Oscar Stew

Brinley is my little baking buddy. Anytime there is something going on in the kitchen, it’s only a few seconds before I hear the screech of a chair being moved across the kitchen floor and her asking if she can help.

The other day we roasted our own pumpkin to make a puree for cookies and bread.

By the time we got around to making the cookies she had transformed into Baking Beauty. Who says princesses don’t bake?

Brinley knows her ingredients pretty well. Once she has an idea of what we are making, she makes a run for the pantry to collect the necessary ingredients.

Showing off our yummy pumpkin puree… Brinley’s got her magic wand handy just in case something goes awry.

Mmm…licking the beaters.

My least favorite part about baking with kids: the mess. Oh the mess!

While I am cleaning, she is watching. Waiting for cookies to bake can be pure torture.

Last week we finished our jam for the season. And look – same hoodie, different color. Hm, they must have been on sale! 🙂 In my defense, I bought two different sizes. It just so happens she can wear both right now!

And finally, making sure we waste not – roasted pumpkin seeds.

Just keep the salt on the seeds, no over-the-shoulder for luck please. 

Future Food Network celebrity chef!

We had a family feud the other day. I found Brinley in her princess get-up crying her eyes out because Drew wouldn’t marry her. Drew is usually willing to do anything to please Brinley, but marrying his sister was crossing the line. At least that is what Daddy kept saying. It only took me a few seconds to figure out what the real problem was: She didn’t really wanted to get married, she just wanted prince charming to dance with her. Because that’s what getting married is all about, right? Thanks Disney…

Once they started dancing it was hard for me to keep up with them, let alone focus the camera correctly. The only thing I could see were flashes of pink and a gigantic smile on a certain three year olds face.

Brinley was totally over the moon. If you couldn’t tell.

Taking it down a notch…time for the slow dance.

The blushing bride.

And then the real fun began. The whirring and twirling. Around and around, and around again. weeee!

There goes that blurry flash of pink. Makes me dizzy just looking at it.

And they danced happily ever after…

While Drew is at school, it’s just me and the girls. We get down and dirty in our girlyness, that way Drew doesn’t feel like he missed out on anything. Here are a few of the activities we occupy ourselves with…

We make cookies.

And play games.

Rowan usually does this giving Brinley and I plenty of big girl time.

We play with dollies. Meet Elena, the polly pocket on steroids…

Sometimes we play school with the schnazzy new backpack and school supplies G&G J sent.

We paint our nails.

And our toenails.

On the rare occasion that Rowan gets a bottle, Brinley loves to sit and feed her.

We dress up and pretend we are royalty.

We chat and come up with crazy hairdo’s.

We count her freckles.

Sometimes we clean house. While I mop the floor, Brinley gets to perch on the kitchen table and play with play-doh. Ah, the life.

Sometimes I wonder if she notices Drew’s absence. By the time she does, it’s time to go pick him up.