Carley and Stetson

Here some cute pics I got of these two yesterday.. 

Carley is completely potty trained!  We are so excited!  It's been an ongoing process since she was about 20 months old.  She was so good back then.. hated being wet.. but it was very hit and miss... Now she is just a big girl !   She is learning to play and entertain her brother.  She use to be very rough with him... just trying to be lovable.  Still of course have to watch them close... but none the less.. she loves the little guy to death! 

Stetson is eating finger foods now.. bread, baby yogart pieces etc.  He also likes applesauce, but still nurses so much that the food that he does eat is probably mostly just helping him learn how and helping to keep him occupied.   He is getting very vocal.. I'll have to post a short video soon!  He cracks me up trying to talk!

Fun in the kitchen....

I've been trying to do a lot of baking... since I can't be outside riding horses and gardening  Actually I use to be in the kitchen quite a bit when I was younger.. but when I started working hard on the ranch.. I sort of moved out of the kitchen and someone else took my place.   These choc. chip almond cookies have to be the best I have ever made!!!  I sort of followed the recipe on the butter flavored Crisco can (I know it's not that healthy).  But anyway.. thought I post a picture since you all can't taste them, you can pretend!

My first pizza dough in the new house.....mmm it was good.. but for some reason I 

forgot to take an after picture! 

Yummy Choc. Chip and Almond cookies!

Pizza Recipe

I woke up this morning with two little ones in my bed....   I decided to get up early with Colton and leave the others sound asleep.  After spending some time with Colton doing some school, checking my email and drinking my coffee.  I went up to a smiling baby laying in a complete different position with Carley sitting below him trying to take off his diaper... as I walked in they both looked at me with big smiles.. and Carley says "He's Wet".... darn.. I didn't have my camera handy!!!!  It was just too cute!


  Here is an example of the conversations I have with my three year old! 

Colton:  Mommy!  Can you put some of these ear drops in my ear?

Me:  But you don't have an ear infection, that's for Stetson.

Colton: But when I was a baby and had a really big head, I did! 


oh how I love my kids!!!!  I can't believe he'll be four this fall... so excited to see what the next year of his life will bring.  I suppose he'll be learning to ride a bike soon.  Lately we have been going on walks and I put the two younger ones in my jogger stroller and he rides a little three wheel bike.  It's great cause it's excersize for him and me!!!  Carley even tries to scoot along on her little motercycle which she has to just use her feet to roll it... she goes most of the way actually and then it's little enough I put it on top of my stroller while she finishes the walk buckled in...   the other day I had to hurry and stick her in cause it started to rain.. I was freaked out it would start pouring on everyone (mostly worried about Stetson) but fortunatly it only sprinkled and we made it back in perfect time! 

Our yard is lush and green.... we finally got a little lawn mower and I've been meaning to get gas for it this week but then decided that Sean needs SOMETHING to do when he gets home.. I'm sure I'll be doing it plenty when he's gone! Although since he's been gone almost two weeks and we had only been in the house 4 days when he left... we still have LOTS to do... this week is going to be full. He'll be working during the day.  Basically we'll just have evening to do stuff together.  I bought a captians bed for Carley's room and a matching desk off craigslist that I'll use for my lap top.  We have to go pick that up from another military family. It's solid pine!  I can't wait!!!  We have to haul at least two more loads from storage.. go on post and get other military paper work taken care of... Tricare... etc...   not to mention all the unpacking and organizing in the garage left to do!  I swear I have done a lot!  But some of that Sean has to help me with!  Anyhow... I've really been enjoying our new home.. with three kids I have plenty to do during the day and even managed to meet two new ARMY WIVES!  We met once at the park and then had a scrapbooking night last night at my house! We plan to do it every week.  I made home made pizza which everyone LOVED.. they want the famous Hewitt recipe.  I changed it just a tad.. by using olive oil and some basil seasoning.

Here's the recipe if anyone is interested

3 cups warm water
2 TBS Yeast
salt
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup oil
little Italian and Basil & Garlic seasoning

Then slowly add 3 cups flour, pour onto floured counter top and kneed in approx.
2 more cups.. including whats on the counter.  Kneed for about 5 minutes and until it's not sticky.
Place in large greased glass bowl, place in oven on warm.  I usually just warm it to 250 and then turn it off and place the bowl on a hot pad.  I let it rise, punch it down and let it rise again.  Make sure you grease the cookie sheet  and your fingers before trying to spread out the dough.  I then use already flavored Hunts tomatoe sauce and you can add whatever topping you like!  I also add some garlic powder and  little oregano with the sauce.  Bake on 375.

This makes about three large pizzas.  I like to put one or two in the freezer for another meal.  Or bake all of them and eat it for breakfast!!!   

Let me know if you try it :)

Our new Home!!!

I know a few of you are itching to see pictures.. so here are some updated pictures of the kids and our new house.. (just a rental) but we will be here for at least a year and a half probably longer!!!

I don't have much time to write.. but we are all doing good.  We were together for two weeks and then Sean had to go to the field for two weeks.  We arrived here on March 23rd but didn't get into our house until Easter.  Sean had a four day week end luckily, so we had time to move most of our stuff.  Mallori was with us until just a couple of days before we found this particular house. 

It looks like Sean will be getting a promotion very soon.. instead of Private he'll be Private First Class then he'll probably get another one right after he deploys so he'll then be a Specialist... for those of you who don't know.. that is only one step below Sergeant. 

update on kids tomorrow.... :)  But here's a few pics.. scroll down to see the house!

at the top of the stairs and around to the right are both kids rooms and a bathroom.. to the right of where I am standing is the master bedroom w/ big bathroom and walk in closet. This area at the top of the stairs will be a little Library/office hang out spot..   I'll have better pictures when I get curtains etc...   and more pics on the walls..all for now :)