Sophia at 9.5 months

Sophia is now almost 10 months old. She gives the biggest, toothy grins and loves to try walking with her walking toys. Ava is a wonderful big sister and helps feed her snacks and gives her great hugs. Her hair is very blonde, she loves her little pink blanket and her favorite foods are cheese, avocados, bread and bananas. Both Ava and Sophia are outgoing and love to interact with kids their age. Ava especially loves to play with older girls, like our neighbor Emi.

Don't you like my pjs sissy?

Ava and Sophia in their new pjs hanging out in my laundry basket.

Brain freeze

Since I have really no burning desire to write an article for this site, I thought I would just take the easy way out and do some random thoughts about the last week or so.

Here goes:

• Love watching Olivia with Ava.
• Ava is a really good red raspberry picker.
• Ava loves to dress herself and gets a new outfits on all of the time.
• I wish my sisters and fams lived closer. i miss them right now.
• I am not interested in cooking this weekend or most weekends. Cooked out.
• Working out at the rec center again to get back in pre-baby shape. It feels good to be back and to work out hard again.
• Can't wait to see the girls pick out pumpkins next weekend!
• Sophia's poopy is getting even more disgusting as she eats more and more food.
• What do you do on a Sunday when you are not cleaning, cooking or reading. Relax? It's so hard to sit and relax!
• Need to wash car. Need to sweep car. Put it off until tomorrow.
• I am ready for fall, but not the dreary sky weather.
• Can you say "Ohio" without emphasizing the "hi" in the middle part?
• I have an awesome family in all their crazy finery. Just thought I would put that out there.
• After 6 years of marriage, I love Brandon even more than when we were first married.
• Brandon is supreme at breakfast in bed. He made me toast with apple butter and little apple slices around the toast. And strong coffee. very strong.
• Sophia is turning into a little girl. She is a stinker! She is very ornery and independant. she loves life and people. She won't even let me feed her most times and loves to eat messy foods by herself.
• Little girl's clothes are so adorable I can't help myself.
• MMM. Pumpkin. Yum.
• Starbucks drink of moment: Grande Iced Coffee, one pump cinammon dolce, little bit of cream. Thanks Marsha (Kevin on the weekends.)
• Brandon's drink: Grande coffee in a venti cup.
• Ava's drink: Agi

Fresh Red Raspberry and Pear Cobbler

Ava, Sophia and I visited Jacquemin Farms twice last week to pick red raspberries. We made cobbler twice. The second batch was better as I let the fruit sit for 10 minutes (didn't do that the first time).

Try it out!

In the picture, I used white ramekins from Pier One. you can do this, instead of using a 13 x 9 baking dish.

Here's the recipe I adapted from Food & Wine (Aug. 2008).

Fresh Red Raspberry and Pear Cobbler

Preheat oven to 375.

FILLING

2 pears and 2 quarts of raspberries

2 tablespoons of cornstarch

3/4 cup of sugar

Make the filling
Mix fresh fruit with cornstarch and sugar.
Let sit for 10 minutes.

Spread filling in 13 x 9 baking dish.

CRUMBLE

In a processor, pulse 1 1/3 cups of all-purpose flour with 2/3 cup light brown sugar, 1 teaspoon of baking soda, and 1 teaspoon of salt.

Add 1 stick plus 2 tablespoons cubed cold butter and pulse until crumbly.

Add 1 cup thick-cut rolled oats and pulse. In a bowl, press the mixture until crumbly and scatter over the top. Bake for 1 hour.

Serve with ice cream. MMM.

Happy Birthday Kelly!

This is Kelly. Kelly is our dear sister-in-law who married into the Kuhns clan. It's a crazy, mixed up clan with lots of estrogen, drama and love. We are glad that we have her in the clan with us.

If you ever need a good doctor, hair stylist, or practically anything call her. If it's 11 pm at night and your children are throwing up, call her. If you need a great vegetarian recipe for a zuchinni gratin, call her.

Love lots kelly.