A Revelation

Mabel and Oliver were kicking a ball in the house this afternoon when I realized something.

They could kick the ball out back.

On our grass!

It was exciting.
Even Stella joined in the fun.

It lasted about 5 minutes.
Then they were too hot.
So they came inside to read books on the couch.

Going Out with a Bang.

I took the week off from eating healthy. I ate whatever I wanted. I drank Dr Pepper and had ice cream for breakfast. I skipped meals and ate late at night. I went to McDonald's, people! I didn't even worry about my fiber intake. It was liberating.

It was nice while it lasted, but tomorrow morning, I am back on board the health food train.

As my last hurrah, I whipped up a batch of Caramel Layer Cocoa Squares for Sunday dinner at my in-laws'. They might be my most favorite chocolate treat of all time. Give them a try. You won't be disappointed.


1 (14 ounce) package individually wrapped caramels, unwrapped
2/3 cup evaporated milk, divided
1 (18.25 ounce) package chocolate cake mix
3/4 cup butter, melted
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a heavy saucepan, combine caramels and 1/3 cup of evaporated milk. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly until smooth; set aside. Grease a 9x13 inch pan. In a large bowl, stir together the cake mix, melted butter and a little less than 1/3 cup of evaporated milk by hand until dough holds together. Press half of the dough into the prepared pan, reserving the rest.

Bake for 10 minutes in the preheated oven. Remove from the oven and sprinkle the chocolate chips over the crust, pour the caramel mixture evenly over the chips. Crumble the remaining dough over the caramel layer and return to the oven. Bake for an additional 15 to 18 minutes in the preheated oven. Cool in refrigerator to set the caramel before cutting into bars.


This time I used a jar of caramel topping instead of individually wrapped caramels. It was so much easier. I have to thank my favorite childhood babysitter, Melinda Masters for this recipe. When I was little and my parents were taking a trip sans their 6 kids, the Masters would move into our house and take care of us. I loved them. They were so fun. Leslie and I would beg Melinda to make caramel layer cocoa squares. She was nice and always gave in.

Happy Sunday!

It's time to eat.

I may have three kids,

but I have never owned a high chair.

Until today.

The high chair got here just in time,
because somebody has finally decided to eat food.

I am such a sucker for Jenny Lind furniture.
Isn't it pretty?
And doesn't Stella look teeny in it?

I don't want old lady hands.

Do you get Newsweek?
Did you notice Cindy McCain's old lady hands?
She's only 54, but she has lived in Arizona her whole life.
I am seriously considering getting these.
I live in Arizona, too, and the sun here is intense.
My skin was meant for the highlands of Scotland.
Not this bright desert.
I wear sunscreen everyday
--even on the backs of my hands--
but these driving gloves might be a little more convenient.
Totally embarrassing, but convenient.

What about you, would you wear them?
And if I did, would you still be my friend?

p.s. I am fine with having old lady hands when I am an actual old lady.
Just not before then.

Old McDonald's

I love being a mom.

In fact, there are very few things about my job that I don't enjoy. I might complain to Mike about having to get up with Stella 2 or 3 times a night, but really, I don't mind doing it, I just like having his sympathy. I don't mind wiping bottoms or keeping house. I like doing laundry and baking cookies. I really like reading to my kids and watching them play.
Being a mom is fabulous.

But one thing I can't stand about being a mom is going to McDonald's. It's just plain gross. Yes, I know I don't have to take my kids there. I realize there are better, healthier options for lunch, but it is Oliver's favorite place. And it makes him so happy.
So, we went there for lunch today.

And I ate a cheeseburger.

(And some french fries.)

That's how much I love my kids.

Me and Stella, waiting for the big kids to finish playing.
(This is way better than I look in real life, so you better believe I'm posting this picture. I don't even care if you make fun of me for doing it.)

And now I am off to make these, because my mouth has been watering for them ever since I read that post.

See, Les

I told you she had hair.

What's old really is new again.

(my great grandma- Sadie Stella Vasseur Britton, my mom- Lauren Stephanie, Jesse Vasseur
Dallas, 1955)

My Great Grandma must be smiling.
Because in the last seven months, we have had a Sadie and a Stella born into the P* family.

My Mabel

Today she turns six.

I love Mabel.
I am so blessed to be her mom.

She is always happy.
She loves waffles and milk.
She lets Oliver have his way.
She is silly.
She is sweet.
She is thoughtful.
She can read anything.
She wants to travel the world someday.
She has a great imagination.
She is tender.
She is a good listener.
She is messy.
She can't bear to throw anything away.
She still loves to wear pink dresses.
She misses school.
She likes to hug.
She is a great big sister.
She always reminds us to have Family Home Evening,
to bless the food,
and to read our scriptures.
She likes to be home.

She can usually be found:
reading in the living room
writing a story or drawing a picture at the table
playing "guys" with Oliver
or somewhere making Stella happy

I don't know what we would do without her!

A Little Pre-Birthday Cookie Fun

Mabel turns 6 tomorrow!
To celebrate, she invited Raea over for some princess cookie decorating.




Stella was done.

We're sad.

Our Ruby's closed.

No more chicken tacos.

No more veggie burgers.

No more banana cream dream shakes.


sigh.

Too Cool for School

It's really bright in Arizona.
A girl needs some shades.

I'm a snob.

We just got home from a quick trip to California where I discovered something very important about myself. After checking into a Travelodge late Sunday night, I immediately realized that I am not a Travelodge kind of person. I spent a sleepless night on very questionable sheets and Mike, sensing my discomfort, suggested we check out first thing in the morning. Thank goodness. We found our way to the Marriott and basked in the luxury of the down comforter and fluffy pillows. It was then that I decided that if we are going to be staying in a hotel, it better be a whole lot nicer than our house (which I think is pretty nice, by the way). I guess I should blame my parents. They introduced me to luxury at a young age, and I totally took it for granted.

While in California, we were able to spend time with these good friends as they buried their sweet baby Janie. It was a beautiful funeral. I am glad we were able to be there. There is so much hope to be found in the gospel of Jesus Christ. I admire their strength and faith. They are remarkable people.

Mabel and Oliver had lots of fun swimming and watching movies with Grampa while we were gone. When I asked them if they missed us, they said they missed Stella (I guess I'll take that as a no). They couldn't get enough of her this morning. There was lots of kissing and silly baby talk going on in my bed.

We came home to see that the 1300 square feet of grass Mike spent all day Saturday installing didn't die while we were gone. Phew.

p.s. Congratulations to my brother, Matt, who welcomed Miss Sadie Britton P. into their family this week!

The Cookie of the Day

Double Chocolate Chunk

I wasn't really kidding about always having cookies in this jar.
I love cookies.
That's why we just got the Wii Fit.
So I could eat cookies.
(Wii Fit is F-U-N, by the way.)

(Also, I recently spotted this cookie jar at Target. Oh happy day for all of you dark-red-loving-cookie-jar-needing-Kmartless people out there.)

Sorry, no recipe today.
These delicious cookies are made from a Betty Crocker mix.
They immediately bring me back to the fall of 1998
(guy, that seems like a long time ago!).
I was a sophomore at the B Y, living in the Yellow Brick House.
My roommate, Brooke F. liked to whip up a batch of these cookies super late at night. Except she would make them huge.
Yum.
(Fellow YBHers, am I the only one who remembers this?)

Mabel and Oliver thought they were pretty allright.

Grateful

Today I am grateful for the knowledge that families are eternal.
What a marvelous and peaceful blessing it is to know that I can be with my husband and children forever.

See this post for more of what I am feeling today.

Progress

We'll have grass on Saturday!

The future sight of Mike's lime tree.

(Isn't that bougainvillea pretty? Super messy, but really pretty.)

And the winner is. . .

Jessi

Hooray!

It was fun to see who reads my blog, so thanks for reading, and thanks for commenting.

Have a great weekend!

(Jessi, don't forget to send your address to barefootstephanie@gmail.com)

The Angels, Cowboy Boots, and the Zoo

(This might be my new favorite picture of Oliver.)

We took advantage of the nice weather today (a high of only 88!) and headed to the zoo.
I figured that if Stacie could do it with her brand new twins, her two other children, and a neighbor kid, then I didn't have an excuse.

It was fun.

Mabel and Oliver didn't even consult each other when they were getting dressed this morning (I mean last night- they love to sleep in their clothes. It's super exciting, I guess.), but both ended up in their Angels shirts and cowboy boots.
Sillies.


Stella was mostly like this:

It's alternate use #5 for my new favorite blanket.
It kept the sun off her juicy thighs without trapping all the hot air.
Brilliant.

Have you entered the give-away yet?
I will be randomly picking the winner first thing tomorrow morning.
So hurry and comment here.

I wish I had this blanket 6 months ago, and my first give-away.

Since I don't swaddle Stella anymore, we were using the blanket to play peek-a-boo.

Last night, while we were out and about (which is totally rare for us), I found the best swaddling blankets at a cute little shop called Chicky Bella (On Gilbert and Warner if you live around there). Even though I don't swaddle Stella anymore, I had to buy a pack of the blankets. They are made out of muslin, which is totally breathable, soft, light, and kind of stretchy. They are the perfect swaddling blanket, especially in the summer in Arizona. The little "Alternate Uses" label totally sold me.

Now, because everyone likes a give-away, I will be giving away one of the blankets to a lucky commenter. Really, if you have a baby girl, or you know someone who does, this would be a great blanket to have. Even if you aren't a swaddler (shocking!), you would use this blanket. I promise.

Here are the details:
* The giveaway closes Thursday evening.
* You have until then to make a comment on THIS POST.
* Winner must contact me by Friday evening to keep the prize.

Good luck!

This is why I don't like to shop online.

I feel like I have been searching for the perfect purse my whole life. I don't really know what I am looking for (something slouchy, medium-sized, well-priced, leather or fabric perhaps?), but I think when I see it I'll just know. I saw this purse on etsy and decided to take the plunge. It looked perfect.

But I don't think your purse should be bigger than your chubby 6 month old baby. (It looks much bigger on, by the way.) I think if I had seen this bag in real life at a real store, I wouldn't have bought it.

While I love its style, I wish it was just a teeny bit smaller. It's totally huge. Or maybe I am just really short. (I am.)

I guess the search is still on.

Bother.

But who cares about the purse, isn't that a cute baby?