Belly Art

This is what happens when you leave Dad in charge...

 

Sometimes Science Experiments Include Making Your Own Goo!

Battle Wounds w/ Dad

While working the Kids Exchange the other day I got a phone call from Benjamin that said I 'probably' wanted to come home. (which is code for...You should come home). He and Camp had been playing with one of his new birthday presents in the house and he ran right into the corner of the granite counter tops. I'm SO thankful I wasn't there because Benjamin said there was SO much blood everywhere. Thankfully one of our neighbors is an ER nurse and was so great to come over and doctor him up!



We thought maybe the strips would hold the cut together but unfortunately it kept bleeding off and on throughout the next day.



We ended up having to make a visit to an urgent care to get his head glued up. I'm so thankful that we did! Look at that sweet baby's head. ; (



He was SO tough. Not one tear was shed while they pulled the bandages off and then glued his head up. He just squeezed my hand as tight as he could when the doctor told him that it was going to burn.

Now he has a great battle wound on his head to prove how tough of a cookie he is! ; )



P.S. He and Dad are no longer allowed to play ball inside the house. ; )

*A funny little side story is that he was so proud of his wound. He has been telling people ever since...

"Hey!! Did you know that I have a hole in my head?!?"

Early Morning at WakeMed

My partners in crime this morning at Stephen's echo appointment!



*At one of Stephen's check-ups they noticed a heart murmur that they wanted us to go get checked out. At the echo they saw that he does have a slight opening in his heart that is normally closed up by this point. It is small and they don't seem to concerned about it so we'll continue to keep a check on it! Praise the Lord! : )

Pumpkin Scones!

I FINALLY made a successful batch of my friend Stephanie's Pumpkin Scones. Whew! I have tried these before and they made it to the trash even before they made it to the oven. ; ) 

If you like scones then you must try them! They are SO yummy!!

Here is the recipe straight from Stephanie's Blog! 

 Scones:
2 cups All Purpose Flour
1/4 cup and 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 Tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
6 tablespoons cold butter, cut into 1-inch cubes
1/2 cup canned pumpkin puree
3 tablespoons half-and-half
1 large egg

For the Powdered Sugar Glaze:
1 cup plus 1 tablespoon powdered sugar
2 Tablespoons milk

For the Spiced Glaze:
1 cup plus 3 tablespoons powdered sugar
2 tablespoons milk
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 pinch ground ginger
1 pinch ground cloves

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside.
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with fit the paddle attachment, stir together the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and ginger. Add the butter and toss with a fork to coat with the flour mixture. Mix on medium-low speed until the texture resembles coarse cornmeal,
with the butter pieces no larger than small peas.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the pumpkin, half-and-half and egg.

Fold wet ingredients into dry ingredients, and form the dough into a ball. Pat out dough onto a lightly floured surface and form into a 1-inch thick rectangle about 4 inches by 12 inches. Use a large knife to slice the dough making three equal portions. Cut each of the portions in an X pattern (four pieces) so you end up with 12 triangular slices of dough. Place on prepared baking sheet. Bake for 12-14 minutes, or until light brown. Place on wire rack to cool.

While the scones are cooling, make the powdered sugar glaze by mixing the powdered sugar and milk together until smooth. When scones are cool, use a pastry brush to spread plain glaze over the top of each scone. Allow to firm.While the powdered sugar glaze is firming, combine all of the ingredients for the spiced glaze. Drizzle over each scone and allow the icing to dry before serving (about an hour).

**Recipe Note: you can freeze unbaked scones and enjoy hot from the oven scones any day of the week. Just freeze on a baking sheet until firm, tightly wrap in plastic wrap and place in a ziploc freezer bag. When ready to bake just pop into the oven straight from the freezer, no need to thaw. Just add a few more minutes to the baking time.

*I made a few changes to this recipe.
I used all whole wheat flour, and it turned out wonderfully.
I also just used the spice glazed, not both glazes, which was plenty in our opinion.
I also doubled the recipe, and I cut them into minis scones to stretch the recipe. 

Your Leave Hair

'Dawson'isms...

"These are my wake-up clothes when the sun wakes up."

"These are my night-night clothes when the sun goes to sleep."

"I not gonna say fluff butt, momma, I not. I not gonna say that."

"I need to go brown, I need to go brown...it's coming fast!"

Well tonight as I was sitting in the recliner with him he looked at my hair and said, "Is that your leave hair, mommy? Is that your leave hair?" (I ❤️ how he repeats things twice!) 

I said, "what???" He said, "your leave hair."

Then it hit me. He was connecting the points that when I fix my hair...we leave. Well...I guess I need to fix my hair more often when I'm home! Sweet boy realized I only get cleaned up when it was time to go somewhere! 😳😂😜🤔💁🏼💃🏻

 

Happy Birthday, Camp!

Another birthday means no school and a day to celebrate! Today Camp turns 7!

We started off the day by going to Jumping JoJo's. This was a new to us place but the kids loved it!

I mean who doesn't love a room full of bounce houses?!?

 

 

 

 

Emma Claire and Camp raced I don't know how many times on this obstacle course...

 

As you can see Stephen partied hard! 

 

The best part was that one of the workers is assigned to just play with the kids. My kiddos loved Alicia! She was great. They played hide and seek, raced each other on the courses and lots of other fun things. That right there was worth it for this mommy! I got to sit and enjoy my coffee while they played.

  

 

Time for a snack and movie break!

 

 

After that we headed to pick up one of Camp's gifts from RaRa and PePaw. This was a treat for all of us! 😜

 

We ended the day eating at Golden Corral. His choice for dinner! (Not mommy and daddy's 😷) Ha! 

He was on cloud nine! It's like a never ending dessert bar!

 

We had so much fun celebrating you today, Camp Quinn! We ❤️ you so much and are so proud of you! 

He's our tender hearted, full of emotion, trick playing, Pokemon loving boy!

St. Nicholas

As I was reading a poem about St. Nicholas to the kids today during school Emma Claire drew what she was hearing. Pretty creative! 

 

Kids Exchange

It's kids exchange week! 😳😳😳

 

Birthday Presents from Sissy

Camp got a big surprise today! Emma Claire ordered him his very own Pokémon pins for his birthday. She couldn't stand the secret and had to give them to him today! 

He was beyond excited and I am so thankful for her generous heart! She had also already given him a Pokémon case a few days before.

 

Birthday Cake

That time RaRa sent me a whole cake for my birthday and Benjamin was out of town...

 

Why, yes, I killed it! 😂

Thank you, RaRa!!!

Birthday Trip to the Museum

Today is mommy's bday! Whoop whoop! Which means...NO SCHOOL! So we loaded up and headed to the museum for the day.

It was the first time in a while that we have been and there hasn't been a crowd. Emma Claire loved being able to spend time doing science experiments and not being rushed. 

 

Today they were getting to study and examine different types of seeds.

 

We also rode the train for the first time!
We are members at the museum which means we get in free but the train is a little extra. Since we were celebrating mommy's bday we thought we'd do something new! :)

 

 

School has started back so we had most of the train to ourselves! 

 

They had the best time! I wish the pictures could capture the screams and shrills that came from them the entire ride.

This little guy is such a trooper. He just goes with the flow and allowed us to enjoy hours of fun! 

My happy place! The kids have tree houses, creeks, hammocks and all kinds of things to explore while mommy can relax in the shade with a cup of coffee.

 

 

 

They are pretending to be Simba from the Lion King! ;)

 

 

Happy 5 Months Old to Stephen!

Even at 5 months old he is the biggest joy to be around! He loves playing in the floor and jumping in his exersaucer. He has also started eating some baby cereal and 1st veggies. Boy, does he love to eat! He gets so excited when he sees the spoon coming towards him! Little man is also getting closer to sitting up on his own, too. It won't be long and he'll be becoming a bit more independent! ;)

 

 

 

He is quiet the ham! If he sees you looking at him he gets the biggest smile on his face and his eyes just sparkle. :)

 

He's also found his feet! 

 

 

Happy 5 months cool dude!