Spoiled doggy

Don't know what we would do without him!

Suprise Pictures on our Phones

You just never know what pictures you might find on your cell phone after the kids have been playing with them. Here are just a couple... welcome to our world :)

Roads on the Smooth Top??

Here is what the kids were busy at one day... Can you see the parking lots, round-about and roads?

July 4th

Time to get caught up on some older pictures that I need to get posted...
Here are some from the 4th of July.


This is where the kids watched the fireworks from... Had a good view above all the heads and vehicles in front of us :)




Craft time!

Gluten Free Recipe - Carrot Cake

Yummy Carrot Cake

3 cups flour (I used the feather-lite mix)
2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp soda
1 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
4 eggs
2 cups sugar
2 tsp vanilla
1 1/3 cups oil
4 cups grated carrots

Beat eggs, add sugar, vanilla and oil and mix well. Add combined dry ingredients. Mix. Add grated carrots. Bake at 250 for 35 to 40 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

Cream Cheese Icing

1 8-oz package cream cheese
4 tblsp butter
2 tsp vanilla
2 cups icing sugar
2 tblsp milk

Our little Fall Garden

Down here, you can plant 2 gardens - one in beginning of March, and the other in September. We miss our garden alot, and can't dig a spot here where we are renting, so we decided to try it again in pots and see how it works. So far, so good, except the lettuce never came up. I will replant that in the next few days. But here is what we have so far. Have to water every evening, and sometimes do just a little in the late afternoon too. The beans wilt very easy, so I just moved them so they won't be in direct sunlight and see if that helps. Looking forward to fresh veggies sometime in late Oct or early November. Will seem funny to pick veggies when we are used cold weather and sometimes snow at that time :)



Green beans


Tomatos


Green peppers


Carrots

Grandparents day at the kids school

The kids school has all kinds of activities that allow parents to participate which is fun. 2 weeks ago, it was Granparents day. The kids were sad that they couldn't have their real grandparents there, but were happy to ask some that we go to meeting with to be "grandma and grandpa" for the day. We got to meet them for lunch. Today was family picnic day where we took a blanket and a picnic basket and met them on the school playground at lunchtime for a picnic. Fun!! But I forgot my camera :(


With Pedersons and Lustys


Kylee "loves" her hugs... thats what all the laughing was about :)

Hummingbirds and more hummingbirds!!

This is what our hummingbird feeder looks like some days lately. Seems that we are in their migration path. Very interesting to watch all the action. Some days we go through 3 cups of water/sugar a day! Then for a day or so, goes down to 1 cup. One of the friends here has a video of hundreds of them at his 4 feeders at once!

Gluten Free Recipe - Rosemary Ranch Grilled Chicken

Another one that we tried and really liked... I have found it hard to find a good marinade recipe..so sharing. I halfed this recipe and it was lots for our family.

Rosemary Ranch Grilled Chicken
1/2 cup olive oil
1/2 cup ranch dressing
1 TBLSP of poultry seasoning
2 tsp salt
1 tsp lemon juice
1 tsp white vinegar
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 TBLSP white sugar (optional)
5 boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into quarters

1. In a medium bowl, stir together the oil, ranch, seasoning, salt, lemon juice, vinegar, salt, pepper and sugar. Let stand for 5 minutes. Place chicken in the bowl and stir to coat with the marinade. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
2. Preheat the frill for medium heat.
3. Lightly oil the grill grate. Grill for 8-12 minutes or until the chicken is no longer pink in center and juices run clear.