Lemon Cake Mix Cookies

I made these yummy Lemon Cake Mix Cookies after church yesterday. 

Go to Let's Stout Cookin! for the super easy recipe!

He's Just So Handsome!

I think my kids are so stink'n cute.

But really, when I look at this little guy, I just can't belive how

in love with him I am! 

He is the most beautiful little guy I have ever seen!

I just can't get over it.

Craft A Day

When Samantha was about three years old, I did one craft with her everyday.  We called it "craft a day".  I didn't have any other kids, I had finally graduated from CSUS, and I got to stay home with her--so there was plenty of time to do a craft with her everyday.  Now that Alison is the same age, my life is a little bit busier with three kids.  I don't always have time to do a craft everyday, but we try.  Usually we end up doing several little crafts or preschool-like activities, every couple of days. 

Here are some of the things we did today:

She painted a little pot. 

We'll do more with this once the paint is dry.

She did a pattern activity, practicing patterns and gluing.

First-School has some great free preschool printables.

Then she worked on color sorting with dyed pasta.

Horsey Rides

My awesome friend gave us this bouncy horse.  Thanks Jen!

He loved it!  Oh yeah, and Jake did too.  Haha!

No really, Jake loved it!

I can't wait for the girls to see it tomorrow. 

Raise a Reader

I'm trying really hard to instill a love of reading in my children.

So far, I think I'm doing a good job.

Samantha LOVES Berenstain Bear books!

Stylin 6's

Samantha had the flu for several days.  The poor girl gets so sick, so often.  This time she missed school, her soccer game and three birthday parties.  She was so sad! 

So I bought her this little Barbie card game to play

when she was feeling better.

She loved it!  It's like crazy 8's, but with a Barbie theme and

it's called Stylin 6's. 

She also got a phone call from Aunt Jamie to check up on her and see how she was feeling.

Thank you Jamie! 

It really lifted her spirits and she's excited to spend the day with you next Saturday.

Labor Day at Big Break

Labor Day was lots of fun this year.  We spent the afternoon at

Big Break Regional Shoreline with my parents.

My Dad!

Look at those Cheeto fingers!

We made sandwiches and took a late lunch out to the park.

There's a really cool giant topographical map of the local cities and delta waterways on the ground.

There is a big sandpit with a digger toy.  Sam loved it!

There was a broken water fountain that wouldn't turn off, so the sandpit had a really high water table.

Alison washing her hands in the ever-flowing water fountain.

Look, Alison climbed Mount Diablo!

Sam is pointing to our house!

We found it on the map.

Close-up view!

My beautiful Mom!

Sam brought her fishing pole to try and catch crawdads.

Dad standing in front of Big Break.

I was holding the fishing pole here.

Sam and Grandpa

Me and Jason enjoying the beautiful day.

Sam loves hanging out with Grandpa. 

She told me, "He lets me do cool things like climb on the rocks."

Alison spent a lot of time dropping rocks off the pier.

Here she is running back to get more rocks.

Jake loved playing in the sand!

I found California State Univeristy, Sacramento. 

It's land-locked between the river, the 50 freeway,

and the train tracks.

Jake is sitting right where we live.

(And apparently not happy about it.)

My handsome boys.

I climbed Mount Diablo in one giant step!

Jason figured out that the level of the map is made so that the waterways flow accurately.

The kids thought it was so cool to watch the water flowing down the rivers and through all the many delta waterways.

It was a good day!

Baked Zucchini Fries

You've just got to try these yummy Baked Zucchini Fries!! 

I made them yesterday and ate way too many. 

Click HERE to see the recipe on Let's Stout Cookin!

Sprinkle Pancakes

We often have breakfast for dinner on Sunday evenings. 

Tonight I tossed in some sprinkles for the girls and suddenly the pancakes were....

SO COOL!!!!

(And so was I.)

Sam's First Spelling Test

Samantha had her first spelling test on Sept 2nd....

and she got them all correct!

Yay Sam!