Pickin’ the Garden

Hayden is such a great helper when it comes to picking the garden.  He especially likes to throw pick the tomatoes.  He actually calls them apples.  Every fruit/vegetable is an apple right now.  He is really great at driving his tractor out to the garden to run over all the plants pick up the vegetables. 

Then, he brings them to the house after bruising up all the vegetables because he has to make a few laps around the yard first. 

He takes his job very seriously.

Neat=Tent

Yesterday, Hayden insisted we get his“neat” out.  We hadn’t played in the tents in a while.  Maybe because we have spent so much time outside.  Now, that it is blazing hot, we have been spending a lot more time inside!  Perfect opportunity to play peek-a-boo, read books, play with a random blue strainer, and play with trucks inside his tent!  We had so much fun.  Some of the pictures I captured are some of my very favorite of him.  Shows how much he really loves to laugh and have a great time!

Poor baby wore himself out.   You might can guess how long that lasted.  2.2 seconds.

If you ask Hayden what happened to his head,  he says “Rock, Eye”.  He fell on the rock driveway at my brothers house on Sunday.  Poor baby!  Left a pretty good mark!  

Fun in the Sun

We have been spending a lot of our free time having a little fun in the sun at home and at the pool with friends.  Hayden got this sprinkler for his birthday so Hayden and I suited up and had a little fun.  Good thing we live in the country and not just anyone can see me running through the sprinkler with my 2 year old.  Except, the UPS man that drove up right about this time.  Nice! 

 

We got us a pool installed too.  Installed, meaning, Jeff put the handle on the slide.  Ha!

The slide is perfect for a truck ramp! 

Hayden has recently started making this face  and says “Go, Go!”.  He wants you to say Ready, Set, Go!

 

Jen, Hudson, and Landree even came over a few times to swim and play in the sprinkler.  Except Landree and Jen were the only ones that would brave the sprinker.  The sprinkler is a little crazy! 

 

Not sure what Hayden was doing.   Running away from the sprinkler maybe? 

 

The boys got in a little tractor and 4wheeler riding!

 

We all also went swimming with Marla, Parker, Grace and Kristin and Payton one day.  We had so much fun swimming and then enjoyed pizza and more playing at Marla’s house.

 

Hayden was more concerned about snacks than swimming.  Hudson decided to join him!

 

Hayden and I also went swimming with Payton and Kristin.  I am not sure who enjoyed themselves more.  Hayden and Payton or Kristin and I.  It was a zero entry children’s pool area.  It was so nice  and we can’t wait to go back!

 

Hope you had a great Father’s Day with your family.  We did.  We went to my brother’s house this afternoon and enjoyed ribs.  They were delicious!  We spent most of the rest of the day relaxing and playing at home!  (Jeff’s family was suffering from a virus so we didn’t make it there today.  Hope they are better soon!)

Line Em’ Up

Maybe this is for my own entertainment, but these crack me up.   I promise I don’t make this stuff up.  The is what he spends his time doing.  Lining things up.  Sound familiar to anyone?  Or should I be worried he is a little too much like his Momma?  My friend Lisa suggested it was a “first-born” trait.  They like to have “order”.

His three cups for the day.  Milk. Water. Smoothie.

Straight from the dishwasher…Dirty in fact. 

Pans out of the cabinet and dishwasher.  He was supposed to be putting them away for me.  Instead…

You see all “Line Em’ Up” posts here.

Garden update and a couple of recipes!

Yes!  We do have  a garden this year!  We started  a little late, but I think we are going to be ok!  We planted tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, bell pepper,  jalapeños, cantaloupe, okra, squash, and watermelon.   We have really been able to do a better job keeping our grass/weeds out this year.  Jeff uses his dad’s tiller about once a week between the rows and it keeps it nice and free of weeds!  Everything is starting to take off.  Particularly our squash.   I have been able to pick several this week.  I have also gotten one cherry tomato.  :-)  The flavor of the tomato was good, but the skin was really tough.  Any ideas why? 

Jeff also has a little “pet” tomato project.  A guy at his work brought back several of the tiniest tomatoes you have ever seen (about pea size) from Hawaii and gave some to Jeff.  They care called Hawaiian Currant Tomatoes.   Jeff dried them out and planted the seeds.  Now we have these beauties.

 

We have been working really hard on getting our St. Augustine and Bermuda grass to grow and fill in.  Just in case you are interested, here is a little landscaping comparison for you too! 

Before…

Two months ago…

Two days ago…

I just love that sweet potato vine!  I am a little (ok…A LOT) worried about grasshoppers eating all our plants!  They are already BAD!!!

The Back…Before…

Two months ago…

Two days ago…

Back flower bed…A couple of  months ago…

Two days ago…

Now, time for a couple of recipes!  I have never made squash casserole before but knew I wanted to eat some of our new crop tonight!  I used a combination of two of Paula Deen’s recipes.  Cheesy Squash Casserole and Squash Casserole.  I don’t think Paula Deen ever disappoints and she didn’t this time either as far as I am concerned!  :-)  I have realized that I am getting better at taking recipes and making them my own.  I am learning to take risks.  Small ones, but hey, they are risks.

Here is what I did…

Took about 4 squash and cut them up into pieces.  Diced an onion.  Satueed the squash and onion in a skillet with a little olive oil (about 2-3 tbs) and butter (1 1/2 tbs) until the squash and onion appeared soft. 

Then, I  mixed the squash mixture with 1/2 cup of sour cream, about 3/4 cup of shredded cheddar cheese,  about 1/4-1/2 cup of fresh shredded parmesan cheese, salt, pepper, and garlic salt (didn’t have garlic powder).  Top the mixture with crushed Ritz crackers.   Bake at 350 for about 20 minutes.  Mine made an 8x8 pan.  Yum, Yum, Yum!!

I also made Garlic Chicken.  Jen sent me this recipe a few years ago and I love it! 

Mix one cup herb stuffing mix (I have been using bread crumbs instead because that is what I had in the pantry), one cup of mozzarella, and 1/2 cup fresh shredded parmesan cheese.  Seperately, mix 1 egg and 1 tablespoon of milk.  Dip your chicken in the egg mixture then in the stuffing/bread crumb mixture.   Place in pan.  In a separate bowl mix 3-4 tablespoons of butter with a clove of garlic. Melt and drizzle over chicken.  Bake on 350 for about 30 minutes or until chicken is done.  YUM!! 

I can’t remember if I have shared it or not but another quick and easy chicken recipe is dip chicken in Dijon mustard and then into French Fried Onions.  Bake for about 30 minutes on 350. 

That’s all I got for tonight!  :-)