A little Salt in Sugar

My MaMa Auten used to say to me when I would pout 'I see there is a little salt in sugar'....what does that mean I would think!!!

She and my dad had so many wonderful sayings about things (a southern thing) and I have them all written down somewhere and love remembering them - when I catch a glimpse of something that relates they instantly come into my mind and makes me smile.....

This picture of Brody started me thinking about that saying! He is the start pouter of our family and is pretty stubborn and will sit and cross his arms and pout the best pout....however once he works his mood out he is lighthearted and funny and lovable.....and far more sugar than salt!
My friend Annette got the boys a fun firetruck puzzle and sidewalk paint for their birthdays - they love her (Miss Net!) and she knows just what these boys love....we must have put it together a hundred times!

Monday we celebrated all the March birthdays at Fuji's...Shannie, Dylan and Brody....
(note to self - get your bangs cut this week!)

Dylan loved their soup....he is my soup eater!

We all were mesmerized by their cooking show....

Brody did incredible with chop sticks - Kristen has the cutest video....

Chop Chop...sizzle...sizzle....

The famous 'Volcano'

Lava flow.....

The beautiful birthday girl and her handsome hubby.....

Plum ice cream for the birthday guests....where is Brody??? He came back a few minutes later with a wet fork....hmmmm someone went fishing in the Koi pond?

Steve mesmerized by his iPhone - put that away and watch the show!

Time for presents!

We love all our gifts Gigi and Gramps....especially our harmonicas - we will play you a song!

Spring time about the Wilson Manor.....

A touch of bunny and chicks on the hutch in the entry way....

A pastel rag garland with egg lights and some Easter decs on the mantle....the Fisher Price train and the Thomas Easter Train and Easter books out for the boys....

The Lazy Susan on the dining room table filled with bunny and chicks....and the ceramic Easter basket I made in 1972!!

My Easter Annalee Bunny, some Easter subway art and a ceramic egg filled with pastel M&M's
on the bar....

In the foyer a little spring scene with lambs and ceramic plate and my cholce protecting a nest of eggs....(I saw this nest when we went to the winery with friends a few weeks ago and the guys were waiting on us so I decided it was a want and not a need and passed on it....I just could not get that nest off my mind so last week I drove back out there and it was still waiting for me!!!!) I.love.it.

I am not crazy about the scarf on the distressed table so looking for something better....

Close up of my new little treasure....

Found this cute wall hanging birdcage for half price......so I decided it to perk it up a bit with some of my vintage postcards....

I bought some small clothespins and pinned the postcards on the 'cage'....

....and hung it on the wall next to my hutch....it looks great and I can change out the postcards (I have collected all the holidays) or just leave it plain....

'The Apothecary's are proud to announce a new addition to their glass family'.....(I found a nice new one!) and of course that means I had to take them all out and wash them down and rearrange them....

.....and a fun trip to Hobby Lobby this week netted some cute decorations for an upcoming birthday party around these parts....

....and speaking of salt in sugar - time for my annual batch of bunny bark...the perfect blend of salt and sugar!!!

First you break up a pkg of vanilla cookies (or Oreo Goldens), break up pretzel pieces, spread a handful of pastel M&M's and some spring sprinkles on a cookie sheet.....

...then melt about 1# of white chocolate slowly in the microwave = stirring every 30 second until melted...

Then drizzle over the white chocolate on the pieces and let it set up in your fridge for 15 minutes....then break it up in pieces and store it in an airtight container - yummy!

I love this picture of Brody - putting all the Toy Story figures in Rocky's bed....

...and speaking of earning your salt....I got an award for my 15 years of service, even tho I have been there 16 years - they are a bit behind!!!

Hope your week was full of salt and sugar and all things that make you happy!

Helter Skelter Week

When the bar in my kitchen (which is air traffic control) looks like this then I know what kind of week I am going to have..... I am by nature organized, structured and pragmatic, but some times I have these ADD weeks where it is truly Helter Skelter and I have 50,000 things going at once.....I have to constantly tell my self to slow down....it is like I am on a caffeine high and can't stop!

Monday Steve had to have an epidural shot so I had to drop him off an hour early so while he filled out paperwork I scored some cool stuff at the Thrift Store for $9.00. More turkeys for my turkey collection, a great bronze birdie, a picture frame (brand new) and a really cute pilgrim standing on Plymouth Rock! I was back an hour before Steve's procedure so perfect timing.....

Brody spend lots of afternoons with me this week while Kristen was on party prep duty for both boys birthdays.....Brody loves to do GiGi's dishes....

Adam and Steve went shopping and came home with new iPhone and noise cancelling headphones....hmmmmm....it was our 25th anniversary this week - maybe he is trying to tell me something? The Addie is our teckie and we never go shopping for electronics without the master.

I had some homework for Brody's birthday party - personalizing fire hats!

I ordered these two personalized shirts for the boys for Brody's Fireman Themed Birthday.....so cute

The kids gave us a generous gift certificate for our anniversary and some great champagne and wine! We actually had a tax/audit appt that evening and after that went to a great place for dinner.....wow, did those 25 years go fast! On another note, the audit has encompassed many milestones for us, my dad's passing, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, both our birthdays, Steve's dad passing, Adam's birthday, Valentines Day and now our 25th anniversary......can you hear the sucking sound of celebrations under distress?

Table for One Please! Thursday night Brody came over and stayed the night with us on Thursday and we got to spoil him.....he ate what he wanted and watched what he wanted and was a happy little guy.

He took the longest soaking playtime bath....I am talking at least an hour....

And when he went to sleep in Uncle Adams old room I think he missed his brother because when we went to check on him he was on the 1st landing of the stairs and had made a little bed for him and Mickey!

Here is a close up....he really had his spot set up!

On Friday Brody and I went to meet Kristen at Dylan's school for a special birthday treat - Jamba Juice and muffins during morning recess....lots of happy faces and adorable kids! That's my Dylan in between the two girls that he insisted on sitting by....cutie!

Here is his classroom....something about a Kindergarten classroom to make you feel good
...it is true....'All I ever needed to know I learned in Kindergarten'....

Lining up to go back to class - one final hug for pretty and fun Mommy......

...and UPS brought this little roll of pretty for my chair project.....love the B&W Toille!

Dylan and Brody showing off their shirts prior to us leaving for Brody's party...

We all met at the Fire station near our house.....there was about 50 of us....

We had to wait as when we rang the bell no one answered....then they pulled up and sounded the alarm for Brody!

The Fire Chief answered the door and Brody presented him with a box of yummy chocolate and a BIG THANK YOU for their wonderful service....

We then were invited in and Fireman Tim put on a fireman suit and showed the kids that if they ever are in a fire not to be afraid if someone that looks like that is trying to save them....do not hide but crawl to the fireman and hold on to his sleeve....Brody in fire boots showing how to reach for the fireman.

After we looked at the inside they took us out to see and play in the truck and ambulance! Here Fireman Tim is letting Brody go thru the truck and check it out....

Then we headed to the park to celebrate with pizza, snacks and cupcakes....Kristen did a beautiful job as usual with her decorations. Aunt Shannie, Uncle Adam and I were busy putting things out....Gramps was a big help too!

Kristen got him this little cake which I thought was adorable!

Make a wish.....blow out the candles!!!

Pinata and Jumper! Dylan takes a swing as Daddy makes it hard to hit....Dylan was the one to finally shake the candy out!

Lots of presents and Thank yous to everyone from Brody - he is very grateful and polite...

Aunt Shannie in the jumper....this is tradition - she has jumped in every jumper for each of the boys birthdays.....we love her.

Needless to say I was very boring in the cooking dept this week....I did make a big pot of chicken and rice and one night we had steaks and the rest was on the run and fast food....not good.

And only for this girl would I give up my whole precious Sunday to go with her to the parent connection where she made enough money for a trip to SF! I officially retired from this event today.....

.....and I feel like I have so much I need to do before I gear up for another insane week....I must remind myself to enjoy it and embrace it and that this is sooooo much better than not being a part of everything that is going on. Grateful and appreciative that I am.