The Rest of the Story

And being a brother isn't half bad either.

Sisters

"How wide and sweet and wild sisterhood can be."

Dorothy Knows Best

*image via flickr

My favorite kind of days are the ones when I just stay home ... when I choose to "forget" that the library books are overdue and that Max needs a haircut and new shoelaces before he starts school. The ones when I ignore the small farm of food pieces under the bar after breakfast or the piles of post-vacation laundry that need to be folded - and instead I chat on the phone with a girlfriend or my mom - or bake and clean (fun cleaning, you know - like wiping out cupboards). The best days are when the little ones are underfoot and I'm fielding silly questions like "Are "Pink Lady" apples really girls?" I have a hundred errands that aren't running themselves, twenty seven pieces of mail to sort through, nine rooms that desperately need some attention, and two little kids who still need to be dressed. But I don't care - cause we're home. And there's no place like it.

I Interupt This Regulary Scheduled Vacation Post...

...to present:

"First Day of School 2009-2010"

What I learned at Disneyland : August 09 Edition

1. Disneyland in August is reserved for only crazies - yes, we were six of them.
2. If you plan your entire day around fastpasses, you'll be surprised how much riding you can get done.
3. Sadly, all wishes made in the wishing well don't come true (Ella informed me this morning that she isn't surprised her pony hasn't showed up...)
4. If you ride the Mickey Carousel right after Grizzly Rapids, the breeze quickly dries you up.
5. Magic Mornings are so worth getting up early for...we got in nearly 10 rides before 8 a.m.
6. Not ALL two year olds love Winnie the Pooh.
7. Even if you have all the insider strategical information available on Midway Mania, Bryce is still unbeatable.
8. In three separate trips, we've graduated from a hotel off-site, to the Disneyland Hotel, to the Grand Californian. After much debate and discussion amongst all Roberts' offspring and the two parental Roberts...the Disneyland Hotel wins.
9. Three days is a'plenty.
10. It's a Small World After All (is still the best ride EVER!)

Our Not So Terrible Two Year Old...

... had a birthday.
... dressed up like a princess.
... ate a coconut cupcake. (Mom chose it, because it was white. Can you blame me?)
... kept on her darling new felt crown.
... screamed until she got a bite of Max's cupcake (She's two, remember?)
... gave kisses all around
... learned to shout, "It's my birthday!"
... left her dad and I a bit wistful after we tucked in our baby, who's not so much a baby anymore

Tweets and Links

I say potAto...you say potato.
I say concerto...she says "Daylight?"

To get a kick out of Kalli's latest musical obsession and her tweet about it, click here.

Then if you're wondering who the heck Matt and Kim are, click here.

(I dig her taste in music - she gets it from her dad).

Matt looks a little like Jimmy Fallon, don't you think?

And now since I'm talking Jimmy Fallon, have you ever seen the Dave Matthews GPS skit? Hilarity. Check it out here.

Cookie of the Week

We tried out a bar cookie recipe this week. By the end of the day the entire pan was gone so I consider them a success (yes we shared, but only a few...). These would be perfect to pack in the kids' school lunch because they're homey and hearty. Another one to add to the files.

Squirrel Bars
1/2 c. peanut butter
1/3 c. butter
3/4 c. brown sugar
3/4 c. sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
1 c. flour (shhh...don't tell the fam, but I used 100% wheat flour to add a little whole grain.)
1 tsp. baking powder
6 oz. chocolate chips

Mix together first four ingredients. Add eggs and vanilla. Stir in flour and baking powder. Spread mixture in a greased 9"x13" pan. Sprinkle chips on top. Bake 3 minutes at 350 degrees. Take out and marbleize. Return to oven for another 25-30 minutes. Cool and cut into bars.

Buzzin'

Just ticking down our summertime fun list as the summer days are quickly ticking down themselves. We went to a Bees game with a big group of neighbors and friends and just had a ball....err a bat. Yep, that's the bat the Ella won in the raffle. Can you tell she's thrilled? As my kids would say, "Good Times."

Cousin Lovin'

Although we miss the regularly scheduled playdates and after school meet-ups with friends during the summer, we love the freedom from schedules that allows us to spend time with our family - both far and near. This summer we've spent fun filled days with nearly all of our cousins, even the ones from Seattle, Arizona, and Colorado! So to all of our cousins that we've played with this summer...thanks for the fun Brinley, Ashton, Kendyl, Cougar, Russell, Zachary, Andrew, Daniel, Ellie, Morgan, Alyx, Maddi, Mykal, Judd, Renn, Lyric, Merika, Terra, Ramsey, Paisley, Danna, Luke, Brooklyn, Kate, Andi, Dave, Cody, Mark, Abbey, Jane, and Lily. We love you all. Oh the joys of a large family!

My Father-in-Law Swears all Canadians Love Peas

I'm not so sure about that...but if this is their idea of beautiful design, send me packing! For more pea-liscious design, check out the Canadian House and Home website.

Hello Yellow

I love a great punch of color in any room. In my living room it's orange...in my bedroom its hot pink. I've been wanting a yellow bookcase for my family room for just such a punch. And I'm kinda digging these mobile steel bookcases actually meant for a classroom and available only (at least from what I've found) from school suppliers. The price is right too. Whaddya think?

Dear Mr. Shatner:

It was nice doing business with you.
xoxo, amr

($99/night on Priceline...wanna a steal on a 4 star hotel?
e-mail me for the deets)