More Pictures from todays visit to Farm

Here are some more pictures from Mama’s camera and a video to boot!

Kiddos!

A day at Suzie’s Farm

Today we headed over to Suzie’s Farm which was just south of Chula Vista near he border (you could see TJ from the Farm). Jen found out about the place because we use the Farm for CSA (Community Served Agriculture?) so we get fresh produce from them about twice a week from various pick up spots around San Diego. Today we went to source! It was a lot of fun, we got a TON of Tomato’s and Chili Peppers of all varieties. Jen is actually cooking some stuff up for the rest of the week with the bounty we harvested today. In the pics you will see our little “Italian son” really getting into it with the oversized bag that was eventually to big for him to carry because it was stuffed with tomato’s. The girls of course had a great time, and Bear was sitting pretty in the snuggy carrier mama brought. The Farm had a little area where you could get some free snacks and drinks made from the tomato’s and other vegies and fruit they grew. A band was playing right there as well, some blue grass folk type music. Over all we all had a great time!

Blast From the Past

Last week I was in El Cajon picking up the Foodsaver we just bought when I realized that my surroundings seemed familiar.  I turned down one road and drove straight to my old apartment.  I didn’t even use my phone navigation!  You all know I have no sense of direction so this was pretty impressive.  We had moved away when I was 8.  After taking some pictures and showing the girls my old bedroom window I drove (again without navigation help!) to my best friends neighborhood.  Strangely I couldn’t seem to remember what her house looked like on the outside, but I narrowed it down to 3.  Mom, Dad, can you tell me which one it is from the photos below?

I seem to think it’s this last one, am I right??

Daddy’s boy

Homemade Breakfast

I have started making my own yogurt. My kids eat SO much yogurt. The girls will easily each eat 2 cups with granola in the morning.  Russell is not far behind, and Bear, well he still just makes a mess of it, but it won't be long before he's eating a ton too!  I make the yogurt with milk and just 2-3 Tbs of already prepared yogurt (either store bought plain, or my own homemade from the previous batch).  It gets pitched (mixed) with the milk after it is brought to 185 degrees and then cooled to 110.  After mixing it gets covered with the lid, covered with a dish towel, put on a heating pad (on medium) and let to sit for 7 hours.  Then.....TADA!

YOGURT!

Yes, at this point it is crazy tangy.  No one (at least in my family) will eat it like this.  So, we add a nice big dollop of “Kirkland Signature Organic Strawberry Preserves” and then suddenly it’s a nice, sweet, creamy treat.  If I really want to indulge them I take a few frozen strawberries, defrost a bit, chop and use that to top the yogurt.  

Cost Breakdown:

1/2 Gallon Organic Whole Milk:  $3.29
2-3 Tbs. Plain Yogurt:               $0.59
                                              -------
Total Cost…………………………….$3.88 for 64 ounces of organic yogurt

Next I want to make homemade granola to make the whole breakfast homemade!  Our good friend Frank, has this awesome recipe that is next on my agenda.

http://goingforseconds.wordpress.com/2011/08/22/make-your-own-granola/

Cracker!

Listen closely to the silly sound he makes at about the :20 second mark, he makes this sound a lot when he’s playing.  Then you can hear his newest word at about the :51 second mark.

A Little Animal Education

This past weekend we went to the Animal Safari Park.  It was fun, but first…..I got a haircut!

 

Ok, on to the good stuff!

On the safari we saw a ton of animals, we had to wait in line forever to get on, but the kids did well and it was nice once we got on the bus.

Zebras were separated from the other animals because, apparently, they are aggressive.

These are ostrich eggs!

Sadly, this rhino is one of 7 left of his kind in the world.  These last seven are all males and extinction is imminent.  Very sad.  There was another breed of rhino on this safari and someone asked why they couldn’t just mate with the other breed.  The answer was that genetically they are very different.  It would be like breeding us with chimpanzees.  Even though they look very similar and are both from Africa they are, genetically, very different. 

Here’s more of the cuties…

Yes, that is a lion on a Land Rover!

This was a little water play area where we went to cool down after a day in the heat.

After our animal adventure we went out for sushi!