Five Brown Kids

Here's where all my mud encrusted dirty laundry comes from. You should see them hiking around back there with big walking sticks and rubber boots. They look like future environmentalists to me. Today they were working on a dam. (A biker zoomed by on the path)

This is Scotia's spring preschool program for the two year old classes. They sang cute spring songs and then we all enjoyed lunch together. Too bad I don't have a picture of her costume - the back was red with black dots and she had a little headband with antennae on it. The video is not great- maybe the next iPhone version will have zoom for the video and camera? Scotia is the tall kid fourth from the right.

Scotia and I headed out with neighbor friends today to Farm Days at the local university agriculture center. We had a wonderful time touching the baby chicks and seeing the new little calves, foals and kids. This is my 6th year taking my kids.. .so I thought I would post a few pics from years past for a little stroll down memory lane. (Watch out for the cow patties) (2010 Scotia) (2010 Scotia) (2009 no farm days on account of the great recession) (2008 Scotia) (2008 Jaxon) (2007 Jaxon) (2006 Taye) (2004 Taye, Mom and Jaxon)

This dinner has no official recipe. It's just fresh pizza dough from Trader Joes filled with yummy stuff. I pressed it out flat on a rectangualr pizza sheet and cut it into four pieces. Fillings can be anything you like - we love pepperoni and fresh mozarella cheese or pesto, sliced ham and fresh spinach. Make it vegetarian with just cheese and veggies. Fold them over and press to seal. Brush with egg before baking if you want a nice shiny surface. Serve with a side of warm spagetti sauce for dipping.

Taye participated in First In Fitness this morning. It's the school disctrict's yearly track meet for elementary kids. Each school (for our region there were 26 elem. schools) sends a boy and girl from each grade level (2-5) for each event. Taye ran the 100 Y dash and I'll just let this video speak for itself. Taye's accepting sponsors if you're interested. Last year.

This spring break activity could best be described as a kids cooking class. Our last few school break luncheons have consisted of rice balls from our Japanese neighbours that always trump whatever it is I have made. This time they brought the supplies and taught everyone how to make their own. Delicious! We also served turkey wraps with cream cheese, salad and chocolate dipped strawberries and pretzels that Taye and Jax made entirely on their own (I gave them instructions and then left to shower - they are turning into great little cooks!).

This was our little spring break road trip - by train. The kids and I jumped on the train and ventured an hour (west, north? I don't know) to the big hoppin ' town of Wilson. We had a three hour layover which I thought would be just enough time to eat some lunch, check out the new kids museum and pee at the train station before heading home. We ate lunch with a bunch of retirees at the only eating establishment on Main St and then hit up the new "Imagination Station" which was fun but not anything even remotely close to our city version. I was so freaked out by the massive Burmese python in a little (5X8?) glass cage (think apartment of 20 year old boys with a big snake in a cage on the floor) that I didn't even take a picture. In an hour we'd done everything twice and were headed back to the train station for a very long wait. The train is a great adventure but this outing does not come with my highest recommendations....

This is the story of a little stuffed animal named "Bear". Uncle Mike gave it to Taye as a newborn and Taye soon couldn't sleep without him. Once on a trip he got left in the airport bathroom during a layover and I had to beg security to save him and send him home. They boxed him up and flew him to our airport so we could pick him up. (Home safe) Now, Scotia really likes to play with Bear when she's taking care of her babies. Every night Taye asks, "Can you get Bear?" and I have to go find him in some stroller, cradle or dolly high chair and return him to Taye for happy sleeping. The end.

These meatballs were so easy. The recipe said this 2 lbs of ground beef 1 16oz package of stuffing mix for chicken 1 1/4 cups water two eggs (But I halved it: 1 lb of ground beef, a nice 1/2 cup of stuffing mix, one egg and a little bit of water) Mix the above and shape into 1 1/2 inch balls. Cook on a greased cookie sheet at 400 for 16-18 mins. In a pot warm some spagetti sauce with the meatballs. Serve on toasted sub buns with melted cheese, tomatoes, lettuce and lots of pepperoncini.

They were out checking on a beaver dam or something. Can beavers attack? I'd give my left arm for three dolly playing girls (my right I'm saving for new counters :-)

Two weeks, no school. Yahooo!!!!

Tyrone and Taye made this delight for the Blue and Gold Cubscout Dinner!

Cashew Chicken 3-5 boneless chicken breast 2 t. minced fresh ginger 1-2 T olive oil Veggies of choice - Broccoli/squash/zucchini/ red, orange, yellow peppers/peas teriyaki baste and glaze (add as needed) cashews (extra is always good) chopped fresh cilantro 1-Cube chicken. Toss with ginger in small bowl. 2- Heat oil in wok on medium high. Add chicken; stir fry 2 minutes. Add veggies; stir-fry 4 minutes or until chicken is cooked through. 3- Add teriyaki sauce; stir-fry until sauce is hot. Stir in cashews. Serve over rice. Sprinkle with cilantro. We love this one and from start to finish you are looking at 30 minutes max!!! Jasmine rice is the best. Nice aroma and great flavor. Stir fry with ginger and cilantro. Be still my heart. Thanks Courtney!