The sTate of Things

Abby Sue has decided that it is fun and a type of good transportation. It has been wonderful watching her do laps in the house or peek around the corner just to laugh and go somewhere else. She is quite a clown.

I've been suffering from Summer overload. There is so much to do, I'm going crazy. First of all, Alex starts school next week (Kindergarden assessment and first day the next Monday). So I'm suffering from I've got to do stuff before it is too late. That being said we haven't gone to the place I wanted to take the kids to. I'm so torn between cleaning the house, canning all sort of stuff, playing with my kids and doing outings I can't get anything really done. And then I stay up too late doing that stuff or trying to unwind from spending half the night doing it.

Then Alex has been suffering from the birthday money all gone blues and getting stuff for school gimmies. Lets just day at this moment I've got three lunch boxes and have had many headaches from saying no every 2 seconds and trying to convince Alex that he doesn't need a clipboard or coloring activity books or anything else that is at his eye level and brightly colored. (And that school shopping was a headache, had to hit 2 stores and still need one more cause one doesn't price match, another doesn't carry the same items and can't price match.) And Teagan has been suffering. But he feels better now that he has some new crayons and markers and a pencil box to put them into (just fyi Walmart has Crayola crayons for .25 and other things that are really cheap for school. Left with a near cart full for under $20.)

I've decided that since Alex only has Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of next week free we will have nothing but fun. Museum of Life and Science, Zoo, and beach here we come!

I'm so excited to announce Teagan is potty trained. Today he had no accidents! It feels so great to have only one in diapers.

Yea, our web blog is up again. There has been so much to share, I don't know where to start. Our three weeks in Utah were great. Lots of fun with family, lots of camping and lots of sight seeing. Bryce, Grand Canyon and Zions were amazing to see. Alex and Teagan still ask to see all their aunts and uncles. We were also stricken with a bunny bug. So in a few hours we will be leaving for a farm to pick up an angora bunny of our own. Though I'm hoping for two.

Alex had a great birthday party. Lots of friends in a swimming pool, what could be better? I handled the grill while everyone hit the water. It was a good thing too. Temperatures were very high 98ish.

Then on Monday I stumbled upon a great deal, 100lbs of peaches for free. Yes, I admit we didn't need all 100lbs of peaches as jam. But now I've got a two year supply. Ok, so it is probably more like a year and a half but a that is good too. I was up till 4am! But all 64 quarts and one pint were done. Then Tuesday morning when I pried myself off the bed we went swimming with our playgroup. Followed by a relaxing afternoon and dinner at Moes. Ice cream and cake and then canned 16 quarts of tomatoes.

3rd of July has been equally fun. Breakfast and a bike parade at the church. I discovered a super yummy muffin recipe! And then we went to a park while Alex and Joseph played ultimate frisbee Teagan and Abby Sue played on the playground. Now we wait and rest. Alex and Joseph are having fun playing super mario brothers while Abby Sue sleeps.

More adventures await.

As we prepare to embark on a 7ish hour flight soon, I'm start worrying. And now it is about Abby Sue. It isn't if she'll be good the whole time. It is about food. Abby Sue is going through a HUGE growth spurt and eats nearly non stop. I'm going to need at least two duffles FULL of food to get her through the outbound leg alone. This morning she ate two HUGE bowls (I mean adult sized) of cereal, a cereal bar, two crackers, a yogurt, most a bag of those freeze dried fruit bites from Gerber and a lot of goldfish. And she hasn't been up for three hours yet! How are we going to make it 7 hours on a plane? But once she is full she is happy and cheerful, till she is empty again. Then we start with screams until she is full.

So, I've dear friends they keep telling me I should start selling my stuff. I'm going to try it. I've opened www.tatertottoys.blogspot.com. I've got a cute bear up and more to come soon. I've just got to get Teagan's and Abby Sue's quilts done. I'm going to relay on word of mouth to spread the word. I got tired of trying to compete on etsy. SO if you like what you see spread the word.

Many friends loving tease me that I'm super woman. But I asked Joseph for the night off (after I got dinner on the table), and I got it! But he did say I'd have to be back on the job tomorrow.

What does it mean when I get the night off? Joseph and kids do the dishes! Now to bask in my 'evening off.'

I have this crazy notion. I think Alex might like his bunk bed. And it is possible that Teagan might like the bunk beds too. But you can be the judge.

I have an unusual talent, and it causes me much stress. My gift is misplacing things. I think it is hereditary, my Grandma has the same gift. See, we place something in a safe place. But then when the time comes, we've no clue where it is. And I can spend days, weeks or in this case months searching. Last night I stubbled on two of those things. One was my bees wax. I was only slightly excited since they are cheap and I went ahead and bought another. But the other was a yard of turtle fabric. I've been looking for that for six to eight months! And it was in the other side of the charging devices basket. What a wonderful place to keep it safe right. Oh well, I've got the fabric and that is all that really matters. Monday I think I need a fabric store trip. I've got a turtle quilt to make!

I've also been sewing up a storm. I've made 7 pairs of pj shorts for Abby Sue. I love being able to go through the "scrap" areas at our local Joanns and spend a buck or less for pj shorts. I've also discovered that Butterick has an easy pants pattern for kids. For Alex I used Simplicity and it was a LONG process, but for Teagan and Abby Sue I used Butterrck and knock those things out SUPER quick. I ran out of fabric before I felt finished sewing last night. So now I've got to wait till either I can start on Teagan's turtle quilt or either finish Abby Sue's Poppin' Posie or start a cupcake quilt. Waiting can be so hard.

I've had several requests from people for my recipes. Apparently some people think I'm a pretty good cook. You be the judge.

I discovered this recipe in a Taste of Home Magazine.

West African Beef Stew (ignore if your allergic to peanuts)
1.5 lb of beef top sirloin in 1 inch cubes (I used whatever I had on hand. I can get whole shoulders for pretty cheap)
2 med onions sliced
2 tsp canola oil, but most any veggie oil will do though probably not olive oil
1 garlic clove, minced
1 cup water
4 tsps beef bouillon granules
4 cups shredded cabbage
2 med green pepper julienned ( I just sliced)
1 med zucchini cut into .25 inch slices
3 tbsp creamy peanut butter
cayenne pepper to taste (I can't handle much heat so I let Joseph add his in later)
Hot cooked rice (I used brown rice)

1. In a dutch oven, brown the steak and onions in oil; add the garlic and cook 1 minute more. Add the water and bouillon; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 40-45 minutes till meat is tender.
2. Stir in cabbage, green peppers and zucchini. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 8-10 minutes or until the vegetables are tender. Just before serving stir in the peanut butter and sprinkle with cayenne. Serve over rice.

Joseph and I enjoyed this (please note I strongly don't like cabbage unless it is in slaw and on bbq). Kids were a little stand offish, but that is kids the first time a new dish is served. I made brown rice to go with it. The brown rice added a whole new texture.