Cold Ears

Found him sleeping like this. Love everything about this boy...

PS. My favorite part of this is that we live in Arizona where you NEVER need winter hats outside....and inside, well, that's just silly!

Love these

We were stuck inside this morning with some really nasty weather( well, by Arizona standards). So while the boys were making a fort I worked on these. I think they turned out pretty nice. I am going to try making them with colors and patterns tomorrow afternoon. I am picturing a whole wall of silhouettes. 

Can you tell which is Ethan and which is Tyler?

Banana Cream Pie

I found this recipe a few years ago. I am not a big "pie person." I can think of a million desserts I would rather have before pie. However, I LOVE this pie. The crust is delicious and the filling is divine. So... enjoy

Banana Cream Pie

FILLING:

4 large egg yolks

2/3 cup sugar

¼ cup cornstarch

½ tsp salt

3 cups milk (works best with whole milk)

2TB butter

1Tb +1 tsp vanilla

1 cup whipped cream

2 large bananas

1. Bake pastry for baked One-Crust Pie.

2. Beat egg yolks with fork in medium bowl; set aside. Mix sugar, cornstarch and salt in 2-quart saucepan. Gradually stir in milk. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens and boils. Boil and stir 1 minute.

3. Immediately stir at least half of the hot mixture gradually into egg yolks, then stir back into hot mixture in saucepan. Boil and stir 1 minute; remove from heat. Stir in butter, vanilla.  Slice the bananas into crust.  Pour into pie crust. Press plastic wrap on filling to prevent a tough layer from forming on top. Refrigerate at least 2 hours until set.

4. Remove plastic wrap. Top pie with Sweetened Whipped Cream and additional banana slices. Cover and refrigerate cooled pie until serving. Store covered in refrigerator.

CRUST:

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon salt
 2/3 cup shortening
 3 tablespoons butter or stick margarine
 2 teaspoons vegetable oil
 1/3 cup buttermilk


1. Mix flour and salt in medium bowl. Cut in shortening and butter, using pastry blender or crisscrossing 2 knives, until particles are size of small peas.

2. Mix in oil and buttermilk with fork until all flour is moistened and pastry leaves side of bowl. Divide in half; shape each half into a ball. If making one-crust pie, wrap second ball of pastry and freeze for later use.

3 This crust can just be patted into the pie pan. NO rolling needed!! (my favorite part)

Saves My Bacon

Just wanted to pass along something we've started this year that is a total lifesaver! I knew that with the way my school schedule was and with the morning temperament of these two boys we were going to need to do something to help simplify the mornings. So...this idea was born.

At the beginning of the week I take all their laundry and I roll them up into outfits. I put their clothes, undershirt, undewear, and socks into a little bundle with a rubber-band.

 And then I put all of their little bundles into their bin.

 

Gone are the days of them picking shorts, batman socks and sweater vests. Gone are the "Mommmmmmmm, I can't find any socks!" They still get some choices over what to wear. They just pick an outfit out of their bin and they are dressed before I even come upstairs in the morning. It really has saved my bacon!!

PS. In case you are wondering I purchased a "life time supply" of rubber bands from Amazon for 5 dollars.

Birds and Broken Hearts

I love birds. So much that I have them in almost every room in the house. 

A few birds in the Living Room. 

Tyler loves the birds too. He thinks these white birds are a "momma and her babies."

Here is another bird .

A bird in the boys' bathroom. 

Over the last few weeks Tyler has become more and more fascinated with the birds. I have noticed him on a chair looking at them several times. And then I started finding this....

Everyday, many times a day, I am finding the bird from the bathroom sitting on the shelf in the living room. A pattern is developing. Each time I take the brown bird back to the bathroom and put the stepping ladder the culprit left behind away - just to find Mr. Brown bird back in the living room a couple of hours later.

When I asked Tyler why he kept moving the brown bird he would just say,

"I think him likes it a lot better in here..."

As usual, the birds were moved again this morning. And I moved them back. However, this time when Tyler saw me moving the bird he burst into tears.

"NO Momma!! The Daddy bird wants to stay in here with the mom and babies. Daddies are supposed to be with mom's and babies...not all alone!"

And I saw his concern for that Daddy bird. And all that it means to him. And my heart broke for my little baby bird - for his broken heart, for his shattered world and all he has to face. And I knew he was right. Daddy birds are supposed to be with Mommy and baby birds. 

And so for now...this is how the birds will stay.

Jarem Frye - Athlete, Amputee, Mormon

Overheard

I overheard a conversation in the car today. I'd say 90% funny - 10% concerning. 

Tyler - What year was I born?

Me - 2005

Tyler - What year was Ethan born?

Me - 2003

Tyler - What year was Dad born?

Me(wondering where this is going) - 1978 

Tyler - and you mom?

Me - 1983

Tyler - now speaking quieter to Ethan - So...I am gonna die last. Ha Ha... I will live the longest.

Ethan - No. Maybe you will get hit by a car. Then I will die last

Tyler - No, cause I always listen to the crossing guard. I will not get hit by a car!!!! (he's getting louder and louder)

Ethan(Smugly) - Well, Tyler, there aren't always crossing guards. Sometimes you will have to cross without one. And then you will get his by a car. And then I will die last!

Tyler(in shock) - Mom, is there really places without crossing guards?

Me(not really wanting to be a part of this) - Yeah Ty, sometimes you just have to look both ways...

Tyler(in tears) - I am gonna die first. Ethan makes me so mad...he wins at everything!

So...on second thought I am thinking that this is more like 40% funny and 60% concerning. Seriously the sibling rivalry between those two has taken on new dimensions!