Multi-colored balloons rising. 

BBQ pulled pork picnic on a blanket.

Kids laughing.

Kids playing. 

Elephant ear with Bavarian cream. 

Cotton Candy. 

Cold Water. 

Beatles cover band. 

Glowing colors.

Balloon Festival 2010.

I can’t believe that I am actually going to be a student again – and at a major university – for a MASTER’S degree. I’m very excited and nervous and thankful.  Very very thankful!

Kimi hard at work

strawberries!

 We got hair cuts (and colors)…

First Haircut!

 We got a wagon…

loves his new wagon!

red wagon=fun

 We attended a birthday party…

birthday girl

the little cousins

 And now we need to relax from our weekend!

• 8 large burrito size tortillas
• 2 cans black beans
• 1 packet taco seasoning (Old El Paso)
• 1 bag yellow spanish rice (Vigo)
• 1 bag frozen corn (defrosted)
• 1 16 oz diced tomatoes (or 2 large fresh tomatoes)
• 1 8 oz shredded cheddar cheese
• Salso
• sour cream
• lettuce (julienned)

Preheat over to 350 degrees

Drain the black beans and rinse with cool water in a strainer.  Place them in a sauce pan or wok.  Drain the diced tomatoes – setting aside 1/2 cup of the tomatoe juice (if you use fresh tomatoes, add a 1/2 cup of water to the recipe).  Add the tomatoes and juice (or water) into the pan.  Add the taco seasoning.  Set the stove top to medium-high heat, stirring frequently so that the beans do not burn. 

Prepare the yellow Spanish rice to the directions on the bag.  After the rice is done.  Mix in the corn.

Heat the tortillas on a stove top (flipping them over the fire if you have a gas range).  this step is not necessary, but can add a little more flavor to your burrito.  But make sure you do not burn the tortilla to a crisp!

Add the corn and rice mixture, the bean mixture, and a scoop of cheddar cheese to each flour tortilla.  Fold the ends in over the mixture and roll the burrito tight.  Place in a casserole dish. 

Prepare all of the tortillas the same way, placing in the casserole dish.  Top the burritos with the remaining cheese.  Put them in the over for 10 minutes, until the cheese is melted. 

Remove from oven and serve topped with lettuce, salsa, and sour cream.

soooooooooooo good.

And as for the “blog naysayer” – they patroned my burritos and liked them just fine.

With the help of a friend, he learned to play this instrument (the sousaphone) in about 3 weeks! He has performed in the Memorial Day parade, and he will be performing in more parades this summer! 

He also plays the bassoon – and recently auditioned and made the cut for Wind Ensemble next year! 

P.S. Don’t tell him of the corny nickname that I just made up, or that if he does intend to go to Medical School – he will be known as Dr. Basoosaphone.

His immunizations have been postponed due to his current symptoms.  I don’t mind that part, I just want him to feel better because I know how miserable it is to feel sick.  Poor pumpkin!

** Caleb just called.  The doctor informed that Henry is okay, and has no fever.  His ear infection has gone down considerably, but we will need to finish out the medication.  He will continue breathing treatments as needed until we feel he is doing better.  Though he may just have a cold at this point. 

After I did my shopping for party favors, I got home, we had dinner and then headed out to shop some more for the party food. 

 We got home at around 9:00 PM and that is when I started constructing the party favors…

Uncle Sterling won this prize with his guess of 670 (human calculator-head).  Meg’s guess was an impressive 654. Michael won the ‘shmoomee’ and everyone received a CD  of silly songs (I hope).

I had sent Caleb out to pick up one last birthday gift for the baby, and so when he returned at around 10:00 PM we began baking cakes…my friend Meg had taken on the project of making the birthday cake for all of the guests to help us save money by not purchasing bakery cakes - which turned out to be a mammoth project.  I wish I had taken a photo of the cakes she made.  There was SO much.  It was amazing. 

But since she was making cakes from scratch, we couldn’t possibly make Henry’s cake from a box mix…my husband was a little surprised at my announcement when he came home and asked where the mix was.  I was all like “mix?  no no no no…we are making it from scratch because MEG is making her cakes from scratch, and we cannot possibly put together a box cake for his first birthday…”

The kids helped out of course…they peeled potatoes and helped burn the CD’s and cut cloth for the lollipop covers.  My husband chopped and boiled the potatoes and I continued putting together the party favors into the wee hours.  Sometime around 1:00 AM Caleb went to bed and I decided it would be a fine idea to color my hair and get started on the potato salad.

I ended up going to bed at 3:00 AM.  The following photos are for what took place after we woke up at 8:00 AM.

Caleb made cream cheese frosting. It was our small attempt to make the cake somewhat nutritious.  Yeah right…

I only used one of the cakes for the Elmo head.  It was fun to cut it into the shape and then frost it.  Not bad for my first time with a character cake!

It was a very busy day.  About 70 people showed up to celebrate this little guy’s birthday.  The weather was fine, but it was nice to have the shelter, and there was SO MUCH good food it was awesome!  I missed grandma not being there…more on that one later as well.

Of course right when I was getting around to giving him his cake, he decided that it was time to fall asleep…

 But we coaxed him awake with cake…

  

And he loved it….

Poor Elmo!

  

  

 

Before

After

caaaaaaake....