Fishing with PopPop

PopPop took the kids fishing in pairs. Jack and Anne Michal took their turn together. They caught lots of fish but only one keeper. Emma and Elizabeth took their turn together. THey also caught one keeper. They are cleaned, filleted, and residing in my fridge. I refrained from taking a picture. ;-)

Sea World Post II

Shamu...the star of the show. I always forget just how big the killer whales are.

My favorite part was the dolphin feeding cove. The kids got to feed and pet the dolphins. I let them have all the fun as I'd really rather not touch dead fish. Sometimes it pays to be the photographer.


Jon being silly.

I actually almost reached down and petted this one but those teeth somehow stopped me.


Creed and Grandma.

I think I already mentioned that it was hardly crowded at all. The kids loved this river ride. We kept riding it and then getting off and hopping right back on again. There were a few spots along the river where you could put a quarter in a machine and get two shots of water at people going down the river. I think I had a bit too much fun with that and really do feel badly about the 3 older ladies that I got a really good shot at. I am glad they laughed. ;-) Course they also had no idea where it came from. ;-) Jon is pointing out to the kids that I am about to soak them.


Ahhhh...perfect aim.


Just before we rode the last time, they turned the waterfall on, but we didn't know it. Not only did Jon and I get "lucky" enough to go under the waterfall full force but everything else that could soak us that time did as well. So here we are right at the end of the day when we no longer have time in the sun to dry us off: the soaking-wet-family.
Anne Michal wanted to share her ice cream with Creed. They all wanted to make sure he had a fun time.

The kids requested Cracker Barrel and who can resist some blackberry pancakes?

Checkers require deep concentration.

Creed gives the trip a thumbs up!

Being cute on the ride home.




The best part of the trip was taking it slow and enjoying the days...watching the kids have fun experiencing new things...seeing part of God's creation that we normally don't see...being reminded what treasures our children really are.

Black Bean Brownies

Go back and read the title again if you need to. I read about them on this blog sending me to this one. (Heather, if you read this you'll find the header of the second one interesting so click on it. ;-))
I knew I had to try these and really I think I'd have to call them a success. I don't know as these would become my goto brownie recipe, but everyone like them but Elizabeth who said they tasted like coffee; I left that part out so I dont' know where she got that from. Jon was the only one who tried them that didn't know what was in them and he didn't have a clue there were black beans in them. Jack asked for seconds and thirds and he wouldn't get near a black bean with a 10 ft pole before they appeared in brownies. Here is the recipe in case anyone feels a need to try them. Let me know if you do!!!


Black Bean Brownies
1 (15.5 ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
3 eggs
3 tablespoons vegetable or canola oil
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1 pinch salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon instant coffee (optional)
1/2 cup chocolate chips (optional)

- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease an 8x8 square baking dish.
- Combine the all ingredients (except chocolate chips) in a blender; blend until smooth; pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle the chocolate chips over the top of the mixture.
- Bake in the preheated oven until the top is dry and the edges start to pull away from the sides of the pan, about 30 minutes. Yields 16 brownies. (* Let them cool before eating for the best flavor*)

Nutritional Information:
Calories: 127
Total Fat: 5.3 g
Cholesterol: 40 mg
Sodium: 142 mg
Total Carbs: 18.1 g
Dietary Fiber: 2.6 g
Protein: 3.3 g

Sea World Post I

Last week, we took the kids to Sea World in San Antonio for two days. Everyone had a great time. It wasn't crowded at all so we were able to take our time and enjoy the days. Of course we took tons and tons of pictures so trying to pare them down is very difficult. So let's begin.


Anne Michal took these pictures of one of our favorite shows with sea lions, an otter, and a walrus all involved in a mystery.




Creed was not happy with the music in the first show we watched.


He quickly got over it. I was actually surprised at how much of the shows he watched especially since we weren't really close to the front. He would look where we pointed and really seemed captivated by the animals.

Water ballet in the kids' area. They had a pretty big splash pad. Emma and Jack especially enjoyed playing there.

I think Jack stayed on super speed in the splash area.



You are never too old to hold hands with Grandma.



Or your sister while waiting in line.

This roller coaster is just about Anderson speed.




At the top of the kiddie ferris wheel. I was only half kidding.More to come....

A Jack Funny

Jon and Jack usually go and get their hair cut together. A couple of haircuts ago, Jack came in with a smug little grin on his face and an OJ mustache. The haircutting place they go to is next door to a kolache place adn they went in and had breakfast. I am pretty sure Jon had kolaches but Jack had a cinnamon twist and lucky charms(totally a daddy treat!!) and washed it down with a little OJ. So the other day we were going to eat at schlotzsky's deli and Jack got all excited. "I am goign to get a cinnamon twist and lucky charms, "he exclaimed. He thought we said kolache not Schlotzsky's.

Breaking Even

Creed got two new teeth yesterday and Elizabeth lost two. We like to keep things even around here.

Dates with Grandma

Mom is taking each of the kids to do something of their choosing. Some of them were a bit slow to decide what they wanted to do, but Emma knew right away. She wanted to get her ears pierced. After a week of deliberations, her daddy agreed and off they went. Grandma has camera issues (which would be why it didn't go to lunch with Anne Michal and her to Blue Baker) and she forgot to take pictures so they went back and Emma sat in the chair and posed.

Doing What I Say, Not What I Do

The leader of one Mexican drug cartel called "the Family" has insisted that when gang members are not selling cocaine and murdering rivals, they attend gang-run classes in ethics, values, and personal improvement, and abstain from drugs and alcohol.

April 2009 Book Log

28. On Beauty and Being Just by Elaine Scarry
29. The Hunt for Red October by Tom Clancy
30. Street of Shadows by Michael Reaves
31. Believing God by R.C. Sproul, Jr.
32. Is Christianity God for the World? by Christopher Hitchens and Douglas Wilson