Baby Banket from Grandma Johnson

Julie received this baby blanket from grandma Johnson. Thanks Grandma.

Birthday celebration

We celebrate mom's, Maddy's and my birthdays tonight. Lisa made a nice dinner and cupcakes and cakes for us. Ben likes cake and ice cream. After cake and ice cream (and after Ben had a bath) we were able to get John and the kids on skype. Ben, Evan and Maddy were so enthused about being able to talk to their cousins, that the rest of us had a hard time getting in the web cam window.

Ben's Window

Lately Ben has been going to the window in the breakfast room when anyone leaves and waves and watches as they drive away. If he knows that someone just pulled in, he will run back there and watch them come in.

Baby signs

Ben know a bunch of signs. The main ones that he uses are food, more, all done, and milk. He will fuss until you pay attention to what he is signing. When he is hungry he will sign food. He will sign more milk or more food, but you will then have to figure out what food he wants more of. Sometimes it will be something he did not have on his plate to begin with, but he sees on your plate. He is starting to signs together with spoken words. He will sign more and then say chocolate, then he will grab you finger and drag you to where the chocolate is and then you will get more chocolate again. On Monday, I had pulled a Hostess Cup cake out of the freezer, broke it into two pieces and put it on the counter. I figured we might as well have some sort of cake on my birthday, since with scheduling issues, we will not have cake and ice cream until Friday. Ben kept going more chocolate until I decided the cup cake was thawed enough to eat. I try to record him doing it, but he stops and trys to take the phone or camera away when I pull it out. He is such a character, and I do not think he needs more chocolate.

Happy Valentines Day

Bens Vday card from his Grandma

Can you guess what is on the front?

Stealing the Spotlight

I was trying to get a photo of Julie smiling and Ben came over and kept moving my hand so the camera was pointed at him.

Making a Card for Mommy

Beef Stew

Last week Lisa said that she wanted a slow cooker Beef stew recipe. I found one and she got the supplies when she was shopping. I made it today.

Ingredients:

2lbs stew beef (used slightly more)
1/4 cup flour
4 large carrots (used a bunch of baby carrots)
4 or 5 good sized potatoes (called for 3 lg)
1 cup condensed beef broth (used 1 beef bouillon cube dissolved in 1 cup boiling water)
1 1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1/3 cup soy sauce
1 large onion
1 8oz can tomato sauce (we had a larger can and I guessed the amount


Directions:

Layer potatoes, then carrots. Mix the meat, soy sauce, salt, pepper and flour in a bowl, then layer on top of the carrots. Chop onion and spread on top of meat. combine beef broth and tomato sauce and pour over everything. Heat on low all day. This afternoon I realized we did not have any cottage cheese, and had Lisa pick up some while she was out. Lisa thinks it is odd that we put cottage cheese in our stew. It turned out good. Amy and the kids joined us for dinner.

Amhurst Bee Link

Here is the link for the article in the Amhurst Bee. It is not free to view. http://www.amherstbee.com/news/2010-01-06/Local_News/LAST_BABY_OF_2009.html