Wordless Wednesday - Sprinkler Dog

A Donut for You, A Donut for Me

One of my favorite childhood memories was making "homemade" donuts. We made the biscuit dough variety, dropping them in oil and frying them in a skillet. Super healthy, right? Of course not! They sure were yummy though! When we were finished cooking the donuts, we'd roll them in cinnamon and sugar and powdered sugar.

I've been wanting to try this with the girls and since the weather (Hello, July? Why are you so cool this year?) this past week was crummy, I decided it was as good a time as any. I wasn't sure exactly how we made these, since my forty year old memory fails me so often lately, so I did a little searching and found a recipe at Makes and Takes.

I surprised the girls one morning last week and let me just say they were a big hit. Kiki said they tasted almost like the funnel cakes she had at Holiday World. And since we don't have any donut bakeries close by (what happened to those places anyway?), this might just be a regular treat. Now if only I could figure out how to take the calories out. . .












*** my better late than never Show and Tell Tuesday post. For more yummy fun for your family, check out Mom's Marbles

Born on the Fourth of July

One year ago today, we celebrated America's birthday in typical fashion. We visited Bill's family in Ohio, dressed in red, white and blue, had a cookout, and took the kids to see the fireworks. While we were celebrating, a litter of Labrador puppies was born, which included one special chocolate colored one. We met this puppy a month and a half later and our lives were forever changed.

Last year at about this same time, we were talking about getting the girls a puppy. As much as I wanted a pet, I couldn't imagine my life with a dog in it. I had never owned a dog and thought with two kids, adding a puppy to the mix would just make life more difficult.

I couldn't have been more wrong. The day Laci came into our lives was one of the happiest days in my memory. While I was nervous about what it would be like to have a dog, I was instantly smitten. Sure the first month or so was a challenge. I'd never owned a dog, much less raised a puppy. I spent much of my day taking her out to potty, training her, keeping her from chewing up everything in sight, and helping the girls get used to having a puppy at their heels. I also enjoyed playing with her, cuddling with her and watching how much the girls loved having her around.

Because I'd never owned a dog, I didn't understand how so many people were so crazy about theirs. I'd always been a cat person and just didn't get how people could stand having a dog up in their faces, jumping on them, and barking at all hours of the night.

Until now.

Laci is one of the sweetest dogs I've ever been around. She's loyal, loving, gentle with the girls, and so incredibly smart. I couldn't imagine life with a dog, but now I just can't imagine life without her.

So as we celebrate America's birthday this year, we also celebrate the birth of our sweet Laci Lulu puppy, who was born on the 4th of July.

Happy birthday, Laci!

Wordless Wednesday - Backstage

Just Keep Swimming

One of the girls' favorite ways to get wet and stay cool in the summer is to go swimming. We are fortunate that our neighborhood has a pool so we can go just about every day during summer break. When it is hot, there is just about no place else they'd rather be. Watching them play in the water brings back so many memories for me, as I about lived at our neighborhood pool as a kid. They are much braver than I was, putting their faces in the water and even going under at a much earlier age than I did.

I am always sad when summer break ends and our pool time is over, as we really have found no indoor pool to go to in the winter months. And of course summer always goes by so fast - time flies when you are having fun right? So we will continue to spend our summer days sleeping in late, doing whatever we feel like without worry of a schedule, and of course going to the pool as much as we can. Now if only the weather would cooperate. . .








*check out more fun ways to get WET and have fun with your family at Mom's Marbles.

And They Danced. . .And Danced. . .And Danced

Kiki and Boo both had their dance recitals last weekend and had a blast performing onstage. "Recital" is a somewhat misleading word. The studio they attend puts on a real show. They have themes for their "recitals" and the students are on stage several times during the show, not just for their class routines. It truly is a magical experience for all of the kids involved and quite entertaining for all watching them perform.

We practically lived at the auditorium the week prior with all of the rehearsals and the actual performances. You would think that would have made them sick of dancing for a while, but no, they have been playing their recital music and acting out their dances over and over again. I could practically sing their songs in my sleep I've heard them so many times. They've even had recitals with their Polly Pockets and Barbies and have "danced" their routines in the water at the pool. I think I've had as much fun watching those "routines" as much as the ones on the stage. I enjoy watching them dance (and of course love dancing with them), just simply for the smiles that appear on their faces the minute the music starts. Even though classes are over for now, I have no doubt they will be dancing all summer long.

Ghostbusters

Boo has an active imagination and one of her favorite bedtime stalling tactics is to tell us she is scared of the dark. She is worried there are monsters or ghosts out to "get her." After many, attempts, we've managed to convince her that monsters and ghosts only exist in the movies and shows she watches on T.V., that they aren't real.

All of that convincing just about went out the window last night when Boo and Kiki spent the night at their Uncle Mark's house. After eating pizza with their cousins, a strange thing happened. The door at the top of the basement stairs suddenly opened all by itself. Or at least that is what Boo thought, and it freaked her out. It took quite a bit of convincing (and a hilarious video) by her older sister, cousins, and Uncle, that opening a different door in the same room is what caused that basement door to spontaneously open.

Must have worked because she had no trouble falling asleep! Thanks to her fun uncle and cousins, Boo will have quite a story to tell all of her friends. . .