Kitchen Tip Tuesday

#2 I buy onions in bulk then chop them all up. I put 1/4 cup in Ziploc snack bags and put them in the freezer. So if a recipe calls for onions I have them already to go. From freezer to frying pan to soups to crock pot meals to casserole dishes to whatever. I also do the same with red, green and yellow peppers. It cuts down on prep time and too many episodes of crying :-)

So what do I use to chop? My absolutely favorite things...drum roll please....
Vidalia Chop Wizard. I love this thing!! Its great for chopping up food for little mouths. I do carrots and potatoes for stews, apples and pears for fruit salad, cooked chicken breasts for casseroles and so much more. Its easy to use and just tip it up and you have measurements. Then it comes with a comb to clean the lid. All dishwasher safe. It has really cut down on my prep time.

Pictures of Kiddos!

We had these done at Sears before we left. The kids cooperated amazingly well. We, however, were very tired, therefore there isn't a family portrait. We, including my mom who was in town for visit, pulled an all nighter getting the house ready for the Realtors to come by. She cleaned while we worked. We couldn't have gotten the house ready without her! She worked really hard while we tried to keep our sanity.

The kids like to pull funny faces (don't all!!). So we have cues like "Mean Guy Face" or "Happy Guy Face" or "Sad Guy Face". This is their "Surprise Guy Face".

Kitchen Tips Tuesday

I've decided to try something new: Kitchen Tips Tuesday (Like Nikki's Works For Me Wednesdays). I receive a lot of good advice regarding the kitchen that I'd like to share with you. I do enjoy cooking and baking (it brings me back to my chem lab days in college). So I will be passing on to you what I learn, either from others or by experimentation, on Tuesday. If you have an idea you'd like posted, credit given to you of course, just e-mail me at TubbsTribune@live.com. Stay tuned!!

Today's Kitchen Tip:

#1 I don't mind working with raw meat, but it seems as soon as I start a meal either a child desperately needs something at that exact moment or the phone rings or the husband is running out the door but can't find his keys. In order to quickly be at every one's beckoning call, I wear plastic disposable gloves. I keep a box in the kitchen. So I can just whip off the gloves in a moments notice and toss them. I also use them anytime I find it faster to mix with my hands then a spoon like meatloaf, salads, and some cookie doughs.

Blessed in OH

We've met so many nice people here! For example: We went out to eat at a place called the "Waffle House". Its like the old time diners. The waitresses even had funny names for the food that she would call back to the cooks. All the regulars were out for their Thursday morning waffles. The kids were very well behaved so a good time was had by all. When Travis went to pay the waitress told us that our meal was paid for by the gentleman who just left!! How cool is that!

Backpack Update!

Our little guy is now 7 months. Yesterday he cut his two upper front teeth (for a total of 4 teeth). They just sat there bleeding and waiting to break through. He hasn't been too fussy either. A real trooper! He is sitting all by himself and clapping. He is all smiles and giggles. Backpack is definitely the best smiler of the bunch, but when he is upset he is the loudest. He never just cries or whimpers, its an all out scream!

Today he actually reached out for something I had and made a 'I want it/gimme' gesture. At church I was talking and he grabbed my face and turned it toward him. He cries if I hold one of the other kids or I walk out of the room. He's been known to kick if Trouble or Dynomite come near while I'm holding him. I love it! I wanted a Mommy's baby. The other two, I think, love Daddy more...this one is mine!!! The only problem is that he never lets me put him down. Oh well!! (I did confuse Trouble because I kept saying, "This is Mommy's baby". So Trouble asked Travis, "Daddy, when are you going to have a baby?")


He's also our best eater. He quickly eats meals with us in his Bumbo on the table without a fight (plus snacks and nursing). He even enjoys eating by clapping or smiling after most bites. Trouble had to be coaxed with a Cheerio on top of every spoonful and Dynomite is still very slow.

This is the age when they start to become really fun. Travis likes to throw the babies up in the air and rough them up a bit just to get the smiles. They also get ticklish.

I will post pictures later!!

Minot House

I just wanted to show that Travis did get the bathroom finished before we left. I should have posted this ages ago. So he cut the roof, then raised it (remember he did this the night before Backpack was born) and put in the glass blocks and mini windows (to match the other side, see below). Then he took out the rest of the lath and plaster and put in new fixtures. It gave the bathroom more head room and light.

This is a picture of his very first project at the house. He cut the roof and raised it, then added the glass and windows. This enabled him to add a shower. So now it is a full bathroom, not 3/4.

The very last project he did was the hardwood floor. Friday, one week before we left for Ohio, we decided to replace the carpet. When we pulled it up we discovered a nice hardwood floor. So Travis sanded it down, put down a wood border and varnished it. We wished we would've discovered this earlier!!!

I don't think I ever posted picture of the inside of the garage, so here it is. I know he really wanted to finish mud and taping the sheet rock, but there was simply no time.

Anyway, the house hasn't sold yet. We're patiently waiting. Somewhere out there is a family that will love this house as much as we do.

Monster Trucks

We are lucky to have a university down the street from us. At the Nutter Center (the auditorium) they have plenty of entertainment that pass through. Last Saturday we went to see Monster trucks. It was loud, but the kids loved it! Backpack actually slept through some it. The Thursday before the kids got to meet Black Stallion, one of the competing trucks. It ended up to be the one that won the Monster competition. There were 4 events: Wheelies, Racing, Spinning, and Freestyle. There were also quad races, but it seemed staged, and motorcycle stunts.

Here is a video clip of the highlight of the show during wheelies:

Here they are fipping it back over:

Racing:

Spinning:

Free Style: