Friends, Bubbles and Batman

 

Monday holidays always mess up my week.  I love them but I keep thinking it's the day before.  This week has flown.  I can't believe it's almost the weekend!

We've been enjoying our week and getting back into our routine.  This morning we went to the gym then my friend Laura and her girls met us to help me do some party planning for the boys birthday party in a couple weeks.  

Sweet Linley was playing peek a boo with Colton at the table.  We had a fun lunch although it was pretty loud and crazy.  I'm vowing to never take Colton to another sit down restaurant unless it has a playground... for at least six months!  He is a HAND FULL!!! 

There's never a dull moment around here!  Tonight Matt was getting ready to give the boys their bath and Ryan ran upstairs and started the water and decided the pour the ENTIRE bottle of new bubble bath in the tub!  Awesome! As I say to Ryan all the time, "not a good idea Ryan, not a good idea"!  Sometimes you just have to laugh so you don't yell at them!  At least they will smell really clean!

And lastly I made these Batman cookies last week for my twitter and blog friend Kelli.  I loved making these cookies and thought they turned out so fun!  What little boy doesn't love batman?  

Memorial Day 2013

 

We headed to Norris Lake to Matt's Uncle Steve and Aunt Teresa's house this past weekend.  It's a four hour drive and we left Cincy at 3pm on Friday.  Their house is right on the lake and the roads to get to it are very windy and curvy.  It was so much easier driving during the day rather than night.  Ryan has gotten car sick on the roads before so we were glad for a smooth ride this time.

Friday night we ate dinner and hung out with everyone before putting the boys to bed.

We woke up Saturday morning and it was a little chilly.  We ate breakfast and hung out waiting for it to warm up before heading out on the boat.  

Steve and Teresa took us to this restaurant on top of McCloud mountain.  It was crazy getting up there with the wild windy roads and hairpin turns.  I was closing my eyes at some points.  It was totally worth it when we got to the top.  

The view was amazing.  You can even see the smokies in the distance.  

Matt enjoying the view.

Ryan found Uncle Steve's binoculars this weekend.  He took them around everywhere.  He enjoyed the view too.

Colton decided to throw a fit and didn't want to have his picture.  He was over tired and so ready for his nap.

We got back to the house and put the boys down for a much needed nap.  They slept like rocks!  After their nap we took them out for a boat ride.  Ryan was so excited!

Uncle Steve driving the boat. 

Here is the boat dock from the house.

Matt and Ryan enjoying the boat ride.  Ryan loved it and was so excited. 

When Ryan was Colton's age he would fall asleep every time on the boat.  Colton did well on the boat he just doesn't like the life jacket.  

Ryan and Matt's cousin Kristy.  

Matt's cousin Isaac and his girlfriend Stacy.  We loved getting to see them and hang out with them this weekend.  

We had the best time and had SO much fun!  We will hopefully make it back again this summer I'm sure.  My only regret was not bringing more stuff for the boys to do.  Next time we will bring their bikes and water table! 

We played games at night after the boys went to bed.  We played apples to apples and our family favorite - Guesstures.  Matt won Apples to Apples and the guys won (by cheating) Guesstures.  We laughed and screamed and laughed some more.  Definitely a wonderful weekend full of making memories. 

Summer Time

 

We have already been enjoying some leisure time in these beginning days of summer.  I stopped in the Loft yesterday to pick up some shorts and the boys immediately saw these sunglasses and had to try them all on.  We were literally in there ten minutes and I think I said "stop, don't touch" about 100 times.  

Today we had our end of the year MOPS picnic at the park.  We grilled hot dogs and everyone brought   chips, snack, desserts and drinks.  The kids played so hard and had the best time!  

Some of Ryan and Colton's friends - Evan, Will and Parker.  Sadly this is the only picture I got of the kids today.  I was busy helping organize and cook hotdogs.  It was a blast and a great way to start the summer!

Lemon Bundt Cake

 Matt loves lemon desserts and since I love to make my family happy I decided to try this lemon bundt cake from allrecipes.com.  It was a big hit.  The night I made it Matt was outside mowing the grass.  I enjoyed a piece after dinner then put the boys to bed.  When I came downstairs Matt had eaten almost half the entire cake!  That boy!!!  Bless him, he has no self control! ha!  I told him the cake was supposed to last all week, not one night!  It was yummy and I can't wait to make it again!

It's such a light and refreshing cake!  Perfect for summer!

Ingredients:
1 package lemon cake mix
1 instant lemon pudding mix (3.4oz)
4 eggs
3/4 cup of vegetable oil
1 cup lemon-lime flavor carbonated beverage

Directions:
Preheat oven to 325 degrees.  Grease and flour a bundt pan.

In a large bowl combine cake mix and pudding mix, then stir in the oil.  Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then stir in the lemon-line soda.

Pour batter in prepared pan.  Bake in the preheated oven for 45-55 minutes

For the icing:
1/4 cup softened butter, 1/4 cup lemon juice and 2 cups of powdered sugar mixed together!  Drizzle on top of cooled cake.

Fun in the Sun

 

Today was our first real day of summer vacation.  It was nice to sleep in a little this morning.  I was pleasantly surprised when I woke up to hear Matt getting the boys up!  So thankful for him!  

When I was going to bed last night I set my alarm for my usual tuesday morning schedule and then I realized I didn't have to leave the house til 9:45.  Oh nice!

We went to Little Gym for Colton's tumble class.  After C's class we headed to the park to meet Ryan's classmate Elizabeth and her momma Anissa, Quinn and baby Caitlyn.  

The boys were having the best time playing and running all over the place.  They would run up the stairs, fly across the bridge and slide down the slide.  Over and over again!

We had a great time until about 150 eight year olds showed up and inundated the whole playground.  Ugh, I was so not happy and frustrated.  Of course there was a "little kid" playground beside the big one but Colton just wanted to play on the big one.  Awesome!  That was fun trying to keep him from getting trampled and dealing with tantrums when I wouldn't let him play on the big playground - Said no one ever!

We came home and the boys crashed!! They had played so hard and even though we got inundated with big kids.  We loved seeing our friends and playing outside.  Yay for summer!

Happy Monday

We had a fun low key weekend around here!  It was nice to stay home on Friday night and just relax and veg out.  Friday has become my day to run errands so after the gym in the morning we ran over to Target and Costco.  

Saturday afternoon we went to our friends Will and Caroline's birthday party.  It was at a big indoor playground and bounce house place.  The boys had THE BEST time playing and running all over the place.  They were all sweating and red faced while high on sugar from the birthday cake.  To say they crashed like a rock at bedtime was an understatement!!  We were all exhausted!  Thanks Joseph's for a great party and wearing the kiddos out! Loves!

 

We have been having these alot around here.  For a treat for finishing dinner, the boys get a popsicle.  Ryan's favorite flavor is orange right now and Colton eats whatever I give him - shocker, ha!  I love popsicles!  Banana is my favorite!

The boys have been having the time of their lives playing with the water table in the backyard.  They could play for hours!!!  They ask to go out every single day at least five times!  I love it because they play forever while I sit and relax and get some sun.  

We met up with Jennifer and Bret for lunch at CFA today!  Ryan always has the best time playing with Bret.  Bret was showing Ryan his new leap pad and game.  

This little cutie enjoyed a great lunch and totally thought he was a big boy playing in the playground.  He seriously thinks he owns the place!  I guess that's because we are there at least once a week!  He is getting so big!  He just melts my heart!  

Last Day of Preschool

Yesterday was Ryan's last day of 3 year old preschool!  He told me the other night that he's going to miss school.  I'm going to miss it too!  Ryan has loved school this year.  He always wakes up excited about school and he adores his teachers.  He talks about his classmates all day!

I can't believe how much Ryan has grown in the last nine months.  His wonderful teachers put together this little brag book with pictures of all the things they did this year.  Precious!  It also included "about me" info from the first day of school and the last.  He gained 4 pounds this year and whole inch in height.  Getting so big!

 I love this comparison picture.  He looks so mature now.  

I know we are both going to miss school but I'm looking forward to the fun stuff we have planned this summer.   We already busted out the water table this week and the boys were in heaven.  

Ryan and his sweet and fabulous teachers.  They have been awesome and Ryan just adores them.  He prays for them each night before bed.  I was totally fine yesterday when I went to pick him up but then lost it when I saw his teachers crying.  I am so thankful they love the kids and enjoy their job.

And I've been busy this week with more cookies orders.  I did four more cookies jars for friends and these fun cookie monster cookies.  

I like the apples with polka dots.  Next time I'm going to write the teachers' names on the apples.

Slow Cooker Pork Tenderloin

 I got a sampler All Recipes magazine with my last Southern Living magazine.  I've made a few of the recipes from it and loved them all.  I need to start getting this magazine.  Most of the recipes are easy and quick, just like I like em!  I made this Slow Cooker Pulled Pork the other night and it was delish.  It made a lot so we had lots of leftovers.  Plus, Ryan ate it.  I just told him it was roast with bbq sauce!  He loved it!  It's definitely a dinner we will be making alot this summer!

Ingredients:
1 Pork Tenderloin (2 lb)
1 (18oz) bottle of your favorite BBQ sauce
1 (12oz) can or bottle of root beer

Directions:
Place pork tenderloin in slow cooker.  Pour the root beer over the meat.  Cover and cook on low until well cooked and the pork shreds easily.  6-7 hours.  Drain well when done and pour over bbq sauce.  Serve over hamburger buns with a side of corn on the cob.  Yum!