Summer treats

Today we are making a favorite summer treat! Homemade popsicles and fudgesicles!!!! Supposedly it is going to be warm this weekend, so I figured it was a good way to celebrate!

These recipes are what my family grew up on and are from my mom. Obviously they are fairly basic - and it makes it easy to to experiment different flavors. I just use the popsicle molds you can find in stores (Pick N Save or Wal-mart generally). Tons cheaper than store bought!

Popsicles:

1 small pkg. jello
2 cups hot water
2 cups cold water (for extra flavor substitute Kool-aid or juice!)
1/4 cup sugar (you may not need this if you use Kool-aid or juice)

Mix. Pour. Freeze.

Note: will fill 2 molds (each mold holds approx. 2 cups)

Fudgesicles:

1 small pkg. instant pudding
1/4 cup sugar
2 1/2 cups milk

Mix. Pour. Freeze.

Fills 1.2 molds

ENJOY!!!!

Cool Kids!!

Byren thought he would join in on the fun!

Addison (Cassie's daughter) and Hudson!

Addison, Hudson, and Lilly (Nila's daughter)

One Room School House

I was inspired by the pictures Tina took of her dad's old barn, these aren't as good though. Tina has a good eye!! This black and white one is my favorite!!

I would really like to get the history on this school. It is fun to imagine what life would have been like back then... if only those walls could talk!

Brice and Hermie

I realized that I never blogged about the newest addition to the family. Aunt Kerry gave Brice money to get his hermit crab for his birthday. Brice succeeded in finding the largest hermit crab know to existence. Honestly, I think the thing is half lobster! Thank You, Aunt Kerry!

Truth: It actually isn't the newest family member any more. As of this week, we have added a tadpole and frog to the Powers inheritance. At the rate we kill (or lose) animals I'm sure they won't be around long!

Poop Patrol

Aren't there child labor laws to prevent this type of work??

He insisted on helping Mommy. I love how it's hanging out the bottom of the grabber. After he dropped it, he stopped and picked it up - with his hands - and asked "Dat doggy poopy, Mommy??" Yeah, we still have a lot of training to do. I guess he isn't ready to go solo with this chore quite yet.

Guitars

A while ago I shared all of Owen's hats. Today I have to share all of his guitars.

I am not entirely sure where he picked up the concept of the guitar, maybe from Uncle Ryan, but his creative little mind will turn almost anything into a guitar. He strums and sings. He also tries to teach others how to play. He handed Aaron a ruler and said, "Play the ditar, Ayrn." He was quite frustrated with Aaron when he looked at the ruler, hit the ruler on the floor, waved it above his head, smacked the dog - you know typical two year old things. Owen just couldn't understand why Aaron wouldn't naturally strum a ruler. He has taught some of the kids in the nursery to play and they now have a band. They are going to call themselves "The Duplos". (The large version of Lego).

He can be found strumming snowballs, toy guns, spoons, and a few other unique objects. Here are few I caught on camera: (I can't say I have ever seen him strumming an actual guitar)

Tractor trailer - he is plowing his way through this one!
(sorry, couldn't resist)

Those are smore's tongs for the fire pit.
Thankfully the cardboard was still on them -
seeing how he is strumming, singing and bouncing.

Don't you just want to sing along??
Don't worry, you will be more on key than he is.

At least the material is wood -
isn't that what they make guitars out of?

He is singing the song, "Measure of a Man"

Yep, even the dish soap! I hope that lid holds!

Coming soon: Carra's dance moves

Firewood

And the third little piggy made her house out of sticks . . . .

On Monday we went on a nature hike with the kids to enjoy the spring day. We went to one of our favorite trails that winds through a woods and then through a swamp (yes, literally a swamp. They built a boardwalk straight through a swamp so you can walk through the swamp and enjoy the habitat. No, really, it is fascinating.)

The point I want to make is in the woods. Carra Grace was hiking along and realized that there was a large amount of sticks just laying around. Well, at our house we are privileged to live with a pyromaniac :0) who often builds fires in the fireplace and outside in the fire pit. Carra got very excited and thought that this would be an excellent time to gather firewood - and so she did. She carried those sticks throughout the whole hike! About 100 yards from the van, Mikayla stepped in and offered to help carry the load. (Such a good big sister)

Buff said that if she carried them the whole way, he would definitely build a fire just for her. She was a determined little character! Now I just have to go and get the marshmallows!

Now if I could only channel that determination . . . . .

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday, Mom!

We love you!
Buff, Tina
Mikayla, Brice, Carra Grace and Owen
and Clark, and Cinnamon Sugar, and Chuckle,
and Chuck E., and Hermie

The big red barn that Dad bought

We had Easter at my Mom and Dad's this weekend. I have been wanting to snap some shots of the old barn out in back and I finally got a chance to do it. It inspired me. I now have some more ideas running through my head that I would like to try later. I am going to haul some props along for my next visit. Mom watched me walk around the barn snapping pictures and asked me when I came in what in the world could I be taking pictures of! Well, here is some of my perspective of the old barn.This is the big red barn that Dad bought.

This is the hole above the door, in the big red barn that Dad bought.

These are the hinges on the door of the big red barn that Dad bought.

This is one door below the hole in the big red barn that Dad bought.

This is the really cool red door on the (soon to be) potting shed -
next to the big red barn that Dad bought.

How about another door of the big red barn that Dad bought.

Oh, no, the door is falling off of the big red barn that Dad bought!
(His loss - my gain!!!)

Ah, yes, we love the big red barn that Dad bought!

I have a plan for taking a picture of rolled up barbed wire!
Do you see what I see?? Stay tuned!

Mom didn't even know where I got this chair from.
It was hiding in the big red barn - that Dad bought.

Look what we found!!!!

The mystery has been solved. The Powers most wanted has been discovered. Chopper is no longer missing!

Someone (do I need to explain WHO??) was upstairs playing in the bathroom and pulled some stuff out of the cupboard. It was all laying in the middle of the floor when I went to give the kids a bath and when I started picking up - this was my delightful discovery!!!

Brice was happy to know he was found and then immediately turned on Carra and gave her one of his "see what you did" lectures using one of his signature scowls. Maybe we should buy him a new one. I think we should take Grandpa Powers advice - "get an alligator next time - they are easier to find."

We are all just relieved to know that no one ate him in their sleep.

Owen's hats

Owen likes hats and quite often he can be found sporting one throughout the day. On occasion I snap a picture of his quirkiness and I realized that I have quite a collection of fun hat pictures. Here are some of my favorites!

By far my favorite!

Wearing the hat backwards it is the best way to wear it.
It gets a little tricky when he gets in his carseat though.

Now this one you needed to see the
whole ensemble to appreciate it.
Truly a victim of older sisters.

Okay this is my favorite too. Notice the backwards hat - again.

Cool!

Grandpa's hat and Grandma's shoes

Cowboy

I told him to smile - and this is what he gave me!

Hey, this is the way they are wearing them now!

It was a gorgeous 70 degree spring day -
but he had to have his hat to go to the park.

Sir Owen

Where's the fire??

Can you spot Owen?