{our day in pictures} valentines day 2013

** Store bought cookies and card for the hubs. Sometimes it's just easier to buy it. 

** Fun in the tub while momma gets ready for the day.

** Approximately 2.2 seconds after this picture, I see that Laci has squirted a large blob of lotion into Mia's hands. So much for a sweet sisterly moment. And just as I started to say "No," Mia smeared the lotion all down the front of her shirt and into her hair. She sure smelled pretty.

** About 5.6 minutes later, after changing her clothes, she disappeared. Once I realized it was too quiet, she reappeared with red lip gloss smeared all over both hands. Miraculously, there wasn't any on her clothes, face, or hair. It was at this point that I put them both in their carseats in the car so I could finish packing our stuff for the day and make it out the door without any more mishaps. I don't have photographic evidence of this incident, but if you know Mia, then you know this isn't hard to believe.

** We played with my old Strawberry Shortcake dolls at Grammy's house.

**Miss Harper practiced her smiles. 

** And then she practiced her sad face. 

 ** Back at home, Daddy brought stuffed animals for the girls.

** A very rare "sweet" Mia moment.

** Someone got caught stealing Rose.  Yep, that's the Mia I recognize.

** He's such a good guy.

** It was 77* today!! Windows open! 

** The hubs brought home tri tip to BBQ. I suppose that almost counts as making dinner.  We would have eaten outside, too, but the mosquitoes were already making a meal of us.

** I made my very favorite potatoes...thank you Pinterest. 

 

** And since I can't end with an ugly picture of potatoes, here's the beautiful flowers Ryan brought home for me.

It was a Happy Valentine's Day, indeed.

our weekend plus friday

Life just happens sometimes, in such a way that you lose track of time and suddenly realize it's the middle of September, and I wonder "how did I get here?"  Also, I have been trying to catch up on sleep that I've been missing out on for something like three years.  Going to bed earlier instead of basking in the quietness that happens after the girls are in bed.  I think it is what my sanity needs most at the moment.

Our weekend was quiet, simple, and not unlike many other weekends this Summer, except Ryan didn't have to work Sunday.  I said it, he did not have to work Sunday.  We might be getting our weekends back soon, but I don't want to jinx anything.

Pieces of our weekend in pictures:

Friday

Big girl braids.

 Feeding the horses and Maverick bombs another picture.

 Mia keeps her distance, she isn't too sure about those horses yet.

Saturday

 Loving their brother.

Who wouldn't love a face like that?

(Mom, these pictures are for you).

BBQ Pizza with homemade dough and the freshest toppings you can think of.

Sunday

Coloring.

More BBQ.  Tri tip, yummm.

Some pool time.

And a sweet, silly face.

The End.

pancakes

Today, I want to talk about pancakes. I love pancakes - I love to eat them and I love to make them. They remind me of my childhood, they are warm and filling, they are my comfort food.


~ pancake batter to the right, baby finger in brownies to the left ~


Laci helped my mom make pancakes yesterday morning. Yes, even at my age, my mama still spoils me with homemade pancakes. And homemade syrup. I like to make simple homemade syrup: sugar, water, maple flavoring, boil it up and you're done. My mom likes to get all complicated and make two batches of syrup: one thin batch (like I do) and one thick batch. When mixed together, you have the perfect consistency for syrup - not too thin, not too thick. I don't have time for such precision. I just make the thin syrup, and when piping hot, it's good enough for me.

The pancake recipe we use isn't anything special, but is the perfect base for adding blueberries, chocolate chips, cinnamon, whatever you want to add to "fancy" it up. I don't like "fancy" pancakes.  Just butter and syrup over plain old pancakes for me, thank you.

One time I made blackberry syrup. It was delicious. It took more than two minutes. I have not made it again.

This recipe successfully turned my husband from a pancake non-liker to a pancake lover. I cannot guarantee it will have such amazing results for you, but it is pretty good.

So, without further ado, here is the amazing plain pancake recipe, and my unsolicited commentary:

AMAZING PLAIN PANCAKES

Ingredients:
1 egg
1 1/4 cups flour
1 1/4 cups milk*
2 tbsp vegetable oil
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp baking powder**
1/2 tsp baking soda**
1/2 tsp salt

*I use 1 1/2 cups milk because I like thinner pancakes. Also, the original recipe calls for buttermilk, but I just use regular whole milk.
**Don't confuse the baking powder and baking soda. They'll still be pancakes but they will probably look a little weird

Mix all the ingredients together. Melt butter in a pan over medium heat. Pour the batter, flip when you see bubbles, and cook until golden and delicious on both sides. If you want add a little crisp to the edges, which I personally like, put some Crisco in the pan with the butter.

***

Did you know pancakes are best enjoyed in your pajamas? They are. Also, they are excellent for dinner. I believe Ryan and I have had pancakes for dinner more than any other meal. They are my go-to dinner when I'm short on time and completely unprepared (also known as I haven't been to the grocery store in ages, or all the meat we have is still in the freezer).

Thus ends my love note to pancakes. And since pancakes are so fun for me, and I had fun taking pictures of the pancake fun, and because this week's theme at You Capture is "something fun," and because I just wrote the word "fun" five times in this sentence, I'm linking up with Beth at ishouldbefoldinglaundry, and all the other "something fun" photos.