Treasures & Ladybugs

This morning, Hultz ate some Cherrios while his blueberry bagel was toasting. He was looking over the Cherrios box and saw that one of his favorite animals was on the back. He knows what a ladybug is...he just says the name kind of funny. He says it the same way every time we ask...

After breakfast I was cleaning. Hultz's diaper pail smells really badly. It doesn't matter how often I clean it, it stinks right back up. This morning, I was going to clean it again. I took the bag of dirty diapers outside. When I came back in it was very quiet. When I found Hultz, he was rocking in his bubble chair (he calls it a bubble chair- it's his rocking chair with the circle fabric). Innocent enough, you think?

I noticed that the diaper pail had been moved out of the bathroom and into my bedroom. When I looked closer, I saw that Hultz had filled it with things from the basket beside by bed:

And there was more inside...The lid to the vaseline.

Kleenex stuffed into a slipper...

But where was the container of vaseline? I looked everywhere in my room. Under the bed, under the dressers, in the laudry baskets, inside shoes... I couldn't find it anywhere.

After searching for the missing vaseline, I needed to put the laundry into the dryer. Hultz really likes helping me do this, so I called for him to help. He was occupied at the window watching the school buses go by. That's when I found the vaseline:

And it's only 10:30am...

Finally, a quiet Saturday...

We finally had a whole Saturday to ourselves. There were no commitments, no deadlines, nothing that required us to leave the house. In fact, we decided that we would all stay in our PJs all day to help encourage our 'stay-at-home-&-lounge-all-day' mood. We had a very yummy breakfast followed by lots of playing around by the boys and some laundry by me. I broke the knob on the dryer that turns it on/off so I have to use some pliers to get it to work. I had time to finish up another dress to sell on Etsy. I like how it turned out.




While Hultz took a nap, Jon & I watched Amazing Grace and thought it was really great. It's the man who wrote the hymn and his close friends. It was rated PG, so really- it was great. I highly recommend it. I figured out how to use some digital scrapbooking sites to make the blog look extra cute. It was tricky because you had to use html writing, which I haven't done since high school. I like how it turned out though!


After his nap I decided that we should do something. I don't know how to lounge all day. I don't know how to do nothing. So Hultz & I made microwave caramels while Jon read his Clive Custler. He had a huge presentation on Friday and his boss told him to take the weekend off. He didn't have to be told twice!


Hultz helped pour in the ingredients and really loved the sweetened condensed milk. He would stick his finger into the can and shout "YUM!" He also really enjoyed watching it go around in the microwave.

The great tester:
The finished product. We just wait until it cools and then cut it up!


After Hultz goes to bed, we're going to watch Becoming Jane about Jane Austen's life. Apparently it's not quite as historically accurate as Jon & I like, but everybody has said it was good. We'll let you know what we think. :)

So overall, we've had a relaxing Saturday all to ourselves. We've had such a great time all together. We're all geared up for a very busy Sunday!

If you're interested in the recipe, it's very easy.
Microwave Caramels
2 c. Sugar
1 c. Butter
1 c. Light Corn Syrup
1 can Sweetened Condensed Milk (14oz)
1/2 tsp vanilla

Microwave on high, uncovered, sugar, butter, and corn syrup for 3 minutes.
Gradually stir in milk.
Microwave on high again for 12 minutes. Stop every 3 minutes and stir with a clean spoon.
Stir in vanilla.
Pour in a WELL Buttered 9 x 13 pan.
Cool, cut into strips and wrap with waxed paper. Makes 2 pounds

Explanation to previous post...

I can't edit the last post without it going crazy... I surprised Jon with a long weekend trip to Chicago. Jon has been working incredibly hard on stuff at school and I thought we could use a break. My parents watched Hultz for us while we spent some time together. It was a 10 hour drive so we checked out Harry Potter 7 on CD. We finished it right as we got home.

We spent Friday around town doing tourist stuff. We went to the Sears Tower, had lunch across the street while Jon finished his abstract to turn into his advisor, went to the Art Institute, had dinner at the Cafe Grand Lux (part of the Cheesecake Factory) and then finished the night seeing the Broadway play Wicked. It was incredible!

Saturday we slept in just a little and spent some time in the Chicago temple. That was really nice. We were able to take some family names through an endowment session. We had lunch with Kehinde (a friend from our days in Fayetteville) & his wife at a Filipino restaurant, then finished the night with the Chicago Symphony. Mitsuko Uchida direct the orchestra while she played the piano...it was AMAZING!

We're getting back into real life but grateful we had such a nice time together!

The Windy City- very windy

Makin' Money

I love sewing and the more I do it the better I get. I've started to post the things I make online to see if anyone wants to buy them. And you know, there are crazy people out there who do! In the past 2 weeks I've sold 2 things. It's just all very exciting. I've made deposits in the checking account instead of withdrawls! That's almost unheard of! :)

If you want to see what I've been working on, check out the site: http://www.allofjennie.etsy.com/

I've ordered some free business cards to mail along with what was sold.

The last two things I've sold:

Modern dress with bloomers-

Small tote:

Incredible French Toast recipe

I have the most incredible recipe for Creme Brulee French Toast. We had some Saturday and it was fantastic.

INGREDIENTS

1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter

1 cup packed brown sugar

2 tablespoons corn syrup

1 loaf italian bread

5 large eggs

1 1/2 cups half-and-half

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/4 teaspoon salt

DIRECTIONS

In a small heavy saucepan melt butter with brown sugar and corn syrup over moderate heat, stirring, until smooth and pour into a 13- by 9- by 2-inch baking dish.

Cut 1-inch thick slices from bread, reserving ends for another use. Arrange bread slices in one layer in baking dish, squeezing them slightly to fit.

In a bowl whisk together eggs, half-and-half, vanilla, and salt until combined well and pour evenly over bread. Chill bread mixture, covered, at least 8 hours and up to 1 day.

Preheat oven to 350° F and bring bread to room temperature.

Bake bread mixture, uncovered, in middle of oven until puffed and edges are pale golden, 35 to 40 minutes.

Serve hot French toast immediately.

A Day at the Zoo

Hultz & I went to the Zoo today. We had so much fun. He loved seeing the animals in real life! He just loves his plastic animals and books about animals, and to see them in real life left him speechless....really! He just stared at the tigers and the giraffes. The flamingos were one of his favorites too. He just couldn’t believe what he was seeing! We played at a little park they have inside and ate some lunch. I think the Zoo was a hit. Next time, we’ll have to take Grandma & Grandpa!

Getting ready to go inside!

He couldn't believe his eyes!

Playing at the park in the Zoo...

Look how messy!No fear...

Hultz the Mountain Climber

The couch has become one of Hultz's favorite places to play in the house. We read books there. Hultz loves taking the pillows off. He'll line up his dinosars or zoo animals and makes all kinds of noises. He's really good at getting up there too. Sometimes it's in a single bound. Other times, it takes more effort. I'm convinced that he'll be a great mountain climber though. Check out the moves he has: