The Mixer

I do not bake. I don't enjoy the mess or the clean-up. It doesn't make me feel any less like super mom to open a package of pre-made dough and call it a day. BUT, for some reason, yesterday, in a moment of weakness, I bought chocolate chips. We were going to make cookies, gosh darn it. When we hit a peak of good behaviour, I started compiling the ingredients. Cody was digging in the fridge looking for the package of cookies. I tried explaining to him that we were going to MAKE the cookies but his 4 year old brain could not comprehend something it has never seen. My son did not know that cookies could be made from scratch. Has he ever seen flour? At an even weaker moment than the purchase of chocolate chips, I pulled out the Kitchen-Aid. Now I know Cody has never seen this because it has been in the box hidden in the pantry for ten years. So, Cody and I made cookies. I now remember why I don't bake. I ate at least a dozen cookies while they were still in the dough stage. Cody enjoyed the fruits of his labors with some milk at the end of a hard day. I debated whether or not to keep the Kitchen-Aid close at hand but in the end it went back into the box in the corner of the pantry. I'll try again in ten years.

Our Devastation

Family Clean-up Day. Hooray!!!

These branches and a leaning fence is the extent of our damage...once again proving how lucky we are.

Ike came and went

We survived!!! We lost power Friday night at 9:30 and after 21 hours of family togetherness and heat, power was finally restored. The storm didn't seem to be that much worse than what we have had in the past so we are very blessed and lucky that our little part of Houston was sparred. The only damages in our area is mainly downed trees and fences. Everything that people thought they were hiding in their backyards is out in the open for all to see. Makes you think twice about keeping your back yard looking nice! So, all in all we are fine.

What do you do to prepare for a hurricane?

You go to the park!

Hurricane Ike is on it's way. But, not till tomorrow. Just as a precaution school was cancelled today. Stores are closed. Windows are boarded. People are evacuating. But, we still have blue sky - Steffen is playing tennis at this very minute. Right now we just wait. Wait for the sky to cloud over and 100 mph winds to rip through and pray nothing goes through our windows. We are all glued to the TV (especially Shea) watching Ike inch it's way towards us but it is hard to be worried when the sun is shining.

Not my kid, but oh so cute!

Zach's turn to shine

I keep being told that I don't have enough pictures of Zachary, so here are a few of his shining moments. He loves his bath. In fact, he will sit there long enough for me clean the bathroom. I got the tip to put him in the Bumbo thing from a friend of mine and it has saved my life.

He doesn't suck his thumb but for some reason he chews on it in the bath tub. Yeah, it's a little strange.

Just look at those baby blues!

First Day of School...belated

School started and everything went off without a hitch which is why it didn't seem too blog worthy. Everyone is happy and Shea keeps telling me how easy second grade is...if she only knew what was coming.

Apparently we had a brown shirt thing going that day. It was not intentional but it looks great for the picture!

Notice Shea's short hair!!!