It's all gravy!

We have been going non-stop since school let out. We have had Gram's retirement, I got to help with my sweet niece's birthday, shopping at Canton with a good friend, a visit from Curt's cousin and her baby, Hawaiian Falls and then a visit from two of my nieces! Gram came to get the two nieces today...and took Josh and Zach with her. It is VERY quiet here! I miss them badly! I just love having a house fun of sweeties!
I have decided we will be having many more cousin slumber parties. I got to have a lot of GIRL TIME!

They played lots of Hide and Seek (and giggled).
We ate kid food-aka *hot dogs*. They boys were very excited...

We braided hair (and giggled).

And watched movies-GIRL ONES! Like 'Tangled '

and 'Anne'. Oh, yeah! Movies in which the characters broke out into song! And giggled.

The boys were not interested in this activity.

They did, however, love playing with their girl cousins.

They were real tired when they went to bed at night.
But these three were always the first to get up.

They watched cartoons and waited patiently for Chocolate Gravy....a girl sleep-over tradition!

I loved every second! Giggling was my favorite!

Chocolate Gravy

1 stick of butter
4 1/2 T. flour
5 T. cocoa
1 2/3 C. sugar
4 C. milk

Melt butter in large skillet, over low heat. Add milk and stir. Mix in all dry ingredients and stir constantly over medium heat until it has thickened. Serve over piping hot biscuits!

Family Fun Night and Chocolate Cobbler

After a wonderful, but tiring, week of end of the year celebrations

like this-my sweet Zach getting his smartie-pants awards.
Not to mention Field Days x 3, and the end of the year celebrations at church. And...my last day of work!!! Yea! We all decided a stay-at-home family night was in order.
Being the homebody i am this is my favorite kind of night. I get my family all at home, at one time, and we get to play games, eat and hang out...all in the comfort of lounge clothes. I feel like we are getting less and less of these, so it makes me want to make them special.
My plan is to try and make them something for dinner that is so good they will want to not ever leave home cherish these times.
I decided to make Chocolate Cobbler!

I like to make this for them because it makes them smile like this

and this

and like this

and they all make happy plates

and that makes me feel like I have succeeded in life.
After their belly's are nice and full the boys played a friendly little game of chess.

Well, mostly friendly.

Then we all watched a movie together.
Then I heard this-

and went to bed a happy woman.

Lemon Bars and a sick baby

Last night we were suppose to go to a dinner for graduating Seniors at our church.  Eli had been in a bad mood all day and so we decided it would be best if I stayed home with him. I might have been sort of, kind of, BIG time pouty about this.  I made the dessert we were suppose to bring and sent Curt on his way.  His way to eat steak and loaded baked potatoes.  With adults.  Without me.  Really, I'm over it!
 Anywho, woke up this morning to get ready for church only to discover Eli has a temp. of 103.5, tonsils red and swollen....hello strep, is that you?  Needless to say, I feel like mother of the year for being such a baby about having to miss out on last night and not even noticing I had a sick child.  I think I will go eat a Lemon Bar I saved from the dessert I sent last night...to the dinner I didn't get to go to.

The Best Lemon Bars. Ever.

Crust:
1 C Butter
1/2 C Powdered Sugar
2 C Flour

Cut butter into sugar and flour and press into a 13 x 9 cake pan. Bake for 15 minutes at 350.

Filling:
4 Eggs
1 t Baking powder
1/4 C Lemon juice
2 C Sugar
1/2 C Flour
1/2 t Salt

Mix well and pour into baked crust and put back into the oven for another 25 minutes.

While still hot, ice with:
3/4 C Powdered sugar
2 T Lemon juice
2 T Butter, melted

Chill for several hours before cutting into diamonds and serving.

Hello Blog World!

Josh turned thirteen this week! I am in complete shock and have no idea how the years have passed so quickly! I am starting this blog to help me be more intentional about taking pictures and documenting the boys growing up. I also have really enjoyed friends blogs and hope this will be a great way to stay connected.