Oscar Stew

I think Drew’s face explains it all: What the heck am I doing shoveling snow on Spring Break?! 

Were the kids upset? Nah. They just roll with the punches. Being outside is fun, no matter what the weather. Due to the 70+ degree days we had been enjoying, most of the kids’ heavy winter gear had already disappeared into dark shadowy corners of the basement. Brinley was able to round up her coat, Drew’s gloves from 3 years ago, and a toasty warm Chicken Little hat. bok bok!

All the snow in the backyard was swirling and blowing in a whirlwind. It really was a “snownado!” The drift was over three feet tall, and made for some fun tunnels and canyons for the…ummm…”kids” to create.

No, Drew isn’t decapitating Brinley with the snow shovel. Brinley wasn’t even fazed with all that snow in her face either; she was too busy punching and chopping the snow.

It’s OK Brinley, if you get too cold, Rowan has the secret to thawing your frosty appendages. However, that secret will have to be pried loose from these slobbery jaws.

Victory! The outdoor fun went in rounds. Here Brinley the Abominable regroups after round 1.

After Round 2 Daddy rediscovered his car in the driveway, draped in ice-sickles. Hey D&B, want some frozen water sticks sprinkled with dirt? Mmmm, the perfect low-sugar snack!

Brinley after round 3, with a full March Moustache in effect. She’ll be shaving soon.

That’s enough fun in the cold for a while. Next we moved on to entertainment of the cerebral kind. Drew & Brinley were joined by their best buds Hayden and Ana at the museum. First they worked on dinosaur species recognition. This is very important, because knowing whether you’re being attacked by an Allosaurus or T-Rex could make all the difference between being chewed or swallowed whole.

Yeeeeeeah dirt! What kind of boy or girl doesn’t like making a mess? Ana and Brinley had a blast building their princess castles in the erosion box even after they had to switch from Cinderella to the Little Mermaid.

You’ve heard the story of how Moses parted the Red Sea? Well, in Andrew 6: 27 you can read about how Drew parted the Red Mud.

Spring Break wasn’t all fun and games…ok it was. Even though it wasn’t the fun we were planning on the kids still had a great time.

Spring break: Day 3

And we are officially bored. mmmmhmmmm.

Yesderday we made kitty cookies. Yes, we baked for the cat. That is how bottom-of-the-barrel I am feeling right now. The kids liked it, that’s what’s important. The fact that I look like a crazy cat lady is beside the point.

Drew wrote down the recipe for us. Kitty cookies are an exact science. You don’t want to mess around with Cheddar and his cookies. 

I always bake in my finest pearls – don’t you?

After this the kids fought over who got to crack the egg, so I got the mighty privilege. Lucky me!

Approval from his highness before we move on to the next step.

Now for the fun part – flatten the dough. Nice technique Drew…

Cheddar was anxiously circling the kitchen. The smell of tuna wafting though the kitchen was more than this cat can handle.

After 15 excruciating minutes, the morsels of fishy goodness are finally baked to perfection. That’s closer than you ever wanted to get to cat food, isn’t it?

Drew made sure to document every step of the process. Next time he will be able to make these without my help:
tonua
flour
wheat germ
corn meal
egg
of oyl (olive oil)
cooke shet
spashla
scoop
flat
uvin
lite (so we can watch them bake, or course!)
15 minise
cute (cut)
toona cookies (boy – that tuna word is pretty tricky, huh!?)
clen up the ckichin (atta BOY!)

And clean up they did!

This week is Drew’s Spring Break. It’s too bad our spring-like weather has disappeared and old man winter is here again. We are stuck indoors and trying to make the best of it.

The kids really wanted to go to the library for story time today. D&B love checking out a haul of books so heavy they can barely carry the bag. We went to the library a few weeks ago and found out the place had been taken over by Communists, only children registered for story time were allowed in. It was a bummer. Drew crafted some awesome fake ID’s for next time, just in case. Dig the bed heads!  

Well, on to another cheap indoor activity. Before we get started, the Ro-Dog needs lunch. Love you too Rowee, mwah!

We busted out the old sanity saver from our yardless-apartment days. It’s kind of like a sandbox. 

Rice is just as fun as sand, and doesn’t chafe when it gets in your pants.

This is an activity that requires sweeping before, during, & after to avoid foreign contaminants in the rice pit.

Rowan’s getting better and better at feeding herself. I’d say about 40% makes it into her mouth.

How many times will I have to sweep the floor today? Pears, egg whites, raisins, crackers. oh my!

Back to the rice box. The creativity was a flowin’. They even made a “castle” together.

Uh, oh…Here we go…

Ownership of the “castle” seems to be in question.

And has resulted in all-out war!

She wins. Mostly because he isn’t that stubborn, and probably doesn’t want to hear her ear piercing scream. If looks could kill…

What did the rest of us think of this epic battle? Rowan’s face pretty much explains it.

Onward and upward. Ballet class was cancelled today, unfortunately we didn’t get the memo until a certain little girl was already dressed up and waiting for her ride. A few tears may have been shed.

It’s a good thing I had the end-all, fix-all in the freezer. Even if it was the faux variety.

Even fake Dilly Bars like this one work wonders when it comes to making amends, or lightening the mood. Crisis averted…this time.

They will hate me for this picture in 10 years. Maybe less. But a mom’s gotta have an arsenal of embarrassing photos as leverage, right?!