Catch of the Day

Last weekend while we were in Idaho, Andrew took Kimball fishing on the river in an "undisclosed location". The two of them had been fishing for quite awhile and Kimball was ready to call it quit but decided to give it 5 more minutes. Kimball was using an old bait rod of Grandpa's. Andrew was busy using his fly rod just a short distance away. Kimball then told Andrew, frustratingly, "Dad, I think I have ANOTHER snag." Just as he finished saying that they saw a fish come flying up out of the water.

Here is Kimball's catch that he caught all by himself while Andrew coached him along. It's a 21 inch Cut Throat. (Andrew didn't catch anything, and Kimball was pretty proud that he out fished Daddy. "He got skunked and I didn't." Andrew wouldn't have traded the moment for the biggest fish in the river!)

Kimball's absolute favorite thing to do is fish with his Dad!

Turtle Bread

I again was reminded of a funny things that Hazel came up with a couple of months ago and have to share.

I have to admit something first, I LOVE french bread. I cannot walk into the grocery store and pass the cart with the warm freshly baked french bread without buying a loaf, or two. I frequently make a run to the grocery store just minutes before dinner to pick up a loaf. This leads to my story.

One night after a last minute run to the grocery store for a soft fluffy loaf of freshly baked french bread, I quickly sliced it and put it on the table for the family to enjoy with our spaghetti dinner. (Another frequent at our house.) As we sat down to the table to eat Hazel quickly grabbed the closest piece to her, the heal. This is my very favorite part of the french bread and I have a hard time allowing someone else to eat it. Besides my kids don't even like crust. So that night after Hazel had grabbed this particular piece and placed it face down on her plate (round smooth side up) I tried to convince her that she may want one of the other less crusty pieces. She insisted on wanting this piece and justified wanting it because it looked like a turtle. The heal of the french bread at our house is now affectionately called "turtle bread".

Popcorn

I forgot to post this funny Hazel story on the last post, so here is another one.

My sister in law, Chandra, added to our family recipe book Cinderella Popcorn. It happens to be one of my very favorite treats ever. The other night I asked the kids if we should make Cinderella Popcorn for a treat. Hazel quickly responded, "I don't want Cinderella Popcorn, I want Belle Popcorn."

Needless to say that our Cinderella Popcorn ended up being yellow "Belle Popcorn" that night.

Here is the recipe for the Cinderella Popcorn if anyone is interested.

Popcorn (about 1 cup of unpopped popcorn kernels)
2 C. Sugar
2 Tbl. Butter
1/2 C. Milk
Food Coloring
Flavoring (I usually just use Vanilla, but any flavoring can be used.)

Cook in a sauce pan to the soft ball stage of the candy thermometer. Pour over the popcorn and stir until set. (It may take a few minutes, but keep stirring.) As it sets up the mixture hardens on the popcorn and is no longer sticky.

Reasons to smile

Hazel is always saying or doing things that make me smile. I love to find humor in the funny things that she does each day. So here are a few that just brought a smile and giggle to me in the last few weeks.

One day she came in and sat down at the table while I was fixing dinner. She was mumbling something to herself. Here was the conversation:

Mom: "What are you talking about?"

Hazel:"The mysteries of God."

Mom: "Where did you learn about the mysteries of God?"

Hazel:"From Daddy."

Mom: "What are the mysteries of God?

Hazel:"They are treasures."

Wow! I think she may have something to that 3 year old insight.

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The other day while Hazel was sitting at the kitchen table finishing up her dinner I started to wipe the table off. I showed her how I wipe the table by putting my hand underneath of it and wipe all the crumbs into my hand with the dish rag and then throw the crumbs into the garbage. I did this to show her that it is easier for me to clean up the table than to have her throw it all on the floor and then re-sweep the floor too. Shortly there after she was standing on the stool next to the counter as we made cupcakes together. I looked over as she grabbed one of the dish towels and proceeded to gently wipe the little bits of powdered sugar off the counter into her hands. I had to smile!

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Hazel: "Mom this is my tushion." (holding up a pillow)

Mom: "Oh you mean your cushion."

Hazel: "No my tushion."

I reach over and playfully pinch her bottom. "I think this is your tushion."

Hazel: "I call that my bun."

In the words of my Mom, "Aren't kids great???"