The Great Brownie Debate

...Well, it wasn't really a debate.  More of a conversation between "experts" that I overheard.

I made brownies today. 

And this simple motherly activity brought about all kinds of excitement!

ALLISON:  Carter, do you know why they are called "brownies"?  They are brown and they are square.  See?  Bown-ee.  Do you get it?  Brownie.

CARTER:  Brownies are chocolate and they come from chocolate chips.

ALLISON:  Brownies are made from the kind of chocolate that I am allergic to.  Some chocolate I am allergic to and some I am not allergic to.

Ahhh...  The wisdom of children.  No quite right on any account, but I like how they are thinkin'!

 

Fashionista

She dressed herself...

Beautiful girl.

 

YIKES! We have an eggplant!

Our little backyard garden has been a lot of fun.  It took us a year to get things to grow to the point of yielding any fruit, but it's been a fun year, regardless!  Last fall I planted several things that I got from the nursery...  Cherry tomatoes, red bell pepper, cauliflower, squash, and a "mystery plant" that was missing it's identifying tag.  It was too late in the season for them to prosper, but most of them survived the mild winter and they are finally sprouting some fruit!

Our "mystery" plants have been a lot of fun...  The nursery guessed that it was yellow squash...but it didn't look like that to me.  More recently, the gardener who planted our orange tree guessed that it was eggplant.  The plants are growing well with a lot of purple flowers on them...but no fruit.  finally, I decided to do a little internet research - and indeed the pictures of eggplant plants look just like our "mystery" plants!  Later that same day, I was out watering the garden and then I saw it... 

An eggplant!

And Eggplant #2

Now, how cool is that?

 

Carter Jumps!

After a watching a fun show with friends at the Great Arizona Puppet Theater yesterday, we decided to take the kids to the nearby Childrens Museum, where they could run and climb (and we could sit and talk).

The Children's Museum has just completed their "Climber" - and it's amazing. Perfect for kids to run and climb - and lots of seating for the parents! Carter was a bit timid about climbing, so he sat with me for a while...then he wandered over to a platform under the climber and started jumping. Over and over for 15 or 20 minutes, he climbed up on the bench, flapped his arms, and jumped down. It was the perfect height for a my little guy... Just high enough to be a little bit daring, but not too high to be dangerous.

I had to capture it on video so I could show Daddy later. It's a cell phone video, so the quality isn't good, but you'll be able to see him... and it will probably make you smile.

Carter and Buzz

At the Children's Museum there is a new fort building room. Lots of pillow, cushions, sheets, etc. And a small "tree house". Buzz built up the tree house and he and Carter posed for a picture.

 

Monday

On Monday...

We finally did the SAND ART craft that Grandma left for us back in October. 

    

     And we did it outside

          in 80+ heat

               at 7 o'clock in the morning

                    before Mom had any of her coffee!

Then mom gave us our allowance and we were so motivated that we agreed to do EXTRA CHORES for even more money! 

     We cleaned the kitchen floor

          and we cleaned the garage door.

 

Then we played with the PUPPY Uncle Brian gave Allison for Christmas two years ago.

     Allison named her "Flower" 

          because of the flowers on her bandana.

               And she needs new batteries

                    but we only have three...and she needs four.

                         But we played with her anyway.

We played with the MARBLE game.

     Mom would only let us have it
          after we cleaned up the entire play room.
               We did a good job cleaning up.
                    And Mom built this tower!
                         (Our Mom's the greatest!)

And then Allison opened a package from Great Aunt Julie and it had a DRESS-UP DRESS in it!

     Look at me in my new play dress!

    And I danced while Mom watched
          "So You think You Can Dance" on TV.

     And Carter danced, too.

     And I almost smiled a real smile
          (instead of a smirk)
               for a picture in my dress!

The End.

Pasta Salad

From High-5 magazine:

Shells, corn, garbanzo beans, peas, cherry tomatoes (from our garden!), salt, pepper, olive oil, and red wine vinegar.

The kids love it and they especially love helping make it!

Carter Says - Scribble

While Nana was looking at this original artwork by Carter...

Carter declared, with pride,

"I know how to scribble!"

 

Carter Says - Canoe/Rowboat

Carter, at almost three-and-a-half years old, is very informative these days.  Or at least he tries to be.  We hear new words and complicated sentences from him every day as he tries to match his sister's large vocabulary. 

Today I was schooled on boat terminology by Carter...

"It's called a canoe.  But for short, they call it a row boat."

Well, not quite, but he does get an "A" for effort!

Carter Says - Be Happy

As Jim was leaving for work this morning and kissing us all good-bye and saying "Have a good day," little Carter piped up and said,

"Have a good da-ay! Be happy! Even though you miss us at work."

Awwww.  My sweet boy.