wonderworks

Melanie finally talked us all into an excursion away from the Birdhouse. And thanks to some help from a friend, we ended up at Wonderworks.

I have to say that it was a lot of fun.

gone fishin’

Tru and Elliot caught 14 fish the first two days at the Birdhouse. Truman even rigged up a fishing pole from a dead twig that was successful. Cleaning the fish was an unpleasant chore, however, and they decided that catch and release was definitely the way to go from then on.

happy valentines day

After our card exchange, we decided to go see Paddington. I was super worried that it would be crowded and so we bought tickets online. We arrived and found that we had the entire theater to ourselves! It was an adorable movie and I found it laugh out loud funny. The boys also loved being able to run “up and down” the aisles after the movie ended!

valentine preparations

What could be better than having more boys around on Valentines? The boys were working away on their cards except when they were running after squirrels or checking out the status of the fort!

We had a few essentials that we needed at the grocery store.

We met Papa at his office and after a quick tour, he took us for lunch at Duffys. There are more screens in this restaurant than there are in a regular tv store.

And…I am pretty sure…that the boys all got enough to eat!

Then it was back to the house and we made heart-shaped donuts!

We had our very own Elliot of liberty pulling down the candy decorations!

Then Mary watched the boys while Doug and I went to see Chris Botti.

100 days of real food

I am loving trying out the recipes in my new cookbook!

happy birthday

We played tennis this morning and then went to Orlando this evening for dinner at Brio and then to the new Walt Disney Theater to see Newsies. The theater is great and we really enjoyed the production.

Later, thanks to the girls, Doug discovered the awesomeness of

Blu-ray.

brianna started working at publix

we always play bears in the bed

We shopped and played and went out to eat and we even cooked a little bit. And we didn’t forget out bears in the bed tradition either!

Tricia nicknamed one of her favorite argentine cookies Pillows of Heaven. I found a recipe and it was a fairly close cousin…called Melting Moments.

· 1 cup all-purpose flour

· 1/2 cup Argo® Corn Starch

· 1/2 cup powdered sugar

· 3/4 cup butter OR margarine, softened

· 1 teaspoon Spice Islands® Pure Vanilla Extract

Combine flour, corn starch and powdered sugar in medium bowl; set aside.
Beat butter in large bowl with mixer at medium speed until smooth.  Add flour mixture and vanilla; beat until well blended.  (If necessary, refrigerate dough 30 minutes to 1 hour or until easy to handle.)
Preheat oven to 350°F.  Shape dough into 1-inch balls.  Place 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets; flatten slightly with floured fork.
Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until edges are lightly browned.  Remove; cool completely on wire racks.  Store in a tightly covered container.

an excellent young woman

                                                                      

She stands out in a crowd!

Tricia flew me up to Charlotte to spend the weekend. It was so wonderful to be there, and it was especially noteworthy celebrating Courtney’s achievement. The stake had an evening honoring the girls who had completed their young women in excellence during the past year.

de cluttering

I have this de cluttering project going on at my house. It is one of those internet inspirations that I am working on with my married girls and we are committed to motivating each other. The first projects are in the kitchen, but since I recently organized my kitchen, it is not much of a project at the moment. However, further on in the year, I will have to take on the garage and my garage needs some serious help. With that in mind, Brianna and I have been doing some pre-projects out there.

Today I found a couple of boxes with old pamphlets from our travels and various notes. We pulled out the things I wanted and set the rest in the pile for the dump. However, it was pretty cold and we decided to move to the house for the second box. I had only just begun when I screamed and slammed the lid shut. Brianna kind of laughed and asked me what happened. I told her there was a SNAKE in the box.

Next I called Doug, practically hysterical! I now have a snake in a box in my house!!! Of course, he insisted that we get the box out of the house. I can’t even go near the box, but Brianna said she would do it. Mind you, Brianna, who wont even touch a piece of plastic with a dead spider on it is willing to pick up a box with a live snake inside.

Eventually I called animal control and was informed that they don’t do snakes. I told Doug he had to come home and kill it.

Brianna and I stood on the porch and watched over the box for half an hour while we waited for Doug.

He came home and did his manly deed. First he shot a hole in the side of the box, I guess hoping to hit the snake. However, the snake escaped the box. I was screaming there it is! when Doug shot off his head.

After all, it turns out that it was a yellow rat snake…A poor harmless snake, and not a pygmy rattlesnake like the last one I came across in my garden.

 

 

The truth is that I just don’t feel comfortable with any kind of snakes around.

birdhouse real estate

Real Estate Property Information

  

Lot size: 9.37 acres

 

Property Type:

Vacant Land (0-10 Acres)

MLS#:

 

G4807330

 

Sewer:

Public

 

Estimated Monthly Payment

$2,607

Description

Possibly the best piece of land you have seen in a long time. Nine level acres only minutes from Walmart and Target. Currently zoned R-1 but the county says the Urban Low Density Future Land Use Category "provides for a range of residential development at a maximum density of 4 dwelling units per net buildable acre". (See attachments on MLS or ask your Realtor to provide them) Whether you are looking for a private paradise tucked beneath the trees in THE most convenient location imaginable or land that has subdivision potential this is definitely it. If you dream of living in the country with the peace and quiet that affords but you want to be close to every possible convenience you need to check out this property. Could be the perfect location for your dream home in the woods with plenty of room left for a separate guest home or extended family homestead. Don't hesitate or this one will be gone!

rafting

I think that it was actually the first day that we split into two teams: Nana, Courtney, Carter, Jonah and Elliot vs Papa, Truman, Izzy and Clark.  We had to make rafts. Of course, our team deserved to win because the kids did all their own design and work. Let’s just say that Papa had extraordinary influence over the member of his team and he can be viewed making their oars for them in one of the pictures!

 

Nevertheless, it was all great fun! Today we actually spent a lot of time just playing at the lake.