Daddy's Turn!

While Mommy went for a 10 MILE training run this morning, Daddy got to hang out with the kiddos.  Amanda is my hero in so many ways, and I mean it sincerely when I say I want to be more like her.  She truly does inspire me!  Anyway, she has figured out this cool way to make legit "shaped" pancakes (see the original Pancake Artist post here), so I couldn't help it this morning but hollar out:

"Who wants pancakes?"

Caitlin wanted a bear... because she's been missing the bear she left at the neighbors' house last night:

You can tell that hers was the first because the griddle wasn't evenly heated yet...  :)

When I asked Caitlin what I should make for Brinley, she said, "a cat!"  (Big surprise.)  With Halloween recently passed, this was the fruition of my feline creativity:

That poor kitty suffered some damage when attempting to be flipped by Mr. Spatula...  "our pets HEADS ARE FALLING OFF!"  (Name that movie...)

For Will?  The immediate reply: "Thomas!!"  That was a HUGE surprise.  "Okay, buddy.  I'll do what I can!"

This next one is supposed to be a cat's face--ears, whiskers...  but it came out too smooth, so it kinda looks more like a 4-legged bug or a frog or something...

And another one for Wilbur.  He's the star of the hit Disney/Pixar film Cars, it's Daddy's attempt at Lightning McQueen:

Who ate the MOST pancakes this morning? Brinley!!  So to help keep her satisfied (I think she ate a total of FIVE), she got some basic shapes...

Saturday morning is officially my favorite now.  :)  I always enjoyed it, but this was truly FUN!

this week...

It's such a good feeling to get organized... and THIS made my week! Justin helped me hang this antique gun rack in the laundry room for the kids' jackets, umbrellas and backpacks... looks like it belongs there! (you may be wondering... why are there so many backpacks??)
I've started tending some kids after school for a good friend of mine, who works from home! Pink and Purple, a.k.a. Sydney and Clare are twins, and live down the street from us... and they are cute as can be! (you might remember them from THIS post) here the kids are having a snack... the girl in the high chair is Will's buddy from across the street, she just came over to play this day!!
and the kids got a special package from UTAH this week! Will LOVES his new BUZZ hat! and Brinley LOVES her new Jelly Fish! and we MORE than appreciate the donation to Caitlin's education account! Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, for your love and for thinking of the kids... WE LOVE YOU POPS!

and I finally broke down and cut Brinley's bangs! her hair just doesn't work any other way. I think she looks A LOT like her Aunt Lindsey when she was a little girl! So CUTE!

Carter Mountain and Chuck E Cheese's

Last Saturday was a really fun day! Our good friends took us Apple picking near Charlottesville at Carter Mountain Orchard! It was beautiful!


We started off our adventure by getting hot apple cider and donuts! Mmmm!






Our friends kids, Adriana and Dakota enjoying the yummy treats! It was a chilly morning!


Dakota and Darin!
Off to find Apples!





"little worms...."




Justin, tweeting about his fun apple picking experience!

Since we were so close to Monticello, we decided to drive by and take in the beauty!!!
The day was not compleate! Will and Caitlin's buddy next door was having a birthday party... AT CHUCK E CHEESE'S!! They WERE SO EXCITED!




even Brinley had a good time!
beginning of her soda 'sip' obsession...
sugar kickin' in right about now....
...and it continues...

Pumpkin Pie Bars

1 1/3 cups flour
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
3/4 cup granulated sugar, divided
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) cold butter or margarine
1 cup old-fashioned or quick-cooking oats, uncooked
1/2 cup chopped Pecans
1 pk. (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
3 eggs
1 can (15 oz) pumpkin
1 Tbsp. pumpkin pie spice

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. line 13 x 9-inch baking pan with foil, with ends of foil extending over sides of pan. grease foil. Mix flour, brown sugar, and 1/4 cup of the granulated sugar in medium bowl; cut in butter with pastry blender. until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

Stir in oats and pecans. Reserve 1 cup of the oat mixture; press remaining mixture onto bottom of pan. Bake 15.

Beat cream cheese, remaining 1/2 cup sugar, eggs pumpkin and pumpkin pie spice in small bowl with electric mixture on medium speed until well blended. pour over crust; sprinkle with reserved crumb mixture.

Bake 25 min. cool completely on wire rack. use foil handles to lift from pan. cut into 24 bars. store leftover bars in tightly covered container in refrigerator.

Pumpkin Smoothie

Did you know? Eating Pumpkin is good for your bones, eye sight and immune system! Check out this article about vitamins in Pumpkin! click HERE

Pumpkin Smoothie

1/4 c. canned pumpkin
low fat vanilla yogurt
banana
peanut butter
ice cubes
milk to thin, as desired

mix all ingredients in blender, top with a little whip cream and cinnamon

Enjoy!
(recipe does not call for any sweetener, but honey or agave might be good in this!)