Sunday, February 20, 2011

The Kind of Place

We are expecting several family members to visit us here in a couple weeks. Family get-togethers typically elicit equal amounts of fun and stress. "Fun" because it's family. "Stress" because it's family. Wait, I meant to say: "Stress" because we have a small house and can't possibly accommodate all the loved ones we would like to.

Grandpa J. came up with a grand solution. He and Grandma will be driving their rather cozy RV with them. House guests with their own house? Lovely. I assumed they would simply camp out in front, or next to, our house. Grandpa had other plans. He suggested we look around for a campground/RV park they could comfortably call home for the couple days they would be here.

We looked online and found two locations both within minutes of our house. So, in an effort to gather additional information about the services offered, we shoved the three rug rats in the Swagger Wagon and headed out for a little look-see.

As we pulled up to Campground "A", I noticed three things immediately:

1) Each site seemed to be occupied. Strange for mid-February.
2) The RV's currently inhabiting the sites were...how shall I say this?...unique.
3) The aforementioned RV's had obviously been there for quite some time and each possessed slight modifications suggesting a vague sense of permanence.

Ignoring my first impression, Ian decided it wouldn't hurt to stop at the office and ask if they had any brochures or pamphlets we could pass on to his father. I choked back my typical glass-is-half-empty, skeptic reply and watched as he knocked on the door of the "office". When Ian asked the "manager" if they had any brochures his response was, "Do we look like the kind of place that's going to have a brochure?"

No. No you don't.

Campground "B" was more of the same. Grandpa and Grandma, you're staying with us. Bottom line.

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Ugly Pancakes

When Lindy was little I surprised her one morning with a German Pancake. As I pulled it out of the oven she grimaced and told me she WOULD NOT eat it. When I assured her that it was just a different way of making pancakes, she shrugged and said, "Yeah, well it's an ugly pancake." and walked away.

Her given nick-name has stuck. In spite of it's rough beginning, it is now one of the girl's favorite breakfast items and they request it all the time. Since it's an easy one, we end up eating it more than we probably should. (But, because it's delicious, I rarely complain.)

Puffed Oven Pancakes
(A.K.A. Ugly Pancakes)
4 Tbsp. butter or margarine
6 eggs
1 c. flour
1 c. milk
1/2 tsp. salt

Preheat oven to 400˚. Place butter in bottom of 9x13 pan (glass pans work better) and place in oven for 3 to 5 minutes or till butter melts. In a mixing bowl use a wire whisk or rotary beater to beat eggs till combined. Add flour, milk, and salt. Beat till mixture is smooth. Immediately poor into hot pan and place in oven. Bake about 25 minutes or till puffed and well browned.

Cut into wedges and serve warm. Makes 12(ish) servings (which barely feeds my family of 5).

You can top with fruit, sprinkle with powdered sugar, or top with whipped cream. Our favorite topping? Smuckers Boysenberry Syrup. Yummy!

Recipe from the Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book - 2000 Edition (doubled)

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Guess Who Had My Camera

Sorry Curtis...the shorts, the cute little boy legs, and the lack of artistic creativity gave you dead away.

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

The Cat (A.K.A. "Tigger")

Did you know I'm the meanest mom? No, really...I have it on good authority that I never, EVER, let my kids have any fun. I never buy them toys. I never let them do what they want. And I most definitely NEVER let them have any pets. (One of those statements is true.)

Why is it, then, that I keep finding this in my house?:

Our neighbor cat has obviously discovered my family's weakness for pathetic, cold-looking animals who hover at our back door.

Shoo!

Why Do I Bother?

Remember last month...when I sacrificed myself to preserve the state of my couch (or "chesterfield", as my Canadian heritage dictates)?

It seems as though it was for naught. In one short day my son managed to:

a) paint one couch cushion with pink, sparkly, nail polish.

b) dispense one large dollop of my favorite lotion (grrr!) on each and every couch cushion (and the coffee table, and the floor, and the wall...).

c) unzip one cushion cover and rip out a not-so-small amount of stuffing.

d) use a purple marker to "change" the color of the armrest.

He was obviously bent on destroying any heroic reputation I may have earned by my previous rescue. (And before you ask where I was during all of this...don't. I still haven't figured out how he did it all.)

Sunday, February 6, 2011

How We Roll


This is what we do when we stay home from Church with a yucky cough: Watch TV, snack on a bag of Alpha-Bits, and drink apple juice.

Doesn't look too awful, does it?

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Sneak Peak

Dear Nat:

Your baby is ADORABLE!

(I'm almost done...)

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Have I Mentioned...

...that Junior likes cheese?

I haven't? Well, he does. Like, a lot.