Meat post.

With apologies to Abbott & Costello, I'm a ba-ad blogger. Ahh, shaadap.

The photos below are all from 2006. I posted them so my brother could pull them off to help his wife create a scrapbook for a gift for my parents, last Christmas.

I'll probably take 'em down soon.

This past Saturday we took the kids to Home Depot, where they have a free workkshop. They made little wooden pirate ships, it was a blast. The kids had macaroni for supper whilst mama and I went out for supper at a Mexican restaurante. We decided to try the ribsteak, and it was surprisingly excellent for the price (something like 12.95 for a 12 ounce slab, including salad and choice of potato).

We go "Mexican"* when we want to eat a lot and not spend a lot. Diet be damned.

What is the deal with food prices anyway? You're lucky if you find hamburger at less than $3/lb, and then it will be in a chub from a factory, and you don't know what's in it. At Hy Vee today they had chuck arm steak for about $4.50/lb. I dunno, it just seems high for a cheap cut. Not long ago you could get chuck roast for less than $2, pretty often.

These kids are starting to have an appetite, too. Jacquelyn wanted ribs on the grill last week for her birthday supper. $20 would have bought enought ribs for the clan, but instead I got a 4.5 pound boneless shoulder roast for $1.79/lb and cut it up into "country style ribs." Fooled everyone, they loved it, and would have eaten more.

We found ground turkey for $1/pound a few weeks ago, you know we bought a bunch, shoulda bought more. It works pretty well as a burger substitute in casseroles and tacos, but I don't think it tastes that great on its own. It was excellent in enhiladas, combined with refried beans.

Did I tell you my secret for homemade pizza (below)? Save that for next time.

Adios.

-CH

*in quotes because in Iowa, Mexican restaurants are not exactly authentic.

Time to catch up

Everyday I have more stuff I want to blog, but never get around to it!

The kids are growing and doing cool stuff all the time...and I'm thinking, I need to blog that!

I'll try to update this soon.

If anybody is reading this, please let me know, leave a comment.

Amelia Mae

Christopher Lee Jr.

Chris (we call him CJ for Chris Jr.) Is enjoying his high school years. He has a pretty good group of friends. He always gets a date to the big dance.

He still likes halloween, but this year he missed walking the streets with the little ones due to show choir practice. "The show must go on."



Chris is really good with his baby brothers and sisters. He babysits for Mountain Dew.














He put in a lot of hours at McD's this year. He likes cooking alot more than counter work. He wants to go to culinary school and become a chef. He's pretty good at it...he made his mom a cheese cake for her birthday this year.

Show choir is his big activity. These photos aren't that great, but here he is surrounded by pretty girls. No surprise that he enjoys it so much!

Katherine Sue

Kati is great with the little kids. Her mom and dad really count on her!





This is Kati in a real courtroom playing lawyer for "Mock trial," where the kids present a case before a judge, and compete with other schools. Her team went to state competion and came in 5th place...She said that they were first place among teams that didn't have a team of lawyers coaching them, as did the final four. Way to go!


Kati works hard in school, and does very well in academics. No, "excellent" is a better word!


Kati loves being in "Band." She worked really hard to get there, because she started in 7th grade, a year behind. By spring of 7th grade, she was caught up and better than some.






Kati has been dancing for ten years. She like lyrical and ballet.

Mackenzie Ann

A little angel.

The shirt designer.

The hostess

The pumpkin picker.

What a sweetie!

Jacquelyn Marie

Jacquelyn took part in aunt Janet's wedding. How pretty!


















Jacquelyn and Robert with pizza they helped create. Jac loves to help in the kitchen.








With her best friend, Kallie.






With one of her birthday presents.











One of Jac's many talents.

Robert James

Robert is very creative and artistic. He loves to build and draw.

He also has some budding athletic talent

(wait for more photos)








Robert Loves his baby brother.

Thomas Patrick

Our little Cubby!









Thomas with Matteo








Thomas making a shirt for baby brother.

Sean Frederick

Sean picks a Christmas tree. (We picked a nice day in late November to go tree shopping!)

Sean with new baby brother.



Some kids sleep with a teddy bear ...

Sean is cute with glasses. Here he is, checking out the cookies at his preschool fall party.

Daneal Walter

Is this the swimming hole? We're still working on certain basic concepts.












Daneal loves his birthday present. (He had spaghetti)














It was hard to find a photo of Daneal with his clothes on, he's free spirit.







Mine!

Matteo Lukas

My daddy wore this suit when he was my size!






Matteo at 3 Months







My First Photo, 8-25-06

Matteo and Proud mom and dad. (Dad looks cool in a Doctor Suit!)

Jacquelyn

Today is Jacquelyn's birthday!!

We Made Pizza

From left: Thomas, Robert, Me, Jacquelyn, Sean. It was easy to make, with a lot of help, and I was surprised at how good it tasted. Simply Hy-Vee pizza crust mix, sauce from a can, a pound of shredded mozz, and the pepperoni.