Berry Mint Smoothie.

Charlie's after-nap/pre-supper snack...

2 or 3 parts strawberries, dethawed (frozen from last year, did not make it to the berry patch this year)
1 part blue berries (Thanks Na-ma Wiste :)
1/2 part mint (from the garden)
1/2 part ice cubes

blend well, put in sippy cup with a straw, complain that you want to drink the last half with a big boy cup.

*Every time I go into the freezer, Charlie tries to sneak in to grab an ice cream bar. But he never grabs just one, he always gets me one too, the little sweet heart.

** Also, Charlie needs his own man-bag. He currently insists on carrying mine (kind of too large for him, but completely adorable).

*** Travis watched me boss Charlie around on how to load the washing machine (he insists on putting the clothes in, so I tell him which ones). He said, "Don't you do anything around here anymore?". Ha ha, I never have to alone :)

~Becky

I'm Ba-ack.

After a short break from the blog-sphere (after repeatedly short attempts at blogging), I have decided to Facebook less and blog more. Like maybe a summer break from Facebook, so instead of checking out what other people are doing, I will be doing something. And then maybe I will blog about it.

I am inspired mostly by Kali  (I love seeing what you are up to all the time!, finding out what you are thinking about in that moment, and of course wedding updates), and also by the amount of time I waste looking at other people's Facebook pages. After Charlie goes to bed. As in I try not to watch television or go on the computer while he is awake (mainly because it is better for him, but also because it is very difficult most of the time), so I am totally wasting part of my personal free time. Which we all know is very valuable.

So stay tuned... I seem to keep threatening to start, and then when I do it is a blog post about blogging.

I will add a little about my day-

- I washed and made my bed twice today. Charlie spilled milk on my clean sheets, and so I had to take them back off to wash them, and then remade it. Ha, moments like that. What else is there to say?

- Charlie rode Bob the Builder's truck at Wal-Mart, as he does mostly every time we go there. He just loves that thing.

- I blanched and froze the remaining 5 or so heads of Spring cauliflower.

- I cut and washed MANY gallons of various types of lettuce from the garden, and have been working on giving as much of it away as I can.

- Travis thinned the beets again, but this time the beets were surprisingly large. I boiled a few for his lunch, and then Charlie and I ate the rest (large portions each) for supper. I didn't know if he would like it. Will he pee red tomorrow and will that stain his diapers? Only time will tell.

- I made chocolate chip cookies with the good chocolate chips- Ghirardelli good.

That's enough for now I think :) I have to go watch Mad Men on Netflix until Trav comes home from work.

~Becky

Yoga Meltdown.

My Yoga video no longer works... I hadn't done it in a while and it was getting a little sketchy before, but now it is done for. So, today at Wal-Mart I picked up Jillian Michaels' Yoga Meltdown. There wasn't very many options, this was the cheapest, and Kali mentioned using her workout video. Well, OMG and Holy Bleep! I can hardly hold my arms up to type. And it was only a 30 minute video. Can anyone say Power Yoga? ~Becky

Breakfast (in pictures).

*Hint. If you click on the first picture, it pops up as a slide show for your viewing pleasure. 

Then just click the Right arrow to see the rest.

 Also lunch, because it was Fab! Even Pooh joined us (that's spinach from the garden, yo).

Ha ha. My kid always has a dirty face.

~Becky

Vroom, vroom. (I have a feeling this won't be the last blog post with this title.)

We had such a good run today. Its hard not to be motivated when I have my own sound effects baby, "Vroom, vroom, vroom!" much of the way. Besides the skid loader, he also brought his mini dump truck along.
Charlie got a package from his Ya Ya today with some Vroom Vroom pajamas. They won't fit long, but they do fit and he loved them. I'm kind of partial to body hugging pajamas in the hue of fire engine red anyways. (Love the new shorts, too! So cute.)


~Becky

I am in need of a new knitting project. Yeah! What shall it be? I'm thinking something Charlie related.

By train, bus and automobile.

Uncle Trum-Brum and KT should be somewhere in the Dakotas by now, heading west. Safe travels and please post some pictures if you get the chance.

Also, a link to the Milly the milking machine.

Think spring.

Trav started SO many plants already for this year, and we've been eating on some of the basil. So he brought me up some basil, cilantro, parsley, greek oregano, and italian oregano to plant for the kitchen. Love it! Charlie keeps asking to smell them.

And we're eating cheese burgers tomorrow! Going to try some homemade french-fries, too. We've still got some potatoes left. That's sort of where we are at this year... trying to eat up on some of our last years goodies so we can start fresh again.

And Charlie! We went to toddler tales yesterday at the library, and he made himself a Dr. Seuss hat. He also likes hanging out in the kitchen closet.

 

And trying on everyone else's shoes. 

He's got "Ma-ma" down now. For the longest time he would call both Trav and I, Da-da, and who knows what all else. Then he started correcting himself. Now he says it with emphasis. He's playing around with when to use it... and its just one of those special things I'll savor for ever.

 ~Becky

Becopotty.

I am proud to say, that Charlie made it 6 or 7 out of 9 or 10 times today! You know, to the potty. The Becopotty to be exact...

When he gets done using it, we're going to plant it in the garden (and you're all invited, you know, to the potty planting ceremony).

So we've been using mainly Gro-Via cloth diapers so far and they have these adorable (in my mind anyways.... weird the things that change when you have babies... I used to watch Sex and the City and dream about shoes. Actually on a side note, I may be one of the only people that think there should be a third movie. But this time Carrie and Big should have a baby! You know, because I have one AND can you imagine the clothes!?! LOVE baby clothes). Anyways, they are way too expensive for a stay-at-home mom's budget; but there's these patterns all over the internet that are similar to this style. I am hoping they will be my next project, but if so, I had best get sewing!


~Becky

And a major PS side note.
I just talked to my Dad, who was still out in the barn when I called, because my Mum was prettying up Millie (the cow). Apparently tomorrow people are coming from the Dairy Star or some such newspaper to photograph her. At least according to DHIA records, she is currently the oldest and highest producing cow in all of Minnesota! Congrats ol' gal!

My crazy camera.

My friend Bill thinks the picture orientation issue may be with Blogger! I think I might write an email.

Delicioso.

Trav came up with our first fresh basil yesterday and it smelled like heaven. I tossed it with spaghetti and a little olive oil; served with delicious sauce (a canning recipe, again from Percy) and good quality Parmesan. 

And today, Charlie was asking to help with something, just anything, in the kitchen (he asks by bringing me over to the step stool and signing "please"). So we made Charlie's signature dish- JELLO!

 

 

*From an internet search, it seems that people with Cannon cameras sometimes have troubles with proper picture orientation. I tried a few of the "solutions", but nothings working for me yet. Annoying.

~Becky

Breakfast Pizza.

Trav's been working late, so we've been eating breakfasts that are easily made again at a later time. Hence, breakfast pizza, baked in a cast-iron pan. He got his own when he woke up.

I made Percy's pizza recipe last week, but froze half of it. I also substituted some wheat flour for white. Last night I took it out of the freezer and let it set at room-temperature. It is such a great recipe and froze pretty well. A full batch of the dough makes five to six regular cast-iron size pizzas, medium crust.

 And imagine his daddy's surprise when he got to work and found a baby in his lunch box!

 

Actually he's sleeping right now; poor little teether.


~Becky

Morning waffles and a walk.

Charlie has a very serious opinion regarding breakfast; I am looking forward to him being able to tell me what it is. This particular waffle Wednesday we were out of syrup, however he did not seem to mind as he had applesauce and peaches instead. Plus much healthier.

And our new routine- going for a walk after breakfast. I love this outfit on him, though it 

obviously needs a wash (sorry, still don't know what's up with my picture orientation). We also typically go for a walk after lunch and before supper, at  his request.

~Becky

Bread crumbs.

Homemade bread crumbs...
I left a few slices of olderish bread setting out, ground it up a few hours later, and then let it set out over night. Viola! I mixed in a few herbs, a little paprika, oregano and thyme, and a little salt and pepper. Way better than boughten bread crumbs, and I used them to make some of the fish my  Daddy caught for me ice-fishing (along with fried potatoes of course, still from our garden though they are starting to look their age).

And a fresh batch of Hearth Bread.

~Becky

A Bad Case of the Giggles.

Turn on your volume, someone's got a case of the giggles. This has been a very common occurance in the last couple of days, for some reason. It also makes him laugh to listen to this.

*The audio was taken on a cell phone, so its not of the best quality. The kid is though.