Mommy Talk and More

I'm Back...With News!

2008-11-05T22:18:00.005-06:00

Well...I vanished. I'm sure any reader I ever had has long since forgotten about my blog, but I thought I needed to explain myself. About eight weeks ago, to our GREAT surprise and utter delight, we found out we were expecting another baby! I've never really told about our history in this area, but let me give you a quick rundown. We had trouble getting pregnant w/ our first baby and one month before we were to begin in-vitro, we found out we were pregnant. Then, after we greeted B into the world, we had three miscarriages. A wonderful specialist finally figured out that my body thought it was immune to a baby. So, to be able to maintain a pregnancy, I would have to have gamma globulin infusions that basically would calm my immune system down so that I could keep the baby. The day I found out I was pregnant w/ J, I started my infusions--once a month for 5 months--and we welcomed J into the world nine months later. As you can probably imagine, this process was a financial commitment-although worth every penny. We had not come to the point of deciding if we would have another. It just wasn't an issue that was even on the table at that point. However, I had prayed since we had J, that if it was the Lord's will, He would give us another baby. The Lord had made me perfectly content with two, though, and I felt fine if His answer to that was a "no". I knew that if He wanted us to have another, that somehow, that would work out in good time; He had given me that peace. So, finding out we were pregnant, really was the very best surprise I've ever had. God is good--I love how he never ceases to surprise us. Anyway, I started my infusions the next day, and so far, everything is going very well. I'm 12 weeks pregnant, and am being transferred from our specialist back to my regular ob-gyn this week. So, I hope that explains my where-abouts--I've actually been laying on the couch a lot! I'm feeling much better now, thankfully! So, hi again, to any friends that might actually check this!!

Birthday Banners

2008-09-25T15:39:00.005-05:00

I love to have a special breakfast and decorate the kitchen for holidays and my boys' (including my husband's) birthdays. I have this old paper "Happy Birthday" sign that has seen better days. Today, I was in Paper Affair and saw the cutest birthday banners. I came home and looked online for them. I found them at Hullabaloo Gifts. They're made by "Groovy Holidays". They have ones for girls and boys.

Definitely a Christmas Wish List qualifier!

Weigh In On PBS.org

2008-09-18T20:48:00.001-05:00

This takes about 10 seconds:

PBS has a short video on Sarah Palin on their website. Also included is a poll that asks: "Is Sarah Palin qualified to be VP?"

I logged on a few minutes ago and 39% percent had voted YES, 60% NO.

Let's turn this around! You don't have to give your name or email address in order to vote. It's very simple.

Here's the link:

http://www.pbs.org/now/polls/poll-435.html

My Sister-In-Law's Birthday

2008-09-17T16:08:00.005-05:00

I have two adorable sister-in-laws. Both of them are the sweetest, cutest girls and so wonderful for my brothers. One of them had her 50th birthday last week. She also happens to lead my Creative Homemakers group. Last week we had so much fun celebrating her birthday.

We all wore blonde wigs, aprons, and pearls and marched up to her door for our meeting with pink and green balloons, pink gerber daisies, and a pink and green birthday cake. We surprised her and she loved it. For her gift we compiled a list of fifty things we love about her and framed it. It was such a fun night!!

We bought this cake at Society Bakery. If you live in Dallas you have to go check it out; it's at Greenville and McCommas. Their cupcakes are the best and less expensive that Sprinkles!!!

B's First Day of Kindergarten

2008-09-14T20:00:00.005-05:00

Here is what the B's teacher's arrangement came out like...My friend S gave me the idea of the apples. She did green apples w/ pink gerber daisies--how cute is that!! I ended up going the red and yellow route. Here is a so-so picture of it.

Here is a picture of B on his first day of kindergarten....

I actually didn't cry at all that day. I think the all of the rah-rah excitement overshadowed any sadness. However, when I dropped him off on Thursday, I boo-hooed. We miss him when he is at school!

Cupcake Carrier Crush

2008-09-14T19:46:00.004-05:00

A friend of mine had one of these the other day and I instantly thought--Must--Have--One. She bought hers at Swoozies, and she said they even come in pink! If I was the mother of any girls, I would go in that direction. But, instead I think I'll pick yellow. Here's one I found at Cooking.com. It will definitely go on my Christmas Wish List.

More of the Same

2008-08-27T23:46:00.011-05:00

I'm still on the same topic as yesterday. Sorry! So, I need to think of some more ideas for encouraging B's teacher in September. Can you tell this is my first child? Am I way too into this? I keep thinking that it would be fun for her to have something seasonal on her desk. Maybe I could even take it up there the day before school starts. When I was a teacher, I used to love it when some sweet second grader would bring me a little vase of fresh flowers or a little pumpkin in October.

Apples come to my mind for September, but that won't last like a pumpkin does. I went to the Martha Stewart site for some ideas, but I came back empty-handed. I guess I could make some kind of very small flower arrangement and then hollow an apple and stick it down in there...again, that won't last very long. How long will fresh apples last non-refrigerated? A week? Or less? Here are some pictures I found that could be a guide for me. But, I love ribbon...would ribbon kill the simpicity of it? Any input here is welcome.

Cuties...

2008-08-26T15:25:00.013-05:00

I'm so excited about my little teacher gift I just purchased! We sign up to be in charge of encouraging our teacher one month out of the year by sending them a note or bringing them lunch, etc. So, I signed up for September. Kappa Prep showed these water bottle koozies from Lily Lane Embroidery on her blog not too long ago. So, I ordered a hot pink one with bright yellow initials and a bright yellow polka dot bow on it.

Then, I ordered one of these insulated lunch bags in lemon yellow w/ a hot pink monogram from Two Funny Girls. I thought I'd take her lunch to her one day w/ these cuties!

Speaking of cuties...here's B and his buddy JP after playing in the hose and mud today. They LOVE to play in the mud! They will be in the same class this year. Is that a good thing or a bad thing??? I don't know, but I do know they'll have fun!

I Love the Mountains, I Love the Rolling Hills...

2008-08-25T21:14:00.011-05:00

The boys and I have just returned from a fun vacation to Taos, New Mexico. My husband's parents have a place there, so we were able to spend some time with "Bird". She is such a fun grandmother...we are blessed!

One day B and I rode the chairlift up to the top of the mountain where we had a picnic. I thought we'd hike back down, but he really wanted to ride that chairlift some more. So, we just rode it up and down the mountain. We've been reading Cubby in Wonderland and I was so glad that I'd brought it with us. It was the perfect read for that setting. Then the two of us stopped at the Taos Cow for ice cream for heading back home. We had such a sweet time together.

J loved Taos as well. There is the most amazing toy store there called Twirl. It has a backyard area that has a huge climbing playscape, a waterfall feature, and a great sand area. We went there five times during our visit. The boys absolutely loved it. Oh, how I wish Dallas had something like this! The toys they sell are unique and well-made. They have great costumes, too.

One night we roasted marshmallows over a fire (I mean a match b/c we couldn't seem to start a fire). While we were looking forward to cool weather, it was pretty warm the whole time we were there. It did get a little cooler last night, though.

The Taos County Fair was this last weekend. We arrived just in time for the watermelon eating contest, and guess who participated? It was a great effort, but he didn't win this time. We'll have to practice!

We had a great trip, but I was so glad to get home and see my husband. I missed him!

A Little Teary Today

2008-08-13T19:55:00.004-05:00

I'm a little sad today. B is now five and going to school this year. These years with him at home have been so precious; I'm really going to miss him. Even though he'll only be gone two days a week, that sweet little chunk of life is coming to a close. I have loved having him at home for five years. I have loved not having to rush him out the door every morning. I have loved having days where we stayed in our jammies all morning and read books. I've loved having every day to explore, discover, and play with him. I'm sad to have to hand over those days. He is so much fun. His world is getting ready to expand. He is getting ready to have a teacher that he will love and adore and hang on her every word. That is good--that is hard. He is going to kindergarten, and his world will be bigger than home, mommy, daddy, and little brother...that is good..that is hard. I'm a little teary today, but I know that the next stage will be even more fun than this...it's just been such a sweet five years and it's hard to say good-bye to the special perks of those.

Inspire the Imagination

2008-08-11T22:39:00.000-05:00

I saw one of these in an amazing toy store in New York called Enchanted. I loved it! Think of the hours of imaginative play it would inspire.

Catching Up...

2008-08-10T15:52:00.005-05:00

1. We're going to see The Jersey Boys tonight w/ our good friends! I cannot wait to see it again. My husband and I saw it in April in New York w/ my dad and I've been listening to the CD ever since.
2. Two weeks ago, I had to call poison control TWICE!!!! The first time it was because our usually very conscientious exterminator was here but was not so conscientious that day. He left his stuff out on the floor and J got into it...thankfully, none ingested, no damage done. The second time I called that week was because J bit into a glow stick. Let me tell you how humbling it was to call poison control again. But, they said they get that particular call all the time and all was okay. I'm thankful the Lord watches out for these children! That thought seriously comforted me after such a scary week.
3. My husband and I saw the movie Mamma Mia a few weeks ago and loved it.

4. The Shrimp and Grits homeshow is this week, so we're gearing up. I received all of the cute ribbon headbands (for children and adults) and school spirit ponytail ribbons in the mail to sell along w/ the personalized bows, keychains, and ponytail buttons. They are very cute...we usually do well with these. I wish my hair was in a headband stage so that I could wear one of those wide jacquard headbands. My husband isn't looking forward to all of this starting--he calls this twice yearly event "The Week of Neglect". Poor baby.
5. We played a really funny joke on our neighbors last night and are still giggling about it. They, coincidentally, were going to see the matinee of Jersey Boys today. The husband, who is not a fan of musicals, has not been excited about seeing it. I've told him our friendship is all riding on this--if he doesn't like The Jersey Boys, then we cannot be friends w/ him. So, late last night my husband and I snuck over there and shoe-polished all of the windows of his Suburban w/ things like "Jersey Boys Express" and "Frankie Valli Rules". We got an early phonecall this morning when they discovered it.
6. My other extracurricular responsibility (besides the clothing show) involving my five year olds' school has been in high gear and I've been busy with that.
7. I watched "Rumor Has It" the other night on T.V. It was cute--hadn't seen it. I always love Jennifer Anniston. I get so mad at the bad rap she's gotten compared to Brad and Angelina.
8. That is all that I can think of for now...I'm off to get ready for our fun night!

My Favorite Sippy Cups

2008-08-06T22:34:00.002-05:00

Boon Fluid No Spill Toddler Cup

I love this cup because it is safe--none of the bad plastic stuff. It only has two parts; I'm not one that has the patience to put four pieces of a cup together--it won't happen. It has a hole in the middle making it easy for a little one to grasp. We get comments all of the time on these, and I'm so glad that I just found them on Target's website!

Best-Ever Pot Roast

2008-08-05T22:33:00.002-05:00

Here is a new pot roast recipe. I tried it, and my husband loved it so much he wanted to kiss me!

5-6 pound boneless pot roast (I couldn't find one that big, so I think mine was 4lbs.)
Rub salt, pepper, and flour all over it.
Sear all sides briefly in oil on the stovetop.
Pour out oil and add 2 cans beef broth.
Pour 8 oz. bottle horseradish over the top.
Cover and cook on low(275 degrees) for 6 hours.
Add new potatoes, onions, and carrots and cook another 1 1/2 hours. I salt and peppered those when I put them in.
Oooh..yum!

Summer Field Trips

2008-08-04T22:08:00.002-05:00

Today we had one of our summer field trips. At my Creative Homemakers group meeting in May, we all brought our calendars and planned field trips for the summer. The fire station, a tortilla factory, Art Day facilitated by our group's art teacher/enthusiast, blueberry picking (rained out), a football stadium (this Saturday), and the public library all made the docket. Today was the Dallas Public Library--downtown branch. While I'm a huge fan of the Dallas Public Library, I NEVER go to the downtown location; before today, I couldn't have even told you how to get there. We have one precious member who spent her years before having children as a librarian at a local elementary school. She is a great reader--entertaining for all! So, she read to the children for about 45 minutes, then we had the opportunity to check out books. I was amazed by the selection of children's books at the main branch!!! They had all sorts of titles that I had never seen at the branch close to my house. I checked out Don Freeman (author of Corduroy) books that I had never seen before, and many books that I know are out-of-print! I was like a kid in a candy store. It was so much fun. My bag was so heavy when I came out of the library, I had to carry it with both arms and push the stroller with my hips! It was quite a sight. I learned a lesson-- library's main branch--more books--more selection--good stuff.

A Reminder to Me...

2008-08-02T23:02:00.007-05:00

Nancy Wilson's Blog, Femina, has a wonderful post called "Building Projects". I encourage you to read it..it is a great reminder of the influence that women have in their home. I find it encouraging, convicting and inspiring. Here is how it starts...

A woman will either be a blessing or a curse to her household: she is either building or demolishing according to Proverbs 14:1. The woman who has wisdom is constructing; the foolish woman who has no wisdom is destroying. There doesn’t appear to be a middle road; a woman is doing one thing or the other. The one results in peace and blessing; the other brings confusion and discord. The home will either be growing in beauty or on its way to becoming a heap of rubble.

Keep reading on to find out what makes the difference...

Friday Favorites...Flipped

2008-08-01T16:40:00.000-05:00

Today I want to turn the tables. Many Fridays this summer, I've been having fun making a list of my favorite things. Today, it's your turn. I want to know some of your favorite things. Just make a list on your blog and send me the link or just just use my comments section. Please let me hear from you!!

I've Been Tagged

2008-07-31T21:55:00.016-05:00

Katie over at Bower Power , one of my new favorite blogs, has tagged me.

The Game is this:
Here are the tagging rules:
1. Link to the person who tagged you (i.e. me)
2. Post the rules on your blog
3. Write 6 random things about yourself
4. Tag 6 people at the end of your post and link to them
5. Let each person you have tagged know by leaving a comment on their blog
6. Let the tagger (me) know when your entry is posted

Six Random Facts About Me:
1. Keeping my car cleaned out is a real challenge for me. It's usually a mess. My husband loves to remind me of the time--before we were married, so at least 12 years ago--when I poured hot chocolate over the door handle on the outside of my car because it was frozen closed and then I didn't wash it off for several days.
2. All summer, I've been doing the oil cleansing method on my face --much talked about over at Big Mama--and have really liked it.
3. I am the baby of my family and have brothers ten and twelve years older than me. One of my brothers just turned 50!
4. I have a small case of phone-phobia--an expression coined by my good friend K. I get a little bit nervous making phone calls.
5. Reading to children is one of my very favorite things to do. I absolutely love children's literature--especially older books. I'm quietly opinionated on this topic! I have numerous books checked out from the library at any one time. Right now it's over a hundred--mostly children's books!
6. I often draw little-bitty stars all over the paper in front of me when I'm listening to a lecture. I've done this since high school.

So, Biscuits are Never Boring, Kelly's Korner, Tickled Pink and Green, 60 piggies, Doing the Next Thing, Good Soil...tag, you're it!

I Love This...

2008-07-29T14:30:00.003-05:00

Emma Bridgewater Salad Bowl!

It's Time to Buckle Down

2008-07-28T21:22:00.006-05:00

Needlepointing my children's stockings...this is something I love to do. It all started because my sister-in-law needlepointed her whole family's stockings, and they are marvelous! When I was a newlywed, I was looking through catalogs and trying to find the perfect stockings to buy for us. Because he had seen my sister-in-law's and loved them, my husband encouraged me to stitch them myself. I objected at first because I knew the countless hours that it would take. I also knew that I couldn't stitch just one. Once I did the first one, I was in it for the long haul. However, I could tell that he thought that it would be really special, and I knew I would enjoy it.

So, we went to pick out his stocking first. He really wanted something with a Texas flair. I looked and just could not find the right thing...until I went into Key Stitches...the most wonderful needlepoint store!!! They said they had the perfect thing, and, sure enough, they were right. A cowboy Santa!

My husband loves the State Fair of Texas. He is actually judges different food items there..another story for another day. I always love to go by the Creative Arts Building and see all of the amazing needlework and other handiwork. That year, to his surprise, his stocking was hanging in the case with a red ribbon on it. He thought that was the neatest thing in the world..that his stocking won a ribbon at the fair!

Next, it was my turn. It took me a long time. I finally finished it when I was newly pregnant with B. Again, I entered it in the creative arts contest at the fair and was thrilled to receive another red ribbon.

When I found out that I was having a boy, I chose B's stocking. However, it was not purchased until he arrived. His won a third place ribbon if I recall.

Now, it is finally time to begin Baby J's stocking. Here is what I've chosen.

It's called "Where's Rudolph?" I've bought my threads for the first few things I'll be working on..so, I'm off and running.

The Sale

2008-07-28T00:20:00.016-05:00

Twice a year, I host a children's clothing homeshow. I've done this with a friend of mine for the last 3 1/2 years. She has decided to take a little break, so this time I'm excited to be hosting the show with another precious friend. We are having so much fun gearing up for it. While it doesn't start until mid-August, we send out postcards next week. Needless to say, we've been diligently working on our list. Historically, Two Friends has been the line we've sold. However, due to some mishaps at the factory, they are not having fall shows. We found another precious line that is new to Dallas called Shrimp and Grits Kids. It is full of the most adorable children's clothing. Here are a few of my favorites from the fall line.

Oh, boy...if I had a girl...this pink coat would be a must!!!

Friday Favorites

2008-07-25T23:28:00.004-05:00

1. Having popsicles and lemonade on hand at all times during the summer. These go great with slip and sliding!
2. How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days--love that movie!
3. Hoop earrings
4. Pimiento Cheese--from Kuby's for you Dallacites
5. Birthday Parties for my adult friends
6. Wired ribbon--I even found some that was really cute at Sam's!
7. Double names for girls
8. Amy Grant
9. Old Fashioned Pharmacies (not chains) Preston Road Pharmacy for Dallacites
10. Mascara

A Celebrity Sighting

2008-07-23T13:35:00.003-05:00

Well..not really a celebrity, but you would have thought so seeing the way I acted. Today, while B was a sports camp, I was at Northpark w/ J, strolling him along doing a few things I've been needing to do. Suddenly, I saw a familiar face, and felt pretty sure it was Kappa Prep from Monograms and Manicures. I was close enough to her to call out, but I didn't know what to say. I didn't want to yell out "Hey, Kappa Prep!" So, I whipped my stroller around and tried to catch up with her...she was walking really fast, and I had to maneuver the stroller to the ramps instead of the stairs. I finally caught up with her and, all out of breath, said, "Hi..Excuse me..do you have a blog?" Anyway, it was her!! It was so fun to get to meet my cute blogging friend! She was there on a work errand decked out in a darling Lilly dress and was just as friendly in person as she seems on her blog. Anyway, it made my day. Fun!!

Questionnaire

2008-07-22T16:42:00.003-05:00

A. Attached or Single? Attached--Married 12 years to an adorable man. I prayed for my husband for a long time, and I am so very thankful for the one God chose for me. We met in high school and dated off and on for seven years before we married.
B. Best Friend? I have many very dear friends.
C. Cake or pie? Pie
D. Day of choice? Friday
E. Essential item? computer, Diet Coke/Diet DP, bathtub (I love to take baths), the library
F. Favorite color? blue, red (not orangey-red, blue-red), hot pink
G. Gummy bears or worms? Bears
H. Home town? Dallas, Texas
I. Favorite indulgence? Chocolate
J. January or July? July
K. Kids? Two sons--ages 18 months and 5 years
L. Life isn’t complete without? Christ
M. Marriage date? June 22, 1996
N. Number of brothers and sisters? 2 brothers--ten and twelve years older than me
O. Oranges or Apples? Apples
P. Phobias? Bugs, Heights
Q. Quotes?--"Hurting people hurt others.", "If you sprinkle when you tinkle, be neat and wipe the seat." (That one comes in handy raising boys!)
R. Reasons to smile? a precious family, wonderful friends, my cute dog (Hattie)
S. Season of choice? Fall--I love the colors--However, Texas pales in comparison to New England that time of year
T. T.V. Favorite: Grey's Anatomy
U. Unknown fact about me? Don't ever invite me to go white water rafting. It sounds terrifying, and I would hate it. Also, I don't like pedicures--they are anything BUT relaxing for me.
V. Vegetable? spinach, asparagus
W. Worst habit? diet drinks
X. X-ray or Ultrasound? ultrasounds
Y. Your favorite food? avocados, cheese, chocolate, peanut butter, mashed potatoes, good salads
Z. Zoo favorites: elephants, giraffes

What's Happening

2008-07-21T21:11:00.003-05:00

We had a good weekend. My husband went out of town, so it was just me and the boys. B and I watched High School Musical on Friday night. Neither of us had seen it, and we both loved it.

Saturday morning we went to the Galleria first thing to meet my friend ML and her three. We got there about nine o'clock to play in the play area before it got crowded, but there were already people there. I guess we weren't the only ones to think of that. Anyway, that was fun. We followed it up w/ a swim at ML's house.

That night after I put the boys down, I watched my new favorite movie...P.S. I Love You...so sweet. I really loved it.

We were all so happy to see Daddy come home on Sunday. We got to spend the evening with some good friends of ours. I had been craving guacamole, so we picked up dinner at Taco Diner. Yummy! I have not had enough Mexican food lately, and it tasted so good!

Today B colored his face w/ a brown marker...he wanted it to look like pirate whiskers. I'm on a bit of a bad run w/ kids and markers lately! Also, today I had another chicken salad sandwich from Chick-Fil-A....I'm telling you..you must try one! Also, I spent part of the day trying to organize B's closet....Playmobil is taking over our house; bits are EVERYWHERE!!! Oh, well...it's a season, right?!

This week, my goal is to start J's Christmas stocking....poor little guy...maybe I'll finish it by the time he's five...more on this subject another time.

Friday's Favorite Things

2008-07-18T15:39:00.006-05:00

1. Cute pajamas
2. Little Girls with a silver or gold bangle bracelet on their wrist
3. Mixed CDs
4. Teamonade from City Cafe to Go in Dallas
5. Beautiful flower arrangements
6. Having dinner with my daddy
7. Chocolate chip cookies
8. Diet Coke--unfortunately
9. A phonecall from one of my brothers
10. You've Got Mail w/ Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks

Awards!

2008-07-17T21:36:00.008-05:00

Sweet Kappa Prep at Monograms and Manicures gave these two very kind awards. No matter what, it's always fun to get a recognition!!

So, now it's my turn to pass these on. So, without further ado...

A Long Way from the Theta House

Seersucker Stories

Congratulations! I love your blogs!

Table Tops

2008-07-16T22:56:00.006-05:00

I love to look at pictures of tables all decorated for a fun occasion. To me, one of the most special times is sitting down to a festive table in someone's home. In the latest issue of Domino, several tables were featured that had been at Diffa's Dining By Design. This was one that I was so taken with that was done by David Stark for Benjamin Moore. He used all of this fun color to make the most fun looking birthday table you have ever seen. Look at all of the paint chips! How incredibly creative! Wouldn't it be fun to spend an evening around that table?

Home Again, Home Again, Jiggety-Jig

2008-07-14T17:59:00.007-05:00

Our vacation was fabulous!! We had such a sweet time with our boys and were able to really relax, too.

My husband loves to cook and is good at it. He cooked almost every meal while we were away--breakfast, lunch and dinner. What a great break for me! We stayed at my brother and sister-in-law's lakehouse, and they have a Green Egg--one of those fancy grills (I'm sure my husband would say that description does not do this amazing grilling/smoking/cooking apparatus justice). Anyway, my husband cooked on that thing almost every night. Steaks, smoked ribs, chickens, sausage...we had it all.

I love to watch my husband be a daddy...our boys have so much fun with him.. B is at a place where he can do so much and my husband loves that--they jet skiied, played putt-putt, went on nature hikes, rode everywhere on the golf cart, ate about a thousand of those icey pops, went swimming, and just had a blast together. It's such a treat for all of us to have Daddy with us for a whole week.

Because J and B are in such different stages, J and I were at a little bit slower pace. We joined in for swimming, boat rides, and golf cart rides, but we also spent a lot of time on some of his favorite activities--reading books, taking baths, napping, and watching the deer there.

In other news:

Today I cashed in a coupon and tried the Chick-Fil-A chicken salad sandwich. I'm a fan. It was really good. It had fresh, pretty lettuce on it. It was on toasted wheat bread. From my research...350 calories. Now...if I just had the self-control to not order fries w/ that! You must try one and tell me what you think.

Three out of the four of us have had the stomach bug within the last two weeks. Daddy first, Mommy second, Baby J next, and we're waiting for poor B. Hopefully, his little immune system will be able to stave it off. A few other people who, prayerfully, will not get it....N and B--their sweet godparents who were keeping the boys when Baby J came down with it Sunday night. Oh, how I hope they don't get it.

Time for bed!

Time to Get Away

2008-07-06T14:08:00.002-05:00

We're off for a family vacation!! We're headed to East Texas to enjoy time relaxing and playing on the lake. I'll try to e-mail in a post here and there. Take care!

4th of July

2008-07-06T13:11:00.014-05:00

We had the most fun 4th of July this year! Here are some of our favorite parts.

The Parade

Family Time

Our boys!

P.J. Ride

2008-07-03T21:34:00.004-05:00

Well, we tried a PJ Ride tonight! It was really fun. We put the boys to bed early--about 6:45. Then, about five minutes later, my husband and I ran through their hall hollering and shaking their toy musical tamborine and maracas. We said we were taking a "PJ Ride". We piled into the car and headed to Baskin-Robbins where we had ice cream cones. It was so fun, and B loved it especially. A sweet memory--I look forward to many more!

Costume Pageant Part II

2008-07-03T00:09:00.007-05:00

Here are more of B's costumes....if you missed the first edition, lookie here.

The Football Player--a Dallas Cowboy mixed with an SMU Mustang

The Pilot

The "Army Guy"

And...The "Old-Timey Boy"
He and his daddy watched an episode of Andy Griffith which inspired the hat and our sweet neighbor painted the walking stick for him. I guess the "old-timey" part is because Andy Griffith is in black and white and those boys had on those hats..I'm trying to synch w/ his line of thinking!

That's all for today!

Parmesan Chicken

2008-07-01T23:15:00.005-05:00

Rocks in My Dryer is having a Five Ingredients or Less Version of Works for Me Wednesday. Here is one of my very favorite recipes that fits into this category. It's so easy and so good.

Parmesan Chicken
2 sticks of butter
6 chicken breasts--boneless, skinless--cut into strips
1 1/2 cups bread crumbs
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
salt and pepper to taste

Melt butter. Rinse and pat dry chicken breasts. Cut breasts into strips (for some reason we like this better than just buying the strips). Dip breasts into butter, then into bread crumbs, which have been mixed with parmesan cheese and seasoning. Place in a buttered baking dish. Bake at 350 degrees, uncovered, for 30-50 minutes.

Enjoy!

Anthropologie Catalog

2008-07-01T21:59:00.008-05:00

I have never bought much from Anthropologie, but I always like what other people find there. Today, the catalog came in the mail and I picked out a few of my favorite things. See what you think.

I love this. It would look cute with jeans.

So would this!

This jacket is adorable. I'm not sure that this color would do much for me, though.

These flats are fun...different than anything I have.

That's all that really hit me..except for a navy blouse that I loved in the catalog, but it didn't strike me on the website for some reason. I cannot believe that fall is around the corner. I'm enjoying summer way too much right now!

The Weekend In Pictures

2008-06-29T22:31:00.012-05:00

Daddy gave B a buzz! This is B's third for the summer, but the first his daddy has ever given him.

It looks pretty good! He got to have a lollipop afterwards because that's what he gets after Miss Ginger cuts his hair at Kids Cutz.

J's first time on the Slip N' Slide...I think he had more fun than he's ever had. It might go down as his best day ever!

He took a really good nap Saturday afternoon!

My sweet boys.

Someone is getting ready for the upcoming holiday...who doesn't love a parade?

Have a great week!

An "F" in Babysitting

2008-06-28T23:55:00.002-05:00

We have some sweet friends who, very sadly, are moving away. Tonight, their next door neighbors threw a going away party for the block to say goodbye. I went over to their house to keep their children while they were at the party.

As they walked out the door, they told me to read to the baby for a few minutes before putting her in her crib and that the three year old was occupied and would be fine until I was finished.

You would think that I would have checked on her anyway, right? I'm a former teacher and a mom for crying out loud! But, this was an adorable girl with a cute nightgown on and a big pink bow in her hair--those kind don't get into trouble...

Fast forward eight minutes...

I come out of the baby's room to find the 3 year old saying, "Look, I colored my arms." This precious bow-head had colored her arms and her legs in black Sharpie marker--the one that they had been using to label all of their moving boxes.

I went next door to get my friend. After all, she had to see what a good job I was doing in the nine minutes since she had walked out the door! Besides..it was a good photo op!

Needless to say, the little girl had another bath. After much scrubbing, that Sharpie marker can still be seen! It will look so nice with her church dress tomorrow!

There's Just Something About This....

2008-06-27T21:35:00.003-05:00

That I absolutely love! Absolutely Beautiful Things lives up to its name...always!

Friday's Favorite Things

2008-06-27T14:25:00.000-05:00

1. Enstrom's Milk Chocolate Almond Toffee--My mouth is watering just thinking of it!
2. Wearing an apron while cooking
3. Great big iced teas--the special kind served at luncheons--like my friend Katy makes
4. Mint cocolate chip ice cream
5. Good salads
6. Crossword puzzles
7. Smocked children's clothing
8. My husband in "business casual"
9. Little girls with big old bows
10. J. McLaughlin clothing

My Kitchen

2008-06-26T11:20:00.002-05:00

Do you know how much time I spend in my kitchen? It seems like that is where the majority of my day is spent. Just as soon as one meal is over, the next one is up, or the dishwasher needs to be emptied. I'm not complaining; I really don't mind it all that much. It's just a large part of every day life. When people ask what has been going on, I want to have something new and exciting to say. But, in truth, the majority of what has been going on is cleaning the kitchen, unloading the dishwasher, preparing a meal, eating the meal, cleaning the kitchen, unloading the dishwasher, preparing a meal...you get the picture. So, all of the exciting events that take place happen in between those tasks.

I remember my sister-in-law used to always have Bible verses that sat in the window above her kitchen sink. For a long time, she had a notecard that said, "Pray First." Before I had children, I used to look at those and think that she had found a nice display spot. But, now I get it. Raising her three children, that's where she was all the time. She's twelve years older than I am, so she lived this stage before me. She got it--if there was something that she wanted to ingrain into her head and heart, the best place to have a reminder would be the place where she spent the most time.

All of this inspires me to make that time--that large chunk of my time--that time where mental grumbling comes easily--to count in some way. Instead of using it just lost in thought, maybe I could memorize some scripture, pray for my husband, or sing with my children. And, most of all, maybe I need to look at that aspect of my days differently. Serving my family is what I want to be doing--my greatest joy. Having meals together as a family, in truth, is the most special part of life...why would I think that excitement only happens outside of that? Because it's more interesting to tell people?

Don't get me wrong...I have a wonderful life... full of fun activities, great experiences and family and friends that I love...but most of the time I'm right here doing KP duty. And do you know what? Now that I think about it, there's no place that I would rather be.....except maybe New York City!

If I were a Summer Purse

2008-06-25T16:03:00.005-05:00

If I were a summer purse, this is what I would look like.

Nothing Says Summer Like Tomato Pie

2008-06-25T09:37:00.003-05:00

Tomato Pie is one of my all time favorite summer treats. Now that the tomato scare is over (I think), I need to make one of these. Here is the recipe.

1 cup Bisquick
1/3 cup milk
4-6 tomatoes, diced
basil, chives, lemon pepper, Mrs. Dash
1 cup mayonnaise
1 cup grated cheddar cheese

Mix Bisquick and milk and put it in a greased pie plate. Bake at 450 degrees for 10 minutes.

Add tomatoes and seasonings.

Mix mayonnaise and cheese together and spread on the top.

Bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes.

Enjoy!

Oh, and usually when I make this, I double the recipe and cook it in a 9 x 13!

Love These...

2008-06-23T22:17:00.001-05:00

I love these bunny slippers...always have!

A Mama Told Me

2008-06-23T22:04:00.005-05:00

I am part of a group that is called Creative Homemakers...I know, it's very June Cleaver sounding. This is a group of dear friends who are very special to me. We study three books a year..one on marriage, one on children, and one on homemaking. Monthly, we meet to discuss the book and encourage one another along as we experience our own personal ups and downs. A few of us have started a blog with various items of interest. Come take a peek at A Mama Told Me and see for yourself!

Movie of the Weekend

2008-06-22T22:32:00.004-05:00

On Golden Pond. We own it but haven't watched it in years; I had forgotten how great it is.

Katherine Hepburne plays the most lovely character in the movie. She loves the people around her despite their faults. I also admired her character's joyful demeanor.

Henry Fonda is hilariously grouchy; my husband and I just cracked up the whole time. The whole father-daughter relationship was sad to me. How much they've missed out on. I laughed and cried throughout the movie.

It was an especially sweet movie to watch on our anniversary because Katherine Hepburne and Henry Fonda's characters have such a sweet relationship; they adore each other. The way they depended on each other struck me, too. It was neat to see that deep abiding trust that so many years of marriage gradually built.

I'll definitely recommend this as a do-over for anyone who hasn't seen it in a long time; it's really dear.

Twelfth Anniversary

2008-06-21T14:38:00.002-05:00

My husband and I are off on a 24 hour getaway to a fancy hotel to celebrate our anniversary...the children are dispersed, our bags are packed, and the dog is at a neighbor's. I'm so excited!!

Ten Favorite Things

2008-06-20T22:16:00.004-05:00

Ten of my favorite things in no certain order:
1. New York City
2. White matte lasse coverlets
3. Receiving magazines in the mail
4. Ralph Lauren
5. When people call me "Sweetie/Honey/Darlin'"etc.
6. Black and white tile floors set on the diagonal
7. Having dinner in people's homes
8. The library
9. Funny people (I married the funniest)
10. Family

Resume Rigor

2008-06-19T21:36:00.005-05:00

It was a challenging night. My poor brain is tired.

You see, I would like to tutor a little bit starting in the fall, so I had to put together a resume. It has been at least thirteen years since I have done that, and it was hard. What was the name of that committe I served on? How many children were in my classroom? What was it that I did before my current profession of personal chef/answerer of all questions/dishwasher executive/laundry expert/room-cleaning consultant/grocery shopper/birthday party planner/play coordinator/all-time diaper changer?

But....I've done it, and it's finished. I'm not sure if it's good, but it is complete.

Good night.

Magazine Night

2008-06-18T16:28:00.005-05:00

Magazine Night...basically a good excuse for girls to get together, eat, chat, and not have the monthly pressure of a book assignment. My sweet neighbor started this, and I was so glad to be included. Everyone brings an interesting article they've found in some sort of periodical. I always choose something I have learned from a blog--I mean, isn't that the most modern version of a periodical? So, I'm working on what I'll take tonight...the clock is ticking. Here's what I'm looking at.

Yesterday, Bonnie's Blog had an interesting article about toys and children's development. It is called "Ideation and The Case for Unstructured Play/Toys". She says, "Children today tend to be inundated with toys and the overwhelming quantity can squelch ideation, creativity and play." The term "ideation" was new for me. This is how Bonnie explains it. "Ideation is described as the first stage of motor planning. It is the ability to generate an idea of how one might interact with an object or the environment. The "what am I going to do?". Children with poor ideation skills generally have very limited play skills and are often dependent on adult intervention and passive pursuits (TV, Videos, computer, video games). They may wander the room briefly picking up objects, manipulate the object, but literally have no ideas how to play with it." She goes on to encourage simpler toys and access to fewer toys at one time. I found it a fascinating read.

Next, I think I'll take a few things from a new favorite blog of mine called Money Saving Mom. Today, she had a post about a site called Hippopost where you can upload a picture of your choice, they will make it into a postcard and the postage is free. Why is the whole thing free? Because there will be a small advertisement on the postcard. Sounds neat!

Another neat tip I found on Money Saving Mom was about free directory information service for your cell phone. Go check it out to read more.

The last thing I'll take is a recipe for these unbelievable tasting Mystery Rolls from The Pioneer Woman. I made these a few weeks ago for my Daddy's birthday, and they were yummy!

Unless I find anything else to take, this is it! I'll let you know what else I learn tonight.

At Least It's Pink

2008-06-17T21:17:00.003-05:00

My baby boy has come down with pink eye...a pretty color for a goopy, contagious bugbear. Sweet little guy.

After two doses of drops, he is looking better.

I wish I didn't know what I learned at the doctor today. He walked into the examining room and had the typical exchange. The first thing he asked me when I told him I thought J had pink eye was if we had been swimming. I thought that was a question he would ask with a sore ear, but pink eye? As he looked in J's eyes and confirmed my diagnosis, he proceeded to tell me how easy it is to get things like pink eye in pools. He said that pools are very dirty--that even lakes are cleaner than pools. Pools are stagnant and everyone's bacteria and whatever else is all just trapped in that little body of water.

The kind man just didn't know the weight he just placed on my shoulders. I will never forget that, and now I'm burdening you with this awful knowledge. I was happy in my little world where pools had chlorine..that made them clean..so, I must be clean when I get out of one. My children don't necessarily have to take a bath at night when they've just gotten out of the pool...I mean, it's good to rinse that chlorine off, but their bodies aren't covered with foreign bacteria!

That was my naive thinking yesterday. Not anymore--today is a new day. I'll just think about helping my little guy get rid of his pink eyes. Pink is a nice color.

Costume Pageant

2008-06-16T22:55:00.015-05:00

B loves the disguise. This has always been his "thing". When he was two, I took him to a fancy Halloween party and had him all dressed up in the cutest duck costume you've ever seen. He was so proud of it...until...he saw another little boy in a slick red fireman costume complete with a helmet. He turned to me and said, "Mommy, NO DUCKIE! FIREMAN!" I think there is a sermon in there somewhere..something about contentment or coveting...Anyway, we now own quite a collection of dress-up costumes. Most of them have been given as Christmas and birthday gifts by sweet grandparents, aunts, and uncles. Some, we've acquired as a result of kind friends with older children having a clean-out-the-house-day. Some have been bought at garage sales. They are quite easy to find in our house. They are simply strewn all over the floor of B's room. Oh, we clean them up-several times a day. But, when one needs to change his identity hourly, his room just has to pay the price.

This summer, I thought we could have a Costume Pageant where every week B will model some of his costumes for you. Thrilling..I know.

So, without further ado, here is this week's edition.

The Hunter

The Sailor....there was no prompting on that salute....that was all him.

The Soldier..Evidently, this is the proper soldier stance.

The Pirate..perhaps our very fanciest costume. When he learns what a Redcoat is, I think this might suffice for that, too...if it still fits.

The Fireman..."I had to do that face 'cuz that's how firemen look when they're puttin' out fires." That's what he told me after I snapped this; I wrote it down so I would remember.

And...The Safari Guy--as B calls it.

Stay tuned for next week with more exciting costumes straight from the floor of B's room!

A Happy Father's Day

2008-06-16T00:08:00.001-05:00

It is Father's Day night, and what a great weekend it has been! All of the daddies that are a part of our family have been celebrated and we've spent some special time with them all. B doesn't understand why we don't have a Son's Day. Some day he will realize that when you are five, every day is Son's Day!

My husband and I had fun watching the US Open. Tiger Woods was amazing. I loved this commercial about him and his late father. We can't wait to find out what happens during the playoff round tomorrow! Good night!

The Wisdom of a Five Year Old

2008-06-14T22:15:00.002-05:00

B turned five years old a few weeks ago. It's so hard to believe; it's gone by so fast. He wanted to have a park ranger party...although it was a little bit difficult to execute, I think we actually did it. We celebrated at Little Gym and he came dressed in his full park ranger costume that his aunt gave him for his birthday. It was such a special day!!!

The day before his birthday we were at the car wash. There was a very nice man there who was intrigued with B--all dressed in this brand new park ranger outfit. He asked B if he was a park ranger. B answered, "Oh, yes!." Then the man asked B if he'd been to a lot of parks. B, again, answered, "Oh, yes!" Then the man asked him what parks he'd been to. B answered, "Northpark". The man looked right at me with a funny expression, and I just said, "That's my kind of park!" I guess that in these five years I have taught my impressionable young son one important truth. The BEST park is Northpark.

Note: Northpark is a wonderful shopping mall in Dallas!!

Good-Bye, Tim Russert

2008-06-13T23:16:00.005-05:00

I'm so very sad today about the passing of Tim Russert; I am a big fan of his. I remember so well sitting and watching him write on that dry-erase board the night of the 2000 election ...staying up until the wee hours of the morning just watching the drama unfold. My husband and I like to record Meet the Press and watch it together on Sunday night. Tonight, as we watched the tributes on NBC, we talked about how much we respected and just flat liked the guy. He asked the toughest of questions to the most important of people, but somehow they never seemed mean-spirited. He made politics fun...like a sport, and he clearly enjoyed it more than anyone. Later, I thought of his happy, bright eyes and how the look in them always conveyed a true passion for what he was discussing. How wonderful it is to see someone spending their life using the gifts the good Lord gave them and thus, loving what they do! Sunday nights will not be the same around our house without this class-act American. I will miss him.

Puzzles

2008-06-13T07:50:00.000-05:00

I love to do puzzles. All kinds of puzzles! I even buy those puzzle books you see in the grocery store just for special occasions. As I was growing up, on vacation there was always a giant jigsaw puzzle spread out on a game table. Everyone would stop by it, work on it a minute or twenty, and move on....now that is fun! My husband thinks it's weird...he's not a fan of the puzzle. So, as you can see, I must train my children to love them so that I will have someone to share this with me!

Tuesday Morning is the best place I have found to buy children's jigsaw puzzles for a reasonable price, and I stock up! We are working our way up on number of pieces. Anywhere from forty to seventy pieces is a good number for my five year old. If I do put together the border, he can complete a 100 piecer. If he starts to doubt himself, I might step in and offer a little encouragement or put together several pieces for him. Sometimes, I'll suggest that he look for all of the pieces of one particular focal point of the puzzle. Once he gets going, he develops confidence, and gains momentum.

One day, I did an internet search to pinpoint the educational benefits of jigsaw puzzles. There are actually quite a few. The development of eye hand coordination, problem solving skills, spatial awareness, and logical reasoning are just a few ways they can help a child. Puzzles also help develop an attitude of perseverance. I know that I've heard my son tell me that a puzzle is too hard for him, but, with a little encouragement, he continues on to complete the whole thing. He feels such a sense of accomplishment after finishing what he thought to be an insurmountable task.

At night before I go to bed, I sometimes set out all the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle on the table in the kitchen. I turn them all right side up so that it's an inviting activity. If not first thing, at some point during the day I'll find my son working on it, and I feel good knowing that he's not only having fun, but gaining a lot as well.

A Hard Day's Night/Evening

2008-06-11T20:52:00.003-05:00

Hello, out there! Here's a quick little bit about myself. I'm a thirty-something stay at home mommy who is happily married to my first and only love. He is hilarious and makes every day fun. We have two little boys that light up our world. We prayed for those babies a long time and are so incredibly thankful for them. I spent nine years teaching elementary school before I became a mother. I absolutely loved being a teacher, and I miss that creative outlet. However, I like to believe that a few things I learned in the teaching world come in handy in my day to day life.

One of my favorite things is swapping ideas with friends. I love to read blogs! I get so many great ideas from my daily reads. Here, in an attempt to give back, I'm going to share thoughts, ideas, recipes, and who knows what else. So, here goes....

Some days are long! Some days just seem to have a lot of hours to use and segments to kill. With the start of summer, we've been having a few of those kind of days. By 5:30 in the afternoon, when the Texas heat and mosquitoes make the outdoors unappealing, when dinner is hopefully in the works, when my husband has yet to be seen, and when television time is used up, Mommy has to pull something out of the hat. So, out comes the box of musical instruments, out come some old scarves (that I never wear but don't have the heart to throw away), and on comes the music. We all grab an instrument..or two...and we have a big old hoedown! I get a little exercise, the children let out some pent up energy, and we all march around the house banging tamborines, jingling bells, banging music sticks (I bet those have an official name), and waving scarves like a bunch of crazy people. With all of that activity, my heart rate quickens and I imagine myself actually burning calories instead of consuming them; it is such a happy time of day! If my husband happens to walk in during this jamboree, I know he thinks his wife has finally lost it! Today it struck me that if I would just move that box of instruments and scarves into the family room, they would be much more accessible for this kind of activity.

Instrument accessibility =Greater frequency = A happy way to end of the day!