Relax (it's our favorite word)

After a long week at family camp, JD and Cambria crashed on Uncle Caleb and Aunt Rebekah's stairway landing. It just looked inviting to them, I guess. Nothing like letting your hair down with family!

Cousin Lovin'

July Fourth

Look left, look right, where is our Daddy?

Yay for MFD! There he is!

(Okay, so it's way past the Fourth- but somehow I forgot to include these!)

Ranch Hand Chili

1 lb. ground beef
1/2 onion, chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 can black beans, including liquid
1 can kidney beans, including liquid
1 can whole corn, including liquid
1 28 oz. can crushed tomatoes
1 envelope taco seasoning
1 envelope ranch dressing powder

Brown beef and saute onions and garlic with beef until tender. Season with salt and pepper. Add beef mixture and remaining ingredients to slow cooker, turn on low and cook for 6-7 hours. Serve with sour cream, cheese, cilantro, and corn chips.

The Granddaddy of all Waterslides

Missing out on the Milkshakes

Caleb and Rebekah's. . .

cousins all asleep. . .

sitting around the table laughing and talking with Caleb and Marlys, we decide to make milkshakes to go with the brownies.

We are totally enjoying our evening when we hear a little creak and see Jacob Daniel, watching us all quietly, shock and horror on his little face.

"Why did you put me to bed so fast, Daddy?!"

Utter Exhaustion

Me: "Time for bed. . ." *braces for stalling and complaining*

JD: "Oh, Mommy, I'm too tired to even walk up to bed."

Huh?

JD: "I guess I could crawl, though."

You and me both, pal.

Job Security

As long as people do stupid things, my husband will have a job!

All time favorite story from Daniel: Lady who caught her eyelid in the zipper of her zippered jacket. Seriously? Exactly how do you accomplish that?

Think Outside the Box? Not Here!

Happy Birthday, Daddy!

Flannel Pancakes

1 c. whole wheat flour

1 c. white flour

4 t. baking powder

2 T. sugar

1/4 t. salt

2 T. butter, melted

1 T. vanilla

2 eggs, beaten

2 c. milk

Mix dry ingredients together; pour in wet ingredients and beat well. Fry! Serve with butter, maple syrup, blueberry syrup. mini chocolate chips, cherry pie filling- endless toppings!

Waiting for the Fire

Or maybe waiting for the marshmallows!

Third Person (Your Child)

We roasted some marshmallows tonight; sat around a little campfire. Daniel poked around at the fire like he always does. . . it created lots of smoke, as fires will do.

Jacob, perched in his lawn chair, waxed eloquent: "Daddy, you and Mommy have children. You are parents. Your children are getting smoke in their eyes!"

Wow. Gotta love creative complaints.

Whole Wheat Pizza Crust

1 T. yeast

1 cup warm water

2 T. oil

1 t. salt

1 c. fresh ground whole wheat flour

1 1/2 c. white flour

Dissolve yeast in water; add remaining ingredients and knead until soft. Turn out onto oiled counter and cover. Let rise for 40-60 minutes. Roll out into pizza crust and top with toppings. Bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes.

Maternal Grandmother

Lunchtime.

Cambria: "Baby grape!"

JD: "We're having a baby, too!" thoughtful face "Whose tummy did me and Cambria come out of?"

Me: "My tummy!"

Daniel: "Whose tummy did you think?"

No hesitation. "Grandma Linda's!"