Nearly Two Months Later...

I know my readership has been sitting on the edge of their seats.  Ya know, wondering, if we ever came home from vacation.  I can tell by all the comments that you've left me showing your concern.  

*Ahem*

So, if I'd blogged over the last two months, this is what you would have read about...

1.  Great Wolf Lodge ROCKS!  It costs A LOT of money, but was so enjoyable.  I believe they have pretty good deals during the school year (hello, homeschoolers!)  But I wouldn't recommend it to anyone with kids younger than mine.  Unless they're fish.
2.  Violet wanted to become one of "Mr. Powell's girls" in Williamsburg.  But she needs to wait until she's 16.  She's still talking about it.  We bought Linus a musket.  A toy one that is.
3.  We took a carriage ride around Williamsburg.  Violet loved all of the craftspeople.  Especially the blacksmith.  It was 100 degrees the two days we walked around. 
4.  Linus busted his chin at Great Wolf Lodge, but got Dermabond and no stitches.  So he could keep swimming.
5.  Duncan and I went on dates EVERY NIGHT WE WERE IN WILLIAMSBURG!  How luxurious is that?  My parents gladly stayed in while kiddos were sleeping.
6.  We came home and within hours greeted a family of six, The Armes of California, who stayed with us for the weekend!  It was a blast!  The Culps joined us for the day on Saturday.  (Holla!)
7.  We celebrated our friend, Anna's, fourth birthday with her at her beautiful new home!
8.  We had to say goodbye to our cousin/nanny, Megan, after a fabulous summer together.  We miss her=(.
9.  Linus turned three on August 29th.  He had a baseball birthday.  There were hot dogs.  There were peanuts.  There were crackerjacks.  And there were many of his most favorite people on the planet.
10.  Amelie got sick with a fever/sore throat virus, so we couldn't go to OCMD for Labor Day weekend.  We missed time with our dear friends, the Rohals, but got loads done, including cleaning out (most) of our garage!
11.  Penn State Football began!  (and we've got cable to prove it!)
12.  Amelie started first grade on Tuesday, September 7th.  All day for the first time!  She's doing so well and LOVING every minute of it!
13.  On the very same day, I started homeschooling Violet and Linus for pre-school.  I came up with goals for each, lesson plans, and a basic framework for our day.  It's very simple, but I'm already seeing some of those goals on their way to being met.
14. We got to celebrate our freighbor, Georgia's, first birthday!
15.  Violet, Linus, and I went to a story time at the National Aquarium, where we have a membership.  It was great fun!
16.  Violet got a stomach bug, which made it so we weren't able to go to back-to-back birthday parties for our friends Rock and Linnea.
17. Duncan and I got to go on our annual date night to a National's Game.
18.  Amelie started taking cello lessons, which means we are now proud renters of a quarter-sized cello!  She's ECSTATIC! 

And that about catches us up.  Blogging has become something on my "TO DO" list, and while I want to still do it, I don't want it to feel like a burden.  My "Homemade Summer" series was burdensome for me.  In fact, I still have several posts for it in the queue.  Perhaps I'll get to them in a flashback or some such device.  For now, we'll all have to be satisfied with now and then.  And for your viewing pleasure.  Can you match up the pictures with their corresponding statement above?

So, I know you've been DYING for a new post, so as to have a reason to leave a comment.  Go for it, y'all!!!

Day One

Favorites at Jamestown:

Amelie:  the ships

Violet:  grinding corn

Linus:  1-2-3 BOOOM!  (the rifle shooting demonstration)

Favorites at Great Wolf lodge:

Amelie:  the wave pool

Violet:  giving Mommy a shower

Linus:  the yellow slide

My Three with Three of their cousins each from my Three siblings' families

 Got that?

Whew!

We love our aquarium membership!  

We brought three of our cousins there earlier today.  I realized we had one child from each of my siblings' families.  

Four Munros represented in this shot!

 Jack is holding Linus.  He's my brother, Eddie's, youngest and was born the spring of my sophomore year of college (1996).  

Matthew, with Violet, is my sister Kathy's middle.  He was born twelve days before Duncan and I started dating in the fall of my senior year of college(1997).   

Megan has Amelie.  She's my sister Karen's youngest.  She was born the day after Thanksgiving of my senior year of high school(1993).

I must say, that with all of this help, it was my easiest trip to the aquarium EVER!

I love all of our nieces and nephews.  And I love how much they love our three little ones!  

Such sweet relationships!  

What?  

That first shot a little squinty, you say?

We'll remedy that!  Good thing Megan has this thing about sunglasses.  And that she had a few extra pairs in her purse!  And thanks to Jack and Matthew for being men and smiling through the glare.

Well, there you have it.  

Half of my parents' grandkids visit the National Aquarium in Baltimore!  

Next time, maybe it'll be the whole dozen...

(Missed you Erin, Patrick, Derek, Austin, Allison and Sarah!

You too, Nate and Katie!!)

Blue Toes

I always let the kids give input on what color I should get my toes painted when I get a pedicure.

Linus won out this time.

Since, as Linus would say,

"Blue's my favorite."

His reaction upon seeing my toes peeking out of my sheets and blankets this morning was totally worth it.  

And the pedicure?  

The BEST I've ever gotten.  

Robert Andrew is soooooo worth it.

Homemade Summer: Peanut Butter "Surprise" Balls

So Homemade Summer has meant the end of store-bought snacks, for the most part.  As we have run out of things (animal crackers, graham crackers, pretzels, fruit snacks, etc.)  I haven't replaced them on my next shopping trip.  Rather, I've been on the lookout for wholesome, yummy snacks that I can make at home.  The one featured in this post has probably been the most successful, in that everyone likes them, they are fairly healthy, very portable, and relatively easy to make.  This recipe doesn't even use an oven which means children can easily help and the house stays cooler in these hot summer months.  I can tell you that I've made most of my forays into homemade-ness once or twice.  However, I can't tell you how many times I've made this recipe!  That's how many times I've made it!  I do know that the last three times have been double batches.  And that lasts about a week. 
All that being said, let me introduce you to Peanut Butter "Surprise" Balls!

Here's a peek at a bowl full o' ingredients. 

And the "SURPRISE!" ingredient.

And an action shot of me making them late one night.

And the finished product!

I've adapted this one from a recipe for Honey Milk Balls in, you've guessed it:  the More-With-Less Cookbook!

Peanut Butter "Surprise" Balls

 adapted from recipe for Honey Milk Balls in the More-With-Less Cookbook

Combine in a bowl:

1/2 cup honey

1/2 cup peanut butter (I use organic and natural)

1 cup powdered milk

1/2 cup uncooked rolled oats

3/4 cup toasted wheat germ

chocolate chips

Mix well, then knead by hand until blended.  Shape into small balls formed around a single, "surprise" chocolate chip.

So obviously, the chocolate chips aren't a surprise anymore.  However, they were the first time!  You could mix it up and use craisins, raisins, peanuts, etc.  Something different every time!  Or a mixture of "surprises" in each batch.  

My kids LOVE these!  Even Violet-if-it's-not-made-in-a-factory-I-don't-like-it-and-I-won't-even-try-it-Ella.  Yeah, Homemade Summer hasn't been Violet's favorite.  But she likes Peanut Butter Balls!

Morning Sky