Turtle Power

Meet Savage, the turtle. Adopted by our family for a day. Gordon found it Saturday morning while he was mowing the lawn. Anna instantly fell in love with the turtle while Megan chose to keep her distance (this is the way Megan feels about every moving creature). The turtle's shell was pretty scratched up and missing some parts from a previous encounter with a dog or other animal.

Anna had found a new best friend and as far as Anna was concerned every turtle enjoys countless trips down the slide into a box, leaves of spinach and a nice newspaper covered home with walls too high to climb. Anna enjoyed her day with the turtle but we convinced her it would be better off with its own family. After dinner she let it go and then insisted on checking to see if it had left 10-20 times before she went to bed. He may decide to stay and live in our tasty garden. (Maybe it is a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle in disguise!!)

5 Months Old

Oh, how I love this little face! Jacob is another month older and having a great time in the exersaucer. He doesn't enjoy laying on his back as much anymore now that he has discovered this new world of sitting up. Sometimes I find the girls playing with the exersaucer even when Jacob isn't using it.
He is eating cereal and veggies now and likes them for the most part. He thinks it is pretty funny to blow it out of his mouth and onto Mommy's shirt though. I think he weighs about 17 pounds now and sleeps through the night. His day naps could be better but I'll take what I can get.

Blueberries

One of our favorite times of the year is here again. Every July we go and pick blueberries as a family. There is a place in Lone Jack, Missouri that we go to every year. The girls really enjoy it and are pretty good at picking the blue berries and not the green ones. It took us about 40 minutes to pick almost 5 pounds of blueberries. It was especially nice this year with the skies a little overcast instead of the usual suffocating heat and humidity. We are looking forward to many blueberry treats, starting with muffins tomorrow.

4 months old

Just saying hello!

Pass the Kraft Macaroni and Cheese, Please, It's My Birthday!

Dear Megan, You are 3 years old today! Happy Birthday sweet girl! For your birthday dinner you asked for Macaroni and Cheese, red jello, broccoli, and chocolate cake with chocolate icing (definitely my daughter when it comes to the cake part). I can't stand Macaroni and Cheese from a box but a birthday wish is a birthday wish.

I can't believe you have been mine for 3 years already. I love your silly songs about ravioli and spoons. Your curly hair is way out of control most of the time but strangers will stop us in the store to say how much they love your curls. I love them too, but from my own experience I know that someday you will want your sister's straight hair. You will always be a middle child and your sister is bossy but you know how to hold your own. You give great hugs and kisses. I love how you marvel at your own swiftness as you run down the sidewalk but always rush back to hold my hand. Sounds like a good analogy for life. Be your best friend and don't let anyone tell you what you can't do, but don't forget to come back to me once and awhile.

Love, Mom

Way down in Mexico

We tried this Mexican Rice recipe last night and it is definitely a keeper. We though it was very much like what we remember from our missions. Now we don't have to go to Mexico after all. It was on the Homebased Mom blogspot so I can't take credit for it. Enjoy!!

Mexican Rice

Ann Bowman

2 Tbsp Olive oil or vegetable oil
1 C long grain white rice
2 C chicken broth
1 small can tomato juice
salt and pepper

Heat oil in a skillet. Add the rice. Stir frequently and slightly brown the rice (more like, make it tan) over a medium high heat. Add the chicken broth. Add the tomato juice. Add some salt and pepper. Stir thoroughly. Reduce heat to simmer and cover tightly with a lid. (I ’stir’ the mixture several times while it’s cooking by just shaking/moving the skillet back and forth so that I don’t take the lid off.) Simmer/cook for about 20 minutes, until the liquid has been absorbed. Once the liquid has been absorbed, turn off the heat and leave mixture alone with the lid on it for another 10-15 minutes or so.

A Sunday Afternoon