Happy Caleb

So, our son smiles and laughs.  What a joy, and how hilarious!!!  Here are some snapshots and video footage:

Getting ready for a springtime picnic outing--

The minute he saw the camera, he smiled, as if to pose!!!  

So we decided to have a photo shoot to see if he would keep "posing"...and he did!

Spending time with Summit on the changing table 

(she doesn't look to pleased, however)

Mirror, mirror, on the wall: who's that baby sitting tall?

We found a new "game" to play with the laughing boy!

What's to Love About a City?

It's always wonderful when reality exceeds expectations.  Keith and I will have lived in 5 states over two years...Colorado, Oklahoma, Texas, now Arkansas, and soon North Carolina.  Additionally I've also lived in 2 states (Kentucky and Washington as a kid, Washington as a college student and young adult), but it's interesting how one's "likability criteria" changes with age.  We've received many comments over the months, ranging from, "Which location have you enjoyed most/least?" to "You're going to love (fill in the blank with the state name of your choice)!" 

So, my commentary?

1. Cliche noted, a place is what you make of it.  This is the must-have attitude of military life, but  everyone should adopt it.

2. What is available to do outdoors?  Being a Colorado girl, this is key!!  (Unfortunately, weather can dampen this--I have not enjoyed living in humidity-saturated states for the past two and many upcoming summers.  I suppose "weather" could be marked as #3, but it's so connected to #2 that I'll just keep them together:-)

3. Character.  Who wants to live in a city that could be mistaken for some other place?  Uniqueness comes in many forms: landmarks, terrain, history, buildings, restaurants & cafes, activity, shops...and I'm not talking chains, people.

4. The "locals" must have a clue that the rest of the world exists!  Diversity is a plus, too.

5. A feeling or sense of "belonging", or rather feeling "at home".

6. The WHO make the WHAT more lovable...whom you befriend and become involved with makes all the difference in the world.

2007-2009 Hobart Cities

1. Enid, Oklahoma (June, 2007-February, 2008):

Pros--#6

Cons--#2, 3, 4, 5

Conclusions--We're just not small-town or prairie folk.   But, we can always fall back on the friends of #6!  (Keith would probably add his comments to #3...he misses Turkey Creek!)

2. Corpus Christi, Texas (February-October, 2008): 

Pros--#2, 3, 4, 6

Cons--#2 (very flat!), 5

Conclusions--Love the cultural diversity, but Sarah's finally come to terms with not being a beach gal.  Keith, on the other hand, votes Corpus as his favorite---can't beat fishing off your back deck!!

3. Little Rock, Arkansas (October, 2008-Summer, 2009): 

Pros--#2!!!, 3, 4 (for the most part...), 5, 6

Cons--(haven't survived the summer, yet)

Conclusions--Sarah's favorite military town so far.  I love a city with "pockets" yet to be discovered, even after living there for half a year!  While Colorado outdoors can't be matched, Little Rock has been a beautiful place to live.  Love that River Walk Trail and fresh farmer's market! It's always wonderful when reality exceeds expectations.  I had predicted Arkansas to be my least favorite place!!!

4. Fayetteville, North Carolina: 

Pros--TBD

Cons--TBD

Conclusions--So many have said we will love our "permanent" home.  I'm a little worried about the humidity and bugs (including tics!!).  While Keith is excited about fishing and boating prospects, I'm hopeful for good hiking and "strollering" areas.  I also hope I'll feel safe and that I'll desire to be "out and about" around town.  Who knows, maybe we'll become permanent transplants from Colorado!

Family "Consultation" after writing this blog post:

After discussing with our family of four, the "favorite 2007-2009 city" votes are in---

Sarah-born in Washington in 1977, favorite is Little Rock (reasons stated above)

Keith-born in Oklahoma in 1978, favorite is Corpus Christi/North Padre Island (reasons stated above)

Summit-born in Oklahoma in 2006 (maybe 2007), favorite is Corpus Christi because of the stairs in our home and because of the numerous island birds and creatures

Caleb-born in Texas in 2008, favorite is Little Rock because of his good friends Parker, Andrew, and Owen

Video and Website Postings: Food

If you know me, then you know I procrastinate when I feel I don't have time to do 110%. Hence the month lag between blog postings. Rather than give my usual narrative, I'm going to try to be techie. (I know, that doesn't go in sync with the old school Nokia cell phone that I was forced to give up last August. Man, I miss that thing....but I admit to enjoying my new "modern" phone's speaker phone and multi alarm features...) ANYWAYS....

**Part 1: The Eating

I invite you into our small dining room, where Caleb thoroughly enjoyed eating his pureed pears last week:

(Was it my cooking, Caleb????)

**Part 2: The Cooking

I invite you into my small apartment kitchen, where I enjoy experimenting with new recipes as well as baking and cooking familiar favorites. Two of my recent concoctions included some of the same ingredients (oatmeal, nuts, craisins).

First, a "happen to find" recipe for GRANOLA from the December 2007 edition of Cooking Light. My previous favorite granola recipe was Ina Garten's Barefoot Contessa "Homemade Granola" at http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/homemade-granola-recipe/index.html., but it involved a long cooking time and expensive dry fruit ingredients. Plus, with 3/4 cup oil, it was fairly greasy. So, I like this "Chocolate Crunch" recipe much better--it's faster, cheaper, and healthier. Plus, who doesn't like a little bit of chocolate? It's great with yogurt and fresh fruit, milk, or even ice cream!

http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=1687651

Chocolate (Granola) Crunch

Ingredients

• Cooking spray
• 3 cups regular oats
• 1 cup oven-toasted rice cereal (such as Rice Krispies)
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/3 cup chopped pecans
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 cup honey
• 2 tablespoons canola oil
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 ounces bittersweet chocolate (60 to 70 percent cocoa), finely chopped
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries

Preparation

Preheat oven to 300°.

Cover a jelly-roll pan with parchment paper. Coat parchment paper with cooking spray.

Combine oats, rice cereal, brown sugar, chopped pecans, salt, and ground cinnamon in a large bowl.

Combine honey and canola oil in a small saucepan over low heat; cook 2 minutes or until warm. Remove from heat. Add vanilla and chocolate; stir with a whisk until smooth. Pour chocolate mixture over oat mixture. Lightly coat hands with cooking spray. Gently mix chocolate mixture and oat mixture until combined. Spread oat mixture onto prepared jelly-roll pan. Bake at 300° for 20 minutes, stirring after 10 minutes. Cool completely on pan; stir in cranberries.

Next, one of my mom's and my favorite oatmeal COOKIES (from one of our favorite cookbooks): Colorado Ranch Cookies. You'll find the recipe in the Junior League of Denver's Colorado Colore on page 270. They're moist, flavorful, and quick to make. Tips: I follow the"to enhance the flavor" direction at the end of the recipe. The almond extract truly makes the cookie, and I love the craisins even more when they've soaked up all that flavor. Also, I scoop the batter with an ice cream scoop to make the cookies even in size. I think the recipe calls for smaller cookies, so do what you want. http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/member/views/COLORADO-RANCH-COOKIES-JUNIOR-LEAGUE-OF-DENVER-1249792

Colorado Ranch (Oatmeal) Cookies

Ingredients: 2 1/2 cups flour 2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup sugar
2 cups rolled oats
1 cup dried cranberries
3/4 cup shredded coconut
1/2 cup sliced almonds
3 eggs, beaten
1/2 teaspoon almond extract

preparation

Mix the flour, baking soda and salt together. Beat the butter, brown sugar and sugar in a mixing bowl until creamy. Add the flour mixture and beat until blended. Stir in the oats, cranberries, coconut, almonds, eggs and flavoring. The dough will be very stiff.

Drop the dough by heaping

teaspoonfuls onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes or until light brown. Cool on a cookie sheet for 2 minutes. Remove to a wire rack to cool

completely. Store in an air tight container.
To enhance the flavor of the cookies, mix the eggs, almond extract and cranberries in a bowl and let stand for 1 hour before adding to the recipe.

**Part 3: The Evidence of the Cooking (well, kind of...)

I will only post evidence of my "cooking" for my son (actually my providing food for him via me or via pureed veggies and fruits).......I know it's not much, but I've just got to brag about the first signs of "pudge" on my little guy!!!!!

(Picture taken days before his 7-month weigh-in at 13 pounds, 13 ounces.)