Leaves

I've really been on a black and white kick with my pictures lately, now that I've found a fast and easy way to do it on my computer. I've also learned that great pictures of kids are accomplished by taking as many pictures as you can and hoping you got it right on a few of them!

Here is Brenna discovering leaves for the first time. Gracie is an old pro at photo shoots and tried to get little sis to take a picture with her, but those leaves were too tastey to put down! But the leaves did make for a few cute faces!

I'll get Caden next time, he was asleep when I took these of my girls!

Shoo Fly, Don't Bother Me!

My parents taught them this song when we went to New Mexico. They are using a Dora "microphone" to put on a very memorable performance! (well, for me at least :)

Here is one of Brenna's new trick!

NOW she does it!

Brenna finally rolled over!! I went to get her from her morning nap (I put her on her tummy) and she was waiting for me on her back! Then she rolled a few more times on the floor throughout the day! We all cheered for her and she was sooo excited! Too cute!

I didn't get a picture of her rollig over, but I had a cute one of her other latest accomplishment - sitting up. She's getting better every day. She likes to practice!

Brenna's 1st Tooth

Can you see that little white spot on the bottom?

She got her first tooth early (5 1/2 mo) by Gibson standards. Gracie was 7 1/2 months and Caden was a little over 8 1/2 months.

But she's still not rolling over :)

love, Love, LOVE the River!

Jason and I got to escape to the river again this year! It's SO nice to be able to hang out with your hubby without all the little distractions of home. Like kids, phones, TV and internet. Of course, there are other distractions down there that can take away from your together time - fishing. I'm glad there was a book for me to read down there! :)

On the road!

Happy momma!

Pretty sunset on the way!

Pretty rainbow.

One of our meals: grilled pork chops with corn cooked on the grill and cresent rolls...mmmmm.

It looked like a bad storm was coming that last evening, but it turned out to be just a tiny bit of rain and cool air. We had great weather all week!

This cloud reminded me of Goofy!

Lon and Christy on our last day. I should have gotten more pictures!

Parting shots.

Caught in the act!

You have to have a fun one!

Last picture... in a couple of hours we were back to reality! It was good to see the kiddos!

The Fair and Rodeo

Jason gets tickets to the Fair and Rodeo every year through his work, so we try to take one night and use them! It's alot more fun now the Gracie and Caden are a little older. I'm sure Brenna will have more fun in years to come as well!

First stop (besides the ticket booth) was the petting zoo. We always enjoy loving on the animals.

They were hungry.

We just pet them.

This baby donkey was so cute!


The kids got to ride! Their first time!

It went pretty fast, but they were smiling!

Caden's height was a limiting factor, so we just rode one ride. Gracie had a melt down because she didn't get to ride the cute little pink faris wheel. She had been eyeing it the moment we got close enough to see it.

Brenna played with her toys.

Then they got to "milk" a cow! That was pretty cool!

Maybe they know where milk comes from now!

Here we are at the rodeo watching some team roping like Uncle Brian does. They are clapping for a team that both caught.

One big happy...well, happy might not be the right word - look at those faces. I think they had both gotten in trouble by now, trying to climb on the rail instead of sitting and watching. Don't all 4 and 2 year olds sit quietly and watch? Just kidding, I definitely know the answer to that one!

She was tuckered out. :)

Island Pork Chop Salad

I adapted this recipe from the P90X nutrition plan book, and it's sooo good! It's pretty healthy, too! Jason and I love it and even my kids love it! That doesn't happen very often, let me tell you! So I thought I would share it with you. :)

Pork Chops:
4 pork chops, lean
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp chile powder
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp olive oil
1/3 cup brown sugar, packed
1 tsp garlic powder ( or 1/2 tablespoon fresh garlic, finely chopped)
(the original recipe called for 1/2 tbsp Tobasco sause but me and the kids don't like heat)

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Stir together salt, pepper, cumin, chile powder and cinnamon. Dip the pork chops in this mixture and cover evenly. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over med-high heat. Place pork chops in and brown for about 2 min on each side. Mix brown sugar and garlic together. Cover pork chops in brown sugar mixture and place in a roasting pan. Bake for 20 min.

Cumin Vinaigrette:
1/2 tbsp fresh lime juice
2 tbsp orange juice
1/2 tsp Dijon mustard
1/2 tsp cumin powder
1/4 tsp salt
dash of black pepper
1 tbsp olive oil

Wisk together until emulsified.

Salad:
fresh spinach
1 bell pepper sliced thinly lengthwize
1/2 of an orange peeled and divided into small chuncks
(the original recipe called for shredded cabbage and golden raisens, too, but I didn't put them in)

I just put some spinach on the plate, added a few bell peppers and orange chuncks, put some sliced pork chop on top and drizzled on the vinaigrette! Oh, add some Hawiian rolls, and yum!!
Hope you enjoy!