Calling all cheap recipes!

If there is one complaint Stephen has about my cooking is that we don't eat the same thing more than once very often. He likes familiar things, I get bored with a recipe after once or twice- the second time I make something it doesn't taste nearly as good. Which is why the huge collection of recipes I have is probably a waste of space, but don't tell the guys that are moving those boxes- they are super heavy.

So here is the deal: we are trying to eat with a lot of food storage type items and I am BORED TO DEATH. I need something new to spice up the life of dried beans, canned tomatoes, pasta, rice. We will have next to nil to live on for a while- this closing is sucking us dry, so eating on the cheap will probably continue for a while. Like a year. Blehhh.

I'm calling for all websites or favorite recipes you have that feed a family of four for cheap. Also, any great tips on saving money on groceries (I know all about the grocery game). How cheap? Well, I don't usually spend over $2.99/lb for any meat, if that is any indication.

I walked in the store the other day and nearly choked- $1 for green onions?? I miss Jerry's in Chicago (Niles, actually) so much at moments like these. I am pretty sure that place was a front for the Mafia, but I didn't care. The prices were INSANE. Ten cents for green onions, 10 little avacados for $1, 3 pounds of strawberries for $1 . . . you can't beat that.

So let me know- and if you have more than one recipe, email me on the link to the left. Thanks you guys, and you know I will send out a compilation of what you send me. Just leave me your email address in your comment.

Small Town, USA

I finally figured out why we like this neighborhood of Magnolia so much. It's like living in Small Town, USA- but just up the street from a good sized city. Yesterday was a perfect example: There was a preschool fundraiser at the Methodist Church, selling children's clothing and toys and I headed up there to see if I could find some summer shorts for Odessa. I ran into a friend and saw many other familiar faces. Faces I see at the gym, the grocery store, the post office. When I got home, Ada, Odessa and I walked to the corner to watch part of the Little League parade when all the teams march down the main streets. They throw candy, the High School band plays, all the village businesses sponsor a team, the main streets were all closed. Late in the afternoon when we were all stir crazy from packing, the girls and I headed to the grocery store down the street to see if they had any more boxes. We turned in their Easter Coloring contest pages, hoping to win the $20 grand prize! We met Stephen on our return at the park and played in the perfect afternoon weather. And to cap off our evening, we walked around the corner to the Pie restaurant and split a couple pieces of pie. You don't get more "down home" days than that. I told Stephen they just need a cheap diner to round out the place. Ichiro's Teriyaki will have to suffice- Teriyaki is like diner food around here- cheap and plentiful. Owning our own home will be exciting, but leaving Magnolia is hard to do.
Monday night we hosted the Linfords and Manijeh at our home to thank them for being our grandparents-away-from grandparents here in Seattle. They are such wonderful people, we love them all 3 dearly. We often run to the Linfords at the gym here in Magnolia and the girls shout "Sister Linford!" Which makes all the patrons stare and the rest of us laugh.
I made the traditional St Patrick's Day feast for them. This is a terrible picture, but I wanted to capture the moment.
Friday we met our friend Julia at the Zoo and enjoyed the sunny weather along with half of Seattle. School was out and the kids were all there at the zoo. I ran into 4 other friends besides Julia!

This tiger was licking the other


I love giraffes!


I liked this shot of the wise old gorilla and the young behind



Say goodbye. It's time to focus on moving. . . .

Confidence Builders

Stephen and I were asked last week to talk in church today. Ada seemed determined to make sure my frame of mind was not overly confident before I stood up in front of the congregation.

She trotted into my room this morning, picked up my bra from my designated clothing cast off chair and said while holding it in the air:
"Are these your boobs?" Then she insisted that I should put it on right away. Probably freaked out to see me without my boobs.
At the breakfast table I was shiny faced (as always) not having showered or put on my make-up yet. She said: "What's that red stuff on your face?"
Me: "Where?" (egging her on)
Ada: "Right there on your chin, and there and there on your chin again" (pointing) "Are those from your pillow?"
Me: "No, they're not Ada, mommy just doesn't have perfect skin like you and Odessa!"

Oh boy, going to have a stellar day!

Pack in the fun

Checking out the beach and tide pools at Alki Beach with the Viswanathans on Monday



Stephen has wanted to rent a rowboat on Lake Union ever since we moved here. We finally did it on Saturday.
The girls were helping row with their sticks and at this point were exasperated at mom's rowing abilities- we just kept going in circles!
Lots of other boaters out on such a nice day- it was about 60 degrees and sunny

Seaplane taking off very close to us

The girls got Easter dresses from Grandma and I let them wear them Sunday- Easter falls on General Conference Sunday this year, so I figure they can be Spring dresses.


Photo session quickly dissolved into this: as it usually does.

While we are waiting

Stephen has been busy managing the muddle that is taxes. I have been swamped with paperwork for the pending home purchase. Meanwhile, our kids keep us laughing.
Odessa has been working on writing her name. The "s-s" keeps her on her toes.
Ada is finally re-potty training. One method I am using is a) running out of pull-ups, forcing her to use undies and b) letting her wear a dress without anything on underneath since my friend discovered without any clothes, kids will rarely just pee on the floor. It's the security of the underwear, clothes or pull-up that they rely on and pee on.
So Ada spends some time parading around the house singing: "Bare-naked bottom! Bare-naked bottom!"
She is good to go #2 in the potty. One day when I was helping her she warned me: "There's a lot of poop back there! Be care-ful! You might get some POOP on you!" She was so matter of fact about this, it sounded like NASA instructions being given by a two yr old.

Ada has started giving up naps. One day when I told her it was quiet time with books in bed, she asked: "Well, how about Loud Time?"

Odessa was coloring at the kitchen table and I was in the living room. A dog barked as it walked by outside. She jumped down from the table, ran over to me and said "I think that barking is saying (cupping her hands to her mouth and shouting) 'Odessa needs a dog!'" It was hysterical.