Opening Day at Busch Staduim

I'm a girly girl.

The talk of baseball and cars that seems to be on endless loop around here really doesn't interest me at all, but I remembered that today was opening day at Busch Staduim so I dressed Jacob in his Cardinals jersey. 

When I showed him to Frank (who was also dressed in a Cardinals shirt today), Frank said, "Did you know the Cardinals play a minor league team today?" 

"They do?"

"Yeah, and why are you in blue?"

"I don't know. I just put on this shirt.  Who do they play?  Someone whose color is blue?"

"The Cubs!  They play the Cubs!  Get it, "minor league?"  You should put on a different shirt."

Jacob chimes in with, "Yeah!" 

Obviously, I am easily confused, so it's just not nice to mess with me like that!

(I actually took these pictures a few weeks ago when I was nice outside.  Today was chilly and rainy.)

Raining on my Parade

I'm seeing some intentional humor creep into Jacob's actions and vocabulary.  It's actually pretty funny because he'll do or say something that's totally off the wall, and then he giggles at himself and looks at us like, "Aren't I hilarious?"

The other night, I was changing him into his pajamas and singing, "You Are My Sunshine."  After I finished, he gives me a little smile and very emphatically states, "I take your sunshine away, mama!  I put water on it!" 

Such a naughty little dude.

Coloring Easter Eggs and Resurrection Rolls

On Thursday evening, our family project was coloring Easter eggs.  Have you ever colored Easter eggs with a 2 year old?  It will keep you on your toes!

First, I thought I'd hold him and he could tell me which colors to make the eggs. 

But J prefers to work independently.

He was also really more interested in the egg dipper than anything else.

Frank caught him and brought him back to the table.

Fortunately, Frank, who claims (loudly) to hate these projects, is turning into quite the fine Easter egg-colorer.

By the time the kids are old enough to know what's going on, we'll be pros!  Frank even commented afterwards that these were some of the prettiest eggs we've ever done!

On the morning of Good Friday, I decided to make Resurrection Rolls.  Have you heard about these?

Here is what you need:

• 1 can refrigerated crescent roll dough
• 8 large marshmallows
• Melted butter
• Cinnamon
• Sugar

Directions:

• Give each child one triangle shaped section of crescent roll. This represents the tomb.
• Each child takes one marshmallow which represents the body of Christ.
• Dip the marshmallow in the butter and roll in cinnamon and sugar mixture. This represents the oils and spices the body was anointed with upon burial.
• Lay the marshmallow on the dough and carefully wrap it around the marshmallow.
• Make sure all seams are pinched together well. (Otherwise the marshmallow will "ooze" out of the seams)
• Bake in a preheated 400 degree oven for 10-12 minutes
• Cool.
• Break open the tomb and the body of Christ is no longer there--- HE IS RISEN!  (The marshmallow disappears into the roll while baking)

Such a neat illustration!  I knew Jacob was a little young for the symbolism, but he loved the cinnamon and sugar! 

Pasta and Asparagus

We are asparagus people.  I'm always looking for new ways to prepare it in the spring. 

For lunch today, we had Pasta and Asparagus.  It was sooo good, I wanted to share the recipe.

Pasta with AsparagusSkinnytaste.com
Ingredients:

• 1 lb thin asparagus, cut into 2" pieces (tough ends trimmed)
• 6 oz uncooked pasta
• 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 3 cloves garlic, crushed
• salt and fresh cracked pepper
• 1 large egg yolk
• 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese

Directions:

In a large pot boil 4 cups water with salt. When boiling, add asparagus and cook 3-5 minutes, until tender crisp. Drain asparagus in colander reserving 1 cup liquid before draining.

Fill pot with salted water, cover and boil for pasta. When water boils cook pasta according to package directions for al dente.

Meanwhile, in a sauté pan heat olive oil. Add garlic and cook until golden, add asparagus, salt and pepper and sauté about 1-2 minutes, tossing with oil and garlic.

In a small bowl combine egg yolk, Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, 1/4 cup reserved asparagus liquid, salt and pepper. Mix well. After pasta is drained return to pot and mix with egg mixture. Cook on medium-low about 2 minutes, until sauce thickens and sticks to pasta. Toss in asparagus and mix well. Adjust salt and pepper to taste. If pasta seems too dry add more reserved liquid a tablespoon at a time.

Serve with additional grated cheese

Image via

Still Here

I'm still here!

Teaching has kept me very busy during the past few weeks, and I was picked up for two more classes during the May-June session.  I'm happy for the extra money because it seems like we've had a lot of extra bills recently. 

When I'm not working, we've been outside as much as possible.  This is my kind of spring!!
I leave you with a picture of Jacob that I took before church last Sunday.  Sunglasses + dolphin = cool dude.

Overheard

*****

Jacob:  I love you mama.  You're a good boy.  (giggles) 

Me:  What the heck is that?  Seriously, our whole house is falling apart.  I don't even know how that can happen.  (After seeing a screw rising out of the perfectly smooth finish of our desk.) 

How do you even fix that?

Frank:  My lawn owns all these other lawns.


Jacob:  No work, mama.  Hold you.  (reapat at least 10x)


Me:  The cat was looking at me funny before we left the house, slinking around like she threw up somewhere and is waiting for me to find it.
Frank:  That's nuts.
After returning home, I found cat barf on the throw rug in the hall. 


Me:  (At WalMart, realizing that I'm completely blocking this lady's access to the grapes)  Oh, sorry.
Lady:  That's ok.  You were humming "The Old Rugged Cross."  I didn't mind waiting.


Frank:  (Armed with a giant jug of Round-Up) The secret is to get the dandelions before they become puffballs.


Jacob:  (Waking up from his nap and hearing the neighbors' lawn service) Daddy home!  I hear mower!  Daddy have mower!

*****

Shareholders' Meeting

Last Saturday, my extended family got together for a little lunch party.  We call them "Shareholders' Meetings, " because mom and her brothers are shareholders in a land trust... we kids aren't shareholders but we got invited anyway... and saying, "Shareholders' Meeting" sounds way cooler than, "lunch party."  I hadn't seen most of my cousins since last summer, so it was especially nice to catch up. 

The lunch was organized by my Aunt Susie and held at their chuch, which was gave us plenty of room and even a little playground area for the kids.  The decorations were bright and springy!

(Should have gotten a picture before people started eating the cupcakes!)

After we ate, we sat around talking and playing...

 Aunt Susie, Jess, Wil, Kara, and Aunt Susie's mom "Grandma Meister"

 Rob, Wil, Dad, and Frank

 Nate and Rob

Uncle Ron, Uncle Randy and Frank, discussing Frank's encounter

with a judge who knew Uncle Randy, and yes, the story WAS

that hilarious!

Angie and Heather.  Heather NEVER wants her picture taken- this is like getting

a photo of the Easter Bunny, it's that rare.  I was hiding behind a plant at the time.

The party slowly began to move outside.  Guess who led the charge? 

That would be my kid with no shoes.

Colton, 13 months

Colt and McKenna racing down the slide

Shaelah and Sofia

It's possible that after finding out about Dad's door-to-door campaigning skills,

Adam is hiring him as a full-time staffer in this picture. ;)

The Shareholders- discussing business!

Such a fun afternoon!