Whining plus recipe?

ARRGH!!! It's been really hard to make sure that I get everything done that I need to. The pressure can be really hard until I finally snap. I'm trying really hard to control but there are so many things that I have to get done. I've taken on our preschool Sunday School program. We're starting a brand new series and everything is being redone. The room, the supplies (all wood cutouts) and felt hangings. I also have preschool to get ready for too! This wouldn't be so bad but Cameron wants to play WITH me all the time. YES, I LOVE to play with him and would love to have no other responsibilities but that just isn't our life. I also need to stimulate myself more than just knobbed cylinders and puzzles. Sorry for the rant but sometimes it helps me think and realize that I am truly blessed and have a great life and should take my lemons that I encounter and make lemonade out of them!

Here's my picture of my granola that I made! It was YUMMY!!!! The recipe was SO simple. I didn't realize making granola was so easy.

Almond Coconut Granola

3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats

2/3 cup sliced almonds

1/2 cup coconut

1/3 cup hulled green pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 stick (1/4 cup) unsalted butter

6 tablespoons honey

1 cup mixed dried fruits such as raisins, cherries, and apricots

Preheat oven to 325°F.
In a large bowl stir together oats, almonds, coconut, pumpkin or sunflower seeds, and salt. In a small saucepan melt butter with honey over low heat, stirring. Pour butter mixture over oat mixture and stir until combined well.
In a large jelly-roll pan spread granola evenly and bake in middle of oven, stirring halfway through baking, until golden brown, about 15 minutes. Cool granola in pan on a rack and stir in dried fruits. Granola may be kept in an airtight container at cool room temperature 2 weeks.

Painting

Yesterday we had such a blast!! We spent the morning outside. I'm always wanting to do crafts with Cameron but sometimes time and what I need for the crafts aren't organized to find them right away. Now that the basement is finally put back together, it's so organized and easy to find everything. It's easy to get the craft items I need and use them, FINALLY!!! I made sure that I got all of the supplies together the night before and put them in a laundry basket. I gave Cam a big stretch canvas and some paint (it works great to put it in a muffin tin so they can mix colors) and let him go at it. He wanted me to paint my own canvas too! Of course, he wanted me to draw a giraffe! Here's our finished product(okay, Cam's is finished and mine-not so much:

Kait also made one too! I hung Kait's and Cameron's paintings in the dining room. They look great!

Today, we went to a Racine Family Club Christmas in July party! It was so much fun. Santa was there and Cameron was not too sure about him. He had a cap on and would peek at him from under his brim. They got to decorate cookies. First they got to mix the frosting and then they got to spread it on their cookie and put sprinkles on. Cam's favorite part was the sprinkles. This isn't the best pic but here he is licking the frosting off!

When life slows down

I love when we can actually just be home! This is especially true when it's night time. When we have these relaxed nights, I know why I love my life so much!! The kids were in the pool and Chris was sitting on the deck watching while I made dinner. I decided that we'd have dinner outside since the kids would be wet. It was a little chilly out so the kids needed lots of towels to keep warm but it was fun! I've been trying to make more homemade meals and with the help of some friends, I've started to accomplish this.

After dinner, we just stayed outside and played! Chris went in the shed to get something and he found a mouse (gross) inside of my seeds. Thank goodness I didn't open it to get more seeds for the bird feeder because I would have freaked out. Of course, Cam wanted to see so sticks his head right inside and wants to pick it up. We told him that he doesn't want to be picked up and would like to stay in the bucket. I asked Chris very nicely to please close the container which he did (thanks Chris). I turn around and there's Cameron kicking the bucket. We had to explain that it isn't very nice to kick the bucket and distracted him.

We decided to finally cage my tomatoes! My garden looks awesome! Thanks to Chris, of course! I couldn't do anything without him. He is my rock! I found the cutest tiny toad in the garden and showed it to Cameron. He was happy to look at it but wouldn't touch it. I'm not sure why considering he'd touch a mouse but not a tiny toad. Oh well!

Well that was our adventure for tonight! After that it was time for bed and Cameron wanted to take the Toad "Kermie" to bed with him. Chris and I told him that "Kermie" liked sleeping outside and needed to be near his family.

My Zookeeper

I'm not sure what the big kids are going to grow up to be but I already know what the 2 year old will grow up to be! He LOVES to be at the zoo! He needs to know everything there is to know about every animal. He's only two and he could work at the zoo. He knows most of the animals at the Racine Zoo and if one of them isn't out, he wants to go in the back and get them out. We feed Bo, one of the giraffes at the zoo 3 times a week (at least). We have to go to "Zoo Class" every month too. I have to admit it's a lot of fun and I really enjoy experiencing it through his eyes. Sometimes I think he knows more than some of the volunteers at the zoo. He has to bring a bucket of animals to all of the kid's events we go to. It keeps him busy and he has to tell everyone about all of his adventures at the zoo.

We can't wait for the zoo to open it's new education center, gift shop and restaurant. Of course, we have to go to the grand opening on the 30th. Well I have to go, it's time to play more animals!