Going Greene

TGIF

2012-01-27T14:22:00.001-07:00

1. I discovered FlyLady a couple of years ago, and while I haven’t really adopted her day to day cleaning plans, her methods have definitely influenced the way I clean my house. So as I looked around at the various disaster areas in our house recently, I decided I would just do one room at a time - spending a week in each - until things are cleaned up and organized. So this week I’ve been in the master bedroom (which just happens to coincide with where FlyLady is, too). It’s not perfect, but the piles of clothes are off the floor, along with the random bins of baby stuff I’d been meaning to go through. I haven’t decided if I’m going to do the girls’ room next, or the laundry room. Yikes!

2. Jacinta has been very interested in books lately, but she doesn’t really want to read them, just point out things of interest to ask what they are. Which is really cute, but also mildly aggravating. The problem? She will follow me around the house with a book and doesn’t seem to understand “Please wait,” or “I’m getting something hot out of the oven,” or “I’m up to my elbows in raw chicken right now.” So that leads to some frustrated squawks on her part when Mom fails to immediately identify the object in question. Oh, my ears.

3. Veronica’s version of this is, of course, the ubiquitous litany of why. She asks why about EVERYTHING. And she also will follow me around the house to peg me with questions. Does anyone else find it hard to cook or clean and also answer small child questions at the same time? Because my brain just can’t seem to handle it. I want her to feel like she can ask me questions, but…phew! Sometimes I need a break.

***After I posted this, I remembered this article by Rachel Balducci earlier in the week on Faith and Family. In it she shares her favorite parent answers to why questions, including “Because I said so.” My own personal favorite, which fits a lot of the why-is-it-like-that type questions Veronica is constantly asking: “God made it that way.”

4. Following in her sisters’ footsteps, Ariadne has almost grown out of the 0-3 month clothes now. She’s nearly 8 weeks, and getting chunkier and cuter by the minute. And smiling a lot. I love baby smiles. If only I could capture one on camera…

5. Even though it’s still a little chilly, Paul has been wanting to do some gardening with the girls. So he got a little seed starter tray and they picked out some flowers. And tomatoes. And green beans. They planted them in the tray and also in some pots we had lying around, and they are now basking in the sun in the dog room. Or would be, if it wasn’t overcast today. He is hoping that having them indoors will give them a chance even though technically it’s still winter. We’ll see!

6. Ariadne has been a lot more congested than either of the other two girls. I find myself needing to suction her nose to get the big boogers out. Jacinta came in the bedroom while I was doing this the other day, and of course Ariadne was not a happy camper. She was doing her angry cry, and Jacinta got so freaked out that she’s afraid of the suction bulb now. I offered to let her hold it to try and put her fears to rest, but she looked at me like I was waving a chainsaw at her. Then she turned and ran.

7. The girls had a play date with their cousins last week, where this gem of a conversation took place.

4 y/o Nephew: Who is the oldest one in the house?

Me: I think it is probably your mom.

Nephew: How old is she?

Me: I don’t know, you’ll have to ask her.

Nephew: I think she is in her sixties.

Gotta love kids!

Mini Mince(meat) Pies

2012-01-21T12:23:00.001-07:00

Ever since returning from the semester of college that I spent in Oxford, England, I’ve missed mincemeat pies. Yes, I’ve missed them for nine years. Up until now, I’ve just accepted that. But no more! I felt it was time to test my cooking skills and make my own.

After perusing the interwebs for recipes, I cobbled together a list of things I wanted in the mincemeat. Meat was not one of those things. Though it seems that traditionally they did contain meat – hence the name, mincemeat – the ones that I tried way back in my Oxford days did not. At least, not as far as I know.

Once I assembled my ingredients, I played with the quantities until I came up with this combination. (DISCLAIMER: I in no way claim that this recipe is “authentic” or anything. It was pieced together from the internet, which we all know is extremely accurate and never lies.)

1 1/2 cups raisins
4 apples, peeled and diced very small
1 1/2 cups dried cranberries
1 scant cup of dried figs, chopped*
1 cup green holiday cherries, chopped*
3/4 cup candied citrus peel (recipe here)
1/3 cup orange juice
1/2 cup apple juice
juice of 1 lemon
1/4 cup brandy
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 tsp ginger
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp cloves

(*Next time I think I would leave out the cherries, they weren’t needed. Maybe the figs, too. I only included them because I couldn’t find currants. We’ll see.)

I put everything in a pot and simmered on the stove until the apple softened and the house smelled wonderful.

Then I made up a batch of Pam’s Pie Crust and cut it into little shapes with a cookie cutter. I pressed a small circle of dough into a mini muffin pan, making it fit by removing a small wedge from the circle first. I filled each little pie, then put the tops on and baked at 410 degrees F according to these directions. I had a little leftover dough so I made a couple in a regular muffin tin, too.

Yum! They were very tasty. The pie crust recipe made enough for one full mini muffin tin (24 pies) and a few extra in the regular muffin tin. But I had a lot of leftover filling, so I put it in the freezer to use another time. Which is good, because I’ll definitely want to make them again soon!

7 Quick Takes Picture Edition

2012-01-20T15:24:00.001-07:00

Friday Randomness

2012-01-13T17:19:00.001-07:00

Missed last week, but jumping back in today (if a bit on the later side).

1. This is what happens when you use candy canes as Christmas tree ornaments.

2. Yes, our tree is still up, why do you ask?

3. We tried cornstarch finger paint yesterday. The girls had a lot of fun with it. Here is the recipe we used (though I did cut it in half). It was a little too goopy to keep the pictures hanging around (they never really dried), although I think if I could convince them to spread it out more it would work better. Veronica’s first page was pretty sparse and actually dried to nice, bright colors.

4. The past couple of days I wrote journal entries at 280daily. I wish I could remember where I came across the link, it may have been on Facebook. Anyway, you sum up your day in 280 characters or less. I thought it would be a fun way to document what we do with the girls, and the entries can be saved as a PDF or made into a book so it could be a keepsake someday. Here’s hoping I keep it up!

Grablins? Gooloom? Slag the Terrible?

5. If you have twelve minutes to kill, check out this short Hobbit cartoon, circa 1966. Definitely not true to the story, but kind of fun nonetheless. You can find the history of the cartoon here. H/T CSTM.

6. Sleep deprivation.

7. I made these last week. Do you know what they are? Post coming soon! Mmmmmm.

Magic Hair

2012-01-10T09:58:00.001-07:00

Tangled has been a favorite movie in our house lately. Hence the following conversation.

Veronica: What color is my hair?

Me: It’s blonde.

Veronica: Yes, that’s why it’s magic.

Well, it may not be magic, but it sure does get tangled!

7 Random Christmas Takes

2011-12-30T16:15:00.001-07:00

Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas! Here is a bit of what ours looked like.

1. I’ve really enjoyed having Paul home the past couple of weeks. Besides being a big help with the kids, it’s just been nice to spend the time together during the day. He goes back to work on Tuesday, so we’ll see how I adjust now that I’ve been spoiled.

2. Through the ~~fault~~ generosity of my mother, we’ve acquired a variety of singing Christmas animals over the past couple of years. I put them on the mantle with some of the other Christmas decorations, but naturally they didn’t stay there long. Jacinta in particular has been quite enamored of them. While for the most part I don’t mind the music, there are one or two that may mysteriously lose their batteries between now and next Christmas.

3. Speaking of Christmas, Veronica finally got the dinosaur that she asked to be her prize for potty training. She’s done really well over the past couple of months - though she sometimes has an accident if she is too busy playing – and for the most part she can go number one independently. Barring the occasional gratuitous use of toilet paper or fifteen-minute hand washing session.

4. Apparently it is just too much to ask your children to smile nicely for a Christmas photo at church.

5. Or to put down the new toy to get a nice dress picture.

6. When opening presents Christmas morning, Jacinta felt that the floor was just too uncomfortable. So she got pillows for herself and Veronica to sit on. Ahhh, much better.

7. After a lovely Christmas dinner with Paul’s brother and his family, the cousins engaged in a game of knights. Why yes, Veronica is dressed like Darth Vader. Or, as she put it, wearing the black armor. It was a great night with fun had by all.

Happy Christmas week!

7 Holiday Recipes

2011-12-23T13:50:00.001-07:00

For this week’s 7 Quick Takes, here’s some new (to us) holiday recipes we’ve made this fall and winter.

Source

1. Pumpkin Cornbread – A tasty variation of cornbread that is perfect for fall. Just be careful not to let it dry out, like I did the second time I made it. My oven seems to run a little hot, so I need to bake it for less time than the recipe calls for.

Source

2. Crispy Pumpkin Cookies – I love pumpkin cookies, but my husband is not a fan of how soft and chewy they are. Well, these cookies are the best of both the pumpkin-flavored and crispy cookie worlds.

Source

3. Candy Corn Bark – I saw several different variations of this recipe pop up all over Pinterest before Halloween. This version turned out fantastic! And I even found real white chocolate chips (made with cocoa butter instead of oil) at the grocery store. Super yum.

Source

4. Meringue Cookies – I have a lot of leftover egg whites from making ice cream (see below) and I decided to give meringues a try. I went with the Vanilla Rum flavor, it tastes great! Mine are definitely not as pretty, though.

Source

5. Peppermint Bark Fudge – I’ve been on a real peppermint kick lately, and this seemed like the perfect recipe to try to get my fix. So easy, and so good.

Source

6. Peppermint Ice Cream – Speaking of peppermint, one of my favorite holiday treats is Peppermint Ice Cream. I simply must have it around Christmas. Since my homemade ice cream has been turning out so well, I wanted to try my hand at making this holiday treat, and The Pioneer Woman came through for me as usual.

Source

7. Eggnog Ice Cream – Finally, a new favorite in our house, we discovered Eggnog Ice Cream last Christmas and fell in love. So, of course, I had to try my hand at this one as well. I used The Pioneer Woman’s Vanilla Bean Ice Cream as a base (and cut back on the vanilla a bit), then added flavorings from this recipe. I did compensate for the difference in volume between the recipes, but I think I would even go a little heavier on the spices next time.

If you have a chance to try any of these, do it! They are all fantastic ways to celebrate the season.

Merry Christmas everyone!

My First 7 Quick Takes Friday

2011-12-16T15:30:00.001-07:00

I often find that while there are many things I’d like to blog about, my time to sit and write is seriously lacking. So I’ve decided to give this a try, in the hopes that more of the things I’d like to share actually make it up here! Even in abbreviated form. So here goes:

1. Last night Veronica didn’t want to eat her dinner because she was “too hungry and too tired.” Since I suspected she was angling for another food option, I told her that her only choice was to eat what was in her bowl. So she says, “Can you put some apple in my bowl, please?”

2. I am surprised her excuse wasn’t “I’m not hungry”, since she was “helping” me bake yesterday. And to Veronica, helping = tasting each and every ingredient that goes into the bowl. And, of course, licking the utensils afterwards.

3. Ariadne has settled into the wake and eat, then fall back to sleep pattern at night. Hallelujah! Here’s to hoping that it continues.

4. Jacinta is such a ham for the camera. I tried to sneak some pictures of her putting a burp rag on her head, but the moment she noticed the camera she busted out one of these huge, squinty smiles and said “Chee!”

5. With the help of Fr. Parks at St. Tim’s, we were able to pull together a baptism for Ariadne before her godparents, my brother Brian and his wife Bridget, had to go home. Which was wonderful, since Brian will be headed back to Afghanistan in a couple of weeks. Thanks for the help, Fr. Parks!

6. This morning I found out that Fr. Santan Pinto, a very good friend of our family and the priest that married Paul and I, died in a car accident while visiting home in India. What a terrible loss for us here on earth. We will miss you, Father! But I know who I will be asking for prayers and intercession now.

7. And to end on a happier note: Sweetness!

Cookies!

2011-12-15T04:52:00.001-07:00

One of the projects that kept Paul and Veronica busy last week was a super batch of butter cookies. It happened in stages, making up the giant bowl of dough one day, then rolling, cutting and baking the next. Finally it was time to decorate!

Veronica was in charge of sprinkles, which was fine by her.

Jacinta got to “decorate” a cookie. Which meant licking the frosting off and starting over again. And again.

All the sprinkles have to be sampled, right?

Done! Didn’t I say it was a super batch?

Along with the more traditional Christmas shapes, Veronica picked out a few others that she liked. Thank you to Deb and Clint for the timely gift of fun cookie cutters, without which this cookie would not have been possible.

Nor this one. Dinosaurs are popular in our house.

This fish was the cookie that Veronica picked out to eat first. She took a few bites then set it aside to “save for later”. She still hasn’t finished it. Girl just doesn’t have a sweet tooth.

Jacinta, on the other hand…

A fun Christmas baking project. Now what to make next?

One Week

2011-12-12T20:48:00.001-07:00

I can’t believe it’s already been a week since Ariadne was born! Here’s what our week looked like.

Awake!

Awake again! For a moment at least. Most of the time she is out like a light. Must be nice.

Veronica likes to be as close as possible to her new sister. Enjoying a book together.

Jacinta enjoys books, too. She just doesn’t understand the whole concept of starting at the beginning and ending at the end. So story time with her can be a little…random.

Because our blood types are different, Ariadne was more at risk for jaundice. Some time in front of the window took care of that, though.

Cozy with Uncle Tyler.

Ariadne is very loved by her sisters.

Very loved.

“Help me.”

“No really. Help me.”

Veronica may understand “gentle” a little better.

Our three girls. We are so thankful for each of them.

Introducing Ariadne

2011-12-04T19:27:00.001-07:00

Ariadne Linda Greene.

12/4/11, 1:33 pm.

9 lbs, 2 oz. 20 3/4 inches.

Beloved daughter.

And sister. And granddaughter.

Love.

Some Stuff

2011-11-29T20:00:00.001-07:00

So I’ve been a little remiss in posting again. Life just gets going sometimes and before I know it it’s been almost a month since I put anything up. So, some stuff:

I said I would try to post pictures of our Halloween costumes, so here they are!

I made my pregnant skeleton costume following the directions on this blog. She certainly got the proportions better than I did, but it was fun trying freezer-paper stenciling for the first time.

Paul made himself an animal attack costume using some stuffed bears that we found at Goodwill. He just sewed them on some clothes and called himself a Zanesville Sherriff.

Here’s a better view of the attacking bears.

We inherited this dinosaur/dragon costume from my nephews, and to firmly cement it in the dragon camp I decided to make some wings. They turned out alright, but ended up a little heavy because I framed them with old coat hangers. I definitely would do them differently in retrospect. More like these bat wings. But with a split up the middle so the tail would still show. Veronica REALLY enjoyed being a dragon, and was not shy about letting people know what she was!

Last but not least, Jacinta was a chicken. I had originally planned on making her something, but we came across the chicken at Goodwill and just could NOT pass it up. The little tail when she walked…so adorable.

And that was Halloween!

I also realized that I never really finished up posting about our October trip to Wisconsin.

We pretty much spent the rest of the week relaxing and taking advantage of the great weather.

The girls loved being outside.

And hunting for dandelions became a favorite activity.

There was lots of time to spend with family, too.

The last day we were there it cooled off quite a bit, which meant we finally got to use the sweatshirts I had packed.

The cold didn’t keep us from one last run at the raspberry bushes.

It was a great trip!

Hopefully we’ll make it out there again soon.

But for now, this baby is due to arrive any day. Every day Veronica asks if this is the day her baby sister is coming. Soon enough, my dear!

Little Farmer Revisited

2011-11-02T15:17:00.001-07:00

Ever since our first visit to the Little Farmer last year, I’ve wanted to get back in the fall. So on our latest Wisconsin trip we took the opportunity.

There were lots of windfall apples that the girls were happy to munch on.

And plenty of animals to visit.

Jacinta thought those two things would go well together.

The chickens turned out to be one of Jacinta’s favorites.

But Veronica liked feeding the goats.

And the goats liked being fed, by whomever.

Cousins!

I loved this pumpkin, I wanted to take it home. But I didn’t think it would hold up too well on the plane.

Veronica thought she would just walk away with one, too. I think it was a little heavier than she expected.

Stopping for a little rest.

I couldn’t believe the colors everywhere. It was quite a sight.

And Veronica was quite a ham.

I took a (very short) turn pulling the wagon.

Then it was time for the playground.

Veronica loved jumping around on the hay.

What a sweetheart. The headband was her idea.

Jacinta was glad to get a turn by herself in the tractor.

Then Mommy found this very picturesque spot, but do you think these girls would hold still? No luck.

Some of us eventually managed to sit still for a photo op.

They were more than happy to play in this fountain, though.

And then…caramel apple time!

Yum. Forget the fork, Dad, just shovel it in.

Caramel apples make little girls so happy.

Then they crash.

Totally.

Homemade Halloween

2011-10-31T14:54:00.001-07:00

Happy Halloween, everyone!

I’ve always loved celebrating Halloween, and this year I decided to add some homemade touches to my Halloween décor.

First, these Pumpkin Votive Luminaries that I spotted on Dollar Store Crafts.

I picked up the votive holders at the dollar store (appropriately), and they worked great. Next, some Mod Podge, which will continue to be useful for future crafts. The hardest thing to find was the orange tissue paper. Apparently Halloween is not a good time to be looking for orange things.

Once I had everything assembled, the instructions for making the luminaries were really easy to follow. In no time I had my own! Very fun to make, and a great result.

Next, Trash Bag Spider Webs from How About Orange.

These were also easy to make, and cost absolutely nothing since we already had black trash bags on hand. Though she wasn’t kidding when she said they were slippery, you do have to be cautious when cutting them out. She managed to get hers to hold their shape better, but I think all in all they turned out pretty well.

I knew when I saw these paper bats from MADE that I just had to make them.

Though the other decorations weren’t hard, this one has all of them beat for simplicity. Just print out a bat template, and go to town on some black construction paper or cardstock. Voila! Bats. I think this turned out to be my favorite new decoration. I love the effect.

Last, but not least, a family tradition – Fan Ghosts.

I remember these from when I was a kid, they were always one of my favorite decorations. Usually, we made them out of napkins but this year I decided to try white trash bags for the shininess and translucency. I just cut out squares, put a cotton ball in the middle and tied them with string. A little black marker for the face, and done! Then hang them from the fan blades and watch them zoom around the room. It was hard to get a good picture of the action, but they are lots of fun.

We also had some homemade fun with our costumes, so hopefully I’ll get some good pictures to share when the girls go Trick or Treating tonight. Have a great Halloween!

CSFF: The Bone House

2011-10-25T15:35:00.001-07:00

It’s been a while since I’ve had the chance to do a blog tour, but I knew I had to jump in on this one: The Bone House, by Stephen Lawhead. It’s the second in his Bright Empires series, and last year I reviewed the first installment, The Skin Map, here.

*Warning: Minor Spoilers Ahead*

This second installment begins where the first left off, following Kit’s unexpected rescue by his old flame, Mina. And like the first book, The Bone House definitely has a lot going on to keep the story moving. There are treasure hunts, desperate chases, amazing discoveries and, of course, subterfuge.

The one problem I had was determining where all of the excitement was supposed to be leading to. I know ultimately that there is a search for the Well of Souls, and that finding the pieces of the Skin Map are the key, but it wasn’t always clear to me how the various events in the book were leading towards these ends. And the title object, the Bone House, didn’t even come into being until late in the story. As I reflected on the issue, I decided it was probably more a result of this being the second installment in a series – and therefore far from a resolution – than any flaw in the story or writing. The writing was certainly as good as in The Skin Map.

I would definitely recommend reading The Bone House, as long as you’ve read The Skin Map first. I’ll be looking forward to the rest of the series as well.

Check out the rest of the tour:

Noah Arsenault - Red Bissell - Thomas Clayton Booher - Beckie Burnham - Morgan L. Busse - CSFF Blog Tour - Jeff Chapman - Carol Bruce Collett - Karri Compton - D. G. D. Davidson - Theresa Dunlap - April Erwin - Victor Gentile - Tori Greene - Ryan Heart - Bruce Hennigan - Timothy Hicks - Christopher Hopper - Janeen Ippolito - Becca Johnson - Jason Joyner - Julie - Carol Keen - Krystine Kercher - Marzabeth - Katie McCurdy - Shannon McDermott - Rebecca LuElla Miller - Joan Nienhuis - Chawna Schroeder - Kathleen Smith - Donna Swanson - Rachel Starr Thomson - Robert Treskillard - Steve Trower - Fred Warren - Phyllis Wheeler - Nicole White - Rachel Wyant

Disclaimer: In conjunction with the CSFF Blog Tour, I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.

Fall Family Fun

2011-10-21T13:33:00.001-07:00

Some of the family was camping at Mauthe Lake the weekend we were in town, and there were lots of fun fall activities planned for everyone to enjoy there.

Jacinta was ready to hop right into the fall spirit.

The setting was perfect.

While some were carving pumpkins on Saturday afternoon, Jacinta preferred to wander. She wanted to make sure I was getting my exercise.

That evening the kids got decked out in their Halloween costumes. Veronica is obviously a fire-breathing dragon.

Though there was some question of whether or not dragons can fly.

Time for a costume parade!

Jacinta’s wandering tendencies meant she had to be contained by Daddy. Marching in formation just isn’t her thing.

Time to Trick or Treat!

And what kid doesn’t enjoy Trick or Treating?

Then some games were in order.

And though I missed getting pictures of the pumpkin carving in progress, Veronica did get to pose with her pumpkin she “carved.” With a marker.

Sunday was another chance for everyone to get together and play. Even Jacinta joined in chasing the bubbles.

Her wanderer’s heart did contemplate escape now and then.

But a little impromptu song and dance drew her back in.

There was also some time for fishing, which Veronica was looking forward to.

With a little help, she reeled one in for Papae.

She was excited to get up close and personal with the fish.

Eventually she even caught one with her cane pole. She was pretty disappointed to have to throw it back in. Unfortunately I missed all the action on that one, as I was on Jacinta duty back on shore and not on the pier.

We had lots of fun over the weekend, and it was great being able to spend time with everyone.

Thanks to all whose planning and hard work made it possible!

Next up, a long-awaited fall visit to the The Little Farmer!

Autumn is a Real Season

2011-10-20T09:22:00.001-07:00

Living in the desert, we don’t have many opportunities to witness the splendor of color that is fall. But this year, our trip to Wisconsin coincided perfectly with the turning of leaves – not to mention excellent weather – and allowed us to enjoy autumn to the fullest. For a few days at least.

Some of us were just glad to be able to run around outside without overheating.

Piles of leaves were made to be jumped in, right?

Without a doubt.

A new crop of raspberries was ripe for picking, thanks to the great weather.

Yum.

They were an immediate hit.

Veronica says, “Raspberry picking is Serious Business.”

Exploration was high on the list of desired activities. Or maybe it was just wandering. With Jacinta, you can never be sure.

Time was made for wheelbarrow rides, too.

And what a gorgeous setting.

Hello, color!

And this was only the first morning of our trip. Lots of fun and family ahead.

A Couple Things

2011-10-18T10:38:00.001-07:00

We’re just getting settled back into our routine after a great trip to Wisconsin. Lots of fun, time with family, and recharging our batteries.

But more on that later.

Today I wanted to share an awesome pie crust tutorial that I’ve found infinitely helpful in my pie baking.

Pam’s Pie Tutorial

Food processor instead of pastry cutter? Yes, please. Rolling the dough between two slips of parchment paper? Genius. I’ve used her method a few times now, and even though my technique isn’t perfect yet, the pie crust still turns out delicious and flaky every time.

I should note that I don’t have any leaf lard, which she calls for in her recipe, so I usually use 1/2 cup of butter and 1/2 cup of shortening for the fat. I’ve been pleased with the result.

While in Wisconsin we acquired a large bag of apples that were just screaming to be made into pie. So we obliged.

It was quite an operation, as you can see. And the resulting pies were delicious indeed.

I am looking forward to the plethora of apples we are likely to get in our Bountiful Baskets this coming season. As well as other tasty things that give me an excuse to make (and eat) pie.

Check out the tutorial, then go and make one!

Sprinkler Fun

2011-09-30T17:31:00.001-07:00

It is still pretty darn hot here in Arizona. Unseasonably warm, as some may say. But it’s “cooled off” enough that a little backyard play isn’t out of the question now and then.

Please excuse the backyard. It’s a dump. Someday…we will have grass. Which will probably grow as high as those weeds.

Until then, my children will play in the dirt and rocks. At least the dog poop was picked up.

Besides, they have fun anyway.

“Hey, you’re cramping my style!”

*Queue Chariots of Fire theme*

There are always things to be found in the yard.

Oranges are on the list of approved “found” items.

There are less desirable ones, but I won’t go into that here.

Spray in the face!

“What are you doing, silly Daddy?”

I’m wondering the same thing, myself.

Maybe not as refreshing as a pool, but a good way to beat the lingering heat nonetheless.

Even so…fall and cooler temperatures can’t come soon enough for this mom.

Fun Hat

2011-09-10T13:34:00.001-07:00

Veronica recently saw an episode of Curious George in which George, forbidden to touch the Man’s iconic Yellow Hat, decides to make himself a “Fun Hat” of his own. He adds various gadgets that he thinks his pals will like. Then the Man accidentally wears it to a presentation and manages to inadvertently set off all of the fun features while giving his speech.

Taken with the idea of a “Fun Hat”, Veronica just had to have one of her own.

And while it wasn’t as fancy or high tech as George’s hat, it did have a few surprises.

Now I’ll just need to be careful not to accidentally wear it the next time I give an important scientific speech.

The best thing about growing up is…

2011-09-02T08:37:00.001-07:00

Today Veronica was asking me where we got some of her clothes from.

Me: We got them from our cousins, Mary Rose, Kaitlyn, Karly and Laina. They got too big for these clothes so they gave them to you. Isn’t that nice?

V: Yes, that is nice. Why did they get too big?

Me: Because kids keep growing until they get as big as mommies and daddies and then they stop.

V: I stopped growing.

Me: No, you are still growing. You will grow until you are as big as me.

V: Then I can drink booze!

Chirp Chirp SMASH

2011-08-27T11:53:00.001-07:00

On the scale of bothersome bugs that give me the heebie jeebies and demand instant death, crickets do not rank very high. Comparatively. If I see a cricket and there is a handy weapon nearby, I may make use of it, but if there isn’t then I won’t go out of my way to find one. So sometimes the cricket escapes to live another day.

One exception to this is if a cricket jumps on me. Yuck. Luckily that hasn’t happened in recent memory. Another more common exception is if a cricket wakes me up in the middle of the night. In either case I will hunt that chirping fiend down until it has been flattened by the underside of a shoe.

And who decided that “chirp” is the right word for the noise a cricket makes when it is happily sawing its legs together in my bedroom in the middle of the night? “Chirp” does not begin to describe the piercing quality of the noise that for some reason sounds like it’s being produced right next to my ear.

Anyway, this happened the other night. Since I am entering that uncomfortable stage of pregnancy where it is impossible to fall asleep, I had tossed and turned for a bit and didn’t even realize I had finally fallen asleep until I was violently woken up by a “chirping” serenade. Needless to say, I was annoyed. So I went on a mission: search and destroy.

I wasn’t sure I would be able to find the cricket, given their habit of “chirping” madly only until they sense they are in danger from a flip-flop. But I did eventually manage to rustle the cricket out of it’s hiding place and one good whack did the job. Sweet silence. Of course, I was very awake at that point, and while trying to fall back asleep my muddled brain decided I needed to write about crickets on my blog at the next opportunity. So that’s what I’m doing. Somehow, it seemed more amusing in the wee hours of the morning. You can thank my sleep deprivation.

On a side note, a large percentage of the crickets we spot around the house are missing one back leg. I like to think it’s because they are being relentlessly hunted by our house lizards. It does look awfully funny when they try to jump.

So, crickets. Major pest or minor annoyance? What say you?

Painting with Daddy

2011-08-19T13:47:00.001-07:00

Last Saturday, for some Daddy time, Paul and the girls painted a picture.

Well, Paul and Veronica painted a picture. Jacinta got a little confused about the purpose of the activity.

She thought her job was to ingest the (blessedly non-toxic) paint.

Daddy tried to instruct her on the finer points of painting.

And some of it seemed to sink in.

But I suspect she didn’t quite get it in the end.

Veronica, on the other hand, was very good at the whole paint to paintbrush to paper concept. She ended up with minimal amounts on her person.

And certainly none in her mouth.

But, in the end, the picture got painted anyway.

Everybody had fun, and would definitely be happy to do this activity again.

Though maybe for different reasons.

How does this happen?

2011-08-12T19:30:00.001-07:00

I never get tired of posting these.

A Fishy Situation

2011-08-08T13:42:00.001-07:00

The big project on Saturday was…digging a hole. But not just any hole.

It was the mother of all beach sand holes. Complete with a ramp for easy access and an archway for decoration.

The kids loved climbing down into the hole, despite my aunt insisting that holes and tunnels weren’t safe and she had read about them collapsing and trapping kids inside. Everyone thought she was being a worrywart, until the archway did collapse – right on top of one of the kids who was, for some unknown reason, lying under it. I wasn’t there to capture the exciting moment, but I’m pretty sure they pulled him to safety.

Aside from those involved in the hole-digging, it was a day for relaxing in the sun. The weather was perfect.

And there was plenty to snack on. Ew.

Once the sea-side antics were finished, some of the group went for another shell-collecting walk.

The rest of us stayed behind to collect diaper sand.

There was plenty of that to go around. But it was worth the fun playtime.

I mean, it’s not every day you get to drive a lounge chair around the beach, right?

The walkers came back with some interesting finds. This was some kind of stationary sea creature…but if you look closely it kind of looks like a very small hippo. Weird.

And of course there was Fernando the Fish. Irresistible to three year olds everywhere.

Oh, Fernando. What fond memories.

And Veronica did wash her hand thoroughly when play time was over.

Which is good, because we had a tasty dinner waiting to close out the night.

Sunday slowed down a bit, at least for me and Jacinta. We took an afternoon nap in my parents’ tent trailer while everyone went back down to the water. But while she was waiting for me to finish my lunch, Michael kept her entertained by reading the ingredient list off of various items on the table, including this bag of flour. Fascinating.

And Sunday was a special day – Tyler’s birthday! So there had to be a tasty treat at end of it.

It was also really our last day, since Monday was spent packing everything up and then driving back into the Arizona heat.

We had a fabulous time, especially the girls. I don’t know if I mentioned it yet, but Paul couldn’t make it on the trip, so it was just us girls who got to go. I’m so thankful to my parents for taking such good care of us, and to my aunt Kathy for letting us use her house. It made a huge difference, and let me get the rest I needed to make something like this possible.

And now I’m ready for the next adventure! Or at least I will be…after a few weeks of sleep.

In which Jacinta attempts to crawl to China

2011-08-05T14:03:00.001-07:00

Friday was filled with more beach fun. Veronica really wanted to use the boogie board…but I vetoed that idea. It’s a little big for her to handle.

She made the best of it anyway.

Some chose more relaxing beach activities.

But not Jacinta.

Catch me if you can, Mom!

While some of the other kids played happily in the (mostly) dry sand…

Jacinta repeated yesterday’s attempt to crawl all the way to Hawaii.

Hawaii? Fuggetaboutit. I’m going for China!

Nothing could stop her. Except getting hit in the face by a wave.

That encouraged her to try the other direction, too.

I’m going this way!

I was fine with that.

Jacinta was pretty tired after her many escape attempts, and finally fell asleep on me. This was a big deal, as she almost never falls asleep anywhere besides her crib. She must have really been exhausted. Trying to crawl the Pacific will do that to you.

There was more sand play.

And water play.

And wave play.

Good times were had all around. Except maybe by the parents who had to clean it all up after.

Then it was time for dinner. This was the kitchen.

More than adequate, I’d say.

While dinner was prepared, some snuck away for a little quiet time by the water.

But there was playing to do as well.

There was no shortage of toys.

Or games.

I know I’ll get it this time!

And, of course, somebody had to organize the collection of shells and rocks.

Veronica was happy to oblige.

I’m falling a little behind, but there’s still more to come.

Beach Camping

2011-07-29T10:37:00.001-07:00

The girls and I came with my parents on their annual beach camping adventure to Del Mar Beach this year.

After being in the car all day, everyone was ready to hit the water.

And sand, in Veronica’s case.

Even Jacinta wanted to get her feet wet.

Time for fun!

And a walk on the beach.

More waves.

And more sand.

Can’t forget the sand crabs.

Or the helicopters? That’s what you get when you camp at a military base.

A few more waves before dinner. And that was our first day!

Full disclosure here. Beach camping for me and the girls means sleeping at my aunt’s house. We like the beach…but we also like beds. And showers. Thanks Kathy!

The second day my batteries fell out of the camera in the car and I didn’t realize until we were by the seaside already. That means I missed capturing Jacinta’s many attempts to crawl headfirst into the waves. That girl has no fear! Down she would crawl until a large wave came our way. Then Mommy would lift her to her feet and move up twenty feet or so…and she’d be right back down crawling to the water again. Crazy.

I did recover the batteries eventually and managed to catch a few cute pictures.

Like this one. I don’t know what expression that is, but it cracks me up.

Veronica was already tuckered out by the time I got the camera. She only wanted to snuggle in the towels.

Playing with Omi.

After a tasty dinner – it helps to have professional chefs in your family – it was time to relax by the fire.

And the true measure of success. Another great day!

Getting ready to head out for Day 3 at the beach – stay tuned for more.

Sleepy

2011-07-18T20:48:00.001-07:00

Some days are just too long.

Knight

2011-07-11T20:48:00.001-07:00

The other day, Veronica pulled her arm out of her shirt sleeve and put it through the neck opening.

“This is my Knight Shirt,” she announced.

Then she proceeded to grab a vacuum attachment and mount her mighty steed.

“Are you Lady Tuffins?” I asked.

“No, I am SIR Tuffins!”

Of course. Silly me.

Organ Stop Pizza

2011-07-01T11:27:00.001-07:00

We recently had a visit from some of the Wisconsin crew – Paul’s parents and his sister and family. We had lots of fun while everyone was here, but one event in particular that stood out was dinner at Organ Stop Pizza. What is Organ Stop Pizza, you ask? I asked the same question, since I had never been there before.

Imagine a place like Peter Piper Pizza, or Pistol Pete’s (does that even exist anymore?) but instead of annoying animatronic performances and obnoxious video game noises you are treated instead to…

Some guy playing an organ!

Seriously, Organ Stop Pizza features an actual Wurlitzer organ, and it is the largest Wurlitzer theatre organ in the world.

It has not only the organ pipes, which are hard to see behind the windows along the wall, but also things like drums, a piano, xylophones…dancing cats…all controlled by the performer. Wow! It made for some pretty spectacular performances.

Adults and kids alike enjoyed the familiar music, from movie themes to show tunes and beyond. You can even make requests.

Jacinta in particular seemed to enjoy herself, which isn’t surprising considering her fascination with all things musical.

The pizza was tasty, and they have a salad bar as well for those of us trying not to let pregnancy get the better of our weight. Ahem.

We sat upstairs, where it was a little easier to corral the kids. It actually made some of the extra instruments easier to spot, too.

And we got to sit under these cool light fixtures. Wurlitzer. What a word.

Check out some of the extras!

We had to get a cousin picture before we left. Attempt to get one anyway. It is tough to get that many young kids to sit still at the same time. Heck, sometimes it’s tough to get one young kid to sit still.

And, of course, one with the grandparents, too.

A dinner experience like no other, and I’m sure we’ll be back again soon!

House Lizard

2011-05-13T14:00:00.001-07:00

Or, how we almost acquired a new pet.

Tuesday morning I was getting myself and the girls ready and I reached down to the foot of my bed to grab my jeans. They frequently reside there on the floor with a few other select items of clothing that I wear…frequently. I mean, who has time to walk three steps to the closet and hang them up or get them back out again? Not me.

Anyway, I reach down for my jeans and see a thing. On my jeans. Something. Bigger than a bug, but smaller than a mouse.

A lizard! It was just sitting there on my jeans. I’m not afraid of lizards, but I was kind of at a loss.

How did it get there?

Why was it on my jeans?

How was I going to get it off my jeans?

Would it stay in the house and eat all the bugs, please?

I eventually shooed it away, and it skittered over to the corner behind Jacinta’s crib and claimed this old dress shirt of Paul’s for its own. And it stayed there for over a day. There were several times when I was sure the lizard had died, as it didn’t seem to move much, but no, it was just taking it easy.

We considered letting it live in the house, but food is scarce in our bedroom. The second night of the house lizard we decided to set it free in the backyard where it could find more bugs to eat.

But first Veronica had to hold it.

Of course, she was thrilled. She told us about how the lizard lived in the trees with the birds, and the bees were his friends.

Eventually it was time to set him free. Then time to pick him back up again. Then time for him to climb up Veronica’s shoulder into her hair. Then time to set him free again.

Fare thee well, house lizard. We will think of you fondly. Especially if you eat all the bugs out there.

Veronica lectures about lizards. Don’t miss the fun at the end.

Here’s a little bit of the lizard fun.

CSFF: The Strange Man

2011-04-19T12:39:00.001-07:00

A gripping supernatural thriller, The Strange Man takes place in Greensboro, a town whose dark history has unleashed the wrath of a powerful and vengeful demon. The first of a series, this volume features Dras, the immature, washout son of a local pastor, who has fallen away from his faith. When the demon threatens his best friend, Dras realizes what he’s been missing in his seemingly carefree lifestyle. But can he convince Rosalyn of the truth before she becomes the demon’s next victim?

Greg Mitchell weaves a tale full of suspense that grabs hold and doesn’t let go until the very last page. Overall, I really enjoyed it. The bogeyman was creepy, just as he should be. The characters were convincing, though some may have been a bit stereotypical. And Mr. Mitchell is a fine writer. However, I did come away from the book feeling a bit unsatisfied. Part of that may be the cliffhanger ending, which left me unsure of what exactly just happened – and wanting to know what comes next! But I think it was a little more than just that.

I found myself slightly disturbed throughout the book at the ease with which the demon was able to affect the physical world – namely, in committing murders. I’ve heard this book compared to Frank Peretti’s This Present Darkness, but unless my memory deceives me – which it might, it’s been a while – the mechanism from that book involved demons working through people, without crossing the physical barrier. I guess that’s more how I imagine spiritual warfare to work (not that I’m an expert or anything). So a demon who is able to cross the physical barrier into our world and murder people bothers me a bit.

But, like I said, I did enjoy the book and would recommend it to anyone looking for some good suspense without all the baggage that normally goes along with the mainstream horror genre.

Check out the rest of the tour: Noah Arsenault - Red Bissell - Kathy Brasby - Grace Bridges - Beckie Burnham - CSFF Blog Tour - Amber French - Tori Greene - Katie Hart - Bruce Hennigan Timothy Hicks - Jason Joyner - Carol Keen - Inae Kyo - Emily LaVigne - Shannon McDermott - Matt Mikalatos - Rebecca LuElla Miller - Gavin Patchett - Andrea Schultz - Kathleen Smith - Donna Swanson - Jessica Thomas - Steve Trower - Fred Warren - Dona Watson - Phyllis Wheeler

One

2011-04-13T14:36:00.001-07:00

On March 30, this little beauty turned one.

Since it was during the week (and I wasn’t prepared), we celebrated with a little bit of ice cream instead of cake.

At first she wasn’t sure what to do.

But she had ideas. Mom had to intervene at this point to give some assistance.

Veronica is an expert at ice cream eating, and so lent a good example.

Somewhere in the middle of ice cream eating, Jacinta received a birthday phone call. Yay!

Then it was back to business.

There were lots of nooks and crannies to be excavated.

Then, this last weekend, we had a little party at the neighborhood park. Jacinta got to try her hand at some actual birthday cake.

She was a pro. She knew just where to put it.

“Look what I have! Cake!”

I can’t believe my little baby is one. Happy Birthday, Jacinta!

CSFF Blog Tour: The Resurrection

2011-03-23T15:00:00.001-07:00

This month, the CSFF Blog Tour is featuring The Resurrection by Mike Duran:

In the graveyard, overlooking the city of Stonetree, a petrified oak broods. It’s a monstrous thing, not just because of its size, but because of who was murdered there.

When Ruby Case limped into church that spring morning, she was not thinking about haunted graveyards. The handicapped mother of two young boys prays faithfully for God’s visitation upon the city. Yet when she inexplicably raises a boy from the dead, Ruby gets more than she bargained for.

Reverend Ian Clark does not believe in miracles. He is resigning from the ministry and has no interest in the city’s spiritual climate, much less its urban legends. Dogged by demons, both past and present, Clark is being unwittingly drawn into a secret religious order—one that threatens his very life. But he’s about to get a wake-up call.

The resurrection creates uproar in the quiet coastal town, turning Ruby into both a celebrity and a scapegoat, and forcing Clark to reconsider his growing agnosticism. Together, Ruby and Reverend Clark are thrust into a search for answers… and a collision with unspeakable darkness. For behind the quaint tourist shops and artist colonies lies a history of deceit. And a presence more malignant than anything they can imagine. Yet a battle is brewing, the resurrection is the first volley… and the unlikely duo are the only ones who can save them.

But can they overcome their own brokenness in time to stop the evil, or will they be its next victim?

For a great overview, check out this post by Fred Warren. And, as always, Becky Miller keeps track of all the postings here.

This is definitely a book that I’m interested in, just didn’t have the time to do it justice right now. Be sure to read what others have said about it, and check it out yourself!

Noah Arsenault - Brandon Barr - Red Bissell - Book Reviews By Molly - Keanan Brand - Kathy Brasby - Grace Bridges - Beckie Burnham - Melissa Carswell - Jeff Chapman - Christian Fiction Book Reviews - Carol Bruce Collett - Valerie Comer - Karri Compton - Wanda Costinak - Amy Cruson - CSFF Blog Tour - Janey DeMeo - Cynthia Dyer - Tori Greene - Nikole Hahn - Katie Hart - Joleen Howell - Bruce Hennigan - Becky Jesse - Cris Jesse - Jason Joyner - Carol Keen - Emily LaVigne - Shannon McNear - Matt Mikalatos - Rebecca LuElla Miller - Mirtika - Joan Nienhuis - Nissa - John W. Otte - Gavin Patchett - Sarah Sawyer - Andrea Schultz - Tammy Shelnut - Kathleen Smith - Donna Swanson - Jessica Thomas - Steve Trower - Fred Warren - Dona Watson - Phyllis Wheeler - Nicole White - Dave Wilson

Update on Jacinta’s Arm

2011-03-19T08:35:00.000-07:00

We took Jacinta to the pediatric orthopedist the other day for a follow up on her right humerus fracture. It’s been 9 months since her last visit, and her right arm seems no different from her left arm. She uses both equally, and there is nothing noticeable on the outside that would indicate it was broken when she was born.

The doctor and physician’s assistant took a few x-rays with their handy, compact, in-office x-ray machine. Can I get a “Whoop whoop!” for not having to go to an imaging center?

(We were given this as a souvenir.)

They said that her bones look beautiful, and they don’t think she’ll have any problems in the future as a result of the fracture. While I was expecting that to be the outcome based on what I’d been observing, it was certainly nice to have that confirmed by the experts.

She’ll follow up just one more time when she is about two and a half years old to make sure that things continue to look fine. Thank goodness for Cactus Pediatric Orthopaedics! And thanks to all who kept our little pixie in prayer while she was healing from her injury.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day

2011-03-18T15:43:00.001-07:00

A day late, but Happy St. Patrick’s Day nonetheless!

I hope you all enjoyed corned beef, cabbage, green treats and whatever else makes it St. Patty’s Day for you. Guinness, anyone?

Catholic Media Promotion Day

2011-03-15T15:51:00.001-07:00

Just wanted to join in the fun and highlight some of my favorite Catholic Media sites.

1. Faith & Family Live: Faith & Family Live is where everyday moms offer one another inspiration, support, and encouragement in Catholic living. Anyone grappling with the meaning of life or the cleaning of laundry is welcome here. Read the blog, check out our magazine, join our community, learn more about our mission, and come on in!

I visit Faith & Family Live every day. There’s always bits of inspiration, nuggets of cool info and food for thought. All of the bloggers write thoughtful posts, whether they are writing about prayer, parenting or shopping! And the community of commenters is always willing to lend a helping hand and a prayer for those who ask.

2. Creative Minority Report: "Believing Christians should look upon themselves as such a creative minority and ... espouse once again the best of its heritage, thereby being at the service of humankind at large." --Joseph Ratzinger

Another daily must-read for me. Pat and Matt Archbold have a wealth of topics to blog about, from serious to hilarious and small snippit to long(ish) essay. You can always count on them to point out something offbeat and ridiculous, and then in their next post to wax philosophical (theological?) about parenting or something similar. Love those guys!

3. CatholicVote.org: CatholicVote.org is a community of patriotic Americans who believe our nation’s founding principles are good and true, and worth fighting for.

The last of my daily reads, CatholicVote.org features a variety of bloggers, including the American Papist, Thomas Peters. Keeping up with CatholicVote means keeping up with political issues that are currently relevant to Catholics. It’s how I get my daily dose of politics, without all the spin and media bias.

There are many other sites, blogs and resources out there, but these are the three that I find myself coming back to over and over. What are your favorite Catholic Media resources?

Dog Pile

2011-03-12T12:24:00.001-07:00

Yesterday in the car, Veronica’s voice drifted up from the back seat.

V: We’re gonna do a dog pile!

Me: A dog pile?

V: Yeah!

Me: Who’s gonna do a dog pile, sweetie?

V: John Paul, Peter, Lucy, Emma…

Me: How did you learn what a dog pile was?

V: The big kids do a dog pile.

Me: Who did they dog-pile on top of?

V: The grass.

Me: Oh, of course. Well, who was at the bottom of the dog pile?

V: A dog!

Me: Naturally.

Carrot and Squash Curry Soup

2011-03-07T21:24:00.001-07:00

My meal planning has definitely changed since we started getting our weekly Bountiful Basket last August. I never know exactly what we’re getting, so I have to base our meals around whatever shows up on Saturday morning. It does take away the ability to plan somewhat in advance, but has given us the opportunity to try a variety of new recipes. These fruits and veggies have got to be used!

In the recent weeks we’ve gotten a lot of carrots, and this last weekend some yellow squash, so it seemed like the perfect opportunity to try PW’s Carrot and Squash Curry Soup. I had first seen it a while back and saved it in my Recipe Box. I wasn’t sure exactly what to expect, but since it had curry in it I figured it would be interesting to say the least.

What a fantastic recipe! Not only is it super easy to prepare, but the flavor is wonderful. Give it a try! Just be sure to leave plenty of time for the veggies to simmer, it takes about an hour. I had to add a bit of water at the end because it was a little thick after I pureed it, but in the end it turned out great.

Like Father, Like Daughter

2011-03-03T17:32:00.001-07:00

If sleeping with one’s head under the covers is genetic, then I definitely know what side she got it from.

The Present

2011-02-28T18:05:00.001-07:00

We don’t normally do much for Valentine’s Day. I usually cook something a little special, and Paul brings home a beautiful flowering plant for me to ~~neglect~~ take care of. Maybe there’s a tasty dessert involved. That’s usually about the extent of it.

This year Paul decided we needed some chocolates, and believe me, I have no objection to chocolates. He picked up a box of assorted chocolates at Trader Joe’s on his way home from work on the 14th, and we set it on the counter to pick at later.

Because I had made a cheesecake for dessert, we didn’t get around to eating the chocolate that night. When we went to bed, they were still wrapped up in the heart-covered wrapping paper which had led Veronica to label them a “present” earlier in the evening.

Fast forward to the next morning. It was Tuesday, so I got to sleep in a bit while Paul went off to work. It must have been about 7:30 when I heard the patter of little feet coming into the room and over to the bedside.

“Mommy, mommy! I know what’s in the present!”

Uh, oh.

“It’s chocolate!”

I jumped out of bed and ran to the kitchen where, sure enough, the box of chocolates was missing. Without stopping I went straight into Veronica’s room to see ripped up wrapping paper on her bed. At this point, between the destruction on her bed and the chocolate on her face, I just knew she had eaten the whole box. I was doomed to dealing with chocolate-induced tummy issues throughout the day.

But when I finally made it over to her bed to assess the damage, there was only a single chocolate missing from the box. Most of which had been spat back out. Apparently Veronica does not like nuts as much as her parents do.

But that is the last time I ever leave anything even remotely attractive to Veronica out on the counter over night.

Until the next time, anyway.

CSFF: The God Hater, Day 3

2011-02-23T07:05:00.000-07:00

**Warning: There are SPOILERS in this post**

It’s the final day of the blog tour featuring The God Hater by Bill Myers. Since the book came with discussion questions at the end, I wanted to tackle a couple of those today. I’m not following the numbering as in the book, just keeping them separated clearly here.

1. In his preface, Bill says that allegories are slippery and can never fully capture the truth of a situation. What truths does the story successfully capture? What truths slip away?

The story certainly captured the need of our world for a savior. Our fallen nature didn’t allow us simply to follow the law as God gave us in the Old Testament. So Jesus offered his life on the cross for our salvation. In the same way, the artificial people in Travis’ world aren’t able to simply follow the law of Programmer, especially after the introduction of the virus. They also need a savior, a role which Nicholas must ultimately fill.

Which brings us to one point where this particular allegory breaks down. In the book, the savior is a digital “copy” of Nicholas who eventually develops his own patterns of thought and action, separate from those of real-world Nicholas because ultimately he is another being. Obviously that is not the case with Jesus, the Son of God who is one with the Father, and both human and Divine. When Jesus came to Earth, there wasn’t a different Jesus in heaven watching the life of Earth-Jesus unfold. I’m not going to go too deep into the theology of it all but I could see in this particular story it would have been difficult to hit closer to the mark.

2. With that in mind, what area of The God Hater helped you more fully appreciate an aspect of the original story?

When digital Nicholas is on the Grid, wracked with unbearable pain, he lives through each and every digital person’s sins over and over again. It’s something that I guess I had never really considered that closely before, though on some level I knew it. Jesus died on the cross for our sins, and He knows each and every one of them. How likely am I to continue doing something I know is wrong if I imagine the agony that it caused Jesus? That was a great addition to the book.

3. What emotional force drives Mackenzie to make many of his decisions in the story?

That is a good question. I think there are many – sometimes conflicting – emotions that shape Nicholas’ decisions, but the one that stood out to me the most was guilt. He obviously feels tremendous guilt over what happened to his son, and though I may be reading too much into his character, I definitely get the impression that guilt is what makes him turn on God. He can’t forgive himself for what happened, even if it was just an accident, and so convinces himself that God isn’t real and those who believe in Him are not only wrong, but also stupid. Additionally, it’s obvious that the love he still feels for his son plus the guilt over his death ultimately lead him to the decision to help Travis. Alpha 11 is modeled on his son, and he just can’t bear to let him be destroyed.

There are more questions in the back of the book, and indeed many more points that could be discussed about the story, but I think I’ll leave it there. A great book on so many levels, and one I would highly recommend.

Don’t forget to visit the rest of the tour:

Noah Arsenault - Red Bissell - Thomas Clayton Booher - Keanan Brand - Kathy Brasby - Rachel Briard - Beckie Burnham - Morgan L. Busse - Carol Bruce Collett - Valerie Comer - Karri Compton - CSFF Blog Tour - April Erwin - Amber French - Andrea Graham - Tori Greene - Katie Hart - Ryan Heart - Joleen Howell - Bruce Hennigan - Becky Jesse - Cris Jesse - Becca Johnson - Jason Joyner - Carol Keen - Emily LaVigne - Shannon McDermott - Matt Mikalatos - Rebecca LuElla Miller - Mirtika MollyBuuklvr81 - John W. Otte - Sarah Sawyer - Chawna Schroeder - Andrea Schultz - Tammy Shelnut - Kathleen Smith - James Somers - Donna Swanson - Jessica Thomas - Steve Trower - Fred Warren - Dona Watson - Nicole White - Dave Wilson

Disclaimer: In conjunction with the CSFF Blog Tour I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.

CSFF: The God Hater, Day 2

2011-02-22T10:00:00.000-07:00

**Warning: There are SPOILERS in this post**

I was intrigued by the premise of The God Hater from the start. An atheist involved in a large-scale artificial intelligence project comes to the inescapable conclusion that the virtual world he has helped to influence needs not only a law introduced from it’s creators, but eventually a savior as well. The only other option is total destruction of the artificial world at the hands of it’s own inhabitants. An obvious allegory, but with some new and exciting twists.

The book begins with Dr. Nicholas Mackenzie, a vocally atheist philosophy professor, involved in his favorite past-time – tearing down religion. The opening chapters give a good picture of just how much Nicholas disdains God and religion both, though it doesn’t stop him from being friends with co-worker Annie – professor of microbiology and believer – and her young son. Though some have said they felt Nicholas was too stereotypical, the arguments he makes and the attitude he presents are certainly ones that I’ve seen time and again in modern society and certainly represent the position well.

The idea of corporate espionage threatening the project added an element of danger that kept the story moving along nicely. The action begins right away, as Nicholas is kidnapped and threatened by shady characters looking for his brother, Travis. And no sooner does said brother enter the scene than the story is complicated by high-speed chases, hidden high-tech labs and deadly battles.

One small complaint I have is that the virtual world of Alpha 11 and his fellows doesn’t always feel real to me. Which seems like a funny thing to say, but the point of it was to accurately represent how a population might react in the real world. But the characters aren’t always very convincing to me. There is also the claim by Travis that this is their “last chance” to get it right. Maybe I misunderstood, but haven’t they run the program many times already? And can’t they essentially “fast-forward” to play out the entire world in very small real-world time? So I guess I don’t understand exactly why they couldn’t just start over again and introduce the law of Programmer from the beginning. Maybe someone smarter could clarify. It’s a minor quibble and I’m sure it wouldn’t have mattered anyway, as the introduction of the virus meant the world needed a savior regardless.

Overall, I really enjoyed The God Hater. I found it to be engaging on not only an intellectual and imaginative level, but an emotional one as well. In fact, the last few words of the book had me in tears. Which some might argue is not hard to do for this emotional mother of two, but there you have it.

Look for another post tomorrow, where I plan to tackle some of the discussion questions in the back of the book!

And don’t forget the rest of the tour:

Disclaimer: In conjunction with the CSFF Blog Tour I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.

CSFF: The God Hater, Day 1

2011-02-21T06:36:00.000-07:00

I’m jumping back into the blog tour this month with a great book by Bill Myers, The God Hater. No, no, no. Bill Myers is not a God-hater. That’s the name of the book.

In fact, after reading a bit about him on his website, I’d say that Bill Myers is exactly the opposite. It must have taken a great amount of love, not to mention trust, for him to completely change his career path in order to follow God’s call. But he did, and the world of Christian media is the better for it.

Who else remembers watching McGee and Me as a kid? And I spent many a morning carpool listening to Adventures in Odyssey, in which he was also involved. Classic.

Read more about Bill Myers and his work on his website and blog, and check out his Facebook page, too.

And now, the book! A philosophy professor who is also an extremely vocal atheist is commissioned to help keep a computer-generated world from dissolving into anarchy. But the philosophical models he introduces to the population ultimately fail, and he is forced to admit that a system of law given from the outside is the only solution. Complicated by corporate espionage, a damaging virus and a legal system gone awry, this artificial world needs a savior, and the professor may be the only one who can fill that role. Stay tuned over the next couple of days for more on The God Hater.

And don’t forget to visit the rest of the tour:

Disclaimer: In conjunction with the CSFF Blog Tour I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.

Sweetness

2011-02-16T17:04:00.001-07:00

On our way to a Super Bowl gathering with family and friends (Go Packers!) Veronica fell asleep in the car. This is not unusual, especially in the afternoon. Jacinta, however, was not tired. At one point during the drive, I peeked in the rear view mirror to see Jacinta reaching for her sleepy older sister.

Awww, how sweet, right? She just wanted to reach out and touch her sister in a show of solidarity, of affection, of sweetness.

At least, that’s what I wanted to believe.

It didn’t take long for her real objective to surface.

I’m happy to say that despite brutal assault, the bow managed to escape capture.

A Sundae Story

2011-02-06T14:54:00.001-07:00

We’ve been working on potty training with Veronica. We started a couple of months ago because we were (and still are) having ammonia issues with our cloth diapers and she kept getting these awful rashes. Keeping her in underwear helped it to clear up, and it sparked an interest in the potty for her. It was kind of a slow start with lots of accidents, but once she figured out what it felt like to have to go pee, she got the hang of it. We still have the occasional accident, but as long as we keep reminding her to pay attention she does most of her pee on the potty. Woo!

She would, however, avoid doing number two on the toilet at all costs. She would just wait until we put a diaper on her for bedtime or to go out. Then she would do her business.

Finally last week we had a breakthrough. We timed a trip to the bathroom just right, and Veronica did her number two on the potty! To celebrate, she got a special treat.

A tasty sundae a la Paul. Do you think she looks excited?

I can’t imagine why.

The green ice cream is pistachio by the way. She picked that out at the grocery store one day.

“I want the green one!”

Definitely my daughter.

Jacinta thought she deserved a sundae, too.

Sorry, sweetie. You are very cute, but you do not get to partake of that particular treat just yet.

So we are still working on consistency, but I feel like potty training has finally crossed into the land of possibility. And probability. And eventuality.

Which is better than fantasy-land.

Pineapple Meringue Pie

2011-02-04T17:49:00.000-07:00

I saw this recipe last week on Tasty Kitchen, and just had to make it. It took a few days before I had enough time, and during those days my taste buds were in an agony of anticipation. It looked so good!

Finally on Tuesday I was able to put it together. I had some pie crust dough frozen in the oven which saved some time. (Oven??? Of course I meant freezer. Oy.) Instead of crushed pineapple, I used some fresh pineapple that I had on hand and just pulsed it through the food processor to get it to the right consistency. And even though I had never made a meringue pie before, the instructions – and my Kitchen-Aid – made it very easy.

You have to try this pie! It is simply delicious.

Here’s the step-by-step tutorial on Tasty Kitchen.

And the recipe, Grandma Inez’s Pineapple Pie, courtesy of Perry’s Plate. Whose pie pictures are much prettier than mine.

Go. Eat. Enjoy!

Sleep, Revisited

2011-02-03T16:37:00.001-07:00

You may remember a post from a while back about Veronica’s sleeping habits. Whether bedtime or naptime, we have found her in a variety of strange places and positions, and now almost a year later…nothing has changed.

Around when Veronica turned two, we moved her from the crib into a bed. She had learned how to consistently climb out of the crib, and aside from the fact that it enabled her to continually come out of her room if she didn’t feel like sleeping, it also presented the opportunity for falling accidents. So – goodbye, Crib!

Of course, with the bed came all new occasions for Paul and I to chuckle as we peeked in on Veronica every night before bed. It’s bigger than the crib, so there’s more room for animals to cuddle with – or fall asleep on – as the need arises.

But perhaps the best new ability gained by sleeping in a bed is the opportunity to fall asleep outside of it.

So close.

Not so close.

Not close at all. In fact, another foot to the left and she would have been out of the room all together.

Like this, a sight that greeted us early one morning. The morning, in fact, when Paul and I decided we had to start leaving our door open at night. The better to hear you, little girl.

Though Veronica has managed some interesting bedtime antics, the strangest sleeping places of all come not at bed time, but during the day when Veronica just can’t escape fatigue any longer.

Like with Daddy on the couch.

Or the floor.

Whilst reading.

Or watching a favorite movie.

I don’t even know how this happens. But this is not the only time it has. Or the only kitchen.

And you know the old adage about how we hurt the ones we love the most? Adage, or song. One of those.

Well, it’s true. Sorry, Dora.

“¡Ayúdame!”

“No, seriously.”

“Help me.”

To the Side

2011-01-24T17:24:00.001-07:00

Jacinta loves drinking from a cup. I’m sure it makes her feel like a big girl. Also, she gets very thirsty.

It’s cute watching her with the cup because she definitely doesn’t want to miss what’s going on around her.

So she holds the cup a little to the side when she drinks.

Like this.

“Whatcha lookin’ at?”

Just lookin’ at you, cutie pie.

When Veronica’s Away…

2011-01-18T22:08:00.001-07:00

Jacinta will play!

Being that Lion is Veronica’s favorite toy and best friend, Jacinta rarely gets the opportunity to play with him. Or even touch him.

So when Veronica was at Omi’s house the other day, Jacinta snatched the opportunity.

Although it took her a moment to relinquish her fingers in order to pick him up.

Then Lion was caught!

He was no match for Jacinta’s wiles.

“That’s right.”

And Veronica was none the wiser.

2010: A Year in Review

2011-01-16T15:15:00.001-07:00

The last few months of 2010 went by so quickly, I couldn’t believe that it was over. Suddenly it was New Year’s Eve, and I found myself thinking about all the great things, big and small, that happened throughout the year.

I started my blog in January with a post about Veronica playing in the backyard. And I was hooked. Clearly. I may not manage to post something every day, and sometimes even a week or two goes by in between, but I really do enjoy it.

In February we made our annual visit to the Renaissance Festival. Huzzah! One of our many fun adventures this year.

Our new pantry was a great addition to the house in March, and I can’t even remember what it was like without it. It’s especially nice since my cooking has really improved over the last year (thanks in part to the Pioneer Woman…but you already knew that). So now I have enough room to keep the growing list of “must have” ingredients on hand.

And the very end of March brought our little Jacinta. I can’t remember what it was like without her, either.

April we spent toting Jacinta to various doctor’s appointments, and now sometimes it’s hard to believe her arm was ever broken. You wouldn’t even know it.

May brought my first Mother’s Day as a mom of two. What a blessing. Two of them! And May also marked our fifth anniversary, though we didn’t get to celebrate until June. Late is better than never!

And June brought family to town for a visit, which coincided nicely with Jacinta’s baptism.

Veronica’s second birthday came along in July. She is growing up so fast! More and more beautiful every day.

August was packed full of fun, including a trip to Wisconsin.

Fun weather blew in with September. At least, it was fun for some of us. I think there were a few people who ended up with some home repairs as a result, which is unfortunate, but Veronica did have a lot of fun playing in the rain.

With October came things that were fun, and some that were not so fun. And, of course, little girls in costume which can never go wrong.

In November the pace picked up, but Veronica reminded me of the important things. At least, important from the perspective of a two-year-old.

And then it was December, time to pass a holiday tradition or two along to our kids.

Of course, they really were the best part of the year.

Watching Veronica grow from this…

…to this…

…to this!

And Jacinta, so little and squishy at first…

…growing into this smiley baby…

…and now this!

No matter what the next year brings, I know it will be special because of them.

They’ll continue to grow older and closer.

And I’ll just continue to grow older.

I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas, and here’s to a new year filled with blessings, fun…and, of course, food.

San Francisco

2011-01-11T21:38:00.001-07:00

After Christmas we drove out to Northern California to visit some of my family.

We decided to take BART into San Francisco one day.

It was cold, and apparently the previous passenger needed a little something to keep warm.

It was empty. I think.

We wanted to take the cable car down to the wharf, but the line to get on was soooo long. Apparently they had been broken down earlier and had just started running again.

So we decided to walk.

We were going to try to catch a cable car further down the line, but they were all full, of course.

So we kept walking.

And walking.

Finally, our goal is in sight!

Hello, crooked Lombard Street. Almost there.

Fisherman’s Wharf! We made it.

It smelled like this.

Veronica liked this lion sculpture that was guarding one of the shops.

There’s Alcatraz off in the distance.

I didn’t want to pose in the sign, so I made Peter do it instead.

The Christmas tree on Pier 39.

This is where we used to eat with my grandma when we would come to the city with her. I miss you, Grandma!

This carousel had little scenes from around the city painted along the top.

Snuggling to keep warm.

Cold, but happy.

Most of the sea lions were on vacation, I guess. I don’t blame them.

It’s hard to eat crackers when you are wearing mittens. Veronica can attest to that.

Some of the piers are not in as good repair.

Finally it was time to stop for dinner. Seafood, of course.

Jacinta took the opportunity for a nap. She was wiped out.

But Veronica was still going strong.

“Don’t go in the street! You must hold my hand.”

“Okay, because there are lots of cars.”

It’s a conversation she’s had a few times before.

We spotted this out the window. Nice! I would totally name my yacht Sméagol.

Or maybe Gollum.

Of course, to do that, I would have to own a yacht.

I liked this sign.

And this one.

But especially this one. Mmmmmmm.

Veronica was so tired, she missed out on the hot chocolate. Boy, did that hit the spot.

Especially while we waited in the cold wind for the cable car back to BART.

A fun, but exhausting day.

Though Jacinta is never too tired to eat a camera strap.

A List

2011-01-03T15:36:00.001-07:00

1. I had intended to write all sorts of witty holiday posts leading up to Christmas and New Year’s. But time got the better of me. A lot. So I didn’t.

2. This is one reason for my busy-ness. Oh, and making the horse kept me busy, too.

3. I made one for Jacinta, but I don’t expect her to ride it for at least another month or so.

4. Aren’t they sweet?

5. Veronica got sick the day after Christmas. At first we thought it was because she found a step stool in my mom’s kitchen and kept using it to sneak cookies and chocolates off of the dessert tray, but she really did have a little something. It didn’t last long. Longer than her guilt over stealing treats, though.

6. We went on a little trip. More on that later.

7. Aren’t they sweet?

Melia Down

2010-12-16T15:46:00.001-07:00

Last Friday night Paul and I headed out to Tempe Marketplace with the girls to see our brother-in-law take the stage. He’s the bass guitarist for Melia Down, a local band that always puts on a fun show.

The show got off to a hoppin’ start.

Plenty of good dancing tunes. And dancing partners!

There was also the added bonus of a little “snow”, courtesy of Tempe Marketplace.

“I like…that one!”

“No, that one!”

“That one?”

Veronica thought it was great, but Jacinta wasn’t sure what to make of it. Actually, I don’t know if she noticed at all.

I thought it was really fun until some got in my mouth. Yech! Fake snow tastes terrible.

And, for the record, it got in my mouth by accident.

Unfortunately my camera doesn’t do too well with the stage shots. I had this problem last time we saw them perform. So I didn’t really try too hard this time. Obviously. Clint isn’t even in this shot. I think he’s behind an umbrella.

I’m sure they’ll have pics up on their website soon.

Ahem. Moving on.

Jacinta got lots of attention, which is fine with her.

She was a trooper, it was getting pretty late.

Her eyes kept getting more and more glazed over.

Dancing!

Unfortunately (again) night videos don’t always turn out very well…but I wish you could see Veronica’s face more clearly. She was having a blast!

Probably the end-of-the-night energy burst that often comes before bed.

Oh, and the band. She liked the band, too.

Hat swap!

It was a fun night for everyone, and we’ll look forward to the next chance to see Uncle Clint and Melia Down in action!

Christmas Baking

2010-12-09T15:50:00.001-07:00

One of my favorite things about the holidays is all the tasty food that goes along with them. From Thanksgiving until New Year’s there is no lack of edibles, no matter what your taste is. And a sure way to tell that Christmas is approaching is the heavenly smell of something in the oven, that staple of Christmas fare – Christmas cookies!

This year I decided that Veronica was old enough to give me hand.

No, the smiles on our faces aren’t because of the six pack of beer that I neglected to move off of the counter. You can see they’ve all still got their caps on. *Hic*

Operating the sprinkles was the job of choice.

And she was good at it!

A little too good. How do you dispose of excess sprinkles?

Eat them of course!

Yum!

Jacinta helped by sitting and being cute. She was good at her job, too.

It’s always been a tradition in our family to bake butter cookies for Christmas, so it was fun to share with my daughter. Just like my mom did with me and my siblings, and her mom before that. And while it makes me miss my grandmother a lot, it’s nice to know that a part of her still lives on with us when we continue to share holiday traditions like this one.

Happy Baking, everyone!

CSFF: The Charlatan’s Boy

2010-12-08T17:42:00.001-07:00

When the offer came for a review copy of The Charlatan’s Boy by Jonathan Rogers, I decided not to take it. I knew December would be a busy month with the holidays approaching, and I didn’t want to commit to a review when I wasn’t sure I’d have time to do the book justice. I was certainly right about December being busy, but…but…after reading just a few of the other blog tour posts for this month I wish I had managed to squeeze it in. It sounds fantastic!

To start, check out Rebecca Miller’s blog where she keeps track of everyone who has posted. She also points out some highlights in yesterday’s post. The author, Jonathan Rogers, has also participated in the tour, which is always fun. It’s definitely worth reading the entries of long-time fan Sally Apokedak (though I skipped out on reading the spoilers for now). And for fun, Matt Mikalatos (author of one of my favorite books we’ve done so far, Imaginary Jesus), writes about a real-life charlatan from American history.

I’ll definitely be reading this book when things slow down a little here. And I may in fact take advantage of the author’s offer of free shipping on signed books to fill in a few holes in my Christmas gift list.

Ok, I admit it. For myself, too.

The rest of the tour:

Sally Apokedak - Amy Bissell - Red Bissell - Jennifer Bogart - Thomas Clayton Booher - Keanan Brand - Beckie Burnham - Jeff Chapman - Christian Fiction Book Reviews - Valerie Comer - CSFF Blog Tour - D. G. D. Davidson - April Erwin - Andrea Graham - Tori Greene - Katie Hart - Bruce Hennigan - Christopher Hopper - Becky Jesse - Cris Jesse - Jason Joyner - Julie - Carol Keen - Shannon McDermott - Allen McGraw - Matt Mikalatos - Rebecca LuElla Miller - Nissa - Donita K. Paul - SarahFlan - Sarah Sawyer - Chawna Schroeder - Tammy Shelnut - Kathleen Smith - James Somers - Donna Swanson - Robert Treskillard - Fred Warren - Phyllis Wheeler - Nicole White - Elizabeth Williams - Dave Wilson

St. Nicholas Day

2010-12-06T15:42:00.001-07:00

We never celebrated St. Nicholas Day when I was kid, but my husband’s family did. He would pick out the biggest pair of shoes he owned to ensure maximum space for treats, then set them outside his bedroom door before going to sleep. In the morning there would be popcorn balls and other goodies stuffed into whatever footwear had been deemed sufficient for the task.

Now that Veronica is getting old enough to appreciate those sorts of things, Paul was excited to continue the tradition, popcorn balls and all. Which is funny because he admits that as a child he felt the popcorn balls took up an awful lot of shoe space. Space that could have been occupied by…other treats. But the popcorn balls are remembered fondly now.

Paul helped Veronica choose the appropriate footwear.

Generously sized and fashionable.

St. Nicholas brought treats!

Sometimes we forget that videos can’t be rotated. Sorry.

Crunch.

Munch.

Om nom nom.

What, Veronica? You just ate an orange, a popcorn ball, two packets of fruit snacks and two Hershey kisses? For breakfast?

Thank you, St. Nicholas.

Thanksgiving Photos

2010-12-02T18:13:00.001-07:00

I got my camera back from my parents’ house, which is where I left it on Thanksgiving. So now I can share my favorite Thanksgiving photos.

A burp cloth can be a bib in a pinch. And a fashionable head covering!

“Bring it on!”

Crazy boys.

Omi and Opa.

Is Veronica eyeing Daddy’s drink? Or his cranberry sauce?

Me and my Ty-guy.

How did I birth these blue-eyed children?

Veronica had a little of all her favorites.

And a fork for each different one.

Yum!

Thankful

2010-11-29T14:48:00.001-07:00

I’m thankful for… family, friends and lots of good food. Lots.

I’m thankful for… my camera, even if it’s left at my parents’ house instead of with me.

I’m thankful for… pecan pie with whiskey maple cream sauce.

I’m thankful for… some time to recharge my batteries.

I’m thankful for… leftovers.

I’m thankful for… pecan cheesecake pie (with whiskey maple cream sauce).

I’m thankful for… my decision to skip Black Friday this year.

I’m thankful for… cool air and warm sun.

I’m thankful for… socks.

I’m thankful for… my two-year-old.

I’m thankful for… my baby.

I’m thankful for… nap time.

I’m thankful for… my wonderful husband.

I’m thankful for… whiskey maple cream sauce.

Yum Yum Pumpkin

2010-11-23T15:34:00.001-07:00

Sunday afternoon I was browsing through some of the blogs I frequent, and came across this recipe for Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls on MADE. I knew I had to make them right then. Lucky for me, I had some extra cream cheese frosting waiting to be used. AND pumpkin puree in my freezer for just such an occasion.

Photo courtesy of Good Life eats

The recipe is originally from Good Life eats, you can find it here. They take a little bit of work and rising time, but are totally worth it.

Photo courtesy of MADE

I followed Dana’s tip and used some thread to cut my rolls. Much easier than using a knife!

Photo courtesy of MADE

Yum! Go make some. Or if you don’t have pumpkin…make PW’s!

Olive Cheese…Potatoes?

2010-11-16T15:37:00.001-07:00

The very first Pioneer Woman recipe that I made was her incredible Olive Cheese Bread. Although I make a couple adjustments when we have it now, I knew from the moment I tasted that heavenly bread that I had found a gold mine of tasty recipes. I was right. There is a lot of PW fare in our meal rotation now.

Photo courtesy of Ree Drummond.

Mmmmmm. Does it get any better than this?

So I was trying to decide what to make for dinner Sunday night and had a hankering for this bread. The only problem was, we didn’t have any bread. Sad face.

BUT. But…we did have a ton of potatoes. So I decided to give the recipe a shot on top of potatoes instead of bread. Of course, halfway through preparing it I realized I didn’t have any black olives either. That never happens in my house. Shocking. So I had to send Paul to the store. And since the potatoes were all baked and ready to go, I went ahead with Olive Cheese Potatoes anyway, even though he could have gotten a loaf of bread, too.

They actually came out pretty tasty. Very satisfying, and definitely more filling. I just put the cheese topping on…top…like the original recipe calls for. But I think next time – oh yes, there will be a next time – I might try it more like twice baked potatoes and mix the goodness together.

Here is the original recipe, with my own adjustments:

Olive Cheese Bread

* 1 loaf French Bread
* 6 ounces, weight Pimiento-stuffed Green Olives (maybe 3-4 oz, otherwise it’s too salty for me)
* 6 ounces, weight Black Olives
* 2 stalks Green Onions (scallions)
* 1 stick Butter, Room Temperature (1/2 stick butter)
* ½ cups Mayonnaise (1/4 cup mayonnaise)
* ¾ pounds Monterey Jack Cheese, Grated

Roughly chop both black olives and pimiento-stuffed green olives. Slice green onions into thin pieces.
Combine butter, mayonnaise, cheese, olives and green onions in a mixing bowl. Stir together until thoroughly combined. Spread mixture onto French bread that has been sliced lengthwise. (I used 8 baked potatoes, sliced lengthwise. I also sprinkled some bacon bits on top. I don’t think they made much of a difference though.) Bake at 325ºF for 25 to 30 minutes or until cheese is melted and browning.
Mixture can also be refrigerated (up to two days) and used as a dip. Great with crackers.

Try this recipe! Either way you prepare it, you won’t be sorry. Unless you hate olives. In which case, I recommend you try something…else.

Check out the other Tasty Tuesday recipes!

Finding Zero

2010-11-12T21:12:00.001-07:00

We have a goldfish. His name is Zero.

He swims peacefully in his tank most of the time, unnoticed by our exuberant girl. The closest she usually comes to the tank is running by on her way…somewhere. Because this little girl always has somewhere she needs to get to, fast.

Enter Disney and the adorable Finding Nemo. It is on Veronica’s current rotation of movies.

Veronica came into the room the other night with her fish net, an item purloined from among my youngest brothers’ old toys. She said something to me, but I was attending to Jacinta and gave one of the “Yes, yes dear” kind of responses. The sound of a shifting chair didn’t really grab my attention, either.

Paul came around the corner at that moment to see Veronica standing on a chair next to the fish tank, net poised above the hapless Zero, ready to strike.

“Veronica, you cannot put anything in the fish tank! You know you are not supposed to touch the fish tank.”

“But he needs to go back to the ocean!”

Now Zero is clearly not a clownfish (though he is orange and white), but in Veronica’s mind he was obviously a captive fish in need of rescue.

Never mind that there is nothing remotely resembling an ocean around here.

I seriously hope she wasn’t thinking of flushing him down the toilet.

Veronica, my dear…all drains do NOT lead to the ocean. Trust me on this.

“Cost-uhm” Fun

2010-11-09T16:32:00.001-07:00

Ever since her birthday, when he was given to her as a gift by her cousins, Lion has been Veronica’s best friend.

They are inseparable. He goes where she goes. And while she sleeps with most of her stuffed animals, Lion gets the place of honor at her side.

So, naturally, we figured a lion would be a great costume choice for Halloween.

Veronica wasn’t too sure at first. It took some coaxing to get her into the “cost-uhm”.

Then we couldn’t get her back out of it.

She wore it often in the couple of weeks leading up to Halloween.

Finally the night arrived.

Sporting Veronica’s old ladybug costume, even Jacinta was impressed.

Or not.

Trick-or-treating was a big success. Veronica brought Lion with her, of course. They were a hit at every door.

And she did enjoy her treats. Before Mom and Dad swooped in and put them away out of reach. We believe in treat regulation.

Now the only question is…how can we top this next year?

CSFF: The Skin Map, Day 3

2010-11-03T15:33:00.001-07:00

Talk about waiting until the last minute! I finally was able to finish the book last night, so here is my review. In three words: I loved it! From the very beginning I found the book exciting, engaging and very well written. It was a treat to read and I am eagerly looking forward to the next.

As soon as I began reading The Skin Map, it drew me in. The action started right away with Kit’s series of unfortunate delays on his way across London. It continued throughout the story, and even though some parts were slower than others, there was always something happening to drive the story forward. While it’s easy to keep momentum going through exciting chases, fights and the like, sometimes it can be difficult when there isn’t as much physical movement. But Stephen Lawhead keeps the story moving very well, and I found it all exciting from the conversations between Kit and his grandfather to the shrewd negotiations of Mina as she acclimated to the new world she found herself in.

In the moments that I had to set the book down, I was always looking forward impatiently to when I could pick it up again. This was true from the very first line. Like John Otte said in his post yesterday, The Skin Map has an opening that immediately grabs the reader and draws them in. And then it doesn’t let go. The momentum is part of that, but I also found myself invested in the characters and where they were going to end up. It’s difficult for me to read books in which I don’t care much for the characters, but I had no problem here. I especially liked how both Kit and Mina begin feeling that they are in a dead-end relationship – and each thinks that the other is definitely the cause – but develop throughout the story to become better people. Finally, being a science nerd my entire life, I really liked the incorporation of ley lines into something science fictiony like time travel. I think it turned out to be a great vehicle for explanation of how the characters are able to pass from one universe to another.

While there are many other things I liked about the book, the final thing I want to touch upon is the quality of Stephen Lawhead’s writing. In the midst of the great story I continually found myself pleased with word choice, phrasing and the like. There can be a fine line between overly simplistic and needlessly complicated, and while for some it may seem trivial amidst an exciting story, writing quality does make a difference in how much I enjoy a book. How can you enjoy the action if you don’t understand what’s going on? And on the other side, I definitely get distracted if the same words and phrases are used over and over again. The Skin Map finds the happy medium between the two ends of the spectrum.

I would highly recommend this book, and in fact I plan on giving this book as a gift at Christmas. And I’ll definitely be reading the next when it is available.

Check out what others are talking about:

Red Bissell - Thomas Clayton Booher - Keanan Brand - Grace Bridges - Beckie Burnham - Morgan L. Busse - Jeff Chapman - Christian Fiction Book Reviews - Valerie Comer - Karri Compton - Amy Cruson - CSFF Blog Tour - Stacey Dale - D. G. D. Davidson - George Duncan - April Erwin - Tori Greene - Ryan Heart - Bruce Hennigan - Timothy Hicks - Christopher Hopper - Becky Jesse - Cris Jesse - Becca Johnson - Jason Joyner - Julie - Carol Keen - Krystine Kercher - Shannon McDermott - Allen McGraw - Matt Mikalatos - Rebecca LuElla Miller - Nissa - John W. Otte - Gavin Patchett - Sarah Sawyer - Chawna Schroeder - Kathleen Smith - Rachel Starr Thomson - Donna Swanson - Robert Treskillard - Steve Trower - Fred Warren - Dona Watson - Phyllis Wheeler - Nicole White - Elizabeth Williams - Dave Wilson

Disclaimer: In conjunction with the CSFF Blog Tour, I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.

CSFF: The Skin Map, Day 2

2010-11-02T19:21:00.001-07:00

Well life has thwarted my attempts at finishing the book yet again. My older child caught the bug that the baby had over the weekend, which made the day less fun than it could have been. I’m so close to being finished…but I don’t think I’ll still have time to write a review tonight. And I’m going to keep this short so I can get back to the book! Like I said, so close. I’m excited to finish!

Check out the rest of the tour:

Disclaimer: In conjunction with the CSFF Blog Tour, I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.

CSFF: The Skin Map, Day 1

2010-11-01T12:03:00.001-07:00

A weekend full of events, family in town and a sick baby means I haven’t quite finished reading Stephen Lawhead’s The Skin Map yet. But I certainly love what I’ve read so far. Exciting from the start, this engaging story about time travel has drawn me in and I am looking forward to curling up on the couch today to finish the book. Until then, see what everyone else is blogging about:

Disclaimer: In conjunction with the CSFF Blog Tour, I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.

A Scary Story

2010-10-31T15:46:00.001-07:00

What better way to start off the Halloween festivities than with a sick child? We were determined to do it “right” this year and Jacinta drew the short stick, so she got to usher in the fun by spending 24 hours vomiting. Thanks for taking one for the team, Jacinta.

It all started one dark and stormy night. Wait. It was actually a warm and sunny afternoon, because we live in Arizona. So one sunny Saturday afternoon we traipsed off to church to welcome our new niece and her very new little friend into the fold. The baptism ceremony was unique in that both girls shared the same first name, and the parents of each child were the godparents of the other. Just pause and think about it for a minute, it will make sense. It sounds like it could be the scenario for a strange nightmare – “And the couples walked in the church, only to find out that they had named their children the SAME NAME…dun dun DUN!” – but that’s not the scary part.

At the reception, my sister-in-law had just finished telling us of their adventures the night before with a recalcitrant water heater and the “handyman” who almost fixed it for them. Not wanting to be outdone in bad luck stories, I in turn shared our struggle with diaper rash last week, which included cleaning up pee underwear, poo underwear, poo crib, poo Jacinta and dog vomit. That last one had nothing to do with diaper rash, but it happened the same day. And just because Paul cleaned it up doesn’t mean it didn’t majorly gross me out. *shudder*

Possessing perfect timing, Jacinta chose that moment to open up and spew her lunch across the couch in true zombie fashion. I defy any undead being who calls themselves a zombie to top her perfect form. After the second time this happened, I decided to take her home.

We walked into the spooky old house…wait. It’s not that old, and not very spooky even with the spider webs I managed to drape over the chandelier. We walked into our house where several repeat performances induced me to call the nurse on call for our pediatrician. Since Jacinta didn’t have a fever or any other symptoms, we really just had to wait it out and try to get some fluids in her to keep dehydration at bay.

That proved a little difficult, as it was hard to resist feeding her when she was obviously hungry. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone so excited for a dropperful of Pedialyte. But I learned the hard way that her little tummy just wasn’t ready to nurse, even if she thought she was.

She finally fell asleep around midnight and slept until about seven. No vomiting, so I nursed her and put her back to sleep while I took my turn to go to Mass. She had just woken up when I got home, and was obviously relieved that I was back so she could expel the vomit she had been saving for my dry-clean only skirt. Back to the Pedialyte.

So, here we are, a few hours into the Pedialyte regimen and looking forward to a Halloween full of…well, I won’t describe it. We wanted Jacinta to be a ladybug, but she decided to be a zombie instead. Maybe she can be a zombie ladybug.

The End.

Broccoli Cheese Soup

2010-10-26T16:35:00.001-07:00

I made Broccoli Cheese soup last night. This has been one of our standby recipes for a while. Hits the spot every time!

I found the recipe on allrecipes.com a few years back, and just tweaked it a little to suit our taste.

My changes:

I use fresh broccoli most of the time, though frozen works fine.
I use butter instead of margarine. Yech!
I leave out the onion. I started making this recipe before I really started appreciating onions, and I just can’t bear to change it now.
I use half Velveeta, half sharp cheddar.

Tasty, comfortable and warm. Perfect now that the weather is (finally) cooling. And it gets some vegetables in Veronica, as long as the broccoli is chopped small. That alone makes it a favorite in my book.

Check out some other Tasty Tuesday recipes!

Boo at the Zoo!

2010-10-25T15:51:00.001-07:00

Saturday we took Veronica and Jacinta to the zoo for their Halloween event, “Boo at the Zoo!”

Veronica is always excited to see the animals.

Jacinta was interested in other things.

Throughout the day, they had pumpkin feedings for various different animals. Not all the animals like pumpkins.

Like the elephant. She got to eat this scarecrow instead.

I don’t know what it was about Jacinta that day, but she had an uncanny ability to attract flies. She didn’t seem to care about it as much as I did though.

“Mom, why do you keep waving your hand in my face? I’m trying to get my toes in my mouth.”

The gibbons had already eaten when we passed by them.

But we were in time to catch the warty pigs! Not that warty pigs are usually high on my animal priority list, but they were actually kind of cute. Apparently they really like being petted, so when the keeper crouched down they all just flopped down next to her, waiting for their belly rubs.

Then they got their treats. The keepers threw these paper bags full of produce around the enclosure. This guy went from bag to bag, eating what he wanted out of it before running to the next one. I’m not sure what exactly was his favorite, but he made sure he got it out of each and every bag.

We finally made it over to the pumpkin patch.

Veronica got up close and personal with the rhino. Well, his picture anyway.

She got to see the anteater, too.

The mandrills had just been given their pumpkins when we arrived. If I had to guess, I’d say they actually like the pumpkins.

More than the rhinos did.

They had other things in mind.

Another fly. They were really everywhere. Well, everywhere that Jacinta was.

The lions didn’t get pumpkins. Somehow I don’t think they cared.

This is the most alert I’ve ever seen the lions at this zoo. Yes, I said alert. We’re talking about lions here.

The tiger, on the other hand, was in his usual napping spot down by the wall of his enclosure. I think he is there 99% of the time.

They did a pumpkin feeding for the tiger, but we were all getting tired by then and didn’t stick around. I am kind of curious how they were going to coax a giant cat to eat a pumpkin.

We passed the giraffes on the way out. They have one of the best enclosures in the whole zoo. Wait…what is that giraffe doing?

Oh.

This was the only time I’d ever seen a giraffe sit like this. Kind of funny looking. He seems like he’s listing to the side a bit, though.

Veronica is happy to go to the zoo anytime, but it really was the perfect day for it. Cool breeze, warm sun, and lots of fun!

Small Successes Thursday, October 21st

2010-10-21T17:03:00.001-07:00

It’s important for ~~moms~~ everyone to recognize that all the small successes in our days can add up to one big triumph. So on Thursday of each week, we do exactly that.

1. I cleaned up my messy corner of the couch. It’s where I set things that I’m “working on”. Some things found homes, some things found the trash can.

2. I logged my transactions into Quicken every day this week. I had gotten way behind, but I really want to take more care with our spending so I’m trying to do it every day.

3. All the laundry is put away. Yay!

What were your small successes this week?

Flavor

2010-10-18T14:30:00.001-07:00

We got Chinese take-out on Friday. We don’t eat out (or order in) very often, but sometimes it’s nice to let someone else do the cooking. And I do so love Chinese food. Which is why I’m still not sure how Paul ended up choosing both of our entrees. But that’s not the point of this post.

We have two very large greyhounds who are always intensely interested in what is being served at the dinner table. They have been this way since we adopted them four years ago. I assume most other dogs share the same interest. But while they would eagerly devour any meat, cheese or popcorn product they were given - provided it was buttered popcorn, of course - they consistently turned up their noses at vegetables and fruits. Unless said veggies or fruits were spoiled. But that’s not the point of this post, either.

After Veronica started eating food on her own, dinner-time became Deja and Hammi’s favorite time of day. They could count on some kind of tasty leftover coming their way, in the form of Veronica’s dirty tray set on the ground for them to clean up. And yes, we washed the tray thoroughly each time after they were done.

It got to the point where it didn’t even matter what was left on The Tray – they would eat it. Veggies, rice, noodles…you name it. If it came from The Tray it was desirable, and they would dive headfirst into the food without a second thought about what they were actually eating.

They don’t get to eat off The Tray much anymore, but there is still a little bit of that intent disregard, that incredible focus that greyhounds have that allows them to see only that they are getting FOOD and not what kind of food it might be. Even if it’s just on a regular plate, or in their bowls, instead of The Tray.

So occasionally we try to trick them.

“Food food food food food food. This came from the dinner table so it must be good.”

“Hey…This tastes like duck sauce but it is definitely not duck.”

This was after he licked all the sauce off of it.

And Hammi…he avoided that cabbage like the plague, while still trying to lick up his share of the sauce.

We didn’t manage to trick them into actually eating the veggies this time, but it was funny watching them try to eat around them. Especially since there really wasn’t any other food in the container. Just leftover flavor. But sometimes that’s all a dog needs.

What’s black and white and keeps your children up at night?

2010-10-16T11:45:00.001-07:00

Veronica has been refusing to go to bed on time all week. Long after lights-out, the sounds of Tuffins and her merry band of stuffed animals can be heard, despite repeated attempts to return her to her pillow. When she finally would fall asleep, it was on the floor surrounded by all her shirts she pulled out of her dresser, and we would try to gently return her to her bed before heading to bed ourselves.

Last night was different. Whether it was the culmination of several late nights and early mornings, or some other unknown quantity, it wasn’t long before Veronica was sleeping soundly with Lion tucked securely under her arm. When we peeked at her before going to bed, a slight shift to put her head back on her pillow was all that was needed.

Fast forward to 3:00 am. A shriek comes over the monitor, followed by calls for Daddy. Daddy rises and hurries across the house. Mommy follows groggily.

By the time I got there, Paul was headed to the kitchen to refill Veronica’s drink. That is not at all unusual for her to wake and cry about, so I sat on the bed next to her where she was eyeing her pile of blankets with trepidation. Maybe it wasn’t just the empty cup that was bothering her.

“Mommy, there’s a skunk in my blankets.”

“…”

While we had been reading a kid’s animal encyclopedia earlier that day, and we did come across the “stinky skunk”, there was nothing to indicate that it had affected her in any particular way. In fact, if she was going to have nightmares about anything, I would have expected it to be about this video we watched on the internet together.

But somehow the “stinky skunk” stuck with her, and she awoke thirsty and also convinced there was a large rodent in her blankets. Luckily Daddy managed to convince her that the skunk had gone home to sleep, and that she should do the same. We tucked her back in, and returned to finish our night of sleep.

She remembered the skunk when she woke up this morning, and I have a feeling that it will be a conversation piece for quite some time. Our nightly ritual will likely now include an inspection of blankets for sneaky skunks that will be told firmly to go home because it is bedtime.

So if your child awakes crying in the night, be sure to check her blankets for skunks. You never know when the little critters may appear, and vigilance is the only sure way to avoid their blanket-stealing antics. Which is why I feel this information is important enough to share with all you fellow parents, so you can be prepared.

You’re welcome.

A Comparison: 6 Months

2010-10-13T21:02:00.001-07:00

I’m late posting my comparison again this month. Not that that is a surprise. I can’t believe it’s already the middle of October. Sheesh! Where is the time going? Please come back. Please? Or at least slow down a little so I can catch up.

We were definitely well into feedings by the time Veronica was 6 months. I think she started cereal around 5 1/2 months or so, and by this time, she was testing her first veggies.

Jacinta has really taken to eating cereal. She devours it! The concept of a spoon - which has to be repeatedly refilled - is a little frustrating for her. She wants the continuity of nursing, but the tastiness of cereal!

We started the cereal a little later (not because having two kids is busier or anything) and haven’t quite started veggies or fruits yet, but I’ve got some frozen and ready to go. I think she is more than ready.

Veronica still wins the chunky baby award, hands-down. There is just no competing with her little rolls. And the cheeks! I love the cheeks.

Favorite starfish, om nom nom.

Jacinta has definitely put on some extra chunk since she started eating cereal though. Her hair is a little lighter than it was when she was born, and it hasn’t fallen out quite as much as Veronica’s did around the sides and back. No bald spot for Jacinta! If she’s not nursing, she’s likely to be found with her two fingers in her mouth. Two fingers can’t compare with Mommy, but they come close.

She does not like tummy time very much, but we are slowly lengthening the amount of time she will stay that way. She definitely knows what she wants (toys, the tablecloth, occasionally my keyboard), and will reach and strain for it with her whole body. She loves her big sister and often smiles or giggles at Veronica’s antics. She loves when people sing songs to her and she will join in, too!

This morning Jacinta woke up at 4:30 am (thanks) and when she was finished nursing, she decided it was time for a song. I told her to “Shhhhh!” and she proceeded to make breathy noises for the next ten minutes or so instead. “Ahhhhhhhhhh….”

We are having so much fun with both of our precious girls. And it’s fun to see them begin to have fun with each other.

Small Successes Thursday, October 7th

2010-10-07T15:23:00.001-07:00

It’s important for ~~moms~~ everyone to recognize that all the small successes in our days can add up to one big triumph. So on Thursday of each week, we do exactly that.

1. I’ve managed to use or freeze most of the produce we’ve been getting each week from Bountiful Baskets. Hardly anything has spoiled, which is good because I hate wasting food. And I can now count blanching among my culinary skills!

2. I shipped a box off to my brother in Afghanistan. He’s a linguist in the Marines and they don’t have much out in the middle of the desert. I baked some cookies (hopefully they won’t be too stale by the time they get there!), picked up some used books since he is in desperate need of reading material, and even stuffed in a few packages of Ramen noodles since they need quick, hot meal options available. Thank goodness for the special military flat rate shipping boxes!

3. I’ve started pureeing and freezing fruits and veggies for Jacinta. She is a couple weeks into eating cereal and loves it! We will be ready with our fruit and veggie cubes when she starts eating more foods.

What were your successes this week?

Roasted Vegetable Minestrone

2010-10-05T09:11:00.000-07:00

Last week I made this Minestrone soup that The Pioneer Woman posted on her blog recently. The pictures lured me in, it just looked fantastic.

Photo by Ree Drummond

See?

And it tasted fantastic, too! I did have to add an additional 4 cups of liquid to mine. I think my zucchini and yellow squash were on the big side. I may just do one of each next time, it made A LOT of soup. I also substituted Great Northern Beans for Cannelini Beans, since that’s what I had in my pantry. I’m looking forward to making it again when the weather cools a bit!

Here is the recipe:

Ingredients

2 whole Zucchini, Halved, Cut Into Strips, Then Cubed
2 whole Summer Squash, Halved, Cut Into Strips, Then Cubed
8 ounces, weight White Mushrooms, Stems Removed And Quartered
2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
Kosher Salt To Taste
2 Tablespoons (additional) Olive Oil
2 whole Carrots, Washed And Sliced (not Peeled)
1 whole Medium Onion, Diced
3 stalks Celery, Sliced (leaves Included)
8 cups Low Sodium Chicken Broth
2 cans Cannelini Beans, Rinsed
1 cup (heaping) Cut Green Beans, Fresh Or Frozen
1-½ cup Medium Or Small Pasta Shells, Uncooked
1 can (14.5) Diced Tomatoes With Juice
Salt And Pepper, to taste
¼ teaspoons Turmeric (optional)
Parmesan Cheese, Shaved

Preparation Instructions

Preheat oven to 500 degrees.

Toss cubed zucchini, squash, and mushrooms in a bowl with olive oil and a sprinkling of kosher salt. Arrange onto two sheet pans (to avoid crowding) and roast in the hot oven for 5 to 10 minutes, or until brown and black parts begin to show. Remove from oven and set aside.

In a heavy pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add carrots, onions, and celery and stir to cook for 3 minutes. Pour in broth and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer for ten minutes.

Add cannelini beans and green beans. Cook on low for five minutes. Add pasta and cook for an additional five minutes. Add canned tomatoes, stir, and cook for an additional five minutes on low heat. Check for seasonings, adding salt, pepper, and turmeric.

Add roasted vegetables at the very end. Stir and allow to simmer and heat for a few minutes before serving. Be sure to check seasoning! Add more broth if necessary to increase liquid amount.

Serve with Parmesan shavings and crusty Italian bread.

Going Greene

TGIF

Mini Mince(meat) Pies

7 Quick Takes Picture Edition

Friday Randomness

Magic Hair

7 Random Christmas Takes

7 Holiday Recipes

My First 7 Quick Takes Friday

Cookies!

One Week

Introducing Ariadne

Some Stuff

Little Farmer Revisited

Homemade Halloween

CSFF: The Bone House

Fall Family Fun

Autumn is a Real Season

A Couple Things

Sprinkler Fun

Fun Hat

The best thing about growing up is…

Chirp Chirp *SMASH*

Painting with Daddy

How does this happen?

A Fishy Situation

In which Jacinta attempts to crawl to China

Beach Camping

Sleepy

Knight

Organ Stop Pizza

House Lizard

CSFF: The Strange Man

One

CSFF Blog Tour: The Resurrection

Update on Jacinta’s Arm

Happy St. Patrick’s Day

Catholic Media Promotion Day

Dog Pile

Carrot and Squash Curry Soup

Like Father, Like Daughter

The Present

CSFF: The God Hater, Day 3

CSFF: The God Hater, Day 2

CSFF: The God Hater, Day 1

Sweetness

A Sundae Story

Pineapple Meringue Pie

Sleep, Revisited

To the Side

When Veronica’s Away…

2010: A Year in Review

San Francisco

A List

Melia Down

Christmas Baking

CSFF: The Charlatan’s Boy

St. Nicholas Day

Thanksgiving Photos

Thankful

Yum Yum Pumpkin

Olive Cheese…Potatoes?

Finding Zero

“Cost-uhm” Fun

CSFF: The Skin Map, Day 3

CSFF: The Skin Map, Day 2

CSFF: The Skin Map, Day 1

A Scary Story

Broccoli Cheese Soup

Boo at the Zoo!

Small Successes Thursday, October 21st

Flavor

What’s black and white and keeps your children up at night?

A Comparison: 6 Months

Small Successes Thursday, October 7th

Roasted Vegetable Minestrone

Ingredients

Preparation Instructions

Chirp Chirp SMASH