Oscar Stew

A lot happens in an around our home when I’m at work. It’s no different for me than it is for any other dad, but it’s great to be able to have a healthy serving of Oscar stew anytime I ask Amy, “So what did you do today?” 

Good morning Daddy! My youngest child is becoming a stiff-necked one, growing a punk hairstyle and starting a tummy-time business in the living room…

When the kids wake up early they enjoy starting the day off right – with homemade Play-doh. It allows Drew some valuable play time before he zooms off to school. You may have noticed that lurking in the background are color possibilities for the kitchen. They are nice colors, but none are the winner. We are desperate to get rid of that blue!

On Drew’s last day of 1st grade, Brinley & Rowan wanted to celebrate the long days of summer ahead. How to make it official? With a banner declaring so, of course!

Despite her best efforts, Rowan could only add her creative touch down low…

Hey Mama, could I maybe get a little higher? I need to see my work from overhead! Don’t limit my creativity!

There you go! There is no denying the personal touch she scribbled all over this canvas.

Where’s the baby? Lost in a sea of polka-dots, but still happy as a clam.

The projects are nearly complete. Really?! That wall looks ridiculous! The wall isn’t one of the projects at hand. All that graffiti is leftover primer from painting the bathroom… The color for the kitchen is still undecided, so we let the kids add their own flair. Anything is better than that blue!

The Gateway to Happiness is complete! Welcome to the days of popsicles, watermelon, sprinklers, sun & fun…

 

Welcome to Summer Drew! Prepare for blast off!

It’s official! After being first times three, Drew is now second. He wouldn’t have it any other way.  

 

This is the smile that is reserved for Mama only. Such a happy little soul…

If the kids miss any winter activities, they will prove to you that they are even more fun in the summer. Stair sledding is the best! 

 

They’re building up speed, Brinley’s hair is flying, and this hill is bumpy!

Terminal velocity reached! Prepare for landing!

Wipeout! Drew is laughing. Trust me.

 

We survived Mt. Staircase. Let’s do that again!

But uh-oh! Daddy come quick! There are ice rocks falling on our house!

I like aquariums, but I didn’t know that one was included when we bought the house. A downspout clogged with golfball sized hail caused this. The water rose another 6+ inches after this picture was taken. We’ll be getting a new roof, and have to start from ground-zero with our garden. Not to mention Ryan’s car now looks like it has a severe case of cellulite long with a broken windshield. It’s a shame, but we are lucky that a tornado didn’t come and sweep us away.

That basement window didn’t do a great of a job holding back the flood outside. But Ellie thought she’d show off what does a great job holding back the flood inside!

So just how big was that hail Eleanor? It was bigger than my smile!

Where is Moses when you need him?

Those floating white things aren’t flower petals! Anyone want over 60 gallons of dirty ice water? Nice job Scoob!

Brinley figured out how to stay warm, and possibly anger PETA…Rawr!

The day after the hail storm some young entrepreneurs came by offering to clean up our front yard for a small  fee. When Amy turned them down, Drew & Brinley dug into their banks and brought me $5 so they could clean the yard themselves. Pay to work…er…play! Sounds like a sweet deal to me! 

Drew said he’d have the yard cleaned in a flash with the help of this 300hp “leaf blower”.

Brinley was less than impressed with the “leaf blower”.  If looks could kill…

What’s a hot summer day without  injuries…which one is the faker?

The hailstorm didn’t just cause destruction. There was a silver lining: New friends!

This is just one of our new buddies. Cheddar was so fond of a furry long-tailed little buddy that he ate him…

Deep in the Jungle of Home, two little girls puttered around making new discoveries. As the sun rose from the horizon,  the light warmed their faces and reminded them of the comforts of their new base camp. Looks like it’s a good dream!

G’morning Eleanor! Good to see you too!

Before we started off into the forest, Elle wanted to get her blood pumping with a little asian-inspired workout called Ella-Fu. Hiiiiiiiiiiyah!

Let’s get to work. We’re almost finished with this sweet little tarp you’ve been dying to spit on. I’ll sew, you supervise, man the text messages and keep watch for fee-rocious animals. Deal!

While Soggy-In-Her-Pants needed a change, Ro-Dog was busy trapping tigers. Cheddar didn’t seem to mind wearing El’s pj’s…for about .00002 seconds.

It’s ok Ro-mama, you can help me take care of the baby that won’t run away. How about wiping a little jungle drool off her mouth?

No, not in her mouth, I said off her mouth…

 

These two are rapidly becoming each other’s BFF. And will end up partners in crime, no doubt.

What do New Orleans and Eleanor have in common? They both are nicknamed ” The Big Easy”…And they both have an oil slick down south…

Rowan, on the other hand…

Once she saw her zebra skins and foal go into the dryer she sprung into action like only a 1.9-year-old superhero would and threw a huge tantrum to save her “baba” from complete devastation. It’s important to keep the hut clean, Rowee!

I tried to get her mind off of them and put her to work in the fire pit. She didn’t quite grasp the concept of the pepper grinder.

But salting the day’s kill was a cinch!

But, no good deed goes unpunished…

Just the same we ended up with delicious roasted sweet potatoes, made by Roast Toast herself!

The reward was sweet when her skins and pony emerged dry and toasty from the dryer. Aaaaaahhhhh….

Meanwhile, Eleanor was already very well acquainted with Princess Brinley, Ruler of the Vine. But she had no idea that Drew was the real Peter Pan. Are we in Neverland?!

Neverland turned out to be the cold confines of the garage. Thanks to Peter Pan accidentally locking the door behind him, the kids and I enjoyed the afternoon locked out of the hut with no spears. After making hieroglyphics on all possible surfaces of the concrete jungle with chalk, Daddy finally came home from the hunt…

Nothing beats jungle thumb jerky.

Sorry Rowan, no babas allowed at the rain dance. Sweet ‘do though!

 

To celebrate May Day, Rowan enjoyed a shortbread cookie on a spear. They are REALLY good with strawberry jam. Rowan might be an old squaw before she knows that.

This…is my pooping face.

 

 

And this…is my poopy face. Put the camera down and change me!

Ro-Chefity back in the fire pit, sauteing some zuke for dinner.

Once the day’s adventure is done, there is no reward better than soaking in the whirlpool while enjoying homemade triple berry ice cream for desert. Ohhhhh yeah!

At the end of the day Rowan is no different than Eleanor…plus four zebras.

Brinley’s glorious and brilliant days as a Kindergartner are getting closer and closer. The princess is five years old! We’re so proud of Binnie and the help she’s been at home with cleaning, moving, and keeping Ro-dog and/or Elea-moose entertained while Mommy and Daddy have toiled away unpacking and organizing her castle. We are grateful servants!

The Princess wants. The Princess gets. The Princess requests pink candy on her cake. Well whaddyaknow, pink Skittles. Score!

She’s a working princess, mostly because she wants things done her way.

If pink candy wasn’t enough, the cake and frosting must also be pink. A real princess ain’t afraid to get dirty.

All this work of pink can make a princess exhausted. I command my servant Sir Drew to provide the traditional sugar rush. Proceed!

The sugar is flowing and the princess is back on shedule. Yes, schedule.

But, for good measure, let the princess have one more!

The masterpiece is almost complete, with princess-sharp perfection!

No complaints here. Think Cinderella never picked up a mop after the wedding? Think again! 

I know you want to see a pic of the cake, but you’re going to have to wait a little longer. We are enjoying apple-cinnamon pancakes with whipped cream, bananas, and pineapple, as ordered by her majesty. Maybe dis ere princess be from de island? Yah mahn!

 

Behold, the sugary gateway to happiness! How divine!

I command Daddy to ignite the beacons of beauty! All hail! The princess is five!

These beacons of beauty were the special re-igniting kind. Specifically requested of course, so that her majesty could make multiple wishes. What did she wish for? She’s not telling!