A Common Life

Birthday Cake

2012-02-01T08:18:00.000-05:00

Last Sunday night, I made a (delicious, divine, decadent ... yummy) birthday cake for Selah to share with all our usual crowd. You can find the recipe for Strawberry Fudge Cake over on Barefoot in the Kitchen. Here, I'm posting family pictures:

The star of the party! No, wait, that should be Selah, shouldn't it?

Two little candles!

Happy birthday to you ...

Naturally, I actually blew out the candles so Little Miss didn't spit on the cake.

"It's delicious, Mommy!"

Too Bad It Wasn't Cats ...

2012-01-31T12:18:00.001-05:00

Today I took Selah to see an allergist. She has had eczema on her face for a few months now and nothing we've tried has cleared it up completely. Thankfully, we have some answers, though allergens aren't an exact science. The only thing she really reacted to was dust mites and it wasn't major. There were a few food allergies that were possibilities, so we'll be investigating a little further on those. For a week we'll cut tomatoes, oat, peanut butter, and eggs from her diet. Then we'll add them back one at a time to see if there's a reaction.

She fell asleep on the floor the other night while waiting for Daddy to take her upstairs.

That's a pen mark on her jaw. She loves to color! ("cu-wer")

The Fellowship of the Ring

2012-01-28T21:47:00.002-05:00

Last summer, Jeff was really excited about introducing the kids to J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit. He spent a good amount of time reading it aloud to them and got finished before school started. They looked forward to every installment, even getting me to read it when on road trips while Daddy drove. Not long ago, Jeff decided to begin reading to them The Fellowship of the Ring. It's become a nightly ritual - well, not every night, but whenever possible. Now, any time Daddy announces, "Zeit zu Bett gehen!" ("Time to go to bed!") Selah does this ...

... tugs the book down from its place on the bookshelf and ...

... takes it to Daddy!

Pavlov would be so proud of her!

Sunday Night Entertainment

2012-01-27T09:05:00.000-05:00

Sunday nights are always a lot of fun for our kids. And why wouldn't they be? The kids have an actual audience other than Mommy and Daddy!

Selah playing "Got Your Hat" with Mr. Kris

Now she's moved on to her favorite game - "Got Your Shoes"!

Miss Hope, playing "Pretend to Read", wherein Selah has a book and gives you a book. You read aloud while Selah ignores you and reads HER book aloud. But you can't stop reading or you will get in BIG trouble.

Miss Hope and Miss Amber

Jacob harassing Joe ... because Joe was harassing Jacob ... while Ryan, Andy, Eli, and Hunter have no sympathy for the boy!

Big Brother is Watching!

2012-01-26T14:16:00.000-05:00

Our sweet little Selah has really taken to her big brother lately! She follows Joe wherever he goes, holding her arms up and saying, "Hold! Hold!" He kindly picks her up and carries her around for a bit, talking to her and laughing with her. She is, shall we say, certain about what she wants, and asserts herself pretty well! She brings him books and says, "Ree, ree!" She tugs his hand to show him how she wants him to sit with her or play games with her.

While I was writing this post, Selah saw the pictures, pointed to Joe and kissed at the screen!

Joe's reading, and Selah is knocking on the picture of the door.

Ring around the rosie!

Joe is a terrific big brother! He's very patient and willing to play with his determined little sister.

Doppelganger

2012-01-25T08:28:00.000-05:00

Kaity and Joe decided to try to pull one over on me yesterday! They each dressed up as the other and then began to act like each other, too. The kids had so much fun acting out (and exaggerating) the other's typical actions and preferences.

Note that they even traded jeans!

In this picture they're pretend arguing over the Wii remote and what show they'll watch. I had to make them stop when Selah started crying because she was so confused by their behavior!

(One of) Daddy's Princess(es)

2012-01-24T08:25:00.000-05:00

I Think She Knows the Drill

2012-01-23T14:38:00.000-05:00

Today Kaity was upset about something that had happened, and I sent her to my room so we could talk privately (she wasn't being disciplined, this was just a talk). Nosy-Nellie Selah followed us in there and stared us down while we talked. After a few seconds Selah walked over to the pocket shoe hanger on the back of our door, pulled out Daddy's belt and brought it to me! She had the most serious expression on her face! Kaity and I just exploded with laughter, but Selah didn't get it. She stared soberly at us for a beat, then said, "Uh-oh!"

And now, some pictures of Kaity conducting school for the day:

Please excuse the mess on the kitchen counters. It's the aftermath of feeding 16 people the night before, plus making hummus first thing in the morning.

Kaity reading "The Stallions of Lipizza" to Joe.

Her Father's Daughter

2012-01-12T09:04:00.000-05:00

Selah got hold of Daddy's VW magazines a few days ago. She was so cute browsing through them!

A (Long) Christmas Summary

2012-01-11T08:17:00.003-05:00

Well, this is one of those times when I feel like Inigo Montoya - "Let me esplain ... no, no, there is too much. Let me sum up." We had a lovely Christmas, and here's a rundown of how it went:

Christmas Eve: We woke up, got our stuff loaded into the car - kids, presents, food contributions - to head to Jeff's parents' house. The minute Jeff put the car in reverse to leave the driveway, Selah put her breakfast in reverse, if-you-know-what-I-mean. It was the first time she'd ever thrown up and I'm sure the looks on our faces were priceless! Anyway, she spent the weekend sleeping. We went on to see Jeff's family and had a great time. Much food was consumed and many lovely presents were given and received. I didn't take pictures because 1) I forgot the camera out in the car and 2) I had an increasingly heavy toddler sleeping on me most of the time.

I do have a picture, though, of after we got home. Joe's favorite gift of the day was a tool kit, complete with hardhat, suspenders and safety goggles.

We also continued a family Christmas tradition of watching the original How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and the German tradition of opening one gift on Christmas Eve. It's a running joke now that it's always their new pajamas.

Yes, Joe is still wearing his safety goggles.

Christmas Morning: We woke up at home and opened presents pretty early. I didn't make a fun, delicious breakfast because when asked what they wanted, my precious taste-challenged family responded with "Eggo waffles" and "cereal". Plebeians.

For Selah, we just polished up the kids' outgrown Little People.

Kaity with her Phineas & Ferb magazine

Joe, assembling Legos from his big sister.

Selah, on her new tricycle from Grammie and Bobba! "No, Selah, don't text and drive!"

Here's one of my favorite gifts from my Handsome:

Star Trek salt and pepper shakers! Sweet.

Christmas Day: We left after packing the car again to head over to Mom and Berk's for the rest of our Christmas celebrations. I don't have many pictures of that, either, because as you may have guessed, the camera was in the car again. Anyway, we had a delicious lunch of lasagna, more lovely presents, and a wonderful time spent together. Mom and I were even able to carve out a couple of hours' time just for the two of us!

Bobba with Selah, who was still sleeping.

My big brother Stuart with his sweetie pie, Tara.

My Little Monkey

2012-01-10T10:07:00.000-05:00

Joe has developed quite an affinity for tree-climbing!

Picnic

2012-01-09T12:04:00.000-05:00

A few days ago the weather warmed up enough for the kids to have a picnic outside. Joe came in and helped me fix sandwiches and sides for their lunches.

They chose a really picturesque part of the yard ... not!

Cutest Little Dishwasher

2012-01-05T09:20:00.000-05:00

I was cooking dinner and washing dishes the other day with a little helper when I decided to pause to take pictures.

The apron Selah is wearing is a sweet little half-apron given to me by my dear friend Lisa. It was her grandmother's.

Jeff was in the kitchen making us some French press coffee to go with dinner - waffles and bacon.

"Look, Daddy!"

When Two Dorks Collide

2011-12-31T09:17:00.000-05:00

The following conversation happened last night as Jeff and I were climbing into bed. I'm fussing over the covers and Jeff is poking fun at me for being so picky about it. I've recorded this nearly verbatim.

Me, in a mock-serious tone: "I just can't sleep with the blanket all wadded up three feet in the air right under my chin while my feet and legs are completely exposed! I am a blanket socialist. I demand even distribution of the blanket! Every night I have to take the blanket from you and lay it out evenly."

Jeff: "Well, I'm a blanket capitalist and I say that whoever CAN gets to have the blanket. Maybe I'll be the socialist government and keep all the blanket and let you have what I think you deserve!"

Me, in righteous indignation: "That's it - I'm Occupying this bed! ... Capitalist pig."

Well ... maybe you had to be there, but we were in tears from laughter by the end of our little comedy routine.

Christmas Ornaments

2011-12-28T09:46:00.000-05:00

I posted last year about how we get each of the children a new ornament every year for our Christmas tree. The idea is that when I let them move out they'll have a box of 32 ornaments to take to their new homes! (Just kidding.) Anyway, I made their ornaments this year, using ceramic stars purchased for $0.69 at a craft store, plus scrapbook paper and clear acrylic sealer. It was fun, easy, and super-cheap since the only things I bought specifically for this project were the stars and the paper. Total: $3.25 for all three ornaments!

I painted their initials using a thin brush and acrylic paint - after the "Mod-Podge" dried, and before applying the sealer.

I used the same piece of paper for Kaity and Selah's ornaments, just cut them out of different areas.

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-22T10:25:00.000-05:00

Last Sunday night, our college people surprised us with presents! I received a beautiful new slow cooker ...

It's programmable!

I've already used it to cook up some chicken and it works perfectly! The insert is metal with a non-stick surface which cleans up like a dream.

And Jeff received a basket of our favorite coffee, two handsome coffee mugs, and some of his favorite candy!

We are so very thankful for our college people! They are a blessing to us in many ways. Thank you, everyone, for these wonderful gifts!

Playing Outside

2011-12-20T08:42:00.002-05:00

Our kids love to play outside. It would be nice to have a better place for them to play, but we work with what we have.

My parents gave Kaity Rollerblades for her birthday and she has really enjoyed them! She gets better and better the more she practices.

Selah sobs and clings to the doorknob when the kids go outside without her. Other than riding her car, her favorite activity is going to see our neighbor's little dogs, Daisy and Bella.

Kaity, Joe and Selah

2011-12-19T07:40:00.000-05:00

Our three kids are just like everyone else's, I'm sure. They bicker and fuss and get on each other's nerves now and then, but mostly they love one another. Selah always wants to be where the big kids are, which is fine 85% of the time. The other 15% she's getting into the middle of whatever they're doing or climbing all over them and I hear, "Mo-om, can you come get SAY-lah?" (Because that's how they always say it when they're frustrated with her, exaggerating the first syllable!) I know Joe's particularly irritated when I hear her shrieking with laughter and Joe says, "SAY-luh-UH!"

Joe's sweet nature and Selah's snuggliness are a good match.

Christmas Gifts

2011-12-17T07:00:00.000-05:00

We have done a few things to help our kids focus on a Christmas that emphasizes Christ. While we cannot expect the lost around us to give any attention to a God they do not serve, we can do all that we can to use this opportunity to share the Good News of the Christ who came and is coming again. I'm listing some of the things we have done this year and in the past in hopes you'll be inspired in new ways just as others have inspired us!

** One thing our children enjoy about the Christmas season is all the lights. There is a particular street in our town with beautiful old homes that go all out with pretty greenery and light displays. This year, we packaged homemade cookies up with a card and delivered them door to door to each of these 6 homes. Inside the card Kaity wrote a short note telling them how much our family enjoyed their lights each year and thanking them. We included a couple of scriptures sharing the Light of the world:

"For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." 2 Corinthians 4:6 (ESV)

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16 (ESV)

** The kids do extra chores to earn money to buy gifts to place inside Operation Christmas Child boxes. They love shopping for the items! This year, Kaity participated with the youth group at our church to help pack the boxes and prepare them for shipping. The gospel is included in the appropriate language in each box.

** Our church partners with our county's Department of Family and Children Services to help provide Christmas for foster children. Sunday School classes sponsor one or more children by purchasing gifts from the children's wish lists. Our college/singles class provided for a 17 year old girl this year.

** Gifts to our kids are moderate. In addition to not having much money to spend, our children have plenty as it is. (They're blessed with generous, loving grandparents, too!) We have a tradition of giving them new pajamas, one thing they've really wanted, something they'll share (like a game), plus a few little things we think they'll enjoy to go in their stockings.

** We do whatever it takes to be able to give to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. Missions hold a special place in our hearts and we're happy to give in support of our missionaries. This year our church is collecting cans to recycle as part of our effort to give.

NOT A Christmas Tradition

2011-12-16T08:55:00.000-05:00

And now, what's NOT a Christmas tradition:

Jeff and I have never taught our kids about Santa Claus. I mean, they know the traditions and the folk tales and the history, but we've never perpetuated the idea. Our reasoning has always been that we have a loving Heavenly Father who showers us daily with blessings, who owns the cattle on a thousand hills, from whom comes "every good and perfect gift" ... Truly, generosity, love and joy are hallmarks of a life lived in submission to the Holy Spirit and we don't want to take away from that by confusing them with a different, make-believe entity who is supposed to embody those traits as well. We understand that others disagree, but this is simply what we've chosen for our family. We have been convicted to focus solely on the coming of the Messiah, the Christ child who came in humility to be born, to live a sinless life, to die on the cross, to be raised again so that we might have eternal life.

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God ... And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth." John 1:1, 14 (ESV)

A note: Our children are instructed not to discuss the truth about Santa with other kids out of respect for their parents' choice to include him in their Christmas traditions.

Christmas Traditions, Part 3

2011-12-15T12:18:00.001-05:00

I posted Parts 1 & 2 last year, and this year is more or less a continuation of that. We continued this year with our advent calendar made of stockings:

Daddy, Kaity, Joe, Selah, Mommy

As I did last year, I used mini Christmas tree ornaments that depict the Nativity along with scripture in some of the stockings. Here's a list of the scripture I used with the coordinating figurines:

Luke 2:1-3 - Decree (I had to DIY a tiny scroll for the decree!)
Luke 2:4-5 - Joseph and Mary
Luke 2:6-7 - Jesus and stable
Luke 2:8 - Shepherd and sheep
Luke 2:9-20 - Angels
Matthew 2:1-12 - Star and wise men

I filled in the rest of the stockings with Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah. I found inspiration for those at Prayer of Hannah in a blog post written by my friend Leah.

Family Snapshot

2011-11-28T12:03:00.001-05:00

Here are some family pictures that Berk took for us this weekend ...

My beautiful babies!

Silly picture!

"Back When I Was A Kid ...

2011-11-21T09:46:00.001-05:00

... we didn't have any fancy dishwashers like you whippersnappers have today!" Actually, they had been invented, we just never had one. And now that ours broke, we don't have one, either. When I was a kid, my big brother Stuart and I would take turns washing and rinsing. We hated the chore, but were determined to make the time pass more quickly by having fun at it. More often than not, one would read aloud while the other worked, trading off back and forth. Or we'd play word games, like the Alphabet Game. We'd pick a category like cars or animals and take turns, each naming items in alphabetical order. We also played a game called "Stadt, Land, Fluß" - where we'd have to name a city, country, and body of water that started with a particular letter. Another favorite was where we'd say a word and the other person had to come up with a song that contained that word. We'd also do a similar game with a phrase from a song, and the other one had to sing the song.

And now my children are beginning to know the joy of a life spent standing at the sink, elbow-deep in sudsy water.

Waiting for Joe to come rinse ...

Even Selah likes to get in on the action when we let her!

I just realized that these pictures make it seem like Kaity is always washing, but they do take turns!

The Three Amigos

2011-11-18T17:30:00.001-05:00

My three little lovelies certainly have their moments! Just the other day they were wrestling around on the couch being silly. I don't know where they get that!

Joe's pretending to be asleep, and Selah is pretending to bite Kaity.

They have so much fun together!

A Visit With Granny

2011-11-16T08:45:00.001-05:00

I have an incredible backlog of pictures to share! I really should post more often so this doesn't happen ... Anyway, today I'm sharing the pictures from our visit to Granny's a couple of weeks ago. I didn't get snapshots of everyone we saw, but we were blessed to be able to see a lot of our family on "the Hill", including Uncle Donnie, Aunt Cindy, Eric, Aunt Belinda, Uncle Linwood, Uncle Ray, Aunt Glenda ...

Selah with her cousin Jarrett, my cousin Jessica's son. (Jarrett is a few months older than Selah.) Despite being toddlers, they got along immediately! This picture was taken just moments after their meeting.

Joe got a haircut from Uncle Ray! He desperately needed it. Joe is also in that stage where he will not just act naturally for pictures. I plan to mark these for use in future blackmail.

Selah and Jarrett, again! They had been separated and were SO glad to see each other.

Jessica with her younger daughter, Abby.

Abby and Jarrett's big sister, Kiley Joe. (She a few months older than Joe.)

Granny and Selah!

Hugs with Granny and her namesake.

Kaity, Joe, Granny, and Ali-cat.

Daddy's Little Helper

2011-11-10T08:53:00.000-05:00

"Whatcha doooin'?"

"No, Daddy, you need the floozle to attach the whatsit to the thingamajigger."

"Here, I'll take 'er for a spin to test it out."

"Woo-hoo! I can't believe Daddy let me drive!"

"Um, Mommy, you're kind of in my way."

Three Cute Things - Selah Edition

2011-11-08T12:12:00.000-05:00

1. Selah has learned to roar. It's indescribably adorable. She leans over, squinches up her face and says, "Rawr!" with her mouth wide open. Then she giggles and shrieks because she amuses herself so much. You are required to roar back, which also makes her giggle.

2. Selah did Pilates with me today. SO. CUTE. The kids were squealing and admiring her, so she really hammed it up.

3. At lunch, I asked Kaity to ask the blessing. Just as we bowed our heads and got still and quiet, Selah hollered, "Cake-oo!" which is how she says, "Thank you!" We knew it was a coincidence, but it was precious nonetheless.

Mini Jeni

2011-10-17T09:11:00.000-04:00

It's no secret that Kaity is a lot like her Mama. I got a sweet and funny confirmation of that last week in the form of an e-mail from a friend:

"Last Sunday, we had to combine Sunday School classes b/c there were so few 6th grade girls. So the 6th graders joined our 7th and 8th graders and we started the lesson. This one young lady seemed very excited to be there, loved to read Scripture for the class and knew how the lesson ended right as we began reading it. Her manner seemed familiar but I couldn't quite place her. Finally it hit me-this HAS to be Jeni's daughter and it was! She is just like you!! Her face, her mannerisms was Jeni Pittard and it was remarkable to see that. Katie is such a sweet girl and I loved meeting her."

That's our girl!

Happy Birthday, Kaity!

2011-10-16T07:38:00.000-04:00

Today is Kaity's birthday! I know every parent always says it, but man, has time flown by! I can hardly believe our little Kaitlyn Grace is eleven. She and Joe stayed the night with Jeff's parents Friday night, and yesterday they came home to a birthday celebration. I lined the kitchen doorway with 11 balloons and pink crepe paper, with a birthday card from Mommy and Daddy and one from Joe hanging down. Each balloon was stuffed with a dollar bill! We gave Kaity our copy of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone and then drove her crazy all evening asking, "What part are you on now?" and then quoting parts of it to her. That gave her ample opportunity to think, while rolling her eyes and giggling, "My parents are such nerds!"

For dinner, I served one of Kaity's favorites, Chicken Tetrazzini. Then we played Clue while eating Pumpkin Monkey Bread (SO incredibly good!). I made Butterbeer, a drink from the Harry Potter series, that's a concoction of cream soda, butterscotch syrup and whipped cream. It was yummy!

Kaity is truly a joy in our lives. A baby who captivated us, a toddler who delighted us, a little girl who charmed us, and growing into a young lady of whom we can be proud! And who wouldn't be proud of a daughter who leaves messages like this on your fridge?

Toddler Tips

2011-10-14T14:06:00.002-04:00

I'm not one to give out parenting advice, for sure, but I do know after three kids what has worked for me. I'm not by nature a patient person by any means, and I think that's why I strongly dislike working with groups of children. There's always so much noise and confusion, and they, frankly, get on my nerves! God has done a great deal of work with me, though, and I've learned a fair amount over the years about how to handle little ones. You'll notice most of my solutions involve laughter or taking a break. It works for me!

Picky, Picky - A toddler who suddenly becomes picky may not be as picky as you think! Instead of immediately offering different foods until something strikes their fancy, leave them alone with it. Give them the proper utensil, the food, their cup, and walk away to the sink to wash dishes. Or wipe down the counters. Or clean out the fridge. My little ones have always responded to that. Sometimes they just want a little independence. As long as they're not throwing food, let them make a mess! It will clean up.

Cranky Pants? - You know how it is - one minute they're playing happily and the next second they're clinging to the moving target of your legs, whining and fussing, nothing makes them happy! You try reading a book only to have it tossed on the floor. You try to snuggle them only to have them fight their way back down. If they are well-fed and have already napped, then I have the never-fail solution! Lay down on the floor. Yes, you. There is not a baby/toddler/child alive who can resist a parent lying on the floor. Selah goes from snit to smiles in 0.2 seconds flat. She rushes over an climbs on my belly/back to bounce and hear Mommy grunt every time!

Hyperactive? - Sometimes toddlers just have to burn off some excess energy! If at all possible, let them go outside! (Supervised, of course.) Even if it's cold or the weather isn't perfect, it's nice to get out of the house to get some fresh air now and then. While you're out there, play chase, toss a ball back and forth! If you're inside, get down on all fours and chase them. For a bonus, capture all the shrieks and giggles with a recording device!

Flat getting on your nerves? - Walk away. It's better to take a time-out for yourself than to speak or act out of anger or frustration. If you have older children, maybe it's time they spent 30 minutes to an hour supervising the little one. Leave the little one in their crib with toys/books for a bit. Put a baby gate in their doorway and let them play safely in their room alone. Trust me, you'll be a better mom if you take the time to keep calm. While in "time-out", have a quick snack, pray for patience, call your husband or a friend and chat for a few minutes, put on praise music, read a psalm, text someone to pray for you, or go for a short, brisk walk outside around the house.

"This too, shall pass." - What you're dealing with is a stage. They will not be this way, act this way, forever. Consistently discipline, love, love, love, "fight the good fight, keep the faith", "do not grow weary in well-doing", persevere. 10 years, 5 years, 1 year, a month from now life will be different than it is now, with old struggles simply a memory ... and new challenges taking their place! It truly helps to keep things in perspective.

Sneak Preview

2011-10-13T12:45:00.000-04:00

Here's a first look at a project I'm hoping to complete at some point before the children leave home. Don't hold your breath.

I cut the squares out of an old pair of Joe's pants and T-shirts of mine and Kaity's.

I hope to keep y'all updated on how the project is going.

I Think I'll Keep Him

2011-10-12T14:56:00.000-04:00

I'm pretty sure that I love Jeff more than I love bacon. It's close, I'm not gonna lie, but bacon can't make such an amazing latte for me just because it loves me; my Handsome can. And that tips the scales decidedly in his favor.

German By Immersion

2011-10-11T09:24:00.002-04:00

The best way to learn a language is by using it. Jeff and the kids and I have learned phrases and words that we use in our everyday conversation which helps keep the language fresh in our minds. In addition to what we're learning through Rosetta Stone, we also labeled a bunch of stuff in the house with German tags.

Spiegel - mirror; Steppe - stair; Bild/Bilder - picture/pictures

Some things are labeled with their noun, some with their color. In this case, the fireplace itself is labeled as a Kamin, while the mantel ...

... is labeled as weiß (white).

All the doorways are labeled with the room name you are entering, in this case the Küche (kitchen).

As for Selah, she's still trying to master English, but we haven't let her off the (German) hook. Jeff translated one of her books into German. "Old Hat, New Hat" has become "Alten Hut, Neuen Hut"!

Home Improvement

2011-10-07T13:05:00.000-04:00

I have lots of projects I would love to do in the house. Some cost a little, some cost a LOT, and some are blessedly free. Depending on how much money I have available, I like to take out a project idea and bring it to life now and then. You've seen my nerd clock and my dry erase board just to name a couple. Well, another free project I completed recently is this:

I had this shelf put away for a long time, and ~~I finally hauled it~~ I finally had Jeff haul it out of storage. I cleaned it up, he hung it, and now it's the perfect spot for a few treasures. My copy of my cookbook, a Mason jar (not in the picture, but it holds all the dry erase markers for my board), a little (East) German teacup from my childhood, a recipe box I was given at my first wedding shower, and all my aprons! I love making little improvements in our home -- especially free ones!

Boys Are Different

2011-10-06T08:42:00.000-04:00

I don't know if you can quite see what's funny about this picture, but I'll tell you about it, anyway. The other day, Joe needed to read Ginger Pye for school. It was a beautiful day and he requested to be able to read outside. I readily agreed and sent him on his way. I looked out the window a few minutes later to see this:

He's standing on the swingset reading his book! By the time he'd finished the chapter, he'd also sat on top of the slide and in a swing. I've said it once, I'll say it again:

Boys are different.

My Permanent State of Dorkiness

2011-10-05T11:07:00.001-04:00

Okay. It's a known fact that I am a dork. As a teenager I did not spend countless hours learning how to apply makeup, fix my hair, how to pose for a camera ... I was too busy reading. And as a result of this deficiency, I am now incapable of being in a photograph that does not show my glaring dorkiness. Being photogenic is not a skill I've mastered. My head is always tilted to one side or the other. Or, though I'm not overweight, I somehow hold my head in such a way that I have a double-chin. Or I have buckteeth. Anyway, Jeff was poking fun at the pictures he was taking of me the other day, and I explained to him that there was no use in even taking pictures because I did not need photographic evidence of my permanent state of dorkiness! So he asked me to go through my rant again. While he filmed it. And I didn't know it.

Make a video - it's fun, easy and free!
www.onetruemedia.com

Two things:

1. I love how casual Kris is about the whole thing. "Oh, okay." It's perfectly reasonable to him that Jeff is filming me being a dork. Also, please note that Kris doesn't say, "You're not a dork!" or anything like that. Because he knows it's true. *sigh*

2. Jeff loves the ending where I say, "You can stop anytime now ... Heifer."

Circle Yer Wagens - Fall 2011

2011-10-04T12:04:00.000-04:00

Last Saturday, Jeff, our friend Kris, and I drove up to Sevierville, Tennessee to Circle Yer Wagens, a VW show/swap meet. We rode up in Kris's little diesel VW.

My handsome fella.

"Stop taking pictures of me, already. I know I'm a dork, I don't need photographic evidence!"

Hi, Kris!

On top of the mountain! A balmy 36° - those aren't smiles on our faces, we're grimacing!

Jeff and Kris talking with Gary and Gary, Jr. about all things V-Dub.

You'll see this again soon. I bought it for a craft project - for ONE dollar! Score.

On the way home we stopped on the side of the road with about 50 other people to watch 2 elks tussle with one another. Apparently it's the beginning of their rutting season.

Weekend Getaway

2011-10-03T10:05:00.000-04:00

This past weekend the kids were beside themselves with excitement to be able to go visit with Grammie and Bobba! We met in the middle at a Dairy Queen where the grandparents asked if the kids wanted ice cream and the kids cried, "Of course!"

The children and Grammie and Bobba thoroughly enjoyed their weekend together. They ate lots of fun food like Chick-Fil-A and Oreos, they played with Lois, they visited with Grandma Fran, they went to the pool, they watched movies, played on the Wii, and were generally silly.

Gramma's House

2011-10-02T18:53:00.000-04:00

Friday we had the privilege of visiting with my grandmother - my dad's mom. She lives about 2 hours away, and we still don't get down to see her as often as I'd like. The kids enjoyed their time with Gramma, and loved finding tadpoles in the rain barrels!

Start 'Em Early

2011-09-26T10:02:00.000-04:00

My kids love to read at the table. Kaity and Joe consider a book to be as essential to eating as something to drink! Well, it's already filtered down to Selah!

She's perusing one of Joe's history books, The Book of Knowledge.

Selah and Joe

2011-09-23T22:50:00.000-04:00

Selah loves her siblings. She brings books to them so they'll read to her, she follows them around, she hugs and kisses them spontaneously ... where they are, she wants to be! The other day, she was sticking to Joe like glue:

Selah loves the little swing set we have! She loves to swing with the kids and to slide.

Joe eventually just tried hiding from Selah to make her stop loving on him!

A Wicked Saturday

2011-09-22T09:26:00.000-04:00

Last Saturday, I went to Atlanta to see my sweet friend Alicyn. She made a delicious lunch of grilled bacon-wrapped pork tenderloin, baked potatoes with broccoli and all the fixings, and fruit salad. After lunch, we drove to the Fox to see the Broadway musical Wicked. Though I love the theatre and musicals, this was my first experience actually attending one. I loved it! The cast, the lighting, the sets, the music ... plus, the Fox is an absolutely stunning building! All in all, a wonderful day spent with a lovely friend.

Nerd Clock

2011-09-16T08:00:00.000-04:00

I really have been feeling crafty lately! In a good way, not the sneaky way ... Inspired by one I saw on-line, I refashioned our livingroom clock into what I call our "nerd clock". I tried at first to use paper so that the clock could be returned to its former state, but that didn't work out so well. Plan B worked much better!

I painted the face black, then drew the numbers on with chalk.

Though the clock can't be returned to its former state, I can change the numbers simply by wiping away the chalk, and it can always be repainted/refashioned when the novelty wears off!

Just Like Her Mama

2011-09-15T08:29:00.002-04:00

Trade the sippy cup of milk for a cup of coffee, and the resemblance is uncanny!

"More, please!"

Intrepid Explorers

2011-09-13T10:20:00.000-04:00

One of the many joys of homeschooling is that when the weather is gorgeous and the kids really want to go outside to enjoy it ... I can let them! The other day they decided to be explorers out in the woods. They packed lunches for themselves, along with all the other supplies they might need for an "all day" trip away from home. As they traveled, Kaity drew a map of where they had been, naming all the new landmarks they encountered.

Dry Erase Board

2011-09-10T14:33:00.002-04:00

My new dry erase board is finally finished, at a total out-of-pocket expense of ... $0.86! Jeff hung it on the wall for me this afternoon, and I've already written my first message: the menu for tomorrow night's dinner.

Tonight's Menu: Potato Soup & Veggie Soup, Yeast Rolls, Autumn Cupcakes

The "window" is hanging in our kitchen in a spot where we've always wanted a window ... now we have one! Sort of.

The only thing left is that I'd like to get some nice dry erase markers to use on the board, but my old one will do for now! Yay for fun projects!

Getting Crafty

2011-09-09T21:39:00.000-04:00

I'm a creative person in general. I like to do crafts, and at various times in my life have tried crocheting, decoupage, sewing, scrapbooking, photography, embroidery, cross-stitch, painting, etc. Some have stuck and some haven't. But I don't typically get to do all I'd like to do because so many things have to align to make it possible. Off the top of my head, before I start a craft project the following things need to happen: I have to be in a crafty mood, we have to be able to afford it, I have to have everything I need to DO the project, life has to be somewhat calm, and ideally the baby should be asleep. So you can see why I don't do as many projects as I'd like! That said, I've been working on a few little things lately.

One is a duel project. Similar in nature, but with different purposes.

The jar on the left is the "Uh-oh!" jar. When the children are misbehaving, being unkind to one another, etc. they'll be directed to get a slip of paper from the that jar. They have to do whatever the slip says, like, "Sweep the kitchen floor", "Clean the high chair", "Hand wash 2 dishes", and so on.

The other jar is for when the kids come to me with "I'm Bored!" Those slips have fun ideas on them, like playing with sidewalk chalk, writing a letter to grandparents, or playing a game on the Wii. The kids can pick out two slips this time, and choose one of the two to do.

The next couple of projects are also somewhat related:

I found a "recipe" for ModPodge, a crafter's best friend, and mixed it up. One part water, one part glue. Easy-peasy.

So I could make this montage of Where The Wild Things Are ...

... so I could turn this old window into a dry erase board!

I got the window a few years ago from my friend Lisa and have just now decided what to do with it. The top will house the WTWTA collage, and the bottom will either be left blank, or backed with a plain/simple paper to be used as a dry erase board. Markers will fit nicely on the bottom of the window sill! I'll show a finished product picture soon - we still need to get hardware with which to hang it.

I also have a few more ideas floating around in my noggin, thanks in large part to my new obsession with Pinterest!

Four Eyes? Make That Eight!

2011-09-07T21:25:00.000-04:00

Kaity has worn glasses for several years, (see "Katie in Disguise") and last week Joe got the boom lowered: he'd have to start wearing them, too! It was inevitable, given our family history, that our children would have poor eyesight. Thankfully, our insurance covers all costs involved, and that's a huge blessing! Here are my little four-eyed babies:

Kids Say the Darndest Things

2011-09-07T08:57:00.002-04:00

I have two funny stories for you, both of which happened this morning.

1) I made pancakes for breakfast this morning, and in place of syrup, I served them with Honey-Cinnamon Butter. I served the kids their pancakes already slathered with the stuff, though the cakes were so hot it soaked in quickly. Kaity asked for more and I hesitated, saying, "Well, they're already pretty ..." Mind blank, I paused, giving Kaity the opportunity to pipe up with, "... heavily laden?"

2) I sent Joe upstairs with several packages of diapers to put under Selah's crib. Joking, I piled his arms too full while he laughed and groaned under the weight, "Ugh ... Mommy!" I took some down and he headed off to put them away. Turning back toward the living room, I saw that Selah had taken five diapers from her basket and was clutching them to her chest with both hands and groaning just like Joe had! When she saw me watching she really started hamming it up!

These pictures are totally unrelated, but they're a sweet (literal) snapshot of ideal sibling interaction. I tend not to have the camera handy when they're arguing!

Joe's reading Green Eggs and Ham to her.

Sorry about the quality of this picture - Blogger is apparently having issues.

Tennessee Trip

2011-09-05T21:56:00.000-04:00

On Saturday, we spent the day in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Jeff had requested the trip for his birthday this year, so we've been waiting for the perfect opportunity to go. It was a busy, full, fabulous day! We visited Rock City in the morning and then went to Ruby Falls that afternoon. Both were beautiful! Here's a photo montage so you can share in the experience:

Make a video - it's fun, easy and free!
www.onetruemedia.com

Our Littlest Jedi

2011-09-01T09:49:00.000-04:00

Some of you may remember the epic battle between Selah and Darth Vader. I'm proud to say that Vader was overcome by Selah's proficient skill in the Force (drool, in her case). Well, our young padawan has entered the next stage in her training ...

... the lightsaber.

She picked it up at Joe's birthday party and immediately began terrorizing the boys.

And then she pulled an Obi-Wan Kenobi on Darth Maul (Kaity).

The best part was that the whole time she wielded her 'saber, she was making "whoom ... whoom" sounds. Such a sweet sound to our nerdy ears.

Homeschooling with a Toddler

2011-08-31T11:17:00.000-04:00

Many homeschooling moms throughout the ages have dealt with the same conundrum: It's not easy to keep a toddler busy while schooling your older children. Considering toddlers have the attention span of a gnat and older children aren't much better, it's no surprise there's an ongoing battle! One way I've handled it is to come to terms with letting Selah make a mess in a somewhat controlled environment if it buys me some time to focus on her siblings.

One day, I set her up in the kitchen with dry Kix cereal and various cooking utensils and just let her go at it!

She spent over half an hour pouring the cereal from one container to the other, dropping them in the funnel to see them fall from the other end, scooping them up with spoons ...

... and every good cook knows that you taste along the way!

Joe's Birthday Party

2011-08-27T21:01:00.002-04:00

For Joe's birthday this year, his gift from us (along with a Star Wars Legos Wii game) was a birthday party. I chose a Mad Scientist theme because Joe loves Dr. Doofenshmirtz from Phineas and Ferb. When his guests arrived, I gave them each a bag of party favors which included a lab coat, vinyl gloves, a pocket protector, glasses, a notebook, a magnifying glass, Nerds, Smarties, and other stuff. The boys dressed up in their scientist gear, and then had a blast! The video below is a montage of pictures from the party.

Beautiful Gift Idea

2011-08-26T15:02:00.000-04:00

I have a baby shower to attend on Sunday and I've been pondering what I could get this sweet couple and their new little girl. I finally found the perfect idea on-line the other day. I took the shower invitation and cut it into thin strips. Alternating the strips with pretty pink ribbon, I stuffed a clear glass Christmas ornament full. To finish it off, I replaced the top and tied it with more of the ribbon. It was a simple project that turned out beautifully! This would be perfect for a wedding invitation, a milestone birthday, anniversary party, anything special!

A Poverty Of Chocolate

2011-08-25T10:31:00.000-04:00

It's the fourth day of school, and I already have funny/sweet stories to share! Homeschooling is definitely never boring!

Day 2 - Joe sighs and says, "I miss summer vacation."

Kaity was reading Dr. Seuss to Selah and without breaking rhythm she handed the book back to the baby and said, "I am bored with reading now, you can do it - you know how!"

And now, a cool story about capturing teachable moments:

One day, the kids were hard at work at their individual tasks. They'd been diligent and quiet for several minutes (surely a record!) so I went to the kitchen and grabbed two peanut M&Ms for each child. I gave Kaity's to her, complimenting her on her hard work and focus. When I turned to Joe, he was lying on the floor pretending to sleep. I got his attention and showed him the M&Ms. His face lit up, then fell because he knew he'd been caught. I told him I would give him ONE because he had been working so quietly and well earlier, but that I would get to eat the other one.

Later in the day, we were going over some scripture to establish some principles of our home school. We discussed topics like being teachable, obedience, and love, with accompanying verses from Proverbs, 1 Corinthians, and Ephesians, among others. When we got to hard work and integrity, one of the passages we read was Proverbs 6:6-11 (go read it if you're not familiar, I'll wait.) I pointed out to Joe how perfectly that matched what had happened to him earlier: "A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you ..." I asked him what he had lost out on because of his "slumber" instead of working. Kaity giggled and piped up, "You had a poverty of chocolate!"

Self-Portraits

2011-08-23T15:10:00.001-04:00

So, yesterday was the first day of school! I like to get the kids to draw self-portraits at the beginning of the year, just to see what they come up with.

"I like to read and play video games. I also like playing on the computer, sewing, singing and drawing and writing."

I had them draw themselves and two things they like/enjoy doing. The sun, soccer, and dogs are on Joe's list, along with his friend Eli who played soccer with him last year.

Selah got in on the action, too!

In fact, Selah is so talented she used different media to express herself, including her potbelly.

I plan on submitting these along with their transcripts to the college of their choice.

Consignment!

2011-08-22T10:08:00.000-04:00

Recently, our littlest princess gained 4 pounds in 3 months. Though thrilled with her progress, I was less-than-thrilled with the fact that she outgrew all of her 18-month clothes in one fell swoop! I made a trip to the consignment store in our downtown to see what I could find. All of the summer clothes were on sale either half-price or for one dollar. I bought three outfits for $8.50! And best of all, I had a credit in the store for $9 from clothes I had consigned.

Church dress, leaving-the-house/play dress, play outfit

I love the detailed embroidery on this dress, and the swooshy fabric is so fun! Selah wore this to church and she loved swishing the skirt.

In other news, we started school today! It's already been a long day at 10:00 a.m.! I'll update with pictures and more details tomorrow.

Yogurt is Delicious!

2011-08-18T11:49:00.000-04:00

I know, you just had a "Selah Post", but there's no such thing as too much adorableness.

Our little toddler has become increasingly independent - a necessary evil. It's wonderful, because it gives me more freedom, plus it means she's growing and learning ... but it's awfully messy.

Especially at mealtimes:

She insisted on finishing off her Greek yogurt BY HERSELF.

I promise she actually had a spoon in the beginning.

Look! There it is! (And please take note of the fact that she is wearing sandals and no pants. Thank you.)

Selah in Pigtails

2011-08-17T10:58:00.000-04:00

Prepare yourself for extreme cuteness ...

Selah's little pigtails don't last long, but while they do, they are just too much!

New Jewelry

2011-08-16T10:25:00.000-04:00

There comes a time in every woman's life when the young man she loves gives her a very special gift. A gift she'll cherish, because every time she looks at it, she's reminded of how much he loves her. I received just such a gift on Sunday, a beautiful, unique piece of jewelry that features my favorite color ...

My sweet little Joe made a bracelet for me! **

I love that he chose to put "Jeni" on there instead of "Mommy".

** (And just so you know, my hand is resting on the arm of the recliner: that is NOT my leg!)

Joe's Birthday!

2011-08-15T09:07:00.000-04:00

I know, I know, it's been forever since I posted regularly! But I've had a crazy, busy week. I left the house every day last week! EVERY DAY. It was awful.

Anyway, our favorite little blonde boy turned 7 yesterday! Grammie and Bobba had given us a gift to give to him on the big day, and Jeff and I had plans for him, too.

Joe's big haul from Grammie and Bobba was Star Wars Legos and clothes, including new church shoes, which he's been asking for forever!

One gift we gave him was an invitation to his birthday party! He had no idea we were planning one for him, and since it's not for another couple of weeks, we gave him the invitation to surprise him.

The party will have a mad scientist theme, so I used an "invisible ink" trick to fill in the information on when and where. Here, Joe is revealing the answers.

What will it say??

Here's Joe realizing what the invitation means! An actual party, with actual friends!

Now he's opening our present to him - the Stars Wars Legos video game for the Wii.

He loves it!

I planned his cake for when the college people were over on Sunday night. Chocolate with chocolate buttercream icing.

Everyone singing to Joe!

As if it weren't a big enough day already, Joe also lost a tooth on his birthday and got a visit from the tooth fairy last night!

Hospitality

2011-08-11T08:04:00.000-04:00

A few years ago, when Jeff and I began to be involved in the college ministry at our church, I wrote a blog post about hospitality. Today it's being featured on a site called Mentoring Moments for Christian Women. The post is called "Gourmet Meals or Ready Hearts?". Enjoy!

Little Chef

2011-08-05T09:27:00.000-04:00

It's so hard to believe that Selah is already 18 months old! She's every inch the toddler, though, so it's not so hard to believe after all. She gets in to everything, exploring fearlessly, and screaming when she doesn't get her way. Yesterday, I let her "help" me in the kitchen and she had a blast!

"Would you like an espresso, Mother?"

New Shoes!

2011-08-04T08:03:00.000-04:00

Little Selah-Bella has been in desperate need of shoes. She's been getting by on one pair that used to be Kaity's, that I had already glued back together once, and though still cute, baby needed a new pair of shoes! And for a little one who LOVES her some shoes, I felt kind of bad for depriving her of the joy of a new pair. Anyway, she got 'em!

Ack! Aren't they the sweetest things?

I wish you could hear her saying, "Shoes?", entreating me to put them on her adorable little feet.

She wants to wear them all the time. ALL THE TIME. But my favorite time is when she's wearing only a diaper ... and her shoes. It's so ... toddler!

Water Park!

2011-08-03T09:56:00.001-04:00

Last week, Grammie and Bobba surprised us with an invitation to meet them at a water park in Greenville, SC. We were thrilled to join them!

Joe's turn on the waterslide!

Now it's Kaity's turn!

And of course, Bobba had his turn!

Selah loved the water! Kicking and splashing really tuckers a girl out, though!

My sweet baby.

Taking a break from playing to fuel up on sugar!

My silly kids. Bobba is wearing Selah's bloomers on his head!

It was a wonderfully fun trip to the water park, and a nice finale to summer! I don't have a definitive date set yet on when to start back to school, but I think we're all ready to get back to the comfort of our routine.

Drama Camp 2011

2011-07-26T21:54:00.002-04:00

Last week, Kaity participated in a Drama Camp sponsored by our local theatre group, The Cold Sassy Players.

Side Note: The group takes its name from a novel called Cold Sassy Tree by Olive Ann Burns, who based her novel on "Harmony Grove" - our town's name before it was changed to Commerce. Burns was born not far from Commerce, and moved there as a child.

Kaity was a part of the camp last year, and loved it so much she wanted to do it again this year. She invited her friend Katie to come along, and both girls had a ball! The play this year was set in a nursing home. The storyline revolved around an elderly man and those who interacted with him.

Kaity the saleswoman, visiting "Joe".

"Used car?"

"Hm, what else do I have for sale here ..."

The leopard who narrated the tale.

Kaity's friend, Katie, the "money-grubbing sister".

"Here, just sign this piece of paper signing all your money over to me."

Taking a bow!

Half the cast.

Receiving her CD of pictures and a certificate.

We brought her flowers.

Practicing her "Julia" smile.

Thing 1 and Thing 2

2011-07-21T08:37:00.000-04:00

A couple of weeks ago, we changed gears a little bit from VW Beetles to VW Kubelwagens/Safaris ... otherwise known as Things. There was a Thing show up in Hiawassee and we thought we'd check it out. The little ones enjoyed some time with Nannie and Papa while our friends Kris and Jacob went along with us for the ride.

Well, to be honest, Jeff and Kris went and let Jacob and me tag along.

This one was my favorite.

This car had a Thing 1 and Thing 2 theme from Cat in the Hat.

Kris, inspecting on of the Things.

One of these Things is not like the other ...

Selah Loves Daisy!

2011-07-20T11:35:00.000-04:00

Obviously, Daisy loves her, too! Just look how much she's enjoying herself!

Going in for the hug ...

Coloring with Kaity

2011-07-19T07:51:00.000-04:00

One day last week, Kaity sat down with paper and crayons and let Selah color with her.

"Look, Mommy, I'm coloring!"

Goin' to Jackson

2011-07-18T09:31:00.000-04:00

Our sister-in-law Jennifer is visiting for a couple of weeks from Colorado and we had the chance to see her and Jackson a few days ago.

I think Jackson looks like his Daddy in this picture!

Selah constantly wanted to give him kisses. He was not so much a fan.

Nannie with the two babies!

Tickling the Ivories

2011-07-14T09:18:00.000-04:00

If there's a piano in a house, Jeff will find it! At the same house where we celebrated the Fourth, they had a piano that quickly drew Jeff in. Selah loved it, too!

Fun on the Fourth

2011-07-13T10:13:00.000-04:00

On Independence Day this year, we got together with several other families at a friend's house to have a traditional cookout. The kids' favorite part was the huge slip 'n' slide set up in the front yard.

Kaity and Selah took a turn together.

Selah loved playing in the bubbles at the end of the slide!

Watching the kids, and waiting for me to bust my tail while standing on the slide!

Kaity and her friend Katie.

They slid down together several times.

Joe, zooming along.

A perspective shot, so you can see how far they were going!

My three babies!

Waiting for the fireworks.

This is with the flash: Selah played in the pine needles quite a bit.

Sparklers!

Punch Bug!

2011-07-12T09:24:00.000-04:00

Jeff's new toy is a 1966 VW Beetle. He's wanted one for quite some time, and when he found this one, he sold his '69 Bus to get it. He had a '66 Beetle when we first started dating, and it was while we were driving down the road in it one night when he proposed to me.

I thought I'd have some fun with this picture that Jeff took.

Just like the picture from another post with the Bus, I did the 60's treatment on this shot:

80's inspired:

This was Jeff's favorite:

Mommy's Apron

2011-07-11T00:22:00.000-04:00

Apparently I left my apron where our little toddler could reach it ...

She tried so hard to get it on correctly!

Future Chefs

2011-07-08T16:43:00.000-04:00

I made the brave (crazy?) decision last week to allow the two oldest kids to each choose a menu that they would help prepare this week. The experiment actually turned out really well! Joe is the one who chose our pizza menu for Sunday night, and Kaity combined two of our family's favorite foods and decided on Pizza Burgers. As a side, she wanted to make Creamy Parmesan Pasta. The burgers were a definite hit, and though we decided the pasta could have used more sauce, we really liked it, too. You can check out the recipe for the burgers over on Barefoot in the Kitchen, and I'll have the pasta recipe on there soon, too.

A Quiet Afternoon

2011-07-07T10:47:00.000-04:00

Kaity paused in her reading of the Mandie series to read Mr. Brown to Selah.

Joe was quietly playing Solitaire on our bedroom floor.

Eh, Whatever It's Called ...

2011-07-06T05:21:00.000-04:00

Can you spot the mistake?

At first, I thought "receptibles" wasn't even a word, but I did find that Dictionary.com lists "receptible" as "adapted to or suitable for reception".

But I'm guessing they meant a "receptacle" - "a container, device, etc., that receives or holds something: a receptacle for trash".

Sigh.

Lego Creations

2011-07-05T06:36:00.000-04:00

Kaity and Joe recently spent a blessed couple of hours quietly playing with the Legos in Joe's room, building these spaceships.

Why, yes, our boy IS wearing a StarWars Lego T-shirt. Thank you for noticing.

Uncle Joe

2011-07-04T09:34:00.000-04:00

December 2010

March 2011

May 2011

We love you, Joe!

Hurry home.

Joe-Schmo and Selah-Rae

2011-07-01T08:08:00.000-04:00

She found his belly button!


"You're so tense! How's that? Is that the spot? You've got quite a knot there."

City Lights Festival

2011-06-30T07:36:00.000-04:00

After leaving Lake Murray last weekend, we came straight home and went to the City Lights Festival downtown. Our friend Eli, who heads up The Eli Carlan Band, was playing and we wanted to be there for the concert and the fireworks afterward. We met up with some friends there, and had a great time!

Miss Amy sneaking Selah a bite of funnel cake.

Joe climbing on Mr. James; Jacob and Jeff.

Miriam, Selah, Noah, Amy and Jadelyn.

Miss Kim

Jacob, Jeff, and Kaity

The infamous Eli Carlan ... and Joe saying, "Why, no, Mommy, I wasn't trying to get on the stage ..."

These two boys rocked out on their balloon-guitars and Steve Murray pulled them up on stage!

This particular boy (in blue) copied Eli's every move! He totally reminded me of Juke Box Hero.

Oh, Happy Day

2011-06-29T12:12:00.000-04:00

My cookbooks have arrived! Be sure to head on over to Barefoot in the Kitchen to check it out.

Die Kinder Schwimmen

2011-06-29T10:21:00.000-04:00

Last Friday night, we drove up to meet my parents at Lake Murray. Though the kids and I have been there several times, it was the first Jeff had gone with us. I'll just let you enjoy the experience in pictures.

This was taken just moments after Joe declared he was not tired AT ALL and couldn't sleep.

Of course Kaity found a lizard ...

Our Little Seamstress!

2011-06-28T10:45:00.000-04:00

Last week, Kaity participated in a sewing workshop for two days. She's loved sewing for quite some time, and I try to make sure she has lots of opportunities to practice. This workshop focused on making a necklace, headband and skirt. Here's my little seamstress in her new creations:

The headband is reversible!

Playing Outside

2011-06-27T09:08:00.000-04:00

My children alternate between "There's nothing to DO outside!" to staying out for hours at a time. I haven't quite figured out why sometimes it's boring and sometimes fascinating, but until then I'll just continue my regular program of kicking them out when they get on my nerves. One day last week, we all just went out and enjoyed the mild Georgia summer weather - it was only 90 degrees!

Joe, showing off his shake popsicle.

Joe, playing with a daisy and our neighbor's kitten, Dash. Note his resourceful use of his toes as a popsicle holder.

Selah playing with the daisy and her baby, Hopie.

Kaity showing her Just Like Me doll, Ally Kate.

Kaity hand-sewed the outfit Ally Kate is modeling.

Our sweet girl.

And now, the man who made all of this possible ...

My Handsome, in a VW shirt, naturally.

Barefoot Giveaway!

2011-06-25T09:25:00.000-04:00

Now that my cookbooks have shipped and are on their way to me, I'm excited to announce a giveaway over on Barefoot In The Kitchen! It ends Tuesday, so check it out soon for your chance to win a custom, handmade apron or a free copy of my cookbook!

She's A Little Corny

2011-06-24T14:43:00.000-04:00

Selah had her first experience with corn on the cob the other day. Like her siblings before her, she loved it!

Um, that's not quite ... oh, well.

Our Little Ham

2011-06-23T16:07:00.000-04:00

Selah is learning already how to work a room. A couple of weeks ago when we had college people over, she spent quite a bit of time dancing and falling down while the crowd cheered. She wallowed on the floor, rolling and laughing, always keeping an eye out to make sure she was still capturing the attention of her audience. She was never disappointed!

Here are a couple of pictures of her with adoring fans - and as soon as she develops fine motor skills she'll be happy to provide autographs. For a small fee, of course.

With Miss Kim reading Old Hat, New Hat.

With Mr. Eli, trying to get Mommy's coffee.

These are some older pictures (February 2011) that I never did get posted on the blog:

Trying to capture Miss Hope's tongue.

Snuggling Mr. Jacob.

Playing with Mr. Alan

Sprechen Sie Deutsch?

2011-06-22T08:14:00.000-04:00

I've wanted to add a foreign language into my kids' school experience since Kaity was in Kindergarten! Well, this year, what with our extra little tax deduction, we finally had enough in our school budget to add it in. Our curriculum provider, Sonlight, offers Rosetta Stone for foreign language learning and it was on sale this spring. I had always said that I would start the kids off with Spanish, then move on to another language if they chose, but for some reason we all latched on to the idea of German. Since I was born there and lived there for 5 years of my life as a kid, I grew up using basic German around the house. (I'm telling myself it's that and has nothing to do with Dr. Doofenshmirtz.) Anyway, German is what we chose and I love that with Rosetta Stone we can all learn at our own pace. It's become something of a summer project for me, Jeff, and the big kids.

The program is on the computer, using total immersion.You read, speak, write and "click" completely in German. It's actually very similar to how babies/toddlers begin to learn language - not every word is defined, but they learn what things mean by context and inference.

Makes A Mama Happy

2011-06-21T08:40:00.000-04:00

After our Sunday lunch and Sunday naps, our other Sunday tradition is polishing up the house before the college people come. Our house is far from perfect, but we like to make sure the floor is vacuumed so when they spill Dr. Pepper on the carpet it soaks in easily.

This week when Jeff was vacuuming, Selah dug out her lawnmower and started copying him! It was absolutely the most adorable thing. She would push it around just like daddy then look up at us and give us a big cheesy grin, complete with nose-wrinkling.

Yes, that's "Andy" playing on the TV. I think Barney has just locked himself in the jail cell.

Whole Latte Love

2011-06-20T10:29:00.000-04:00

Some time ago, a friend of ours gave us an espresso machine that they weren't using. Jeff has become and expert at coaxing scrumptious lattes out of it, even though he didn't have an instruction book and the machine is missing pieces! They're better than Starbucks' drinks by a long shot!

For Christmas, I bought Jeff a simple black apron and had his name embroidered on it. He wears it every time he whips up lattes for us.

Stormy Weather

2011-06-18T19:44:00.001-04:00

We had a really rough storm blow through here a bit ago, and though the power flickered we managed to keep it. Kaity, Selah and I were home alone and Kaity was pretty worried! She wanted to pray right then and there, so we did. The storm didn't last long, but it did manage to do a bit of (easily repaired) damage.

This stuff used to be under our little metal shed. Now where ...

Hm, I think I may have found something ...

Yep, there she is! Our shed made a break for it!

Those are the doors there on the inside of the shed.

Shake Popsicles

2011-06-18T10:28:00.000-04:00

My kids' favorite summer treats are Shake Popsicles. Kaity and Joe have loved them for years, but Selah had her first experience just the other day.

I love the little tooth marks!

These popsicles were made with peach yogurt, peaches, strawberries, banana, and a splash of milk.

First bite!

She got the hang of it pretty quickly!

My Girls

2011-06-16T09:25:00.000-04:00

I shared with y'all the other day pictures of Selah's latest obsession - mothering! Well, I went back to Kaity's scrapbook and found the pictures of Kaity's turn for that stage.

Selah, at 16 months.

Selah

Kaity, at 18 months - note the same nightgown Selah has on in her pictures!

Kaity, 15 months, diapering all her babies.

Another Reader ...

2011-06-15T09:48:00.000-04:00

We've been blessed in our family to have children who love books. Selah's obsession has kicked into high gear with Dr. Seuss. She brings us books constantly! I like best the ones I already have memorized because then I can "read" and pay attention to other things at the same time.

Reading the ABC book, and coincidentally wearing my "One Fish, Two Fish" T-shirt.

Look at that gut! (On Selah, not me!)

I love reading to my babies, but it is exhausting reading the same book five times in a row! Maybe that's why Kaity was reading at 4 - she had to in order to devour books faster than Mommy would read them aloud. Right now, I'm having a hard time finishing this post because Selah keeps bringing me "One Fish, Two Fish"! OK, I give up - more pictures and rambling later!

Mother of the Year

2011-06-10T09:22:00.000-04:00

Today I looked up to find Selah sitting in the bay window with a small screwdriver in one hand and a box of matches in the other.

And the Mother of the Year Award goes to ...

Not me.

Little Mama

2011-06-09T09:50:00.000-04:00

Selah has begun the "mothering" stage of toddlerhood. She wraps her babies in blankets and carries them around the living room. When Kaity went through this stage, she would do the same thing, plus she would diaper them - even the ones who were smaller than the diapers!

Middle Child Syndrome

2011-06-08T08:41:00.001-04:00

Last week, Kaity went to stay with my parents for about a week, making Joe the big kid in the house. Not a day went by that I wasn't informed that he missed Kaity, and that life was boring without her. We got her back on Sunday afternoon, and this is what Joe drew during church Sunday evening:

Despite the loneliness, Joe did enjoy being the big brother a little more than he gets to experience when General Kaity is around. At one point, though, we were sitting at the dinner table when Selah stood in her highchair. Jeff firmly told her to sit down, and praised her when she did. Joe remarked, "How come you're so easy with Selah?"
Jeff replied, "Because she's a year old."
Joe: "Maybe you could treat her worse so I won't be jealous."

It's tough being the middle child.

Saturday Night Fever

2011-06-07T12:10:00.000-04:00

Saturday night, I went to visit with my friend Alicyn who lives right outside Atlanta. She and I have known each other since middle school and we try to keep in touch with visits a couple of times a year. This particular visit involved a driving tour of Atlanta, coke floats, fish and chips, and a cemetery.

Alicyn Wonderland, Al, Ali-cat, etc.

During our tour, we stopped at OK Cafe for coke floats ... cherry coke floats. They were scrumptious! I'd love to go back sometime for dinner. The restaurant has great atmosphere, super-friendly staff, and a mouth-watering menu!

For dinner (yes, AFTER dessert) we went to a restaurant called Six Feet Under ... so-called because it's across the street from a graveyard! We ate on the rooftop, which had a fabulous view of Oakland Cemetery.

We headed over to take the twilight tour of the graveyard after dinner. Naturally, we signed the guestbook for posterity.

Some of the grave markers are quite elaborate, and mostly Victorian in nature.

This is the grave of Margaret Mitchell, who wrote "Gone With the Wind". I've never read it, but apparently it's quite popular.

Bobby Jones' grave - an ode to our Augusta heritage.

Brown Thumb

2011-06-06T09:17:00.000-04:00

I have a brown thumb. There's really no getting around that, but in spite of it, my shasta daisies are blooming! Jeff gave them to me a few years ago for Mother's Day.

"Don't you think daisies are the friendliest flower?" -- Name that movie!