Will you be mine?

Afraid of cats but kisses frogs (Can you make that out in the picture?). Names them all "Bobby" and loves them to death. Literally. And sleeps with snakes. He's our Benjamin.

Fun(ny) Run

Earlier this week we asked the kids if they wanted to do a 1K Fun Run. They all wanted to and we had the option to pay and be eligible for prizes (trophies, etc.) or just do it for the experience. We didn't figure our kids would win (sorry, guys) so we opted just to run for fun. Paul ran alongside them and halfway through my phone rings. "You might want to register Isaac because he's in first place." Too late? I think so. Isaac must have got out too fast so he was walking and holding his tummy close to the finish line as I cheered him on. As a result Isaac, Leah and Benjamin finished third, fourth and fifth respectively. (Not to give the wrong idea, there wasn't a record turnout.) Go team Davis!

I wore my running shoes (unlike Isaac who opted for cleats) just in case and Paul talked me into doing the 5K. Even if I had registered I wouldn't have won a prize, but hearing our kids scream, "Go, Mom!" was reward enough.

Fast, frugal, fresh-tasting, kid-friendly salsa

A hispanic woman I met on the PTA always brought salsa to our get togethers and she has finally given me the recipe. Isaac likes it because I can add as many peppers needed to satisfy his genetically acquired need for heat and Leah likes it because it has NO CHUNKS. I like it because it tastes like it's from a restaurant.

• 1 large can (280z?) Rotel tomatoes
• 1/2 bunch cilantro (get most of the stems off)
• diced hot peppers (any kind you wish, I used about 6 jalapenos)
• salt to taste
• garlic powder to taste

Throw it all in the blender.

That's it...my kind of recipe! I think you could use any brand diced tomotoes instead of Rotel. Next time I'm going to use some type of smaller pepper for more heat.

We take advantage of any cool weather we can get!
Elizabeth is bundled up in a pink cableknit sweater
(thanks, Grandma Davis) and a red double-tassle hat
(Auntie Paula, pre-grandchild days when she used to knit for MY kids).
Tutti Frutti survived Benjamin's tactics so dealing with Elizabeth will seem like a reprieve.

After listening to Isaac's FHE lesson, Leah and Benjamin played "King Benjamin." They stood on the tower (Little Tykes play structure) and after the sermon wrote down everyone's names who wanted to follow Jesus. Then Leah added that everyone who followed Jesus was going to get a present. She came and pretended to hand me mine. "They're scriptures." And with an emphasis added, "Hard Cover."

Benjamin: A little kid came into our room and her name is Angela. She said, 'There’s six cockroaches under the water fountain.' And then Lillie and Geloni and I came and then Mrs. Nichols came and then I started to smash, smoosh, smeesh, smash . . . . smashing the cockroaches. I smashed them by stomping on them and I saw blood or it was wetness from the cockroach [guts] on the bottom of my shoe and then when it was time to go home, Mrs. Nichols gave me a smiley face and a note for my mom and dad. The end

Mrs. Nichols wrote the following in his folder: "Benjamin was a hero today. About 6 cockroaches came out of nowhere and surrounded the water fountains in the K hallway. Benjamin had them stomped flat in less than 60 seconds. I don’t think that I have ever seen feet move quite that fast."

The next day Bemjamin still had stomping on his mind. I asked the kids to bring home their milk and juice cartons from lunch. While waiting in the carpool line at the end of the day he stomped on his backpack as thoroughly as he stomped on the roaches. He forgot his cartons were in there. Nothing wrong with smashed cartons, unless they were full to begin with. I now know that if I want him to bring home cartons I should include the adjective empty. Eeeewww.