Flying Flapjacks

Mark told me that if I heard strange noises in the kitchen I might want to get up and check on it because he overheard Asher talking about wanting to surprise me and making flapjacks.  Mark said his plan included flipping them high and going out for the pass to catch them on a plate.  We were not that concerned because we did not think he knew how to make the batter alone.  Later in the night we remembered that I had already mixed up some pancake batter and had it ready in the fridge....Yikes!!!!! Our deal has always been that I make the batter and Mark cooks them up so sure enough I walked into two of my favorite men making sport of it all.....see below!

What a fun breakfast!

Asher's Soup

With Autumn arriving I think a lot about comfort foods....soup, using the last of items from the garden, etc...I have been making a lot of various soups from vegetabe beef soup to French Onion Soup.  Well, I woke up day before yesterday and Asher had already put on a pot of soup.  He was very creative and Tennyson was right by his side learning and eating. Here are some pictures to show his hard work.

Asher & Tennyson are best buddies...he is so patient with his sister and loves and protects her

I began teaching the boys how to use a knife and cut when they were about 12 months with a Melissa & Doug cutting set.  Both boys are excellent little chefs at ages 7 and 5and can cut as well as Mark and I.

His soup was a pot full of lettuce, carrots, bananas, grapes, tomatoes in a pot of water seasoned with salt and pepper...I'm so proud of Tennyson eating a whole bowlful.

Asher had also picked many pepper and tomatillos and parsely from the garden.  Tennyson loves to accompany Asher to pick the garden.  She picks and feeds both of them Stevia "sugarbush" while he picks the rest.

California Vacation 2010

We have not been to visit our California family in three years so this was a past due, exciting, and jam packed 6 days- September 8-14, 2010.
Wednesday: Our flight there was very nice. Braxton, Asher and I worked on school lessons the entire flight.  Tennyson sat with her daddy and she did so well and took a great nap.  Whe we arrived we checked into our hotel, went to Chuck and Susan's house and go tour snakes settled into Chuck's workshop.  Susan made a delicious spaghetti dinner for all the family.
Thursday: We had a good nice sleep and a freee breakfast at our hotel.  Then Chuck rode around with us and Mark showed the children places where he grew up and had a bad bike jumping accident.  This was neat because Braxton has taken on the pleasure of riding and jumping with his bike. Later that morning we meet up with Linda, and Madison and went to the Steven Birch Aquarium.
Papa picking on Mark

The tall building on the tip of La Jolla was built my Mark's great grandfather.

Asher and Tennyson were enjoying eating their lunch on the curb

After the aqurium we went back to Linda's' house and had fun swimming.

Susan arranged to have family pictures made at the park by Chris & Brenda's house.

Papa with the great-grandchildren

Papa with his daughters Linda & Susan

Linda, Deb & Madison Kawka-Asper

Chuck and Susan Ham

Mark, Jennifer, Braxton, Asher & Tennyson Huntley

Chris, Brenda, Maysie & Alyce Huntley

Madison & Asher

Friday, we had breakfast with Linda and Deb at my favorite restaurant Park House Eatery...I dream of the food prepared from this place...DELICIOUS!!! That afternoon we drove up to Anaheim in 6 lanes of weekend traffic to load in for the NARBC Reptile Show. To see images from the show please see our snake blog: http://sandboamorphs.blogspot.com/

Here is a picture of Mr. Chuckles holding Tennyson before we left for Anaheim.

Nana Susan made this blanket and pillow for Tennyson.

Saturday, Susan took the kids to the park until the rest of the family came up to meet them. Also, thank you Susan for taking the majority of the pictures on this post.

After the Reptile Show we went back to the hotel and found everyone having fun swimming. 

We all got ready and Brenda took us on a great tour of Downtown Disney.  It is a fun, free admission Disney experience.  You have to admit that it would be awesome to live near something as cool as this.

Sunday, Mark and I worked the second day of the Reptile Show and the family visited Disneyland.

Thank all of you who carefully watched our children so we could work the reptile show!

Monday, we got up and drove to see where Mark lived in Pacific Beach when I first visited CA.  We ate at the Firehouse Cafe..the kids loved watching the firetrucks as well as the surfers and strolling along the boardwalk.

Here are three pictures of the kids in the cockpit...the female pilot approached us and asked if she could take them into the cockpit andtake there picture.  They LOVED this Delta experience.

To our California family and friends we love you and anticipate seeing you again!

Life in God's Country

Today was opening day of dove season.    Braxton was so excited about going to shoot with granddaddy and Asher was looking forward to being the 'bird dog' and of course playing with his cousins.  Tennyson is happy whereever she is and proves to be our little 'scout'.
We began the day by feeding and taking pictures of the snakes.  Tennyson has transitioned from touching the snakes with one finger to holding and loving them.

Granddaddy picked up Braxton and they headed to the farm and took their spot in the field.  According to granddaddy, Braxton has quite the shot.  He managed to hit with his BB gun one dove which hit the ground and then took flight, one cricket, one butterfly he took down mid-flight and a bunch of tin cans.  He did gain respect for a 20 gauge shotgun but really what more could a 7 year old boy ask for???!!!

Asher had fun jumping on the hay bails.  This brought back a lot of childhood memories.

He was one dirty little boy when we left.

Tennyson was quite intrigued by the doves.

Sutton & Tennyson had fun playing while the others hunted.

Mother brought yummy Chocolate Chip Cookies for everyone to enjoy. 

Grandma Thompson enjoyed watching the children play, the dove come in and reminiscing.