We love summer.

These months are why we live here. We'll need to remind each other of this in January.

She's our blessing.

When Matthew was a baby, we were lucky enough to meet Natalie at church. She was 16 then. She is now starting her senior year at the U of M, an Early Childhood major. You can imagine what a good babysitter she is. Actually, that title doesn't even really suit her. She's more of an Entertainer, Caregiver. The boys (and their parents) love her!

She comes over armed with arts and craft projects, books of her own to read to the kids, her 'music' (ipod and ipod base, to which the kids have "dance parties"), and yesterday she actually brought bananas the other ingredients to make banana muffins. She even let Matty crack the eggs, something his momma doesn't even let him do! The first thing this morning, he said to me, "Mommy! Me and 'atalie made muffins and they're SO delicious!" He wasn't kidding.

She is the absolute best babysitter in the world. We have been grateful to have her the past four years and look forward to every year she continues to care for our kids!

My new swap.

My friend Penney works full time now. Her husband, Matt, has a schedule that allows him to be home with the kids a couple days a week. But now he's going to work an extra shift, and we're going to have a Mom/Dad swap. I'm thrilled.

Matty and Grace got married today. I went in the toy room when the younger ones were napping. Matty told me about the upcoming nuptials, and had even made an invitation. Gracie told me they really needed a flower girl. Or a flower boy. I told them that I was really busy cleaning up, but maybe Jack or Joey could be a flower boy after naps. (I know, bad mom. But it is a lot of kids to clean up after!)

About half hour later I heard Matty tell Grace, "I'm really glad you're my husband now!"

There is trouble in paradise, though. Not too long after that, Grace said to Matty, "I'll still be your friend. I just don't want to be your husband!"

Just as well. Matt swears Matty never asked him for his blessing.

--------------------------------

I left my camera outside when we went inside and the Four Year Olds took a few pictures for me. When we went back outside I couldn't find Matty's swim trunks, so I put different ones on him.

"Matty, where are your swim trunks?"

"I don't know."

"Really? You never saw them out here?"

"No, Mom, I don't know."

"Then can you look at this picture?"

"Sorry, Mommy."

'Twas a good day. Happy Weekend, God bless you all...

Wanna trade jobs?

Things heard in my house in the past 6 hours:

Jack! Don't hit your cheese!

Ow, ow, ow! My penis hurts!

Wook, Mommy! My cereal all on floor!

I'm sorry, Mommy.

I'm sorry, Mommy.

I'm sorry, Mommy. I won't never do that again.

Matthew! Get off your brother!

But, Mom! Xbox is my FAVORITE thing!

Please, Jack, can you leave SOME of your food on the table?!

This guy.

It's a bit fishy.

The only thing this kid loves to do is fish. And hunt. Well, he's not sure about that since he's never been hunting. He is, however, very interested in hunting. He's taking Firearm Safety in August and his uncle Tommy told him he'd take him out in his tree stand this fall. I wonder if he's patient enough to hunt. Sit and do nothing...might just work!

Anyway, Grandpa P took him fishing on Lake Minnetonka last week. They caught a ton of fish. I think they cleaned 15 fish. They kept throwing them back until Grandpa said, "I guess we should keep some of these." As soon as they got home, Cole called me. Without so much as a greeting he says, "Leanne! I got some fish for you to fry!" I always say, go ahead and hunt and fish, but we'll eat it. I don't believe in killing for sport (he does not share this sentiment exactly).

So Saturday night, fry it up we did. YUM. Grandpa helped Cole filet them and Cory cut the bones out. Almost no bones at all. It was scrumptious. I'm looking forward to the next batch already!

The only problem: he doesn't like to touch the fish. Seriously. I definitely have a City Kid Fisherman. Grandpa told him if he didn't hold the fish for this picture, he was taking him right home. So he donned his City Kid glove and proudly held up his catch. Can't say I blame him, they are pretty stinky!

Stink or no stink, though, they taste amazing!

The Accident

Okay, so here's the story. I went to Lowes to order window treatments for our new bedroom. I decided to make a quick stop at Target. I was trying to get home to make dinner...in a hurry, as always.

I threw both bags into the van with my left hand, and grabbed the van door handle with my right, swung it shut and didn't get my left index finger out in time (I told the doctor it was my left pointer finger. Pointer finger. Geez.)

I yanked my finger out, looked down and saw the gash - and it's incredible depth - before it started to bleed. Flipped it over and saw the laceration on the other side. Instantly freaked out. I have never cut myself really. Not like that. I had my cell phone in my hand. As the blood was dripping onto my keys and the ground, I dialed Cory. In shock, I told him that I "had a big problem" and needed him to come get me.

My in-laws (GOD BLESS THEM. Again.) were home and waiting for the kids, so Cory was able to come right up.

The strange thing was what my body did. I just went into shock, I guess. I walked back into Target. It was really busy - 5:00 on a Friday. I grabbed paper towel from the food court. (Why paper towel and not napkins? I have no idea. Not important.) Wrapped my finger up, lest it fall off. HEY! I didn't know how bad it was. Don't judge my dramatic nature!

I kept looking for a helpful face (lesson: be a helpful face.). I saw a manager I had seen earlier standing at the end of a lane. I remembered that she had a cute Target outfit. A long sleeved white dress shirt with a red vest over it. It was really cute. For a Target outfit. Anyway...I walked up, bawling, and interruped her conversation with her Team Member. "Do you think you could help me for a minute?" I asked. She kindly led me to the Team Member Service Area (I don't know if it was really called that, actually.) and made me sit down and wait for Cory. God bless him, too, he must have been there in less than five minutes.

He took me to urgent care where they stitched one laceration three times and the other one two. Xrays showed no broken bones. Evidently newer vans have some kind of gap that usually prevents breakage. The only horrible part was that RIDICULOUS novacain shot to my finger four times. Are you KIDDING me?! Mmmm...guess it's better than stitching without a numb finger. I think.

Really, it's kind of a dumb story. It could have been so much worse. And right away, as soon as Cory picked me up, I was grateful:

1. It wasn't a Rugrat's finger. I'd do that a hundred times to spare them.

2. The Rugrats weren't with me.

3. Cory was home, in-laws were home.

4. Urgent care was quiet. Everyone else was at The Cabin.

And that's it. The story of The Accident. Kind of boring, even to me.

Happy weekend. God bless you and your appendages!

I want to sleep with this.

When will it EVER go on sale??

It's sharp.

This is my new favorite place to shop. At Office Depot. I love the Sharpie Center!

Each time I'm there, I buy one new marker. This week's purchase:

It's the small things, right?

Shaving Cream Fun (but not Therapy)

Shaving cream + Jack =

Shaving cream + Matthew = Jan had this great idea. Turns out her kids are way neater than mine. I added a drop of food coloring and paintbrushes, but it all backfired on me. Oh, well. We passed some time on a rainy evening!

Monster Cookies

This is the end result, but let's face it. The dough is every bit as good as the cookies.

Also, this recipe is half a recipe (thus the 2 1/2 eggs...just do your best). It still makes seven or eight dozen cookies.*

Monster Cookies:

1 c shortening or butter**
1 c brown sugar
1 c sugar
1 c peanut butter
2 1/2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
2 1/4 c flour
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp salt
3 c oatmeal
1/2 lb m&ms
1/2 c chocolate chips

Mix butter, sugars, peanut butter, and eggs. Add flour, baking soda and salt. Mix well. Stir in oatmeal, m&ms, and choc chips. Bake for 9 minutes at 350 (that's the magic amount of time in my oven. Vary if you need to; do not overbake!)

As always, ENJOY!

* My cookies are not consistent in shape nor size. I hear there is a cookie-baller out there, but frankly, I'm not interested. My cookies have character. Laura's are just cuter. Pllbt.

** I use all butter or half of each.

Another one for Grandma

Just so she doesn't go into work tomorrow and see that I hadn't updated my blog over the weekend, here's a Good Morning, Grandma! photo.

We went to visit Cory at the fire department today and I remembered my camera. In an effort to not post all my pictures in multiple places, I'll upload them to FB tomorrow. In the meantime, here's my sweet Matty and his super cool "MOM" shirt!

First helmet.

Come on!

One for Grandma

Grandma Peterson thought I had quit blogging. Psh. As if I'll ever run out of things to say.

Here's a picture of the boys from today. Brady is SO good with Matty and Jack. He and Matty sat and played their Gameboy/DS for quite awhile, but Jack wanted in on the picture, since he loves Brady best.

I heart Crate & Barrel

I've always loved Crate & Barrel. I love their product. I love their customer service. I love my packages being wrapped up carefully and put into the bag or carefully packed into a box. Even a box with handles for heavy packages.

We got a new bed. So when the Summer Sale brochure came from C&B last week and I saw the Egyptian Cotton sheets on sale in that lovely shade of green for more than half off, I really wanted them. Of course they sold out online right away. So, on Sunday, I called C&B in Edina (apparently our only Twin Cities C&B left), and asked Ryan if they have them in stock. After a short hold, he told me that they do not have them in stock at the store, but do have them in their central warehouse. He told me that they'd ship them to my house for free. Free. My favorite word. When I gave him my name, he already had my address on file from my other purchases there. It took but a moment for him to get it all set up and ship them to me.

Then, today, when I went to the mailbox, he had mailed me my receipt. With a thank you note. And yes, it made me feel warm and tingly. Because I've always been a person who will drive further and pay more for good service. I am, admittedly, a Good Service Junkie. And Ryan, and Crate & Barrel, remain at the top of that list for me.

Now I just can't wait for those sheets!

Reading Update

Awhile ago I posted what I was reading. Thought I'd give you an update.

Dive from Clausen's Pier: Read it. Loved it.
Lucky: Read it. Loved it.
Twilight: Tried it. Couldn't do it.
The Other Boleyn Girl: Liked it. The first half was hard to get through, but the second half made it worth it.
Friday Night Knitting Club: Eh.

Also, not from this list:
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan: Read it. Loved it.
Angels & Demons. Read it. Loved it.

Holy crap. I've been reading a lot!

Stevey

My brother Stevey graduated from high school last weekend. He's the sweetest boy you'll ever meet. Ever since he was little, he has had a super soft heart. I remember him always taking care of Ryan, hugging him when he was crying. Once, in the car, I remember him looking at Ryan in his infant seat and saying, "I love you, Buddy."

I know he'll be a good man. He's smart and funny and I like him. :)

(I stole this picture from Laura because I liked what she did with it. I especially love Jack sneaking in the Sisters picture. Worth mentioning: we are missing the oldest sister in this photo)

Friends Forever.

Last week marked the last week Tanya and I are going to be swapping childcare. During the school year, I watched Maylee on Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoons. She watched my boys for the day on Thursdays. I definitely got the better end of the deal because I actually got a day *off* and she had to work when Maylee was here. Plus I was adding one easy five year old and she got stuck with hyperactive boys, ages two and four. :) I think both of us thought the trade was even at the end of the day, but I'm gonna miss it like crazy.

Of course I'm going to miss my day *off.* But even more, I think, I'm going to miss Maylee. Or Matty's gonna miss Maylee. Or I am. Okay, we both are. They turned into such good friends this year. They're too little to know that "girls are cool, boys drool." They feed off each other creatively and I've loved watching them play. Matthew has learned so much from her the past year as well.

I hope we can find a way to make sure they continue to be friends. Now that Maylee is heading into kindergarten, she'll have a whole new set of friends. I'm hoping she'll continue to love to play with boys for awhile (all her best friends are boys, far as I can tell) so that their relationship continues to grow. They're only 16 months apart, so they can be there for each other their whole lives if they choose. Blood is thicker than water, right?

At any rate, it's been a pleasure. A gigantic THANK YOU to my sister-in-law Tanya for this past year. This has been an amazing year for me. In the midst of much change, I'm grateful for your constant presence. You're a rock star.

And to Maylee...come over anytime! We already miss you. XOXO

(PS I have a framed copy of this picture for Maylee...)