As the work and school week grind to a close, a heightened sense of excitement pervades our home as we gear up for our favorite Friday night tradition.

TGIFMN!

(Thank Goodness It’s Family Movie Night!)

Preparations for the weekly event begin with the girls brainstorming on a dinner theme for the evening.  One of our recent Friday night celebrations was a spooktacular Halloween bash after which we watched “The Cat from Outer Space.”

Other favorites include …

• Nachofest
• Homemade Make-Your-Own Pizzas
• Crepes
• Salad Bar
• Soup and Bread Bowls
• Fondue
• Baked Potato Bar
• Milkshakes
• Breakfast for Dinner
• Homemade hamburgers

After assembling a plate of food for each of us, we gather in our state-of-the-art media room and watch a new release on our HD BIG screen …

Ok. Not really.

We picnic on old blanket on the family room floor where we huddle around our faithful “vintage” 25″ Sony Trinitron and, while Baby Tad provides Dolby-like hi-fi surround sound, watch an old movie that we’ve DVR’ed during the week … or if BT’s feeling munificent, we may even splurge and rent a movie from Red Box.

True.  Our technology is so last-century. Some of the movies we watch aren’t even in color.  (In fact, we LOVE to watch Fred Astair dance on the ceiling in the black and white classic “The Royal Wedding”). But honestly, this simple, budget-friendly Friday night tradition is the highlight of our week.

Thank goodness it’s Friday!

Yes. My personality is prone to OCD-like extremes …

One week, I am obsessed with sterilizing every possible surface in our home with my steam cleaner.

The next week, a closet may get an overhaul, including labels produced by my wonderful p-touch label maker.

The next week, I may go on a laminating kick and seal anything within arm’s reach in protective plastic.

And lately, the craft room has been the object of my compulsion. It has traditionally been the catch-all room where things get thrown when guests are coming and we have to frantically clean the house so that it doesn’t look like we belong to the swine species. Little by little, so much junk had accumulated that I didn’t want to even open the door let alone spend time in there undergoing craft therapy.

But little by little, I’ve dejunked my oasis, purging the mismatched socks, broken kiddy meal toys, empty Amazon boxes, etc. etc. And armed with a lot of rags and elbow grease, a few cans of $0.99 black spray paint, several hours in Photoshop creating 200+ one-of-a-kind labels from digital fabric swatches (no two are alike), and a roll of magnet tape, I transformed a couple of our Craigslist finds into craft room organizers.

Oh, you sweet little plastic drawers. You dear little metal bins that were once rusting to death in someone’s abandoned plumbing supply warehouse.

Aaah! Sometimes when things get crazy in the rest of the household,  I’ll go into my newly organized room and just stand there, basking in the order of it all.

I’m not 100% done … some labels need to be made, I still have little drawers to run through the dishwasher, and I need to mount my ribbon holder (aka old curtain rod) on the wall … but just yesterday I actually FINISHED an apron, and I am gearing up to complete some Christmas presents that I’ve been meaning to do for years.

A place for everything … and everything in its place.  My craft room.  My little piece of heaven on earth.

Watch out, pantry and master bedroom! You’re next!

keeps the doctor away???

Some apples may be healthy, but the ones at the Tolbert house that have been transformed from a normal Granny Smith apple to a caramel-covered delight with nuts and chocolate chips galore, aren’t so healthy.

But they sure are good! 🙂

And here’s the recipe, if you want to make one of your own caramel apple delights:

1 c. brown sugar

1 c. sugar

1 can sweetened condensed milk

1 c. karo syrup

1/2 c. butter

Place all these ingredients in a heavy saucepan.  Stirring constantly to avoid burning (like my mom usually does with the first batch), cook over medium heat until the mixture comes to a full boil.  Continue cooking until caramel reaches the “soft ball” stage (10-12 minutes).  Remove from heat and cool 5 minutes.

Spoon caramel over chilled apples.  Place on buttered cookie sheet to set up.

Options: After spooning caramel over apple, set bottom of apple in some chopped nuts or crushed Oreos.  This prevents the bottom from sticking to the cookie sheet.  Drizzle melted chocolate over apple.  Yum!  Shake seasonal sprinkles over the warm caramel apple for a fun decoration.

Enjoy!

It will be a not-so-minor miracle if Baby Tad survives toddlerhood without breaking a bone, poisoning himself, suffering a concussion, electrocuting himself, dining from the litter box, drowning in the toilet, falling headfirst from the high chair or shopping cart that he REFUSES to sit in, choking to death, poking his eye out, knocking teeth out . . .

You WEAR ME OUT, sweet boy!

Because she is a fantastic photographer, I was a bit nervous and felt waaay under-qualified to take pictures of my dear friend’s family on the morn that she and her firstborn were headed for the Missionary Training Center in Provo, UT.  She’s the reason I even started dabbling in photography (and blogging) in the first place!

But what can you say to she who epitomizes charity and generosity!

To she who was my shoulder to cry on when my firstborn started Kindergarten (and will be my shoulder to cry on when I make my own trip to the MTC)!

To she who made me the most amazing meal I’ve ever eaten after I’d had Vivi … and the most amazing Oreo cupcakes … and donuts … and tomato basil soup … and I could go on and on and on!

Of course I agreed to come snap some pictures for her!

And I was taken back by how much easier it was to photograph her cooperative kids compared to my wee wiggly ones.  But when their ride to the airport pulled up as I was heading out, I was grateful that I could go home and tuck my wiggly baby boy in for a nap instead of saying goodbye to him for two long years. (Can you tell that I have dreaded that day from the moment the doctor pronounced, “It’s a boy!”)

You’re my hero, Mar! Thanks for letting me spend precious time with your beautiful family.

Child # Two went # One and Child # One went # Two.

BUT # Two had flushed TP by the slew—a HUGE BOO BOO!

So # One’s # Two did accrue in the loo.

EEEWW!

Oh, I wish I knew how to get the queued paper and poo to pass through!

DO YOU?

I feel honored when friends ask me to take pictures of their kids.  Here are a few favorites from a recent outing:

With expert telephone support provided by my genius mother and her genius friend and coworker, Ramona, I’ve crocheted darling little pumpkin hats over the last few weeks.  I started out just wanting to make one as a newborn photography prop, but it was just too cute, so I’m also making them for my kids.

SUPER EASY and FAST! (not to mention CHEAP!)

That was Then …

and this is Now …

What a difference a year makes!

A daddy’s boy … Baby Tad lights up the moment BT walks into the room and bursts into tears when BT departs.

A climber … managed to crawl up on a chair yesterday and enjoyed flipping the light and fan switch on and off until mom rudely put an end to the dangerous fun.

An explorer … fascinated with the contents under the sink; the first child we’ve had to install cabinet locks for.

A crawler … has taken a few steps but still prefers crawling.

An eater … inhales bananas and can devour 1/2 a peanut butter sandwich faster than either of his sisters.

A sweetheart!

We’re blessed to have you in our family, Sunshine!  Happy Birthday!