Feeling Full

My sissy and I. 

What a difference 32 years makes, huh? Not holding her anymore, but I am hugging her.

For the record... that wasn't our green van.... but that WAS our green Tupperware container.

Tabbouleh

1 cup fine cracked wheat (bulgur)

4 bunches chopped fine parsley (if bigger bunches, not the small ones)

2 Tbsp. mint (dried)

1 cucumber

4 large red tomatoes (chopped)

1 bunch finely chopped onions (with stems)

Dressing:

1/2 cup olive oil

1 cup lemon juice (6 to 8 lemons)

black pepper and salt to taste

Place bulgur wheat in a large bowl.  Add water to cover and let stand about one hour or until bulgur has doubled in size and most of the liquid is absorbed.  Drain well and squeeze dry - make sure wheat is squeezed, so you get as much water out as possible.  Add parsley, mint, dill, green onions, tomatoes and cucumber. Put olive oil, lemon juice, pepper and salt (to taste) in a jar and shake before pouring over salad.  I prefer a saltier more lemony version, so just play with ingredients until you have desired taste.  You may need to add more salt.

Harmonica on the Bridge

Playing the harmonica on the bridge.

At the Old Ball Game

A beautiful evening for a baseball game.  Kekoa nearly tripped skipping to home plate for his turn at bat.  He gets pretty excited when he has family spectators at the game.  Aunt Heidi's turn.

Then a late night supper at a local favorite.

Mad Scientist in the Making

Last night at the baseball game, Gavyn was walking weirdly in the front of the bleachers... I later realized he was making a pretty realistic camel with his shadow. He was trying to figure out how to give it two humps. It was so very, very cold.  Some of us were musing about whether they were selling hot chocolate at the food stand.  "I'll go check out the menu," he helpfully offered, but reported in dejectedly a few minutes later that they didn't have their menu posted.  And later he bought his Mom a hot dog with ketchup and mustard for $1.50. Before the game started he finally lost his snaggle tooth (that's been holding on by a thread for weeks) while chewing gum. It both panicked and excited him at the same time.  Because... well... blood.  All the coaches and kids and Moms and Dads were giving him accolades and high fives. Later he handed us a letter he wrote to the toothfairy before going to bed requesting a toy instead of money. When we told him the toothfairy didn't work that way, he tore up the note angrily. "I was just trying to prove if the toothfairy was real or not," he confessed, "Parents have money, too." Not sure what parents he was referencing as that hasn't been our experience. All of this seems to point to us having a mad scientist on our hands. I absolutely adore this kid.  Eight is definitely going to be great.

Beautiful

Spot on. This should be the definition listed in the dictionary. Truly. I like it enough, I might add a written in notation in all my dictionaries. (Moon picture taken by me tonight.)

The House We Were Given

It's the house we were given. I suppose we should try to take good care of it.

Snow, Snow, Go Away

When I woke up this morning, I just kinda walked around with my eyes closed. Then I found some sand and buried my head in it. Snow, snow, go away...

Hanging Out With Cuties

Wow! That wind was crazy coming home from Council Bluffs. Felt like we were gonna get blown off the road. But in other news. I got to hang out with a bunch of cuties today.

Lani's VEISHEA's Cancelled Pie Run Extravaganza 5k +.04 (3.14)

"The bad part about hosting a pie run is all I've had to eat today is pie. The good part about hosting a pie run is all I've had to eat today is pie."  - Lani

I'm the barefoot runner.

I might be biased, but if you were to ask me... I think Lani's VEISHEA's Cancelled Pie Run Extravaganza 5k + .04 (3.14) was a success! So much fun to have all these fabulous runners hanging out in my front yard this morning.

Our local running group ran their routes from our house.  The long route runners began at 7 a.m.  I tore myself away from my pie making and came out of the house long enough to have some fun with them before they took off down the street.

The 5k + .04 began at 8 a.m.  I also put together a little one mile route for the younger kids or families to run.  I was called out by some fellow runners... do you HAVE to put up your guns in every picture?  Why yes... yes, I do.  Thanks for asking.

And my friend, Nicole?  She was the best... the absolute best... making these awesome race t-shirts up and providing decals for those who wanted to make their own.

Even Hallie was there... gosh I've missed her...

Girls... girls just want to have fun.  And run.

And eat pie.  My shirt says it all, "Who says we can't have our Pi and eat it, too?"  Hmmmm?

All because some silly college students had to have a riot and get VEISHEA cancelled.  The 5k might be cancelled, but that doesn't mean we can't have our own.  That's called tenacity, baby.

Lots O' Blueberries

My very first blueberry pie! A little sugar. Lots o' blueberries and butter. Been up since 4:30 a.m. First round of runners gone. Looking forward to running with friends this morning for Pi!

Making My Derby Pie Legit

Yes... I've already been in the bourbon this morning. Gonna try my hand at making derby pie legit. I'll let you know how it tastes. *hic*

Revised Chocolate Nut Pie (Derby Pie) recipe forthcoming...

unbaked pie crust

2 eggs
1 t. vanilla
2 T bourbon (optional)

1/2 cup (stick) of butter, melted

1 c. sugar
1/2 c. flour
1 c. chocolate chips
1 cup walnuts, chopped (may also use pecans)

1. On a lightly floured surface, roll out unbaked pie crust. Transfer to a 9 inch pie plate; flute edges.2. Mix eggs and vanilla.3. Add in melted butter.4. Mix in sugar, flour, chocolate chips and walnuts.5. Pour into crust and bake at 350 degrees about a 1/2 an hour or until pie is a golden brown on top. (If using a convection oven, bake at 325 degrees.)

Take Me Out to the Ballgame...

Baseball season debuted tonight. Ended with Kekoa getting to third. And pizza. A good, good way to begin, I'd say.

Learning to Fret

Gavyn had his first guitar lesson with Andy today.  Success. I think he's hooked.

Learning to "fret" in a good way.  Can't wait for future days and listening to him "practice".  Best. Birthday. Gift. Ever.

National Siblings Day 2014

Throw Back Thursday AND National Siblings Day??!! Why not? First day of school. I can't believe how much my brother, Shawn, looks like Kekoa. And my brother, Ryan, looks a lot like Gavyn. I love how you can see the sunrise on the sides of our faces.  I  loved that pink jean jacket.  I wish I still had it.