Katie Quip

A while ago, Kaitlyn started calling me "Mimi". She has become quite the little talker and strings long sentences together. She says some of the funniest things sometimes!
The other day we were riding in the car, and she pipes up and says, "Uh-Oh, Mimi, I sowwy... I poppers my diaper. I sowwy, Mimi!".
Sure enough, she had gone "poppers" in her diaper!

Wordless Wednesday

Fun Times at the County Fair

We took the kids to the Clackamas County Fair and Rodeo this past week. It was a lot of fun. We were only planning on going one day, but acquired some extra rodeo tickets, so we went a second day. The kids LOVED the rodeo. For days, Talon has talked about how "the horse bucked that man off!", and does the motions with his hands and added sound effects. It's pretty cute. Every day since, at least once, Talon has asked, "Are we going to the wodeo tonight?".

My little cowboy

Kaitlyn sporting her new hat. She thought it was pretty great... for about 10-15 minutes, then we got to carry it around the fair and try not to crush it.

I love this picture of Kaitlyn and her auntie...
so adorable!

Me and my sisters. Can't say as I'm a huge fan of cameras these days (unless, of course, I'm standing behind it), but had to take a picture with the girls.

Acting our age... as usual!

(I had to snatch a couple of these photos from my sister. Thanks, Mel!)

4-H and pony rides

We had to go and visit the animals. Talon was a bit apprehensive to touch them himself... he'd rather stand and observe while I pet them.

Kaitlyn loved the pony ride and wasn't scared at all. Talon, on the other hand, backed out at the last minute and decided it wasn't for him. Maybe next time!

Rodeo fans

I thought it would be a little much for the kids to sit the entire time and watch the rodeo, but they did great! It probably helped that we had plenty of snacks to munch on!

Just tickled at all the action!

Trying to explain to me what was going on. He had it all figured out!

The little Rodeo Princess

Anthony's new pride and joy

After much anticipation and waiting, Anthony finally got his Fender Telecaster. He's so excited about it... it was almost like welcoming a new family member when he brought it home. It's a beautiful guitar!

He practices all the time, and it's amazing how much he has learned in the past couple of months. He plays really well! I try to keep up with him on the piano, but have a hard time sometimes. Anthony's parents or Chad and Tori come over, and we have 'jam sessions', or the guys will just sit and play guitars for a couple of hours at a time. It's a lot of fun!

Congratulations on your new guitar, Honey!

You deserve it, and I'm so happy for you!!!

Zucchini

We went to Grandpa and Grandma Bauer's and came home with some zucchini from their garden. The kids were so excited because they each got to bring one home to show Daddy. Kaitlyn hauled that thing around all night until it was time to go to bed. She was very proud of her "nini". That poor thing got dropped so many times, it's a wonder it wasn't complete mush by the time she got done with it! She tried to take a couple of bites out of it (I think she thought it was a cucumber), but was very disgusted with the taste.

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I love battered and fried zucchini spears, but I really don't need all the grease that goes along with it. So, I experimented and came up with a great, low-fat way to cook it on the grill!

1) Wash the outside peel

2) Slice it into approx 1/4" rounds

3) Spray both sides with olive oil (you can use plain Pam if you don't have the olive oil in a spray can)

4) Lightly sprinkle both sides with salt, pepper, and garlic powder;

or use the Johnny's Garlic Spread and Seasoning Mix that you get in a big container from Costco, with just a little extra salt.

5) Grill both sides on the BBQ for a couple of minutes until it's as tender as you like it. I prefer mine to still be a little crunchy around the edges and a little soft in the middle.

Hope you enjoy it as much as I do!! It's a great way to use up the hundreds of huge zucchini that one small plant can produce!

Bag Lady and Mr. Fix It

Yes, this is our little bag lady. She got up in the morning, found Daddy's slippers and an empty bag, and pranced around the house randomly placing objects in the bag. Pretty pleased with herself, I might add (as evidenced by the picture here).

Admiring her reflection in the stove

We have our own handyman now! I found a huge tool set that I paid very little for, and Talon went to work 'fixing' things around the house. He was a little put out that the tool belt didn't hold more. He wanted all the tools hanging on the belt (it's about a 30-piece set). The next day was Sunday, and he insisted he needed to take some tools to church, so I let him pack 2 different screw drivers in the diaper bag. About half way through song service, he grabbed a screw driver, it became his microphone, and he was singing at the top of his lungs for all he was worth. We laughed so hard!

Another Talon Moment

We went to my parents house for the day to visit. It was really hot, so we filled up the kids' little pool. Talon wanted me to 'go swimming' with him, so I pulled a lawn chair up, sat down, and put my feet in the water. As soon as he stepped close, I yelled "Water fight!" and started splashing him. He was laughing hysterically and tried to splash me, but only got a few drops of water on me... he was soaked!

We went and sat down in the lawn chair and he was wrapped in a towel.

Me: "Did we have a water fight and Mommy got you all wet?"

Talon: "No, I got you wet."

Me: "Yeah, but I won!"

Talon (not missing a beat): "Yeah, well I'm THREE!"

Wordless Wednesday

"Rubber Ducky, you're the one..."

Talon saw Auntie Kayla using a raft in the big swimming pool, and decided he needed one in his pool as well. Crazy kid!

Talon Moment

Anthony put the kids in their chairs and fed them breakfast, then got himself something to eat and sat down in the living room. Talon hollered that he was all done with his breakfast, and was very insistent that he be cleaned up so he could get down and play. Anthony told him to 'hold his horses', that he was almost done eating, and when Sissy was finished he would clean them both up at the same time. A minute or two later, Talon pipes up, "Daddy, I'n holding my horses... and Sissy's holding her cow!".