Sweet Mint Tea

Sweet Tea always reminds me of visiting my grandmother in Texas and I LOVE it! I'm a loyal Southern girl! Now that I think about it, my other grandmother in Louisiana typically served Coke in frozen metal cups. That was fun, too!

So, here's my Sweet Tea recipe made with a hint of mint....

Bring fresh, cold water to a rolling boil in a pan.
Fully submerge 2 Luzianne Family Tea Bags and 2 Plantation Mint (single serving) tea bags.
Cover and steep for 5 minutes.
Squeeze excess out of tea bags and remove.
Pour in 1/4 cup of sugar. (My grandmother probably used a full cup of sugar. Use whatever sweetener you prefer: Stevia, Splenda, or Sweet n Low.)
Pour into container and add enough cold water to make it total 2 quarts.
You can float fresh mint leaves on top if you are having guests or just for fun!

I try to keep tea in the fridge and was making some this morning, so I thought you might like the recipe.

Prize!

I forgot to mention the prize for the contest! It is a $20 gift certificate to Rhea Lana's Children's Consignment Sale coming up March 6-8 in Fayetteville (www.rhealana.com). Hey, I'm the marketing person! By default it is going to Kathy Ashlock since Jyoti and Cathy Lee live in Colorado. Thanks for entering! I'll try to think of something nationwide next time. Happy shopping, Kathy!

Contest Results

I have to begin this by saying that you guys are all WAY more creative than I am! I laughed each time I received one of your emails or comments. Here is the picture once again...

AND THE WINNER IS...
"French Fries!? When I order Frog Legs I expect Frog Legs!....Bring me the manager." Jyoti Bennell Longmont, CO

RUNNERS UP...
"Deezz boff taste uckky...ket-up meebee??" Cathy Lee Lewakowski Thornton, CO

"I thought you said, 'It tastes like chicken.'" Kathy Ashlock Fayetteville, AR

AND PROBABLY THE MOST ACCURATE...
"Can I just eat one french fry without a camera on me? Sheesh!" Scott (a.k.a Daddy)

[ACTUALLY, WE WERE AT THE BOWLING ALLEY AND HE WAS NOT HAPPY ABOUT BEING STRAPPED IN THAT HIGH CHAIR. HE WANTED ME TO HOLD HIM, BUT I GAVE HIM A FRY INSTEAD. HE TRIED TO THROW A FIT. I THOUGHT IT WAS A FUNNY "PHOTOGRAPHIC MOMENT" SO I GRABBED MY CAMERA. HE WAS OBVIOUSLY NOT IMPRESSED...BUT HE GOT OVER IT QUICKLY WITH THE HELP OF THE FRIES. SO, CONTRARY TO THE PICTURE, HE REALLY DOES LOVE FRIES. ]

Here were the other great entries...

“No ketchup?! No Way! “ Jean Superior, CO

"This is no potato!" Jennifer Clarksville, AR

"I could have sworn I ordered chicken..hmmm." Marchelle Broomfield, CO

"No more smiles until Gramps sings to me!!!" Gramps Heber Springs, AR

"Mom, these carbs are KILLING me!" Richard Clarksville, AR

"I knew Mimi needed a good laugh." Mimi Heber Springs, AR

"You say Titus never had a french fry until he was 3?" Jessica Chicago, IL

"Why won't you people just give me the broccoli I keep asking for?!?" Marissa Fayetteville, AR

"Oooh, a little too salty!" Aunt Sydney CA

"Mommy! How did the waitress get her hair to stand up that high?" Gramma LaCenter, WA

Caption Contest

I love games! I'm having a contest to see who can come up with the best caption for this photo. Comment below or email me at lashleyshaver@msn.com. The winner will receive some (yet to be determined) fabulous prize. The deadline to enter is tomorrow (Tuesday, February 18) at midnight. On your mark, get set, go!

I Love You

Happy Valentines Day!

Everything

One of my friends emailed this link to me today. It is one of the most powerful visuals that I have seen in a long time: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9NkGdZ-N2E

Batter Up!

We finally had some beautiful weather today, so we spent most of the afternoon outside. I cleaned out the minivan and garage while Titus and Audra rode their bikes and scooters around in the alley (and Justus took a 4-hour nap!). Scott joined us outside after running some errands for work. Titus discovered his baseball bat in the garage and wanted Scott to play baseball with him and [NEWSFLASH] Titus LOVED playing baseball! Titus has owned that plastic bat for years, but never shown any interest in it. (Scott tried not to be disappointed by this. Baseball was his favorite sport growing up. He played for 16 years and was an incredible left-handed pitcher and hitter. He even played semi-pro for a year after playing football in college.) Out of the blue today Titus picked up the bat and was AMAZING! We had so much fun out in the backyard! Scott pitched, Titus hit and ran the bases, Audra fielded the ball, and I cheered them all on.
Here is Titus rounding the bases after his first "homerun" over our fence. Scott was teaching him how to walk around the bases with his chest out while waving to his fans!!!! LOL!

***You can click on the pictures to see them bigger. That way you can more accurately see the expression on Titus' face while he is batting. That boy means business! :)

Yummolicious!

Justus was so funny tonight! He kept trying to "tackle" and wrestle with Titus. He would walk towards him with his hands out in front growling, "ahhhhh", and then fall on him. Titus thought it was hilarious and kept encouraging him to do it over and over again. This is how the boys kept themselves entertained while I was making dinner tonight.

Speaking of dinner, I tried a new Pot Roast recipe tonight and it was SO YUMMY! I've tried 4 or 5 beef pot roast recipes over the years, but I never like them that much. Typically, the meat is too tough or not that interesting of a flavor. This is the best one I've made:http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,,FOOD_9936_6959,00.html . (That link should take you to Emeril's Pot Roast Recipe.) Scott, Justus, and I luuuuuved it! The only thing I did differently is that I added 3/4 cup of cooking Sherry and some Worcestershire sauce to the beef broth for added flavor. I also couldn't find baby turnips and parsnips, so I bought regular ones and cut them in smaller pieces like the potatoes and carrots. I loved the flavor these added, though, and the meat was so tender. I'd make sure your Dutch Oven has a tight fitting lid, as well, so the juices don't dry up too early. Thanks, Emeril! Yummolicious!

I haven't been abducted by aliens or anything. We just aren't having a very exciting week. I spent two solid days catching up on laundry and cleaning my house. I didn't think you'd be interested in pictures of that. I've also been spending my "free time" working on my childrens' consignment sale that is coming up in March: www.rhealana.com. More to come on a more eventful day...

Say, "Ah!"

Justus woke up from his nap this afternoon acting like he was starving. I was trying to cook dinner and he was sitting at my feet pointing and crying for everything I picked up: raw chicken, raw bacon, cream of mushroom soup, sour cream, etc. You know, typical baby food. I had to get dinner in the oven and couldn't hold him and cook at the same time.

Then, I had an idea! Keep Justus and my busy 3-year-old occupied by teaching her to feed the baby! Why didn't I think of this earlier?!?! They both stayed entertained and I got dinner in the oven. I'm amazed there weren't carrots everywhere. Oh, and look! Audra is wearing her pink tu-tu again. Isn't that a shocker?!?!
Here is Justus thoroughly enjoying his second dinner an hour later with the rest of us! He devoured every single kernel of corn on that corn cob. Actually, all my kids love corn. It is a staple around here.

Snow!

Hooray! A snow day! We finally got enough snow for the kids to go outside and play in it! (Friends in Colorado, you may stop laughing now.) Actually, it is pretty humorous. A few snow flurries and the thought of ice was enough to cancel school on Thursday and Friday this week. It's probably smart, though. Arkansas drivers don't have a lot of practice driving on snow and ice (and there certainly aren't snowplows maintaining the streets here). Last week when we had icy roads I saw 7-8 cars that had slidden off 540 into the grass.

At any rate, I was thrilled to get the kids out of the house and into the fresh air to play!

Titus' favorite thing was running and then sliding into the snow and rolling around in it. Audra spent most of her morning making soup with a bowl and spoon. Then she told me that it was a manger and she was puting hay in for baby Jesus.
"Arkansas Snow Boots!" I learned after my first winter here that it is not really worth the money to buy a pair of snowboots. This was my attempt to keep Titus' feet dry while he played in the snow. :) Audra wore a great pair of snow boots that were given to us by a friend! (Thank you, Kate!)

My snow angels...


I didn't have snow clothes for Justus, so he happily watched from the kitchen window. Then I put him in a bubble bath. Bubbles are almost as fun as snow, right? When the "big kids" came in out of the snow they had some hot chocolate and joined him for a warm bubble bath, too. What a fun morning! I'm thankful that we got out when we did...it had melted by the afternoon.