Photographers

Is it Spring?  The calendar says yes.  The Kansas weather said no on Monday.  We had a little snow storm and I was worried about my daffodils who thought, since it was in the 80's last week, that it was springtime.  We all thought that. 

Like how I tried to be all photographer on you.... more on that later.

So I cut the daffodils I could and brought them in.

So as I was reviewing these pictures on my camera I saw a few that I didn't take.  It seems like my daughter thought she needed to get in touch with her photographer side as well.  Here is her work...

Random pictures and a recipe

Here are some random pictures from the last week or so....

Lately when I've vacuumed, the kids have liked to crawl under the chairs I move into the front room.  O gets all excited and says "tunnel! tunnel!"

Play-doh has been a big part of our days recently.  It's normally played with right after a meal while I'm cleaning up.  It keeps them busy and I get clean up done a little quicker.  Although the other day I turned around to check on them and spotted S putting a big chunk of play-doh in his mouth.  I should have took a picture because the look on his face was priceless.  If he could say "gross!" he probably would have!  But you know that won't keep him from doing it in the future! :) 

The pictures of S I took while he was on my lap so they are a bit strange but that's ok.

This is becoming a favorite past time of Miss O...

Look Ma, no hands!

The stretch!

Look at that form!

And the recipe:
The last couple of weeks we have been doing a modified South Beach Diet at our house.  It's good because I'm actually getting my husband to eat some veggies!!  Anyway, we had this meal this week and it was really good!  I will be making this one again so I thought I would share it.  It is found in The South Beach Diet Cookbook.

Meatballs with Tomato and Zucchini Medley
1/2 pound extra-lean ground beef or ground turkey
1/4 cup whole wheat bread crumbs
1 egg
3/4 teaspoon ground black pepper(divided)
1/2 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
6 Tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese(divided)
1 onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 Zucchini, halved lengthwise and sliced
1 yellow squash, halved lengthwise and sliced
1 can(16 ounces) Italian-style cut tomatoes
1 can(16 ounces) crushed tomatoes
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil(I actually forgot this ingredient and it was still good- I'll probably use some dried next time)

In a large bowl, combine the beef or turkey, bread crumbs, egg, 1/2 teaspoon of the pepper, Italian seasoning, and 4 tablespoons Parmesan cheese.  Form into balls the size of walnuts
Spray large skillet with cooking spray and heat over medium heat.  Add meatballs and cook for 15 minutes, or until browned and no longer pink inside.  Remove to a bowl.

In the same skillet in warm drippings over medium-high heat, add onion and garlic and cook 5 minutes or until onion is tender.  Stir in zucchini, yellow squash, cut tomatoes(with juice), crushed tomatoes, remaining 1/4 teaspoon pepper, remaining 2 tablespoons cheese, and meatballs.  Heat to boiling. Reduce heat to low, cover, and cook for 20 minutes.  Stir in chopped basil.  Serve over whole wheat fettuccine.

Enjoy!

Japan baseball

It's been a while since I blogged.  I would like to say I've been busy(which is true) doing constructive things but I can't really tell you what I've been doing the last week. :)  I know the last 3 days have been busy with a sick little boy.  S woke up Sunday fine but by 9am he had a 102.1 temp and it only went up from there... the highest being 104.3.  He had no other symptoms, just a little crabby.  Today his fever is down to 99 so hopefully it's over.  We will see what tonight brings.

Anyway, I know I had mentioned that I was going to post pictures of my trip to Japan last week.  I posted some but didn't get around to the others.  I think that turned out ok though because I'm going to try to post some each week.  I know other horrible things are going on in the world right now but I want to make sure Japan doesn't slip through(our) cracks.  Our American minds seem to be "out of slight, out of mind" sometimes so I want to do my part to keep Japan, and thus prayers for Japan, in the "spotlight."

So... back to my trip.  Probably one of my most favorite things we did on our trip was go to a Japanese baseball game.  I love baseball.  I can't wait until opening day.  March 31st.  I do cheer for a rather bad team but that's ok.  The Kansas City Royals need fans too!  (side note, I met a pastor in Japan who also is a Kansas City Royals fan!  He spent some time at a Seminary in Kansas City so he became a fan.  His church was in the area affected by the earthquake but him and his wife are ok and the church building was still standing.  I'm sure there are many hurting people in his church... please pray for them).

Here are some pictures from the game.  We went to the Hanshin Tigers stadium.

 

One of Andrea's friends from church is a big Tiger's fan and had some gear for us to wear.  If I remember right, Andrea didn't really want to pose for this picture. :)

 

A collage... what to look for??  Lots of people!  The stands are packed... literary... side by side... by side.  I am also standing by a plaque for Babe Ruth, who played in this stadium.  Andrea had heard there was a life size statue so we walked around the stadium once and couldn't find it.  We did the second time, and it is really tall, just not quite a statue. :) The balloons?  Between the top and the bottom of the 7th inning, this particular stadium has an interesting tradition.  Everyone blows up balloons and lets them go!  It's really fun to watch!  When I have several hours, I will try to upload a video of this so you can see it.  Very fun.

 There are several things that are different from American baseball atmosphere and Japanese baseball atmosphere.  At a Japanese game, there is singing/chanting all the time... really, all the time.  Each team has their own song/chant and the fans sing this while their team is at bat.  There is even a band at the game. Notice the boom sticks in the photos of Andrea and I near the beginnig of this post?  Everyone uses those or their hands to help with the chanting.  Very fun!  And the visitors bring their own fans and band as well!  Another difference is when a new pitcher comes into the game.  In the US he has to run from the outfield.  Here he gets to ride in a cart!

 Here we are with the team mascots!

You may think, why would Jenny post about Japanese baseball when there's a huge crisis in Japan right now??  Well, the Japanese people love baseball.  It's a huge part of their culture.  And right now even baseball has been affected by the earthquake.  I just read that opening day in Japan was suppose to be Friday but has been postponed to at least Tuesday.  Some players want it postponed until April 12 when the Pacific league starts their games.  The government is asking that games not occur at night due to the power outages and about half of the teams are in areas where there are rolling power outages.  It just shows me again how massive this disaster is.  Can you imagine a disaster so big that US baseball is postponed and night games can't be played because there is no power?  I can't.  So please remember to pray for the Japanese people and for the recovery, in all areas of their life.

Japan trip

I would like to say I've been busy doing constructive things and that is why I haven't posted in a while.  The truth is, I've been kind of consumed with the disaster in Japan.  When I have time to get on the internet during naptime, I have been checking my email, my friend Andrea's blog, and then seeing what update I can find on what is going on in Japan.  It can take over your time if you let it!  And I have been trying out several new recipes that take alot of prep work so I do that during nap time as well.  Anyway, here are some pictures of my trip to Japan last May.  I wasn't in the area that was affected by the earthquake and tsunami but I wanted to share anyway just to make sure Japan stays in everyone's thoughts and prayers.  I have a fear that I will share with you.  I fear that people will not think that they need to donate money since Japan is a "rich nation."  Please don't think this.  The Japanese people need our help as well as our prayers.  If you would like to look at one organization that is already in Japan and mobilizing people to help with relief and recovery go here.  Now on to the pictures.  Here are just a few.  I came home with over 600 pictures so I had to pick some favorites.

When I got to Japan we went to a zoo.  In the pictures below there's a photo of a red panda... very rare.

Here is a shrine we went to- Heian Shrine I believe.

We also went to one of Andrea's friend's cafe called Karashidane.  It's a Christian owned business who also does some social work.

Andrea had to go to language class a couple days while I was there so I walked around some.  Here's one of the street markets I walked to(Nishiiki or Teramachi, can't remember).  Very interesting.

Here's a couple pictures of the trains about everyone in Japan rides.  The first one is an underground waiting platform.  The second picture is of an empty train car.  Funny story... sometimes you have to run from train to train to make connections.  We had to do so this time but when we got on no one else got on.  After a very short while someone came through and Andrea asked where this train was going.  The gentleman said this train was done running, it was at the end.  We did get to the right train and I got the picture I was wanting so it all worked out! :)

Another day we went to Kobe and rode the Kobe Ropeway up a mountain and then walked down through a herb garden halfway down and then rode the rest of the way.  It was a cloudy, somewhat rainy day, so some pictures aren't the best.

 

That's all the pictures for now but I'll try to post more later this week.

A side note... it was a wonderful day outside today.  The kids and I spent about an hour and a half at the park.  I knew it was time to go home when S started walking towards a picnic table where some kids and moms were eating and started signing "eat! eat!"  So I had an idea and we came home.  Look what we did:

Japan

I know by now all of you have heard about the earthquake and tsunami in Japan.  And I know that most of you are praying so asking you to pray would be silly, but I'm asking you to pray.  Some of you may know that I went to Japan last May to visit my friend Andrea.  It was a great trip and to say the people I met there were wonderful is an understatement.  Looking at the pictures and the videos of what has happened there makes my heart hurt.  I'm not sure what to pray, yet I pray anyway.  I was reminded today in church of Romans 8:25-27 "But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God."
If you would like to know specific prayer requests from someone living in Japan, please go to Andrea's blog.
I'm hoping to post some pictures all next week of my trip to Japan...

S man

I realized that alot of my posts recently have been about Miss O so I thought I would post some pictures of my "S man!"

We were at my mom's house when I got these pictures... yes, that's his foot and no, I'm not sure how he can do that!

Here's the bucket head!

I told James S wanted to be like him... including the beard.

S still loves his pacifiers!  About every morning he has to crawl under his crib to find the ones he dropped during the night.

My mom has her own jelly and jam business(Stikki Nikki Jelly and Jams).  Last time we were there S found the canning rings and decided they were a great toy!  It kept him entertained while I packed the car.



A "typical" day, part 2

And the saga continues....

11:30 After we played downstairs for a while, we came back upstairs to listen to some music.  My kids love music.  One of their favorite CD's now is "party like a preschooler" by the Go Fish Guys.  It's actually a pretty good cd for a kids one and it's a good 20 plus workout if you "dance" with them. Yes, I "dance" also.  We have a big picture window and I'm sure my neighbors all enjoy the show. :)  Anyway, here are some pictures from the "5 little monkeys jumping on the bed" song.  Notice everyone has to have a monkey.  O is holding mine in one picture... so he doesn't get left out.

I wanted to come upstairs at 11:30 because the cd is 30 minutes long and I can skip out of the dancing on the last song and a half to make lunch.
11:55 start making lunch
12:10 eat
S has started giving me the look.  You know, the drop dead look when I tell him something silly like chew your food, take bites, or you have to eat something other than fruit for lunch.  This is the best picture I have.  It really doesn't do it justice though.... you need to see it in person.

12:35 O says she's done.  I tell her ok.  She wants down.  I remind her that everyone stays at the table until everyone is done and S is still eating.  Magically she says she has to go potty.  It's amazing how smart she is sometimes!  We, of course, go and she, of course, doesn't have to go.  We are compromise and she can sit at the table and color or do her puzzle while S finishes eating.  He does take a long time.

12:45 S is done eating and I start cleaning.
O wants down and then goes to color on our red chair.  As I'm cleaning I hear a THUD!  then "Be careful O!"

12:56 All done cleaning(another 10 minute clean up!) and S gets ready for his nap.

1:10 S is in bed and I get O ready for her nap

1:25 O is in bed

During naptime I normally do a variety of things.  Our "typical" day naptime went like this:

unloaded and loaded dishwasher

showered

folded clothes(that had been on my couch for a few days)

cut out hearts(or the project we didn't do that day)

read my passages on Biblegateway.com.  I had been struggling with reading my Bible daily and my pastor talked about the reading plans on Biblegateway.com during one sermon so I checked it out.  I chose the one that goes through the Bible in chronological order.  I've been doing better reading unless I get behind.  I just decided that I need to not try to make up the days I missed because I get discouraged and don't read at all. 

email, checked Facebook(Wow!  that doesn't happen ever!) and check my blog to see if any of my millions of readers had commented on one of my interesting posts. :)  I also have a list of blogs I follow and I normally check them too.

searched the internet for nutritious snack foods for the kids

4:10 S up

4:20 O up- they took a long nap this "typical" day but that's not always so typical. :)

Kids had a snack

We turned on more music after snack.  This is "this little light of mine"

4:20 I start supper.  Normally, I try to make as much of supper during naptime as possible.  O is getting better about playing by herself while I cook.

But S is not.  He wants to see what's going on.  And after awhile of him being crabby since he can't see what's going on, O comes in and wants to see to.  This recipe the kids really couldn't help with so I put them in chairs to watch(and play in the water)

Here's what we had:
Pringle Chicken

1 pound chicken breasts(can cut chicken breasts in half  but I like to cut the breasts into strips)
1 egg
1 container Pringles chips(I use regular but one day I'm going to branch out and try a different kind)
shredded cheddar cheese
sour cream(optional)

Preheat oven to 375
Dip chicken in egg then cover chicken with Pringles.  Place in greased baking dish.  Bake at 375 approximately 30 minutes until done.  Top with with cheddar cheese and sour cream(if desired... I desire, so does O, James does not so we half it).  Bake another 5 minutes until cheese is melted.

We also had sweet potato fries(cut sweet potatoes into fry shapes, drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with random spices).  I, however, had to call my mother-in-law while making this.  I'm not too knowledgeable about sweet potatoes and when I started cutting the second one it looked a tad different than the first.  So I asked what she thought and she thought what I did... if it looks funny you probably shouldn't eat it. :)

5:30 Supper finally in the oven(if you don't have kids, it really doesn't take you 40 minutes to prepare this meal:)
While supper was baking we had a "party."  O is very happy having "parties."  O, of course, was our "cook."

One of the things O cooked was a "potato with a green bean in it."

S would get a tomato or orange or onion and throw it... it looks like a ball!

And there was actually some sharing involved... whether you wanted it or not!

I got bad with times from here on out.  Sometime between then and 6:05 when supper was done James came home.  Normally when James comes home he plays with the kids while he changes and I finish supper.  This always involves children being thrown/bounced on our bed.  The kids LOVE it! 

6:05 Dinner

6:35 dinner and cleanup done... clean up is soo soo much faster when James is home because he does alot of it!

That evening we didn't go anywhere and just listened to more music(they do love music but today was an abnormal music loving day!).  Here is O dancing with her Daddy.

 

7:15 we start the going to bed process

watch a "quacky show" (PBS's Word World)

Pj's

read books

bed

Normally the kids are in bed anywhere from 7:45-8pm, depending on if both of us are here or not.

So that's the exciting day!