Chocolate Chip Cookies and More SNOW!!

On the plate:  Smitten Kitchen's chocolate chip cookies

Soundtrack to cook to:  Norah Jones' Come Away With Me.  An oldie but a goody filled with soulful and soothing slow jams.

Since we were supposed to get lots of snow over the course of two days (two weeks ago), I decided to take the boys outside for just a little bit to play in it.  It was one of the "warmer" days (30 degrees F), and we had been cooped up for too long.
Alex walked with me while I pulled William in the sled.  Alex was such a trooper and trudged through the snow that was past his knees in order to climb the hills to go sledding.  The snow was way too deep for William to attempt walking.

William sitting at the top of the hill in the snow, while
Alex waited to take his turn sledding.

Me and Alex, ready to go down the hill.

And now it's William's turn!

Aren't these super hero hats just the best?!

After playing in the snow, the boys and I warmed up by playing around in the basement.

Alex and William, making snakes and pizzas with
their play dough.

"Wook (look) Mommy!  I holding Elmo like a baby."
What a little sweetheart!  Elmo is definitely one of
William's lovies that he likes to carry around the house
and snuggle with at night time.

Another snowy and cold day where the boys had no school meant another day playing in the basement (so Joseph could sleep).  I had to break out some new toys, so we got the Mondo Bloxx assembled that Alex and William received from their cousins Matthew and Megan.  Thanks so much, Matthew and Megan!  The boys loved building with the "bloxx" and then knocking them down!

The boys building a fort.

William playing tug-of-war with Oscar.

Time to make some home made Gak!  Here's a link to the recipe that I found: Gak recipe

Alex wanted to make green Gak because it's his
favorite color.  Here he is, stirring the Gak mixture.

William and Alex playing with the finished product!

William wasn't a huge fan of the texture, but Alex liked it!

While William was taking his afternoon nap, Alex and I enjoyed playing quite a few board games together.  It was so much fun to break out Operation, Candy Lane, and Connect Four.  It was like being a kid again.  We had a lot of fun together.

Alex, ready to play Candy Land.

After that, it was time to exercise with Daddy!

Alex and Joseph lifting weights together.  Alex
was lifting 3 lb. weights.

Time for some sit-ups!  :-)

 Bath time fun!

Alright, I think I was starting to experience some major cabin fever.  One evening, I really didn't care about eating healthy and really wanted something sweet and rich for dessert (but it had to be easy to make).  As I was perusing facebook, one of my favorite food blogs posted this recipe for chewy chocolate chip cookies.  I knew just what I had to make and I needed those cookies about five minutes ago.  :-p

Mmmmm!  The perfect combination of salty and
sweet, with a delightful crunch.  Absolute perfection
and the perfect accompaniment to my evening cup of tea.
There's just something about chocolate chip cookies
that makes them soothing to the soul.

William liked them, too!

So did Alex!

We ventured to Legoland the following day and enjoyed
playing in the play area together.

Woo hoo!  Another indoor play space where the boys can get out all of their energy!  I saw an ad on facebook one day, and it said that there was an indoor trampoline park called Launch that's three miles away from our house!!!  So much better than the other one that takes me 40 minutes one way to get there.  I couldn't wait to take the boys there and thankfully they have toddler time (kids 5 and under) every Wednesday and Friday from 10:30-12:30.  I took my sister and boys to this place and we had SUCH a blast jumping around, playing dodge ball on trampolines, and jumping into a foam pit.  It was awesome!

Trampoline fun with me in the mix.

Jumping into the foam pit was one of our favorite things to do.
Although it's pretty hard to get out of it if you jump in deep.

Kristen and the boys in the foam pit.

Kristen, showing off.  :-p

William, in the dodge ball area.

The boys had a blast!

Alex and William, shooting hoops.

Kristen doing her best "dunk."

William, getting his groove on.

Alex, getting ready to jump!

Woo hoo!!

Alex, nailing his landing!

Me and our minions.  :-)

Happy Valentine's Day 2015!!  Here's some goodies that we got the boys this year:

Sticky hearts to decorate windows, Ninja turtles water game,
candy light sabers, and the original (and best version)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie.

Our sweet boys on Valentine's Day.

We went to one of Alex's friend's birthday parties that morning and had a lovely time painting some pottery.  Afterwards, I asked the boys where they wanted to go for lunch.  Alex said that he wanted to go to Legal Seafood's, so that's where we ventured.  :-)

My handsome Valentine's day dates at lunch.

Afterwards, we went to Treat Cucpake Bar and
the boys each decorated their own cupcakes.

William chose to simply eat all of the toppings off
of the cupcake.

Alex and his masterpiece.

The big guy, digging in.  :-)

He's one cheeky little panda.  :-)

Lots of fun times with WAY too much snow, and some spontaneous creativity.  These kids really keep me on my toes, but I wouldn't have it any other way.  Until next time...

Love and kisses,
Nikki