Wordless Wednesday: Traveling for Thanksgiving

About half way to Chicago we had an upset/crabby little princess.

Thankfully she cheered up for the rest of the ride!

Because They're Long Overdue

Here's a few pictures of the kids in their Halloween Costumes

(yes, I realize it's almost Thanksgiving).

Cakes and Counting

Today when Lucy left for preschool I mixed up some cake batter and made two 6 inch cakes and 6 cupcakes (that's what you get with a box of cake mix). I'm working on my first wedding cake and it will have a 6 inch top tier. Murray was home and was "watching" me do my baking. He's not allowed to touch any of the cake badder for the wedding. He did however help me decorate the cupcakes with some leftover frosting.

While the cakes were baking Murray and I read a few books and just spent time together. After a while the timer beeped and I went to check the cakes. The cupcakes were finished, but the cakes still needed a bit more time. So, I took the cupcakes out of the oven too cool and left the cakes to continue to bake setting the timer for a few extra minutes (so I didn't forget...hey, it can happen, I've been known to leave a squash in the oven for 2 days b/c I forgot, don't worry, the oven had been turned off...but that particular squash never became baby food, just cooked trash)...

"Those hot mommy?" Murray asked "Yes, those are very hot, don't touch them." I said about the cupcakes sitting on the counter.

We went back to reading until the timer beeped again and I checked the cakes, carefully sliding a toothpick in...not quite done.

Back to reading we went. When the timer beeped a 3rd time, Murray was excited to get some toothpicks out of the box to help me...he knew what we were doing. He graciously took out about 15 toothpicks for me to check the cake with. I took 2 of them and sat him on a stool far away from the oven.

I checked the cakes, which were done and placed them on the counter to cool. Murray, was busy checking the cupcakes with toothpicks. He stuck the toothpicks in each cupcake, counting as he went. "Look Mommy, cakes done!"

Wordless Wednesday

Nick and Lucy love me :)

Success!

We've been having a successful weekend here at the Koschmann house. I've been successfully avoiding my "to do" list (difficult for a mom you know) and Nick successfully completed stage 1 of a new batch of beer, Lucy has been successfully learning Kings Corner (a card game) and Murray has been successfully using the potty.

Now, some of these accomplishments are much greater than others. Murray for example is a champ! We've been making this potty training push for a few weeks now...and while we've been successful, it's just been in the past few days that Murray has moved into the "independent" stage of it all. Getting up from the table and announcing "I have to go potty" and being successful.

This morning while I was at a 2 hour Bible study the nursery worker said he went potty 5 times!!! They were drinking lots of juice and water, but hey, that's quite a success! Friday morning the boys ran errands and he stayed dry throughout the 2 hours of errand running with only 1 potty break in the midst of it! Way to go Murray! We are so proud of you and your accomplishments!

Lucy's accomplishment is just as entertaining...while maybe not quite as much of a milestone. She asked to play cards the other day and I told her I wasn't sure there was a card game she could play. (We have a "Go Fish" deck of cards...so I know she wouldn't go for that). I then remembered a Koschmann favorite: Kings Corner. So, last night we sat down after dinner and she was on daddy's team for the game (Murray was on mine, but he just counts and draws cards...and knocks on the table).

What fun we had! It was even more fun today to see her making decisions and pulling cards out of Nick's hands to play. She's really getting the basics and I'm sure if we keep playing soon she'll be able to be her own team.

What a joy my children and family are and what a great way for us to spend time together. I'm so proud of how they're growing and changing every day. Just wanted to give everyone an update on our successes...if you come visit get ready to drink some beer and play some cards!

Thankful Thursdays

With Thanksgiving approaching quickly we are surrounded by people being thankful...or at least I am. Many of my friends are posting 30 days of Thanksgivings, and certainly we all have more than 30 things to be thankful for. I'm not sure I'm up to the challenge of remembering to post everyday, although I certainly am thankful for many things daily...it's all those things I'm thankful for that keep me from focusing on writing blogs!

This week I am thankful for my husband and all the laughter he brings to my life. He's been really helpful this week doing chores around the house and although he's been super busy with work and his homework he's been very aware of it and making sure he makes time for us as a family. Most of all...he's been starting my day and ending my day with lots of laughter. It's pretty great when he nominates himself for husband of the year multiple times and explains that the standards are much lower for husbands than wives...it's also pretty hilarious when he and Lucy come up with a scheme to "sneak" Murray into the football game (for your info...Murray still would get in free without any sneaking involved)...but I laughed really hard at this one!

Wordless Wednesdays

Going along with www.mamato3blessings.blogspot.com Here's my Wordless Wednesday.

Daddy's Little Helpers