One with the Cat

Disclaimer: This is my official Christ Kay update for my own records, posterity, and relief of a guilt trip from Second Child Syndrome.

 

 

Christa Kay, who will be 10 months old this Sunday, is growing faster than Sydney can put on a swim suit.

 

In March, she was trying to crawl.

In April, she WAS crawling.

In May, she was pulling up to stand & cruising.

In June, she was climbing stairs.

In July, she started walking.

 

She can say:

"Dada"

"May May"

"Hey"

"Buja, Buja, Buja"

 

and other strange one syllable utterances I can't really make out yet.

 

She will eat anything. Anything as in leftover Hawaiian pizza, watermelon, and hotdogs.

As long as it is small enough to cram in her mouth, it will be eaten.

 

She has 3 teeth and a swollen spot where #4 is trying to come in.

 

She's a hoot. She's a mess. She thinks Sydney is the most hilarious thing to come down the pipe.

 

 

Her eyes twinkle and everyone says she is "bertiful." She has dimples and that is one feature that not one family member possesses.

 

She wakes up happy and for the most part, goes to bed happy after a few minutes of whining.

 

She loves the cat. Simeon is her buddy. When she sees Simeon, her world lights up, she squeals with joy, and crawls at break-neck speed, knees a scrapin', to see Simeon.

 

She is ONE with the cat.

 

 

 

 

 

Southern Belle Sweet Tea

This summer, I've thrown a few wing dings on the patio. At each wing ding, I make a huge container of my Southern Belle Sweet Tea. Everyone comments on how smooth and refreshing it is and how it is not too sweet, but sweet enough, and not the least bit bitter.

So, for those of you that want my recipe, here goes: It is a combination of sweet tea recipes that I have found and it has been tweaked to my liking. Super simple.

Southern Belle Sweet Tea - Yields 2 quarts (simply double for a gallon)

6 Regular size tea bags (or 2 family size)
1/8 tsp baking soda
2 cups water
1 1/4 cups sugar
6 cups cold water

1. In a large glass measuring cup, place your tea bags and baking soda.
2. Pour 2 cups of boiling water over the tea bags.
3. Cover and let it steep for exactly 15 minutes.
4. Take out the tea bags carefully and resist the urge to squeeze them.

Repeat after me, "I WILL NOT SQUEEZE THE TEA BAGS." This is what makes tea bitter.

5. Add sugar. (You may add more or less depending on your sweet tooth.)
6. Stir in sugar until it is completely dissolved.
7. Pour into pitcher. Add COLD water. Stir.
8. Let it cool at room temp, and then put in refrigerator. Serve over ice!

The method of this recipe is more important than the actual ingredients. If you measure everything out exactly, though, you will consistently get a great pitcher of refreshing sweet tea. Sometimes, I throw in the juice of 1 whole lemon, just to give it some pizazz.

Enjoy!