Kids' Views

Some pictures from the kids' camera...

 Self-portrait

Dolly display

 Light saber fun

If looks could kill...

 Kitties in Phoenix

 Home in the "barn"

My beautiful little ladies.

Birthday Weekend

Here are some party pics...

 Peter asked for a "military party", so the "cake/battlefield" is brownies topped with chocolate pudding and crushed oreos.

 Nothing to do with the party, but look, Mom- I haven't killed your plants yet- they actually seem happy! They loved their time under Christian's lights for the seedlings.

 Peter was such a trooper- his youngest 3 siblings wrapped up some old toys to give to him- he accepted them very graciously, when he could've responded, "I don't want your old, naked baby doll!"

He got a very cool book on military planes from Trevor- something they already talk about on a regular basis.

The twinsies are officially not toddlers anymore- can't believe we're starting school with them this summer! (Pre-K)

 Captain Auntie Grace and troops

 I just don't have enough pictures of Auntie Yaya on here.

 I'm blowing fire out of my mouth, can't you see? We found Tapatio flavored doritos (P's favorite salsa)! Pretty awesome.

 Peter and his buddy, Noah

The youngest of the cousins, for the moment (still waiting for Felicity!)

On Saturday we made a trip to Phx to visit Faith/Gary and pick up a kitten...which somehow ended up being two kittens. :)

Meet Moses and Courageous! (Moses is the grey/white one, named after a kitten in a James Herriott story; Courageous is the orange/white one so-named because he was the boldest one in the bunch)

 Feeling the love...

The kitties have since moved out to the "barn" where they are quite happy to play and sleep and eat and one day catch lots of mice (fingers crossed)!

11

 Happy Birthday, Peter!!!! 11 years ago you made your grand entrance into the world, and our lives were changed forever! I love watching you grow and learn (except maybe Math, right?)! You are becoming more self-controlled, compassionate, kind, brave, inquisitive, smart, thoughtful, funny....every day! Thanks for being our oldest kid and helping us learn to be better parents. We love you!

Picnic

Saturday we went on a little hike and picnic, since Daddy wasn't feeling too great and wanted to take a break from working in the garden.

 

Fort? Surprisingly the kids left it alone- the water was too big of a draw.

I just love how 3 year olds dress. :)

 Skipping stones, checking out various pond life.

Picnic!

 Climbing the "hill". The pond was actually in a little basin that is apparently used as a water hole for the elk.

The kids had a lot of fun exploring, learning physical boundaries (can I walk on this steep, rocky place without falling? Am I brave enough to walk in the mucky pond?). It was nice for us grown-ups to be back in the trees, smelling the pine- we miss it!

Oh, YUM

Here's a couple of go-to recipes for when you have 5 kids and you "all of a sudden" discover that you're completely out of bread (not like anyone I know...)

"Irish" Soda Bread- 1 hour total

-the above picture is 1/4 loaf- couldn't get the camera out fast enough, but the whole loaf was enough for our whole family as a side; maybe a 10" diameter?-

 (is it really Irish? Beat's me, but it's so tasty! A little sweet; went really well with our ham and bean soup.)

Ingredients:

2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour

2 cups unbleached white flour

1 cup old-fashioned oats

1/4 c. brown sugar

1tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

1 cup+ milk

3 T apple cider vinegar

6 T melted butter

2 eggs

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375* and lightly grease baking sheet.

2. Mix dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl. 

3. Make a well in the middle and add the rest of the ingredients.

4. The dough should be kinda sticky, not like a yeast dough- add more flour or milk if it's too wet or dry.

5. Knead lightly a few times to shape into a round.

6. Place onto baking sheet and slice a deepish X across the round (like in quarters).

7. If you want, you can sprinkle it with oats. It looks pretty, but then they just fall off and you have to sweep up more.

8. Bake at 375* for 45-50 minutes, it shouldn't be squishy in the middle.

9. Cool on a rack.

Middle Eastern Flatbread

-maybe 20 minutes total; makes 8 flat breads, 7-8" diameter-

Ingredients:

2 cups warm water

2 T yeast

4 T sugar

5 cups+ flour (white, whole wheat, or a mixture)

1/4 cup oil

2 tsp salt

Directions

1. Mix water, yeast, sugar, and 2 cups flour and let it rest 10 minutes to make a "sponge".

2. Pour sponge into a mixing bowl and add the rest of the ingredients. Higher elevations will need a little more flour.

3. Using a dough hook, set the mixer on low and let it run 10 minutes. Or knead it by hand for 10 minutes.

4. Turn on a griddle to High.

5. Form dough into 8 balls

6. When the griddle is good and hot, roll out 2 balls of dough at a time(maybe in between 1/8 and 1/4"?) into circles.

7. Put on griddle and cook until bubbly (maybe 30 seconds?), flip over for another 20 seconds or so.

8. Repeat with remaining balls of dough.

9. Eat with hummus. Or rice/meat. Or butter. Or cinnamon. Or butter AND cinnamon. Or use as pizza crust... you get the picture.