Getting to Know you

Okay, so I haven't gotten to know a person.  But I have got to know a thing.  Three years ago when I first got into taking photos I convinced Jeff I had to have Photoshop Elements.  I installed it and then switched over to using Picasa.  It was easy and it worked.  It soon became clear to Jeff my must have was simply sitting on a self and never being used.  Yes, he did point this out.  So this last round of pictures I decided to give it a go.  This was a simple effect that I thought added interest to my photo.

The next photo has been years of thought in the making.  I have wanted more scripture around the house.  I have often thought of pairing it with my photos.  These seemed to go together so well and soon will be mounted on my wall.

And lastly the same effect as above with black and white and a pop of color.  This little girl is so sweet and Samantha adores her.  She often tells me how she wants little babies like this one.

I still have a lot to learn, but I have started down the path of knowledge.

That's a keeper!

I am sure we have all said or thought these words.  Maybe when you found the dog you always dreamed of.  Or perhaps when you where looking through photos and found just the right one.  Or maybe the day you met your spouse.  Although I hope you didn't call them a that!  A while ago I had this very thought.  It didn't have to do with any of the above mentioned items.  It had to do with soup.  Even Mr Thames might like this one!  It all happened after Isaiah was born(I think it was him anyways).  A women from the church brought us dinner.  Normally we have left overs from the meals brought after a baby is born(which is very nice indeed).  Not this time though.  We were literally scrapping the pot trying to get more.  Finally I got around to asking the women's daughter if she could get me the recipe.  Then after who knows how long I got around to making the recipe.  And I couldn't believe I had let so much time past between first bite and making it myself!  I paired it with a home made whole wheat roll and was floating in happiness.  And since then I have thought about sharing it here and well, as you can see sometimes things take me awhile to do.  So with no more waiting around, here it is!
Tortellini Soup

Ingredients:
1 lb Italian sausage
1 cup chopped onion
2 garlic cloves(more if you like, I like)
5 cups beef broth
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup dry red wine(I don't ever have wine so I skipped this)
14.5 oz can diced Italian style tomatoes
1 cup sliced carrots
1/2 tsp basil
1/2 tsp oregano
8 oz tomato sauce
1 1/2 cup sliced zucchini
8 oz tortellini (I used the fresh kind)
3 tbls chopped fresh parsley
1 med green pepper

Directions:
Brown sausage remove from pan. Saute onion and garlic in drippings, add broth, water, wine, tomatoes, carrots, basil, oregano, and tomato sauce.  Simmer 30 minutes.  Stir in zucchini, tortellini, parsley, and peppers.  Simmer 40 more minutes.  Dish up and top with Parmesan cheese.  Dive in, sit back, and thank me later.  Don't worry, I promise to pass the praise along to the correct people.  This soup is well worth the time, effort, and shopping list so TRY IT!!!

festivals

This summer my goal is to go to more of the local festivals.  I remember doing them with my mom when I was younger.  So, our first festival was the Strawberry Festival at a local U-pick farm.  It was a very simple thing, but the kids enjoyed themselves and that was the point.  They had to go on the train ride twice.

Which we almost filled!

They ate their free hotdog quickly. 

That might have had to do with the start of rain or they could have been the best hotdog around. 

They got a free strawberry sundae.  And they played until the rain got so bad we had to leave. 

 

Yep, I think the first festival of the summer was a huge success!

and so it begins.....

summer that is.  The weather may not agree with my decision, but I have decided it is time.  We had our final day of school on the 15th.  We enjoyed a day at the zoo as the final day.  I forgot my camera so there are no photos.  Around here summer will bring: fun days in swimsuits,

toes in the sand,

and bonding. 

 There will be no more dance.

Okay, the girls are already begging for summer dance, so we might still have that.  There will be no more swim.  Unless it is in a lake.

This mom and teacher is looking forward to the relaxing chaos this summer has to bring!

seven!!

It's hard for me to believe, but my little girl is now seven!!!  She celebrated with her favorite thing, PIZZA!  Not just any pizza either it had to be a Little Caesars Hot and Ready, cheese(very daring I know).  

Her brother wouldn't be left out of photos.

She wanted a very simple cake, chocolate with M&M's.  So my mom added some cute animals to represent Madagascar 3, which they went and saw the day before.  All I have heard since then is movie quotes and songs.

She enjoyed opening her gifts.

And was very gracious when she opened what looked like a stepping stone kit.  She had just done this exact kit with her grandma who this gift was from.  She never complained.  Just thanked grandma and started to move on.  It was then we suggested she opened the box.

She was very thrilled to find it contained cute clothes and not a stepping stone.  Yes, my girl is old enough to enjoy clothing as a gift.

Here she is reading a card her little sister made just for her.  Also mind blowing is Kellina is now old enough to create with written word a card for her sister.

And here are all the cousins enjoying grandma's trampoline and jumping off some sugar. 

We got to enjoy some time just the two of us while Melia shopped with 7 dollars of birthday money(notice the gummy bear necklace).  I asked her what she wanted to do this next year.  Her list included: finish her math work book, get a new spelling book(are you sensing a theme yet).  I asked her what she wanted to do that wasn't school related and she said have two mommy daughter date nights.  I will, for sure, make that happen!!  My little girl is sure growing fast and has already started the countdown to being a teenager :)

mister tough guy

Joshua is now the toughest boy in the house.  Well, toughest looking that is.  The other day he was playing with his sisters.  They were the bad guys and he was trying to capture them.  Of course this means running at full speed.  Of course we have wood floors that lead to slipping.  And of course we have a wooden piano bench that when fallen into doesn't bend.  Instead the item that comes in contact with it usually brakes.  This time that item happened to be Joshua's eyebrow.  One ER trip and two stitches later I now have the toughest looking kid on the block.