Why was I the last to know?

So, I am feeling a little miffed! Miffed is putting it lightly. For several months I have been struggling and frustrated trying to get Spencer to eat vegetables. He has always been a great eater. Literally eating more than the older kids. And I would gloatingly say, "Yes, he is such a good eater. He will eat anything I put in front of him." Apparently I needed to be humbled. One day he just decided that he didn't like any vegetables. And I am not joking. My child who used to love peas and steamed carrots now just thinks they are floor decorations. Green beans are meant to be squished into minuscule pieces, and broccoli, if he decides to touch it, is great for smearing all over your face, ears and hair. Fruit, on the other hand is another story. If he sees fruit at a meal you can think again about getting him to eat any other food until there as absolutely no more fruit. I have been tempted, but have not yet done it, to see just how much fruit he would really eat. But I fear the consequences of what will come out the next day so I haven't. Grapes, strawberries, peaches, pears, apricots, bananas, apples, oranges, etc. He LOVES it all. So now you know my frustration.
Then, on Friday I had taken Carlyn and Spencer to the Library. While Carlyn was busy with story time I had the genius thought of going over to the cookbook section. I have been wanting to incorporate some new, healthy recipes into our lives. Then, I see it. Up on a shelf lies the answer to all my problems. It catches my eye because it is pink. I can honestly say that I don't think I have ever seen a pink cookbook. I have seen green, red, blue, brown, red, orange, and white--but never pink. I pick it up. Just the title is intriguing. That and along with what it says on the front of the cover I know I have hit the jackpot. But, just to make sure I glance at a few pages to make sure this is going to still be normal, and I am not going to have to shop at specialty stores to grocery shop. It's perfect. There are "normal" ingredients that I have in my house. And even better than that I know that my youngest progeny is now going to start eating vegetables. I take it home and can hardly wait to get lunch over with and Spencer down for a nap so I can begin poring over my new found treasure.
What can this cookbook possibly be you say? Who makes a pink cookbook? What could be so exciting. Well, maybe I won't tell you because you have probably already heard of it and you just might even own it. Because, so far, everyone I have told about this book in my excitement for it either owns it, or at least knows the theory behind it. I very well might be the last mother on the face of the planet to know. If you haven't figured it out the book that I am now in love with is called Deceptively Delicious by Jessica Seinfeld. Yes, she is Jerry Seinfeld's wife. Personally, Jerry Seinfeld bugs me but he just got bumped up a notch just because of this cookbook. Those of you who know about this book now have permission to stop reading since, "Oh, I have that book. It is really good" just went through your head. On the slim chance that there is some poor soul who like myself has been in the dark you may read on. The whole premise of this cookbook is using vegetable and some fruit purees mixed into things you already eat. That way your kids still get at least some veggies. So far everything I have tried was amazing. We made sweet potato whole wheat waffles on Sat. morning for breakfast. This wasn't in the book but sweet potato pancakes were. I just added 1/2 cup of blended sweet potatoes to my own batter. They were fabulous and I think next time I will put in even more. Then for lunch on Saturday Scott made box macaroni for the kids (ugh! I know) but he added some more sweet potato. You couldn't even tell and I think it actually made it creamier. Then, that night (okay can you see how excited I am?) we made homemade chicken nuggets that most of the batter was broccoli puree. Spencer ate and liked all of these! Yea!! I know you are thinking that isn't that much vegetable matter. But, to me it is a victory because he wouldn't eat any veggies at all. So something is better than nothing. Also, something I have been doing for several months is making my spaghetti sauce 1/4 blended zucchini. So, there was my free advertising for Deceptively Delicious even though it isn't needed since I was the last to know it even existed. Hmm.............. it is going to be hard to give this back to the library in 3 weeks.

We went to San Antonio in the middle of August (I know wrong time of year for there!) for a quick family vacation. We had a good time seeing and learning new things and just being together.

This dinosaur was just at the front of Ripley's wax museum. We didn't go in the museum but the kids thought it was pretty cool, especially when it started moving it's head and roaring!

Now, on to the things we actually did do!

Look at this huge cactus!

Here we are in the front of the Alamo. This was a great learning experience. But, because it is a shrine to the men who died here you can't take pictures inside the chapel part, the barracks and all the artifacts.

With a Cannon.

It was all just too exciting for Spencer.

Is that an Aloe Vera?

The kids sitting in a little ampitheater at the Alamo.

I think our days of 3 kids in 1 bed are over. They are just getting too big even to do this (2 regular and 1 at the feet).

This place is a lot cooler, literally, than the Alamo.

We also went to Natural Bridge Caverns. Think Timpanogas Cave and you will be about right. But, we didn't have to hike up the mountain! These caverns are about 80 feet underground.

Stalactites and stalagmites.

Some neat formations.

We all had a good time in San Antonio. It all ended too soon. But, I guess that is what next summer is for.

More Catch Up

Once again a disclaimer for being out of order and totally random. But here is my meager attempt at catching up on my severe lack of blogging lately, i.e. the whole summer!

On the chopping block, a.k.a. the bathroom counter
I chopped off Spencer's hair. His curls were really cute and I don't think they were any longer than when I gave the other boys their first haircuts but people were starting to think he was a girl. So, one night I just stopped procrastinating and did it. He looked so old after I did it!

In the middle of August Carly had her right front tooth pulled. You may remember that it has been green and dead looking for a couple of years. We have always been told that she would be fine unless she developed a little abscess in her gum above it. Well, she finally got one and so we had to have her tooth pulled out. She did such a good job and lay very still and very cooperatively for the dentist. I think having Pocahontas playing on the ceiling helped too! This is her with her little cotton rolls in her mouth. I know have taken close up pictures post tooth extraction but can't find them.

I just thought this was a cute picture of Carlyn.

Happy Birthday to Carter. He wanted a dinosaur cake this year. No laughing peanut gallery. It has been a very long time since I used colorflow so it didn't turn out quite like I had wanted it but he was happy and that is what matters.

Like I said these pictures are out of order. Here we have the finished product of what he is opening in the picture below. He was so excited to get this Lego set that he and Taylor immediately went upstairs to play---before eating, getting dressed, etc.

Spencer helping Scott play the guitar.

What did you do to celebrate Lunar Landing Day?
Well, we didn't really celebrate it at home but Scott and his company did. I made this cake for their little party.

One day Scott was out mowing the lawn and Taylor went out into the garage to get his scooter. This is what he found next to Carter's bike. AAAAAAAGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!
This PYTHON was only 15 feet from my door. Apparently it was the neighbor's pet. I kept begging Scott to kill it. I didn't care that it wasn't poisonous. I was literally standing getting the number for animal control and the neighbors came to get it. Good news, shortly after this they fed the snake a rat because it had graduated from eating little small mice. Well, the rat and snake had a fight and the snake didn't fare so well so the neighbor had to put the snake out of it's misery. That must of been some rat!!!! I never thought I would say this but "Yahoo for Rats!!!"

Oh what do you do in July, when all the world is green?
Harvest pumpkins of course! Yep, you read that correctly. Our pumpkins were ready in July. Spencer thought they mad great balls so we had to watch him. They are now safely pureed and in the freezer awaiting fall baking. Yum.

Spencer, pre-haircut. I told you these weren't chronological! If you look closely you can see his very first band-aid on his finger. Ouch.
In May, Carly and Spencer and I went to a strawberry farm. I was in absolute heaven. We picked about 20 lbs of strawberries in and hour. They were juicy and succulent. Can't wait for next spring!
One day I was looking for Carly to come in for dinner. She had been outside jumping with the boys but they had been inside for awhile. I went out to the backyard and found her asleep on the trampoline. She acts so grown up most of the time it is so nice when she does something to remind me she is still just a little girl.

Major Summer Catch Up

Okay I realize it has been the entire summer and you were only given one single post. For those of you who are faithful followers, sorry to disappoint. I just got busy and then when I did have the time I would much rather sit and catch up on all of your blogs. So here is a weak attempt at trying to catch up. It may not be in order but here are some pictures. Okay, is anyone else really bugged by this blue underlining. I can't seem to get rid of it! Sorry, I am not techno-savvy enough to get rid of it. There is no underline button to click on to get rid of it like in Word. So bear with me and we shall attempt at a little info on our family. Ummmmmm. Look! the underlining is gone! I promise it wasn't me. I was just typing. Moving on..........


In the middle of June Taylor and Carter took swimming lessons at the City pool. They had a great time and did a really good job. They are turning into fish. This summer Taylor and I had a little race across the pool and I barely beat him.

This is Taylor, well his arm anyway.

This is Carter.


The day after school got out I got to do something I have been waiting many years to do. I got to go on a "vacation" all by myself. My good friend Vikki got married and I was lucky enough to get to go. Vikki and I worked together before I had Taylor so we go pretty far back. It was great to go to Arizona and see her and meet her amazing family and the great guy she married. They are just too cute together and I am so happy for her. No offense to anyone else but I have to honestly say that she was absolutely the happiest and most beautiful bride that I have ever seen in my entire life.
Yeah for little Vikki!

I told you this would not necessarily be in order. Here is Taylor at the end of school with some awards and his 2nd grade teacher.
Here is Carter with his Kindergarten teacher.