friday night fist to the face

Picked up the boys a few minutes early today, looking forward to spending time with them over the weekend.  Like always, we strolled on the sidewalk over to the nearby pond to look for fishies.  We promised to bring bread treats for them on Monday.  I prompted the boys to climb up into their carseats and they did without incident. Rare.  As I was buckling Dexter into his seat...

I leaned in, smiling at him, as I pulled his seat belt tight and asked "so what did you have for lunch today?"

Dexter: --punches me in the mouth with a huge smile on his face--
Me:  WHAT WAS THAT FOR!!! WHY WOULD YOU PUNCH ME IN THE FACE!!!???
Dexter:  Hehe.

Gasping in shock, I finished strapping him in and told him he was going to time out when we got home.

During the 5 minute car ride:

Dexter:  Can we look for skoo buses?  Can we look for skoo buses?  Mommy! MOMMY! CAN WE LOOK FOR SKOO BUSES???
Me: I'm not talking to you right now Dexter.
Theo: You're in big, super big, trouble Mister.  How does that feel, huh?  Do my words tickle your ears? Huh?
Dexter:  BURSTS INTO TEARS.
Me: -- hides face and stifles laughter.

Back at the ranch:

Heart. Broken.

Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me? Apparently not.

Happy weekend, y'all!

~C~

recipe: hearty baked beans

My mom has made these beans for as long as I can remember at holidays and upon request.  I started making them for pitch-ins and cookouts because they are easy and a sure crowd-pleaser. This dish is warm and filling and perfect for fall as well. It could stand alone as the entree, but I've always served it as a side.  I'm excited to share the recipe with you today while linking up with Sarah from It's a Vol! for her Life Created series.

4 simple ingredients:

The instructions:

Pre-heat the oven to 350.  Brown the sausage (and mix it up - use the spicier type if your crowd likes more heat or use turkey sausage if your people don't like pork).  Drain the grease. I actually use paper towels to soak it up. No one wants greasy beans!

(Raise your hand if you have the same green Tupperware strainer from about 1975).

A step I added that I really recommend is to give the meat a few pulses in a food processor (or finely chop it with a sharp knife if you don't have a food processor).  I want the star of the show to be the beans, not the meat, so I like the texture better if I don't get a big piece of sausage in every bite. 

Drain the beans. Very important! If you skip this step, they will be soupy. 

Combine all the ingredients in an oven-safe 8x8 or 9x9 pan. 

Sprinkle with brown sugar and bake at 350 for 45 minutes until bubbly and sauce is thick. 

Eat. Eat. Eat.

Hope you try & enjoy this simple delight!

xo, 

~C~

vacation's not far away

Now is about the time Ryan and I get sad that our vacation is over.  Oh, I know we haven't even stepped foot on the plane yet, and won't for another few weeks, but as fast as time has flown since we started talking about and planning for the trip, I know we'll be sitting around in no time, lamenting about how it went by too quick and how we're left with nothing but the memories. And thousands of photos. And cheap (not-cheap) souvenirs. And the credit card bill.  I mean literally, guys, we started planning TWO YEARS ago.  And now we're within days.  Not single digits, but definitely single digit weeks.

We're getting down to the nitty gritty details. We've been scouring the mall for clearance swimsuits and shorts. That is one fantastic perk to vacationing in Florida in October - summer clothes are dirt cheap right now!  We're trying to decide whether we'll be able to carry everything on between the four of us being able to have 1 carry-on bag and a backpack type bag. But then who will manage the children? Ryan's parents and my mom are driving so they both have offered to take some items for us as well (extra shoes, swim gear, toiletries, diapers & wipes, etc). 

We might have to do a trial pack and see how it goes.  I'm making lists of things I DARE NOT FORGET, but I don't remember where any of them are right now.  (Dis?) Organized chaos, people.

The adrenaline is kicking in.  There MIGHT be a spreadsheet with our itenerary floating around.  I might have already enlisted my cousin to come stay with us the weekend before to help us pack.  I might have already told the teachers and babysitters and put a hold on our mail with the USPS.

Ramping up! Geeking out! Pinning all things family vacation/Disney World with toddlers/first flight, etc etc etc! 

Maybe I should take a deeeeep breath....

xo,
~C~