Two Little Hensons

Devin likes to eat bananas with a tiny bit of green on the peel.  The kids like them perfectly yellow.  I don’t mind a little brown on the peel.  Well, when Anna Claire sees that our bananas are turning brown, she immediately thinks we need to make banana muffins.  Now seriously, my kids LOVE these banana muffins.  We use their Nana’s recipe.  It is so easy and so yummy.  The other day after nap it was a little chilly outside, so we stayed in and made muffins.  Anna Claire was ready to help.  Charlie wanted to observe and continue munching on his apple.  🙂

Just in case you want it, here’s the recipe:

1/4 C                      Shortening

1/2 C                      Sugar or Splenda (I’ve used both)

1 C                          Plain Flour

1/2 tsp                  Baking Soda

1                              Egg

1/2 tsp                  Vanilla

2                              Ripe Bananas

1/4 c                       Nuts – optional (we don’t put nuts)

 Combine ingredients. Grease pan.  Makes 48 mini muffins.  Bake at 350 for about 10 minutes.

We headed out to the SC State Fair the other week.  This year was really fun!!  The kids enjoyed riding the rides, they each played a game, we at too much good food, visited the animals and sand sculpture, and walked through some of the buildings.  🙂 Take a peek at some of our fun:

Saturday was a busy day.  We started the day off at Charlie’s soccer game at 9.  At 11, Anna Claire headed to her friend, Sarah Ann’s, 4th birthday party…a princess party for girls only!  These 7 little girls had a blast!  After the party I headed to Walteboro for the 5A State Marching Band competition.  My baby sister is a senior and the drum major of my alma mater.  I am so proud of her and that group of students.  They did a great job! (and I had fun spending time with my parents 🙂 ) My dad drove the 18-wheeler for the band.  On Sunday, I took Anna Claire and Charlie to the school to see it.  They loved it!!  The went on a little ride and had fun exploring.  Sunday evening we were watching a show and the kids wanted to snuggle…but they wanted to snuggle alone with Mommy.  So, they took turns and I loved every second!  Random:  Today I attempted boiling peanuts.  They turned out pretty good.  Any tips? Also, the picture beside the peanuts is a picture of some new shirts Devin ordered for Firefly Lectures.  Cool huh? 🙂

The other week at school, Anna Claire and Charlie learned about fire safety.  One day some firemen came to school.  They brought stickers and hats.  The kids got to watch a puppet show, watch a fireman dress in his gear, and even climb in the truck! 

After school that day the kids and I bought stuff and packed our boxes for Operation Christmas Child.  We are so blessed and want our children to have a giving heart.  Anna Claire was really in to it but Charlie-man really just wanted to play with those toys!  I know they are 3 and don’t completely get it, but they understood the basic concept…some sweet children don’t have all that they have so we are sending them some presents for Christmas to let them know God loves them and so do we!  🙂

Charlie has soccer practice on Friday nights.  Two of the weeks we have had dinner with one of Charlie’s friends, Addie, and her family.  One week they brought pizza and we just had a picnic on the field.  I brought a bag of balloons.  You will not believe how much entertainment 4 children can get from a $1 bag of balloons!  Another week they came to our house to eat pizza then we played outside and roasted marshmallows. 🙂

Anna Claire and Charlie picked out their own little pumpkins at Four Oaks Farm and painted them.

We took a day trip to Nivens Farm one Friday with our friends Sarah Ann, Reece, and Mrs. Cortney.  (Thanks for letting us borrow the van, Mrs. Kim!) We went on a hay ride, played on the play ground, saw farm animals, went through a corn maze, and picked out two more little pumpkins (that we later colored with markers). 🙂

Next we headed to Boo at the Zoo.

We (well…Daddy and Mommy) carved our pumpkin.  Charlie supervised, Anna Claire helped Mommy design the face, Daddy carved it, and Mommy cleaned it out.  These silly kiddos did NOT want to stick their hands in the “yucky pumpkin!”

We also went to our church’s Fall festival! (I just love this picture of Charlie with his buddy, Nathan!)

They had their Fall party at school.  I was able to go and help with games and it was so much fun! When we got home they had a special package in the mail from Aunt Spencer! 🙂

Last but not least we went trick-or-treating last night!  We first stopped by Meme & Big Papa’s house, then Pa’s house, then Granny, Papa, Nana, Grandpa, Aunt Caity, and Parker came to our house to visit, eat, and trick-or-treat.