Three Things Thursday

Thing 1: Weather

Signs of Spring started popping up here in Cleveland despite the cooler temps...

And then it warmed up beautifully and even exotic pets were out enjoying the fresh air!

And then this happened...

And we spent the afternoon watching (and singing) Frozen because it just made sense.

Thing 2: Books

Daniel started reading chapter books with Aubrey this year. I decided I wanted in on the action too because -- Good Lord -- Mina wants the same 10 page books read from dusk till dawn.

Curling up with my big girl and reading a book has been beyond delightful. It's the perfect afternoon wind-down after school and once I put Mina down for her nap. I'm going to miss that sweet time with her when she's in school all day next year. (Waaaaaaah!!)

A bonus is when there's a movie based on one of the books. After we read the book, we pile up and watch the movie together. I love how (so far) Aubrey's decided that she likes the books more than the movies. She'll often say during the movie, "That's such-and-such character?! I had a totally different picture in my head! I like my brain idea more..."

Here are a chunk of the books we have read: The Jungle Book, Peter Pan, The Secret Garden, Ramona the Pest, Shanghai Secret, and The Lion's Paw. Daniel has also been reading her the Chronicles of Narnia set. I asked her today what her favorite one has been so far and she said The Secret Garden. We just finished The Jungle Book last week, and she's trying to decide between Mary Poppins, The Voyages of Dr. Doolittle and Pollyanna right now.

And, just a sidenote: When did Aubrey turn into a full-blown big girl?

Thing 3: Recipes

My friend posted this Cafe Rio Shredded Chicken Copycat recipe on Pinterest. I have never heard of Cafe Rio -- much less eaten at one -- but after trying this, I'm pretty sure I'd want to eat there at least once a week.

It's a crock-pot recipe (three cheers!), and you can eat it any way you like: taco salad, soft tacos, or just on a bed of romaine lettuce. My girls gobbled it up in quesadillas. It's SO good.

Cafe Rio Shredded Chicken with Cilantro-Ranch Dressing 

       (Image via here)

PREP TIME:  10 MINS

COOK TIME:  5 HOURS

TOTAL TIME:  5 HOURS 10 MINS

SERVES: 6

INGREDIENTS

• 2 pounds chicken breasts
• ½ cup zesty italian dressing
• ¾ tablespoon minced garlic
• ½ tablespoon chili powder
• ½ tablespoon ground cumin
• 1 1 oz package dry ranch dressing mix
• ½ cup water
• 
  
• Optional toppings:
• minced cilantro
• roma tomatoes, chopped
• olives
• fresh lettuce
• cilantro ranch dressing

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Spray the inside of your slow cooker with cooking spray. Add all of the ingredients except for the chicken into your slow cooker. Mix until combined.
2. Add the chicken and cook on low for 4-6 hours or on high 3-4 hours until the chicken is no longer pink and cooked throughout.
3. Remove chicken from the slow cooker and shred. Replace the chicken back in the slow cooker and mix with the juices. Enjoy!

Cilantro Ranch Dressing

      (Image via here)

INgredients

1 packet Hidden Valley Ranch mix (not BUTTERMILK)
1 cup buttermilk
2 tomatillos, remove husk, diced
1/2 bunch of fresh cilantro
1 clove garlic
juice of 1 lime
1 jalapeno (if you like it mild, just remove the seeds)

INSTRUCTIONS

Mix all ingredients together in the blender or food processor. That’s it!

I just realized this would be a perfect dish for Cinco de Mayo!
How fantastico!

Dr. Dolittle and His Little Sidekick

You all know that I am not a huge fan of birds. Remember this?
Truth be told, I'm really not that much of an animal person at all.

Well, I do like cats. I know, I know. I like the pet most people don't.

Cats don't really like people. I don't really like animals. We just get each-other.

However, I'm married to an animal enthusiast.
He loves all creatures.
Well, except cats.
It seems Miss Aubrey inherited his animal adoration gene.
(Bonus: She likes cats (even mean ones), so there must be a little "me" in her too.)

Well, the other day, my animal loving husband bolted through the door:
"There's a baby bird in our front yard!"
As I was voicing my, "Oh no...please don't tell--"
"Aubrey! Want to come out and see a baby bird with me!?" was already ringing through the house.

Before I knew it, there we were.
Staring at this.

A face, I'm convinced, only a mother could love.

"He needs our help! He's hungry!" I hear both Daniel and Aubrey chanting.

Uh, he just looks gross and diseased to me.
Can't we just call animal control or something?

I realized I was talking to myself, as Daniel and Aubrey were already busy scrounging up worms.

This is not happening. (I'm sure the worm was thinking the same thing.)

I felt the need to ask Daniel if he was going to channel Ace Ventura (click here), but it seems even he has limits when it comes to what he's willing to do for an animal in need.

One worm down, and they were off to dig for more...

Oh no...are we seriously letting Aubrey feed this bird?!

Apparently we are...

Okay, you've both fed the baby bird.
NOW can we please go inside?!
(And wash our hands at least 10 bazillion times?)

"We can't leave him on the ground! He's too vulnerable! A cat could get him! We need to get him back in the tree!" Daniel squawks. (See, told you he didn't like cats...)

Ugh...

When I tried to discourage the bird relocation and rescue plan by announcing, "If we actually touch the bird, the mother will abandon it!", I was quickly corrected. Daniel works with someone who was highly involved in animal/wildlife rescue and says that's not true.
(Apparently, it is a myth: click here and read halfway down.)

My last sandwich-size glad-ware container was snatched from the kitchen and filled with grass.

Well, it's safe to say I will never be using that container again...

At one point it was as if the bird was looking up at Aubrey and asking, "Are you my mother?"

We said our little good-byes and transported the bird to some prime tree-realty.

I'm not fluent in Bird, but if I had to guess, I'd say he was chirping something along the lines of...
"Hey peeps! Look at me in my spiffy new bird nest! Tweet! Tweet!"

I didn't know a bird could look proud, especially one so ugly, but somehow he managed to exude confidence. I can only imagine his demeanor if we'd given him a little red sports car to park on the branch next to him.

Before finally going back inside, Aubrey decided to conclude the evening with a theatrical demonstration for the bird...

Who knows what animal Dr. Doolittle and his little sidekick will find next.
Whatever it is, you know I'll be the cameraman for their wild rescue and adventure. :)