Gluten Free Smores

Step 1: Smile really pretty and say "MO MASH MAWWOWS PEAS"


Step 2: Give marshmallows to Daddy to place on roasting stick aka skewer.


Step 3: Watch anxiously as the marshmallows are cooked to order.


Step 4: Inspect for proper level of doneness.


Step 5: Add cocoa pebbles, sit back and enjoy. (Spoons are optional)

P.S. To be more specific these are gluten (wheat, barley, rye, oats,) milk, egg, soy, nut free smores. But who's counting? :)

Vacation at the James River

This is the trail down to the James River. We were right across from James Town. BH is the orange speck you see down the trail 100 feet. You'll just have to imagine me as I am on the other side of the camera.




Shells!


Shells (I told him to show me his shell so he struck a pose!:)


Shells! EH loves every shell she found so I took pictures of the prettiest ones.


Shells!



and yes, MORE SHELLS. This river is brackish water which means part salt and part fresh. It is actually not very deep until you get quite far out. We all swam in it and had a ton of fun. Sorry no pictures of swimming something about cameras, water and really white skin just doesn't mix together well.

Summer is over School starts

We finished the summer off with a bang. We went camping at Chippokes Plantation State Park an hour away from here. It is the oldest continuously operating farm in the country! It is on the James River just miles (and a fairy ride) away from Jamestown. We got to drive our car onto a fairy. I was going to post pictures but we are having memory card issues.

Evelyn started kindergarten in public school. BH started 2nd grade homeschool. We are adjusting well. I will post pictures as soon as we get the kinks worked out.

 
So I tried to cut my hubby's hair. When I tried to touch up I was distracted (aka kids) and ended up doing some cutting with out the blade. Luckily I was able to fix it.

Aug family News letter

Alright it's time for another episode of the Harris Family news letter. THE END

So I guess I can't just leave it at that. Since the last news letter we have gotten our adoption approval!!! Our profile is now online: we could be chosen as a family for a new baby at anytime & from any state. Our profile is located at: http://www.providentliving.org/ses/birthmother/viewsingleprofile/0,12272,2133-1-9516,00.html


We have also updated our Blog recently http://harriseastcoastadventures.blogspot.com

We are getting read the new school year. We have decided to send EH to public school for Kindergarten (Chantelle's still not sure.) We think she will be able to get some of the good social skills that she needs. EH is very excited about having the chance to go to school, she talks about it almost everyday. This will also give Chantelle a chance to work with BH more one on one. BH has been getting home schooled this year. We have wondered all year if we were teaching him everything that he needed to be able to pass first grade. We got the chance to have him tested by his teacher from kindergarten (the one we liked) Mrs. Hodgins. He did very well in math. His reading & writing however needed a little bit more work but it was good enough to pass first grade, and continue with home schooling which is what he needs. JH is now 3 years old. For her birthday she got herself a big girl bed, she is very excited that she gets to sleep in her very own bed. She actually had to "earn" it by taking her naps when she was supposed to in her crib for the 3 months prior to her birthday. It was amazing she just operated on the faith that she would get it if she just did what we said. So she graduated from her crib on her birthday. On July 26th we had a party at our house for JH & Steven, we had a BBQ & a Mexican fiesta. Chantelle made homemade refried black beans, mom's recipe of Spanish rice, and we grilled fish for fish tacos. It was a hit and a lot of fun. We had about 39 people in all. We also got a kitten on the same day as the party. Now we have a new member of our family.

Chantelle's news of the month is she got a Cuisinart bread maker with a GLUTEN FREE setting on it (you have to do the breads a little different.) Shaunna found it at a yard sale for a buck! When Chantelle used it for the first time she realized the reason it was so cheap. The second part of the knead cycle wasn't working. So resourcefully she called Cuisinart after saying a prayer and sure enough they offered to send her out a brand new one to replace it. It was still under the warranty! So tonight we had some delicious Gluten, Milk, Egg, and Soy free bread. (It was also corn and nut free but luckily we're not allergic to those.)

That's about all for now. Wish we could travel out to see you all but three words stand in our way money, money and money.

RIDDLE

What do you get when you have 4 sensory kids, 1 princess, 2 crazy moms and water? A giant WATER FIGHT!

We had the kids out in the pool (except those that were grounded) and they kept splashing the princess who didn't know that she could splash them back. So finally this mommy got tired of the princess crying because she was splashed and the splashers never getting splashed back and took action. I helped the princess get a bucket and pour it on the instigating splasher. Well of course I got wet so I just jumped in with my clothes on and helped the splashers all get really wet. Then the other mommy joined in. Oh, and those who were grounded from the pool suddenly were ungrounded just for a free for all.

Just picture it two mommies in their 30's, a giant water obsessed 7 year old, a lanky 5 year old, and a not so giant water obsessed 5 year old, a 3 total sensory year old, and a tired almost 3 year old. With cups buckets, a hose, oh and did I mention that the pool was only 6 feet wide and 18 inches deep.

Needless to say we were all soaked and had a ton of fun!

Happy Birthday to Steven

So Steve turned 31 today. We had roast for dinner with potatoes and carrots. Katrina made him cake and a gluten free peach cobbler for us. She is sweet and always helping us out.

Jenai is sitting here playing that her naked water baby doll is her cousin Kiri. It is cute! Of course little does she know that as soon as I click post she is off to her bed.

We are all doing well and the summer is moving along swiftly. It seems like we get up eat, do some school (we go year round 3 days a week), eat lunch, have quiet time or some other activity eat dinner and then go to bed.

I just wanted to do a quick post to update so Steve can't say I never do it. (Now Jenai is saying that Steve is Uncle Brian and she is Josette. She of course convinced Daddy that she needs to cuddle with him instead of going right to bed.)

Time to tuck in! Have a good night all!