Happy post-Halloween

This years cast - in order of appearance:

Cruella DeVille, Baby Dalmation, Luke Skywalker, Army Man, Army Man, Sonic the Hedgehog

We made it through another year. My house survived (barely :) ) the annual family get-together, the candy bags have been safely stashed and I finally got a decent night sleep.

Now, onto Thanksgiving!

(don't worry, we haven't forgotten you, even though the retail market has)

Pumpkin Pie for breakfast??

Not quite. But it's the next best thing...

Pumpkin Pancakes

{with melt-in-your-mouth, homemade buttermilk syrup}

Pancakes:

2 eggs

1 1/4 C buttermilk (or sour cream)

4 T melted butter

5 T pumpkin

1/4 C sugar

1/4 tsp salt

1 1/4 C flour

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp allspice

Mix all ingredients and cook on griddle. My mouth is watering just typing this...

Buttermilk Syrup

1 stick butter

1 C sugar

1/2 C buttermilk

1 tsp vanilla

1/2 tsp baking soda

Boil butter, sugar and buttermilk. Remove from heat. Add vanilla and baking soda. Stir

until combined. Pour over hot pancakes.

Eat leftover syrup directly from pan with a spoon. And if you eat nothing else for the rest

of the day, you just might stay within your allotted calorie range.

The Clock

This is Big R.

Big R is loving, energetic and a bit on the defiant side.

Right now, Big R is my Challenge.

It seems that Big R wants to wake up, every morning, at 5:46 a.m. He is very consistent with this, which I'm sure is the source of some hidden talent that we will discover later, but right now this trait need to be buried. Buried deep.

Big R is also smart (and did I mention a little defiant). Big R knows his numbers. So, we buy Big R an alarm clock.

We set this clock a half hour behind and explain to Big R that when the first number says "6" he can get out of bed.

This way it's really "6:30", but all he has to worry about is that first number, which won't change for a whole hour. We don't tell Big R this part.

I know what you're thinking. 6:30 is still way too early, but right now it's a lot better than 5:46 and I'm picking my battles...

Oh, I almost forgot. We also told Big R that if he got up before 6, he would lose games for a whole day. Which is ironic because he hardly plays any games, but losing them is a fate worse then death. Hey, whatever works.

The first night I'm pumped. I KNOW this is going to work. I'm already starting to pat myself on the back. Big R is smart, remember??

** 5:46 a.m. **

Big R is at my bedside: "Mom, can I get up?"

Mom: (big groan and I hear Bryan chuckle) "Big R, does your clock say 6?"

Big R: "No"

Mom: "Then why are you up?"

Big R: a pause, "Do I lose games?"

Did I mention Big R is smart and a tad on the defiant side??

I'll have you know I stuck to my guns - even amidst the melt downs and pleadings. (Sometimes it's a good thing I don't really have any guns.)

It took two whole days of no games, but I'm happy to report that Big R has consistently stayed in his bed until "6" for two weeks.

Big R is still smart, loving, energetic - and just a little bit less defiant.

Thank goodness for small victories.

Math Equation

No school + bored boys + couple squirts of shampoo + jetted bathtub =

An 86 minute break for Mom

(I highly recommend trying this at home)

Sundays

Sunday is quickly becoming my favorite day of the week. Church is great and should probably be the source of my favortism, but I must confess, the real reason is this:

I know she looks a little terrified... and it may be because of the gargantuan flower on top of her head, but isn't it cute??!!

I'm going to have to start finding more excuses to get her all dolled up during the week.

Girls are fun!

The Bumbo

Oh! How I LOVE fat babies!

One reason is because at only 2 and 1/2 months, their plump little buns fit nicely in a Bumbo!

Well, at least until they get hungry...

And then the Bumbo is pretty much no good...

Too bad Mr. Bumbo doesn't come with a nipple attachment. :)

2 months

Miss H is 2 months old today!

She has only been hit on the head once...by a helicopter. It was an accident...or so I hear.

Big R is by far her biggest fan. Which is both good and bad. That smile pretty much says it all...

She is as sweet as ever and so much fun!

Happy 2 month Miss H!