Avocado Tuna Boat recipe

 

Isabelle,

I don't know if you like tuna but I just found this recipe and Jim and I both love it!

You can probably use chicken if you don't like tuna.

Recipe 

5 oz can tuna, drained
1/8 of an onion chopped really small
2 Table spoons mayonnaise
1 Tablespoon yellow mustard
1 sweet pickled chopped really small
pinch of salt and pepper 
1 Tablespoon of "Everything Bagel" seasoning

1 avocado

Cut the avocado in half and take the seed out.  Loosen the avocado from the skin by running a large spoon underneath.  Leave it in the skin and cut criss-cross.  

Mix all the other ingredients into a bowl.   Once everything is mixed good, scoop it into each half of the avocado.  You can sprinkle with cheese if you would like also. 

Hope you enjoy!

Abby Wamback speech

 This is one of the best speeches I have ever heard.  I hope you enjoy!

 Abby Wamback Speech

Happy Birthday Beautiful Girl!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR SWEET, BEAUTIFUL GRANDDAUGHTER!

Isabelle, I can't believe you are 9 years old!  You have grown up so quickly.  The photo above is the night you were born.   Your dad called me and told me you were about to be born.  I got the first flight I could get to Chicago so I could be there when you came into the world.

I flew to Chicago, grabbed a cab to get to the hospital and on my way to the hospital your dad texted me as said "She's here!"   I was so excited!  I was about 5 minutes away in the cab.  I got to the hospital and joined your grandma and great grandma in the hospital waiting room.  They wouldn't let us in to see you yet.  I wanted to run back and pick you up in my arms and give you a million kisses.  But they wouldn't let me.

Finally, the nurse came out and said that me and your other grandma could come in to see you.  I was excited and nervous and wanted to cry.  I was so happy.  The moment I touched you and held you in my arms, I was fully in love with you.  It was like a magic moment.  I felt the bond between us immediately.

This is a photo of you on your first visit to the St. Louis area.  As you can see, I was a very proud Grammy.

And here you are in 2019 on Jim's ATV riding around our property facing your fears.  You have no idea how proud I was of you.  You were not sure you wanted to do it but you did it anyway.  You trusted Jim and he made sure to keep you safe.  I was all smiles watching you!

So, HAPPY BIRTHDAY my sweet little girl.  We love you so very much and are so happy you are our granddaughter.

Always remember..... you can do anything you want if you try hard enough

We love you forever baby girl!  

Jamaica

Hi Isabelle,

I know that you have already traveled so many places but I want to tell you about one of my favorite spots in the world.  Jamaica. Jamaica is a small island in the Caribbean very close to Cuba.  Below is a map showing Florida, Cuba and Jamaica below Cuba.

I could go into the history of Jamaica but that is something you can do on your own when you are ready.  For now, I want to tell you what I like about Jamaica and show you some pictures.

The first time I went to Jamaica was in 1998.  I took an airplane to Montego Bay, Jamaica and then took a bus to Negril, Jamaica.  It was about an hour and a half bus ride but I loved it.  I went through a lot of little towns and got to see how the people lived.  They were all living in little shacks and they were all trying to sell something on the streets as we drove by.  Some were selling food, some were selling wooden statues, some were selling clothing.  They are looked so poor but they looked happy.  When I got to Negril I stayed at a resort so it was all inclusive.  That means that you paid one price and that included your hotel, your food and your drinks.  It was right on the beach and I fell in love with it immediately.

I love the ocean so every day I would go to the restaurant in the resort, have some breakfast and then immediately go to the beach.  I would stay there most of the day until it was time for dinner.  Then after dinner I would go back to the beach until sunset. 

This leads me to my next topic.  Jamaican music.  The music makes you dance and smile.  It makes you nod your head and sway to the beat.  It is wonderful.  I hope you know about Bob Marley. He is probably the most well known Jamaican musician and I love his music.  Look him up and see what you think! 

Another think I love about Jamaica are the sunsets.  Especially on the west end of the Island. They are so peaceful and so beautiful.  I have never seen a prettier sunset than when I was in Jamaica.

Another thing I love about Jamaica are the people.  They are kind and they have respect for others.  Probably not ALL of them, but generally speaking they show a lot of respect for other people. 

The last couple years, I have stayed in a different part of Negril.  Instead of being on the beach, the hotel is on the cliffs.  And it is a much smaller hotel.  There are only about 60 people that can stay there and everyone has there own little hut.  Jim likes it a lot better on the cliffs because there aren't as many people.  I miss walking on the beach but I like the fact that it is not so crazy busy. 

The food in Jamaica is so good.  Jerk chicken or lobster are my favorites.  Jerk is a type of seasoning that you can put on just about anything.  I've had jerk chicken, jerk pork, jerk shrimp.  It is all delicious. 

I hope you get to travel to Jamaica sometime.  I think you will love it.  And I hope you enjoy the photos in this post.  I tried to pick some really good ones!

I love you forever!

Love you forever!

Time for a phone!

I got a text from your mom that I was a little confused by because I had no idea what it meant.  The text said, 

Hi, Ruth Lanigan!

I've made you a Buddy for Isabelle's 

Gizmo so they can now call you and receive calls from you.

Thanks for being a trusted contact!

So I called and talked to your mom and dad and found out you had a watch that was also a phone. 

I was so excited!   

Since then, I have been able to talk to you many times on your new phone.  Just you and me.  I love it!

You are getting to be so adult and so smart and Grammy is very proud of you.  I'm putting a photo of one I found on the internet so you can remember what they looked like when you get older.

I love you forever!

Recipe - Mexican Street Corn

Hi Isabelle!

One of the women I work with gave me this recipe.  I made if for Jim the other night and we absolutely loved it!

Crockpot Mexican Street Corn & Chicken Chowder

A delicious Mexican crockpot chicken and corn chowder that has the same delicious flavors of Mexican Street Corn!

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 3 hours
Servings 6 people Calories 556 kcal

Ingredients 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs
2 cloves garlic
1 cup Swanson® Organic Free-Range Chicken Stock
2 cans (14.75 ounces EACH) cream style corn
1 can (14.75 ounces) fire-roasted corn
1 can (15.5 ounces) black beans
1 can (4 ounces) fire-roasted diced green chiles
2 teaspoons chipotle chili powder
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1 and 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
2 cups Colby OR Monterey Jack Cheese
2 cups half and half Salt and pepper

Optional additions: fresh lime, fresh cilantro, diced onion, hot sauce, sour cream, avocado

Instructions
1. Spray a large crockpot (I use a 6 quart crockpot) with nonstick spray.
2. Trim the fat off of the breasts or thighs. If you are using breasts cut each breast into 2 pieces.
3. Add the trimmed chicken, garlic, chicken stock, creamed cans of corn, drained fire-roasted corn, drained and rinsed black beans, undrained diced green chiles, chipotle chili powder, paprika, and cumin to the crockpot.
4. Stir well. Cover and cook on high for 3-5 hours or low for 4-6 hours or until the chicken shreds easily.
5. Remove the chicken and shred. While shredding the chicken add in the freshly grated (if you use cheese from a bag it gets greasy) cheese and the half and half.
6. Return the shredded chicken and mix. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
7. Serve with desired toppings: fresh lime, fresh cilantro, squirt of hot sauce, spoonful of sour cream, or fresh avocado.

I love you forever!