Never trust a boys instinct

These boys led us the wrong way on our hike in Bella Vista, AR.  We thought for awhile we might be on the show, "I Shouldn't Be Alive."

After following a "path" that wasn't really a path, it finally came to a dead end.  We were hot and frustrated and tired.  As we turned around to go back the way that we had come, Kate said, "Never trust a boys instinct".

I hope she remembers that when she's 16.

Bella Vista, AR

While visiting my Parents in MO last week we took a small road trip down to Bella Vista, AR to do a little bit of hiking.

Braeden spotted this little critter along the way.

Joshua always finds a walking stick 

When you tell a 14 year "NO EXCESSIVE JUMPING" that is exactly what he is going to do.

Lemon Delight Trifle

mmmm....so yummy. We had this dessert yesterday as part of our 4th of July celebrations.

3 1/2 c. cold milk

2 pkg. (3.4 oz) instant lemon pudding

1 8oz. pkg cream cheese, softened

1/2 c. butter, softened

1/2 c. powder sugar

1 12oz. tub of cool whip..I actually used more than this

1 pkg (12 to 14oz) lemon cream-filled sandwich cookies, crushed

In a large bowl, whisk milk and pudding for 2 minutes or until thickened.  In another bowl, beat cream cheese, butter, and powder sugar together.  Gradually stir in pudding until blended.  Set aside 1/4c. whipped topping and crushed cookies for garnish.  Fold remaining cool whip into pudding mixture.  Place half of the remaining cookies in a trifle bowl; top with half of pudding mixture.  Repeat layers.  Garnish with with reserved cool whip and crushed cookies.  Refrigerate until serving.

High Adventure 2012

Braeden experienced high adventure for the first time this year.  His scout troop went to Ponca, Arkansas on the Buffalo River to do some hiking.  They also climbed some vines, did some cliff diving, and explored some caves.  He LOVED it!

Scout Camp 2012

master chef

Josh was bored out of his mind one day so he decided to make some cookies. He wanted them to be his own invention. I told him we had to follow a recipe or they would be flat or hard or unedible. He was adamant that they had to be his own. So, I found a recipe that called for vanilla pudding mix and told him he could use white chocolate pudding mix instead. This was enough to satisfy him. He thinks he's a master chef now.

shhhh

She's reading..

oh what do you do in the summer time?

Joshua keeps himself busy with coins. He is an avid coin collector. He found a coin book at Half Price Books for $1.49 all about American coins. This kept him busy for a good couple of hours..

She really wants a dog

While I was cleaning one day I found little signs like this all over the house.  There's only one person who could have left these notes for me to find...I think Kate is trying to tell me something.

so true

As I was cleaning out Joshua's backpack one day I came across this:

The exact qoute: "Don't bullly a nerd, chances are you'll end up working for one"

Bros

Glamping?

Defintiton of glamping: glamourous camping. 

The boys set up their tents inside the house one night for a "campout".  I think this might be  their version of glamping.....indoor camping with air conditioning, ceiling fans, video games and movies.  Braeden went one step further and set up his tent on his bed.

14 years, 2 months, 1 week , and 2 days

Yep, this post is a little over due, but so is everthing else that I have failed to doucment over the last few months. So here we go again.....Braeden celebrated his 14th birthday back in April with a few friends. It was a very last minute party.  He proclaimed he didn't want a party until a few days before so this is what we threw together...nothing to fancy. But that's the way he likes it.