Box!

One of Etta's favorite toys at Grandma Cafy's house. The box. Even daddy can fit in the box!

Poser

And she does it so well.

Just a few days ago. Climbed up on the chair while Bob was vacuuming.



June 1st. Enjoying the nice weather and having fun in the backyard.

Eek-Eek 'Tana

Or: Eek-Eek, doof.

Both quotes that I heard while Etta was sitting on the potty. After the first one I said, "Is Uncle Eek-Eek in Montana?" "Yes!"

Then this morning I overhead the other from the other room, "Eek-Eek doof. Eek-Eek doof." Oops, maybe we shouldn't have asked her, "Is Uncle Erik a big doof?"

She is really copying a LOT of what we are saying. Thankfully, most of it can only be understood by us.

But in tribute to Uncle Eek-Eek...

Zoom in - he was 14 at the time.



Dugga, dugga, da,
Dugga, dugga, da



Go Cats Go!!



After which Bob usually promptly goes in to: I D A H O! Idaho, Idaho, Go, Go, Go! We are going to have one confused little person.

Fast Food Friday

Today's Fast Food Friday had a twist. Instead of having a fast food dinner in we went down to the Salvation Army so that Bob could volunteer in the soup kitchen with the staff from one of his elementary schools.

I was going to take pictures because we all (even Etta) took our aprons and were ready to help.

But once we got there I realized that it was not a "game" or "photo op" for some crazy mom and her camera.

There were people there that have to be there. And not that it wasn't tasty, but I don't think that you would be there unless you had to be.

And there were kids there. Kids that I don't think had lunch today - because there was not school. One boy was very polite. Etta and I didn't get into line to eat until about 5:30. 5:30 is the time that you can go back for seconds. Anyway, the boy said, "Oh, here, you can go in front of me because you haven't eaten yet."

Incredible. I could tell that he was still hungry. I declined his offer and got in line behind him.

The people were very friendly, respectful and seemed to get along with everyone. I guess that if you go to the soup kitchen regularly you would probably get to know the other people who go regularly. Right now I just can't imagine that.

It really made me think. We are, of course, on a budget since I am staying home. Some days it seems like we won't be able to make it. Or that it's "not fair" that we can't go out to eat because if we do we won't have enough money to buy food for regular meals before the next pay day.

But then something happens that makes me realize how incredibly BLESSED we actually are.

We are usually just picky.

Which brings me to the next part of the story. Etta refused to eat dinner. Refused. Wouldn't eat the biscuit (which was plain), wouldn't eat the corn, wouldn't eat the fruit cocktail with whipped cream and little marshmallows, wouldn't even eat the cookie. Guess who is going to be hungry in the morning?

But things happen. I have been reading about the situation in Haiti. We probably WASTE more water in one day than some of those people would come close to killing for. We probably throw away more food "waste" daily than those people would eat in a week.

Sometimes I just need to sit down and re-prioritize "wants" and "needs". A lot of what I think I "need" I just really want. Becoming too comfortable with ones current situation can be a bad thing.

[On a side note: In this month's Reader's Digest there is an article about how for the first time in history more people are dying of problems related to OBESITY than to hunger. And you can't spare a pocketfull of change to send to your kids school to go to Haiti...?]

One difference that I am going to have in my life this next year (and I'm not trying to brag or seem holier than thou) is that I am going to volunteer at the Salvation Army for their Thanksgiving Day dinner. I can make a smaller, special dinner for Bob and I on Friday. No need to gorge myself full while there are so many who wouldn't get ANYTHING if it weren't for organizations like the SA.

This was a rambling post, but I never said I was an English major.

More chair fun

Here is that little green chair again. She just loves to use it for just about any kind of play. I helped her set up the music station and thought it was pretty darn funny that she had to have the chair on the keyboard side. (With all four keys.)

Ready, mommy!



It's concert time.

E is for Exercise

When I was in kindergarten we had to dress up as letters of the alphabet.

I was Miss E. And dressed in a leotard with tights and had two braids. (Wish that I had that pic to share, I really do.)

For this Christmas my mom got me a yoga outfit. A sock monkey yoga outfit. No kidding. Anyway, it came with a totally sweet head band. At least Etta thinks that it is totally sweet.

I think that only SHE can get away with it!

Baba Eddy has a farm...

E I E I O

Great Grandma Barb gave Etta the Fischer Price Little People Barn for Christmas because, "Her grandpa has a farm so she needs to have one to play with!"

Thank you Grandma Barb!

Etta loves the farm and plays with it pretty much everyday. Her favorite thing to do is put it on your lap while you are sitting on the couch and then pull up her green Baba Steve chair and start to pretend. We have been eating dinner a bit earlier so that we can have more post-dinner play time.

And Etta loves to sing, "Baba Aaee...EIEI...EIEI...EIEI...(on cue from mommy) OOOOOO"!

Time to play barn!



The animals can go in here.



Hey! Where did everybody go?

Studious

Etta's new favorite pastime.

Using a pencil.

Simple life, simple pleasures.

Priceless.

Snow - No Snow

On New Year's Eve day we went on a walk. As we were leaving Bob said, "It is starting to snow". To which I replied, "It's not that much!" Well, by the time we got back it was that much. (Zoom in to get full effect.) As you can tell by the grin, Etta loved it!



And then on New Year's Day Etta and I went on a walk - in the sun with no snow! She wanted to "go-go" without the stroller. I thought that we would just take a leisurely two block radius stroll. Etta had other plans. "Boys! Boys!" So it was off to Christine's we went. It is about 1/2 mile. Etta walked the entire way. And she seemed to know exactly where she was going. Should I be worried that she knows her way to boys? I am so thankful that she loves to be outside and loves to walk, walk, walk.

Stick, mommy!



Cheese!

Go Cats Go!

Thanks Uncle Erik!





It's a little big but will be ready for this summer.

Fast Food Friday

It's been a few Fridays since we have had a chance to do Fast Food Friday. And we didn't get to partake in our usual full slate of activities (ie: the gym) because Bob had a church board meeting. But, had this on the menu, so we got to indulge.

Barbecue Turkey Pizza. Much like Barbecue Chicken Pizza but with turkey. I had this kind of pizza once in high school in home ec.

LOVED IT.

Never had it again.

Weird, I know.

But last weekend as I was wrestling with two deep fried turkey carcii, making two (yes, two) gallons of turkey broth, and deciding to do with all of the leftover turkey bits that wouldn't work for sandwiches, it hit me.

Pizza.

We like pizza, always looking for something new, why not?

It turned out a little bland but you live and learn and try some different things the next time. I used KC Masterpiece Hickory Brown Sugar bbq sauce, sauteed onions, garlic and a bit of green pepper, chopped turkey leftover from Christmas (I had frozen it...), green pepper slices and Monterrey Jack Cheese. Next time I will probably try a few add ins with the sauce that I had found in a different recipe online.

Before...



I thought I should take a picture before so that you could for sure see the green pepper. (That one's for you mom!)

After...



But after taking it out of the oven the cheese melted down enough that you could still see the slices. Presentation is part of it, right?

[By the way: I LOVE the Pampered Chef Pizza Stone that my mom got for me. If you don't have one I recommend saving up for one, or asking for it for a gift, or something. It makes the BEST pizza crust. Crunchy on the bottom but cooked through. My next experiment is going to be bread sticks.]

Washington D.C. baby!

On March 27th Bob, Etta and I will be boarding a plane to fly to Washington D.C. to visit Aunt Molly and Uncle Jim. We are already very excited to go.

Etta was ready last week. (That is even Aunt Molly's suitcase.)



Can't wait to get a group shot at THEIR house!



Am I Aunt Molly's girl or what?



Love you Aunt Molly and Uncle Jim!! Can't wait to see you on the other coast!

A couple of turkeys

...cooking the turkeys.


In the deep fryer.



All done and yuuuuuuuuuuummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmy!