Apple Picking...

Our whole clan, Aunt Kel, Uncle Scott, Cousin Tanner, Yia-Yia and Granny all headed out to do some apple picking at Eckert's Farm this morning. We brought home enough apples to last us longer than they will probably keep (I even plan on making pjw a pie tomorrow) but it was the extra curricular activities that made the trip.

There were piggy races, one of C's favorites of course, pony rides and a petting zoo....it was great weather and the tractor ride into the orchard was a big hit with Chaney. Keaton spent most of the trip asleep in Granny's arms, but I'm sure she enjoyed being outside.

I was also thoroughly impressed with Miss Tanner's pony riding skills...I think she may need to join us for the big Ava Celebration next year. (Perfect riding posture!) C also loved the ponies and spent the entire ride making horse sounds. (In fact I had a hard time getting a picture that looks like she was having fun because she was constantly smacking her lips making her very realistic horse noises. We have already vowed to teach Keaton to make more cartoonish animal noises; neigh, oink, etc. Chaney sounds like the guy who takes Steve Martin and John Candy to the train station in Planes Trains and Automobiles...."Train don't run outta Whitchita lessin' you're a hog or a cattle"...does anyone else get that reference?)

Some pictures from the big outing...

Chaney is still sleeping....

I am recommitting myself to the blog this morning; at least one post a week...

As I type this it is 10:16 and Chaney is still sleeping. She had an extra large day yesterday, hitting her first parade in the morning and then parting with the Dirksen and Flemming girls at the Movies in the the Park last night. (that is 7 little girls...yes all girls for PJW and his two buddies...think thats God's payback for misbehavior in their younger days?)

All else is great here. Keaton is a happy baby, sleeping well and making our lives fairly easy. Chaney is hamming it up at every opportunity, bocking like a chicken, woofing at nellie-and every other dog that she passes....

Here is a picture of C at the parade yesterday....(it is now 10:27 and still not a peep from C)

First of all...HAPPY BIRTHDAY LOLA! Congrats to the Wade family...now one member larger! Yeah!!!

So we have been having all kinds of fun since my last post. We've been to the Zoo, The Botanical Gardens and Chaney is a regular at the City Children's Garden. (I've posted several pictures of all our adventures below) Needless to say we have all enjoyed the recent cooler weather!

The Lafayette Square bike race is today so we have plans later this afternoon to venture out into the streets to take in all the festivities. One of the races prior to the professional race is a tricycle race for the kiddos. I cant wait until the girls are big enough to enter; there are a couple of neighborhood boys who are regulars and i look forward to being able to tease their trash talking dads when my girls smoke their boys!

As I am sure you all have marked on your calendars, Tiger football starts tomorrow! Great Aunt Johnna (GAJ) sent the girls some new Tiger wear and we are all very excited about getting geared up for the big game. (They have had some pink Tiger gear in the past, but this is their first real black and gold team wear.) Getting into the football spirit I wanted to share a recipe for what is officially called "TACO SOUP"....but its become my new chili recipe...yummy! (Its super easy and taste even better reheated.)

Enjoy and GO TIGERS!!

1lb Ground Turkey
1 Small Onion (i use red)
1 pkg Ranch Dressing Dry Mix
1 pkg Taco Seasoning
1 can Pinto Beans
1 can Chili Hot Beans
1 can Whole Corn
1 can Mexican Flavor Diced Tomatoes
1 can Regular Diced Tomatoes

Brown the turkey with the onion and ranch mix then just dump everything into a large pot. (don't drain anything, dump juices and all) Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer for about 20 minutes.

A few pics from the last couple of weeks....

PJW got K a cow to be a companion to C's Piggy. But based on this picture I'm not sure she's loving cow as much as C loves Piggy.

I picked up some of those frozen "flavor-ice" ice pops at the store the other day thinking they would be a fun treat for Chaney..not only does she love them but UB, Dad and Mom have enjoyed them too! (a lot of after dinner, "What color do you want? What flavor is green? Didn't you have red yesterday; was it cherry or strawberry?") Which made me wonder why do we stop eating the yummy things we used to love? How good are animal crackers, peanut butter on soft bread, grilled cheese?? Another benefit of having kids...

Below is what Granny calls the "best banana bread recipe ever". She says shes tried "at least a hundred recipes". Im not sure about the numbers, but she does have a big birthday coming up so it might be accurate. (C, and by proximity Nellie too, has eaten about a loaf already this weekend!)

BEST BANANA BREAD EVER!

Oven 350

1/2 stick (4-5 tblsp) butter - softened
2 eggs
2/3 cup sugar
Cream together

1 1/3 cups flour
3/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp soda
1/4 tsp powder
1/2 tsp cinnamon

Mix together and stir into creamed mixture with wooden spoon - Don't use mixer

2-3 RIPE bananas (I often use those I have frozen that were going bad before I could use) Smash - get as creamy as possible so no banana chunks (I use fork)- Stir into above mixture

Makes 2 small loaves or 1 large - 30 min for small - 50 min for large
Freezes Super! Wrap in plastic and then in foil if freeze.

Here is an recent picture of Keaton. She's doing much better with her eating and turning into a fat and happy baby. (or we are just getting used to her constant spitting up and its not so stressfull anymore!) She is sleeping usually till 5:00ish and then chugging a bottle and passing out again, except for last night when she was up at 1:30...And unfortunately for Patrick,before we went to bed last night he was trying to be helpful and offered to get her when she woke up. Because he had to work this morning I made him a deal that if she got up before 2:00, which she hadn't done in a couple of weeks, he could get her...otherwise I would get her. I think it was exactly 1:38 when she woke up-ha!

Its been a while since my last post, we have been a bit crazy here! I have officially left Sonnenschein and have been focused on signing up a few clients to keep me busy while I spend most of my time with the girls. We have also had a house full of sickies. Patrick and Chaney have been fighting colds over the last week and Keaton now seems to be coming down with one herself. I have somehow managed to avoid the bug. Its refreshing for me, after 18 months of pregnancy, to be the healthy one in the family that is taking care of everyone else.

Even with all the chaos, Patrick and I were able to get away to Kansas City last weekend. We had a great time, mostly catching up on sleep, eating some good meals and have a few drinks. However, The good times were interrupted with a call from Uncle Blake letting us know the AC was broken. Ug, oh well....

While we where gone Chaney stayed Friday night with yia-yia and poppy and Saturday with pa pa and Annette. Keaton stayed with Granny in her new place off the park. (very handy) The picture below is of Chaney and her acorns. She loves her acorns. She has acorns and pa pa Werner's and walnuts at Grandpa Luna's. Grandpa Luna is convinced she is going to grow up to own a chain of Walnut Bowl stores in Lebanon. I wonder if there's money in walnut bowls?