Bowlin'

If you didn't know, one of Afton's all time favorite thing to do is go bowling. We don't do it nearly enough (according to him) so when our friends invited us to meet up at the bowling alley, there was no way were weren't going. 

They all did excellent!

Even though Rowan couldn't bowl, she still had fun!

Thanks for going bowling with us Rozsas and Brehms!

Across the Street Neighbor Comes for a Visit

My best friend Jaime's mom, Jan, came to visit a couple of weeks ago. We met up with her, Jaime, and Jan's husband Lynn, in Old Town at the Mormon Battalion. Afton loves panning for gold, so he was super excited to go. The kids had tons of fun washing clothes on a washboard, pumping water, and finding gold while the adults chatted away. I think Rowan may have had the most fun considering how soaked she was by the end.

I moved across the street from the Hunts when I was 5 years old, so I've know Jan for a long time. I always remember her taking pictures so we could capture all those memories. A lot of the photographs I have from my youth were taken by her, including most of the older pictures I have posted on this blog. Anyway, she was so sweet and asked Afton to climb into the covered wagon for a photo op....

and one with the canon......

and of course we had to have group shots!

This picture was taken the next day at the zoo. Aren't we the cutest!?

I was so happy to have another day to spend with Jan. We visited the zoo and then had dinner at The Cheesecake Factory. I love listening to Jan tell stories and reminisce, but I especially love her laugh. It is simply the best!

Six Sticks

In preparation for kindergarten, Afton was poked 6 times with a needle. We talked, for at least a month, about what it would be like getting a shot, so he was well aware that it was going to be painful but he was going to try and be brave. I took both kids in for shots, but Rowan ended up needing a breathing treatment (she had a cold) and was not able to get her shots. Anyway, they were taking so long with Rowan that Afton started begging to get his shots. The nurse was pretty dumbfounded. She whispered, asking "does he know that it's going to hurt?"  I confirmed to her that he did, and was so taken with the combination of fear and anticipation, that it only seemed like he was excited about it. Also, we did not know he was going to have to get stuck with a needle six times.

First up was the TB test. He grimaced and held his breath and made it through to the other side with only a bit of a tear. He was so proud and ready to leave.....then he realized that he still had a bunch of pokes left and had a complete melt down. The nurse was able to prick his finger and get some blood for the iron test before I had to hold on to him so that he wouldn't jump off the table and go running hysterically through the halls. Quickly she gave him three shots in his left arm, basically punching him with needles, and one lone shot in the other arm. 

Once it was all over, Afton screamed the most horrific scream I have ever heard. It was the sound a grown woman makes when seeing a huge rat run across the kitchen floor, mixed with the wail of a fire alarm. He did this more than once, and I had to remind him that it was ok to cry but not to scream. 

A full 20 mins after getting the shots, he still had tears running down his cheeks. He requested to sit in the front seat because his car seat straps were hurting his arms. Breakin' the law! I told him he had to give me a thumbs up first though. Regardless of his crying and screaming and basic total meltdown, I was very proud of him. He's one tough cookie to get punched with that many needles!

Kid Ventures

Here are some pictures from our visit to the new Kid Ventures (indoor play place) that opened near us. It has so many fun areas for pretend play; grocery store, diner, beauty parlor, fire truck, gas station, nursery, ship, and castle. There are costumes to put on, wall to climb, and tubes to crawl through.

Rowan found this double stroller and proceeded to play with it randomly throughout the entire visit. Once she saw another kid pushing it around and freaked out. Seriously, she screamed from all the way across the building "NO" and went running to take back her perceived possession. Good thing she has little legs...and I don't. Well, not as little as hers at least.

Luckily there were these cute cars to distract her from the stroller. Afton was nice enough to push her around for a bit, until he got "way too tired" and passed along the duty to moi.

She went on this slide over and over, all on her own. Endless giggles.

Cap'n Affy

Sir Afton of Locksley

He rescued the Princess Rowancup!

Stinker.

Look up here! 

Chewy Honey Yummy

I did it! Yes, I finally made the Chewy Honey Cookies my mom gave me the recipe for back in December. Why did it take so long, you ask? No idea. If I had remembered fully how delicious they are, and knew that Nippon and the kids would love them as much as I, then I would have made several dozen between the holidays and now. They really turned out fabulous; slight crunch, with a chewy bite. And to my surprise, they were even better the next day. Yummmmm! Thank you madre!

Recipe:

Cream together:

3/4 cup of shortening

1 cup sugar

1/4 c honey

1 egg

Mix in a separate bowl or plastic bag (gal size):

2 cups flour

2 tsp. baking soda

1/4 tsp. salt

1 tsp cinnamon

3/4 tsp cloves

3/4 tsp ginger

Mix w/ dry ingredients.

Roll into ball and dip one side in sugar.

Cook on 375 for 8- 10 min.

Do not overbake.