Wordless Wednesday - Puddles

Twenty-One Questions to Ask Your Kids

Tonight we squeezed in this little Q&A with my darlings as we were wrapping up with dinner and getting baths ready. The idea came from Mama Pea's blog, and her kids' answers are hilarious.

1. What is something Mommy always says to you?

Emily:  "Don't go pee pee in your pull up tonight."

Jake: "Stop!"

2. What makes Mommy happy?

Emily:  When I don't go pee pee in my pull up.

Jake: Me.

3. What makes Mommy sad?

Emily:  When I don't give you a hug.

Jake: Me

4. How does Mommy make you laugh?

Emily:  Tickle me.

Jake: Tickle me.

5. What was Mommy like as a child? 

Emily:  You liked being tickled.

Jake: Me.

6. How old is Mommy?

Emily:  57

Jake: 3

7. How tall is Mommy? 

Emily:  50 inches

Jake: Big...No, wittle.

8. What is Mommy’s favorite thing to do?

Emily:  Do the laundry.

Jake: Play with sissy.

9. What does Mommy do when you’re not around?

Emily:  Do laundry.

Jake: Say goodbye.

10. If Mommy becomes famous, what will it be for?

Emily:  No, not that one Next question.

Jake: --

11. What is Mommy really good at?

Emily:  Doing laundry and not cheating at Mancala.

Jake: Toys.

12. What is Mommy not very good at?

Emily:  Making good smoothies.

Jake: Ummm...being silly.

13. What does Mommy do for her job?

Emily:  Work.

Jake: Dancing.

14. What is Mommy’s favorite food?

Emily:  Corn and meat and meatloaf. 

Jake: Cheese.

15. What makes you proud of Mommy?

Emily:  Not cheating at Mancala.

Jake: Singing,

16. If Mommy were a cartoon character, who would she be?

Emily:  Minnie Mouse

Jake: Dancing.

17. What do you and Mommy do together?

Emily:  Play at the park and ride our bikes and sing "Stuck Like Glue."

Jake: Dancing.

18. How are you and Mommy the same?

Emily:  We have the same hair sometimes.

Jake: Big.

19. How are you and Mommy different?

Emily:  You are big and I am small.

Jake: *Gagging noise* ???

20. How do you know Mommy loves you? 

Emily:  Because sometimes we listen.

Jake: Dancing.

21. Where is Mommy’s favorite place to go?

Emily:  McDonald's to get a salad.

Jake: Sonic

Things I've Said

Life with kids is unpredictable, crazy, lovely, and fulfilling. But mostly crazy. I thought it would be interesting to catalog the things I find myself saying over the week in response to the things my darlings do or say.

I'd be happy to explain the context of any of these quotes if you're curious, but I think the mystery is part of the humor.

Here goes, in no specific order.

"Jake, why did you pee in that top hat?"

"If you're going to eat peanut butter out of a bowl, at least use a spoon."

"I hope your dog won't eat poopy chonies."

"Tall skinny mocha with a pump of toffee nut." (about 4 times)

"Come here so I can smell your mouth."

Wordless Wednesday - Details

Something to Watch

Yosemite HD from Project Yosemite on Vimeo.

How do I forget that this wonder is only an hour away?

Love Letters

Today I stumbled across a lovely blog post in which Amber writes a Marriage Letter every Monday to her husband. As I read her thoughtful note, I pondered what mine would have looked like over the past 9-ish years. I'm ashamed to think that my notes would not be nearly as thoughtful, and would probably be filled with nagging angst (note to self: let go), or go something like this:

Dear Ryan, I am exhausted from scrubbing bathroom floors, changing poopy chonies, and working an extra three hours from home after an 8-hour work day. Thanks for picking up Taco Bell for dinner. If it's okay with you, I'll catch up with you another day - I promise I'll write something real sincere. Also, it's trash day tomorrow so don't forget to put the cans out. Much love, your snoring beauty

I'd probably throw in a couple of cliches about love and reminisce about one of our favorite memories. But I love that Amber (we're on a first-name basis) really has devoted time and consideration into her letter (something I used to do, pre-babies), which reminds me that a good marriage doesn't just happen. It requires constant care and reflection, in a deliberate way, not something that happens by chance. My favorite part of the letter is this:

Our marriage has been one little failure after another, strengthened by every single time we say, “but I’m still here.” Patience is when you say, “but I’m still here.” The patient love is what inches us forward, believing in the unseen. Patience is when you walk on the waters of hope for me, when I’m refusing the vision.

It makes us feel like a miracle

Lovely and honest. Thanks for keeping it real, Amber. We are all trying to figure out how to do marriage best. I wouldn't say that my marriage has been one failure after another, but I will admit to making the same mistakes and demands over and over, sometimes learning, while sometimes choosing pride and callousness instead. This marriage business can be a tough road at times, but promising to hang in there together makes those sweet stretches even more worth it. And, yes, sometimes it does make us feel like a miracle.

Here's to more date nights, less nagging, and a promise of relentless grace and patience for the one whom my soul loves.

Wordless Wednesday - A boy after my own heart!

Thoughts about Carpe Diem

Some thoughts about Carpe Diem, shared by a friend:

2011 Lesson #2: Don't Carpe Diem

Not my words, obviously, but many of them resounded with me. I love parenting. The overall process and journey is amazing as a whole, but some of the details are messy and ugly. My children are only 2 and 5 so I realize I've got a lot of road ahead of me, but it is validating to fellowship and share with other moms so we can feel less alone, inadequate, and more appreciative of the little people God has given us to care for.

Another friend said:

A couple years ago, an older lady smiled at me in the donut store (as my 2 toddlers were wild with excitement and I was wearing my baby in the Bjorn) and told me, "The days are long but the years are fast."


Thanks, Mom Friends, for your honesty and transparency.

Wordless Wednesday - Loev

Resolutions

I make them every year, and sometimes I complete them and most of the time I do not, which I realize makes undermines the general public's definition of "New Year's Resolutions." However, let me explain to you my rational: Of course I think it is important to complete a goal, but more important to me is working toward a goal. My goals change according to family or life circumstances, and sometimes they are at the mercy of time or energy, so that means they may change. But I am going to make them again. I won't tell you that I will complete them, but I will tell you that these are the things that I think are important TODAY, that I plan on spending time with:

Lose the baby weight and get in some exercise. 

Ferr realz. Cliche, maybe, but true for me. I am looking forward to feeling comfortable in my own skin again.

Journal 3-5 times per week. 

Sometimes these will be public posts, other times they will just be for me. And I think I might use this idea:

From Design Sponge

Isn't is great for capturing the essence of a day?! And I love that multiple years are tracked on the same sheet.

Read 12 books.

Just one a month, so that seems feasible to me. If you have any suggestions, shout 'em out! I have a few on my list but am always looking for more. My list so far includes:

• How to Love an American Man
• The Family Dinner
• The Soldier's Wife
• Love and Respect
• Bittersweet
• Captivating
• I Dared to Call Him Father
• The One Hundred
• The Happiness Project

I'll be keeping track of my progress here, on Goodreads.

Decorate my Home (for Cheap).

Which means lots of DIY, and lots of help from family, friends, and hubby. We bought our home just 6 months ago, but we are still trying to get it done up. Pinterest has been both helpful and extremely overwhelming to this process.

Being Thankful.

Church service yesterday was great, and my one word from Colossians that I am longing for in 2012 is Thankfulness. And don't get me wrong; I am thankful (for my healthy babies, for a new beautiful house, for a wonderful family, for good steady jobs, and on and on), but then I pick up from my thankfulness and begin wanting more. I want to dwell in thankfulness this year. What I have been given is enough.  

So there you are. My resolutions for 2012 today. They may change, or they may not get done, but this is my focus right now.

A New Year. A Fresh Start.

Hello??? Is this thing on?

I figured a 30-month hiatus has been restorative enough. My last post was July 2009, and there have been a lot of changes in our family since then:

We bought a house

Ryan has steady, full-time employment 

Emily is now 5 and in kindergarten

Jake is 2 1/2 years old

I'm not back because I stumbled upon some extra time, or thought I needed another hobby. Things are busy enough for me with work and keeping the family fed and things like that; but because of a New Year's Resolution to journal more, I am back. I am enjoying life but I want to be able to remember the simple joys and funny stories. So this is my way of doing that for us. 

So, welcome back (to me, and to you)...let's do this!

What's Cookin' - July 2009

It was back to work for me this month, so I did not cook as many meals as I have been. We did have lots of bbq chicken and some Taco Bell. I'm still trying to find my groove. Here are the new recipes we did try:

Deep Dish Taco Pizza - This took me less than 25 minutes from start to finish, and everyone who ate it said it was delicious. Not company-worthy, but an easy fixer-upper.

Penne A La Betsy - Have I mentioned Pioneer Woman? She is amazing, and so is everything she makes! This was no exception. Go make it. Now. (I substituted some stuff to scrape off some fat, and it was still delicious!)

Easy Pesto Pinwheels - I made these for a shindig on the Fourth and they were a hit. I used sun dried tomato instead of the peppers, and that worked out well! Thanks, for the recipe, Jenn, and thank you Pillsbury for making things so simple!

Ben & Jerry's Vanilla Ice Cream - Emily and I made this, and what fun it was! Tasty too!

Cranberry Orange Cookies - These were just perfect for summer time! Good thing I happened to have a bag of pistachio nuts laying around.

Oven Barbecue Beer-Can Chicken - This was good, but I prefer the 'real' thing (BBQ). It didn't seem to have the intense BBQ flavor, but it was good enough to eat it till it was gone!

Where He Dwells

Okay, so I haven't taken pictures of Jake's room, because it is still coming together. We want it to have a classy vintage look with bold brick red, solid blue, and creamy chocolate. Our rad friend Lindsay painted us these three canvases (thanks co-workers!) and they look wonderful!

Here are the rest of the pieces:

Hartford Straightback Crib by Rockland in Coffee (also the dresser and changer)

Aidan Crib Bedding by Cocalo Couture

Sock Monkey, because what better defines vintage toys?

Lamp with Brick Red Shade

Flag Display, with Ryan's flag that was flown over the Capitol on his Navy Anniversary

Adorable frame from our friends Justin and Keirsten

Round Hamper (a steal at Burligton Coat Factory for only $9.99)

Etsy Wishes - July 2009

Of course you've heard of Etsy. It is the hub for handmade gifts and baubles, and it is a black hole, at least where my time is considered. Here are just a few of the neat things I found there:

Stay Classy Pencils, Branching out bracelet, Fun Sock Monkey print for Jake's room

A custom silhouette print, This sweet dollie for Emily, A silver birdie

Something to keep me warm, A pink lemonade lariat, Snazzy new key ring

Word Clouds

I found this neat little gadget while surfing the blogosphere...Wordle. It is a toy for generating “word clouds” from text that you provide. The clouds give greater prominence to words that appear more frequently in the source text. You can tweak your clouds with different fonts, layouts, and color schemes. The images you create with Wordle are yours to use however you like. You can print them out, or save them to the Wordle gallery to share with your friends.


I made a couple with words from emails people send congratulating us on the births of our kids. I think I will print them out and frame them. I also made this one from the Book of Psalms. It is beautiful to look at, but read the real version (in the Bible!) for the real beauty.



Have fun!

Wordless Wednesday: Ready for Preschool and Sucker Punched

We Swim

When it is 108 in the Central Valley, we happily take our sweat-drenched bodies over to Mom and Dad's house for a dip in the pool. Emily likes to horse around with Uncle Tony and Daddy, but she toned it down a little this day so Jake could join us.

Potty Trained and Ready for Preschool

Emily started preschool at Harvest Christian Preschool on July 1. Here is a picture of us on her first day.

She has been doing wonderful there, having no potty accidents, learning lots of songs, styling Mrs. Sarah's hair, and making new friends.

What's Cookin' - June 2009

Citrus-Cream Cheese Pull-Apart Rolls - Very good and similiar to Monkey Bread, but less calories and with a citrus kick.

Szechuan Green Beans with Pork - Solid recipe that can be made in 20 minutes, because that's how long the rice takes. It's a little spicy for the babes, so I would set some aside before adding the sauce, or maybe scale back on the crushed red pepper.

Creamy Chicken with Broccoli Shells - Probably not the best for your heart, but yummmm. This recipe made so much...we had dinner, Ryan took leftovers, and I even froze a small dish to bake later.

Filet Mignon from Costco - These tasty slabs of prime red meat were cooked to perfection by Hubby, and we paired them with some rice pilaf and green beans. Fewer things make me happier than a good chuck of beef.

Campbell's Beef Taco Bake - Solid recipe that makes for fantastic leftovers. Perhaps it was all in the salsa from Sal's? This is definately something I'll be able to make on weeknights when I go back to work. Ryan ate this for lunch and dinner the next day.

Cheesy Chicken - This was good. I mean, we ate it, and all the leftovers, but it wasn't anything I would make for company. I might stuff it with some provolone and scale back on something else next time.

Frozen Lemon Mousse with Blackberry-Raspberry Sauce - Upon recommendation from Lindsey, of course, I finally made this one. It was wonderful and perfect for the summer. The sauce is very sweet, and I just used a tad, and will probably use the rest for pancakes or something. I wouldn't change anything next time, except I might have all the ingredients on hand when I make it so I don't have to drop what I'm doing to run to the store.

Iced Coffee - Although I am not a coffe-drinker, sometimes a nice cup sounds so good. I found this recipe while browsing around, and it really worked well! I used decaf, and added some nonfat milk, Splenda, and a tad of sugar-free vanilla Coffeemate. Delicious!

Frozen Grapes - I have been reunited with an old love! Just pop a bowl full into the freezer and a few hours later, they are a perfect summer snack.

Herbed Chicken Parmesan - Okay, who is for a recipe that can be made in under 25 minutes, and only uses 2 dishes? I'm in! It was very tasty served with orzo and caesar salad.

Biscuits and Gravy - Ryan's only request for Father's Day was some homemade biscuits and gravy. Well I am not particularly keen on this type of dish, it was good for a special treat. And, by the way...have you checked out The Pioneer Woman? That lady knows how to cook (and host, and photograph, and be so stinking funny! She just launched a recipe website (Tasy Kitchen) that is just for the average woman. Check them out.

Workin' Hard For The Money...

We apologize for the brief interruption of service (like a month...I know), but life has been crazy! And instead of writing about it, I have just been enjoying it!

I am back to work (as of July 1) and am still getting into the groove of things. And in case you were wondering...I work here, at Community Action Partnership of Madera County...helping people, changing lives, and making our community a better place to live.

All in all, it's good to be back, but I miss my little darlings!