News Flash!

This just came in the mail!

Marge and Lola are awesome, but I really love those cows.

Are you a Flipper?

If you're one of those who flips your French toast, it's time to stop the madness! Gone are the days of sitting down to breakfast after everyone else's plates are licked clean. Of course, no one in this family licks their plates, just their fingers.

This is hands-down the best homemade French toast we've ever tasted, and you can assemble it the night before. Yeehaw! It feeds a crowd, and is perfect for unexpected company. When I feel especially industrious (or bribed), I'll add fresh whipped cream.

Company French Toast

1/2 cup butter

1 cup brown sugar

1 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. vanilla

1 baguette, sliced about 1-1.5 inches thick

8-9 eggs

pinch of salt

about 2 cups milk

powdered sugar

*Melt butter in 9x13 pan. Distribute slices of bread over butter. Beat eggs and salt together. Add brown sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, and milk. Stir. Pour evenly over bread. Cover and place in refrigerator overnight.

*The next morning, uncover. Bake @ 350 degrees for 35-45 minutes depending on oven. Eggs will puff up and fall. Test center with knife for doneness. Dust with powdered sugar.

Cut into squares and serve with warm maple syrup. Relish cleaning those syrupy fingerprints off the table and chairs. You'll miss it one day. (I tell myself that anyway.)

O Happy Day!

See my happy children?

Look what came in the mail!

Our school books!

Now. Must. Make. Room. (This is where I get really stressed out. Organizing is not my gift. Procrastination is. Books went back in box for 6 more days.) Awaiting sudden burst of energy.

It came. Now Mom, kids, and bookcase happy.

THE END

Most memorable wedding of all time. Awesome.

Warning this video just might make your day. Brilliant. Hats off to the brave couple, who dared to tastefully break the rules and have some unexpected, foot-tapping fun.

Blueberry Scones

A few weeks back, the kids and I went blueberry picking with my mom. We go early, before it gets hot, hot.

Because that's when their sticky, blueberry stained hands and faces grow even stickier. And my children turn into Smurfs for the day. (Or, as my son noted, Violet Beauregarde.)

Blueberry scones called our names this morning. Recipe adapted from The Art of Simple Food.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Measure and mix in large bowl:

2 cups unbleached whole wheat pastry flour

2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup brown sugar

about 1/2 cup oats

1-2 tablespoons milled flax seeds

Stir in 1 1/3 cups cream

Mix until the dough just starts to come together. (It is very sticky!) Turn onto floured surface and knead to bring dough together. Pat into 8 inch circle and brush with

2 tablespoons butter, melted.

Sprinkle with 1 1/2 tablespoons sugar.

Cut into 8 wedges (or more if you're like me and have to feed the small fries).

It should resemble this:

Place wedges on parchment lined baking sheet. Bake for 15-18 minutes or until golden brown. These guys are just waiting for some jam and cream!

Fuzzy White Caterpillar

My boys find all sorts of critters (snakes, a mouse, a mole, frogs, toads, lizards, praying mantises), and thanks to the Internet I have the happy job of identifying which species such critters are for amusement of aforementioned boys. Sometimes, critters stay outside. Other times, some peeps let them in followed by much jumping and hand waving by their mother.

Five year old giddily called me outside at 7 something this morning (yes, that's early) to show off new discovery. I asked him to bring it to me. More than once. (Insert speech about prompt obedience here.) He refused because it "pinched". Doting mom that I am, walked across yard dodging sprinklers, to view specimen. The coolest caterpillar I'd ever seen. On to classification of specimen, I discovered that yes, there are a myriad of warnings about fuzzy, white caterpillars that have real. live. stinging. venom. people! Of course, my five year old had to find one. So, is it? Or isn't it? I'm tired of looking. And, I'm not about to count those legs.

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs

Classic children's book by Judi and Ron Barrett coming to the big screen September 18. Movie by Sony Pictures and looks adorable. Click here for the official site with trailer.

Sidewalk Chalk

The best dollar spent all summer. 2nd place go to the nail clippers. Looking at my son, you can guess which receives more use.

And I have to say how much I love, love the blog Resolved2Worship. Her photography is amazing and so is her heart. It's also just awesome to know I'm not the only mom with footprints (!!!) in my fridge.

“Every child born into the world is a new thought of God, an ever fresh and radiant possibility.” Kate Douglas Wiggin, author of Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm

Chocolate Day!

Thank the good Lord above He created the cocoa bean. He knew it was good. Today is Chocolate Day. Not to be confused with National Chocolate Day which is in December - the 24th if I remember correctly. So read some Willy Wonka to your kids or eat a chocolate square or two. I just did. And I'm not telling you where I hide the dark ones either.