Field Trip to Deanna Rose Farm

Last week I got to be a parent volunteer for Caitlin's 1st grade trip to a children's farm...it is a farm that is kid - friendly. The kids get to climb on old tractors and bang on cow bells. They get to put their hands in the water and type on an old typewriter.

They get to pretend their milking a cow and in reality got to bottle feed goats! Those goats love their milk!

Most of all, I enjoyed this day spent just on Caitlin. I took off a day from work because she asked. I told her we'd turn my name in, but I imagined lots of parents would want to go. That day after school she came running off the bus and yelled, "We're in! We're in! You get to go next week!" It was so cute. Although the farm wasn't my thing, and neither was the other girl I had to look after (the whining and tears that came once I told her she couldn't go on a pony ride due to no one being allowed to bring money wore on me FAST), being with Caitlin totally IS my thing. We had a great time!

Homework and swimsuits

Last week, we went outside on one of the sunny days to work on homework. Caitlin's teacher gives a packet of homework each week, and for their spelling words, she has them choose 3 activities out of 9 (you must choose 3 in a row - like tick -tack - toe) to practice the spelling words. She always has such great ideas, and one of them, was called "Warm Water Wash." This activity only calls for a paint brush and a bucket of water (and a warm day)! We had all 3, so we went outside. I said a word and Caitlin "painted" it in water on the driveway. She LOVED it - as did Macy, who couldn't wait for her turn! On that note...I must mention her words as I put her in this bikini (courtesy of Heather Fritz's girls), "Momma! I have boobies just like you!" Ahhh, the joys of a 2 year old.

In an effort to "hide" various vegetables in my kids' foods, I asked for the "Deceptively Delicious" cookbook for Christmas awhile back, written by Jessica Seinfeld, and received it. I have tried it a few times. A few items have been hits with either my kids or my husband.

In talking with my cousin, Heather, I mentioned one recipe in particular that is a favorite of everyone in my family, and I have even taken it to the in-laws and they were a big hit there, too! So, I told her I'd blog the recipe, so here it is:

"Doughnuts" (although, since I don't have a doughnut pan, I make them mini muffins)

Ingredients:
Nonstick cooking spray

1/2 cup firmly packed light or dark brown sugar

1/2 cup canned pumpkin

1/2 cup sweet potota puree

1/2 cup skim milk

1 large egg white

1 tbsp trans-fat-free soft tub margarine spread, melted

1 tsp vanilla

1 cup flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice (or cinnamon - but I like pumpkin pie spice best)

1/4 cup confectioners' sugar

Directions: Preheat oven to 350. Coat doughnut mold or muffin pan with cooking spray. In a large bowl, beat together sugar, pumpkin and sweet potato purees, milk, egg white, margarine, and vanilla. Add the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and spice, and mix until completely incorporated.

Pour the batter into the mold or muffin tin. Bake until a toothpick comes out clean (10-15 minutes for mini muffin pan, 15-20 minutes for doughnut). Take out to cool on a wire rack. When cool, dust with powdered sugar.

Store in an airtight container for up to 2 days (they stay moist)! Or freeze for up to a month (I've never frozen before).

These are a huge hit in my household, and this batch makes about 48 mini muffins. I feel okay giving these as a snack because of the sweet potato and pumpkin they rarely/never get. The purees are the tough part. Mrs. Seinfeld claims her and Jerry make a "fun night" of cooking and pureeing vegetables every Sunday night. I highly doubt this, but that's the claim. I have pureed and frozen squash and sweet potato. I've also tried the chickpea chocolate chip cookies (totally revolting) and the mozzarella sticks with cauliflower puree and flaxseed in them (they were hits for Jon and I, but not the kids). There was also a fruit dip which was so disgusting to look at, that I couldn't even taste it myself, let alone give it to the girls. Try these muffins, though! They rock the house!

Marriages in the Making

As we began our 8+ hour trip home from Dallas on Monday, Jon read me what Mercedes has posted on facebook, "The Bishop girls catapulted their way to future daughter-in-law status this weekend..." I smiled, teared up, and day dreamed of connecting ourselves permanently to the Johnsons...

The girls huddled around Dorian and Wynn often. They sang "Wheels on the Bus," to Dori and laid on the floor by Wynn as much as they could. Alex invited the girls often to play with him in the sand or to join him in playing with his action figures. Ben enjoyed a strategic game of tag with the girls while outrunning Jon.

This weekend we visited some of our best friends. We have missed them so much and we were missing 2 boys we hadn't even met yet! The Johnsons warmed our hearts the whole weekend and we left with tears in our eyes and Alex's plea: "Can you stay one more day?"

Of course, the adults enjoyed some major relaxation by the new Johnson Oasis! Their new spread is FANTABULOUS! We spent practically the whole weekend outdoors and it was wonderful! Jon and I thanked each other the whole weekend for being able to make this trip. We have missed them so much - and we just picked up where we left off. They are truly one of a kind and we are so blessed to have them as our friends.

For now, we'll look at pictures and store this weekend as more wonderful memories with Ben, Alex, Wynn, Dorian, CJ and Mercedes - and we'll look forward to many more - because we can't stand to stay away that long again! And if all goes to plan...Mercedes and I will concoct some way of marrying at least 1 Bishop and 1 Johnson!

The Hoop

The Scooter that kept my sister busy
The dad...who coached me
The fundamentals

The preparation

The shot heard round the world...

"It's in! She scores! Al, miracles do happen! She won't forget this one for while!"

(she still may choose to be a cheerleader, but finally getting a hoop sure paves the way for dreams...no matter whose they are).

Look out, 1st Grade, because here I am!

Here's what Caitlin said on the first day of school in the car: "You're not gonna walk me in, are you, mom?"
So, I guess we're at that point. She loves her independence. She loves to be proud and walk in by herself like the big kids. I let her go herself, with my colleague in tow with her 1st grader, who was in hysterics for her first day. I sat in the car watching parent after parent walk in. When I saw the St. Mary's women's basketball coach and his wife walk in their 2 kids (2nd and 4th grade), I decided I had better not be the only parent that dropped off on the first day - especially at a new school! I walked in, finally found her room (a very confusing school), and peeked in. She was sitting with a group of girls coloring and talking like she knew them for years. I didn't even wave. She sure adjusts well.

Her teacher's name is Mrs. Plessl and she is exactly what you want in a 1st grade teacher - nice, nice, nice! She is a small, tan little mom of 2 and she has the perfect little elementary school room with lots of caterpillars in bright colors and rainbows and books and so much more!

These are our best first day of school pictures, which Macy HAD to be in. She HAD to have a backpack, and cried when we dropped her off at Miss Kathy's and Caitlin didn't stay.

Muddy, Floody, Yucky Waters

My mom sent these photos yesterday. Luckily, these are not taken near her house. Also luckily, she just had her sump pump fixed a couple weeks ago...whew!!!

Ames has endured several days of inches of rain and this is a result. I remember when I cam back from my first year of college and instead of working IN the movie theater for the summer - I worked at sandbagging and eventually digging things out of the disgusting water. For those who've never been in a flood - it's pretty much sewer water. What makes it even worse this time around is Ames had 6 water main leaks and they couldn't flush or take showers for at least 1 day (last I heard) and can't drink the water for at least 1 week!

What's even worse than that is that a lot of people did not see this coming. When I talked to my mom, she said the couple people that were still missing (and I read in the paper that a couple were safe, but sadly, one died) didn't drive through the water on the road because they thought they could make it. The police have said that it was so dark when it was raining that people didn't know they were driving into it and it swept them away. My mom said she was driving in it that night too, and she was using the lightning to light her path up ahead. I believe God lit her path, too, so we are blessed.

Get well, Ames! I miss you and hope you can repair yourself again in 2010 with the help of the great townspeople. I really do love Ames and Iowa State University and it makes me sad to see this in Ames or anywhere.