Oscar Stew

I guess you may have noticed that we took a short break from the blog. Do not fear, we were plenty busy and have plenty of stew for everyone to have seconds, thirds, whatever! We are finding ourselves severely backed up in pictures & posts, so hold on to your hats…and cross your fingers that we somehow manage to keep up!

Yesterday Rowan was kickin’ it old skoo in her fancy diaper and fresh ink. This girl knows how to melt her papa’s heart. Nothing like a drooly tattoo to set the record straight!

In other news, Brinley scored a 100% success rate with her first butterfly crop. We woke up to black cocoons one morning. We were worried it was all for naught, but a few hours later the butterflies emerged. Nature is amazing!

Brinley’s first born enjoying a sugar-water soaked paper towel! Mmmm, feast!

After a few days the butterfly mama introduced her babies to other forms of liquid sugar, which passed rigorous taste tests, of course! What mama doesn’t take a bite first?

The best part of raising butterflies is getting to hold and play with them before setting them free. The boy was all about it, and jumped at the chance to investigate the bugs.

Brinley wasn’t as daring and had to warm up before venturing out on her own.

Finally the nervous mama collected some courage and enjoyed a light tickle from her butterfly children.

Butterflies can’t stay inside forever, so it was time to set them free. At this point holding the butterflies was an old hat for the Fred.

This one hopped off her finger and right on to one of our strawberry plants. Come back and visit sometime, huh!?

One year ago we came across this little blotched beauty at the new baby dealership. Oooh, shiny!

We needed her, we wanted her (although I’m pretty sure I said different as I suffered through an unmedicated, induced labor).

She filled a hole in our little family that we didn’t even know existed.

She’s gained a little bit of weight since then, put on a couple chins, sprouted a few extra hairs and developed quite an attitude. There’s more of her to love!

Her official b-day bash wasn’t on her birthday, but the kids wanted to make sure Rowan’s day was special. The decorating team got right to work the second Rowan fell asleep on her birthday eve. Do they look eager to you?

Brinley took on streamer duty…

…While Drew huffed, puffed, and blew till his cheeks ached and his eyes popped out. Serious!

They did a mighty fine job decorating.

Rowan woke up the next morning in a most curious mood. The streamers work as an excellent distraction while we change her diaper.

While Rowan wasn’t looking, the kids went back to work. Cupcakes were in order for her afternoon delight!

Oh the precision…

Oh the beauty! Stop licking your monitor!

Mmmm…cake, frosting. Sprinkles!

Happy Birthday Rowan!

My family came to town this last weekend. Our place was their first stop on their journey to pick up my sister Jenna from her mission in Hotlanta. As always when the fam gets together, we had a plethora of pastimes to pursue during their visit.

What comes first? Why food of course!

Homemade eggrolls are a staple whenever my sisters are around. They’d sue me if I didn’t have the ingredients on hand.

While the womens were busy in the kitchen, ole Gramps examined the KitchenAid mixer that died a few weeks ago kneading dough.

Diagnosis: Still dead. Kind of a bummer, because while the Bosch reigns supreme at kneading delicious crusty bread dough like this…

…the Kitchenaid is handy to have around for smaller batches of cookies. I guess we’ll have to make do without. Attention Girl Scouts: We have perfected your Samoa cookies into something far more delicious and much less waxy. Consider yourselves warned. (btw, recipe available HERE, just do yourself a favor and only make half of the cookie base.) Yum!

Rowan AKA “Moondog” spent one night howling at the moon, and had a pretty rough morning too. What would make it all better? A strawberry, spinach, yogurt smoothie please!

Afterwards, she worked out with Daddy and her siblings. Triple Piggyback, check it out!

By lunchtime she was sold property, and found a nice soft cheek to get her nap on.

Guess who used too much toilet paper. Again. Think that making her unclog it will teach her? Ummmm, no!

Brinley also discovered she can fit 9 grapes in her mouth at the same time. That’s my girl!

There is always a watchful eye on the butterflies. Did you know their heads fall off before they pupate?

Here is proof! And the waiting game begins…

Master Kelsey taught me to quilt while she was here.  We got plenty of help while we worked.

It takes an army to lay it all out and pin the pieces together.

And it takes three to sew it all together and remove those pesky pins.

The semi-finished product. This is two quilts side by side. Kelsey and I share more than blood; we have the same taste in fabric.

Rowan got a lesson in texting from Kristy. wrud? rofl! gtg ttyl! Huh? 

We celebrated first-graderdom by accepting no substitutes; only a Cup of Dirt from TGIFriday’s would suffice. Hush you critics! Can’t you tell that this crummy picture is from my cell phone?!

We watched our corn pop up in rows, pointed our rocking chairs towards the West…

Maybe she’s born with it. Maybe it’s Maybelline. Maybe if you wore a crown and plastic jewelry your stronga longa lashes would be luscious too.

Ro-diggity wishes she was big. That way she could run around outside shooting D&B in the face with her squirt gun too. Payback is a…?