Bruschetta - Bobby Style

Here's the recipe for the bruschetta we brought to Meredith's for those who wanted it. I (ahem) hope I can get that Red Rooster mix too.

1 package crumbled feta cheese. (I prefer the flavored type. My favorite is tomato basil)
2 medium size tomatoes, diced and seeded
italian or oil based salad dressing (I like Kraft Greek Vinagrette)
lemon juice to taste

optional
diced onion
diced black olives

Mix tomato and feta in a bowl, stir in dressing until mixture is moist. Serve on toasted baguettes.

4th of July- friends and family

Levi Lentz, what a looker!
Levi gives Nanny some sugar.













Friends and family.

Ok, they're just family :)

4th of July - Dog Days

Water Dog
























































Happy Dog

4th of July at Mimi's

We went to Bobby's mother's annual 4th of July Party this year. She lives in a beautiful home on Lake Limestone. We had a wonderful time. It was so good to see family and visit. Mert's place is gorgeous.


Barrett and Bobby on the water slide. Mimi surprised him with a CARS life jacket and he didn't want to take it off. period.








Nanny and Shell. Two of the Plaster beauties.
Prescott relaxing on the porch.



Lisa and Romi. What you don't see is the purple cast complete with rhinestone decor and Texas flag toenails. Romi's so fancy.

still changing and still the same

Well I have decided to help Carrie with blog thing, so here is my first go. Things are pretty much normal, but the recent changes are:
Barrett is in day school three days a week now.
Barrett took swimming lessons.
Prescott has spent some summertime with his mom and our house doesnt smell like axe spray for now.
Patty has changed her hairstyle, a little more "grown up" and has started to notice other things. I am so not ready for this.
I am about to start a month of off and on traveling Vegas twice and Mexico all before the end of July.
I took Prescott to the deer lease I have in Freer, he shot my rifle 22-250, and my barretta silver mallard shotgun. he did great with both and I am sure Daddymac would call him a dead eye dick like he did for me when we rabbit hunted from the back of a pickup. in typical Prescott fashion, after doing well with the shotgun he asked if there was money to be made shooting, and if he could have my shotgun.
I got a great now watch for fathers day, and of course Prescott asked if I really wanted a rolex. Keep saving money son there are other fathers days coming.
Patty is on a swim team and taking a volley camp.
lastly I have a friend that is going on a mission in Wales, his name is Gene Baker, please keep him in your prayers, for good work and safe return
I hope this finds you all well.
Bobby

Barrett's Birthday

We went bowling! Had pizza, cake and played lots of games.

You know what they say about the best laid plans......We were planning on eight kids....two showed up including the birthday boy. Let's just say there was plenty of cake and pizza to go around. Lala, Papa and Aunt Angie made it along with Kevin, Mandy, Joey and William Strickland. Mimi got held up in traffic and road construction and made it to the house after the party was over. The Mikosh family made it as well. Josh and Cody were a welcome sight to Prescott and the three spent 50 dollars in tokens on games. (included in the party package). I think next year we'll try the park......

Mother's Day 2008

This Mother's Day weekend was what you could call "nontraditional." My mother agreed to keep Barrett, Patty and Prescott were, of course, with their mother, and Bobby and I went on a little vacation. We decided at the last minute to go to San Antonio and try Sea World without any kids. We had such a good time. We rode roller coasters, went down water slides and spent the day together with no distractions from one another. We made it back in time Sunday to pick up Barrett and spend time with Prescott after he came home. He even bought us a fried chicken dinner for Mother's Day.

Barrett's Lullaby

When Barrett was a baby he had recurring ear infections. To be honest, I think it was one big one that never when away. He was on one antibiotic after the other and never seemed to get rid of fluid in his ears. This led to two sets of tubes and removing his adenoids.
He had this one set of footie pajamas with a matching blanket that were always my favorite. I think I went and bought the next size up when he grew out of the first set. They were blue and said "Little Buckaroo" on the breast. I think I like them so much because whenever he was fussy or not feeling well Bobby would say, "Go to sleep my little buckaroo, what's wrong with you?" as he held Barrett.
His phrase stuck in my mind and eventually led to writing Barrett's lullaby. I was asked to include the lyrics which are written below.

Go to sleep my little buckaroo.
May the western breeze be your lullaby.
And the lone coyote will serenade you,
as you dream 'neath a Texas sky.

Dream of Longhorns and yellow roses.
Dream of Mockingbirds and their songs.
Dream of the Alamo and your forefathers.
Who gave their lives to call Texas home.

A mother's prayers linger over you.
A mother's arms hold you tight.
Without a care, my little buckaroo,
Dream your dreams through the Texas night.

Our family is so steeped in Texas heritage and her history. My family's blood was spilled at the Alamo. Bobby's ancestor manned one of the Twin Sisters at San Jacinto. Through the combined history of our families Barrett, Prescott, and Patty can lay claim to being related to heroes, horse thieves, dirt farmers and millionaires. And it has all happened right here in the Lone Star State. I wrote the song as a nod to our heritage, that our children might not forget.

A side note about the lullaby. It does have a pretty and lilting tune. (If only I still played an instrument) For as pretty as it is, and the meaning behind it, Barrett is not a fan. He refuses to sit still and will talk through the whole thing. He loves songs at bedtime and will listen to this one...only if I skip the first line, "Go to sleep"

Finger Painting

Boy Style

A DAY AT THE BEACH

It was not quite warm enough to swim but we had a blast today at Galveston! A few years ago we spent a day playing on a portion of a beach where the concrete foundation of a once beach house held lots (and LOTS) of crab. We tried but couldn't find that spot again. Maybe next time. We went to one of the pocket parks and spent the afternoon collecting shells and playing in the sand. Barrett decided his mission at the beach was to do as much "diggering" as he could.

Prescott and Patty hunted for shells and found some really pretty pieces. Bobby found three pieces of a broken sand dollar that made the whole. Isn't that supposed to be good luck? Patty found a hermit crab who wasn't much of a hermit. He kept lunging out of his shell and snapping at Patty's fingers. We decided he might be better off back in the water if he couldn't play nicely with others.

When it was finally time to go home, Barrett had to be carried off the beach. (If you know Barrett, this comes as no surprise.) We were packed up and heading for the car; Barrett waved goodbye to us all, said, "I love you," and continued digging. He actually ran to a sympathetic couple in effort to stay out of reach of Mommy. Luckily the couple found the whole thing very funny. The good news is, I managed a decent work out from the whole thing. It turns out carrying a 40 pound boy up hill while he alternates going limp and struggling desperately to escape is good cardio.
This little adventure was a nice change of pace and a nice way to spend time together. So often we forget somewhere between homework and little league practice just how fast children grow up. What a nice little escape from the daily routine to stop and appreciate the people our kids are turning into.