New Toy

We just got this saucer off of Craig's List and Eva loves it! Her hand/eye coordination isn't really the thing right now so she does get frustrated that she can't always reach and hold the things she wants to, but she is fascinated with all they playing options. We had one with Sam and Grace, but got rid of it after Grace grew out of it since we had no space for it. So glad we found another one for cheap!

How Cute Am I?

Really Great Dinner

We've been eating this for dinner about once a week for the last month or so. Every time we make them Rob can't stop raving about how good they are. And they really are very good. So I thought it was high time I shared the love.

Grilled Soft Tacos with Avocado-Lime Salsa

From Cooking Light

Meat:

1 tablespoon chili powder

2 teaspoons grated lime peel

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon chipotle chili power (I don't have this so used a bit extra chili powder)

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1 pound of meat (The recipe calls for flank steak. We use chicken breasts)

Salsa:

1 cup diced avocado

3/4 cup chopped tomato

1/3 cup finely chopped sweet onion

1/4 cup chopped cilantro

1/2 teaspoon grated lime peel

2 tablespoons fresh lime juice

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon hot pepper sauce

Remaining Ingredients:

corn tortillas

2 cups very thinly sliced green cabbage

Combine first 5 ingredients in a small bowl. Rub chili powder mixture evenly over meat. Cover and chill 1 hour

Grill meat till done- let stand 10 minutes. Cut diagonally across the grain into thin slices

Prepare salsa- combine avocado and next 7 ingredients in bowl

Warm tortillas (we put ours on the grill after the meat is done)

Put slices of meat in a tortilla, top with salsa and cabbage. Fold over and dig in.

And prepare to swoon over the yumminess.

1st back-packing trip

Rob promised the kids at the beginning of the summer that he would take them each backpacking, but with a new baby and moving and PhD work, it wasn't until last weekend that he could make good on his promise. He and Sam left Friday afternoon to drive to Priest Lake, about an hour's drive north from Spokane. When we had first discussed a back-packing trip for the kids, I had been thinking Rob would find a nice, short, maybe-a-mile-but-only-just hike to ease them in to the experience. I was somewhat surprised when he told me that it was a THREE mile hike to the campground. Now, three miles is really all that long, but when you have a heavy backpack on your back, it can make things not much fun. However, Sam was a trooper and enjoyed almost all of it. He did get quite a few mosquito bites on the hike, but their campsite right on the lake's edge was pretty much mosquito free. The lake was warm enough for some swimming and Rob said he could hardly get Sam out of the water. They both had a great time. Grace's turn is this weekend, and actually Rob has decided on just a camping trip, not backpacking with her. She wont mind. I think it's mostly just spending time with Dad one-on-one that is the biggest draw. I'm not sure where they will be going, but it will be by a lake so she can get some swimming in too. And perhaps, if I start feeling adventurous, there will be a whole family camping trip soon!

The Sunday Blues

I'm not sure what it is about this new ward... or maybe it's just Sunday... but I don't think my kids have ever been as poorly behaved as they have been these last three Sacrament meetings. Grace is loud and defiant and contrary; Sam is sulky and whiny. Both have obedience issues. And then when its time for primary, they are as good as gold. What is the deal!?! I'll be the first to admit that they have never been model children, but we could at least get some semblance of reverence from them before. I don't think its the new ward, because as I say, they are great in Primary. We haven't done anything different with our Sunday routines so I am at a complete loss as to what has inspired their bad behavior.

Well.

At least I know what FHE will be about tomorrow!

New Address

The Packers now live at 9711 N Indian Trail Rd/ Spokane, WA, 99208. We are finally online and just started getting mail today. So I guess after a week and a half we are back into the world. And we're pretty happy. As you can see in the picture.

Moved

No Internet till friday. Love the new digs. Miss our friends! Update soon.