Cousins

Okay, so when the kids get together ( especially now that the older cousins are out of the house and at college and such ), we always like to "capture the moment".

Except that capturing the moment entails super mad photography skillz enhanced by years of camera trigger happiness that in turn were probably enhanced somewhat the asian stereotype of being camera trigger happy.

ANYWAY,

there was a whole lot of THIS

but then there was some of this

and of course there was only ONE of these

where everyone was looking forward and somewhat at the same place, and the MAJORITY of them were actually smiling :D

Food is in demand

A Jason's Deli opened a couple of weeks ago at our end of town, and we've been there a couple of times. Each time it's just been absolutely crazy with a line all the way outside the place and all that.

You'd think we were totally deprived or something. :)

Letti Thursday

Chicken Spaghetti Casserole Revisited

According to the "archives", I've made this twice. Once HERE and the second time HERE. The original recipe is from the Pioneer Woman.

I guess I decided to post some pictures because they were colorful and I happen to like Chicken Spaghetti Casserole. :)

Colorful bell pepper, diced onions and pimiento.






Mix em in with some cooked spaghetti and shredded cooked chicken breast,





followed by a can of mushroom soup and a can of chicken soup





Add in some cheddar cheese,





Mix it all up,





and top it off with MORE cheddar cheese before baking.




Once again, I don't have pictures of the finished product, but I thought it tasted all right. :)

Blankity Blank Blank

I really want to have lots to blog about and like that but I just noticed that I hadn't done anything here in like, 10 days.

Now that I look at that number, maybe it isn't that bad after all.

I was going to use being sick as an excuse, but I've been blogging over at the child's blog, so that's kinda lame.

Okay, now I'm just rambling on incoherently. I think I'm going to click on "Publish Post" and go work on the next post on the kid's blog.

:P

Puppy dog tails and such

I don't think one is ever truly prepared for parenthood,

what with all the different ways it pushes, challenges, scares and delights you as well as make you want to scream and tear your hair out at times, dragging your exhausted frame into bed, begging for a few more milliseconds of rest and alone time.

More often than not, however, it makes you want to laugh and jump for joy and grin till your face hurts and fills your heart with so much love that you think it will burst at any moment.

Here's one of those heart bursting moments... the little boy having play tea ( iced peach tea )
with his aunt Cindy using a quaint little Chinese Tea Set.

I mean, how can your heart not be doing little flip flops, seeing that little face delighting in the little tea party, both hands on the tea cup, eyes closed and loving the sweet tea :)

And I just DARE you to resist those curls :)

Heat + Drought

Never ever a good combination.

EVER.

This sort of scene has become so common around these parts, it is just truly tragic.


Just a few days ago, as we were coming home from an excursion with Grandad and Cindy, we saw smoke billowing above the horizon, just about in the direction of where our house is. That is always a disconcerting sight, to say the least.

As it turned out, it was across the highway towards the direction of Lake Fort Phantom.

Just last month, we were on another excursion

and passed by the aftermath of another huge fire that had raged and burnt over 72,000 acres near Maryneal.

It was just so awful and sad to drive for miles and miles and seeing the black charred earth stretch on still for miles and miles ahead.

Some folks who had been evacuated from their homes were staying at the community center, which also served as a sort of headquarters for the whole operation.

My thoughts and thanks go out to all the fire fighters and personnel who are working endlessly battling all these fires around us and trying to keep us safe.

In Memoriam

Johnny Lee Robinson

10/25/1940 - 7/1/2011

You will always be in our hearts

4th of July Roundup

It had been a long day,

an action packed, yummilicious day :)

First off, we woke up bright and early, got ready and went off to fetch Grandad to watch the Hillcrest Neighborhood Parade.

Grandad stayed in the car with a great view facing the parade, and I got Jaxon in the stroller and started looking for a place to park ourselves. We hadn't walked very far when we came across Cindy, Frances and the grandkids.

We had brought a few little flags along with us, and Jaxon was having a grand time waving it around. I was amazed he wasn't screaming to get out of the stroller to run around ( flashback to last year's parade )

We sat for a couple of minutes watching,

and then decided to get up and join right in! ( But not before handing my camera over to Frances to help take a few pictures of us. She was very sweet and took some more photos of the rest of the parade for me )

Then, at dusk, we went over to Grandad's yet again, to bring him over close to the Zoological Gardens where the fireworks show was going to be held.

The little boy had a grand time watching the fireworks with Daddy and Grandad :)