Some Fun on Sunday as Well

Sunday was another stay at home day and we did pretty much the same stuff, sans play date.  While in the garden I found my 10th mantis egg case.  We will be crawling with babies soon!  Which is a wonderful thing to be in my opinion.  

After lunch we headed to the creek for our first trip in 2015.  We had fun in our usual ways: throwing rocks, sticks and whatever else we can find in the creek, and some splashing around.  The water is a bit high so no walking out to the other side but there was still the rocky beach area to enjoy.  

A few selfies out on the rock.  

He wanted to build a little dam and one of the rocks he handed to me was cover in eggs.  Not sure the creature they will become but we placed it back into the deeper water so they would not dry out.  

Working on his damn. 

More like a little lagoon.  

We also gathered up a wagon load of rock for our gardens.  While we were doing that Baylor gathered up the 'litter' and asked if we could take it home.  Thankfully we did not find what was formally inside the wrapper.  

Back at home we had more water balloon fun.  If you try to make a water balloon out of a big 'air' balloon, you get a water ball for a few tosses.  

Eventually, they do break.  

Which is the whole point of them anyway!  

Tuesday is Cinco de Mayo and I planned to make chicken tamales.  Which I did but my pan was too small to steam them in so I had to use my canner.  I have never made them and never even eaten one.  I watched about 10 videos on how to make them and then made up my recipe.  Hopefully they will be OK but I am taking two in for Bob on Monday to test them out.  

Before steaming for two hours: 

And after:  

Saturday Fun

We had a whole day at home without any plans to go anywhere.  But we did have plans for a short play date with Ryder from COF and school.  They came over around 10:30 and only stayed about two hours.  Baylor and I used the rest of the day to enjoy the sun.  I worked on the gardens.  What an absolute mess!  Weeds everywhere and dead stems from last year tangled up in the weeds and the new Spring growth.  

Baylor played video games for a bit and when he came outside decided it was time to get out some water balloons.  So I took a break from weeding and tied up about two dozen balloons for him.  It was sunny and in the 70's which is not water fun weather for me but for him is was just fine.  The drew targets on the driveway and aimed for them with the balloons. 

He loved it and I do love spending the time with him!  

Lower Allen Open House

After I picked up Baylor from COF we headed to the elementary school for Open House.  We were the first parents there and I was able to talk to Mrs Murray for a bit. Baylor called a schoolmate a Ding Dong the week before and he came home with a note and frowny face on his homework sheet. I asked him why he said it, he said he thought it would be funny.  I had to send a note back to Mrs Murray telling her why he said he said that, that we talked about it not being funny, and that at home we do call each other silly names, but never to belittle.  On Wednesday I was leaving COF and heard one of the older boys call another boy a ding-dong while they were playing. I asked him if that is where he heard that word. He said maybe!  I told her about that at the Open House and that I had also told Baylor that even adults try to be funny at times and fail.  She had the kids writing books from October and from April so we can compare how far they kids have improved in the last six months.  For the kids it was like Old Home Week, they waited excitedly in the hall jumping up and down when they spied a classmate coming in.  You would never had guessed they were all there together a few hours ago.  

Molly is Baylor's new girlfriend, though I am not sure Molly knows that.  I told her parents about it and they were unaware of the situation.  See Max in the hallway on the lookout for more kids?  

Baylor showed me his strawberry which he had made into a ninja turtle, which Mrs Murray said was one of the more creative as most of the kids just glued on foam shapes and googly eyes.  

There was more work in the hallway as well.  The kids also walked us down to the music room but the music teacher was not in there, just the art teacher who shares the room with her.  

What he really wanted to do was play and thankfully some of the other kids did as well and the parents obliged.  I think I was out there almost as long as I was inside at the Open House.  Until the lightening started and then we left!  I cannot believe they have only six weeks left!  

Before and After: My Hair

Yes, I know, I should smile in selfies.  

I Hate Raspberry Pruning Day

I love my gardens, but as I get older, I don't love the Spring clean up.  I especially pruning all the thorny vines I have everywhere.  Like the black raspberries, the red raspberries, and the yellow raspberries.  But they need trimmed back so I just plow ahead.  

Halfway done.  

And then look like I got into a fight with a kitten. 

Return of the Smoker and A Few Others

My niece is growing so fast and I still have not met her.  The family was in FL for the weekend for a memorial for Laura's grandma who died a few years ago.  Presley had her first dip in a pool and in the ocean. They said she loved it.  

Saturday I smoked a brisket and a pork shoulder for our lunch on Sunday.  They were on the smoker for about five hours and then in the oven for about four more.  

And I think I nailed it this time!  Even Bob was impressed when I showed him the pictures and gave him some to eat.  I think finishing off in the oven is the key for me, I can let it braise a bit and the meat does not dry out.  

My mom is a champion dish stacker and I learned well from her.  If there was an Olympic event in dish stacking, I would totally medal.  And no, I did not let the dishes pile up for a week:  I bought new picnic plates and bowls and had to wash them all. 

For later that day we had guests arriving.  The McGraws and most of the Dwyer-Allen family come over for a visit.  Baylor requested churros, his favorite snack.  He really just likes anything covered in cinnamon sugar but these are certainly a favorite.  

I did not take a lot of photos, but I did get one of Tara watercolor painting an apple blossom picture and Lucas working on his flowers in acrylics. The boys had fun working on a dinosaur dig that Tara had brought up for them.  Cullen was the most determined to release the dinosaur and in the end we sunk the clay block in a bowl of water and freed the bones.  I had wanted to make treasure stones for their visit but never made it to anywhere to pick up items to hide inside.  Now I know I need to work on that as I think they would enjoy those as well.   

Mad Chop Stick Skills!

At night Baylor has to ready all of his friends and he often wants a photo shoot of his collection for the night.  I guess I raised him with a camera always in his face so that is what he expects. 

After work Wednesday Gloria said to meet them at Tokyo Diner for some hibachi dinner. I have wanted to take Baylor there for a long time but did not want to go without Gloria.  I thought he would love the dinner show and he did!  He also loved the cheater chopsticks, the salad, and the soup.  

I love the fire show and made sure the was paying attention during the flaming flattop.  

And the onion volcano. 

He loved the fried rice and some of the veggies.  He ate most of the beef as well as that is his favorite meat right now.  He even fed me some of the lesser liked veggies using the chopsticks.  He struggled with the rice and had to resort to the fork for that.  I cannot wait to go there again with him!  

And he got a new mountain lion when he was out with Mama at Bass Pro buying new fishing gear.  We did not have a mountain lion and he convinced her he needed one.  He fits right into the group.