He's an artist AND a songwriter

After I tucked my kids into bed last night, I ran to the store.  I enjoy doing this occasionally, but Ethan doesn't seem to think it's a very good idea.  He didn't want me to leave even though he was going to be in his room the whole time.  He told me he was going to miss me while I was gone.  I hugged him and off I went. 

When I got home, I found this original piece of work on my bed:

Okay, what can I say?  This one won't be going in the recycle can with most of the others.

Egg Hunts and Baskets

We took the kids to the city egg hunt on Saturday.  It was more like a candy race, but they were both very excited:

 and even though they didn't get very much, they had a lot of fun.

The next morning, the kids got to search the house for their baskets.  They were so excited to find them.  And even more excited to find that not only did they get candy and treats, but new toothbrushes and garden gloves too!



Dyeing Easter Eggs

They liked watching the dye fizzle in the vinegar . . .

 Getting a closer look:

 His egg is soaking in the blue

 "stickering" the egg was her favorite part!

Happy Easter!

Hope you feel the happiness of Easter this time of year!

Help! Attack of the Papers

I'd like to take you on a quick tour of my house, if you don't mind.  First off, if you look to the left of my computer, you will see this:

 and on the downstairs kitchen counter:

 and here is the bench to our kitchen table:

 and on the floor next to the phone table:

 and on the kitchen counter:

 here is the floor of our family room:

 and my bathroom counter:

 this is what the ledge of my tub looks like:

 and now entering Ethan's room . . . his table:

 and here . . . Here is the bin where all of these pictures are supposed to be kept:

 yes, it's overflowing . . .

I gather pictures every day and put them in neat stacks.  I take stacks to the recycle bin each week.  And yet, they continue to grow.  Taking over my house.  And all the while, a very cute little boy (with ink smudges on his hands AND face) smiles and smiles as he draws.

Brown Butter Ginger Cookies

Brown Butter Ginger Cookies

I posted several pictures of these cookies on my food blog not too long ago, but after tasting another, I couldn't pass up the chance to post the recipe too.  These are SO GOOD.  They are the perfect combination of soft and chewy.  I found the recipe on one of my favorite food blogs, Desserts for Breakfast.  I love her food pictures, and her recipes too.  You should spend a little time searching her recipe index!

Brown Butter Ginger Cookies
makes ~5 dozen

5 cups flour
4 tspn baking soda
2 tspn ground cinnamon
1 1/2 Tbspn ground ginger
1 tspn ground cloves
1/2 tspn salt
1 cup (2 sticks) butter
1/2 cup brown butter
2 cups brown sugar
2 eggs
1/2 cup + 2 Tbspn molasses
1 cup chopped crystallized ginger (bigger pieces are better than smaller, IMO)

1. In a bowl, combine flour, baking soda, spices, and salt. Set aside.
2. In a separate bowl, beat the butter and brown sugar until fluffy.
3. Stir the eggs and molasses into the butter mixture.
4. In two stages, gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet. Mix until combined. Stir in chopped ginger
5. Let the dough rest, covered in plastic-wrap, in the freezer for about 20-30 minutes.
6. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
7. Remove dough from freezer. Shape the dough into small spheres, about an inch and a half in diameter. Place the dough spheres on silpats, parchment paper, or a greased baking sheet about 2 inches apart. Press down lightly--but only enough to keep the dough spheres from rolling. Do not press the cookies flat!
8. Bake for 10-12 minutes until firm.
Enjoy!

On a Wet Spring Morning