Some Big Basin Memories

* Erin found a new role model in Ranger Morgan (a girl).
* Both kids are sensitive to mosquito bites.  Erin has sweet, sweet blood.
* The girls saw mosquito and water skipper larvae.
* Erin slept in the latest she's ever slept - 8:35 am.

Knit project: "5 hour sweater"

The actual knitting took about 12 hours, but I'm kinda slow.  Then I let it sit, unfinished, for about a year.  But now, with a new 2nd cousin almost here, I had a reason to finish it and send it out.  So, another 15 minutes of tucking in the ends and sewing on a button, voila!  I give you a cute, "5 hour", 1 year baby sweater! 

New crop coming along

4th of July

We had a fun and busy 4th this year.  We started early with the local parade.  Of course, the girls wore dirndls.  Why wouldn't you? 

Then we had a house full of family for pulled pork, salads, and water sliding fun.  

2 quick thoughts

1. I have posted a blog post every day for half a year.*

2. I have 14 1/2# of pork shoulder slow-roasting in the oven.  The house smells awesome.

*Hopefully there won't be many more posts like this where I just phone it in.  

Honest Neighbors

A few weeks back we cleaned out the garage.  By cleaning out the garage, I mean we put a LOT of stuff on the curb, posted to Freecycle.org, and let everyone come n' get it.  About 500 books, some random kids toys.   We had a sign saying "Free Stuff" and in small letters, "If you find something you really like feel free to throw a buck or two into the mailbox."  Just about everything was taken. And, amazingly, there was $16 in our mailbox!

Then today, when getting the mail, there was this in the mailbox:

Dinner Choices

The other night, it was hodgepodge dinner.  I had an inspiration for encouraging the kids to eat.  I put 6 things on their plate, just a tablespoon or two or a slice of each item.  The selection: mozzarella cheese, cherry tomatoes, buttered baguette, watermelon, grilled eggplant, grilled chicken, sliced avocado.

The rule: they could have seconds of anything, but 3 of the items had to be completely consumed before any seconds would be given.

Erin ate avocado, cheese, tomatoes.  Robin ate bread, watermelon, chicken.  Erin got more tomatoes and avocado.  Robin got more chicken.  Mama felt good that her kids ate well.