I am listening to this memoir on CD right now. And very very difficult. I have caught myself yelling out loud at the parents in the book. Let us just say it hits a little too close to home and I am finding myself very emotional- mostly irate. I am surprised a little by the vehemence of my emotions. I will give a full book review on the book blog when I finish.

I did a little work yesterday-

Of course I then forgot I had a meeting with the Preeces to go over the pictures and make decsions about which ones they liked the best. Oh well here are a couple I like.

For this one I kept trying to edit out the ugly building but didn't quite get it the way I wanted- but it will be gone somehow.

Again Brian pulled a crummy face in 90% of the pictures. I have decided that I will have to take one of his good faces and paste it on a picture where everyone else looks okay.

Breaking the ice....

For some very strange reason I have been hesitant to blog this week. Just another to do on the list. I don't need any more to dos. And whenever I come home from a trip I feel compelled to post pictures, talk about the trip and I hate doing that. Love to talk about the trips, hate the blogging about the trips. And I feel like I have to do that. But I am refusing. So if you want to call and hear cute stories about Coen and his deep hatred of whales (I am going to shoot them all if they try to look at me mommy - the whole way to seaworld mixed in with some crying because he didn't want to see whales and we were still driving there.) until he actually saw one or endless discussions about the nice weather, time shares, or swimming with babies give me a CALL and we will TALK. If you feel the need to see pictures go to Becky's blog and look at hers and then just imagine my kids in them - you'll get the gist of it. (Except many of her pictures have my secret little girl child in them- how Charlie got delivered to the wrong family is a mystery to me.)

So anyways I am on the great hunt for chapter books appropriate for 6 y/o niece who likes mysteries. I am taking any suggestions, reading a huge pile the librarians recommended and looking for more ideas- (hint hint Andrea and Kayli).

Well off to work a little on my secret project. And no I will not tell you if you don't know what it is already. Just to get Becky off my back I will do three paged before bed.

AAANNNNDDD looking at the flower pictures- why am I too lazy to edit to color correct for the blog. because I am a sorry sad sack of laziness.
feel free to comment about how wonderful I am to help me feel better- but don't expect me to change.

This is making me happy today

All the flowers are from our yard. I especially love the new hydrangea with the variegated petal. What a lovely color of chartreuse with the pink petals.

For the sake of honesty and truth this is the kitchen after the baking insanity. All those fancy food blogs with great pictures never show this side of life. I especially like the construction hat in the corner. So now I am off for a little cuddle with my main man and then dish doing since I invited a ton of people over for tomorrow. Also I have to make some brownies (cheater from a box since Alma doesn't care).

Baking Insanity

About 7 this evening I got the baking bug. So a quick trip to the store- put the kidlettes to bed. Then I started. I called some friends so tomorrow is desserts and games at our house- come on over and play (and eat). Also while I was baking the caloric feast I shared some rocky road ice cream with Coen. What, swim suit season is on the way? Oh crap. I guess I will have to be good- after the party.

This is really only halfway done. It is my cheater tart- rhubarb right now but tomorrow it will get a layer of fresh strawberries and a little glaze.

This is the cheater apple tart (thanks to pioneer woman for the idea).

This was the best pan I have ever licked, ever. Rhubarb filling. Yum.


This wasn't so bad to lick either- cherry pie filling.

Leaves for the crust

Getting ready to bake the leaves

The filling getting started. Isn't this a great pan and it is color coordinated with the filling- and to top it all off I was wearing my cherry apron. So cute of me.

Bubbling filling

The finished pie

Last night I found this:

Star Wars guys in the barn.

And this morning this:

Cowboy in the spaceship.

I love boys.

Check out the two new posts after Marika's Sr portraits. I wrote them earlier and apparently they get posted when you wrote them and not when they get finished. Any ideas how to fix it?