Sizzlin' Summer VaCAtiOn!

What a fabulous vacation! Our first successful big family vacation with the whole Dwyer crew, I loved it! I was so proud of my boys for adjusting well and sleeping great all of us in one room, the littlest tyke crammed into a playpen for sleeping quarters and all!

I am so thankful for my In Laws who planned this trip and made this all happen..grateful for their young and fun loving spirits. I really feel blessed with my family. I loved so much sharing a condo with my nephews and enjoyed watching my kids play with them. Tripping over tractors and dodging play dough balls in the morning on the way to the coffee pot was part of the great experience and of course welcomed by this little boy lovin' Mama for sure! Tickle fests, jumping on the beds..you name it, it happened! We were fortunate enough to do several shows with the kids, a few dinners out, a tad of shopping, some mini golf here and there, and my favorite...time in the sun at the pool and the beautiful Tablerock Lake.Ever since I was a little girl I always wanted to ride the Duck and a lifelong dream came true! We all loaded up on that funky lookin' vehicle and sailed down the Branson strip..Parker even got to drive! I am so thankful we got to get away this summer..our fist vacation all 4 of us! Last time we took one, Jack was in my belly.

Kiddo lost his first tooth on the last night of vacation! Here they are climbing the walls of Arbys...

cousin sandwich!

My little monkey :)

Date night out for Mama & Papa..Florentina's Italian Grill

a Dip under the tree with my sweetie pea! :)

On board that fabulous "Duck"

The whole Dwyer crew..notice my nephew (reindeer) off to the side with his "antlers"!

Catching a muscial show of Noah's Arc..we plucked Parker from his bed while still napping.(hence the face of disgust..)

My favorite picture of vacation..what a face, Parker!

Dowtown, newer, fancier part of Branson..the Landing and it was scorchin' hot!

Body parts & Mugs in the Sink

Anyone else find this funny? In my dish drainer resides the usual and very necessary washed dishes...my coveted Starbucks mugs..always needing to be cleaned and available for that oh so perfect cup of java! But also residing this particular day, the parts of one Mr. Potato Head. That's right..body parts strewn about my stainless dish drainer amongst my dearest mugs. Laugh amongst yourselves, go ahead...I did!

Oh yes, a Sight from Heaven

it was finally time to tackle this sucker! Don't be hasty to jump to any conclusions here..this actually is cleaned & reorganized! I spent hours scrubbing away chilled spills concreted to the walls and shelves of this fridgie....stacking all the cheese in the cheese drawer, sorting shredded from the kraft "kid" slices, aligning all of my labels like I've always dreamed of doing. I have always secretly admired those who take such pride in a super clean fridge, and now I can swing open those doors of refrigerated paradise to relish in my accomplishment! I must first tell you what so inspired me to do this...one 5 year old reaching for a yogurt who accidentally sent a non secured coffee grinder toppling from the 2nd shelf, finely ground ESPRESSO grounds snugly settled inside and landing on the bottom..:) picture the inside of a fridge and a viewing of top soil basically being sprinkled on each shelf, each item in the fridge and then a heaping pile on the bottom of fridge and under that last drawer. :) Although the smell was intoxicating when you opened the thing....ahhhh..fresh, cool, coffee grounds..I knew it wasn't right to leave it just for my sheer enjoyment..that's what air fresheners are for! So...thank you Parker, for getting your mother motivated to clean and reorganize the fridge..love, mom

Chocolate Fabulousity!

major ingredients...chocolate & butter...

ooooh...sweet, succulent, steaming hot batter, chocolate chunks still melting..

now how did that get on camera? ...had to take a little dabble!

Mr. Jack tries out a few scraps..he approves!

...fabulousity!!!....

That's right..put into motion making some REAL chocolate cupcakes. You know the ones you need your best stainless baking supplies, a Billie Holiday album, a cutting board for chopping that unsweetened chocolate and a whole stick u' butta! Chocolate creations so wonderful you are obsessed with every finite detail that goes into it..the dissolving of sugar that goes over the chocolate chunks, to the heating of REAL cream in order to make that fantastic ganache! Now these cupcakes aren't for just anyone. The heaviness of this chocolate and bitterness of the ganache..only for a refined chocolatier as myself. This ain't for no wimps or small children who like packaged baked goodies packed with sickening sweet "fake attempts at chocolate." Took me about 2 hours before this masterpiece came to an end....Mommy & baby enjoyed...:)

An Afternoon of Sophistication

annnnnd this is what I call pure afternoon sophistication. Nothing dresses up a lulling afternoon better than a quick brew of java in a perfect cup. A dollop (or a heaping as seen here) of whipped cream and sugar in the raw sprinkled a top can liven up any housewife, stay at home Mommer or any of the like! Lately my craving of sugar cookies with icing has been resurfacing...we are just starting summer and nowhere near Christmas time. I usually play the part of strict nun at a Catholic school about not letting myself into those tasty little angelic refineries until that time of year, but now I'm starting to realize, after all I am over 30, why must I be so hard on myself? I foresee a batch of forbidden cookies nearing my future, that is if I can find a decent cookie cutter other than Santa or snowmen and not in the usual residence that cookie cutter should live...oh no..mine have seemed to migrate curiously into the play dough bin..=/ All the while, while I'm dreaming of cookie cutouts again gracing my counter tops here soon I shall enjoy what I DO have in front of me in complete peace....good afternoon everyone..to everyone..an afternoon of sophistication!

A Clown that lives amongst us

I find him like this more than several times a day..most likely calling China collect on my antique but VERY functioning phone!

no need to be ashamed Jack of your obsession with my most crazy of shoes!

....that's better..don't hide it son, flaunt it! you're workin' those shoes!

Parker is ffffFIve!

April 27th, this preschooler has turned the big 5...

headed to Kindergarten this fall..unfathomable!!

sharing his birthday glory with some of his best school pals

love the look on his face..wonder what he's wishing for!