Gwen's Party

Today we had Gwen's second birthday party.  What a fun time we had!  Here is Gwen helping to prepare for her party.  Aunt Beki handed her both beaters to lick... hummmm.

This morning in her princess bathing suit and "flashing shoes."

She also helped prepare by filling up the swimming pool.  Her infamous "smile."

She had such a good time on the slip-n-slide.

Stopping for a drink of water.

Little Atharv.  Can you see the slip-n-slide in his eyes?  What a cutie!

Caleb.  What an angel.

This picture might be my favorite of the day.  Gwen doing her "smile" with her friend Katie Beth in the background.

Ben rigged up a really fun slide in the pool thing.  I knew I married a smart man!

I can't leave my gorgeous out of this.  Here he is.

Ben tested the slip-n-slide and managed to receive a pretty nasty grass burn on his chest as a result.

He also tested the slide into the pool.  I'm not sure of the results of this maneuver.

Remember my Christmas pinata?  Well, I was just too pregnant and tired to do it at Christmas time, so we did it today.  They didn't question it at all that it was a Christmas tree.  We put gummies and super big marshmallows in it.  My brother Preston thought it was prefilled and when he saw the giant marshmallows in zip lock bags he thought that the pinata was "ghetto" until I told him I put the marshmallows in there thank you very much.  By the way, they didn't wack it with a stick.  We pulled the ribbons on the bottom and it had a trap door that opened it.

Opening presents.  She got so many wonderful things.

Me with Katie Beth and Gwen.  After this picture was taken, Gwen fussed and wiggled out of my lap.  I looked over at Katie Beth and said "well, at least your happy."  :)  Wouldn't you know on the day of her party Gwen wakes up before 6am?  LOVELY!  videos to follow.

Even Before I Was Born

Today, Gwen, Zeke and I were singing some songs I'm trying to teach Gwen.  They relate to the Carnival of the Animals by Saint-Saens.  We also did this song.. my first solo in church.  I thought it was very appropriate for Gwen's 2nd birthday today.

Even before I was born,
God knew my name
the number of hairs on my head,
the fact that none of them are the same.
Even before I began to grow
He knew there's something special 'bout me
the twinkle in my eyes and the way that I smile
He knew that I was meant to be.

Gwen's Stats and Unusual Sightings

Gwen had her two year old doctor's appointment today.  She was 28 lbs, which is the 67th percentile and 35.25 inches tall which is the 84th percentile.  They said that since January she's grown 3 inches!  While we were there Gwen chose a sticker.  I got a huge kick out of it.  A shrimp and a taco with sombreros on!  HA!

The first rainbow I've ever seen in Kansas.

Today I bought these.  They are called Campfire marshmallows and I'm going to put some in zip lock bags and put in the pinata along with individual wrapped gummies.

Meal Plan

Company Night- provencal chicken breasts, green beans, corn, cantaloupe, broccoli fritters (cause you know I can't get enough of em)
pesto pepper pizza, salad, cantaloupe- had this tonight and the pesto pizza was a hit
shrimp, linguini with pesto
turkey patties, salad, asparagus
orange roughy, grilled zucchini

and finally... the menu for Gwen's party on Saturday:

Indian Style Grilled Chicken (for the adults)
peanut butter, peanut butter and jelly and egg salad sandwiches for the kids (made with a device that my neighbor has that turns them into circles sealed on all sides)
veggie tray- celery, carrots, cucumbers and peppers
hummus- for the adults, ranch dressing for the kids to add to the veggies
cut up fruit- watermelon, cantaloupe, strawberries and fresh pineapple
shark crackers- like goldfish

and for the dessert- Super Moist Chocolate Cake Mini Muffins, Ice Cream (store bought- I'll make homemade ice cream for July 4th I've decided.)

Going To Grandma's

Gwen had a great time at Grandma's house last night.  She got to eat yogurt at dinner and have gummies and sleep in Grandma's big bed.  She also got to see a fire engine today.  Pam was having a hard time putting the car seat in and so she strapped it down with a seat belt and drove over to the fire station near her house to see if they'd help her put it in.  They did help her and while they were putting it in Gwen got held by one of the firemen there and got to check out the fire truck.

Family Photos

Zeke in the beanbag I got for Gwen's birthday.

Gwen and Zeke with Grandma Pam and Aunt Beki.  Look at Gwen's smile and Zeke's face.  Priceless!

We all thought this one was funny because of Gwen's smile and Rusty's kiss.

Grandma and the kids.  Tonight Gwen is staying with Grandma.  I watched her wave at me in the car, came in and I might have shed a couple of tears.  I know... it's just one night... :)  She's my precious and constant companion.  I almost don't know what to do without her around.  I said almost.

Stuff I Want To Do

I thought just for fun I'd make a list of stuff I want to do sometime in my lifetime.  Here's the beginnings of that list.

- see a whale in person
- see how they harvest cranberries
- tour a marshmallow making factory
- go to India
- go to Alaska and see fishermen fish for salmon
- see a real igloo
- go to Montana and ride horses as a family on a dude ranch
- visit the Aurora colony in Aurora, Oregon

What would you like to do? :)

Hair, Lightning, and Growing Up

I got my hair cut yesterday.  I decided I couldn't stand long hair in this heat and I have so much hair and I can never dry it... you get the picture.  Besides, it was starting to look like an Amish woman with it always back in the perpetual ponytail.  I took this photo of myself.  You know, when you take photos of yourself you notice things like how wide your nose is... anyway.  Insecure anyone?

I got a book from the library recently about lightning.  I got it really for Gwen to look at the photos, but she wasn't that interested after a few minutes.  I, however, was amazingly entertained.  I learned that every day lightning strikes the earth about 10 million times.  10 million!  I also learned that scientists really do not know how lightning is created and it is still debated.  There are many different types of lightning, but what I found interesting was the kinds of lightning that spark at the edge of space.  Apparently, pilots have reported seeing this phenomenon for a long time, but it is hard to document.  They are called sprites, elves, and jets. I also thought ball lightning was very interesting.  A huge ball of light like an angel or something.  This photo is of a sprite.

Gwen is growing up before my eyes.  In a few short days she will be 2 years old.  Suddenly she has decided she no longer wants to drink from a sippy cup.  She prefers a real cup, thank you very much.  She also doesn't want milk anymore.  She wants water.  She thinks because we drink water it is a "treat."  She also will not let me help her into her car seat.  I'm standing there, holding Zeke and 20 minutes later she gets out of the car.  I'm exaggerating, but I try to be understanding of her independent nature.  I think it is good that she is brave enough to try things on her own and I don't want to squelch that spirit of hers.  Sometimes it is hard to be patient with a toddler finding their own way in the world... but I think it's worth it.

Zeke is growing too and is now 5 months old.  He is still the quiet, sweet natured little boy he always was.  He loves to see Gwen and laughs at her when she talks to him.  He loves to play peek a boo and likes it when I act surprised.  Zeke strikes me as a child that will let me help him into the car seat at age 2.  :)  They are rather different.

Queen of Sheba

I've been short on words lately because I have been exhausted.  You ever feel like you are 12 steps behind what you should be?  I went to sleep last night at 8:30 if that tells you anything.  This was playing ball yesterday.  Gwen loved her head scarf we concocted.

Sat Morn

Does it get cuter than this?

Meal Plan

I haven't posted a meal plan in a while.  Things have just been busy around here with Ben's dad's visit, my parent's visit, and then Beki moving in.  Now we are getting back into a normal pace and I can think a little.  (I said a little)

citrus mahi- mahi with orange relish, salad
sloppy cornbread muffins, salad
moroccan stew
tacos
turkey burgers, sweet potatoes, broccoli fritters
homemade pizza

*My next project now that my vanilla extract is tucked away in the basement to do its thing is to make my own pesto.  I have a basil plant and that just seems like a perfect way to use it for me.  I can't wait to try homemade basil on pizza!

Vanilla Extract Making

I was inspired by another blog to do a project.  I'm making my own homemade vanilla extract.  It takes six months to do, so I'll give it away as presents for Christmas and keep some for myself.  I ordered the vanilla beans off of amazon.com and then went to a liquor store and bought the vodka.  I put it all together today and it will go in the basement and just wait it out.  If you're interested in the recipe... here's the link to the blog I got it from. http://heavenlyhomemakers.com/  I highly recommend it.  I buy vanilla extract from Aldi for say 5 dollars and it is 2 fl oz.  I'm making 32 of those bottles and have spent $37 for this project.  Apparently, this extract is supposed to be very strong too, so you only have to use half the amount you normally do.

While I cut vanilla beans, Gwen was stirring water in the sink.  I do believe she sampled some of her "soup" too.  Here she is smiling.

Here's what Zeke was doing.

My vodka.

vanilla beans

all done.

Beki has now moved in with us and she is settling in.  I found this plush toy Giardia very amusing.  By the way, Giardia is basically diarrhea.  To me, it looks like a shrimp wearing fringe.  

Today we had a really good time swimming in a little plastic pool my mother-in-law bought for Gwen.  I'd put pictures on here, but she was skinny dipping. :)

First Fruits and Broccoli Fritters

This week I bought a bumbo chair for Zeke.  Isn't he precious is it?  To me he is just gorgeous and I tell him that all the time.  Can you believe he's almost 5 months?

We harvested our first round of strawberries yesterday.  I think I've finally blocked out the little baby bunny that was getting in and stealing all the ripe strawberries!  This is Gwen "smiling". :)

Today I made these for Sunday lunch.  If you even remotely like broccoli you HAVE to try these.  They are THE BOMB!  I told Ben I'm going to make them every day.  :)  Here's the recipe:

1 bunch broccoli, cut into florets
2 eggs, lightly beaten
2 egg whites, lightly beaten
1/3 C grated Parmesan cheese
2 T all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp sea salt (I've started using sea salt now)
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp pepper (I always add more)
2 T canola oil

1.  Steam broccoli.  I do mine in the microwave with a little water in the bowl too for 5 min and stir... another 5 min.
2.  Stir all ingredients and then stir in steamed broccoli
3.  Heat oil and put in little piles of the broccoli mixture.  Turn after 3 min and cook on other side 3 minutes.  Sprinkle with a little more sea salt at the end and enjoy.  They resemble a quiche without the crust.  The picture doesn't do them justice.

More Baby Fox

These are some shots my mom got while she was here.  I promise I will eventually blog about something else.

Indian-Style Grilled Chicken and More Fox Mania

I tried this while my parents were here.  We all enjoyed it very much.  There are some spices you may not normally keep in your pantry...but I find that these are great spices to have on hand, especially if you like Indian flavors like I do.  Then the next night, I used the leftovers on a pizza.

Indian-Style Grilled Chicken

1/2 tsp black pepper (I always use more because I LOVE pepper)
1 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp coriander
1 tsp chili powder
2 tsp garam masala
1/4 C chopped fresh cilantro (I used dried, and of course, less)
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 C hot sauce (I used salsa because that's all I had)
3/4 plain yogurt (I used sour cream)
1/4 C heavy cream (I used whole milk)
4 garlic cloves, minced
3 T soy sauce
cooking spray
8 bone-in thighs (I used boneless skinless thighs)

1.  Combine all ingredients (except cooking spray and chicken) in a large bowl; stir until well blended.  Add chicken, turning to coat well.  Cover and refrigerate at least 8 hours and up to 24 hours.  (I did the 24 hours)
2.  Prepare grill and spray grate with cooking spray.
3.  Remove chicken from marinade and place on a platter.  Discard marinade.  Grill chicken skin down 6 to 8 minutes; turn and grill second side 6 to 8 minutes.  Serves 8.

I'm obsessed with foxes now.  I went to the library last night and got every book on the shelf I saw about foxes.  Here's some of what I'm learning:

* An adult female fox is called a vixen; the adult male is called a dog.
* The red fox is one of the most wide-spread mammals on Earth.  It lives in North America, Europe, Asia, northern Africa and Australia.  This adaptable fox lives in deserts, forests, mountains, and arctic tundra.
*  A male fox establishes a territory by marking the borders with urine and feces.  He protects his territory.  A female fox is attracted to the scent of the urine and that's how they find each other to mate.
* By 6 months the baby foxes (which have a variety of names.. pups, whelps, kits...) are able to hunt on their own.  The female fox babies sometimes stay and help with another set of pups, but the males all go off and look for their own territory.
* Foxes do not mate with just one female it looks like.  They may choose a different one year to year.
* Foxes are designed to see things we can't and smell and hear things we can't.  They are remarkable.  You should hear their screeches.  Yikes!

First Asparagus

How every mother wants to see their kid at dinner time... with an asparagus spear hanging out.  She ate it for the first time tonight.  Hurray!

The Fox

Makes me happy.

Corporate Challenge

Ben was in a bike race tonight at the Nascar stadium in town for a thing called the Corporate Challenge.  It's kind of like all businesses in town have an Olympics or something.  I wasn't there to cheer him on unfortunately, but I laughed when I saw these photos he took of himself.

This is a tattoo someone had.  It is a bike cog with a ruler.  Hum... do you think he'll regret this at 90 years old?  Who knows, but it's unusual.

Visits

Yesterday we had Paw Paw Barreth and his brother Bob come by.  How nice to see them!  My parents have left just this morning and now we are anticipating Ben's sister Beki this upcoming Sunday.  She's going to live with us for a while... so we are all excited.  One thing is for sure... this house is never dull.

Paw Paw says Zeke and Bob look alike.  What do you think?  :)

Fox Update

The foxes are being trapped and relocated.  I only saw one trapped this morning, but it made the most awful crying sound and I saw the daddy fox come up to it and it couldn't do anything for it.  SO SAD!  The rest of the young ones have figured out there are traps and have moved around the corner.  They are a clever animal.  I'll miss them around, but I know they have to move on.  They wouldn't have enough food for that many adult foxes around here anyway.  I'm just glad it is live trapping and they will not lose their lives.  They are big enough to hunt for themselves now anyway.  I'm glad God let me see their final chapter here in Broxton Square.  At least I still have my hawk!!  I guess you can take the girl out of the country, but not the country out of the girl.