C A M P D A Y!

After the morning services yesterday, everybody headed out to the grounds for camp day. We grilled beef that was chopped up and eaten with different salsas and fresh tortillas, rice, and beans. There was fun for the whole family! I think that everyone had a good time. . . I'm not a very good judge of that because I'm standing around worrying about what is or should be happening or where in the world AJ got the bottle of soda he's carrying around.

We couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day!

Adrian did a great job directing the games!

Being the pastor's kids does have its perks! Olivia and AJ loved riding with daddy on the golfcart!

Sometimes you have to share those perks

Sara started a great waterballoon fight!

Fun for the adults! Couples had to navigate their way through some cones while the driver was blindfolded. Now that was interesting! (all those summers at Northland Camp sure do pay off now and then!)

Now what could he be thinking??

MMMMM! The smell of meat on the grill! Everytime we eat Carne Asada (grilled meat), I am reminded of the verses that describe our sacrifices as a sweet smelling savor to God. Can you imagine the wonderful smells that filled the air as the priests offered the sacrifices for the people? What a picture set in your senses! This is about the only time cows smell good... when they are offered up on the grill. The same with my life. As I die to myself and live for the Lord, the aroma of such a living sacrifice fills the air. If not.... well you've smelled cows before!

As long as there is a Chick-fil-A down the road, I will GLADLY pass by McDonalds, BK, Taco Bell, etc. I used to think that Chick-fil-A was really good, but a bit expensive for a fast food pit stop. I still think it is pricier than it's competitors, but Chick-fil-A has won my business. How?

• Chicken that looks like real chicken
• Special bendy straws for the kids drinks
• Somewhat educational toys in the kid's meals
• PLASTIC PLACEMATS THAT STICK ON THE TABLE!!!!
• Fast Drive thru's (most of the time)
• Cashiers who smile
• LEMONADE!!
• If you don't like the toy, you can trade it in for an ice-cream!

Eat More Chikin'!

"This is interesting. . . mom left Olivia's step-stool here in the kitchen. Hmmmm. . . I wonder what would happen if I pushed it... o.k. there. I pushed it. Now what do I do?? I know! I'll climb it! MMMMM. . . grapes! I love grapes! Mom never gives me this many.... Uh -oh here she comes, maybe if I don't look she won't notice that I'm standing here eating all the grapes. Whew! She's walking away. . . here she comes again. . . *FLASH* . . . time to put the grapes back".

This n That

Olivia and I sat down with the sidewalk chalk yesterday to plan her birthday. We drew her cake. Pink. We drew her balloons. Pink. We drew the dress that daddy is going to buy for her. Pink. We drew the spider that wants a bite of the cake. Pink. Can you see an obvious theme developing? I love it! But if you aren't smiling at the mere girliness yet, here's the conversation we had this morning.

Olivia: Mommy, what's daddy doing?

Mommy: Daddy is spreading fertilizer on the grass... it will make the grass pretty.

Olivia: Is it going to be PINK?

We made breakfast burritos this morning. Olivia enjoyed stirring the eggs, and boy were those eggs stirred by the time I needed them! For our breakfast burritos, I just brown a pack of Jimmy Dean sausage, add a drained can of Rotel, let it simmer for a little bit, and then add about 6-8 beaten eggs. Top with Cheddar Jack cheese and yum!!!!! Served with fresh homemade tortillas! I did take a picture of it, but the picture looked scary.... I'm not a food stylist =)

Fresh Homemade Tortillas

(this recipe has been tweaked since I last posted the recipe):

3 c. flour

2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. baking powder

7 Tbs Crisco

1 cup warm water

Whisk the flour, salt, and baking powder together. Smoosh in the crisco with your hands until it is nice and crumbly. Add the water and stir with a wooden spoon. Add a little more flour until the dough is soft but not sticky. Knead the dough for a few minutes. Form in a log and cut it into 16 pieces of dough. Place the dough balls onto a cookie sheet, cover with plastic wrap and let sit for about 15 minutes. In the meantime, heat up your flat-top griddle or skillet. Roll each dough ball in flour and roll out on a board, flipping it over each time you roll it back and forth. Don't worry if they aren't round. If they are round, give yourself a hand! Place on hot griddle (listen for the sizzle). Flip after about 8 seconds. Flip again after 5 seconds. Flip one more time for another 5 seconds. Stack tortillas in a towel if you don't have a tortilla warmer. If anyone is really interested in making tortillas, and could use pictures... let me know. I can take pictures next time I make them.

I'm also experimenting with CUPCAKES. These are my Oopsie Orange cupcakes. They were so good, and I'm a little shocked they turned out. I was using the recipe for a yellow cake, then dropped the page in the middle of making them. When I put the page back up, I accidentally put up the other side of the page which had a recipe for the white cake and proceeded to finish the recipe. Oops! I don't know what went into these things, but they sure turned out! Just add fresh squeezed orange juice and zest to the cupcake batter and to the buttercream frosting.

Random Picture of the Day

They both insist on having their own "book with the notes" while "pwaying priano"

I'm Beginning to See the Light!

So I'm watching one of my shows when a commercial captured my attention. I wish I had the exact words, but it was a Kraft commercial advertising their newest salad dressing. Have you seen it? They enthusiastically declared something along the line that Kraft now has a salad dressing made with real ingredients... no artificial flavors or preservatives. I'm thinking, hmmmm... what have I been eating up until Kraft decided to use real ingredients... who else isn't using real ingredients... this is scary. Alex and I often joke about chicken nuggets, and how it probably isn't chicken, just a formula that makes it taste and look like chicken. Maybe we weren't too far off.

Lest you think I'm ready to start grinding my own wheat, let me assure you that I still have a tube of French bread in the fridge. I just need to start educating myself a little more about prepackaged stuff, and make some necessary substitutions.

Thank You Sweetie

Forget "My dad can beat up your dad", Olivia was bragging on her mommy today at church. She apparently insisted to all the children that her mom was the BIGGEST mommy. Hmmm... and in some strange way... I'm flattered.

Little Miss Fancy Pants

Today I blew the dust off the sewing machine and set to work on a little project I've been wanting to do ever since Olivia started wearing "pantsies". She wears dresses everyday. She LOVES her dresses, and that was fine when she wore bulky diapers underneath. Mom here doesn't particularly like it when her cute little Cinderella "pantsies" are flashed before the world. So, I bought a pattern for shorts, some white cotton fabric, a little lace, elastic, thread.... and voila! Instant modesty! (Maybe not so instant... I am a little rusty) They need to be shortened and tapered a little, but I am sooo thrilled that I just MADE SOMETHING!! A desire accomplished is sweet to the soul!