Reading With Daddy

Annalise and her Daddy shared some good books tonight before bead.  Here they are enjoying one of her favorites, her "Sheep Book", as she calls it.  This girl loves her books and still does not watch TV for more than 30 seconds but will look at books with you for 1/2 hour or an hour at a time!  Hopefully she will continue to love books like I do (even though I have only read 2 this summer so far =(!  There are many more I want to read though!).

Pierogies, Ice Cream and a Few Rides...

What could be better?  Last night we took Anna to the Millville Carnival.  As you can tell by the title of this post she ate "Rogies" and "I-ceem" and then rode on a few of the rides they had.  We also took her to the playground area of the park because they had a really nice toddler-friendly tiny jungle gym but at that point all she wanted to do was sit and chew on her hand (I am pretty sure her back molars are starting to bother her since she chews on her hands constantly lately) so we took one last walk around and picked up some delicious caramel corn for me and headed home.  Even though it was hot, it was a great summer evening!

The carousel right after it started.  Anna didn't care for it after the first 30 seconds or so.  I don't know if it was the loud music or the horse moving up and down, but she kept saying "OFF! OFF!" so I held her the rest of the time.

She did like these little cars though and rode them a few times.

"Watch out!  Here I come!"

"Look at Daddy, Anna!" 

Oh well, at least she was smiling at someone!

Jocelyn Mavis Hess

The other day I was packing up some things and storing them on the shelf in Annalise's closet when I came across a Christmas gift from Christmas 2008 that I actually had forgotten that she recieved.  For her first Christmas my mom got Anna her first Cabbage Patch Doll because when I was a kid I used to spend hours upon hours playing with my Cabbage Patch Dolls.  When she got it that first Christmas I left it in the box to give to her when she was a little older.  Well, Anna was in her room when I was moving things around and spied the doll.  She said "Ooooo, what that?", so we got it down and unpacked it for her to play with it.  Well, Anna and Jocelyn Mavis (the name on her birth certificate) became fast friends and Anna has been carrying her around for the past 3 days, everywhere she goes.  If Anna eats, Jocelyn "eats".  If Anna is getting a drink, she gives her cup to Jocelyn next.  If Anna looks at a book, Jocelyn needs to look at it too.

Here is the newest Hess

Sitting with Anna in the stroller to go for a walk.

Whenever Anna is not in the mood to get her picture taken (and she can't run off) she says "Cheese" with her teeth clenched which is what she is doing here.

Going for a spin with Anna in her car.

Sitting with Anna on the kitchen stools.  Anna has liked to sit on them lately because she discovered she can make them swivel on her own.  Anna also discovered that Jocelyn's clothes come off and on this day she decided that the only thing she wanted the poor girl to wear was a pair of socks.

Hugs for Jocelyn!

Cute Little Ladybug

Annalise likes to drink from the water bottle that I take to work with me each day.  So, when her Daddy saw this cute ladybug water bottle he just had to get it for her.  I usually only let her take it on a walk though or have it outside with only water in it because as much as she likes to drink from it she also likes to pull the straw out with always leads to some water getting poured out too!

Kayaking

The other day we decided on the spur of the moment to go kayaking.  We wanted it to be a quick trip in the morning because of this heat wave so we just decided to go to Briar Creek Lake.  We took a leisurely kayak around the lake.  It was fun but I much prefer the river!  Annalise enjoyed herself until she decided that she didn't want to wear her hat.  There was not question about the fact that she HAD to wear it though because the sun was directly over us and with her "clear" hair there was no doubt her scalp would get fried!  So for part of the trip, she would take her hat off, and I would put it back on. She would get mad and take it off, and I would put it back on.  It was weird because she leaves this same hat on while we are in the pool if it is in the afternoon and she never puts up a fuss about wearing her cute little butterfly hat, but for what ever the reason she really did not want to wear this hat on this day.  I think she was just hot though because even though we went in the morning it was already well into the 80's and she also had on the life vest which is quite warm too.

With her new water shirt on

Putting on her life vest which thankfully she likes this year.  Last year she hated it!

At this point the hat battle had started although she was content at the moment playing with a reed.

And this was the miserable pouty face that she had on for the remaining time in the kayak.  Stan said he just had to get a picture of her because this face was making him laugh.  You would have thought we were putting something painful on her head the way she kept yanking it off and objecting to having it on!

Independence Day in the Sweetest Place On Earth

This year, like the past 8 years, we went to Hershey for Independence Day.  It was much different from last year when Anna was only 7 months old and fell asleep for the fireworks.  This year we went to ZooAmerica, did some shopping at the Hershey Outlets and come playing on the playground, went out to dinner, went to Chocolate World and lastly went to the fireworks at 10:00.  Annalise was absolutely exhausted!  She fell asleep as soon as we got in the truck to leave (at around 10:45), slept the whole way home, slept while I changed her diaper and clothes and put her in her crib when we got home and then slept until 9:00 the next morning!  Now that I think about it I don't think that she has ever been up until 10:45 at night!  We had an awesome day!

All ready for ZooAmerica!

Checking out one of her new favorite animals....

...the alligator!  She talks about alligators a lot lately.  She is always looking for them (?) and today she trip on a small log near Stan's woodpile in the yard and said it was an alligator that bites.  Not sure where the new alligator obsession came from.

Anna and the alligator

Pointing out one of my LEAST favorite animals, a parrot.

She really liked this little Collared Lizard and kept going over and talking to it!

"Bears, where are you?"

"Nope, no bears from this angle either!" 

They were actually fast asleep underneath shade tree outside.

Touching a little turtle

Playing on the playground at the outlets.

"Hi, Daddy!"

"Peek-a-Boo, Mommy!"

On the slide with Daddy

In Chocolate World

Last year we took her picture with one of these big chocolate bars and she didn't really care about it at all.  This year she was all curious and kept grabbing at it.  I was afraid she was going to break it and I really didn't want to buy it!

Well, this was as good as it got!  I was too nervous that we might end up having to buy it.

On the ride at Chocolate World.  She LOVED the singing cows in the beginning and at the end.  We must have been past that point when this picture was taken =).

To watch the fireworks, you have to get there early to get a good spot.  In a "good spot", you not only can see the fireworks well, but you are able to get a quick getaway at the end.  Over the past 8 years we have seemed to perfect this.  This was the best year yet for us as far as the parking goes.  One year we literally were stuck in traffic for at least an hour before we even made it off of Hershey Park Drive!  This year we were out of there in about 15 minutes!  Anyway, we new that this year corraling Anna might be somewhat of an issue especially since the fire works were at 10:00 and we knew we would need to park at least an hour and a half before.  We decided to take the truck which worked out really well because Annalise and I played and read books in the bed of the truck while we were waiting.  She was great!  She also amused herself for quite awhile by "cleaning Daddy's truck".  She asked for a wipe when I got them out and then made her way around the bed cleaning it.  You see some of her cleaning efforts above!

The later it got, the sillier she got!

"Cleaning" the windows

Silly again!

Yep, getting sillier and it was getting later.

Finally, she settled down to watch the fireworks.  I was interested to see what her reaction to them was going to be.  Last year, she slept through them.  This year she watched them quietly and all she really said about them in the beginning was "Ooooooo, they loud".

What a GREAT 4TH!

Finally, Some Recipes

I have been saying for quite some time that I am going to post some recipes that I have tried recently but then I never seem to get around to it.  I do like getting recipes from others so here is my contribution...at last =)!

This one is a favorite of ours for the grill:
SALMON PATTIES WITH SOUR CREAM DILL SAUCE
1 Large Egg
2 Tbs. Milk
1 can (14 3/4 oz.) red or pink salmon, drained, skin and bones removed and salmon flaked
2 medium green onions, chopped
1 cup of soft bread crumbs
1/4 tsp. salt (I don't add this)

Two things I do add that are not in the recipe:
Garlic Powder to taste
Chopped Parsley to taste

1.  Beat egg and milk in medium bowl.  Stir in remaining ingredients.  Shape mixture into patties.  The recipe says it should make 4.  I usually get 6 out of it.
2.  Grill!  (If you are making them indoors, you can cook them in a frying pan over medium heat.  Put about 1 Tbs. of vegetable oil in the frying pan first.  Cook patties in the oil, turning once until they turn a nice golden brown on the outside).

Sour Cream Dill Sauce (this is super yummy!)
1/3 cup sour cream
3 Tbs. mayonnaise
3/4 teaspoon dried dill weed

1.  Mix all ingredients together. 
2.  Refigerate until ready to use.


PASTA BEEF SOUP (I make it with ground turkey)
1 lb. ground beef (or turkey)
2 cans (14 1/2 oz. each) beef broth
1 16oz package of frozen pasta with frozen vegetables ( I have never used the frozen.  I usually partially cook my own pasta and then partially steam fresh vegetables to put in it).
1 1/2 cups of tomato juice
1 can (14 1/2 oz.) diced tomatoes, undrained
2 tsp. Italian Seasoning (I am not quite sure what "Italian Seasoning" is.  I usually make my own mix of garlic, oregano, dried basil, and parsley).
1/4 cup shredded Parmesan Cheese

1. In a large saucepan, cook the meat over medium heat, drain.
2. Add the broth, pasta and veggies, tomato juice, tomatoes and "Italian Seasoning"; bring to boil.
3. Reduce heat; cover and let simmer for about 10 minutes (or until whenever the pasta and veggies are tender if you used the frozen).
4. Sprinkle Parmesan Cheese on top to serve.

This was a favorite of mine last fall and winter!  It makes a lot!

TURKEY FLORENTINE WITH LEMON ANGEL HAIR PASTA
1 cup of seasoned bread crumbs
8 uncooked turkey breasts
2 Tbs. of vegetable oil
4 slices of Swiss Cheese, cut in half
1 package (10 oz) of frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
3 cups of spaghetti sauce

Place the bread crumbs in a large resealable plastic bag.  Add the turkey a peice at a time and shake to coat.  In a large skillet over medium heat, brown the turkey in oil.  Remove from the skillet.  Place half of the cheese slice and 2 Tbs. of spinach down the center of each turkey breast.  Fold turkey over filling; secure with toothpicks.  Place in a baking dish.  Top with the spaghetti sauce.  Bake, uncovered, at 400 degrees for 12-15 minutes until heated through.

Lemon Angel Hair Pasta
8 oz. of uncooked angel hair pasta
1/4 minced fresh parsley
3 tsp. grated lemon peel
2 tsp. minced garlic
6 Tbs. olive oil
3 Tbs. lemon juice
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/3 cup Parmesan cheese

Cook pasta accoding to package directions.  Meanwhile, in a large skillet, saute the parsley, lemon peel and garlic in oil until the garlic is tender.  Drain pasta; add to the skillet.  Sprinkle with lemon juice, salt and pepper; toss to coat.  Top with Parmesan cheese.

TUNA STUFFED TOMATOES
4 Large tomatoes (When I make them I only do 2 tomatoes so they are "super stuffed")
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 tsp. celery salt
1/2 tsp. dill weed
1/4 tsp. pepper
2 cans (6 oz. each) tuna, drained and flaked
2 celery ribs, chopped
1/2 cup chopped cashews

Cut a thing slice off the top of each tomato.  Scoop out the pulp leaving a 1/2 in. shell for each.  Invert the tomatoes onto paper towels to drain.  In a bowl, combine the mayo, celery salt, dill and pepper.  Stir in tuna, celery and cashews.  Spoon into tomato shells.

There are many, many more but this took me longer than I thought.  At least I feel like a made a contribution =).  I am always interested in recipes from others so feel free to share if you like!