DH, DS1, DS2 and Toad hung out here during DD1's bridal shower on Sunday, although they (mostly) stayed outdoors. None of them, except Toad, wanted to be in the house while it was full of women, and thankfully the weather cooperated enough that they could comfortably spend several hours outside.
Toad only wanted to be in the house because his sister was at the Girl Party, as K3 called it, where there would be games and snacks. To a 3 year old, games meant Old Maid, Hi-Ho Cherry-O, and Go Fish, which we definitely weren't playing at the shower. But still, it took a little convincing to get him out of the house.
As soon as his Papa, aka DH, started up the four-wheeler, Toad was convinced that outside was better than inside. He loves the four-wheeler. He also loves the woods, which is where all the guys were headed. Taking the wood hauler trailer, and the chainsaws, they were ready to be gone for hours.
Turned out that Toad much more enjoyed the woods. He helped to stack wood (the smallest diameter pieces) as well as had fun throwing sticks out of the way. And of course, with sap sort of running--Sunday was sunny but only in the 30's--DH took him to our little sugar bush area to see where Grandma is collecting sap. Since it was so cold, and I hadn't had time to get out and empty sap jugs on Saturday or earlier in the day Sunday , there were more than a few icicles hanging from jugs that had overflowed. DS2 broke some off, and introduced Toad to the joy of sucking on a sap-cicle. Cold and just slightly sweet from the maple sap.
After returning from the woods, DH brought Toad into the house to use the bathroom, but didn't want him to try to join the Girl Party. So he told Toad that they were going to sneak in, use the bathroom, and pilfer some of our snacks. They were so stealthy that I didn't even know they'd been in the house until much later, after the shower was over and the guests went home.
While the shower was wrapping up, DH brought out of the garage a very small (young child sized) four-wheeler we'd been given last fall. It was in need of minor repairs when it had come into our possession, and DH hadn't had much time to tinker with it. DS1 and DS2 were more than happy to mess with it that afternoon, cleaning out the carb and checking connections everywhere. They also drained out the old stale fuel, and put in fresh gas. By the time the last guests left the shower, that little four-wheeler was running nicely. Toad and K3 both had a chance to drive it slowly and carefully around the backyard a few times.
After which Toad asked me if I'd seen him driving it, and then asked me if he could "eat another one of those square things". Square things meaning the mint squares I'd made for the shower. And that's how I found out he'd snuck into the Girl Party. :0)
Mint Squares
First Layer, mix
together:
1 cup sugar
1 stick butter, softened
2 cups chocolate syrup (recipe here, or use Hershey's syrup)
2 cup flour
4 eggs
Bake in lightlygreased jelly roll pan (10"x15") or large
cookie sheet with 1" lip for 20 minutes at 350 degrees. Refrigerate until cool.
Second Layer, beat together:
4 cups powdered sugar
1 tsp peppermint extract
4 drops green food coloring (or as many drops as needed to get a nice shade of green)
4 Tablespoons milk
1 stick butter, softened
Spread onto first layer.
Refrigerate until set.
Third Layer, melt together:
12 ounces (1 1/2 cups) chocolate chips
1 stick butter
Stir until smooth and well combined, then spread on top of mint
layer. Refrigerate until cool.
Cut into 1.5-2" squares and put in air tight container. Store in
fridge until serving time.
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