100th Day of School

Can you believe it? We've reached the 100th day of school and only 80 days left! I had to share the kinders in their celebration hats. Too funny. We spent the morning making necklaces out of 100 pieces of fruit loop cereal, we had a bean bag relay with 100 bean bags and made our own snack bags with, you guessed it, 100 things. Ahh! The simple days of kindergarten.

My Boy's Quote of the Day

I get the best insight into my 5 year old's psychi as he lays in bed just about to fall asleep.

" I love Jessie. She just like a person except she's made out of dog."

God Bless bedtime!

Tamale Girl

E had her first cooking lesson with her Nina last weekend and she learned the tradition of making Tamales. This is one food I don't see myself making in the future. This has got to be the most labor intensive food item I've ever seen. The meat is simmered for hours the previous day until it falls apart. The chile sauce is made from dried roasted chiles that have to be reconstituted, cooked, pureed and then strained thru a mill. When those two things are done, then you buy the masa from a local mexican grocer. The chile sauce is added to the meat and to the masa along with the cooking broth from the meat. The corn husks have been soaked in hot water to soften up. We were then instructed to spread the masa in a very specific way on the husks. Too much masa makes the tamale not fold up correctly, too much masa on the top of the husk makes it impossible to seal. Not enough liquid on your spreading spoon makes the masa peel off the husk. Did I mention the cramps in your hand from doing this? I was in pain after we did over 140 tamales. After they are all put together they have to steam in a special pot for over 2 hours. All thru the day E never complained. All she needed was a couple breaks for cherry limeade. Thanks Nina Corina for a really fun experience!

Our Oldest Baby is now 12.

Every time I mention how old M is turning, I just see blank faces with jaws dropping. This is that same little girl that had to drink ovaltine everyday, believed in Santa, the toothfairy and the Easter bunny,WANTED a baby sister, and listened to the Wiggles and Barney in the car. Back then I knew everything she wanted to know and her daddy could fix anything broken. Something happenend overnight or maybe it was a holiday weekend, but she grew up. M woke up one morning and suddenly craved a latte from Starbucks. When we go to a restaurant she gives me the "eye" if the hostess asks if I need 3 children's menus. She's taller than my mom and I'm sure she will pass me this year. Instead of fighting over toys, she now fights with her siblings about the bathroom or who touched her mp3 player or who put soap on her retainer. Her dad and I are trying to cope with all these changes. I hate that she is starting to see me as NOT the smartest person she knows. I've had to get really creative with helping her with the drama of 6th grade. I think I still have a chance, however Daddy isn't so sure of his "repairing" skills. Seeing his little girl in tears can still break him up a bit. I pity the day boys enter the scene. I have a feeling my husband will be taking Anger Managment classes to avoid strangling the boys that break her heart. We've got time, right?