Adding to the excitement...

Sydney had her very first swimming lesson today! She was kind of nervous, and didn't really want to go this morning, but I promised her that she would be staying in the shallow end of the pool where she could touch, and her teacher would hold on to her whenever she needed her to. She went, and got in the pool and did awesome!!

Here she is playing a game where she gets to pretend she is any kind of tree (she picked apple tree) and her teacher chops her down. Then she falls (timber!) into the pool.

Here she is pretending to be a big ice cream scooper (actually doing the freestyle stroke).

Hands out in front of her practicing kicking laps.

Here Sydney is--oh wait! That's not Sydney, it's a starfish!!

There's the starfish again, this time in the shallow end.

She did so great, and she loved it! She wants to go back every day, and she told me she wants me to sign her up for swimming lessons every time they do them. Yay!! I'm so proud of her!!

Exciting Day In The Reif House!!

Exciting things are happening around here this morning! Tacky has moved to a new shell!!!

He is now in his doggie shell. This is so exciting, because we have been waiting for Tacky to do this since we got him.

Briana is a very proud hermit crab mommy!

Marshmallow Pops

Look what we made today! They are marshmallow pops. We put marshmallows on skewers and dipped them in chocolate and vanilla almond bark. Then added sprinkles. The girls really liked making them. I haven't tried one yet, but Briana and Sydney both said they are delicious.

Fireworks

We went down to the Heartland Of America park tonight for the annual free concert and fireworks display. It wasn't too hot, and we only had to walk 4 miles to get there, but we all managed to have a very fun time.

Below is a picture of the kids on the drive home. They had fun.

And here's a movie of the fireworks.

Stir Fry recipe

Last weekend, we went to the Farmer's Market and stocked up on fresh veggies. So last night, I made a chicken stir fry, and it was so, so yummy. All I did was cut the chicken into bite size peices and season with lawry's and garlic powder. Then I cooked it in about a tablespoon of oil until it was no longer pink. Then I added some organic broccoli, 2 stalk of celery (chopped) and a bunch of snap peas. I served it with steamed rice. Yum, yum!!

After checking the $5 Dinners blog last night, I discovered this recipe for beef stir fry, which I plan to try as soon as I can get to the store and pick up some stir fry beef (I have plenty of broccoli and snap peas left over).

Ingredients
1 cup uncooked brown rice ($.40)
.6 lb. stirfry beef ($1.85)
4 Tbsp sesame oil, divided ($.50)
1 tsp rice vinegar ($.05)
1 Tbsp soy sauce ($.10)
Few cracks of garlic pepper grinder (free) Bought on sale for $1 with $.50 coupon that doubled to $1 = FREE!
1 large broccoli head, about 1/2 lb. ($.69)
1-2 cups of fresh snap peas (free from the garden)

Directions
1. In medium saucepan, bring 2 1/2 cups of water to boil. Add 1 cup of uncooked brown rice, return water to boil and then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 45-50 minutes, or until brown rice has softened.
2. Marinate stirfry beef strips in 2 Tbsp sesame oil, rice vinegar, soy sauce, and cracked garlic pepper.
3. Add 1 Tbsp sesame oil to skillet and heat until steams. Toss in broccoli and snap peas with the hot oil for about 30 seconds to a minute.

4. Add 3/4 cups of water to the broccoli and snap peas. Cover and steam for 3-4 minutes.

5. Drain water and set aside on a plate.

6. Add marinated beef and onion to same skillet.

7. Stirfry on high heat for 4-5 minutes or until beef has cooked through and onions become translucent.

8. Toss steamed broccoli and snap peas with the cooked beef and onions. Stirfry on high heat for 2-3 minutes, tossing sauces and ingredients together.

9. Serve Beef, Snap Pea and Broccoli Stirfry over Brown Rice.

Cost $3.59

Swing Bag

First things first. I checked on the baby birds today, and their hearts are beating! In other news, I finished my swing bag today!! I love it. Here is the outside of the purse:

Here's the inside:

And, I made a matching makeup bag to go inside.

So, I'm quite proud of myself. My next project is an apron. Wish me luck!!

Foster Dad

Yesterday, the girls were playing in the backyard. They were out there for a few minutes, and Briana came tearing in the house, hollering for me. She said "We have baby birds!!!" So, of course, I ran out to the yard and she showed me two baby birds and one bird egg in the grass. Mike came out too, and saw that there was a nest in the tree that was tipped over. There was just these two bald babies in the yard with their mouths wide open.

They are seriously the cutest things ever. The girls both wanted to bring the baby birds in the house, and we would take care of them. We couldn't do that, so Mike looked online and found out that we could make a new nest for them out of a butter container and put it back in the tree and the mom would still come back. There was also one unhatched egg and Briana got to hold that.

This morning, Briana went out and checked on the birds, and she said they were moving, so still alive. I checked on them this afternoon, and this is what I found:

Seriously. That is the cutest thing I have ever seen. And look at that nest!

Hyundai Hope On Wheels

Sydney got to put her handprint on a Hyundai at Children's Hospital for Hyundai Hope On Wheels. While we were there, Mike was interviewed by the World Herald. Below is a link to the article. Read all the way to the end!

http://www.omaha.com/article/20090616/NEWS02/906169980

Another funny one

This is Mike feeding the ostriches at the Wildlife Safari. So funny.

This is too funny

This movie was taken during a heated game of charades. Mike was a gorilla, FYI.

Shamu movies

TEXAS!!!

We just got back from Texas yesterday. I think it was the best vacation we have ever taken! We went to Seaworld, the Wax Museum, Ripley's believe it or not museum, the alamo, the riverwalk, and lots more that I am surely forgetting. The girls hated the Alamo, and loved everything else. We went to a drive thru safari and hand fed the animals, and I got to go to the outlet malls. Then, we went to Corpus Christi to go to the beach. I loved it and so did the kids. I seriously want to move to the beach now.

Curesearch Milestones Walk

Ok, not sure why blogger won't let me move my photos around (grrrrrr.), but here's the photos from the Curesearch walk in no particular order.

Above:

TEAM SYDNEY

The girls walking

Curesearch banner that begins every year's walk. Sydney's name is top left.

Sydney with her very proud mommy after receiving her medal.

Getting ready to say Sydney's name

Julie Cornell, the walk's mc

Girls waiting for the presentation to begin

Here are some pictures from the Curesearch walk. I think it was Team Sydney's best year yet! We raised $550 for Curesearch.

HAPPY SEVENTH BIRTHDAY, BRIANA!!!

Briana had a great day yesterday! We didn't really do anything, just stayed home and Briana opened her presents at lunchtime. She told me her favorites were this aquarium with a fish, snail, and frog, and her elliptical machine.

Happy Birthday to my girl! Love ya!!