HEMINGWAYS/BASS PRO SHOP

They love the buffet at Hemingways.

Look at that boys lashes.
We are sooo funny!

Waiting area at Hemingways. Just a small sampling of things (as Bella says) "got died and then stuffed."

Taking the stairs instead of one of the elevators.

Can't really see but a big pond full of trout. Right next to the Bear that got died and stuffed. Bella touched it this week.

DINNER TIME

Today everyone was cooking.

For dinner we are having Corned Beef cooked in the Slow Cooker all day. Potatoes cooked in the juices, fresh Cole Slaw, green beans from the garden. Used up all our tomatoes in the house from the garden and made Salsa, yum. I baked Zucchini Bread and this time I put some Chocolate Chips in it. Also made rice pudding from scratch. First time I have ever made rice pudding. I hate it anytime I have ever had it while out. It always tasted like instant vanilla pudding with some rice thrown in. Well I have changed my mind about this. It is delicious. Nothing like what you get at store or in a restaurant somewhere.

I have gotten the cooking bug. I love trying new recipes. I signed up for Allrecipes.com and they send me new recipes everyday.

ADVENTURES WITH MY BABIES

John being silly pretending it's his hat. Bella mostly but sometimes John they will do something or make something and then want me to "put it on the blog for mommy" They love and miss mommy, daddy and Phoebe but are having a good time here.

Bella being really silly. She was excited because we were went to Home Depot. They have one right behind their house at home.

Took kids to "Hemingways" restaurant at Bass Pro Shop in Springfield. They have assume food. The kids loved it. They did like the wall of fish. No, they didn't eat at the bar but before we left we sat them there to take their pictures. Our table was just the other side of the bar so we did have a good view of all the fishies.

Yes the bear is, "died and stuffed" as Bella says. She said that next week she is going "to touch the bear, but not this time."

Them "tending" to be afraid.

TUESDAY NIGHT

Tonight was Happy Meal night at McDonalds. So we went and ate there. They had a good time "terrorizing" the place. OK, really just making lots of noise and in general having a good time. Then left there and they got to see the sun setting, it was a huge fire ball sitting right on the horizon. It seemed so close. Went a mile or so and stopped at the city play ground. They were the only ones there and loved it. They did not want to leave. Pulled into our road and the neighbors horses were at the fence by the road. So we stopped and fed them left over apples from McDonalds. Bella after many tries finally was brave enough to not drop the apple piece before the horses could actually eat from her hand. She loved the feel of the horses lips gathering up the apple to eat. We then pulled into our drive way and the family of rabbits that live by the cars were out and the kids got to get out of the van and walk almost all the way to them. Then all the chicks, geese and turkeys saw we were home and they all came running and surrounded us all the way up to the house. Of course they greet us like that because they though we had some food for them. Anyway, the kids had a nice time, "going out to dinner."

SIMPLE VIEW OF LIFE

We were at McDonalds and they have 3 horse saddles as seats at a bar. John and Bella love to climb on them, almost as good as a play area.

Well Bella climbs up on her saddle and very loudly (and the saddles are right in the middle of the eating area) says, "I'm a big girl and John's a big boy because he can stand up when he pees.

One of the things that fascinate John and Bella are the sounds at night here on the farm. So many crickets chirping, frogs croaking, owls hooting all the sound then add the fireflies and every night they are amazed. John has gotten into a habit of every night before he goes to bed he makes Pappy take him out on the back deck and sit and "see the night." I LOVE it.

DINNER FROM THE GARDEN

Get it? Ears of corn:)
Bella doesn't like her corn, "off the top, leave it on cause I like to eat it on" then she preceded to demonstrate how to eat it on the cob. Funny girl she is, she makes me laugh all the time. Will also be having fried green tomatoes tonight. John and Bella love them.

BELLA'S QUOTE

John and Bella were discussing driving, how boys and girls can drive, not just boys.

Bella says: "when John and I get big we're going to drive mommy around"