Hey There Big Fella!!

This puppy is huge (well they are all getting big), but this is our Tank (Tankers- as Anna calls him).  He was our first puppy sold.  The family fell in love with him and god pick of the litter.  He is huge (hence the name they chose) and so cute.  He has a crooked tail and was the puppy that needed stitches in his ear.  (We called him Stitch for a while and still do sometimes).  He is about 16 pounds and heavier than Maddie!  He is going to be a huge dog!  We will miss our Stitch/Tankers as he leaves us this weekend.

Now hopefully we can sell the other 3 as well!!!

Apple Lovin’

I am in love with my new gadget.  An Apple peeler, corer, slicer.  I bought it last fall from Ross for $14.00, getting nostalgic for when my parents would dehydrate fruit, and hoping that I would get up the energy to do it myself.  Well I bought a bunch of Apples last week and thought I would try it out.  WHY HAVE I WAITED SOOOO LONG?  I think this thing will become a regularly used object in our kitchen.  I can use it for potatoes as well! 

I was able to get 5-6 sheets of dried apples (about 10 apples) in about 20 minutes. A record, I believe (at least for me).

So go get your peelers and dehydrator and enjoy a yummy healthy treat!

Here was my experience…

Peeling, slicing and coring my apples….

   

I love the rings they make. 

 

Anna did too (such a fun way to eat apples)…..

Then I broke them into pieces and soaked in pineapple juice (reserved from frog eye salad. )  Lemon juice is good too.

Then I laid them out on the sheets, plugged in and waited.  A few days later they are almost all gone!  Anna kept sneaking into the kitchen to get them. Such a good and healthy treat!

The only problem was figuring out what to do with the peels??

Give them to the dog?

She just turned her head…

Or eat them myself… perhaps a couple bites.

Stuck in Limbo

Have you ever felt this way?  I feel like the past 3 years have been movement from one Limbo stage to another.  Sometimes I think it is exciting, sometimes I just want to be done and settled.   Sometimes I actually do feel settled, but then it begins again.  Oh the joys (and most of the time it is) of getting started in a career.

Right now we are waiting to sell 3 more puppies and waiting to see where Dave will be working next.  Could be here in Modesto or who knows where….?  I cannot wait to have an answer!!!

At least we have gorgeous weather here in Modesto. On Friday it was 82 degrees! I love it. Cannot wait to get out in the sunshine A LOT this week and get working on getting my skinnier, tanner me back!!

Too bad I don’t have one of these to take the puppies out with me. HA HA HA.

P.S.  Anna was tired and we told her she could sleep on the couch (during the second session on conference)  She feel right to sleep and has been there almost 3 hours! And then this happened…

Not great photos with the webcam, especially in Maddie’s dark room, but you get the hint.  EVERYONE is asleep, but ME.  I tried, but my 5 minute nap during one of the General Conference speakers was enough for my body I guess.

Our Maddie Moo…

           

* Maddie is 4 months * 13 lbs. 6 oz. * 25 inches long  *Smile lights up the room *

She LOVES her big sis * Words that people use to describe her…petite, delicate, feminine *

Particular about ways she is held or rocked to sleep * Just found her bottom lip and loves to

click it * Sucks like crazy on her hands * Is a drooler (Anna wasn’t so soaking clothes is a new

thing at our home) * Loves to sing (I think she is a harmonizer) * Tells great stories * Grabs at

toys * Almost rolls over * Gets cold quickly * Hates her car seat, but is getting better * She is such

a joy and we cannot imagine life without her.   Love you Madelyn! *

Getting it back

I FEEL GOOD!!!! This week has been the first time in a LONG time that I have felt that I am getting my house back in order and have time for ME. (okay not so much time for MY Things, but time for me to get organized and cleaned up).

We are down to four dogs, three unsold and one that is waiting for his owners to pick him up.

After many disappointing moments, D-day started on Monday and I am LOSING weight!

I have had time to finish my sewing projects. 

I got the yard weeded and the house cleaned.

I have just relaxed with my girls.

Got the pile of papers organized.

I have gotten out on walks.

AND it is BEAUTIFUL outside!!!! I love California March weather.  (except last week when we have CRAZY rain… and I had my Mom visiting. ):

6 Weeks Old Pups. . .

       

    

Today is the Day for the wearing of the green

Okay it was yesterday.  I REALLY wanted to start some new traditions this year, since Anna is old enough to understand. I feel a connection with Ireland, since my dad served his mission there. I wish we could all go visit Belfast … one day. I know that St. Patrick’s Day in the U.S. is totally different than in Ireland… did you know that Green is a bad color there? (or so I read). The true color is blue and Leprechauns used to be in blue… oh the traditions the U.S. starts! (:

   I wanted to cook corned beef and make Shamrock cookies. I wanted the Leprechauns to visit and do all sorts of things.  I wanted to try my hand at Soda bread .  Well those things didn’t happen, but here is what did…

The Leprechauns snuck in and turned our Milk GREEN!!! Anna was quite surprised.  She even checked for more green things, like the sour cream and yogurt.  We did find some Key Lime yogurt.  (thanks Kathryn for helping them to come to our home- :) ) 

We did wear Green, but it wasn’t until the afternoon.  She took a bath with only green toys and was so excited to wear all her green!! 

We had Shamrock sandwiches and green lemonade, that was as creative as I could get yesterday.  Though Anna woke up asking for Soda Bread, because we had read a St. Patrick’s Day book where the boy’s mom made soda bread.  Anna remembered that from reading it once about 5 days prior!  She is too smart.

I also taught Anna my two favorite St. Patty’s Day songs, which I remember learning and doing the jig in 1st grade. I sing it to Dave every year and this year Anna joined in! I have to film it and post it later… too cute.

Here are a few photos of our other little one giving big smiles at night with Daddy…