Baby got snacks

If there are three things that the chil'rens can depend on, they would be this: the drink of choice around here will be apple juice...beans will be eaten at least once a week (bean and cheese burritos, tostadas with beans and cheese, beans with scrambled eggs, bean soup, "bean nachos"--you get it, they don't call us beaners for nothing)...and there will always, always be carrots in the fridge. We've had some jokes made about us because of our idea of what a snack is. Once, Noah offered his tia Angie "a snack" and she was all excited, expecting some chips or cookies and milk. When he came back with some carrots, she laughed out loud. "You call this a snack?"

Grocery shopping is kind of an ordeal for me, so I have discovered that keeping it simple and cheap is best. You won't find the chil'rens eating fruit roll-ups or potato chips or bagel bites or twinkies. Along with whatever fruit is in season (and on sale!), what you will find is a huge sack of carrots. If I don't get the big sack that would last most people into eternity from Costco, I buy several of the 5 lb. packages. And that is what they snack on all day. I constantly find carrot butts on the counter and an assortment of knives. They don't even bother to peel them anymore.

If I feel like getting fancy, I'll buy string cheese. Maybe some goldfish crackers. My standard chile mangoes from Trader Joe's. And the carrots. Lots and lots of carrots.


Mmmmmm, want some?


Look mama, see my chewed up carrot?


"Xixi, that's not nice!" Huh? Why are you on my case, mama?


You're mean, mama! I don't want this carrot anymore!


Just kidding, mama! I still love you. I love my carrots, too!