On Monday, we headed to Del Mar Beach with Stephanie and the Lewison gang. It was unusually cold, so we had to bundle up at first. The kids didn't mind much and were just happy to play in the sand. I felt a bit guilty making a "no getting in the water" rule, but it was just too cold.
Corinne was completely content making a few calls on Stephanie's cell phone.
I parked us down near a big hole that someone before us had dug. I must say that we got some serious enjoyment out of some poor sole's hard work. The kids loved climbing in and out of the hole and then rolling down into it.
Corinne also loved chasing the seagulls.
There must have been some major waves over the weekend because the beach had a serious drop-off near the water.
Lincoln latched onto Gabe's water gun right away.
What is it with boys and guns? Someone once told me that even if a parent makes the decision not to buy "weapon" toys for their little boy, that it doesn't really matter. They will turn a stick into a sword and a spray bottle into a gun. They were right, Lincoln has made his broom his new shot gun and his vacuum attachments have been serving as pistols. He holds them up and says "Freeze, nobody move!" We have not made that decision in our house and honestly don't plan to, but Lincoln sure loved the opportunity to play with a "real" toy gun.
And of course, Corinne felt it was her duty to bring me every piece of trash on the beach.
On Tuesday we laid low and tried to get some stuff done around the house. Corinne did a lot of snacking and climbing in and out of her highchair.
Lincoln and I washed my wheels, then we decided to wash his as well. One trip to the zoo and that double stroller builds up some serious grime. We both felt better having clean rides.
While Corinne was still napping we got some fun in the sun time in out back. He played in the pool, soaked up some rays, then we did a little side walk chalk drawling while Corinne wasn't around to eat it.
After swimming lessons on Thursday, I stopped by the bread store and picked up some donut holes for the kids. Corinne gave them 2 thumbs up as she devoured them while double-fisting with milk and juice.
What can I say, this girl loves to eat!
Lincoln and I decided to stay up late on Thursday night and try out a new Raspberry Butter Cake recipe in our bear pan mold. The mold for the sitting up bear says to use 6 and 3/4 cups of batter and suggests using a pound cake mix and a regular cake mix--mixed together. Well, after tasting the yummy banana lime cupcakes we are making for the party, I decided that any old boxed cake would not do for this special occasion. So we got to work. We made the batter and our own raspberry filling--which Lincoln decided was quite tasty. And here we began our baking misadventures.
Thinking that the regular recipe would not yield the needed 6 and 3/4 cups of batter, I decided to double it just to be safe.
My large mixing bowl has measurements printed on the side and it was obvious when we were through that I had WAY TOO MUCH batter to fill the bear pan, about 11 cups too much---totaling 18 cups, plus 2 cups of raspberry filling. Luckily I knew that my neighbor hosts bible study on Saturday mornings. I purposefully chose Thursday evening as our baking night, hoping to have time for everything to set and cool overnight and then wake up and experiment with different frosting recipes and techniques on Friday while the kids napped. My grand plan would involve delivering a cute pound cake bear to the neighbors on Friday evening--giving them a nice treat and ridding my house of sweets. So I filled up the bear, the heart shaped bunt pan, and 4 mini cake pans, crossing my fingers for the best. The down side to all of this is that my oven would only fit one of these at a time---so I was up very late loading and unloading the oven--with each baking about 70 minutes.
Then things just got worse from there. The bear pan leaked (luckily I was smart enough to put it on a cookie sheet and was not left with a burnt on mess in the oven) and failed to fill out as I had hoped. Then when I popped open the seam, the ears stuck. I thought "no biggie, I will be cutting them off to turn this thing into a dinosaur". Then the whole face got stuck in the pan and I was left with this....
Does this look like a bear to you??? No, I don't see it either!
I found this pretty disappointing considering that I went through the trouble of melting down shortening, brushing the pan, then dusting it with flour--only to have to pry the little guy out with my bare hands! It wasn't a pretty sight, but at least it tasted good. Gone were my visions of practicing my piping techniques and delivering a cute little creature for my neighbors to enjoy. Instead they received about 15 pounds of irregularly sliced cake dusted with powdered sugar-- (The heart and the mini cakes also got stuck in the pan---bummer) of course after Lincoln and I ate about 5 pounds ourselves.
At this point I was ready to throw in the towel on the dinosaur cake. I asked Linc if we could just do cupcakes and can the dino cake for Daddy. He offered up the idea of making "the Piggy from Toy Story" instead. This would be a great idea, there is even a pattern for it in the Wilton book---but I have to use that stupid bear pan again! So for now my plan is to use the boxed cakes as instructed, only after "Pam"ing the crap out of them of course. And if it gets stuck in the pan, I will throw it all in the trash (bear pan included---that thing was a nightmare to clean) and be ready to double my cupcake recipe for the little green aliens. Wish me luck! I feel like I should start a whole new blog about my baking adventures, or in this case--disasters!
On Friday morning we headed to the Aquatic Center again. Corinne was super brave this time--running all around the pool in 18 inch deep water, only to fall, swim a little bit until I rescued her and pop up with a smile. She learned how to climb in and out of the pool on her own and then jumped into the water on her own with me catching her. She also practiced making bubbles and unlike Lincoln who came up choking at her age, she put her face in the water and popped out cackling in delight. I hope she is a little fish like I was as a kid. It was nice to be able to focus more on Corinne while Lincoln played on the slides and I didn't have a constantly make sure his head was above the water.
It was a bit chilly and when the clouds came out, we headed for the snack bar. Little Corinne doesn't have enough body fat on her to keep her lips from turning blue.
Nothing makes Lincoln more happy than a bag of Cheetos at the pool.
And don't worry, I feed my kids real food in addition to the junk the eat at the pool. We just have to wait until we get out to the car because there is a dumb "no outside food or drinks" rule at the Aquatic Center.
On Saturday I went to the eye doctor for the first time in 10 years. I was hoping to just get some "cheaters" to throw on at church because I can't read the numbers that pop up on the monitor when your kid is crying. Unfortunately I came home with contacts because according to the doc I have "good eyes, but an astigmatism". And she told me if she gave me glasses she knows I wouldn't wear them--what gave me away was Corinne sitting on my lap trying to rip the sun glasses off my head. So after watching an informational video and successfully taking one contact out and putting it back in I was free to go home. All was well, despite the constant desire to rub my eyes. We ate lunch and I put the kids down for a nap. I thought, I need a nap too! She told me not to sleep in them, I better take these things out. This will be good practice. So I take contact #1 out--just as the video said "always start with your right eye". I chalk it up as a success, then move onto my left eye. Oh sh!t, I am right handed. Now what??? Do I switch hands or try to do the same motion over there? There I am standing in my bathroom convinced that my contact is doomed to be stuck in my left eye forever....I just can't figure it out. After a few tries and a bit of foot stomping I get it out and am left with some seriously bloodshot eyes. I take a nap and put them back in...and to my surprise on the first try. Later that night I go to take them out and get both out with ease and think this will be okay, but decide my first question at my follow up appointment is going to be "Am I a candidate for Lasik?". I am too old to learn this contact business. I now have total sympathy for the years Nathan put up with irritated eyes so he could stay out later with me and I would just brush it off and say "oh, just sleep in them...no big deal!"
We wrap up the night with an art project for the kids.
Sunday morning, I budgeted extra time to get ready knowing that my eyes might not be cooperative. Well I was right, this time it was my right eye. I couldn't get the thing in there if my life depended on it. So after a few curses in the mirror and then a quick prayer for patience I got it in, and we head off to church, with super red, itchy eyes. The good news is that the kids were lovingly playing together while I fought with the flimpsy disks in the mirror and I could actually see when we got to church.
We came home, ate lunch, and I laid Corinne down for a nap in the pack and play in my closet, so I could get to work on the palm tree for her room. It only took me 16 months to complete (not really, more like an hour--but finding the time and motivation is a task in itself). But here it is.
Now she doesn't have to feel like the neglected second child in the mural department. If I can just get to her babybook that has not been touched since completing "The 7th month", all will be well in my world.
Overall, we had such a wonderful week that it will be honestly hard to live up to in the attitude department as far as Lincoln goes. I was also able to check a few more things off my list of stuff to get done before Nathan gets home---onto next week's projects---curtains and valences....and perhaps the babybook. I just really have to be in the right mood. A trip to the dentist office wouldn't hurt either.
QUOTES OF THE WEEK
Quote 1: Just while sitting at the table.
Lincoln: With a head tilt "You're a big guy Mamom?
Me: "Yep, I'm all grown up huh?"
Lincoln: "I a big guy too."
Me: "I know, but I want you to stay my little Lincoln bug forever."
Lincoln: "Nope, your kids are getting big Mamom"
Quote 2: While devouring the raspberry filling we made for the cake.
Me: "Lincoln, stop eating that. We need it for the cake!"
Lincoln: "But Mama, it's my favorite snack!"
Me: "Oh really? I take it you like it."
Quote 3: While shopping at the store and passing a barrel of peanuts.
Lincoln: "I want some peanuts to feed the elephants."
Me: "We don't need any. We don't have any elephants to feed."
Lincoln: "There's elephants at the zoo for us to feed. Silly Mama!"
Quote 4: Scoping out the Long Island Captain Morgan mix on the counter.
Lincoln: "Oh that drink is for big people. It's for pirates!"
Yeah, Mommy pirates.
Quote 5: While prepping for our painting project.
Lincoln: "I wanna do a project."
Me: "Okay, I have to set everything up."
Lincoln: "I wanna do a lotta projects. I wanna do one for Ana, and one for Cami, and one for Uncle, and one for Dada."
Me: "You remembered everybody huh?
Lincoln: "Yes, everybody wants a picture from me!"
Quote 6: While at the eye doctor Lincoln notices a random glider chair and gliding ottoman.
Lincoln: "Do you want some turkey Mama?"
Me: "Oh yes, I would love some turkey" (confused about the randomness, but I decide to play along--anything to keep him busy in the waiting room)
Lincoln: Goes over to the ottoman and starts meticulously sliding it back and forth, then comes back to me "Oh, here's your turkey I cut for you!"
Me: "Oh thanks! Yum, yum, yum!"
This kid pays a lot more attention at the grocery store than I thought.
Quote 7: While playing "school" in the playroom.
Lincoln: Hands me a shape sorter bucket full of plastic food. "Here, I made you your lunch. Time to go to school."
Me: "Oh thank you. That is so nice...mmmmm, hot dogs, donuts, and onion rings!"
Lincoln: Pushes his little ride on toy over to me "Oh, you're welcome. Now, go to school!"
Me: "Oh my big hiney won't fit on that car. Sorry kiddo."
Lincoln: Looks at me confused, then starts looking around. "Well, you better take your monster truck then. It has a big seat for you."
Quote 8: At the beach, I scoop up Corinne who has been chasing seagulls.
Corinne: Points "Ducky!"
Me: "No those are seagulls. Say sea---gull!"
Corinne: "Seagull"
Me: "Good job!" and I put her down.
Corinne: She goes running after them "Ducky! Ducky! Ducky!"
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