Daylight Savings Mix ups

Daylight savings was a rude wake-up (literally) at our house. Before the one hour change, Patrick was already waking up at six. We were dreading it and now a week after we know the horrors. The Saturday of the change, we took the boys to see Christian's Mom and take Maddie to the vet. The boys had a blast playing at the mall play place and Carousel. I really wish we had a mall here.

After we ate lunch, we started driving home and the boys fell asleep for 30 minutes. We thought we'd just transfer them to their beds. When we got home though they were AWAKE and wouldn't not go to sleep. So that night we put them to bed about 7:30 (6:30 new time) because of the 30 min nap. They woke up at 4:45 (new time) the next morning. Both were coughing pretty cranky but wide awake. We decided against church in order to see if we could somehow sneak 2 naps in. In the end they took a nap in the morning and missed the one in the afternoon.

The next week just got WORSE. We had 4:30, 5:15, 5:30, and 6:00 wake-ups. Today was 5:45 which was okay. Because of the early wake-ups, naps also have been all messed up because they are so tired. I feel like they don't get good naps and then go to bed early to start the wole cycle again! Wish I could get them to go back asleep after but to no avail. I have decided they don't get out of their cribs till 6 but it's so hard when it's mostly Patrick waking early and then he wakes his brother with his jabbering. At least they're still in their cribs; I do have that.

Hopefully this next week, we'll somehow adjust and keep at six o'clock wake ups... I could be happy with that! It's definitely a learning experience.

Catch up with the Benedicts - Halloween

We dressed the boys as cowboys for Halloween this year. They had their red plaid shirts and jeans and their cowboy hats. Plus they had their bandana. Christian's mom asked if I wanted her to buy play holsters/guns but I told her no. I didn't want play guns until they understood what they were for and how to treat them. My luck they would just put the end of it in their mouths. Plus at almost two, I thought they were too young. Christian agreed though he thought they looked more like farmers than cowboys. I'll let you judge for yourself.

Here's the only picture I have, when I have more from Lindsay, I'll post them here.


We took them to the Ward Trunk or Treat the Saturday before and I think it was a little overwhelming. To save their little legs, we put them in the stroller and Payden was done in very little time. When I ran out of candy to pass out to other kids, I joined Christian and we took the boys around.

The boys still didn't understand the whole "asking for candy thing" which was okay by me. In the end Patrick has realized that candy tasted pretty good. So far he likes Starbursts, Reeses Pieces, and licorice. Now and then he'll find a wrapper lying around and bring it to me to ask for some.

I'll See you In the Morning

For the past couple weeks, this has been a very favorite book of Payden's. The Title is, "I'll See you in the Morning," by Mike Jolley and Mique Moriuchi.

It reads:

I'll see you in the Morning. For now it's time to sleep.
I will stay and watch a while Till you are counting sheep

Don't be afraid of Darkness Don't be afraid my sweet.
The Night is just a blanket that helps the earth to sleep.

Creatures great and Creatures small will all be sleeping soon.
Under the same blanket...

...Under the same Moon.

So Close your eyes and go to sleep by the light of the Moon above
I'll see you in the morning in the light of the sun my love.

Dream your dream of moon beams. Let the night become your friend
The twinkling starts will keep you safe till morning comes again.

I"ll be here if you need me. I'm only steps away.
So close your eyes and go to sleep

and dream of a brand new day.

Good Night... Sleep Tight... ... I"ll see you in the morning!

After cleaning up lunch today, I rounded the corner of the kitchen to the living room and this is what I saw. Payden sitting in Daddy's recliner and reading page by page in his favorite book.


I have to admit there were days last week, I hid this book and only brought it out at bedtime since some days I had read it more than 10 times. It has such a sweet message and has the power to help me remember the importance of my purpose in raising these two wonderful boys!

This week: In Pictures

Monday - I made some delicious cinnamon rolls. They were SO good!
Find the recipe here.


Tuesday - Patrick for some reason LOVED to sit on the grass. This picture shows him looking up on our neighbor's patio to see their dog. It was cute that he just sat since he is always on the go these days! I'd like to label it "The Thinker."


Also on Tuesday...Payden got his first safety pin! For the life of him, his pants WOULD not stay up. The length was perfect though! I guess it's because of his no waist or bum!


Wednesday - Patrick has started to become obsessed with climbing IN everything. While I was cooking dinner, he emptied my canned food drawer only to climb in!

They are both into the climbing thing now. We've found (and removed) them from climbing table chairs, all couches, end tables and our bed! I'm just waiting for the kitchen table!

Thursday- we took a walk to Hyvee like we do almost daily to get some awesome sales. On the way back we saw this construction worker. Patrick started freaking out and pointing at it. Apparently I went by it too fast! I backed up and got as close as I could so he could watch and point and watch the guy work! He loved it!


Friday - Again with the climbing... Patrick climbing in Maddie's dog crate. Funny too that Payden will stand outside it and hold it shut so Patrick can't open it. Too Funny!


Also Friday - Payden finally discovered the outside! Usually he's content to stay and play inside but today Patrick ran off and found a mini hill to go UP and DOWN and did it for about 15 minutes. I ran over to get him.. he was pretty far away from the back door. I see Payden coming out walking on the grass which is SO good for him. He still has trouble with uneven surfaces so this was big! Walking back he grabbed for my hand.

He has a blast playing with a beach ball in the sun!

I'm going to get you!

I got you!

Ooh, I found a pillow!

Cinnamon Rolls - A Yummy and easy Recipe!

Last Monday, I made these delicious Cinnamon Rolls. I had been thinking about them for a couple of days and mulling over the recipe in my head and wondering if I had everything for them. I had to take one stop to Hyvee to grab Evaporated milk but other than that I was good to go!

Here is the recipe. I got this from my mom and made it countless times during college and my marriage. It has been used so many times in our family among my brothers and sisters. If I remember correctly.. I think my brother made them for his future wife for their first date! They're legendary! I confess I don't know where exactly she got it from though. :)



Cinnamon Rolls

2 cups scalded milk (or powdered)
1 cup sugar
½ cup sugar
½ cup shortening
1 cup mashed potatoes (you can use real, pearls or flakes)
2 eggs beaten
2 pkg yeast in ½ cup water
1 tsp salt
7 cups flour

Icing:
½ package powdered sugar (3 cups)
½ cup butter
1 tsp vanilla
enough canned milk to make spreadable

Instructions:

Make sponge of milk, sugar, shortening, salt, and poatoes, eggas and 4 cups flour. Beat for 5 mnutes. Add yeast mixture, rest of flour and 1 cup raisens. Stir the last cup by hand. Mix until smooth. Dough will be sticky. Refrigerate at least 2 hours before rolling out. Roll our—spread with soft butter and sprinkle with cinnamon/ sugar. Roll up like jellyroll. Cut with floss. Let rise until doubled (at least 2 hours). Bake at 375 for 12 minutes. Spread on icing when rolls are hot. Dough can be frozen for 30 days.

(This recipe is REALLY easy to HALF. It makes 16 large rolls if halved).

Have fun!

Bus Trip!

The boys and I got to ride a bus on Wednesday! We rode the bus to the library for the story time there this morning. I have wanted to do this for awhile but thought it would be nuts to do it by myself with just the two boys. So instead, we have been planning for a month with the boy's Physical Therapist and Speech Therapist through the Tiny-K program. They really want me to get out more which is super hard because I don't have a car at home. I told them that I was thinking of trying to take the bus but hadn't done so. They immediately offered to clear their schedules for an entire morning so we could all go!

What a adventure it was!

Kristin and Candice arrived right at nine and we put the boys in the stroller and walked towards the bus stop. The bus stop is right in front of the grocery story and maybe a block or so away. Very easy distance. We got there right as the bus pulled up. The boys loved it! I think they loved not being in their car seats too! They sat on their seats like big boys and LOVED looking out the window at all the cars and trucks we passed.

Patrick totally enjoying himself.. and pointing at objects out the window.

Payden is more laid back..

We took one bus for about 15 min and then transferred to another bus that took us the rest of the way downtown. I found that as we rode this particular bus it could take me to: Target, Walmart and even Checkers, a grocery store I love! Oh the possibilities!!

Then we walked for about 4 blocks to the library where we were just in time for story time. This story time is called Books and Babies and is designed for 8-23 month old children. It was all about the body they did 6 books and probably 7 songs for them. I wasn't sure how Patrick and Payden would do since they usually like to walk and explore a new place. They did some exploring toward the end but for the most part sat on or by their carpet squares with rapt attention.

One of the books, the lady read was one we had read at home together. Payden went right up to the librarian and helped her fold up the flap as she read the book. I was impressed he recognized it so well!

After it was over, I changed a Patrick's diaper and away we left to catch the bus home. Again, the boys were great. The bus trip home went pretty smooth. I think Payden wanted to walk around the bus which wasn't safe so I brought out books that he could read on the chair. Luckily a couple of these books were in our Sunday bag and it had been a few days since he had read them. Patrick was happily pointing at things out the window to Candice who was his little friend the entire time.

One of the cutest things though was Patrick singing the entire way home. He has this thing now he just throws in whatever jabber and does it in a sing-song type way. He did that the rest of the time home.. Even once we put him in the stroller for the walk home... he continued singing.

Best part of the day by far: I put boys down for nap at 1:15 and both were asleep in minutes and not ONE peep until 4:00. A wonderful nap for all!!

Even better news: We are going to do more in the future! Maybe once a month until I get to the point where I can do it all by myself.

Edible Playdough - in pictures

Yesterday, I made the boys edible playdough to see what they would do. I was looking for an edible recipe as I'm afraid they will just try to eat it. 

Apparently I was right!  

 

In the end, this recipe was WAY too sticky but still fun to experiment with.  After he was done, we changed his socks, shirt and pants.  I guess I need to keep looking since, I don't see us using this recipe again.  But it was good for the time we used it. 


Disclaimer - I know that these pictures only show one of my boys (Patrick) but Payden was happily reading books and playing with toys; Patrick was the grumpy/bored one so I decided to try this out first with him. I wasn't entirely sure I could handle two toddlers + playdough.