{kate's birthday at the park}

Yes, the purple was supposed to be more of a lavender, but I got a little carried away with the red. Kate didn't complain though...any shade of purple will do!

{kids grow up}

I have been amazed lately at how fast my kids have grown. Everyone says it about their kids too- I know. But Kate is turning 3 this week!! Chad will be 5 in two months!! and they both start school this coming Monday. Time does not slow.

August has been quite a month for us, starting with Jonathan's surgery which he still has not completely recovered from. One week after his surgery, with his nose cast and everything, we went to the Honda dealership and bought a Civic (using our old car for cash for clunkers-blown head gasket the day before). I went to South Fork with Katelyn to see some of my family while Kara flew home the same weekend to start school. Around the same time, I sent in my application to Texas Wesleyan Graduate Program of Nurse Anesthesia. The month of September is looking to be the same kind of busy... But it's fun!

{Sunday morning before church- cutest video ever}

{4th of July}

Time has flown this summer, but we had such a great time the weekend of July 4th, I think I need to write about it. First, we bought an RV. And not just any RV- a 1984 Winnebago that Chad promptly named Harvey the RV as soon as we bought it. The kids were so excited- it was like Christmas for them. And we were excited too- they had been asking $8,000, and we got it for $1,000. Yes, everything works in it...and camping was so much more fun.

So, my sister and her husband flew out from New York and went to South Fork with us and Kara. And what a time we had! Friday, we went to the lake, then after a hike around it, drove to the delightful hot springs in Pagosa, right by the river. Yes. We are suckers for hot springs...one of the reasons we love Colorado. Anyway, Saturday, we rode the dirt bikes, made homemade strawberry ice cream, played corn hole... If you're wondering, it's kinda like horseshoes, but you throw bean bags (filled with corn) and try to get them onto the board and into the hole. Very fun. That night, while eating the ice cream, we watched fireworks on the hill at eye level while the booms echoed through the canyon. We even shared ice cream with the people parked behind us and made some new friends. Afterward, we had a bonfire and smores. Sunday, we were sad to leave, but we've decided to make a tradition of going south on the 4th. Thanks Michelle and Ted for coming out with us!

{WARNING: do not share the following story with your children!}

{so it all started when...}

...Jonathan and I thought we'd rearrange our room yesterday. We started painting a bookshelf (to match our bed) with paint that looked more like chocolate pudding than something that was meant to be spread onto a bookshelf. Which made us think: "Wow, homemade chocolate pudding sounds like a really good treat. Kate chimed in "Choplit pudding!!! Yummy, yummy!!! So while Jon continued to paint, I made the pudding (feeling a little bit like wonder mom) and gave a small bowl to each of the kids. When Jon called me upstairs to help him move the bookshelf into place, I left them unattended. Mistake #1. After a while, Chad came upstairs to thank me, and like clockwork, had put his empty bowl and spoon into the sink. Not 2 minutes later, Katelyn waltzes into our room looking like this:

Such a horrific and incredible sight, how could you react with anything but a gasp and hysterical laughter. Mistake #2. Of course the laughter was to keep from crying... Oh she had painted with the chocolate pudding all right...My carpet, that outfit, a library book on the bar where she had been sitting...all destroyed. Well, we banned her to the great outdoors where she sat licking her arms for the next 20 minutes (while we cleaned up), then on to her punishment: she got hosed off with ice cold water while screaming the whole time, and then a bit more "focus time"- about which I will not elaborate, but was thought to make a dent in that strong willed armor of hers. Did she learn her lesson? NO. Will she do it again? Well, it didn't take long to find out...Later that day, we found her up on the bathroom counter lubricating her hair and skin with Vicks.

{the best granola ever}

Walking through Whole Foods, I spied the most yummy flaxseed fruit granola. Alas, it was $7.49 a pound! I thought to myself..."I could make that!" So I got all the ingredients, and it was definitely a huge success. Such a healthy and satisfying snack... Here is the recipe that I used (with a few of my own variations). I did double the recipe.

2 cups old-fashioned oats (not quick)
1/2 cup wheat germ
1/2 cup flaxseed (optional)
2 Tbs. dark brown sugar
1/4 tsp. salt
1 cup assorted dried fruit--I used mango, sour cherries, cranberries, and raisins all from the bulk
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1/4 cup maple syrup (and/or molasses) I used half of each. You could also use honey.
3 Tbs. flavorless oil, such as vegetable or canola
1 Tb. water
1/2 tsp. cinammon

Adjust oven rack to middle position, and heat oven to 275 degrees. Coat a 9-by-13-inch metal pan with cooking spray, then set aside. Mix oats, wheat germ, brown sugar, salt and Extra Ingredients --except dried fruit -- in a bowl. Bring syrup, oil, water and any Flavoring indicated below to a simmer in a saucepan over low heat. Drizzle over oat mixture, and stir to combine. Pour mixture onto prepared pan. Working a handful at a time, squeeze cereal to form small clumps. Bake for 30 minutes. Stir in dried fruit. Continue to bake until golden brown, about 15 minutes longer. Let cool. (Granola can be stored in an airtight tin for up to two weeks.)

For other ingredient ideas, go to http://www.usaweekend.com/06_issues/060226/060226cooksmart.html