Fun in the Pool!!

My sister-in-law, Sarah, invited us to go swimming in her in-law's neighbor's pool this week, and we had a blast. At first the boys didn't want to get in the pool, then they were ok with sitting on the edge with their feet in the water. Then I guess they saw that their baby sister LOVED the water and didn't want to be outdone, so they decided they wanted to get in.

Oh, yeah...they had water guns: double the fun!

Happy Birthday, Lance!!!!

On May 25, 2010, my little Lance turned 3 years old. That's 3 years of his cuteness, silliness and...Lance-ness.

We celebrated at Mary and Andy's house. Red Velvet Cake. Wiggly candles. Lots of family.

I don't know if you can see it in this picture but one of the presents he got (from Aunt Sarah) was a caterpillar sprinkler that shoots water everywhere. At first Lance would only run around it at a distance where the water couldn't get him. Then I picked him and ran through it with him. His response: "Do it again, Mommy!" So we ran in circles around it and got very wet, and it was so much fun.

Afterwards, we sat on the porch and ate ice pops. One of the best parts of summer is getting wet in the sprinkler, and then eating sticky messy ice pops on the front porch. Now that I think about it, it may have been more effiicient to give them the ice pops first, and then let them wash themselves off in the sprinkler....oh, well.

I think Lance had a fun time. He has a laugh that will take him far.

I 'Lost' It...

I debated on whether or not I should post this, but it was so funny, I just had to write it down somewhere....
The other day, Lucas was having a 'rough' morning. It just seemed like his mommy refused to give him anything he wanted, and when he tried to 'convince' mommy that she should give him what he wanted (with a loud, angry voice), she would give him a spanking. He apparently decied that something had to be done to put an end to these injustices.
Fast forward to daddy's arrival home - and the one thing he forgot to consider in his plan: Daddy: " Where's my belt?" Mommy: "I put it on the couch - I've had to use it several times this morning." Daddy: "It's not on the couch." I went to the place I thought I had put it....it wasn't there. Lucas passed by me, and I asked him where daddy's belt was. He pointed behind the bedroom door and said, "I lost it." I looked, and there was Ben's belt on the floor behind the bedroom door. I asked him if he put it back there, and he said, "Yes" and then in a sing-song voice, "so you can't spank me".
How can you not laugh at that?!!
.

Step One: Complete!

At the beginning of the year, I resolved that i would get my NIC (that's: National Interpreter Certification) by the end of the year. This involves taking both a written test and a perfomance test/interview. Well, I am very excited to announce that this morning I took the NIC Knowledge Exam (written test) and PASSED!!! I needed a score of 5oo to pass and I got a score of 700. Praise the LORD!!!

A Science Lesson from Lucas:

The difference between smoke and steam:

Smoke comes from fires.

Steam comes from Thomas.

The Best Chocolate Cake Ever:

Yes, it was THAT good!!
Here's the recipe:

2 cups flour
2 cups sugar
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
(mix in a bowl - set aside)

1 cup water
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 cup butter
(combine in a small saucepan, bring to just boiling; add to dry ingredients and mix on high until thoroughly combined)

2 eggs
1/2 cup buttermilk
1-1/2 tsp vanilla
(add to mixture, beat for one minute - batter will be thin)

Pour batter into greased 13x9x2 inch pan or 15x10x1 inch pan. Bake in 350 degree oven: 25 min. for 15x10x1"; 35 for 13x9x2".

Frosting:
In a medium saucepan combine 1/4 cup butter, 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder, and 3 tablespoons of buttermilk. Bring to boiling; remove from heat. Add 2-1/4 cups powdered sugar and 1/2 tsp vanilla. Beat until smooth. Pour warm frosting over warm cake, spreading evenly. Cool completely. Enjoy. Go back for seconds. Ben does!

Kid Funnies

Lance got some candy at church: "Wook, I got a wahwy-pop! I eat it a-mahwow." (Of course, it's not nearly as funny in writing as it is when you see his facial expressions and gestures that go with it - we really need to get a video camera.)


Lucas: "Tissues are for snot; napkins are for faces."



Lucas: "Mommy, you got-for (forgot) your purse."



And the winner:
Lucas: "Mommy, you're my best buddy!"