy fidgeting. But, the other night Powell was laying in my lap (with an icepack on his head) and he got to feel it. He kept saying, 'I want him to do it again, Mom'. And then he would! It was a sweet moment.

The very next morning, baby bumped Maryanna 4 or 5 times hard enough to get her attention.

Life is good.

Catch Up

cotton candy...

Daddy too :-)

On the 'compoon'.

I love this one...

Our captain...

She's out....

4th of July...

Does that look like a guilty face to just me?

Smoke bombs pretty much kept the kids busy for hours...

The pegboard finale...

These kids are totally living the life. Breakfast on the deck at the lake by the pool.

Probably took 5 minutes.

The Lawson Picnic

Lawson Picnic aka The Carnival. I look forward to this so much every year. The fun, the food, the people. The washer tournament. That's what I said. I cannot believe I didn't manage to get a picture of my husband playing in it. Here are just a few of the ones I did.

As usual my kids had an absolute blast. I have almost as much fun watching them...

She wasn't looking at me... So, Maryanna made her.

Lord help us when this comes to pass for real...

Until next year...

Dirt Cake

I post recipes on here for your enjoyment. However, I also kind of use my blog as a recipe book I can look up no matter where I am. I've been known to call my mother while I'm at the grocery store so she'll look up ingredients for a particular recipe for me. The recipes I make the most or have made a particular impression on us get first priority.

So, when I thought of this recipe I immediately checked my blog. And discovered that it's not here. Anywhere. How can this be? This is the BEST dirt cake I have ever eaten. And I can say that because I maintain that I am not a good cook. I just collect great recipes. This is yet another recipe that My Man brought home from work. I don't know what it is, but women love to feed him. And yes, it is a little bit annoying when it's not the 'mom' type doing it. It's especially annoying when it's the cute blonde (that's younger than me) at work that does it.

But, I digress. As Pioneer Woman would say, make this. Soon.

Dirt Cake

1 large carton of cool whip
8 oz. cream cheese
1/2 cup butter
1 cup powdered sugar
1 t. vanilla
3 cups milk
2 boxes vanilla instant pudding
1 package oreos

Crush all of the oreos and put half of them in the bottom of a 9x13 pan. Cream butter and cream cheese together. Mix in powdered sugar. Mix in cool whip. In a separate bowl mix pudding, milk and vanilla together until thick. Add the pudding mixture to the cream cheese and cool whip mixture. Mix until well blended. Pour over top of the oreos in the 9x13 pan. Top with remaining oreos. Refrigerate. Serve chilled.

Corn Dip

At a cookout this summer a dear friend served this. With fritos. My Man went beserk. She generously sent the leftovers home with us and My Man took them for lunch the next day. I think he liked them. I should say that I also really enjoyed it, but it was a little hot. Which makes the fact that she used mild jalapenos the night we had it pretty indicative of my spicy tolerance level. So, regardless of your spicy preference, enjoy!

Corn Dip

3/4 cup mayo
3/4 cup sour cream
4 oz. can of chopped green chilies
bunch of green onions
jar of jalapenos, chopped
3 jars/cans of mexicorn, 11.5 oz.
2 bags of mexiblend shredded cheese

Mix and refrigerate overnight. Serve with fritos scoops.

Buttermilk Pancakes

My mom always made pancakes from scratch. When I was, I don't know, 10 or 12 she taught me the recipe. Of course, it was all in her head. But, it must have been some kind of magic that existed only at home, b/c once I moved out and tried to recreat those pancakes they just didn't come out the same.

So I had to find my own recipe. I've never quite been able to master my mom's cooking and have had to rely on recorded recipes throughout my adult life.

So here's the recipe I've been using for the last 5 years or so... Enjoy!

Buttermilk Pancakes

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 T sugar
1 1/2 t baking powder
1/2 t baking soda
1/2 t salt
1 1/2 cups buttermilk
1 egg beaten
1/4 cup vegetable oil

Mix dry ingredients and then add remaining ingredients. I like to use my griddle so i heat it to about 350 before I begin. Add just a little milk to thin to desire consistency and begin pouring out those flapjacks!!