Monkey Toes

The recipe I have calls them Monkey Toes, they're also known as monkey bread or pull apart bread or bubble bread, but my family and I prefer monkey toes.  This recipe is super yummy and easy.  I put the boys to work Sunday night making them.  While Eric cut up one can of biscuits Charles dunked them in cinnamon and sugar and then they traded jobs on the other can.  Here's the recipe:

Monkey Toes

2 cans refrigerated bisbuit dough (7.5 oz)

1/2 c. sugar

1tsp. cinnamon

1/2 stick butter

1/2 c. brown sugar

1 Tsp. vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Cut each biscuit into 4 pieces (a pizza cutter works great for this).  Combine the sugar and cinnamon mixture in a plastic zippered bag.  Shake the biscuit pieces, a few at a time, in the cinnamon mixture.  Place pieces in a well greased bundt pan.  Melt the butter and brown sugar in a saucepan or in the microwave then add vanilla.  Stir; spoon mixture over biscuits.  Bake for 20-25 minutes or until puffed and golden.  Turn out shortly after removing from the oven or the gooey butter and suger mixture will stick to the pan. 

If you bake your kids blueberry muffins....

If you bake your kids blueberry muffins, they'll probably want a story to go with them.  I have been craving blueberry muffins for almost a week and this morning I finally had time to make them.  I took them out of the oven to cool and pretty soon the boys came running up the stairs with excitement saying to each other how yummy the blueberry muffins smelled.  They sat down to eat and Charles took his first bite and said, "Mom, this reminds me of something, you know that book, If You Give a Moose a Muffin?"  Then Eric chimed in, "Ya, can you please read it to us while we eat?"  They sat around the table eating while I read.  When they were finished with their muffin they wanted a waffle and Charles said, "Let's read If You Give a Pig a Waffle, oh no I mean If You Give a Pig a Pancake."  So, if you bake your kids blueberry muffins and read them a story, they'll also want waffles and another story to go with it.   We had a fun morning eating and reading together. 

Valentine's Day

Dean and I went out on Friday night since V-day was on Sunday.  I was trying to hurry home from work to get myself ready and go pick up the babysitter.  I came rushing through the door and this is what I saw.

You can't see in this picture but in the box is a gorgeous pearl necklace and a CD he burned of my favorite slow songs.  There were also tickets to see Valentine's Day.  We went to dinner at The Elephant Bar Restraunt then went shopping and then to the movie.  It was a nice, relaxing night out. 

The kids' bedding was getting old and worn out and they were having a hard time keeping their rooms clean and beds made.  Dean and I decided that if we got them new bedding it might help motivate them to keep things a little tidier.  I found an adorable pink bird themed set for Katie, I couldn't pass it up.  Charles loves Star Wars the Clone Wars so we found him sheets and then found a green and blue comforter that coordinates.  For Eric we found a blue plaid set.  He was a little sad that he didn't get Star Wars but the extra decorative pillows and bed skirt that came with his set made up for it.  They were so thrilled with their new bedding.  Charles hovered around the washer and dryer all night waiting for the sheets  to be finished so we could make his bed.  Here are few pictures of the kids loving their new beds.

Where To Begin

I can't believe it's been almost a month since I've updated my blog.    Most recently Charles lost his second tooth.  It's funny the way he lost it.  It had been loose since he lost his first tooth but he didn't want it to come out.  So yesterday he had his Halloween bucket on his head like a hat and it fell off.  Somehow while it was falling and his mouth was opened laughing or talking the bucket  hit his tooth and almost knocked it out.  It was just hanging so he finished pulling it out.

We celebrated Charles' 6th birthday on January 29th.  He was giddy with excitement over turning 6.  His birthday was on a Friday and he was so happy to take cupcakes to school to celebrate.  For his birthday cake he wanted Kung Fu Panda.  As you know, I am not great at decorating cakes but I love to do it.  I found a simple cake to make and it turned out pretty cute.  Charles loved it so that's all that matters to me.  He could hardly wait to eat lunch to get to the cake and ice cream and then he rushed through eating that so he could open presents. 

Lastly, we found out that we're having another baby!!  Honestly, we were surprised to find out the news.  For a few months we had been talking about whether or not our family was complete.  We couldn't decide. One day we wanted another baby and the next we thought we were finished.  Dean's mom has been telling us for the longest time that Heavenly Father had more in store for us, apparently she was right.  When we told the kids Eric said he wanted it to be a girl and Charles wanted it to be a boy.  Eric's reasoning for wanting a girl is that Katie can boss her around and leave the boys alone.  We don't have confirmation on the due date but think it will be the end of August or beginning of September.  Lucky for me this pregnancy has been great like the other three.  I haven't been sick or had any problems.  I'm just tired of  being tired and tired of my over active bladder.

A Visit From the Tooth Fairy

Last week Charles lost his first tooth.  We haven't seen that much excitment since Christmas.  He was absolutely thrilled.  I came home from work and  Eric met me at the door so excitied to tell me that Charles had lost his first tooth.  He came home from school and told Dean that it was loose and a little while later he had pulled it out.  When he looked at it he said that it was "puny" and puny it was.  His teeth are so tiny and cute.  He put it under his pillow right away too.  We found a tooth box to put it in to make it easier for the Tooth Fairy to find it.  When he woke up he looked at his pillow and said smiling, "My pillow is moved, I knew the Tooth Fairy came last night!"  A few days later the tooth right next to the one he lost was loose.