American Girl Store

We went to the American Girl doll store for Sarah's 1/2 birthday. Since we happened to be in San Diego at Lego Land for Shane's, we needed to do something fun for Sarah. (Shane got a creepy looking Jabba the Hut toy for his Star Wars collection.)

Now most people think, half-birthday, what is that? Well, since both our kids have January birthdays, which is so close to Christmas, we also celebrate their halves. {Steve and his sister have Jan/Feb birthdays, so this is a tradition that Memaw started. }

Anyways...we drove to the Galleria--I am so thankful for my GPS--to shop. Sarah and Kit were very excited! Sarah had saved up $56 from her weekly allowance to spend. That is a lot of chores at 25 cents each (and she gives to church and saves for her car). Sarah picked out matching pink shirts with the American Girl star logo on them and a softball outfit for Kit since that is the sport Sarah tried this past spring. Sarah also picked out Coconut, the little white dog and Grace, Kit's Basset-Hound. I must say, I got off easy only having to buy the two t-shirts. All the items in the store are pricey, but oh-so cute! We were easily in the store 1 1/2 to 2 hours looking at all the dolls, accessories, and outfits. There is a Bistro there that you can eat at with your doll and a doll "hair-salon." We did not wait the hour for a new-do, but we can always go back, right?

I must say, I had as much fun as Sarah did on this little outing. I sure did love my Mandy and Jenny dolls growing up. Too bad there wasn't a store for them. Shane did great considering the day was focused on Sarah. All in all, it was a great way to spend a Saturday!

Black-eyed Shane

A couple of weeks ago {I never seem to post soon enough} Sarah and a friend were performing
on her stage to an Alvin and the Chipmunks CD. Shane was wanting to participate in the fun, but
was a little shy. So...he was rolling around on the
stage being funny and kicked over Sarah's pink guitar. (I mention this because of course it would be pink...those of you that know my girl, know that most things for Sarah are pink! ) The key used for tighting the keys hit Shane right on the outside corner of his eye. It started as a little mound, and then over the next few days spread out and turned his eye-lid this purple/blue color. We have been teasing him about it looking like eye makeup. ;)

Since I am posting this so long after the fact, I can report that his eye is all better, and luckily there was no long term damage.

On another note, this rodent he is holding is Whiskers, our second hamster. Sarah found Princess dead one day in April when she went up to her room after school to play with her. Steve took her to PetSmart to pick a new friend. Yes, Whiskers does look exactly like the other one, but is a little fatter. She is not quite as sweet as Princess was, but she tolerates Shane so she is a "keeper." The hamster cage is back in our front room...who needs a formal dining room anyway?

Don't most people's hamsters have their own room?

Cinnamon Rolls

This weekend, we had some fabulous, homemade, so sugary-squishy in the middle, that I wish I could have eaten 10 cinammon rolls made by Terry at The Stillwater Retreat Center in Glen Rose, TX. While my recipe (well, one that I got from my military friend Deborah Q) is not as good as the ones we had, they are still mouth-watering delicious.

Here is the recipe...

Set alarm for 4 o'clock in the morning so that you can slave over these rolls for your adoring family, or...prepare the night before and refrigerate following the directions in Step 7.

Step 1: Mix these and let rest for 10 minutes. Should start to bubble and to almost double.

1 cup milk (warmed to 100 - 110 degrees)
1 tsp. sugar
1 T. or one packet of yeast


Step 2: Mix in a large bowl

4 1/2 cups all purpose ""unbleached" flour--unbleached is optional
1 tsp. salt

Then mix in...
2 room temp eggs
1/2 cups butter, melted, or oil
1/2 cup sugar

Then mix in bubbly yeast mixture.

Step 3: Knead lightly and shape into a ball. Put ball in greased bowl and turn over to grease all sides. Cover and place in a warm, draft-free place to rise 1 hour or until double.

Step 4: Punch down and turn onto lightly floured surface. Roll about 8" X 20-24" OR
2- 8" X 12" rectangles.

Step 5: Brush with 3-4 T. melted butter and sprinkle with mixture of 1/2 cup sugar and 1 T. cinnamon.

Step 6: Carefully roll up starting on the long side (so your log is 20-24" long). Pinch seam shut with fingers. Cut into 1" slices with dental floss. (Slide floss under log and cross over top to cut through.)

Step 7: Put in 9X13 greased pan and let rise till nearly double (30-60 min) or put in pan, cover and refrigerate 2-24 hours. Remove from fridge 30 minutes before baking.

Step 8: Cook for 20-25 minutes at 350 degrees.

Step 9: Make icing with powdered sugar, 1 tsp vanilla, and 1-3 T. milk. Drizzle over cooked rolls.

Enjoy and let me know what you think if you try them!

Next time I make these, I'll add some pictures!!

"Mom, can I have some spaghetti?"

A few months ago, Shane came and asked me to make him some spaghetti. Well, of course I was busy...reading email, paying bills, or maybe on Facebook, who knows? So I told him to wait a few minutes. When I went in the kitchen, here is what I found...

1 -- a mischievous-guilty looking boy holding the canister of spaghetti

2 -- the canister on the floor, surrounded by dry noodles

3 -- a pan of dry noodles on the stove (without any water)

Thank goodness that he doesn't know how to turn on the burner, yet...Or, maybe I should teach him and then I can stay on the computer longer...I'll have to think about that!

My ears hurt, can I have some Skittles?

Shane just came up to me and said this..."My ears hurt, can I have some Skittles?" When we recently flew to San Diego, we used gum and Skittles to clear the kids ears as we landed. Now, I guess Shane thought it was as good excuse as any to get some candy. Of course, I let him eat them. :)

What a funny kid!

Shane came into the laundry room with his Shrek "Build a Bear" and was wearing this little Shrek hat that goes on his bike helmet. He thought he was oh-so funny! I did too!

Look What Steve and the Kids Caught!

Steve has taken the kids fishing several times, but they never catch anything. On their last adventure, they caught a turtle.

The next weekend, Cabela's had a Kid's Day where the kids got to fish in a tank. They each caught 4 fish within their 5 minute turn. Steve bought them little trophies. :)