Zucchini - More Zucchini

We have zucchini everywhere. So in an effort to use some zucchini one night I created this. Andrew loves potato cakes and both boys like zucchini.

Zucchini Potato Cakes

1 medium to small zucchini shredded

1 packet of instant loaded mashed potato mix

1 cup of bread crumbs

Make instant potatoes according to directions. Stir in zucchini. Make into cakes and coat with bread crumbs. Fry until golden brown on both sides. Makes 8 large cakes.

Note: I have made potatoes with plain potatoes then just load them the way you like them. In the Barbee house than involves cheese. If no bread crumbs grab a little food processor and a couple slices of bread. Instant bread crumbs - season if you like.

Finally Aaron's Birthday Pictures

I am finally posting pictures from Aaron's birthday a month plus later. He wanted cupcakes this year so we went looking at pictures on the Internet and he liked these. They were very easy. Remove cupcake paper set on top of gummy worms and ice. I let the boys ice them and cut apart the gummy worms. If you want longer tentacles use whole gummy worms. Use candy or icing for the eyes.

This is the finished project.

Aaron loves cards but sometimes in the mdist of all the presents they get lost. So this year we had them open them first. He squealed with delight with each one and wanted them read.

We went swimming for Aaron's birthday.

And presents of course.

Summer

Yes we had a great vacation but most of the time has been spent at home. And as you can see from the pictures we are pretty low tech. Have done some Bible school and a little with the grandparents on both sides but overall just staying home. The slip n slide provides fun for both boys and cars.

Perry cooking marshmallows at a picnic.

Andrew helping make strawberry jelly.

Boys dressing themselves for church. Notice the ties.

Wrestling with Daddy.

Asking to wash cars.

I did make a camp run. I am tired but appreciate more how much work goes into this. Enjoying my garden. Life is about the simple things.

Our other adventures in vacation land

Well besides waterfalls we checked at the Crayola Factory at our friend Becky's suggestion. The boys loved it. Basically they show you how they make crayons and then let you play with all the other crayola products. Upstairs they have a kid friendly museum. We spent a good part of the day there. Here are the boys using chalk.

Glow in the dark pens.

The boys in the train at museum upstairs. Which was about the railroads and canals in Pennsylvania.

This moth took up residence at our condo door for a day. We saw deer, raccoons, birds and squirrels. It was nice to comeback to a place where there was room for the boys to move around. Grandpop took Andrew up to the little mini golf course every morning so we could sleep in. I could just hug him. Of course some serious swim time happened. That was the one thing my boys wanted to do.

We went back out to see Uncle Gabe one last time and checked out a children's museum and a park. The children's museum was a converted warehouse but they had done a nice job with the space they had. The boys had a good time.

Riding in the airplane.

There was a small train set. Musical instruments. Activities to try.

Andrew painting.

Aaron's BushKill Adventure

As you can see Aaron did recover from his bellyache and was able to have his own adventure. We only did the medium trail but that was enough.

He really liked where the falls made piles of bubbles that looked like dishwashing soap. Aaron took this picture with a little help.

A family bought tickets right before us and their son Aalf was nearly the same age as Aaron. We ran into each other on trail and enjoyed a nice visit. They were from Connecticut.

So if a good thing can come of being sick this was it. Both my boys had a great time and one was not complaining he was tired and the other wanting to know why we had to stop.

Andrew's BushKill Adventure

You can't go to the Poconos without going to Bushkill Falls and climbing the Delaware Water Gap. We decided that the boys were not ready for the Gap climb but we did do BushKill. It was less than 5 minutes from our condo. Not totally sure why but Aaron got a bellyache that morning and threw up. So Andrew got to do Bushkill without brother. Which turned out to be a good thing because they were able to hike longer and farther this way. For those who are familiar with Bushkill they did the Red Trail this is the longest and most difficult. But I am told they had a great time.

Andrew's first millipede.

Daddy and Andrew resting on the trail.

One of the falls.

Abuela and Grandpop on some of the walk ways. A great morning was had by all.

Waterfalls

Being in the Poconos we did the waterfall thing. I was amazed at how much water was there. I know that sounds crazy but some years certain waterfalls are just a trickle. This fall is called silverthread. Which is usually right but this time it could be called silveryarn. It was beautiful.

This is Dingman's fall. If you are looking for an easy hike to a waterfall this is it. It is also free because it is a state park.

Aaron is impressed.

This is not the best picture but it is taken by me at the bottom of falls of the rest of the family at the top. They wanted someone to wave to at the bottom. By the way they climbed 200+ steps to get there. For the more adventurous you can climb the steps but you don't have to climb to enjoy the falls.

This is Raymondskill Fall. It is also free little more up and down hike but very nice. Once again it had so much water that at one spot it was a 3 stream waterfall.

From my childhood I do not remember the fence. As a parent I am thankful.

The falls.

Between the upper and middle falls. The boys seemed to enjoy the exploring part of the trip and seeing all the water.