So-I know most of us would never want to admit that we are just like our mothers-but I have to say I am the rare exception to the rule. My mom is one of the strongest women I know-she has gone through so much with a smile on her face and gratitude in her heart. She has overcome and succeeded things that would make most people crumble and give up. Not to mention she is one of the most talented people on the planet.
My mother is an artist in everything she does, and I have inherited that trait, in a little different style maybe, but I would definately consider myself an artist. There is nothing I like better than to create something. There is one talent she has that I have always been, I wouldn't say jealous of, but kind of. That woman can cook! I have always been an alright cook, I can follow a recipe-I can put together a meal, but the talent I have always wanted, was to be able to know what spices and things taste good together without help. My mom rocks at that!
Well lately, I have been a little more daring in my cooking-even buying exciting spices (I am really lame-since I have been married, my spice cabinet had little more than salt and pepper). The last couple of months I have put together in my opinion (and my family doesn't seem to disagree) some pretty great things! I feel like I can finally just throw things in and make it work.
Well I still didn't feel quite like I was up to par until tonight! I didn't mention that a lot of the times my mom cooks-she does something totally blonde-setting a dish towel on fire for instance, or melting butter in the microwave when she was just trying to soften it, (she has done this so many times-we have affectionately call it lobster butter)-but we know she does these things because she is such a great cook that she is distracted making the good stuff. Well tonight while I was grilling steaks, making biscuits and mashed potatoes for dinner tonight-and making ginger beef stir fry for tomorrow, I took the lid off the instant potatoes (whic
h obviously wasn't the impressive part of the meal-and you're right Penny-they aren't as good as real, but they are edible) and this is the result-too many burners on! Well after I choked my family with the thick smoke of burning plastic, and got over my anger at myself for being so idiotic, I realized it had finally happened-I have become my mother- and I like it!
How relaxing does that look? Asleep under a tree, with a gentle breeze....zzzzzz
As you can see the novelty of having her big bro and sis here has not worn off for Bekah!
It was such a nice day today-upper 80's even! I took the kids over to Gresham Park for a couple of hours to get some energy out. I even got up and played tag with them-and much to my disappointment, found that I am nowhere near as fast as Zachary-that kid can run! Unfortunately he cannot smile normal for a picture though! I told him to be normal for these pics and he said he was being normal...for him, that's about right! I took about 15 of these-and this is the best one...anyone want to take our family photos? Haha!
We were just on time to get to see the plane make it's way up to the ramp-the pics of them getting off the plane aren't great, but you can tell they are happy! These next ones are just a couple pics of the before excitement from my kids, (look at my poor little Topher! He has eczema-and allergies-he is covered in little bumps and his eyes are all puffy-We're hating this! Neither one of us have ever had allergies, and are still trying to figure out ways to help him out-suggestions?)
Hope everyones week is off to a great start-ours is! Lots of opportunities coming up in 
Of course since I wasn't around...this is what my little princess looked like, a poor wandering soul in the wilderness.
Bekah would go on little walks and when Chad would ask where she was going she would say, "Dad, I'll be over by the porcupine log", so Chad had to get a picture of her on her porcupine log.
Looks like fun....(not too much fun though-they got up at 5:30! No thanks!)
