Tub Paint Fun

So we made bath tub paint the other night and let Will paint our faces and feet. We had so much fun with this - all cramped in this tiny bathroom. This paint is so easy to make and easy to clean up which is even better. Sorry we all look so bad in these pictures, but we were tired and were outside getting huge rocks out of the river and so we are looking pretty beat.

Painted Daddy

Mr Green, his favorite color

Yeah, see the wild hair....

Here is the recipe....
1T cornstarch
1/3 cup of dish soap (i used dawn)

food coloring (couple drops)

Family Time

Last night we decided to go for a hike up one of the mountains of Knoxville. It is a steep 30 minute walk up to the rock that we like to sit on and look out from - so we didn't know how it would go with both kids. We did this about a year and a half ago with Will in the backpack carrier and he actually fell asleep on our way back down (don't worry... little miss Abby did not blink an eye). It didn't take us much longer to get to the rock with Will walking 3/4 of the way than it did when just Josh and I went up on our own! We really enjoyed being out in God's creation together as a family. It was great exercise and it was challenging (as I didn't think I could make it up the entire way). Will collected things that he thought were neat and brought them back home (pinecone, leaves, flowers, nuts, etc...) He did better than I thought... just a couple crying episodes where he was tired of walking - I didn't blame him... I wanted someone to carry me too!

There is a picture of the first initial part of the hike.... our car is at the bottom, it doesn't have a flat part to even start - just get right into the uphill climb!


Josh started off with Abby. After about 3/4 of the way up Abby realized she wasn't with me and then we switched. It wasn't hard though... she is so light I didn't really realize I had extra weight on my back.

Our first break.

Abby hanging out. Her backback carrier just sits on the ground like a loung chair unfolds...


Will is excited he isn't walking uphill right now.... he tried to stretch out the water breaks as long as he could.

The last uphill stretch before the rock.

My boys on the ledge.... all of those who are paranoid like me - don't worry, we didn't let Will go near the edge...

The view of Knoxville

There is our house... I zoomed in as best I could to see it from where we were.

Josh taking a rest before we head back down.
We slept well last night! We were so tired when we got home, but it was so fun.

Psalms 90:2

"Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God."

Psalms 46:10

"Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."

How Does Your Garden Grow?

I've always wanted to plant my own vegetable garden.... and so I decided to go for it. I told Josh in the beginning that I would be thrilled even to get just one vegetable to grow, since I have no clue what I am doing.

So, here is how it started.... a BIG pile of dirt - of which
Will played on for a few days before I started...

Then I tilled and planted...with Will's help from
his plastic rake :)!
I planted pumpkin, eggplant, carrots, squash & zucchini.

And here is my trusty sidekick. I always tell him he's my big helper... and so yesterday when we filled up the pitcher to water the garden - Will yelled, "Thanks for the water mommy... you're my good helper!"

Here are the plants getting larger.

Here is the tomato plant my mother-in-law gave me. It is growing roma tomatoes on the right and big boy tomatoes on the left.... kind of nice, although it was a surprise.

And...TA-DA! The first two veggies I picked. They are the summer squash.
I read on the internet that you should pick them between
4-6 inches long - as they taste the best that way. (or so they say!)

So, Mom are you proud!!! :)

No Girls Allowed!

Friday night, Josh and Will experienced "male bonding." They slept in our yard in a tent. This tent was huge. It sleeps 16 people. We don't own a tent so we borrowed Josh's brother's tent. Josh laughed at me for dressing Will in winter pj's - but the next day was happy about it because it was really cold that night. Josh was wishing he had something warmer on than shorts and a t-shirt.

Will was SO excited about this tent. He kept running in and out and jumping on the air mattress. I didn't think he was going to stay in it the whole night, but he slept straight through until daddy woke him up in the morning at 6am to go fishing!!!

I kept taking pictures and Josh wanted me to leave so they could be alone and have their boy time.... thanks a lot! I guess there will be more of this as Will gets older.

Good night mom!

Ok - really we are fine out here... goodnight!

I was nervous that a bear would get them or that Will would wander out or something....(Will has been know to wander out of bed at night). But they did great and the birds woke Josh up early in the morning, so they got in a few good hours fishing. Will was so worn out that on the way home from fishing at 930 am he fell asleep in the car and didn't wake up for a while after Josh pulled in at home. Successful bonding time I would say!

My Little Pony

Abby's first little pony tail! Yes, on the top of her head. She hated me putting this hair band in her hair.... but she kept it in all morning until I took it out for nap times. Its fun dressing up a girl.... even just to go outside and play in the dirt!

Too CUTE

Ok - I'm ready for my nap..... her hair stayed like this after I took out the rubber band.

Oh and now she's climbing!!! I put her in the playroom while I was starting dinner and went to check on her only about 2 minutes later because I wanted to put the gate up on the stairs... and here she was - on top of the lego table and Will was in the other room so I know he didn't put her up there. Oh NO! This girl doesn't miss a thing.

Double Take

WILL

JOSH

So identical! As if I didn't have enough proof that this is Josh's clone!
My two orphan boys! I can't help but laugh at their classic expressions.

No TV

YUMM!!!! I really love chocolate lately and I really like to bake and cook.

So, while Josh and I decided to put our direct tv on hold for a little while- I have been on the internet more since I'm not able to use the tv to watch my cooking shows. I have found a couple neat blogs on cooking. I wanted to share them with you because they make my mouth water... Enjoy!

Here are a few links....

http://pickypalate.blogspot.com/
http://priscillabakes.blogspot.com/
http://mysisterscucina.blogspot.com/
http://therecipegirl.blogspot.com/
http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/

I really want to try and make some of these desserts - I'll let you know if I do!

Thank God for CHOCOLATE!