School Boy

  Dylan started preschool today!!  We were running late this morning (someone was stalling!) so we only took one picture before we left.I could tell he was nervous on the drive in, so I tried to distract him with the sounds of Lady Gaga.  It seemed to work.  We got to school and he met one of his teachers.  Still doing okay.  But as you can see by the look on his face – he wasn’t too sure about it.  

After he met the teacher, we headed towards the preschool room and that’s where it all unraveled.  He started to cry.  I think he was overwhelmed by the teacher initially and all the hustle and bustle going on there.  He said he didn’t want to go to school anymore and he wanted Daddy (Eric was at home with Avery).  I told him it would be okay and he made me PROMISE that I was NOT going to LEAVE.  EVER.  After we got that settled, we went in.  And, he was fine.  He walked from one “station” to the next checking each thing out.  All the other kids were doing it!  

I, of course, was impressed by the kitchen!  They had a lot of awesome play food.  That curly haired chick almost took a tiny frying pan to the head though.  No one tells my DD that he can’t play with something! 

Next, we moved to the painting station.  Another area in which I excel!  Oh wait, this isn’t about me.  He loved it though!  He was a little peeved that there was only one color.  He was all, “where’s the blue?” 

Next up – play dough!  Better do it there, cuz you’re not doing it here! Ha!   B

ack to painting!  Budding Picasso, no?  

Puzzle corner.  Such concentration.  

And that was all the pictures I took, as it was time for the moms and dads to go in another room to talk with the teacher.  To my surprise, I told him that I was leaving to go in the next room and he didn’t really care.  Of course, I told him that I was coming back and I was just right across the hall.  So perhaps that helped.  We’ll see how it goes on Monday when I leave, leave.  After school was over, we went to Joanne Fabrics to scope out the deals they were supposedly having since they are closing one store and opening another.  We have/had plans to make more of those tie fleecy blankets and we needed fabric.  So since Avos wasn’t with us – it was the perfect time to go.  Letting a 15 month old loose in a craft store – soooooooo not high on my list of things to do.  Especially THAT craft store.  Crap all over the floor that she’d likely try to eat.  So we got fabric for Avery’s blanket (Dylan’s blanket was a no go - they didn’t have hockey stick fabric this time! What?! WHAT?!), and some supplies to make a birthday card for Ingrid, as today is her birthday.  When we got home – it was craft time. 

Avery saw the camera come out, cruised over to me and said, “CHEEEEEEEEESE.” 

Such a ham.  (She’s saying it here too)

Avery is practicing her yoga.  Or is she putting on Dylan’s shoe?  Here is some of the loot from today.  Avery’s fabric, Dylan’s fancy new shoes, socks for both kids and some jammies for Avery.  Fancy!  

And of course we had to get a new backpack!! 

Such a little schoolboy!  He wanted to wear his backpack and new shoes to deliver his card to Ingrid.  

Avery wanted to play on her new blankies.  I think they are the perfect patterns for her room!  And it will definitely be big enough for her once she has a big girl bed.  Damn, I’m good.   Clearly, she thinks so too.

Well, I gotta get back to finishing it.  Its half done right now and if you’ve ever made one – you can’t leave it for the next day.  Especially when you have little people who might destroy your work. 

Later!

Crunchy Peanut Butter Cookies

For the first time since college, I can say - “it’s a school night!”  Dylan starts pre-school tomorrow!!  He is definitely ready for it.  Eric was just tucking him into bed just now and he said, “see you tomorrow Dad.  But not for long, cuz I’ve got to get to school!”  I’m excited for him to make friends…..and maybe I’ll make friends too?!?!  I hope!  We know no one in the Brainerd area other than our neighbors and while we love Lingy, we need some friends our own age.  I wish I could say I have my outfit all picked out for tomorrow – but I don’t!  Dylan’s is all ready to go, but I’m still wavering.    Breakfast will be the same as this morning – Pumpkin Pie Vegan Overnight Oats.  What did I tell you though – doesn’t look very appetizing due to bad morning lighting.  I kinda want to eat the picture tho cuz I know that its good.  I put unsweetened coconut and a drizzle of honey on it.  YUM!I somehow acquired a scratchy throat and headache this past weekend.  I’m thinking its the change in season.  It definitely made for a lonnnnng day.  In an effort to brighten my spirits, I decided to make cookies.  It was my only hope. 

Behold – Crunchy Peanut Butter Cookies. I adapted it from a recipe I found on the internet.  I changed pretty much all of it to fit my “needs” so I guess we’ll call it a Trishy Original.

Crunchy Peanut Butter Cookies

1/2 cup whole wheat pastry flour (whole wheat flour would do too)

1/8 cup ground flaxseed meal
1/8 cup wheat germ (you could do 1/4 cup flaxseed meal and skip the wheat germ if you wanted)
1/2 cup oats
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
2 TB Coconut Oil (or canola would work)
1 TB applesauce
1/4 cup brown rice syrup (maple syrup would work – probably noney would work too)
1/4 cup unsalted organic smooth peanut butter

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.  Mix all the ingredients together.  12 minutes for a softer cookie.  15 for the crunchy guys.  Next time I’m TOTALLY putting dark chocolate chips in so they resemble a Reese’s Peanut Butter cup.  Mmmmmmm. 

One final Dylan story for you – today the neighbor’s dog was walking through our yard and Dylan says to me, “Oh!  I see Lacy!”  I said, “Yep, I see her too.”  His response?  “What a coincidence!!”  LOL!  He is sooooooo ready for school!  Well, see ya tomorrow with our “back to school” outfits!! 

Honey, its crisp out there

  So we’re back home now, but before we left – I FINALLY got a picture of Hummy the Hummingbird.  Or maybe this is Hermy?  Anyway, not the best picture but at least I got a picture!  I’ve only been trying for a month now! This morning we got up and it was downright COLD outside.  This picture was taken at 9 am-ish, so it had warmed up some.  Take note of the temperature and the leaves on that tree.  Siggggghhhhh.     

 

  It was cold enough to turn the heat on! 

Guess its time for Pumpkin Pie candles!  Good thing my stock will never run dry!  Actually, this is the last of the Pumpkin Pie.  I have a gagillion Oatmeal Cookie ones though.  And to think that lame job at Illume as someone’s beotch wouldn’t get me a thing!  It got me candles and every fall I am thankful for those free candles. 

  Know what else this means – Honeycrisp apples are here!  Haha Dad!  We found some yesterday at the store. 

The kids (especially Dylan) love apples, so he was doing an excited dance on the couch as he ate his share.  I, however, was not doing a happy dance when little bits of apples were left behind on the couch.   

But they were enjoying themselves, so I’ll live.  

Don’t they just make your day?  Ok, probably only make my day, Eric’s day and perhaps their grandparents day – but oh well!  They are darn cute most of the time!I

was busy doing something when Dylan yells, “MOM!  Take our picture!”  Normally this doesn’t go well, but today it did. 

Avery has begun to smile on cue!

Even while in a headlock.

Totally fridgeworthy.

Damn, they’re cute!  

Dinner tonight – not so cute.  I had high hopes for this, but it was just okay.  I wanted to make a version of the Lodge (at Loon Lodge) Sour Cream and Chicken Enchiladas.  I think these definitely had more flavor than the ones at the lodge, but they just needed more OOMPH.  

They’re called Salsa Verde Sour Cream Enchiladas.  

Breakfast tomorrow will NOT be a fail though.  Its gonna be DYN-O-MITE!  This is Pumpkin Pie Vegan Overnight Oats in its pre-fridge form.  Its sooooooooo good.  This is another one of Oh She Glow’s creations.  I don’t really follow the recipe to a T though.  I just dump in spices til I think it looks good and spiced.  I felt like the amount Angela puts in wasn’t enough.  I also omit the maple syrup and it is just fine without. 

One for me and one for the Avos!  She won’t eat it all in one sitting, so I’ve got breakfast for her for a few days at least.  Score!  I find it gets even better as it sits in the fridge.  The spices fall in love and get married while they are in there.  Its magical.

I’ll try to photograph the newlyweds in the AM, but the lighting in here is less than stellar at 6am.  So don’t go getting your hopes up!  G’night!