2011 Book List

My 2011 Book List: "Hamlet's Blackberry" "Stolen Life" by Jaycee Duggard "Wicked" by Gregory Maquire "Miss Perigrine's Home for Percular Children" "Lost in Shangri - La" "Gifts From the Sea" "Blue Orchard" "Water for Elephants" "Mattaponi Queen" "Lowcountry Summer" by Dot Frank "The Help" by Katherine Stockett "Talking to Girls About Duran Duran" "The Pilot's Wife" by Anita Shreve "Hillbilly Women" "Raising An Emotionally Intelligent Child" by Dr. John Gottman "Little Bee" "Mama" by Terry McMillan

Tequila Turkey Burgers

Because today is Monday and I'm feeling pretty organized (read: I planned a weekly menu, went grocery shopping on Saturday and am off to a pretty decent start to the week)I am going to share our new favorite turkey burger recipe! 1 pound ground turkey 2-3 Tablespoon cilantro 2 garlic cloves (I press them using the Pampered Chef garlic press) 1-2 Tablespoon of diced jalapeno peppers (you can find these in jars - I like fresh but having a jar of diced jalapeno peppers comes in handy!) 1/2 cup plain breadcrumbs 2 Tablespoon tequila (and yes we feed this burger to the kids - the alcohol gives it flavor and it cooks off) 1 teaspoon lime zest 3/4 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon pepper 1/4 teaspoon soy sauce Mix all ingredients together and form into about 4 large turkey burger patties. We simply heat the Pampered Chef Grill Pan and Press and cook ours on the stove top. Cilantro-Lime Mayo Stir together 3/4 cup mayo, 1 teaspoon cilantro, 1 teaspoon chives, 1 teaspoon lime zest and 1 teaspoon lime juice. We top ours with the cilantro-lime mayo, onions, lettuce, tomato, whatever we're in the mood for. We usually serve with a side of onion rings (although Luke does not like onion rings - sorry buddy - you have to suck it up on turkey burger night). You can also spice up the mayo a bit by adding some "Slap Yo Momma" seasoning to dip the onion rings. Enjoy! (And we won't tell anyone if you accidentally take a swig of the tequila while you're making the burgers...)

Does a Chicken Count?

You're heard the comment a million times in a million different ways - "children grow up fast". My oldest will be 12 in the fall and starts middle school in September. It's true. Time does fly and we have to make it count. I've always loved adventures and with 11 summers behind us as a family rather than just a couple I took a few moments to reflect on some of the adventures we've had over the years. A few months ago I saw an article about childhood and outdoor challenges. Although my boys now enjoy more than their fair share of TV and video games we have still maintained a pretty healthy balance of outdoor time and free play - especially when they were younger. We didn't introduce video games until later in elementary school and limit TV viewing time during the school year (although the summer becomes a pretty lazy time). This checklist was published in England so some of the language threw me off a bit (What the heck is "conkers" or "abseiling"? Note to self: google those words.) but most of the checklist involved what I see as pretty simple childhood pleasures - like climbing a tree, rolling down a really big hill, camping, running around in the rain, etc. Out of 50 we have only missed 11 (and that includes 3 I didn't understand - umm... "conkers" once again). Some we have done numerous times. How many have you done and what's your plan to introduce your children to these experiences before they hit puberty and the chance for magic is gone? (Not that the teen years aren't a magical time - it's just a different kind of "magic" - hair, hysterics, and hormones.) I printed off the list, sit down with boys and began to go through the checklist asking them about their memories and experiences. I grew up in the mountains of West Virginia and visit at least once each summer. On a few occasions the boys have spent time alone there with their grandparents as well - so many of their responses were "Yes - in West Virginia" - such as eating an apple straight from the tree, getting behind a waterfall and tracking wild animals. Some of their memories involved our own backyard like throwing snow, damming a stream, and hunting for bugs. Others were enjoyed while on family vacation - like rafting, camping and burying someone in the sand. Still others happened while visiting MeeMee - such as feeding a bird from your hand - to which Blake asked "Does a chicken count?" Of course, a chicken counts! Our plans for next summer will include catching crabs (Number 39) - probably during our beach trip. Hopefully that day will end with a big pot of boiling water and spices as well! One we probably won't attempt: set up a snail race. One that will be hard for us: lighting a fire without a match. I really laughed when I read that one remembering the book of matches we went through while camping earlier this summer. We struggled to accomplish setting a camp fire WITH matches! Without? Seriously? The bottom line for me is this: in this fast paced, technology driven world I hope we have given our children a chance to experience life unplugged and I know they'll one day look back on these wonderful memories and hopefully even recreate them for their own little ones someday. Check out the list of outdoor challenges at http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2128695/National-Trust-launches-bucket-list-campaign-50-things-children-sofas-wild.html.

Rachel's Visit

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5x7 Folded Card

Happy Day Cocoa Father's Day Card

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Earthquakes and Hurricanes

It was a perfect day to go sightseeing in our Nation's Capital! Since it's opening, we had been hearing rave reviews about the Newseum and kids are free through Labor Day. I debated on driving, the Virginia Rail, or Metro - we ended up parking in Springfield and hopped the blue line for the rest of our ride in. Little did we know that following an awesome museum visit (we did not get to see everything and I didn't get to see the "adult" displays for 9/11 - we want to go back!) the earth would shake and we would have a very long ride home!

We had just wrapped up our visit and were making our way back to Metro as Luke had an early soccer practice when we felt the sidewalk rockin'. I assumed it was a subway passing underneath but soon realized something was very wrong when buildings began to evacuate. We passed many people looking upset and confused. I asked some what happened and they did not know. It was probably not the smartest idea but I was determined to get back on the train and head south to get out of the city. I know West Coast folks are probably getting a bit of a laugh over our big quake but for the East Coast it wasn't just an earthquake. It was a reminder. When our ground shakes we think "Military training at Quantico?" "Aircraft?" or "Terrorist attack!" I wanted to go home. Immediately. Blake was worried about his guinea pig and I was worried that I was alone with two boys depending on me for their safety in a crowd of strangers and confusion. If Luke was worried, he didn't show it. As we were walking across the mall, we saw the helicopter circling the Washington Monument checking for damage. I took a few pics, thought about shooting video and kept thinking "please don't fall, please don't fall". Blake called out several times like Lot, "Don't look back! Don't look back!" He was ready to be in the suburbs! The subway was packed. The Pentagon had been evacuated and we were starting to get the news that we had experienced an earthquake. An earthquake? That's new for us! This was my second one over 5 (the first being in San Diego). I got through to Justin by text. He was ok. He thought the house was coming down but was ok. All the pets were ok. I later learned a co-worker and friend had suffered a pet casualty in their family as a result of the earthquake. Poor Jazzy the corgi was literally scared to death and passed away following a seizure. So - we did suffer damage. Not the kind of damage seasoned Californians experience. Some minor structural damage, the loss of Jazzy, and emotional damage that only those who live close to the action know. With the anniversary of 9/11 quickly approaching, those who call Washington and it's suburbs home were once again reminded of our vulnerability. I was thankful to have a home to return to. I was thankful to be able to sleep with my children that night. I was thankful Justin was ok. I was thankful to find the candle that rolled from my kitchen windowsill - and thought about how those in places such as Haiti felt when they couldn't "find" a family member. When I found myself nervous, I found myself being thankful I was safe and thought of our troops returning with mental and emotional scars and the fear that is a very real part of their daily lives.

Last night we were rocked by a 4.8 aftershock around 1am. I got in the bedroom door frame and was prepared to wake the boys if it got worse. They slept through it. And I didn't tell them about it this morning.

Now we brace for Hurricane Irene.

A rainbow was over the community this afternoon. I know God promised He would never again destroy the earth with water but what about the other stuff...

Maybe we should all prepare the way Blake did. After a prayer of thanksgiving and request for safety Tuesday night, he later asked to pray again.

We all held hands, piled in the king size bed, and Blake prayed a prayer of thanksgiving for our safety, for angels to guard us through the night and he asked for forgiveness as well. I guess he just wanted to make sure he was straight.

Not a bad idea.

This weather is crazy.

Iowa - Our Liberties We Prize...

"I'm from Iowa, we don't know what cool is!" Ashton Kutcher

After a last minute change of training plans, I ended up spending last week in Iowa rather than Montgomery, Alabama. I had already mentally prepared myself for a week in the sweltering heat of the South - I just had to do a quick readjustment and ask myself "What the heck am I going to do for a week in Iowa?!" Then - I had the most amazing thing come to mind - Brenda lives in Iowa! Yes - it's a big state with miles and miles of cornfields but as fate would have it, my long lost basic training buddy lives 30 minutes from the lovely Fairfield Inn in Ankeny, Iowa!

My perception could be totally off but it is my viewpoint - therefore my truth of what I learned about Iowa in a week is this:

They have good, cheap food.
They have lots of corn.
They are really, really nice.
They are patient.
It's impossible to get lost.
And, they speed in parking lots.

We learned about the good, cheap food quickly. My traveling buddy was Molly and together we hit a few local eateries featured on Food Network to include the Highlife Lounge (thehighlifelounge.com) where for under $10 we had an entree size plate of homemade mac n' cheese that really hit the spot, the best fried chicken I've ever had and a drink. We loved Cactus Bob's BBQ Corral (www.cactusbobs.com) where I tried sauces like "Rattlesnake Venom" and "Blackbart's Desert Death" that I thought was going to burn a hole through my tongue. Our new friend, Gina (a local) and Molly were smart and stuck to the original sauce.

There were lots of cornfields. I took pictures, Molly took pictures, and then Molly broke out with a crazy rash from rubbing up on the corn. Who knew?

It really is impossible to get lost. I had printed out directions from the airport to my hotel but probably could have made it without them. I didn't use a GPS or my cell all week to get to from point A to point B. And aside from them speeding like crazy people in parking lots, the traffic is light. If you happen to be late for training one morning, do not try the line "Traffic was bad." This is not going to work in Iowa. So - perhaps next time - "I was helping farmer Joe slaughter a pig?"

And - they are really, really nice. I reunited with Brenda and ended up meeting her whole family who made me feel right at home. I guess I made them feel right at home, too, as "Aunt Mary" felt comfortable enough to ask if Brenda and I had any pictures of "when we were skinny". It was hysterical to me. Not so much for Brenda and the rest of the family who all echoed "I can't believe she said that!" It was funny.

And it's true. Brenda and I used to be really skinny. And tan. And in fabulous shape. We were tough little blondes. So - now we're not so skinny, definitely not tan, healthy but not buff, but much tougher than most probably know except for those closest to us.

I knew I was excited to see Brenda but I didn't expect to have my eyes fill up with tears and my heart overflow when I saw her sitting at that Olive Garden table Tuesday night.

We went through a lot together along with the other incredible girls I met in Alabama that summer. Slowly but surely we all changed and grew as individuals and friends that time and distance will never separate.

So - next time I'll make it a point to see Cari-Lynn (a Stafford native), try Jethro's BBQ and maybe even go try to find some of those covered bridges on the backroads.

"Our liberties we prize, and our rights we will maintain."

Thanks for a lovely week, Iowa. I bloom where I am planted. Even in places where the heat index is 114 degrees.