We got to hold some Raccoons!!

Our friends, Jerry and Shawna, have raccoons for the summer. The raccoon family was found in a chimney and upon finding them the mother ran off. The babies were too small to make it on their own and since they had to remove them, Shawna was called and told if she didn't come get them they would be put to sleep. She is good with animals and has had raccoons before. She keeps them for the summer and then lets them go in the mountains in the fall. You may know that raccoons don't domesticate. They always turn wild as adults. But when they're babies they're so sweet, cuddly and fun. Preston was as enthusiastic as he ever is about most anything.Paige is especially in love with the raccoons. Incidentally, Michelle took 2 of the 4 and is keeping them for a month or so to help Shawna out. So we go over to Michelle's occasionally to see them. This is Paige and Benj having fun with one of the raccoons at Shawna's.

Shawna is feeding one of the babies a bottle and also pictured is Nicholas, Jonathan and Benj.

I thought I'd be nice and include a pic of me for once. I'm not feeling beautiful, but I'm so happy and excited to be having another baby ... a girl in case you didn't know.

Early Summer Swimming

We have been going to the pool at our clubhouse several times a week since it opened at the end of May. Paige has already taught herself how to swim. How can you not when you're at the pool all the time? The kids are happiest when we get in the pool with them. I'll admit I've only done that once when no one else was there. And I was very tired afterwards. But Doug (superdad) gets in with them every time. He is such a great daddy. What lucky kids!!

Couldn't resist including this one. What is Preston looking for?!! LOL!!! I hope he finds it.

I hope you are enjoying your summer as much as we are.

A Most Wonderful Husband

This is Mother's Day morning at our house:The most common sight, however, is the adult on the right hand side of the bed (me) because Doug usually gets into one of the kids' beds when they crowd us out and we've already carried each of them out twice.

Doug was very sweet to me on Mother's Day. He made me a banana/orange shake for breakfast at my request and with me standing over him giving directions. He helped get the kids ready for church, which he usually does if he doesn't have meetings. I had planned a craft for the nursery kids to make for their mothers. I got it all ready and during our first meeting Doug asked me where the bag was. I finally handed it to him and he kept it. He took over nursery for me and when the other ladies got there they were sent to their meetings also and other men took over. When we got home from church Doug made me his yummy potatoes, eggs, bacon and toast breakfast, which I would have had earlier, but didn't want to smell like bacon for church. He did dishes and other kid duties all day long with a smile on his face.

I think Doug is the best husband a woman could have. I love him so much and will be eternally grateful to have such a loving husband and father for our children.

Here's Doug last night with the kids. I couldn't resist taking another picture. He is such a loving man. The kids fall asleep with him regularly while I take my nightly shower. I put them in bed when I get out. What a cute scene ... I love it!!! I love you, Doug!

Cool Rainbow Clouds

Last Friday, May 7th, we were driving home and Paige said, "Mom I saw a rainbow cloud." I couldn't see what she saw because of buildings, but pictured a cloud shaped like a rainbow and said, "Cool honey." When I got in position to back into the garage here's what I saw:Of course I quickly grabbed the camera. These pictures were taken at about 12:45 p.m., so it's not a sunset or sunrise. I've never seen clouds like this before. It's really just the one in the center that was colored. And as other clouds got into this same position they looked rainbow too, but these were the best pictures I got. Pretty cool!!And when I called Michelle to tell her to look out her window she pointed out the boomerang clouds I hadn't seen, which were at the other side of our house.

Embarrassing ...

Last night during our family night lesson both kids were sitting on my lap. Paige looked up at me and said, "Mom, you have a buger in your nose." Preston took a peek and said, "It's stuck in your webs."

I normally don't like to post embarrassing things about myself, but that was hilarious.

You'll have to happen upon this post by yourself. I'm not sending out any advertisements that I've posted anything here.

And just for the record, it was the tiniest thing. I don't walk around with bugers hanging out of my nose all the time.

Tomatillo Salsa & Guacamole - I MADE IT!!

In my post on Bountiful Baskets (directly below this post) I talked about a Mexican pack. Unfortunately I didn't take a picture of what was in it, but it had 2 bunches of green onions, a huge bunch of cilantro, 10 tomatillos, 6 jalapenos, 5 limes, 4 avocados, 1 garlic bulb and 2 Mexican squash for $6.50. I call that a great deal. I went online to www.allrecipes.com (thank you Cathy), found a recipe for tomatillo salsa and made it today. I told you I don't cook a lot so maybe you're saying ... uh ... okay ... whatever. But for me it was very exciting, EASY and delicious. I also made guacamole for the first time - equally divine.

TOMATILLO SALSA
10 tomatillos, husked
1 small onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped
2 jalapeno peppers, chopped
¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
salt and pepper to taste

Place tomatillos in a nonreactive saucepan with enough water to cover. Bring to a boil. Simmer until tomatillos soften and begin to burst, about 10 minutes. Drain tomatillos and place in a food processor or blender with onion, garlic, jalapeno peppers, cilantro, salt and pepper. Blend to desired consistency.

Here's the evidence ... sorry, I'm not fancy in the presentation:And the amazing results:

And if you made it to the bottom of this post and are still reading AND are interested ... yes, Doug ate it too and liked it. Paige asked me if I could tell him there was onions in it. I said, "Sure." We had crockpot chicken wraps tonight ... mmmmmm.

Bountiful Baskets - low $$ fresh produce

I thought I'd post about the great produce I've been getting lately. You should know I don't normally cook a lot. I have recently started to cook not only more often, but with more nutrition for my family. My friend, Karen, told me about this produce co-op she likes. I have taken pictures on two different occasions of the produce I got.

Here's the details: Go online on Monday at 4:00 p.m. to www.bountifulbaskets.org. Find a location in your area. Pay $16.50 to order your produce basket. Pick up your basket on Saturday morning.

Seriously, look at what's pictured. Can you get that for $16.50 at your local supermarket?! You don't order particular food items. You just get the basket they put together for the week. They buy mostly locally grown produce and get it directly from the sellers so it's as fresh as it is when it first gets to the supermarket. They also have extra offerings like bread and other random things like Asian packs, Mexican packs (which I'll post about shortly), strawberries, etc.

Go to the website and check it out. Try it out once and see what you think. We are loving it!!