Things are growing!

Believe it or not, our yard is turning green! Just in time to go dormant. I am so excited, and hope that the young grass we have growing will survive the winter.

I can just imagine what it will look like when we have a bit of top soil, some decorative rock,

thick, beautiful grass, shrubbery, flowers...


...and kids!?

We had better weed those out before they get too big and start taking over the whole yard!


There, problem solved.

Wheeler Farm Field Trip

Last week Johnny's first grade class went to Wheeler Farm. I decided to volunteer as a helper and brave the day with my two little girls and four 1st graders. Wow, it was a busy day! Wheeler farm is a beautiful place to be this time of year, and the weather was perfect. It was also so fun to chat with Johnny's teacher and meet some of his classmates. We all had a great time. Lucy spent most of the four hours on my back in the back carrier, needless to say, by the end of the day I was exhausted.

Puerto Rico, aye aye aye aye

Last week John returned from a business trip in Puerto Rico, we missed him a lot, but he sure had a good time. This is a sea urchin that John found on the shore of the caribbean sea, each spike is a leg that moves on it's own. He was wondering what a thistle was doing on the beach, when he picked it up is started moving, eeek!

John and his co-workers at the Arecibo radio telescope observatory.

Getting lost on the way to Arecibo, on the GPS they selected shortest route instead of most use of freeways--they were almost eaten by dinosaurs (not true, but doesn't this remind you of Jurassic Park?)

One of John's favorite past-times while on business trips is to see how long he can hold his breath under water. He spent a lot of time relaxing and practicing this after long days at work, at sea level his top time is 3 minutes.

Road to Arecibo, the "short-cut".

Something strange but delicious

Here is a strange, but delicious meal that our family loves. We started enjoying this meal after learning about it from one of John's money saving co-workers. Since I love saving money too, I thought I would give it a try--after all, what could be cheaper than potatoes and cabbage? We call it potato noodles and cabbage, but about a year ago I learned that potato noodles are actually called gnocchi. I have never tried store-bought gnocchi, or had any at a restaurant, so I am not sure if they taste anything like it--but we like it. To feed our whole family we need.

--half a head of cabbage

--three small russet potatoes

--about 1 1/2 cups white flour

--1/3 of a cube of butter

--Tony Chacheres Cajun seasoning (or salt and pepper)

--cooked and cubed Chicken (optional)

First I take three baked potatoes (I actually microwave them for speed), peel them and beat them in my kitchen-aid with our cookie dough beater, slowly I add the flour until the mixture is a thick play dough consistency. Doesn't look too appetizing here, but bear with me for a minute.

Next, I start boiling a big pot of water, about half full, and start rolling out the noodles. I do this by rolling them just like you would roll play dough into long snakes.

Then I take my kitchen scissors and dip them in the water, so they don't stick to the dough, and start snipping away at the long strips. I cut them over the boiling water so they fall in as I cut them, each noodle will be about 1 inch long. You will know that the noodles are done when they float to the top, the great thing about these noodles is that you really can't overcook them very easily.

While the noodles are cooking I start chopping the cabbage.

When it is chopped into bite sized pieces I place it in a large, hot, frying pan in which I have already melted the butter.

I saute it for a minute or two until it gets a little soft, then I add a little water, turn down the heat and cover it for 5-10 minutes until it is steamed nicely. Once the noodles are cooked and the cabbage is steamed it is time to mix them together.

I drain the noodles and add them to the cabbage, I turn up the heat again (this is where I add the chicken, too, most of the time), add some Cajun seasoning and saute it for a little longer. It's actually pretty tasty and very satisfying, even without the chicken. Halloween is coming up, it's the perfect time to try something a little strange--I can even think of some gross names you could call it, but I'll let you come up with your own.

More fun together

Here are a few more random pictures of some sweet and simple times that have made me happy these past few weeks. John got some humongous wind-up emergency family radios from Woot for his calling (emergency specialist--again) They are almost embarrassingly big compared to what he is used to, but he and the kids had a blast testing them out by communicating from separate rooms in our house. They even came with a handy dandy built in flashlight that is also powered by the wind-up mechanism.

We went to the 3-D movie "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs." It was nothing like the book, which we all absolutely love, but it was still a very fun movie--especially in 3-D. Of course with the large 3-D food storms that happen in the movie, you are bound to get a bit of gross humor about eating way too much and getting sick. Needless to say, I didn't have much of an appetite afterward. It was such a fun family date.

Maddie, has a little friend next door named Easton, and they get along so well together. A few days ago she was outside playing with him when she decided that she needed her work goggles and a hat. No special reason, other than the fact that she wanted to be like Easton.

These "stepping domes" have been an awesome toy for our family, but they are rarely used for their intended purpose. They are great for making spaceman helmets, or to sit in one and spin on the tile floor. Lately the kids have discovered that if they sit in one and put one under each hand and foot, somebody can push them down the hallway at a breakneck speed. They can get going really fast, it is hilarious to watch.

Happy Birthday Mom!

We spent last weekend in Bancroft with my mom, who celebrated her 71st birthday last week. We stayed the night on Saturday and went to church with her on Sunday. It was fun to sit with her in church and look around at all of the people who have influenced my life in so many ways. I felt lucky to have been raised in such a caring community, with such a loving person to call my mom. I made the best, and only, carrot cake I have ever made in my life on Sunday. Then we sang Happy Birthday with some of my family who still live nearby. Hannah, gave her some beautiful bird art made out of puff balls and pipe cleaners, and Johnny made a baking soda and vinegar bomb for her. It was so funny to see him hand over a plastic bag full of white powder, with two stick figures on the front (Johnny and Grandma) and the words "Happy Birthday" printed in big, black, permanent marker letters on the front. He had her come out to the front porch and watch as he filled the bag with some vinegar, sealed it, and placed it far away so that she could watch it explode. He was so proud of his very exciting gift.
We sure love you mom, thanks for everything!