She Can Be Taught!

Last time I made my own vanilla, I didn't realize before hand that it took three months. This time, I learned from my past mistake and started on my second batch when the first one was about half empty. Fingers crossed the timing turned out better this time!

A New System for Ruthie's Food

Ruthie is at the stage now where she vastly prefers to feed herself. She's been feeding herself grapes, cheese stick, banana, avocado and Os for a while, but we felt it was time to give her more independence. So this week, she got to feed herself pears and peas and today, I made a batch of cubed sweet potatoes and carrots.

At first, I made tiny little chunks to lay out in the freezer but I quickly grew tired of spreading them all out and thought slices would freeze just as nicely, maybe even better.

Here is a photo of the finished product.

Categories For Grandparents - a Hannah Story

Speaking of grandparents (see post below), we were babysitting the two youngest Marsh kids when the topic came up with them. Ian asked Hannah how many grandpa's she had. "Two," she said. "One that lives in Colorado and one that goes to Disneyland."

I hope that someday that is how my grandchildren think of me!

Love Hannah stories? See more here and here.

I Love Nice Neighbors

I was deep in the throws of replenishing my bread stock when I realized I was out of butter. Well, I actually knew I was out of butter but I forgot that I needed 3 tablespoons in my dough- I thought I just needed it to brush the top of the loaves after they were baked, which after waiting several hours for them to rise, I would have been to the store and back.

Anyway, all that to say that I found myself out of butter and my bread was rising, rising, rising and I had just put Ruthie down for a nap.

So, I grabbed the monitor and headed out the door to the next door neighbor's. We are pretty good fronds with them and I have actually borrowed ingredients from them before (as have they).

Thankfully, my neighbor was home and she gave me a huge chunk of butter. I tried to tell her I only needed three tablespoons, but you know how friendly people are - they always give you more than you need.

Which really turned in my favor, since I was also making an apple pie that day (Ian's grandparents were coming over for dinner that night - I don't usually make such a fancy dessert for just the two of us). So I had enough butter for my bread and my pie crust! Hooray for nice neighbors.

Disneyland After Work

For the first time, we decided to brave the Magic Kingdom on a work day. It has been so fun! (We are still here - Ian is taking Ruthie on the ride of tiny death circles, also known as King Triton's Carousel. I can't even stand to watch them. But they sure look cute!!

Sometimes...

You just have to do the dishes in the buff.

"Helping"

Ruthie is so helpful with her laundry...

Seriously, her favorite game is taking things out - out of drawers, cupboards, baskets, you name it!

Life with Ruthie

Time for another Life with Ruthie post. Not to get all crazy on you, but just yesterday when I picked Ruthie up after her afternoon nap and sat down in our chair to nurse, I was moved to tears at how amazing she is and what a gift from the Lord she is and how I am just so thankful that He answered our prayers!

Anyway, I'll let the photos do the talking. Here she is, playing with her cousins (don't mind Abbie - Mary is potty training, hence the no pants). She gets lots o' love from these cousins. And lots of bossing. But what goes around comes around - just wait, little Clare!

Ruthie now has her own drawer in the kitchen. Before we had kids, I used to think that I wouldn't be like those "other" parents, who totally inconveniced themselves just to give their kids what they wanted. But now, I completely get it. I want to say yes to Ruthie; I want to give her things that make her happy.

And this drawer? It makes her very, very happy. So it is truly no inconvenience at all to have it propped open (see the red potholder in the corner?) and have to walk around it, nor is it inconvenient that I can no longer use that drawer myself but had to rearrange the drawer above it to make it all fit. I just take one look at her happy face as she is digging around in there and joy fills my heart.

Ruthie and Ian love bath time. Don't they look so great together?

Ah, the joys of the DVD drawer. This is the first time she ever discovered it, and man, oh, man, did she think she had died and gone to heaven. But look at that face? How could we tell her no? I know, I know, we're in for it.

I leave you with one more photo. See why I praise God for her every day?

Two Frugal Activities, One Verdict

I think I mentioned that we are selling some of our books. Other than the aforementioned issue at the post office, it has been going great. We've sold about $45 dollars worth, which really isn't that much money, but it's at least a night out (if we score some free babysitting). It also means less clutter around our house, which is always a good thing. And, it's good for the earth for us to use things and then let someone else use them, instead of always buying things new. So, win-win-win.

That is frugal activity number one. The second is recycling bottles. This past weekend, we celebrated Ian's 30th birthday with a huge bash at our house. I combined several of Ian's great loves, beer and cheese, for a beer tasting party that also included a dart tournament, pizza, lots of snacks and beer bottle centerpieces. Ian had a great time (thanks to all of you who were there!) and the party was smashing success, if I do say so myself.

Back to the point.

At the end of the night, we had more beer bottles than a frat house after spring break. So, I thought I would make some of our money back by taking it to the recycle center. Yesterday, about 15 minutes before Ruthie's nap, I throw the bottles into the car, toss in Ruthie and head off to the center, which is less than 3 minutes in the car.

Sadly, though, that center was out of order. So then I had to drive 10 minutes to the next closest one, which of course had a big line. Ruthie's melting down now, since I cut it too close to her nap, so I put her on the Bjorn. When it's finally my turn, I'm tossing the bottles in like there is no tomorrow and last dregs of beer are dripping all over me and Ruthie. After putting in what felt like a hundred bottles, I push the green button to get my receipt, guess what my total was?

A whopping $3.60.

Verdict? Selling books, good. Taking bottles to the recycling center? Not worth my time and effort. There are easier ways to make $3.60. Don't worry, we'll still recycle them - I'll just be letting someone else get the money.

And you know how I know this? I am doing the watering while I blog and I just went out to change the sprinkler and found someone digging through my trash, pulling out bottles. More power to you, sir.

A Final Look at Summer

As you know, Ian is back at work and Ruthie and I are re-adjusting to our daily routines with just the two of us. She still frequently looks at the door in the morning, expecting Daddy to come in, so it's clear she loved summertime and having him home. Obviously, so did I.

In pictures, here is a little bit more of what we did with our summer:

We spent five days in the family cabin at Huntington - my heart is always happy there, and even more so now that Ruthie and Ian go with me.

Despite how this picture looks, the weather was actually absolutely perfect! All three of us spent time in the water and enjoyed the warm weather. It was a wonderful week.

We also went to the LA Zoo. It was really fun - very hot that day, but fun. I loved how different the LA Zoo felt than the San Diego zoo; much more urban and low key. Both have their advantages!

Naturally, we spent lots of time out of doors in our very own Long Beach. Here we are on a walk down by the water. Hello, cruise ship and Queen Mary!

We also spent a day at the Long Beach Aquarium, but somehow I don't have a photo of it.

It was a wonderful summer - I love being married to a teacher!

Salad Trio

I recently had my mother over for lunch. I love having my mother over. She always says such nice things about my house, my baby, my cooking...it's great. Anyway, I really wanted to showcase our garden, since we've been having so much fun with it. Plus, when I was out to lunch recently at Macaroni Grill with some friends I used to work with, I saw the table next to use order a Salad Trio and thought it was such a good idea. Here is how mine came out:

It is chicken curry salad (which has no connection to our garden, but was still yummy),  a tomato, basil, mozzarella salad I made up with tomatoes and basil from our garden, and a delicious zucchini and squash (grown with our very own hands) salad with a vinaigrette dressing I got off Frugal Girl. Such a lovely lunch, cool and delicious on a hot summer day.

Come again soon, Mom!