Brick by Brick

This house. I swear it would come crashing down in seconds if either Alex or I turned our heads for just a minute. The things that these kids think up just astounds me. Remember the old saying, your parents' greatest revenge is you having kids....so.true.

Just a few seconds ago, I found C2 wedging  silverware that he had pilfered from the dishwasher (who the hell taught him to open that, anyhow?!) into the stem of the ficus tree and then scooping out the faux foliage around the base with a wooden spoon.

The list of house rules that I've had to start assembling just keeps getting longer and more outrageous. Boys are so gross and kid boys are even worse!

Want a little window into my reality?

Here are a few of the latest, most relevant house rules:

1. No peeing on your brother.
seems self explanatory, no?

amendment 1:
No peeing on your brother even if he peed on you first.
Ay. Have I mentioned that C1 is like, the best reasoner ever?He will totally follow in Alex's footsteps as a lawyer. I effin' hate it.

2. You can only touch your own wiener.
Why on earth....

3. Lotion does not belong on your wiener.
 Well....until you're at least 10.

4. OR BUTTHOLE!
Come on kids, work with me here.

5. Your brother's diaper is not a toy receptacle.
...words don't even begin to explain the odd things I've found in his diaper.

Also, I learned recently that age 4 must be the universal boy stink age. We used to be able to get away with missing a bath every now and then. Now? I'm tempted to give him multiple baths per day.

They are so freakin' lucky they are cute.

repost from Torts and Tarts.

Like Sands Through an Hourglass, These Are The Days of Our Lives

...Or something.

Surprise! I'm back!

Bringing you lots of new recipes and stories about being a homeschooling, stay-at-home mother of two boys.

Menu Plan Monday - July 19

I haven't been neglecting you, Dear Readers...just been in a sort of funk. These past weeks have been filled with a lot of uninspired meals and flops. I've been trying to find a happy medium between my husband's extremely high calorie needs and my low calorie needs. Let's just say, I'm starting to get burnt out on smoothies.

Monday: chicken cheese steak saute (on hoagie rolls for the boys), mashed cauliflower, steamed garlic spinach

Tuesday: shrimp with homemade marinara, angel hair pasta, spaghetti squash, grilled zucchini

Wednesday: crockpot lasagna (best way to make it during the summer!!), veggie filled salad

Thursday:  crockpot Thai curry, roasted broccoli

Friday: Asian glazed chicken (using breasts), spicy stir-fried green beans

It has been so hot around here that the crockpot and grill have become our best friends! I'm planning on attempting a twist on the crockpot lasagna using butternut squash, sausage and sage come cooler weather.

Caprese Bites

I made these as an adult snack for my son's 4th birthday party. They were such a hit! So very simple, but really tasty and fresh. It was a great way to showcase my garden's fresh basil and cherry tomatoes.

Caprese Bites
serves as many or as few as you wish!

basil leaves
cherry tomatoes
small, fresh mozzarella balls (or cubed mozzarella)

frilly toothpicks

Take one frilly toothpick, thread a mozzarella ball, a basil leaf and a cherry tomato onto it. Repeat.

See! Easy.

Menu Plan - June 21

Like I mentioned yesterday, this week is a come-down from a really hectic past few weeks. I am still getting into the swing of it. 

So...I broke my menus up into specific days. My husband doesn't like to help plan menus unless he has something to aim for, and this is the easiest way I could think of to do that. We have sandwich night, soup night, 2 meatless nights, crockpot night and then 2 blanks to be used for whatever we feel like having. Obviously these aren't set in stone and will probably change from time to time, but it gives us something to shoot for.

Monday: turkey and roast beef panini sandwiches, oven-baked sweet potato fries, salad

Tuesday: turkey white bean chili, homemade salsa, jalapeno corn bread

Wednesday: pinto beans and rice, homemade salsa, leftover jalapeno corn bread

Thursday: eggplant and tomato sauce with pasta, french bread, wilted spinach with garlic

Friday: creamy mexican chicken (recipe will be changed to make it lighter), rice, green beans

Saturday: black bean salad with grilled chicken

I'm still here

We've been eating a buttload of take-out the past week or so. My mom was in town from Minnesota and my son had his 4th birthday party (hello, my name is over-planner). I'm a glutton for punishment apparently and ended up really overextending myself. I'm exhausted from staying up late so many nights sewing, baking and preparing. In the end, it was all worth it. He had an absolutely adorable birthday party that he just adored. I sewed him a pennant style birthday banner and can't wait to make more.


His party had a Candy Land theme. This was the invitation.


In true Candy Land fashion...


His cake. What a disaster! It was so humid! The buttercream didn't want to crust and the fondant didn't want to set. Top tier was an all-natural, strawberry cake with a strawberry buttercream. Bottom tier was a homemade vanilla funfetti cake with vanilla buttercream. Both were very well received!




It was a hot day! All the kids were sweaty from jumping in the fun jump.


Even the heat didn't stop him from getting excited about the fun new toys!


My youngest had a blast picking up forgotten candy and finishing it off. His favorite were the ring pops -- sweet pacifiers!

I'll have a fresh new recipe, perfect for the Summer's heat up shortly! Don't miss it!

Menu Plan...Tuesday

With all the hustle and bustle preparing for my son's 4th birthday, I completely forgot about Menu Plan Monday yesterday. My mom is also coming into town to stay with us for a few days for his birthday, so I have double the stress.

Today is his actual birthday, and I'm sitting amongst a sea of wrapping paper and packaging. Every gift came with the proclamation "I always wanted that!" I have a feeling we're going to be watching Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles like 400thousand times today.



Monday: carnitas tacos, homemade salsa, black beans and rice

Tuesday: Incredible Pizza Company for C1's birthday

Wednesday: spaghetti and meatball soup (carryover from last week)

Thursday: grilled chicken and pesto pasta, salad

Friday: dinner out at Blue Dog Cafe (my mom's favorite restaurant down here)

I hope everyone has a fantastic week. I'm going to be busy busy until Saturday with C1's party, but I am trying to get new things up as I make them. I have a really great buffalo chicken wrap and some parmesan garlic pull-apart rolls that are to die for. Stay tuned!

As always, find more great menu plans at Org Junkie!