Delightful Brunch Recipe & ScoobyDoo in a Rorschach Test?

Noah's Mom is collecting recipes for a family cookbook due out on Christmas. I forgot to put in one of our favorite brunch recipes. It's so tasty. Serve it to your guests, and you will become a rock star in the kitchen. Anyway, Noah was kind enough to type out the recipe and email it to his Mom. You should take it and make it.

Sausage Brunch Casserole

fry up one package of sausage (any kind) mix in 8 oz of cream cheese. lay unrolled crescent rolls in one layer across a greased glass pan. put sausage and cream cheese mixture on top. tell the sausage that you love it but are unhappy with its life choices. cover with another single layer of crescent rolls. follow the cooking instructions for the crescent rolls or cook until the rolls are golden brown.

Ahh...it's stuff like that that reminds me why I married that guy.

AND

Is it just me or does this paint blob on the wall of my basement look like Scooby-Doo (his back is turned and he is looking over his shoulder)?

Weird.

The Shafers Visit Lady Liberty

I'll make this short. I know that you have lots of blogs to surf. I know how Monday morning brings the promise of weekend posting. So, no stories, just witty quips under pictures. Enjoy.

My three dudes on the ferry out to Ellis Island.
Same Boat. Attempt at a group photo. As you can see, I'm not even willing to put a sandwich down for a family photo. I love sandwiches.
The beautiful ceiling in the main building at Ellis Island.

Lady Liberty. She's so tall.

I heard she's a member of Oprah's book club. She's always reading something. I admire that in a statue.
You have to climb 156 stairs to get to the feet. I had only climbed three stairs and started to dread the remaining 153. I am so proud of Calvin. He climbed all 156 up and down without any help!! He loved it. Wyatt slept through the whole thing.
This is a picture of me removing toe jam from Lady Liberty's toes. This particular piece was giving me some trouble. I'm kidding. I would never call my child toe jam. Or would I?
More comedic genius at work as I train my son in the ways of humorous fake nose picking

This is what you get when you go to the Statue of Liberty on such a rainy day and wear your hood.
So cold. So wet. I think my exact words to Noah were, "Hurry and take a picture of this because I want to remember exactly how miserable this wet moment was." We don't look too miserable, huh? I have to say spending the day with those boys of mine is always pretty fun. Even if it's wet.

That Guy

How about that guy? At the Halloween Festival we caught sight of him over by the cotton candy machine. I guess wind isn't the greatest friend to our Where's Waldo Cotton Candy Twirler. I'm lucky to have such an observant husband in Noah. I was too busy trying to catch the cotton candy that was flying though the air with my mouth rather than snap a picture of him. But on a more serious note: Wouldn't that be an awesome job?

If THIS Doesn't Melt Your Heart . . .

It must be made of cold, cold steel. I went upstairs to go to bed the other night. I stopped in to check on Calvin and Wyatt and saw that Wyatt had crawled into Calvin's bed and snuggled up next to him. Seriously, you know that is adorable.

Treadmill Musings

1. I wish that I could eat all of the Halloween candy sitting upstairs with no bodily repercussions.
2. Wouldn't it be cool if I knew 311 and could ask them to sing at a surprise birthday party for Noah. I would win wife of the year.
3. I wish that girl humor and boy humor were the same and that I could conquer them both with a razor sharp wit.
4. I'm waiting for the day when someone rings my doorbell and says, "We're so glad that we finally found you because we want you to be in a music video with totally sweet dance moves. You're the only one that has suppa rad moves like we need." To which I would respond, "I would love to. Just give me a sec to call my friend and see if she can watch my kids for a couple of hours." Then I would look out the door and see the limo and also say, "Do you think my carseats will fit in the limo?" And they would say, "Yes, it's a limo." Months later after the video debuted I would get accolades for being the most chill stay at home Mom, who only has to work one day a year, but makes tons of money from dancing. Enough money to pay for Noah's schooling and have some extra cash to get Cinnabons for the kids.
5. I really want a magic wand that I could get to cast a spell on my laundry and have it done while I read a good book.
6. I'm so glad that I am not waitress. That is a tough job.
7. I wish that I loved Target more than Wal-Mart because I know Target is cooler, but Wal-Mart always gets me with their bargain pricing.
8. What am I going to make for dinner?
9. Why does three miles on a treadmill feel so much further than three miles outside.
10. I wonder what Noah is doing right now.
11. Why is it that it looks so much cooler to drink bottled water than tap water? Seriously. But it does.
12. I wish that I didn't feel guilty when I sleep in or take a nap.
13. It's too bad that Micheal's Jackson's life and career took a nose dive because he had some awesome music back in the day.

Happy Halloween!

Love,

The Twin Batmen

Happy Birthday Wyatt!!

What a guy, that Wyatt!! He turned 2 on Halloween. We had such a fun day. We woke up, he opened presents, and then as Calvin went to preschool Noah and I kidnapped Wyatt and took him to a free Halloween Festival. He had so much fun, and we loved being able to focus on him and savor his big day. After an evening of trick or treating we gathered at home with a few close friends for cupcakes and milk. I did an interpretation of the good ole' hostess cupcake, which was pretty tasty. Here are a few fun shots of the good times and a few things that we love about him:

1. He is always happy and spunky. It is rare that he is fussy and cranky, and when he is you know something is wrong.

2. He is very clever. He can always figure out how to get up into high places, where the candy is hidden, or how to get what he wants.

3. He loves his "puppy" a blankie he received from his great-grandparents when he was born. Just the other day I caught him giving puppy a drink from his sippy cuppy, while saying, "Thirsty puppy?"

4. As we were trick or treating and he was climbing some high stairs he had to walk by some flowers, and I overheard him say, "YUCK . . . flowers. I no like flowers." A true boy.

5. He loves to crawl up into Calvin's bed and lay beside of him.

6. He loves to give big, fat juicy lippers (kisses right on the lips).

7. He loves to be the center of attention.

8. He LOVES, LOVES, LOVES Cheese. Yeah baby.