Spring Break

Before the sickness fell upon our house, we had an awesome spring break with the girls. We went strawberry picking at Froberg Farms in Alvin, went to Brenham and the Blue Bell Creamery, the Antique Rose Emporium (this one was for me!), several parks and Barrington Living History Farm.


FROBERG FARMS



We took my mom with us to pick strawberries. This was opening week and the plants were still loaded with big, red, juicy berries. The girls picked 14 pounds of strawberries. Once we got them home, I cleaned and chopped all 14 pounds. I then divided them between 2 bowls. The first bowl, I left them chopped. The second bowl I pureed them in the blender with a little splenda. Then for Katie's birthday, we used all the berries for strawberry shortcake. Let's just say, they were YUMMY!


Blue Bell Creamery
The Friday of spring break, David took off work so we could ROAD TRIP! We left the house at 6am...the girls weren't too happy until they found out we were going to an ice cream factory and they got to eat it. We made it in time for the 9:30 tour. If you haven't been there, it's pretty interesting. The best thing is at the end of the tour, they let you choose from about 12 different flavors. You get a huge scoop of ice cream. I had Southern Blackberry Cobbler....mmmmmmm...sorry, I'm salivating!



Antique Rose Emporium
This one was for me. The ARE in Independence specializes in old or found roses. They take cuttings from old roses found in abandoned cemeteries, along old fences and around old abandoned houses and start them. I at one time had about 10 old roses and LOVED them. They are so hardy and maintenance free. So...I've started my collection here in P-land. I bought a Pioneer rose named after Texas pioneer Thomas Affleck. When it begins to bloom. I'll post pictures. In the meantime, enjoy these pictures of the girls at the garden.








Barrington Living History Farm

The Barrington Farm is at Washington-on-the Brazos, the birthplace of Texas. The farm is a living history farm where the volunteers and employees dress in period costume and "work" the farm. It's as if you step back into history. The farm house is the actual house that Dr. Anson Jones, the last president of Texas, lived in with his family. The girls really enjoyed this. They were amazed at the toys that kids in the 1840's had to play with. They also learned how to pick cotton, wash clothes using a scrub board and play with a stick and hoop. We look forward to going back again when they are older.









Needless to say, we had a wonderful time together.

Sick AGAIN!

Yes.

We are sick again.

Well, really we are still sick.

I took the girls to the doctor over spring break last week because both of them were still complaining of their ears hurting. Well, the doc couldn't believe they weren't hurting worse than they were because both ears on both girls were extremely inflamed with protruding ear drums.

WHAT?

We just finished a round of antibiotics 2 days before. So...we got a stronger antibiotic for another ten days.

Lovely.

I've been pumping the girls full of yogurt to combat the nasty side-effects of the antibiotic.

Didn't help.

Sometime between Friday and Sunday, Madeleine caught a stomach virus!

She came home from school Monday with a fever and stomach ache. She's been home ever since. Looks like she's getting another week home.

In the mean time, David's been gone, I'm going crazy and "little- bit" has been getting into EVERYTHING!!! I haven't slept more than 4 hours in the last 3 days and am starting to get a little loopy.

Luckily, Daddy is on his way home.

I plan on escaping this funny farm on Saturday for a little R&R at a local scrapbook store!

Gotta run...K's using the back of the couch as a balancing beam!

Future Palentologist

Last week, a good friend Debbie, gave Katie a mini dinosaur dig kit. ( kind of like this.)

She had so much fun with it. She even found some goggles to wear. She told me, "Safety first momma!"



Then I see that she is holding a paper towel up to her face. I ask her what the towel is for. She replies, "I can't be breathing in trillion year old dust." Like duh...silly me.

When Mom is Sick...

...this is what happens.





(That's a broken lamp you see above the sink)

Big Daddy's Birthday

45. David turned 45 this year. When did I marry an old man?! Ha. He just gets better with age and I wouldn't trade him for ANYTHING! As usual, we had the family here to celebrate. Here is M & K singing their version of the Happy Birthday song.

Valentine's Day Party

I know. I know. I'm a little late, but I've got a very good excuse. I've been sick for the last 2 weeks with a horrible sinus infection/ tonsillitis. Finally after 3 different antibiotics, I feel human again.

These pictures are from Madeleine's school V-day party. My mom, Granny, came with us. I thought this was an awesome picture of the two of them.




You can see in the photo above M's birdhouse valentine box she made. Everyone else in her class just decorated a plain old box. Hers was the best! (I know, I'm biased!)

Food Critic

I have a food critic living in my house. Katie seems to have become our little foodie. She will try just about anything and has definite opinions on what she's tried.

I took the girls to McDonalds this morning for breakfast because the Mr and his Bro left to go fishing bright and early. Madeleine LOVES the burritos but Katie has never tried them. This morning, she asked M if she could try it. She took a bite. Chewed. Swallowed. Thought for a moment. Then said with a very serious look on her face..."Hmmm. A tad spicy. Goes down easy. But I like it!"

Last week, I made Chicken Cordon Bleu. Katie wrinkled up her nose and said "YUCK!!" while I was preparing it. When it was done, she tried it and exclaimed..."YUMMY! It's like it's got a surprise inside!"

I've got to quit letting her watch Iron Chef!