Tucson = Home

This morning somehow a conversation led to Luke telling us, "I don't know why, but whenever I think of Florida, I think of mean people."  Then Isabel, "When I was little, whenever I thought of Italy I thought of cowgirls."  Sylvia, "Whenever I hear the word Italy, I think of a green bean!"  Thinking about what we think of when we hear the name of a place we've never been to made me try and remember what I thought of Tucson, Arizona before we moved here.  I can't quite recall what I thought, but I know that I didn't have a clue about Tucson.  It was a scary, mostly exciting move. It's been one year and one month since we've started calling Tucson home.  Here are the things that I personally love and did not know about this city.

-It's a college town! (I know, I am sure you already knew that, but I didn't realize the the University of Arizona was here.) -Thrift shops, antique shops and locally owned businesses galore! (Although I don't frequent them enough.) -It's an artsy town! (I don't know how to describe this one, it just is.) -There is a big Jewish community here.  (why do I love this??  I just do!) - People are on bicycles all over the place here.  (not me, I think I have truly forgotten how to ride one :( -Everyone has a dog! -museums, parks, the zoo! - Summers (bring on the upper Fahrenheits!...that makes no sense.) -Mt. Lemmon (in case you want snow in the winter.) -The people we've met.  (This goes for any city, there are always great people to know.)

Luke

Isabel

Sylvia

Hazel

Basic Food Prep Skills

Yesterday we had to have a fire during our history lesson because the weather dropped down into the 60s!!!

Lately I've been trying to make more of an effort of teaching my children basic food preparation skills.  The girls are very motivated and excited to learn, Luke not so much.  I need to get that boy a little bit independent so that we can kick him out of the house when he turns eighteen.  (When I told Luke to curl his fingers of the hand holding the lemon he said, "Don't worry, I play the piano."  I guess meaning, Don't worry I know the drill of having to curl my fingers.)

Here is Sylvia squeezing some lemons on the turkey.

Quite a few years ago a friend gave me this turkey brine recipe and I've used it ever since.

1 cup kosher salt 1 cup brown sugar 2 oranges, quartered 2 lemons, quartered 6 sprigs of thyme 4 sprigs of rosemary

Put turkey in 2 kitchen garbage bags in 5 gallon bucket.  Add ingredients and enough water to cover the turkey.  Let soak for 4 to 24 hours in refrigerator.  Rinse well after taking out.

Girl Mom

Before I had children I never thought I would make a good mom for girls.  I don't know how to do hair, buy clothes, or whatever else girl moms are supposed to know how to do.  I was shocked when I found out that Hazel was a girl...THREE girls?!  When they fight with each other it's in a big way. Poor Isabel is the oldest and can't reason with the her two crazy sisters that have NO respect for her organizational skills.

Poor Sylvia is stuck being the little sister (getting bossed around) and being the big sister (having to share with a toddler.)

Poor Hazel has Isabel who, although good intentioned, OVERLY loves and fusses over her and Sylvia who steals her toys.

At this time in my life, what makes me happiest in life is seeing my girls play peacefully together.  This breakfast tea party game is one that they have no problem playing (so long as Isabel is the hostess in charge.)

Being the mother of girls, I found that the most difficult things aren't things like doing their hair (I have taught myself to french braid by the way).  It's knowing that I am their biggest female role model.  I love my girls, they teach me so much, and not just about dolls, clothes and princesses.