RoyalMom

EDIT...OH MY HOLY MOTHER OF RHUBARB!!!! This is so delicious!
Here are the recipes I used and they are the bomb!

Strawberry-rhubarb pie

No roll pie crust

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I've been getting my farm share box for a few weeks now and rhubarb has been included each time. I've never bought rhubarb...or even eaten rhubarb that I know of, and its been intimidating me.

The first week I bit off a sour bite off the end of one stalk and then they all went bad, left out on the table. The second week I snuck them all into my friends Dan and Kristin's fridge.

And now the third week...here they are again. More rhubarb.

I decided to go ahead and give in to everyone's fantastic support for strawberry-rhubarb pie.

I've made plenty of cakes and muffins during married/family life but I have not made a pie since I was a teenager. This is the best I could make out of the recipe's call for a lattice pie crust top. They are in the oven. Let's hope for success!

Another first for me is the coleslaw I made with the cabbage (and purple carrots). coleslaw!!!??? This farm share is definitely making me try new things as I scramble to use everything up.

Worked out pretty well!

I have made the very short pilgrimage from tiring work weekend to "let's turn these diapers into hats" craziness.

Jason had a fun day reconnecting with his best buds from college today. Unfortunately I had to work this weekend so I missed it but was so glad to see a pic of everyone. It was another park with a water feature and the kids had a blast getting soaked again. The park is in Wilsonville and the fountains look amazing!

And just the week before, I got to hang out with one of my absolute best buds from college, Shawnette! She was my most adored roommate in all of my college experience. If any of my other roommates happen upon this blog...sorry! but it's true and I have to play favorites in this case.

Thanks for reminding me about the times you blotted the puke off my face and tucked me in on those late drunken nights...turd! hahaha!

Just a few shots of the kids at the park...had a good time with friends. We brought our cameras and it was like a paparazzi shoot out:)

Check this out...

Sister and brother...

Sister <not sister in the middle> and brother...

Sister and brothers...

Then our guys...

Brothers....and more brothers! hahahaha! Gotta use this one again because it's all I have (and I love it!).

the super hero.

Dragon and rubber gloves. Aren't those baby legs delicious?

I think I actually let out a scream when I walked by and saw two chickens in the kitchen. They were checking out the dog food and probably loving their chance to break into the big coop for once.

These are the kind of video only mom and dad can appreciate. I love how a two year old can take two plastic toys and create fun, Isaac and Xander at 5 and 8 can now create entire imaginary worlds around a single plastic toy.

and Xander at 2 doing the same thing with two dinosaurs. Again...just for me and Jason. These are ridiculously boring to anyone else;)

Jason's softball games...#33 rounding home!

During the two hours of games Isaac sat on this merry-go-round thing getting to know all these guys. It was hilarious to sit a few yards away and listen in;)

Today we went and visited the "Peachy Pig Farm". My goal was simply to u-pick some strawberries with the kids but Peachy Pig Farm gave us SO much more. Wow! This is a farm with plenty of character. A 10 or 11..maybe 12 year old boy came bounding over to welcome us and gave us a tour.

These folks have figured out how to make farming easier! just let the shit pile up. Other farms who include clean up in their daily animal care routine are suckers!

The smell up in here. I've always heard that about pig farms but dang!

The boy says, "they have food. It's right there!" and "oh we don't clean out the poop. we just let it build up." Gotta love that honesty but need to work on the eyesight because that food bowl is as empty as it gets. You can sorta see the front duckling has his entire back wet and caked in doodoo.

anyway...the boy was great and gives a fantastic tour! There was plenty to see and the kids and I count this as one memorable day.

Somebody got loose and was eating the roses! haha!

Berry picking at last. Simon got three into his bucket before he ate them all and then started eating the berries in my bucket.

Then we got distracted by the cherry trees! gorgeous rows and rows of cherry trees.

eating along the way, Xander? hehe

Our bounty cost us $3.75 but the experience was worth it!

I have put the photography biz on hold for some time now and shooting for myself is such a pleasure! I think it helped me grow and RELAX. I have been totally out of the photographer's loop and come to realize I don't care about the latest style or photo treatment.

I don't care about coordinating outfits, posed perfection or the perfect rule of thirds. I don't need popped colors or fancy angles. I threw my expensive grey card in the garbage (did you know those things actually go bad??) and have not purchased another.

We had a fun day! I got a kick out of Xander. He stiffens up and looks uncomfortable when I try to take pics of just him but when he has Isaac by his side his natural, cuddly self shines. They have such an amazing bond.

Simon is just a blur...so not too much of him today.

(xander's "five" portrait I'll be printing big for the living room. yay!)