If I only had a Brain...

This is my mascot on most days. In fact we sing his song here all the time. Moments arise every day where the song is most appropriate. The song has been so popular in our home that the song has evolved - new lyrics and new tune.

Yesterday I needed to sing it, maybe even sing it from the rooftops - it was a doozy!!

We had a cooler, rainy day - we are still hoping summer will come. Not trying to rush autumn, I cooked tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches for lunch - YUM. Then I was faced with the dilemma of how to feed Charlotte soup. She does not want help and the thought of tomato soup all over her face, clothes, and tray was more than I could deal with.

I had a plan, a brilliant plan!!!! I would let her use a sippy cup. She doesn't use sippy cups anymore to drink, so the novelty would be working for me. Then I imagined her sipping hot soup and realized that you have to suck hard on those sippy cups and then you get slammed with liquid, in this case scalding hot liquid. Of course I was going to wait to hand it to her until it had cooled to a comfortable warm temperature.

So, I decided not to insert the valve, then it would function a little more like a regular cup and she could control the rate at which the soup came.

I decided to double check my theory before dishing up Grahms food and grabbing the sandwiches out of the oven. Charlotte and Grahm were giggling as I put the sippy cup to my lips. How funny is that - Mommy using a sippy.

So far so good, the soup didn't attack me. Then I slowly returned the sippy cup to its upright position and released it from my mouth. The air that was now trapped in the sippy cup burst out and sprayed my lip and nose with scalding hot soup.

As I lay writhing in pain, I decided it needed the valve and lots of ice!!

Now I have a nice red lip and nose and it is still burning an hour later. Like I said originally - I here my theme song playing!!! Hope you had a good laugh!

Ooh - I have a blister just on the inside of my nose. The story just keeps getting better!

Jealous Much?

I LOVE SUMMER AND GARDENS!!! This year we planted salsa and cucumbers. So we have been enjoying yummy salsa, BLT's, and fresh pickles for the past few weeks.

So a quick thanks to summer for this yummy feast!!!

Help - I need opinions - and Fast!!

This is my latest project. We are nearing the two year mark with Charlotte and time to move out of the crib - so we started hunting. Jason does not have time to build me one, plust we both wanted an iron bed (my dream bed for Charlotte is very different from this - but its a secret until I can find one in my price range).

We found this early this week and it is soooo much cooler in real life. I love how the footboard curves around. I also love the patina - rust, crackle, and chipped up look.


The question is do I strip it of all the rust and lead paint and try to recreate a worn look or do I find a good encapsulating clear coat and just paint over it? I definitely don't want to put Charlottes health at risk - but how do you really recreate rust?

Family Time in Milwaukee

(The girls in front of the Joan of Arc Chapel - we ran out of memory, so Amanda is not in this picture - next time she had better hurry when we call)

After being mostly unified in our desires for entertainment and enlightenment in Nauvoo and Carthage we arrived in Milwaukee where we were able enjoy the benefits of a large family.
In our 5 bedroom, 1 bath home we had 8 adults (Hannah is teen - but we will count her as a big person) and 4 children. Since I like to have parties (Jason does not) it was really fun to get to have everyone at our house and share new recipes with them and hone my hostess skills.

Then next few days were spent together and apart. Of course the girls went shopping one afternoon, the boys went and toured the Harley plant in the morning and visited the lakefront. We toured the Miller Brewery- We are Miller's after all. We visited the Market in Third Ward so my family could take home lots of cheese. We also went to the Joan of Arc Chapel. It is the oldest building in America!! It was closed when we got there, so we will have to visit again.


Jason's rack of Ribs!!

My Dad's rack of Ribs!!





Inside the caves at the Miller Brewery.

Nauvoo Temple and Carthage

On our last day in Nauvoo we took the kids to see the temple and let them touch it. We wanted them to get a chance to experience the temple too. The whole trip was wonderful.

Jayce was not happy for this picture - I guess I was not taking the picture like he wanted me to. Then I got it right:)







Hallway Windwow inside Carthage Jail, the little ones thought the tour was too long!

Outside the front door of the jail, waiting for everyone to come out.



Milling about and getting ready to drive to our house.

Nauvoo Visit - the Pageant

That night (Wednesday) we headed over to the pageant. We did not go way early to get good seats. However, next time I would (maybe the kids would stay more entertained and there is sooo much to do before hand). This was one of my favorite parts of Nauvoo. I wish we lived a little closer and were staying in the area. I think going to the pageant would be a fun family tradition.

One thing that was really interesting was what kinds of things my boys were willing to do.

Here are some pictures of the activities before the pageant.

Jayce competing in Tug-of-War. They were about to lose, so Jason stepped in and helped them out. Grahm did not want to participate!


The boys used a saw and cut off the end of a log. Then you get to have it branded!!


Grahm competing at arm-wrestling. Jayce did not want to participate!


Stick-Pull. We had to talk Jacye into playing so Grahm could. It also took a few tries before it was fair (Jayce would start out with his legs almost straight).




Stilts! Getting lessons from the master!

Here is my Dad showing us how to do it!

Jason decided if my Dad could do it, it must not be that hard. Jason needs more practice!


Here is my Dad really schooling us!!

Nauvoo and Family

I am slow posting our Nauvoo Adventures!!

We arrived very late in Nauvoo that Tuesday night (any guesses why?). My family had a party waiting for us in their room. There were presents for me and Jason, a chocolate cake for me and a Dora cake (with amazing purple frosting) for Charlotte. It was a really fun surprise. I was gifted Jewelry and money (can never go wrong there) and Jason's was super cool - but I can't share what it was.



We spent the next two days enjoying all angles of Nauvoo and Carthage. We ate, shopped, hung out, and learned. We visited the temple inside (absolutely gorgeous wood work) and out.

Lunch


Mini-Nauvoo





Hanging in front of the Merc


Inside the Merc - Trying out the Look


Old Nauvoo - Family Living Center - making rope



Resting/Discussing and the Mighty Mississippi


Dinner


And then we went to the Pageant - but that is lots more photos.