Staple my camera to my forehead

Yesterday was a gorgeous day and perfect for the corn maze! Talia and Malachi loved it and I, amazingly, forgot to bring the camera. Maybe I can take a couple pictures next time. The corn was about 10 feet tall and the sun was shining and the air was just a little bit crisp (but mostly warm). There were piles of pumpkins next to the corn maze. This bit of fun happened after the kids did a great job helping me clean the house. They are getting really good at that. We write down the names of the rooms that need cleaning (they choose which number goes with each room) and then we write down numbers on slips of paper. I throw in a couple fun slips with things like "snack break" and "crazy time" and "cozy time" on them. Then we take turns choosing a slip of paper and we go clean that room. After the room is clean, we all do our little "ooga booga CLEAN" dance and go on to whatever the next slip of paper says to do. The kids are good at: wiping off the table, cleaning the chairs, cleaning the walls, helping mop the floor (they spray and I mop), dustpanning for me while I sweep, helping dry and put away dishes, and helping switch laundry from washer to dryer. Plus, they are fun to hang out with while we clean...except for when they aren't listening of course. Yeah.

Hmm what other fun did we have this week? Oh yeah, we spent Friday night in one of our favorite hangouts, the ER (yeah, I got a sarcasm drip). Talia had an asthma attack and the pediatrician wasn't happy with her progress on the nebulizer at the office, so he sent us to the ER since he had to go home at 5 pm. Bummer. Major bummer. We were there until 9:30 at night and it was a lucky thing that we grabbed handfuls of salad greens and an apple out of the groceries that were in the car. Plus we split a cheese stick three ways. So at 10 pm we got home and whipped up some quick salmon and veggies. Not quite what I was planning. Also, even though I managed to drop off the perishable groceries at my office minifridge, the building closed before we could get back there after the ER fun, and so those groceries are still there! Grr.

The primary program was today and it actually came off very well. The CTR7 class dropped their handbells and generally performed the worst ever but it was pretty cute anyway. One of the women in the ward said that the high point of the program for her was hearing Talia singing all the notes so beautifully. Malachi spoke very nicely and you could easily understand each word. His favorite commandment was to love Jesus. Talia said that she like to serve others by helping Daddy mow the lawn (yeah I'm sure he appreciates the "help") and helping Mommy wash dishes.

In other exciting news, Malachi's hair is starting to grow out. I can't wait for it to get longer and curly again. Here is his cute smile today...

After church I put together a quick clam and kale chowder that turned out yummericious! (For the recipe, see Mike's recipe database). I have to say, all this organic eating has sure made me feel better and healthier. It's not 100% but it's probably 97%. Yesterday after the corn maze the kids begged me for ice cream and I relented...but insisted that instead of the soft serve cones at the corn maze that we go get some good organic ice cream from the health food store. Cost wise it was cheaper overall...by serving at least.

Here's a picture of the tomatoes I bought on Friday from a local organic grower. I found her by using the website localharvest.com. Gorgeous, heirloom tomatoes. I'm going to attempt to save the seeds and plant them next year. The green ones are called zebra tomatoes and they are striped and tasty.