Mexican Caviar

I have to post this because I just love it!  I stole it from my sister who got it from her mother-in-law.  (I would link to her blog, but that is entirely too technical for me!)  It's delicious and very healthy!  I eat it as a side dish, with chips, over rice, or with warmed tortillas.  Give it a try!

 

"Mexican Caviar"

1 small can corn

1 can hominy and 1 can black eyed peas (I use garbanzo beans and black beans instead)

1 can green chilies

4 chopped green onions

3 chopped Roma tomatoes

16 oz. picante sauce (Pace brand)

1 can diced black olives

1/2 small bottle zesty Italian dressing

1 teaspoon minced garlic

Lots of cilantro

A Five Year Old's Thoughts on Marriage

On the way to school Thursday Ben asked, "Mom, what happens if you are married and you find someone else you like better?  Can you trade in the old one?"

Well, technically, you can and it is done all the time.  However, I began a conversation explaining that marriage is a commitment and that you make it work and once you get married, you stop looking.  He replied, "Mom, I just can't help it!  I just think girls are so pretty and I want to marry them all!"

I Guess the Trunk or Treat Was Exhausting!

Baby Eli

Cousin Baby Jovi

Our New Pet--Spooky

Meet Spooky.  We found him gorging on our grape tomato plant.  We plucked him from his own personal heaven to become a pet of two very interested and hands on boys.  He is officially called a tobacco hornworm.  The pictures don't do him justice.  He is huge and the amount of leaves he can devour is frightening!

Ben brought him in for share day and I made him write a report.  (It's crazy that Ben couldn't even write 2 months ago!  Thank you Kindergarten and positive peer pressure!)  On Sunday, he stopped eating and began his "wandering" phase in preparation for his metamorphosis.  In the last week, he has shrunk and is turning brown.  It's fun to watch.  It sounds like he will become a chrysalis for about 18 days and emerge a Carolina Sphinx moth with a wing span of 5-6 inches.

Stay tuned...

Enjoying Our Backyard

Today we spent a little time in our backyard.  This is what we found.

A creepy spider on our swing set.

Our tobacco hornworm beginning his wandering phase.  Notice his heart is showing through his skin that is becoming translucent.  His heart is actually a tube that runs along his back.

Our first avocado that we guessed was ready for harvest!

The proud gardener himself!

One Reason We Look Forward to General Conference--Scones!

Scones!!!

Don't get me wrong, we love Conference and this year it seems that I was able to listen to most of the talks of the Sunday sessions.  (I worked Saturday.)  That's reason to celebrate right there!  We love being together as a family to hear the uplifting and inspiring words of the prophets of our church.  We feel so blessed to belong to a church where we have a prophet that receives direct revelation from our Heavenly Father.  Also, who could forget Elder Holland's passionate testimony of the Book of Mormon?  I add mine to his.

But...we stole a traditon for our friends, the Hiltons (miss you guys!), and it has stuck and we look forward to it every April and October.  It is the tradition of SCONES!  Who could not love fried bread?  The best part is that we top it off with SCONE SYRUP!  What is that, you ask?  Only the best syrup ever...made from basically butter, sugar and buttermilk.  It's a top secret Stringham recipe and we feel so proud to be part of the circle of trust.  Thank you, Michelle!

I think Ben's face says it all!