It's Twin Tuesday!

This Twin Tuesday post has a video, y'all! 

It's been a while since I've posted a video, and I just couldn't resist this one. The kids have been making a "birthday cake" out of the giant Lego blocks. They carry it around and ask us to look at their cakes all the time.  The other night, it was my turn to have "birthday cake." What a sweet serenade it was...

Pinterest Made Me Do It

Time for another edition of Pinterest Made Me Do It.  There's been a whole lot of cooking and crafting going on in the Bramell house lately. I find this odd for a few reasons: 1) I'm not really very crafty  2) How do I find the time to be in the kitchen when I have three little ones always calling my name and 3) It just makes me want to eat more and do more home improvement projects.  Go figure.

Anyway, I thought I'd share a couple of new recipes that we've tried recently.  First up, Balsamic and Onion Pot Roast.  It was a hit! Actually, I cannot take any credit for this one, as the hubby took care of making it while I was at work.  So, credit to the hubby and the crockpot!  To be honest, I was a little afraid of how this would turn out---I didn't want it to have an overwhelming taste of onions. (It didn't). Also, I didn't know what kind of flavor the balsamic vineagar would have. The only thing we'll change next time is not putting carrots in the crock; they tasted bitter and nobody would eat them.

Here's the final showcase:

Next up, our newest sweet treat addiction--the No Bake Cookie Bites. Don't let the name fool you; these are so much healthier than cookies. And what the heck is flaxseed? I was again afraid of the unknown....but another hit! I've made them twice and we can't stop eating them. One batch made about 15 cookies, FYI.

**Click on the links above to direct you to the recipes. Both of these I found on Pinterest.**

January Day at the Park

We got lucky last weekend with a very mild January Sunday afternoon, and a long holiday weekend at that. Since the kids have already given up napping, for the most part, we decided to head to the park. We fed the ducks and geese some bread, which they liked. We did figure out that the water fowl did not seem to care for the popcorn we brought....you'd think they can't afford to be so picky.  Oh well, more for us to eat!  

After the feeding frenzy, we headed over to the playground. Of course, a few other families had the same idea. But the kids had a blast and wore themselves out with all the running, climbing, sliding and jumping. I got some great photos to boot!

Always, with the mouth open!

Sliding and climbing, over and over and over...

And my favorite part of the day? Boy Twin made a new buddy. He was so taken by this little pup that I was almost embarrassed. He just petted and loved on that pup for a long time.  I was afraid he was going to start licking him--Boy Twin kissing the pup, I mean!  It was the cutest thing EVER. And it almost made me want another one...a puppy, NOT a kid!

It's Twin Tuesday!

 

Here's a new photo of my babies, who aren't really babies anymore. It just dawned on me this week.  I even asked Lee if maybe we should stop referring to them as "the babies," as we have for 2.5 years now. But what will we call them?

 

These two always want to sit in my lap at the same time, and sometimes with Big Sis, too.  The other night as they were elbowing and kicking each other for a spot, this is the conversation that happened.

 

Me:  Stop pushing! There was room in my belly for two babies, so there is room on my lap for you both.

 

Boy Twin:  (kicking sister) Move your leg!

 

Girl Twin: Don't be (his) mommy!

 

That girl. All sass, all the time.

Pinterest Made Me Do It

The Bramell family's latest adventure in Pinterest brought us to homemade fruit snacks. Yum! If you have ever lived with kids, you know that fruit snacks are like another food group. My kids ask for fruit snacks every day after we come home, and some days they ask at breakfast.

When I saw THIS RECIPE on Pinterest, I knew I had to pin it. It's so super easy---only three ingredients. I hit up the dollar store for a small candy mold or ice tray (without any luck), but then remembered the star shaped ice trays that my Nanny had given me a while back. They are a little bigger than I'd like to use, but they worked just fine. The trick is to only fill them enough to cover the bottom of the mold.

I only made one batch to make sure we'd like them. I personally liked them better than store bought.  And the kids didn't complain any either.  Today, I bought more supplies so we'll make two or three batches tomorrow.  We are hooked!

Conversation With My Toddler

There is a house with a pasture right next to our daycare.  In the pasture is one lone brown horse.  Every day since July, we've seen the horse and talked about the horse. We talk about what the horse eats (grass) and if the horse is hot or cold, and where he sleeps. It's riveting conversation, let me tell you.

 

Recently, we named the horse Bullseye (Toy Story).  It's really fun for us to wave and yell "good morning" to Bullseye as we drive past. Every. Day.

 

This morning I said to the kids, "What does Bullseye eat?", and I hear this reply from the back seat.

 

"Bullseye eats CHILI!"  Thanks for the laugh, Girl Twin.

Big Sis Bragging

I just needed another chance to brag on my big girl.  Report cards came home earlier this week, and she did fantastic!  What's funny is that I had the 'ol report card anxiety all day on Monday.  This is strange because, for one, it's not my report card and, two, she's in KINDERGARTEN!  It's not like she's going to flunk out or anything.  Old habits die hard, I guess.

 

This was the report card for 2nd quarter.  She scored the same or higher than 1st quarter in every category: reading, writing, math, PE, music and maybe something else.  Her highest score is in math---whose kid is she, anyway?--in which she got an 'E' for excellent. 

 

Her teacher wrote some really nice comments on her card, like how Big Sis is a hard worker and that she is fun to watch.  Every day I'm thankful that she has a great teacher and that we've had no major issues with our "big school" experience.

 

We are all excited that she has started bringing home short books to read for her homework this week. The instructions say she must read them to us, without our help.  Every night, we ask her to read to us separately, so she gets to read the books twice for more practice.  The girl has always loved books, see this picture from 2008, so I cannot wait until she can enjoy reading them!