Dallas & Freeman playing Legos

Legos are an all time favorite playtime activity at our house. One of the few toys that no matter which set you get, you can play with it a thousand times, but its never the same thing! (The only one not 100% thrilled is Mommy DeLaper! That is because I hate stepping on them, and I end up vacuuming up those expensive little buggers. However, hours on end of creative fun over-ride any faults they have.)

Buddies

Freeman and Josiah (originally I put Timothy, but its not, really, its Josiah. And yes, I DO know who my own children are.)

4 1/2 & 16 months

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Last night we had some friends over for a game night, so I decided to try a new chocolate chip cookie recipe. It was just wonderful, so here it is! I doubled this recipe, and it made plenty for 7 adults and 4 children.

Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies

2 1/4 c flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 c butter, softened
1 1/2 c packed brown sugar
1/2 c white sugar
1 3/4-oz instant vanilla pudding mix
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 c semisweet chocolate cips
1 c chopped walnuts (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In large bowl, cream together butter and sugars. Beat in pudding mix until blended. Add in eggs and vanilla. Blend in flour and soda. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts. Drop cookies onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 10-12 minutes until edges are slightly brown. For very soft cookies, the cookie should not look done. Let sit on pan for a minute or so after removing from oven.

Posh Privies

Very funny!



Energy consumption per person here (Japan) is about half that in the United States, and the growth of greenhouse gas emissions is slower than anywhere in the industrialized world.
There is a hiccup, though, in this world-beating record. It happens inside the Japanese home, where energy use is surging. And nothing embodies the surge quite like the toilet -- a plumbing fixture that has been reengineered here as an ultracomfy energy hog.



Japanese toilets can warm and wash one's bottom, whisk away odors with built-in fans and play water noises that drown out potty sounds. They play relaxation music, too. "Ave Maria" is a favorite.







Read the entire article here.

Two new blogs

I have found a blog that I really enjoy reading. http://girltalk.blogs.com/girltalk/ It is a place of encouragement and refreshment for me. I would encourage any woman, but especially Mothers, to go here, and check out some of the posts. I've been reading some before the children are up.



Then, I have also started reading this one. http://www.joshharris.com/ It is Josh Harris' blog, and has some interesting and funny stuff on it. Check out the link under his Favorite Posts labeled "Tragedy on the Harris farm", its pretty funny!

Independence Day...finally!

I've finally had some time to put on some pictures from Independence Day. We spent the afternoon and evening with friends from church. There were hot dogs and hamburgers and all sorts of lovely side dishes and desserts to be had. Encouragement and discussion abounded as did fun in the partly-sunny sun!
Noa, who is NOT a giant but is actually sitting in a tiny chair. :)

Grampa B. See the little playhouse thing in the background? That is where Timothy played for HOURS on end, especially during the water gun fight.

Freeman sliding down the water slide.



Adult 4 way tug-a-war. This was Crazy! We had to try to pull back far enough to reach the gunny sack behind us, without letting go of the rope. Thats my backside, int he capris with blue shirt and red undershirt. I was sore for DAYS after this...But our team won, so it was worth it!

Friends.

Dallas and Freeman.

Eden and Terri.

Abby holding Josiah.

The littlest people's gunny sack races. The slowest were allowed to get a head start on this one! Later on the bigger little people raced and had to do it backwards.



Timothy going down the water slide. He only went once, and hated it! He spent the rest of the time staying far away from the water! (Keep in mind it was only about 65 degrees!)



Team tag, this is fun!



Dallas and me.

I don't have any pictures some of the best parts. There were races on a tarp that had been doused in water and oil, which most of the adults refused to join in. I, however, found it be be really very fun and hilarious! Then, of course, and is tradition every July 4th, there was a huge water fight! Everyone who participated was completely drenched, and this year, even the circle of safetly wasn't particularly safe, as SOME of the ruffians came in and stole away Terri to be dunked!

BPA is used in baby bottles and other clear hard plastics

I am doing a little online research about BPA. Here is what one article I found said:

"Frederick vom Saal, professor of Biological Sciences, said recent studies have shown that BPA is extremely harmful in very low doses. The chemical acts like the female hormone estrogen and interferes with the body's natural processes. BPA has been linked to adverse effects on male and female reproduction, altered immune system function, behavioral changes, learning disabilities, brain damage and an increased chance for certain cancers. Researchers are concerned about the exposure of babies to the chemical, which can cause irreversible damage" Read the rest of this interesting article here!

The jury is still out on weather it is actually bad for you. Research can be so hard to decipher!