Rainy Day Cookies

As were leaving the gym yesterday morning Gabe calls up from the backseat "Mom can we make cookies today, it is a good day to make cookies" It was overcast and going to rain and storm so I agreed with him it was a good day to make cookies. After we got home and I showered and got ready I found a recipe to try in my Cooking Light cookbook. Since I am trying to watch what I eat I didn't need the temptation of cookies around(the dough is actually more my issue then the cookies themselves) I found one to try and my 2 helpers and I set off to make a "healthy" cookie. Gabe and Ty did a great job of taking turns to mix the ingredients. This recipe uses drained applesauce and brown sugar for sweetness and only 1/4 cup butter. The dough was thinner then my regular cookies and therefore was not all that tempting for me to eat, which was a good thing. The boys still each wanted to lick the beaters though. After we got them all mixed we turned the oven light on so we could watch them bake. They turned out pretty flat and have a different texture but they do taste pretty good. Gabe and Ty like them and were so proud of their efforts:).

I Didn't Want to Do It

but because of the increasing number of spam comments I am moderating comments now(seriously don't people have better things to do with their time instead of spamming blogs) Please still leave me comments I love them, just know they won't show up for a little bit:) Thanks!

8 months

Callie was 8 months old last Wednesday(yes I am a little slow). She is now crawling on all 4's and loves to get into everything. She is never in the same place for very long and is now learning things she is not supposed to touch:) She is getting better and better at eating puffs and cheerios and can get them in her mouth most of the time now. She is starting to put sounds to her babbling, mostly da da da(much to my displeasure:) She switched from her infant carrier to a big girl car seat, complete with pink and brown butterflies(I had to get one girl specific item of baby gear, since everything else we own is neutral or boyish:) She continues to be our happy, smiley baby girl who loves to be entertained by her brothers and likes to grab their hair and faces, luckily they don't seem to mind.

Memorial Day Weekend

We had a great Memorial Day Weekend. Em came home from DC for a short visit and the boys were so excited to go pick her up at the airport. Her plane was a little late but the boys did great playing while we waited. Saturday we went to Reiman Gardens with her and Clark joined us as well, I didn't take my camera in with us so I didn't get any pictures but the boys had fun. Sunday we enjoyed Clark and Grant's birthday party, also didn't take my camera:( Monday Em had to go back to DC bright and early and the boys were sad to see her go. We had a great family day Monday and had a picnic at Grandma and Grandpa's so the boys could play on the new swing Grandpa put up for Gabe and check on our little garden in their back yard. Callie loves the baby swing as much as Ty and the boys are almost a little too willing to give her pushes in it. After naps on Monday we ventured out to the new aquatic center in town. Ty was more scared of the water then I though he would be and we had a mishap with him crying and Gabe having so much fun he got away from Carl while he was trying to console Ty so from then on Ty, Callie and I hung out on the side of the pool by the little fountains which Ty loved. By the time we were ready to go Ty was starting to get a little more brave and go into the water to about his waist. Callie was getting pretty sleepy by the time we left but she didn't seem to mind the water too much. She was so cute in her little swimsuit. I was hoping to get a few more pictures there but because of the kid situation I only got these after everyone was out of the water. Gabe looks really cold:) The aquatic center was great but pretty sure we will not be going there when Carl isn't with us, just too much for Mommy with the 3 little ones, we will have to stick to the wading pool and our little pool during the day. It was a great weekend and we had so much fun visiting with family and just spending time together.

First to Last-A Comparison

Here is Gabe on his first day of preschool August 24, 2009

Here is Gabe on his last day of preschool May 28, 2010

I can't believe how much they grow up in 9 short months!

Firsts of the Season

With the warmer weather(almost a little too warm and humid if you ask me) comes lots of firsts of the season. Saturday night we had a fire in our fire pit and made smores. The boys loved them! Ty was not patient enough to let his marshmallow get toasted so his smores were enjoyed one piece at a time. Gabe was the same way last year but this year he actually likes to let his start on fire so we go from one extreme to the other. Nothing says summer like a marshmallow mouth. Monday brought 90 degree temps with humidity to match so we got out the little pool. The water was cold but the boys had fun anyway and even braved it out and sat down in it a few times. Gabe asked me why our pool was so small, guess at almost 5 the baby pool doesn't look so big anymore but he still managed to have fun. Callie is experiencing all kind's of firsts, since this is her first summer season she has lots of cute summer outfits, this is one of them. I know I am a tad big prejudice but seriously this girl could not get any cuter!

Gabe's Preschool Graduation

Gabe had his preschool graduation this past Friday. It was cute, they all came in wearing cute little graduation caps. They each stepped forward said their name and what they want to be when they grow up. Any guesses on what Gabe said? I took a video of it, it is kind of hard to hear and I should have tried to zoom but you might be able to figure it out.

Alright upon further investigation the little one in front of us drowned out Gabe's answer so if you guessed astronaut you would be correct:)

After this they sang a few songs, this one is one of Gabe and now Ty's favorites, I didn't record the whole thing but you get the idea(again I apologize for the lack of zoom)

They also did a few cute finger plays and acted out Hats for Sale. Their teacher did a slide show of all of them and the activities they have done throughout the year. They had a cute cake and I'm pretty sure that may have been Gabe's favorite part.
Our GraduateGabriel Quintin we are so proud of you and the thoughtful, energetic, fun loving, caring, friendly and smart little boy you have become. We watched you go from not having an interest to writing anything to writing your name and any other word we give you(spelling help of course) quite well, from hating to draw and scribbling on the paper to making an actual person with actual body parts in your pictures. But most importantly asking questions about God and Jesus and declaring your love and thankfulness for them each day.

Next fall we have decided to send Gabe to Early Kindergarten instead of regular full day Kindergarten. It was a tough decision but with a summer birthday we decided we just didn't want him to always be the very youngest in his class. It also gives him a little more time to mature and continue to perfect some of his academic skills as well. I am sure all of these things we have seen grow in him over the past school year will continue to develop next year and he will be raring to go to regular Kindergarten the following fall. We will miss Ames Christian and his wonderful teachers and friends.