Strawberry Picking

Fanny extended her ticket so she will be here through the month of July.
Panchito's older sister, Francys, and our niece, Veronica, will be coming on July 1 and staying for the whole month as well.
Whenever they are here we like to bring them places and do things that they have never experienced before.
Well, today Fanny did something she has never done before.

We went strawberry picking.
We had a great time laughing and telling stories.
I knelt on a strawberry and we got a good laugh from that!
Fanny, I hope you enjoyed the strawberry picking.
I have a feeling you might enjoy the fruits of your labor even more than the labor itself in this occasion!

Country-fy it

Last night we were invited to our dear friend's, the Livingston's, for an incredible (like always) dinner experience.

Katrina was one of two girls there and at first she was out of her element.
She did not want to ride the four-wheeler even when the older boys told her they would teach her how to ride.
But, then after we ate dinner, the four-wheeler was sitting there all alone and she got on and with some advice she figured out how to ride.
She got stuck a few times but the boys took good care of her.
She ended her time on the four-wheeler asking Uncle Nick to please give her one for her birthday.
We will see if he comes through for her!

Soon she found other things to do and Samuel found the lonely four-wheeler.
He fell in love immediately!
He had a great time, even after we disconnected the battery (because his foot just barely touched the gas pedal and his driving was too unpredictable).
Livingston's:
Thank you so much for an absolutely wonderful time of food and fellowship last evening.
We miss you and love you like family!

Pastelitos de Pabellon

Pastelitos de Pabellon
Shredded beef (seasoned with onion, red pepper)
Fried plantains
Black beans
Shredded mozzarella cheese
Bread dough
Step 1 and 2:
Roll out bread dough and fill with ingredients.
Step 3:
Fold dough into a pocket and place on greased cookie sheet seam-side down.
Step 4:
Bake at 375 degrees for 18-20 minutes or until golden brown.
Step 5:
Serve with homemade guacamole.
Step 6:
Enjoy!

Free Entertainment

Recipe for free entertainment:
One bucket of water/child
One whisk/child
Warm water (soap optional)
Set out in a place you don't mind getting very wet and leave alone for hours.

When the kids are left alone in the kitchen

Yesterday we got home from vacation Bible school and both Katrina and Samuel were famished.
I was working diligently to get lunch going, but they decided to take things into their own hands.

Samuel got into the refrigerator and Katrina got up by the stove.
Quesadillas were on the menu and Samuel appears to be taking out the ingredients while Katrina yellos out what is needed.
It is a joy to my heart that they enjoy cooking and working in the kitchen.
And, yes, I did the cooking of the quesadillas.
In case you were wondering.

Where have I been?

Sorry I have not posted in a bit...
We have been very busy with Family Bible Week at church.
Sunday through Wednesday evenings, 7:00-8:30.
I was the director for the preschoolers again this year.
I adore this age group and I love working with them but it is tiring!
Katrina was so worn out after 4 really late nights in a row that she konked out at the lunch table today.
She finished two plates of pasta with parmesan first though!

So, as I type this post, Fanny (my SIL who helped tremendously with Family Bible Week), Katrina and Samuel are all snoozing.
What am I doing awake?
Oh, that's right.
I'm the mama and there are lots of things that need to get done (especially considering we have been so busy this week)!

363 days left to go again...

On Friday we packed the van and drove the 1.25 hours to Camp Forest Springs.

Katrina and Samuel helped unload the van.

Note the wicker suitcase Katrina insisted on bringing with her things neatly packed inside and the Barbie backpack Samuel insisted on wheeling into the Maple 1, the cabin we were assigned this year.

After we were settled in Maple we walked to the patio and got on the first hay ride we could.

We took a hay ride at least once each day.

Saturday morning we met again at the patio, got onto the hay wagon and went to a Wrangler Breakfast.

This was the highlight of our time this weekend at CFS.

In the woods there was a campfire with hot coffee brewing over it. At the home-built gas stove, Mike and Herbie, two dear camp staff, were working on hashbrowns with or without onions and bacon. Upon arrival we sat around the campfire and were told that we would have made-to-order eggs with Texas toast and hashbrowns.

It was an absolute delight.

Saturday afternoon Pancho and Fanny went mountain boarding.

They got all geared up with elbow and knee pads, helmets and mountain boards and boarded down the ski hill.

The pictures on the right side of this collage show how tired they were afterwards.

Both really enjoyed the mountain boarding but carrying the board back up the mountain is very hard work and took a lot out of everyone who participated.

They enjoyed some time on top of the boathouse, watching the kids and me as we played at the beach.

Katrina and Samuel enjoyed several hours at the beach while Pancho and Fanny went mountain boarding.

The weather was absolutely gorgeous, almost unseasonable for Memorial Day weekend.

I put sunscreen on the kids but failed to put it on myself.

BIG mistake!

Those two have olive skin.

I do not, to say the least!

Many hours were spent at the park, swinging and playing in the sand.

Katrina enjoyed the mini rock wall and cannot wait to climb the real rock wall in the Rec Barn in a few years!

You all know I am a woman of tradition and last year we made a frame for a family picture from our weekend.

So, this weekend we were in the Handcraft shop creating our second annual family picture frame.

Samuel was quite burned out on Sunday mid-morning so he took a nap while Katrina painted herself a mini serving tray and Pancho painted our frame.

Sunday afternoon Fanny and I participated in the high ropes challenge course.

We did the "leap of faith."

It was quite an experience. When I have more time I will share the story of my "leap."

Hopefully Pancho can help me upload the video he took.

I have nothing to be proud of regarding my jump, but God taught me quite a bit through this experience and I think you would enjoy hearing about it.

Sadly, we have a whole 363 days until we go back to Camp Forest Springs.

We enjoy our time there so much and are so thankful to my parents for blessing us with money to spend on "family betterment." We use this money for our weekend at CFS and there is nothing any of us would rather spend it on.

While we ate the delicious brunch on Monday before leaving Katrina said, "I don't want to leave." I asked her why. "Because here we are always together as a family."

What a beautiful testimony of the importance of family time.

Then last night at dinner she said, "Papa, did you miss going to work when we were at Camp?"

Pancho said no.

"So you really enjoyed being with us all weekend long at Camp? Then I think we should go back!"

I think so too, Katrina, I think so too.

Pool boy

Work Weekend

This weekend was deemed a work weekend at the Duran home.

Friday at 4:30 we went to rent a bobcat.
Pancho drove the bobcat home while I followed him in the Neon with the emergency lights on.
As soon as we got home he picked up the first load of dirt and delivered it to the backyard.
Then he parked the bobcat in the garage.
A dream-come-true for Pancho: having a bobcat parked in our garage!

Earlier Friday morning Fanny, Katrina, Samuel and I watched as two different loads of topsoil were delivered.
Katrina was intrigued by the dumptrucks.
Samuel was scared of the noise and was pulling away, trying to get back inside instead of standing in the doorway.

Then, early Saturday morning the work began.
Katrina joined the workforce and came to the front door looking for some "work gloves like Dr. Grim's."
I eventually found her some.
It didn't matter to her that they did not match.
Samuel stayed inside with Tia while the work commenced.

Later in the afternoon Samuel headed out to the deck to be a tiny bit closer to the action.
Katrina got to ride inside the bobcat (much to the chagrin of her nana) with Brian, a licensed driver and close friend.
Pancho grabbed a rake and worked hard to spread the topsoil evenly throughout the yard with Dr. Grim and my dad at his side.
Brogan, Brian's son, began mowing by faith.
That is what we continue to do;
Trusting the Lord for the increase.

If you don't have a smile, I'll give you one of mine.

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