A Whole Lotta Birthdays!

Happy Birthday Ella and Harrison

You are 4 today.

I can't believe you went from this

to this

so darn fast!

I made cupcakes for the twins to take to school as a treat.  Ella requested pink cupcakes with purple frosting while Harrison requested green cupcakes with blue frosting.  Here's the result.

I put a miniature rolo candy on the top of each one.  Those were a big hit and they were both really excited about their cupcakes for their school friends.

Here they are with their fabulous teacher Ms. Tish.   

To make today more exciting, it is Ms. Tish's birthday too.  We made Ms. Tish her own tray of birthday cupcakes to share with the other teachers. (Or to eat all for herself if she wants.  It is her birthday after all.)

Not only is today the twins birthday, and Ms. Tish's birthday, but it is Jessica's birthday as well.  (She was obviously meant to be part of our family.) 

So we wish her a big HAPPY BIRTHDAY too.

Too bad she can't be here for her own pink/purple or green/blue cupcake.  I guess we will just have to make her her own birthday dessert when she and John Robert next come for a visit.

We will be celebrating more birthdays later this month and will have a big birthday bash in a few weeks.  

So for now

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY TWINS!

I love you!

TAX DAY!

From one non-practicing CPA who didn't do tax work when I was a practicing CPA and who was up way too late finishing her own taxes to all of you

Don't Forget...

Today is Filing Day

If you haven't filed your tax return yet you better get it in the mail today.  You have until midnight.

On a happier note...in honor of tax day Sonic has half price drinks and slushes ALL DAY!

I've already stopped for my afternoon caffeine fix.

Now....off to make cupcakes for school for my barely not tax day baby twins who will turn four tomorrow.

Around here, the fun never stops.

HAPPY TAX DAY EVERYONE!

National Sibling Day

In honor of National Sibling Day

here is a big

I LOVE YOU

to my favorite brother 

and sister

You are best siblings a girl could ask for.

And the best aunt and uncle these siblings could ask for!

Hoppy Easter

This year, we spent our Easter in Cincinnati visiting Anna, John Robert and Jessica.  We made a "long" weekend of it since the kids were out of school the Friday before Easter.  I asked, made, encouraged husband to take Friday off as well so we could spend a little more time actually in Cincinnati.  We left Thursday around 5:00pm and drove to Nashville, about half way, and stopped for the night.  It made the  600+ mile trip from Arkansas to Cincinnati much more "doable" by breaking it into two days.   Too bad we couldn't take our time on the return trip and make that into two days as well.

For lunch on the way up we stopped at McDonald's.  I know, not the healthiest of lunch options, but they had a playground and getting some energy out was more important that calorie content at that time. They had a life sized statue of Ronald McDonald that Ava absolutely loved.  She climbed all over Ronald McDonald posing for pictures.

 Honk Honk!!

We brought beautiful weather to Cincinnati with us and tried to make the most of it.  Friday afternoon after we arrived Husband, John Robert, and Jessica took the four kiddos to a nearby park for some outdoor fun.

On Saturday we took advantage of Cincinnati's awesome children's museum.  They had all sorts of things to play with, a huge water table, ball yard, gas station, grocery store, veterinary clinic, and indoor climbing yard.  All four children had a blast playing and exploring all the new things.

Hey Dad...Look at me.  I need a little red convertible!

Price check on aisle 2

Future star of the stage and screen

Shoveling rocks

Bus Driver...take me to the beach!

The indoor climbing area was called The Woods and was made to look like a forest.  They even had a small area just for toddlers to explore.

She sure looks up to something here.  And yes....she spent most of her time at the museum with only one shoe on.  She kept taking one of them off and I finally just gave up.

After the museum we dyed some Easter Eggs.

 

Since we had to leave Sunday morning for the long drive home, we had our Easter dinner Saturday night complete with ham, roasted herbed potatoes, asparagus, brussel sprouts, deviled eggs, rolls, and peach & blueberry cobbler and ice cream.  Just for me John Robert and Jessica found some of my favorite Jeni's splendid ice cream, goat cheese with red cherries.  Yummy!  It was all delicious.  At dinner we got to meet my sister's new boyfriend, Mike or Michael as she told me to call him.  We all really liked him and he seemed to handled our "four kids 5 and under" chaos very well.  The kids have had fun telling Gigi, Grandma, PaPa, and all their teachers at school how they got to meet Anna's new boyfriend Mike.  If he comes to visit Arkansas he is already a celebrity.

The kids were a little worried the Easter Bunny wouldn't be able to find us in Ohio but their fears were unfounded.  The Easter Bunny brought all sorts of goodies to not only the kids, but the rest of us as well.  There were new books, batting gloves, Hot Wheels cars, babies, lipstick (really cherry chaptstick), and movies in the baskets along with all the yummy candy.  

We had a fantastic, if too short, visit.  Poor Ava came down with a stomach bug on Saturday night so she spent all night Saturday and all day Easter Sunday vomiting.  Not the best way to spend your Easter but by Monday morning she was back to her usual happy self.  

The "big kids" all slept together on a big futon cushion on the living room floor.  I snapped this quick picture of "Brotherly Love" Saturday night after they had all crashed from sheer exhaustion.

When we left Sunday morning it was drizzly and cool.  I snapped this quick photo out the window of the sign for the town of Bonnieville, Kentucky in honor of one of our favorite teachers Ms. Bonnie.  I had intended to get the kids out and have them pose by the sign but due to the weather and baby girl's stomach bug we didn't get the chance.  Next time Ms. Bonnie, I promise.

Thanks Anna, John Robert, and Jessica for a great Easter.  We miss you guys already.

Spring Break Fun

I know I am behind but things have been crazy around here.  I mean they are always crazy but baseball season has started and this year both John David and Harrison are playing so that means double the baseball craziness, I mean fun.   But baseball fun is for another day.  Today is for Spring Break.

We didn't have any big exciting plans or take any big exciting vacation for spring break as husband had to work.  It's too bad law firms don't have spring break too.  The children and I did do a few things to have fun and keep ourselves busy during our week off of school.  Of course, the weather, which had been beautiful the week before spring break, turned cool and rainy the week of spring break.  Oh well, we made the best of it and enjoyed the pretty days we had working in the garden and going to the zoo while spending the rainy days inside making yummy treats.

We had a wonderful day at the zoo with our good friend Kevin.

Ella is keeping the boys in line

Look mom....I'm a scarecrow!

Don't forget me.  I'm having fun too!

We travelled to Snowball to spend Friday night on the farm with Grannie Susie and Grandpa  and the cows, of course.  On Saturday we went to a cattle auction at a local sale barn.  Ever since marrying into a "cattle family" and becoming a part time cowgirl I have wanted to go see a cattle sale.  A cattle sale or livestock auction is exactly what it sounds like.  Local farmers bring their livestock to the barn to be sold at auction, typically to feed lots or other farming operations.  Most of the cattle sold are bull calves that will be steered and fattened up before being taken to the butcher and turned into hamburger.  We all had a good time at the auction.  The children loved seeing all the horses and cows and really loved spending time with Granny Susie and Grandpa.  The only problem...the calves being sold were so cute I wanted to buy them all and put them on our farm...not to fatten up but to save from their eventual fate.

Here are a few shots from our adventure to the livestock auction.  

The sale barn

 A couple of calves waiting for their turn in the ring.  Aren't they adorable?

 A horse also waiting patiently for his turn.

The boys checking out the cattle in the pens behind the auction barn

And just a cute shot of Baby Girl.  She sure loves her daddy!

 We had a fun spring break but Mommy sure was ready for school to start again.  What are we going to do to keep everyone busy this summer?  Better get to work on that.

Best Ever Scones

We are on spring break this week and wouldn't you know it but after last week being warm and beautiful this week has been a bit on the cool side.  Supposedly a cold front was coming through today with cooler temperatures and a cold rain.  There was ever the potential for ice and snow in the northern part of the state.  Well, the temperatures are definitely colder today than yesterday but so far...no rain.  Not that I am complaining because I'm not.  My three 'big kids" have been outside a good part of the day despite the cold temperature so I'm glad it hasn't started raining yet.  I'm sure it is coming though.

Since the weather turned colder and we were waiting on rain, I decided to do a little baking this morning.  I decided on scones.  They are easy, delicious, and do not qualify as a dessert so they are fair game since it is still Lent.  I decided to make two batches, one savory and one sweet.  I took pictures and posted them to facebook and was quickly asked for the recipe so here goes.

Best Ever Scones

(I got this recipe out of Southern Living a couple of years ago and they are delicious.  When I found the recipe it gave a number of different flavors, both savory and sweet.  I've tried a good number of them but I also just use the basic recipe and add whatever flavors I want or have on hand.)

2 cups All Purpose Flour

1/3 cup Sugar

1 Tablespoon Baking Powder

1/2 Teaspoon Salt

1/2 cup Cold butter, cut into cubes

1 cup Whipping cream, divided.

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.  

Stir together first 4 ingredients in a large bowl.  

Cut butter into the flour mixture with a pastry cutter until crumbly and the mixture resembles small peas.  

Put the mixture in the freezer for 5 minutes.  

Remove from the freezer and add 3/4 cup plus 2 Tablespoons cream, stirring until the dry ingredients are just moistened.  

At this point I add whatever flavors I am using.  Today I made ham and cheddar (savory) and strawberry (sweet).

Turn the dough out onto wax paper; gently press or pat dough into a 7" round.  The mixture will be crumbly.

Cut the round into 8 wedges.  Place wedges 2" apart on a lightly greased baking sheet.

Brush the tops with the remaining 2 Tablespoons of cream until moistened.

Bake at 450 degrees for 13 to 15 minutes until golden.

If you are making a savory scone, omit the 1/3 cup of sugar.  All the other ingredients remain the same.

For the ham & cheddar scones I added approximately 3/4 cup of chopped ham and 3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese.  

Today was the first time I made strawberry scones and I added approximately 3/4 cup chopped strawberries.  I used chopped frozen strawberries because that was what I had on hand.  I will let you know that in my experience when you are making these scones with frozen berries they spread a little more while baking.  This makes them not quite as beautiful but just as tasty.   The kids and I have already been sampling these.

The other variations suggested by Southern Living were Chocolate-Cherry, Apricot Ginger, Cranberry-Pistachio, Brown Sugar Pecan, Bacon Cheddar & Chive, Pimento Cheese, and Rosemary Pear Asiago.  I have also made cranberry orange and white chocolate craisin and both were delicious.

The only downside of this recipe....it only makes 8 scones and they are so delicious 8 just isn't enough.

Enjoy and happy baking!

A Playful Saturday

Last Saturday the whole Horton clan was invited for a play date at our good friend Susana's house.  The five kids, they included Ava in most of their fun, played all day and had an absolute blast.   They went to the park, twice, flew kites, painted, rode tricycles, and even hunted for Easter eggs.  The girls also dressed up in Susana's "fancy" dresses and put on a dance recital for us.

Here they are with "Easter Egg Hats"

Harrison the Fireman reporting for duty

The girls dance recital

John David wanted to dance as well

Ava was getting in on the dancing action

The whole gang

As we were leaving all three of mine that can talk were already asking when Susana could come play at our house.  I'd call that one successful play date.  Thank you to Hank, Susan, and Susana for a fantastic Saturday of fun.