Zucchini Quesadillas

I wanted to share a super easy, super healthy, super cheap favorite meal around my house...not to mention super YUMMY!! My boys love to help cook and this recipe is very kid friendly.


Seriously, this is all the ingredients...black beans, zucchini, cheese and tortillas.





Drain and rinse the black beans, then put into a large bowl. Have your best helpers wash up...then start mashing! If you're kiddo's don't like to get messy then they can use a fork, but my little guys LOVE to squeeze beans through their little pudgy fingers.




While the kids are busy with that, peel and grate the zucchini. Squeeze all the water out of the grated zucchini...another jobs the kids love.

Mix the mashed black beans, zucchini, and grated cheese. Sorry, I never measure my ingredients...just use how much you like...

Put on half a tortilla, fold, cook in pan....I usually butter my pan, but you can use a cooking spray.

Serve with your favorite salsa, guacamole, or sour cream. My kids know that there is zucchini in them, but if you want to be sneaky you can. Zucchini has such a mild flavor your kids won't notice!

ENJOY!

Backyard Camping

We've been promising the boys FOREVER that we would take them camping. The problem is the twins. We could find a babysitter for the weekend, but Momma's not ready to part yet. Dad says, "Bring them. It will be fun" Yeah right. My babies are schedule babies and do not do well with change. I can't imagine trying to put them down for the night in a tent at 7:00 while it's still light outside....or worse letting them stay up late.

We decided to camp in the backyard. Fun for the boys, and the babies are kept on their routine, fast asleep just a baby monitor away.

The boys had a BLAST (and so did we)! It was nice having a special night just with the boys...I know it will be a happy memory for them.

Helping Dad set up the tent.

Yeah! It's up!

The boys' favorite part, by far, was s'mores. We built a little fire, roasted the marshmallows and quoted The Sandlot. It was their FIRST s'mores and they loved it! After 2 they both were on a sugar high running around the backyard like maniacs. Ely and I were cracking up.

Zander "stuffing" as he called it...nice pinky...

Gavin got SO MESSY!

Enjoying the fire.

Now that's my idea of camping...All the outdoor fun, but Momma still gets to go inside and sleep in her nice comfy bed while the guys get the ground, bugs and heat.

Dancing Gavin

A lot of people are "impressed" that I go anywhere alone with my kids. But I figure if I can't take care of them, who can? Every week I take all 4 kids grocery shopping, out to eat, and somewhere fun...like the zoo, aquarium, or park. To tell you the truth, my children are better in public. (not always...but usually) There is more to look at, discover and explore. I think at home they get bored and whine more.

Anyway, earlier this week, it was an especially hot day and we NEEDED to get out of the house. My sister and I took the kids up to the mall to eat and play. Ahhh...an air conditioned playground.

We walked past Abercrombie and Fitch, the music trying to draw us into the overpriced store, Gavin had to stop and dance. Not sure what took over him...maybe the overpowering cologne had a dancing effect on my 3 year old. He drew quite a crowd of onlookers. The employees looked annoyed at my little redhead making a mockery out of there oh so serious store....so I decided to let him dance as long as he wanted. He was there for at least 10 minutes.

Pretend Play

The girls are growing up so quickly. They recently started to pretend. It's so cute. They got a cute little tea set for their first birthday. They love to "pour" the tea into a cup (it makes a sound when you pour). Then they "drink" it. So precious...I don't remember my boys pretending this early. It must be a girl thing?

They also pretend to talk on the phone. Camille will hold her little phone up to the back of her head and pace back and forth....yeah, I'm a pacer...lol.

Here's a short little video of them pretending to drink....enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wED1o1h3aZk

Stubborn

It's so incredibly frustrating when your child won't listen to you. Really, I'm torn. I want to raise a boy who knows what he wants, doesn't give into pressure and has a sense of self. But on the other hand...I wish he would just do what I say! LOL...guess I can't have it both ways.

This may seem trivial, but Zander REFUSES to wear shorts. Only jeans....with pockets. (I mean really, you're four! Do you have keys or a wallet you need to put in your pockets?!) It has been nearly 100 degrees here already this summer, but he's stubborn. A little ridiculous...we even went to a pool party this weekend and he cried because he wanted to wear jeans. The only thing I can think of where this came from is "The Sandlot." You know, the movie. My boys have the DVD and watched it nearly everyday for a solid week. Benny tells Smalls to wear jeans and a t-shirt....

I'm not forcing him and let him wear whatever he wants. When you see me at the city pool don't judge me if my 4 year old is wearing jeans...whatever...again, I pick my battles. But geez.

Playdates

I think being a mother is one of hardest job in the world. It is the most amazing, unconditional love you can experience...yet it can also be stressful and emotionally draining at the same time. We love going on playdates. It's just as much for me as the children. I NEED to socialize with other strong, busy mamas!

Look at all the babies! Earlier this week I got together with my friends Martha and Rachel. Between the three of us we have 13 kids!! Here's a picture of our 3 sets of twins. We didn't even attempt to round up all 13 kids for a group shot. Lesson #1 of being a mommy of many...pick your battles.

A very gross obsession

Camille, my very sweet, adorable, precious baby has a very gross, nasty OBSESSION. I almost don't want to blog about it. But my dad persuaded me to...mostly to embarrass her in future years...telling the world her dirty little secret. Camille loves the toilet. I can't keep her out of it.

The other day I'm in the living room playing with Maya and I hear, "No Camille, that's gross!" I run to the bathroom where Camille is playing with her 3 year old brothers stream of pee going into the toilet!!! I seriously SCREAMED at the disgusting sight!

Every time she hears the bathroom door open or toilet flush she bolts for it. I don't remember having this problem with the boys. I think because only adults used the toilets then and we always closed the door behind us it was never a problem. But the boys are constantly leaving the door open and my sneaky little baby finds her way in there and loves to splash! It's disgusting, I know. And it's not like I let her do it...listen to me being all defensive. Please tell me my child isn't the only one with this very gross obsession. Let's all pray she grows out of it.

Aquarium Trip

A BIG THANK YOU to
http://www.tashadoestulsa.com/ and http:///www.beachbumwannabe.com

They had a giveaway for a family membership to the Jenks Aquarium and I WON!! How cool is that?! They are both pretty cool local blogs and have frequent giveaways...so check 'em out!

Wednesday I thought I was supermom and decided to take all four kiddos to the aquarium....alone. Time has passed, I can laugh about it now. Before we even got inside the twins were crying. Camille is walking now and Maya is trying...neither want to be in there stroller...both wanted to be held. I gave them both a bottle and reclined there stroller seats. Thank heavens Camille fell asleep!

This gave me and the boys a good hour of fun with the fishies! The cool thing about having a membership, we don't have to spend all day there....very unrealistic with four small children....but usually you want to get your money's worth and spend all day. But now we can go, I can threaten with a "If you don't behave we're leaving" and actually follow through because you can come back tomorrow...FREE!

Gavin and Zander are going to be underwater experts by the end of this year!

We loved the hands on exhibits. Feeding the turtles and stingrays. Touching a starfish...you know Gavin had to totally inspect everything.

I was glad Camille slept through it, but sad that she missed it. Maya thought the fish were magical. I loved watching her watch the fish. It seriously brought joyful tears to my eyes.

When Camille finally woke up, all hell broke loose. At that point I decided that we should call it a day. We headed through the gift shop to the exit. Our NO TOUCHING, ONLY LOOKING rule was ignored by Gavin. He broke a jiggly, watery, glittery thingy all over the place. Shamefully, we told an employee and headed out before anymore damage could be done.

Once outside, Gavin started jumping from rock to rock in front of the big alligator while someone was trying to take a picture of their kids sitting on it. Ignoring my calls and warnings (do we see a trend here...Gavin ignoring me AGAIN!?) he falls into the mud ruining his good tennis shoes. Sigh. By the time I got to the car I was...frazzled. Had to count to ten.

Call me crazy, but I can't wait to go back next week! Just another day in the life...wouldn't change it for the world!

4 going on 15

Major attitude is coming out of my almost 5 year old's mouth lately. Not sure where it's coming from...hope it's just a phase.

Take this morning...I'm fixing breakfast. He's sitting up at the breakfast bar, being very impatient and whining. "I'm hungry right now Mama! What is taking you so long?" Then to top it off he added, "You need to start fixing breakfast while I'm asleep and have it ready for me to eat when I wake up."

Ummm....I don't think so. I sent him to bed until his oatmeal was ready. Hey, it was his idea!