Innovation Continued

What should you do when you really need a bookmark, but you can't seem to find one? It's simple, really. Grab the nearest peacock feather and use it as your new, cool bookmark. I mean, we all have peacock feathers just laying around! Put those suckers to use!

Weekend Sneak Peek: Gummy Mexican Dinner!!!

Let me just say that this Labor Day weekend is shaping up to be one of the best our family has ever experienced! There will be some rad pictures coming in the next couple of days, but here is just a tidbit to give you a glimmer into the fun. We took a trip with the extended family to an area amusement park yesterday. It was an absolutely wonderful time in every way. As we prepared to leave the park, we stopped in the candy shop where each little granddaughter was able to choose a treat. Bennett and Ainsley, as well as Aunt J., were simply awe-struck when they saw this item...the gummy Mexican dinner! Both girls chose this item as their treat and have enjoyed the torillas, juevos rancheros, Mexican Coca-Cola and more! On the way home, I heard Bennett say as she ate, "This is the best chili (pepper) I've ever had!" I'm pretty sure it's the only one she's ever had, and I'm also certain the real ones don't have a gummy, fruity flavor. Anyway, a GREAT day was had by all, I highly recommend the purchase of the gummy Mexican dinner, and more pics from our epic weekend are to come!

Remembering the Yetti

I was looking through some old pictures on our computer and came upon this classic. Some may remember when Bennett went through a yetti phase. She was just fascinated by the concept of the yetti. I believe it was the winter of 2007. So fascinated was this then-five-year-old, that one evening she became a yetti herself! Check out the all-white costume featuring big yetti paw/claws, the fluffy white yetti "hair" and a walmart sack to disguise her non-white Arthur t-shirt. I will always fondly remember my little yetti.

Ainsley, just taking care of some business on the daily commute to Bennett's school. I think she's emailing from Cardboard Brian's cardboard laptop. It's extremely lightweight and good for a career woman on the go.

Best Souvenir Gift Ever! Props to Dad!

Dad was gone for the weekend. We missed him, and he missed us. He was thinking of the girls while he was away, and he brought back the perfect souvenir/gift of all time. Nothing says "I love you" like the sizzling bacon coin purse. Bennett and Ainsley each have one now. And as if they didn't know it already, this now solidifies the fact that they have the best dad ever!

Innovation

Good news for those of you who enjoy this blog. The mother of the family (me) has officially closed her Facebook account. This is a big deal because too much time was wasted there. Also, most of the family photos were posted there because it was quicker and easier. No more of that nonsense! Hopefully the posts to this blog will pick up now. Innovation is always going on at our place. For instance, what do you do when your chicken and rice soup is too hot? Wait for it to cool? No. Blow on it? Kind of. Blow on it with a balloon pump? Yes! Why not?!

The Things That Make Ainsley Tick

Ainsley is our girly girl. Here are the things that "make her tick." Babies. Ainsley LOVES babies. She would like to have nine children when she grows up. She is nuts. Here she and Bennett are posed with their collection of dolls. All of them are important, but none can compare to "Yellow Baby" a.k.a. "Rose" who is in the purple sleeper up front and center. That baby is THE baby in Ainsley's life.

Romance. Ainsley loves to dream about getting married and having a husband some day. She plays "house" every day, and this is a challenge when you live in a house with no boys to be the husband. No problem, as many of you know. We have Cardboard Brian. Cardboard Brian dislikes traveling and is afraid of heights, but he loves babies and dancing. Obviously the perfect man for Ainsley! Just the other day these two renewed their vows. What a sweet couple.

There has been a little discontent with Cardboard Brian though, I fear. Ainsley decided that he needs a makeover of sorts...darker hair and white pants. Why? Because Eric on "The Little Mermaid 2" has them, and she'd like Brian to be a little more like Eric. Oh dear. Not good.

Dress Up. Ainsley rarely wears real clothes. I put them on her in the morning, but she quickly sheds them for fancier attire. Not only does she wear dress up clothing, but she also decorates her bedroom with them. She does this frequently. Above you can see how a Cinderella dress, fairy wings, fake flowers and a pink camo-print blanket have become decor. What do we call this? Shabby Chic? I have no idea.

Weekend Recap

For the first time is as long as I can recall we had a normal, not pouring rain, not blazing hot summer weekend! Glorious! Here is a recap for you... On Saturday we celebrated little Cousin L's first birthday. From the looks of Grandpa and Grandma's driveway you would have thought we were having some kind of silver car party.

Bennett and Ainsley LOVE to spend time with their cousins. Bennett read Cousin S, the only little boy in the family, a book or two.

No party is complete without a Gator ride. This was quite a load, too. We had Dad driving, Great-Grandma E. in the passenger seat, four out of five cousins and me in the back. It was cramped, but we hade a great time!

Bennett and Ainsley were "helpful" when it came time for L. to open her birthday gifts.

What a sweet baby girl! She loved this little lamb she got from Great Aunt B.

On to Sunday. It was a beautiful day! Grandpa L. and Grandma L. stopped by before we headed to their house for a campfire. The girls rode home with them in their convertible, and it was Cardboard Brian's lucky day! He experienced his first convertible ride EVER! That man just hasn't lived! He's living now!

While we waited for our campfire food to cook, Grandpa and Bennett snacked on one of their favorite things...summer sausage. Way to spoil your appetite, you two!

The neighbor horses came to the fence for a visit. Ainsley was so happy and she fed them some grass.

Picnicing by the fire with Grandpa and Grandma! We LOVE this part of summer!

Scheels All-Sports Comes to Bennett's Dollhouse!

I was in Bennett's room this morning. I glanced over to see that there is a lot going down in her dollhouse these days! Many of you know that Bennett's dollhouse is a happening place. It really isn't for dolls. It is for everything else. For most of the summer, her dollhouse has been a science lab. No longer! It has now been deemed a museum featuring a rooftop cafe, a climbing wall and more. Oh, so much more! In the above photo, you can see the climbing wall and the cafe. It looks like Giraffe and Glitzy Reindeer have made it to the top of the wall! They will celebrate by joining their friends, the Earless Bunnies, for coffee drinks in the cafe behind them. I hear the Americano is excellent!

Inside the house, the museum is awe-inspiring. This is the "Fragile Room." Little kids in pajamas are checking out the Hear-No/See-No/Speak-No Evil Cats and the tipsy camels. The Asian man is intriguing as well.

Here is the other wing of the "Fragile Room." I see a penguin snoozing in the back, so this is obviously the more boring of the exhibits. Asian Man's Wife really likes it though.

Here we have the "Bird Room." Again, not much excitement other than the owl quartet in the corner. They perform on the hour.

And now, what museum-goers everywhere have been waiting for...a museum that boasts a "Scheels All-Sports Room!!!!" Here, sports fans and those who enjoy an active lifestyle can see many California Raisins and their athletic equipment. There is even a giant (sort of) tree in the middle of the room...just like Scheels! Oopsy Bear loves this room. Why is he holding a baby bottle? I have no idea. Let's move on...

On the lower level of the museum you will find the "Random Band Room." More raisins...the museum loves to employ the raisin population...providing free, live entertainment. This museum is a hot spot for celebrities because of the night life offered in the Random Band Room. The Shrek Donkey and his entourage are hanging there right now! Autographs all around!

And finally, a side view of the rooftop cafe. There is a lovely patio area where the horses are waiting for the museum's nightly fireworks display to begin. The museum also offers advertising opportunities. The current billboard is advertising one of Hy-Vee's finest employees, Chuck Fleener. Contact Chuck for all your shelf-stocking needs!

The Fair!

Recently we enjoyed time at the local fair! This is something we look forward to every year. Uncle C. LOVES fair food, so we ran into him, along with Aunt K. and Cousin S. at the fair. The kids all look so serious, but they really were enjoying themselves.

The girls entered some pieces of art into the open class junior arts show this year. It was a lot of fun for them to create things and receive ribbons for them! They also earned money for their first place finishes. Bennett walked away with two blue ribbons and a "Best In Show" purple ribbon. Ainsley received two blue ribbons, a purple "Best In Show" and a purple "Judge's Choice" ribbon. Here she is with her prize-winning painting she titled, "Outdoor Quilt."

Above, Bennett stands with an oil pastels piece she made.

The Pro-Life supporters had a booth at the fair. They gave each girl a little, rubber 12-week-old fetus. These babies are now prized possessions. I had to "babysit" them while the girls rode a carnival ride. Bennett made me keep them in my pocket with their heads sticking out so that they would be able to breathe. It was kind of creepy looking.

Riding a carnival ride...

We went to the fair a second time with Cousin M. The girls were able to pet several farm animals on that trip.

What a sweet calf!

Two little cousins, waiting patiently for a puppet show to begin...

...and finally, the girls participated in some contests. Here is Bennett, competing in a cookie-stacking contest. We had a great time at the fair!