12 years and counting...

Tuesday was our 12th anniversary!  We were going to go rollerblading in the morning, but it had rained the night before(finally!  We have needed rain) so it was too wet.  Sleeping in was nice though.  We loaded up the kids and went out to Arlington to get some stuff for Chris's shoes then found an awesome park to play at.  We didn't stay too long though.  Not only was it hot, but there were giant ants dropping on us from the trees.  But we will be back when it's cooler and the ants aren't falling out of the trees- there are some great hiking trails and walking/biking trails out there too that we would like to explore.
   We had my sister come over and babysit the kids that evening(thank you!)and Chris and I (and the baby) went out to dinner at the Salt Lick steak house.  It was very tasty!
     Over all- a great day and a wonderful 12 years!

Happy Father's Day!

First, to my Dad,

      Happy Father's Day!  I love calling you up and talking about everything from religion to kids to gardening and good books!  Some of my favorite times when growing up were when you would take me to one of your jobs to help with the clean-up then take me out for a chocolate shake afterwards.  Or when you would pick me up from gymnastics when I was little and take me to get a hoagie from Hoagie's Hero's.  From you I learned to love nature- especially trees and anything green.  You would always be on the look out for anything interesting when we would go hiking, when I was in a hurry just to reach the final destination.  You would stop and pick up rocks, point out different wildlife and just enjoy the air.  I learned to slow down and have the trip be just as enjoyable as the destination.  You taught me how important a good work ethic is through your hard work and pride in a job well done.  And that no matter how small or seemingly unimportant a job might be, that it is worth doing your best.  These are just a few things that I have learned from you and am trying to teach my kids.

 Thanks Dad!  I love you!

To my Father-in-law, 

     Happy Father's Day!  I love that I am a part of your family!  Thank you for doing such an amazing job raising Chris!  I love that I got to know you by riding to and from work with you when I first moved down to Austin.  You and Ann have always been so welcoming and loving and have always made me feel like part of the family!  I love it when you come out to visit us.  Not only are you an amazing cook, but you are so much fun to be around.  I see your hard work and honesty and integrity reflected in Chris.  Your deep faith in God and in family isn't spoken, but is seen in your actions.  

    Thank you! I love you!

To my husband, Chris, 

    I love you!  Happy Father's Day!  I know you didn't plan on having 6 kids when we got married, but you are a wonderful father to all of them!  I love how they always run out to greet you when you come home from work and where ever you are in the house, they always seem to gravitate to you.  Thank you for teaching our kids about honesty and hard work and the importance of playing hard and having fun.  You have the amazing ability to turn a boring day into lots of fun with hiking adventures or swimming at the lake or just playing baseball bowling out front.  

   Thank you for all you do for our family!

       I love you!

                ~Carrie

just when you think you've had a bad day....

The other day I was typing away at my computer.  Connor was playing Pikmin(his video game- they get 1/2hr of play time after they clean for 1/2 hr.),  Thomas was(is still) at camp, and the rest of the kids were taking a nap.  They had been sleeping for about an hour or so when Abbie toddles up to my side, holding her hands up to be picked up.  I figured Taylor was up also and had gotten her little sister out of the crib.  So I picked up little Abbie, she pats my cheek and rubs my back(what a cutie!) and I notice she doesnt' have a diaper on. 
  And then I notice that she stinks.
    and her little bottom is suspiciously clean
         ......but her hands aren't.
(I refer you to a couple of sentences back- where she pats my CHEEK and rubs my back....yep....)

    I take her down the hall and meet Taylor coming out of her room with a bunch of wipes in her hand.  She looks up at me and says, "Mom, I just cleaned a bunch of poop off the wall".   Abbie got a shower and a bath while I scrubbed her bed, floor and wall with lysol and washed everything in her crib.
    All the while I couldn't help but remember not so long ago when Hunter was Abbie's age.  I was trying to doze off on the couch(at the time I thought 4 kids were exhausting!), when Hunter toddles up to me, his face level with mine. 
   "Hi, Huntie" I say.
He smiles his cute little smile, his bare tummy sticking out and pokes his chubby little hand in the back of his diaper.  So I ask the obvious,       "Are you stinky?", thinking "I really don't want to get up!"  He answers by pulling his hand out of the back of his diaper and wiping his finger on my forehead. 
     Nothing will ruin a peaceful nap quicker than that!
I have been told I should write this stuff down before I forget it- but somethings are just burned into your memory.

Today's cleaning tip:

Washing a rug is easy when it's hot outside.  Just pull the rug on the driveway, turn on the hose, and let the kids play in the water! It works even better when you give them scrub brushes and a broom to use as water toys!  
   After the rug is sufficiently soaked, (make sure to turn off the water so it doesn't look like you are watering the driveway) see who can "squeegee" the most water off the rug using a variety of plastic lids, brooms and brushes.  When you are done, drape the rug over the picnic table to dry.  It will be dry by dinner time!

Bean Salad

Here's the recipe Dad- I hope you enjoy it!

Bean Salad
2 cans Kidney beans, rinsed and drained
2 cans Garbanzo beans(Chick peas), rinsed and drained
1 cucumber, diced
1 zucchini, diced
2 carrots, grated

   mix the above ingredients and add either an Italian dressing or a vinegar and oil  dressing.  The one I used was vinegar and oil, but there was too much oil!  Lemon juice with chopped garlic and a little bit of salt and pepper will also be good with this.  Let it chill for a couple of hours in the fridge.
 Enjoy!

fun things to do inside(when it's hot outside)

It's hot outside! No rain in the forecast either!  So, I am trying to keep the kids busy inside without having them watch movies and play video games all day long.  They were outside this morning drawing with the side walk chalk and we will go outside again this evening for dinner on our picnic table(thank you Papa Bales!). 
   Yesterday we did painting(table double covered with newspaper).  And today the Play-dough seems to be very entertaining.  Taylor has made up a game with it and they have each made their own little pieces with play-dough.  We will be dancing to music later and making grape juice Popsicles!
   Sounds like Blake it up from his nap! 

Summer Salad

This isn't really my recipe- I heard it on a radio show a couple of weeks ago and it sounded great.  So I tried it and it was great!  Very light and easy to make.

1pkg noodles(I like the swirly, multi colored ones)
  cook those, drain and rinse and let cool.
 Lemon juice(I juiced 2 whole lemons- so about 3/4 -1 cup)

1/2 finely chopped onion

2-4 cloves chopped garlic

  mix all of those and set aside to soak(the lemon takes the heat out of the onion and garlic, but leaves the flavor)
Now you need as much as you want of:
Tomatoes- chopped(I used Roma, but cherry tomatoes, halved would be good also)
Black olives- sliced

Bell peppers- chopped

Capers
     toss all of those with the noodles, add a little olive oil(a couple tablespoons) then pour the lemon/onion/garlic mixture over everything.  Right before you serve it, add some fresh snipped Basil, coarse salt and ground pepper.  We also topped it with Feta cheese and all my kids loved it! Plus there were plenty of left overs for my lunch for the week!

Welcome!

I was bored today and since I haven't posted anything on my other blogs, I decided to make a new one!  Complete with some pictures!  Anyway, I have the whole summer home with my kids- all six of them!  So I figured I might need some time out every once in a while.  Thomas is out at Boy Scout camp for the week- I miss him already!  But he was really excited to go- his best friend is there with him.  They have a ton of fun things planned, including archery, canoeing and fishing. 
    Chris and I went rollerblading with the two babies yesterday while my sister watched the other three.  Pushing a stroller while on roller blades is fun, but exhausting!  My legs are still tired today!  Taylor got to go to the ballet on Saturday with her Aunt- we curled her hair(we need to get some sponge curlers.  Her hair is very straight and doesn't hold a curl for very long) and she wore her favorite dress, a sunny yellow one with pink flowers.  Connor is currently playing Pikmin(a video game) while the others are taking a nap.  Abbie and Blake, because they are little, and Taylor and Hunter because they were fighting. 
   It's hot today.  I think we will be having tuna sandwiches for dinner with leftover bean salad.  Too hot to turn on the stove.