Just call them "Emeril" and "Rachael"

The kiddos enjoyed a "field trip" to a new place in town yesterday. It is called YOUNG CHEFS ACADEMY. The kiddos get to complete a recipe, learn cooking skills and kitchen safety, and then eat what they make. They had a blast! Of course, since they already cook with their daddy so much, I just knew they'd enjoy it!

Measuring their flour & learning to level it off...

They were making cheesy bread sticks for their recipe. Nat got to add the olive oil.

Will got to add the yeast.

After they rolled out their dough and sliced it into bread sticks, each child got to coat their dough strips with egg white and then add cheese. Will kept saying the whole time, "I'm hungry!" I had to convince him to wait to eat the bread sticks until after they were baked.

And here they are enjoying their cheesy bread sticks! They washed them down with some "Pirate Punch" they had made. We had a marvelous time and plan on heading back soon.

Tennis Camp

Natalie and Will
participated in a
week-long mini tennis
camp this week put on
by the city. They both
seemed to enjoy it pretty
much, although Will
cried part of the time
the first day. They had
some adults working with
them and then some
local high school tennis
team members helped
out, too. Thank goodness
it was inside! Momma
would have fried sitting
out in the sun that long!
Good planning on
someone's part.

Will had a tendency to
throw or kick
every ball that came
his way...we're thinking
he may be more suited
for baseball or soccer!
He also showed "left
hand dominance" which
Erick and I had been
suspecting. We won't
know or sure until they
test him in preschool
this year, but everytime
he went to throw the
ball or swing the racket,
it was always with his
left hand! This family
needs a lefty!

Natalie's favorite part
was checking out the
cute tennis skirts on
some of the female
coaches. She informed us
the first day that she
needed one of those so
she could be "stylish!"

On the last day, the kids
got to run through a
"tennis tunnel" (the coaches
holding the rackets up),
take one last swing and then
they each got their own tube
of tennis balls! They were
thrilled!

Stickers, Ponies and Spiderman

The kiddos behavior has been a little "shaky" this summer. I think it's a combo of being trapped inside with all the rain and just being on a different schedule than during the school year. So, to help motivate them to make better choices, we implemented sticker charts about a month ago. With each 5 stickers they earn, they get a small treat like a Happy Meal or a snow cone. Then, they each set a goal for a big reward when they completely filled up the chart with stickers (Erick and I are not above bribery). Natalie chose a pony ride and Will chose a Spiderman toy of some sort. Natalie completed her chart first and Erick scheduled a horse ride for her at a local horse park.

Here is Nat putting her final sticker on the chart!

Will quickly completed his chart after Nat, so it was off to Toys R Us!

Natalie was able to bring carrots and apples to feed the horses before her scheduled ride. Erick said she adored petting the horses and loving on them...she wants one of her own so bad! All of the horses and ponies were very docile and are very accustomed to having kiddos love and pet on them. Of course, she had to wear her pink cowboy boots and her red cowboy hat (which was a little too small to fit around her noggin...but, she had to wear it anyways)!

Natalie's horse was named "Crash." She loved all 5 minutes of the ride...you see, a few minutes after this picture was taken, a storm blew in and they were forced to cancel the ride early. They said they would reschedule Nat's ride. Funny thing...they have rescheduled twice since this first ride, and both times it has been cancelled due to rain! Crazy! As of this post, she is still waiting to complete her horse ride.

Brother and I headed to Toys R Us and he picked out a Spiderman outfit. He was so excited! He put it on right when we got home and was having a blast until Erick held him up to a mirror and he saw himself. He got a little freaked out and hasn't put it on since. Oh well! Maybe he'll adjust to it in the coming weeks!

Dad's (a.k.a. Grandad) Birthday!

We celebrated my dad's birthday this past Tuesday, July 3rd. We always do dinner together and then head over to the fireworks in Addison...Kaboom Town (they always do their fireworks on the 3rd). We had a great time and the kids enjoyed celebrating with their Grandad!

Of course, the kiddos had to help open his presents. What's more fun than ripping off papers and bows?!

The kids also helped to blow out the candles on his cake. I won't tell you how old he turned, but I bet if you take a pretty close look at the cake, you can tell for yourself!

We love you, Dad/Grandad! Happy Birthday!

Independence Day!

HAPPY 4TH, EVERYONE!

We hope you have an awesome day
with family and friends!