Straight from the Garden Sauce

One of Clayton's favorite things to do these days is to pick the ripened veggies from the garden. He might only eat the cucumbers in their original state, but he does enjoy the other vegetables when cooked in something. And I love creating new recipes to sneak in some of those most-needed nutrients.

In trying to use these fresh items from the garden, as well as make the requested spaghetti and meatballs for Clayton's birthday dinner, I came up with a homemade spaghetti sauce! Recipe as follows:

6 large tomatoes, peeled and seeded

4 cloves garlic, minced

1 medium onion, finely chopped (I was suprisingly out, so substituted Tasefully Simple's Onion Onion and, of course, it was perfect! Plus, NO TEARS!!)

1 medium zucchini, shredded

1 small can of tomato paste

1 small bunch, each, parsley, basil, and oregano

2 Tbl Olive Oil

Heat oil, onions and garlic in a large saucepan until tender. Peel tomatoes, cut in half, and squeeze as much of the seeds out as possible. (If you find the tomatoes are difficult to peel, place them in a pot of boiling water for 30-60 seconds, then shock in a bowl of ice water. The peel should come of easily.) Place in blender and puree. (If you like your sauce chunky, then just pulse a bit.) Rinse zucchini thoroughly and shred using a cheese grater or something in the like. Add tomatoes, zucchini, and tomato paste to the pot. Stir and let flavors meld together.

Chop the parsley, basil and oregano, after de-stemming, and add to the mix. Salt and pepper to taste. The longer you let it simmer, the better! It was devoured by all!!

She Conquered the Bull!

She Came .... She Rode....

She Conquered!

To the Moon and Front!

Today, July 20th, my little boy turns 4 years old! Everyone says how quickly their children grow up and how they can't believe it has already been that long. Well, I am no exception to that group of parents! When my sweet boy was placed in my arms 4 years ago, I didn't know what I was doing, other than taking it one day at a time. And 4 years later, I can't say that much has changed in that department. But I can say that I have learned much and loved even more!

Clayton loves to read. He likes to get new books from the library, but definitely has his favorites that are his "go to buddies". One of these favorites is Guess How Much I Love You, where the child attempts to explain to the parent how much he loves them. With each example, the parents tops it off just a little more. And in the end, the child says, before falling asleep, that he loves the parents "to the moon." The parent agrees that it is a lot of love, but ends with loving him "to the moon and back." Well, Clayton likes to play his own 'I love you' game. We will go back and forth with 'I love yous' and if I use the line from the book, "I love you to the moon and back", he always responds with "I love you to the moon and front!" It is always a sure way to make me smile!

At the ripe old age of 4....

~Clayton has more energy than I can even muster some days. He is always ready for the next big thing. Whether it's making cookies with mommy or building something with daddy.

~He enjoys watching movies and his favorite tv shows and then reenacts them for us.

~He is a great big brother who almost always shares his toys, snacks, and food with his baby sister. I hope that continues!

~Clayton can count to 20, can spell his name, can recognize all of the letters of the alphabet, and is VERY ready for pre-school in September. (Mommy is too!)

~Clayton never wants to be left out of the fun, even if it is an all girl party! He likes to be a part of it all!

I am so glad that God has entrusted him to me to teach, as well as to be my teacher! I love you to the moon and front, Clayton Daniel Beare!

Love, Mom

Family Fun!

Last month, the kids and I took a whirlwind trip. We drove from our house, to Texas, to visit Patrick's family and be a part of a dear friend's wedding. Then we left Texas and stopped in Tennessee overnight to see the Lucenti's (my sister and her family). They moved to Tennessee about a year and a half ago and any little bit of time we can spend with them, we will!

Aunt Shea (my sis) knows how to spoil Clayton. The night we got there, we were able to eat dinner and almost immediately after, go for a swim in their pool. Then, for dessert, we roasted marshmellows and ate S'mores! If there is any quicker way to get Clayton to fall in love with you besides roasting marshmellows, I have yet to find it!

The next morning was lots of play time before we had to head back home. It was the shortest visit, but we had so much fun!
Ethan, Clayton, Haley, Maecie, and Devin - cheesing for the camera!

Haley and Maecie tickling the ivory's (or would it be "ivories"?? I'm confused on that one..)

All of the kids showing their "true colors"!

Dancing with the Beares

Our cute kids have skills like no other!

Maecie loves to dance any time there is music ... makes a mama proud!

I'm thinking Clayton has seen this commercial one time too many! I just love our kids!

Family Fun Night!!

The slide just kept getting more and more down the lane as Clayton's turns wore on ... We finally had to tell him to back it up!

Waiting to see how many pins he knocks down.... looks like it could be a good one....

And he got a spare!! Way to go Bubba!

Mommy and Maecie smiling for the camera!

Daddy can make a strike even with Maecie on his shoulders ... must have been a good luck charm!

Final score ... Mommy wins! But Daddy and Clayton gave it a good try....

I think it was a successful night! Good times had by all!

Beare's Say the Darndest Things Part 2

The other day, Clayton rode to the Auto Parts store with Dad and Papa. They had fun and blah blah blah ... well the next morning Grandma came to pick up the kids for a fun filled day. When I went to put Clayton's carseat in the van, our conversation went as follows:

Clayton: I don't need my seat, Mom. I can just sit on this seat with a seatbelt like a big boy.

Mom: No, you have to sit in a carseat. Those are the rules.

Clayton: But when I ride with my Papa, he lets me sit here without my seat.

Mom: Are you telling off on your Papa??

Clayton: Don't tell my Dad!

Hahaha ... I love that he tells me things and then says, "Don't tell my Dad!" as if he is going to get in trouble! Love that kid!