Mr. Wrinkles Adventures

 

Mr. Wrinkles had many adventure with our family. 

 

We hope you enjoy reading about his journey with us.

 

It was a bright and sunny day in Clearfield…traveling along with K as he leaves school with Mr. Wrinkles in tow!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

El Burrito [Restaurant of Choice in our family] …the first restaurant was established in 1976 when Manuel Gallegos Sr. and brother-in-law George Garcia had a great idea. Since there were no Mexican restaurants with real Mexican home cooking in the area (and we still remain the only one) they would start one.

The name “El Burrito” came  from the two of them sitting at the kitchen table. To them “El Burrito” sounded better than “El Taco”. They took family recipes that were handed down from generations and started a small take-out restaurant serving food out of crock pots and pouring soda out of bottles into paper  plates. We guarantee that you will enjoy dining there as much as we do and know that you will receive the highest quality food, fairest prices, friendliest service and most pleasant atmosphere this side of Mexico.  Besides all this information…our very dear friends/family Mike & Kathy are family members of the Burrito!

 

 

It would not be a true family affair if we didn’t get to enjoy an Ogden Raptors baseball game.   The Ogden Raptors are a minor league baseball team in the Pioneer League based in Ogden, Utah, United States. The club plays at Lindquist Field, whose view beyond the outfield fence was named the best in professional baseball by a staff writer for Grand Slam Enterprises! 

 

 

At the end of our very busy day…we cuddled up with Mr. Wrinkles in bed.   We introduced him to Fly Guy [Tedd Arnold – author I started trying to write some time after I graduated from college. My wife, Carol was a kindergarten teacher at the time. She collected children's books for her classroom. I enjoyed her books so much, I decided to see if I could make one. It took six years of trying before I was finally published.]  … perfect ending to a very fun day with Mr. Wrinkles!   Can’t wait for our next visit…we have lots of adventures planned already!

Milestones

Dance On

Dancing to the rhythm of life...on this quiet little trail a few steps, a short hour and I quickly recalled....how it used to be to live life in a whole different way.

Living little.

And when we do the rewards are big ~~ we exist in that very moment.

We don't watch the clock,

we hear birds sing, we watch the clouds roll by and soon

the night sky will be filled with the moon and stars.... love you to the moon and back little man!

Pots of Pollo Guisado

 

 

Pollo Guisado (Chicken Stew)

This is my just one of our favorite Puerto Rican dishes! It’s just plain yummy good. Usually we make it on the stove top but thought why not try it in a crock pot and see how it works….

Ingredients:

8 boneless, skinless chicken things

2 lbs of little red potatoes

2 teaspoons of salt( We use Goya Adobo)

3 tablespoons of sofrito(Goya Sofrito)…which Smith’s Market Place used to carry but doesn’t anymore….so AMAZON! 

1 8 ounce can of tomato sauce (Goya tomato sauce)

2 Bay leaves

1  green pepper

1 red pepper

1 packet of sazon (Goya)

2 cups of water

Prep: Cut the chicken into bite size pieces.  Chop the potatoes into half or leave whole if small enough.  Dice peppers into 1/8 inch pieces. In the crock pot mix all the ingredients except the potatoes and chicken.  After everything is well mixed add the chicken and potatoes. Stir to coat the chicken.  Cook for 6 hrs on high or 8 hrs on low. Depending on how much meat or potatoes you like add accordingly. Serve with a nice bowl of rice.

Worry- Worry

For those of you who know me well…this is definitely my MO/mode of operation right!

Opening my email this morning this sits there nice a pretty!

Print, Laminate….carry around in purse!

Individual Chicken Biscuit Pot/Pies

Trying to put together back to school menus that are quick and easy to have on the table.   School is just a few days away!

Ingredients:

1 package “Grands” biscuits

Rotisserie chicken – chopped in bite size pieces

1 can Cream of Chicken Soup

1 package Frozen mixed vegetables (Small package)

Favorite seasonings

Stretched the dough to fit into deep muffin tins/sprayed of course.

Mix all the ingredients together – except biscuits…come now!

Place a nice heaping mixture into each biscuit cup.

Back 22 minutes at 375 Degrees

Yummily Good

Keeping It Safe

You can imagine, as a blogger, I live a LOT of my life online.  Visibly.  To strangers, as well as friends.  These days – so much is online, and once it’s out there, it’s out there.  That photo.  That status update.  That post.  But that’s a good thing.  That’s connecting.  It’s reaching out.  It’s making friends. It’s keeping family updated about what is happening. The convenience of sharing photos with friends (and non-friends) through social networking sites and blogs is undeniable.

Unfortunately, so are the dangers.Safe sharing online is a lot like safe sharing in real life – like, we don’t invite strangers to follow us home, at least I don’t!   

With all that said we are no longer going to post about the children here on the blog…it will become just my life!  I know could get boring…Oh Well…it’s my decision!  With love -

Really - Again

*Picture above is not actual person who called me….REALLY! Have no idea who they are…found their picture on Image Search!”

The latest today from another interesting phone call…"John," a young man with a clear Indian accent said he was calling from "Windows Technical Support." My computer, he told me, had alerted him that it was infested with viruses. He wanted to show me the problem

Me: "I'm sorry, I don't know anything about a 'Windows Company.' Do you mean Microsoft?"

Him: "No, it's not a Microsoft, it's a Windows Technical Department, OK? And I am the Windows technical provider to help you out, OK?"

Me: "OK, but I'm still... I didn't call you, you called me, so it seems kind of strange. I don't know if I want to let some program run on my computer. Besides I have an IT son with a master's degree.

Him: "Mam, we are getting some information from your computer, some harmful information because these information's are damaging the [garbled] and some important [garbled] like that."

Me: "You mean, I have viruses in my computer and you know about it somehow?" And Mam…you think I’m your mother?

Him: "Yeah. Yeah."

ME: "Wow." And what you really want is my credit card number right?
End of conversation wonder if he could hear me typing away madly on my word processor to get this conversation! ‪#‎sickofwindowsscamcalls‬

Thoughtful Tuesday

Romans 12:18

The teacher in me always comes back to the same words, “I believe we are here to learn lessons. Once we learn a lesson we move on to the next one. However, if we fail to learn a lesson, we keep finding opportunities to learn it again and again.”

So a few steps to help myself learn:

1. Believe there is a lesson to be learned…in everything that happens. If something doesn't work out, it's easy to get creative and find some reason why it's someone else's fault.

2. Admit to yourself – you might have been part of the problem.  Oh the lessons my father taught me…could this be the first step of the AA program…of course. This does require you to immediately quit playing the blame game! There is absolutely no shame in being able to admit to yourself or others that you made mistakes. If you are used to just dishing out the blame and not accepting your part, remember the research that shows being able to apologize in relationships makes them much more likely to last and thrive.

3. Forget Blame – Calling names, ridiculing, is not feedback; it is abuse!  This kind of emotional bad-mouthing may make people fearful, but they'll never respect you because it displays more of your weaknesses than anything else!

4.  Let it Go – By now we are all to familiar with “FROZEN” and the words keep resounding over and over again…so it might just work to admit the role I played, forgive myself, and move forward! 

Cause and Effect

For many years I taught this to 8 year olds…there is always a cause and effect in every thing we do…

So it is in life…we will always reap what we sow.   No question, it happens!

Every day you are faced with choices, and every day there will be a consequence to that choice.  I witness the things people do to others without thinking first of the consequences of those actions.   I often think of my own selfishness and the hurts that I have caused others. 

Fortunately for each and everyone of us our God is a just God.  Yes, He is merciful, but only within the bounds of eternal law that is set, that even He is bound by.  We are bound by the choices we knowingly and willfully make.  We will reap what we sow.

Sow kindness and you will receive kindness.

Sow mercy and you will receive mercy.

Sow generosity and you will be loved by many.

Sow selfishness and you will be loved by few.

Sow deceit and you will be deceived.

Sow love and you shall be loved.

Sow hate and you shall be hated.

It is plain and simple.  Black and white.  There is no gray area.  Eternal laws cannot be changed.  They are what they are.  There are no exceptions.  Once a seed has been planted, it cannot be changed into something else.  You cannot plant a watermelon seed and expect to harvest a pumpkin.  You cannot sow hate and expect love!  This life is too short to be unhappy.  This life is too short to be selfish.  The way we treat others now will be the way others treat us now and in the future.  If I want my children and grandchildren to be kind to me when I can no longer take care of myself, I must teach them by serving others…which I try my very best to do!

Word of the day – love

Frito Pie ~Not in a Bag

 

While many may call this “Crap” ….ANTHONY BOURDAIN  

My Family must be easy to please…because they gave it the thumbs UP!

I did make homemade Chili topped the Frito’s with cheese, avocadoes, and for some sour cream/ranch dressing!

The chili:

Ingredients

• 2 pounds Sausage
• 3 cloves Garlic, Minced
• 1 can 15 oz Italian Diced Tomatoes …put in my blender
• 1 can (10 Ounce) Rotel – Mild of course for this girl!
• 1/2 teaspoon Salt
• 1 teaspoon Ground Oregano
• 1 Tablespoon Ground Cumin
• 1 Tablespoons Chili Powder…add more if you are into HEAT
• 1 can (14-ounce) Kidney Beans, Drained And Rinsed
• 1 can (14-ounce) Pinto Beans, Drained And Rinsed
• 1 can (14-ounce) Small Red Beans, Drained and Rinsed
• 1/4 cup Masa …yes this was gluten free!
• 1/2 cup water
• Fritos
• Grated Cheddar Cheese
• Avocadoes
• Sour Cream/Ranch Dressing

Preparation Instructions

Brown the sausage with garlic in a pot over medium-high heat. Add Italian Tomatoes, Rotel, salt, oregano, cumin, and chili powder. Cover and reduce heat to low. Simmer for 30 minutes.

Add drained and rinsed beans. Stir to combine, then cover and simmer for another 20 minutes.

Mix masa with water, then add to the chili. Stir to combine and simmer for a final 10 to 15 minutes. Set aside.

Serve with plenty of Fritos in the bottom of a bowl. heap on the chili and cheese, and other toppings of your choice.

What Game is this??

The rules of the game Croquet. As a kid the only rules that I remember we had were:

1. Hit the ball with the mallet through the wire hoops. First one to get through all the hoops wins.
2. If  the other player cheats or offends you in any way, chase him/her around the yard with your mallet until your mother tells you to stop.

Now K doesn’t know if this is golf, baseball, or this is just a new weird way to swing something.    I’m telling you I got out of his way and fast!!!  Can you see where his mallet is coming from??   We tried and tried to show him a gentle tap….not in his vocabulary!

 

Garden Fresh Pasta

Garden Fresh Pasta…..perhaps even “G o d   F a t h e r   P a s t a*”

This one is definitely a keeper.  Everyone came back for second helpings.  While shopping at Harmon’s today I picked up a package of Casarecce.  I should have taken a picture of it in the package, it comes so very nicely wrapped with a black stain ribbon…never seen that before!  It took longer than the instructions suggest to get to the desired tenderness that I like about 12 minutes!
 
also had chicken thighs that needed to be used so on the grill for some nice smoky taste!
Here is how I put the whole dish together.
Ingredients:
1 package Casarecce Pasta
3 14.5 oz. cans of Italian Style Chopped Tomatoes
2 cloves (maybe a little more) garlic minced
1 package Lawry’s Spaghetti Sauce ….seriously we can’t live without this in our home!
Herbs fresh from the garden – 2 tablespoons each chopped oregano, rosemary, & thyme
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon sea salt
Some fresh ground pepper
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 cup heavy cream
2 cups chicken chopped into bite size pieces
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, you will also want some to serve on individual plates.

Pour the chopped tomatoes in a large sauce pan.  Simmer over very low heat.  Add Lawry’s Spaghetti Sauce, garlic, herbs, olive oil, salt and pepper, and sugar.  Toss in the chopped chicken.  Simmer for at least 30 minutes…my dad would probably simmer a good share of the afternoon!
Cook pasta to your al dente …mine was 12 minutes today.   Drain and put into your nice pasta serving dish  
Now back to the sauce…just before you pour this scrumptious mixture over the pasta  add the 1/2 cup of heavy cream and the 1/2 cup of grated parmesan cheese.   Toss and serve immediately with additional grated cheese on top.  
Tonight I served this with Caesar Salad and Garden Fresh Green Beans on the side.
And for dessert a little Raspberry Panna Cotta
 

Sunday Morning Breakfast

This morning we enjoyed a new recipe, well accepted by everyone!

Idaho Sunrise Potato and Egg Bake with a little biscuits and gravy on the side!

 

Ingredients:

Baked Potatoes

Butter

Eggs

*Choice of add ins – we used chopped ham, red pepper, and cheese

Salt and Pepper

 

Instructions

1. Slice a portion of the potato lengthwise so you are able to hollow it out to make a bowl.
2. Place 1 tbs of butter on each potato
3. Crack an egg in each potato
4. Sprinkle with desired toppings and seasonings
5. Bake in a preheated 375 oven for 17-25 minutes or until eggs are just set.

The Week

Getting Ready to Be A Volunteer

 

After being a teacher for 30 years….I know how valuable Volunteers can be!   Ali & I will be in the classroom or behind the scenes as much as we possibly can this coming school year.   We want K to definitely get the message that school is important!

With hours of work each day…we want our teacher to know that she/he is appreciated.   We have lots of fun things planned to make Little Man’s teacher’s life easier!

Thanks to Julie (Dear Daughter in love) we will give her this beautiful clipboard along with a survey for her to fill out of her favorite things.

 

and ta-da….NO. 2   Pencils for all of those new classmate friends!

#Ready for Kindergarten    #18 Days and Counting

Seriously Snake Bite

Here we are in downtown IF….

It doesn't have a Gap or a Starbucks…yes there is an awesome mall on the far end of town!  We’ve been there.

There are no towering building above 5 stories, no loud honking of horns, no rushing traffic…. just beautiful scenery

and beautiful old town charm with eateries that can’t be beat for deliciousness! 

The Snake Bite Lunch

Frighteningly – irresistible – venomous

Before you think I have totally lost it …let me reassure you that I would never enter any place that might house a creature that would bite me!   So what's up with the name of this place? It sounds like you are going to go in and spend an hour being treated for poisonous bites you have suffered!

Seirously the waiter was a bit toxic…kind of like Mr. Fredricksen (kind of on the grumpy side….leave me alone kind of guy)in the movie Up…but geeze we were hungry and just wanted a bite (Pun intended) to eat!

Sit down, relax and take a long as you like to enjoy every bite of your lunch!   Stuff it in until you can’t take another!   It was delicious!

Keep Your Windows Rolled UP!

 

With the boys of summer playing in IF it was only a quick drive to see Bear World…. What a fantastic experience!
I must admit, when we pulled up to the window to pay, and the guy told us to proceed with caution, keep our windows rolled up, to drive 3-5 MPH, and honk 3 times if we needed help, I was a little freaked out to be exploring Bear World.

does Jurassic World where the dinosaur rips apart their little car thing….come to anyone else’s mind??

So thrilled to see the baby bear cubs playing in a very large habitat area.  K wanted to stay for hours watching these amazing creatures.

 

After this amazing adventure I don’t know what we will do to top this!   We did go into the petting zoo where K made several new little friends- Daisy the deer, Tess the pig, goats, ducks, chickens, swans, peacocks, and more. Feeding the animals was so much fun, even with deer and goat saliva all over his little hands. They have a good wash station outside of the petting zoo. We also reminded him the goats milk kept him alive when he was a baby!  

Spending the day with the animals was certainly the highlight of our trip and our stay in Idaho Falls…. then on to Rexburg.   The whole experience cost only $16.95 adults, $15.95 SENIORS! and $10.95 for the K man! Deal of the century. We did try to purchase feeding time with the bears but they were all sold out for the day…just another reason to make another trip!   We’ll be back.