Lots of Love

LOVE this ad. Know why?

See it now? Wedding rings.

Dear Coffee-mate,

I like my coffee with a little milk...nothing sweet. However, from here on out, if the need arises, I choose you. I choose you because you chose to portray a married couple enjoying coffee in bed. Catch that? A married couple! In this "modern" world, you bucked the current advertising trend. You chose a heterosexual. Married. Couple. Coffee-mate, you are cool and the concept of enjoying coffee in bed with your SPOUSE...that's hot. Thanks.

I love this picture, too.

And this one.

Look what I found? In a few short days she's gone from army man crawling to sitting up by herself, to pulling up...time to lower the mattress. She's a wild one.

Sister had a friend over. They ate popsicles and rocked out in the kitchen. Fun times.

And Little Man...he's just plain ol' insane. I love him. Could eat him up. He's crazy. He carries a sword or gun most of the time..."in case de bad gwuys come." I always feel safe.

I've been working on a little project.

I don't have the before...suffice it to say, this baby was old, tired, and worn out. She was covered in denim and had suffered the abuse of fifteen years with a family of three kids. She looked forlorn. Hopeless.

But I had a little fabric from a yard sale...and an idea I couldn't get out of my head.

While my man watched a movie I went to work. In a few short hours she had a brand new look.

I wrapped her with the fabric, like I was wrapping a gift. I pinned here and tucked there. Found some old cording, and used an old piece of cardboard to make the folds for the skirt...and did more pinning. I've washed and dried her several times. She doesn't disappoint. I put her back on when she's still a tiny bit damp, flick down her boxpleat, and she's good as new, not perfect, but wonderful, never-the-less.

The best part is finding my man with a magazine and cup of coffee in hand, with his feet up, not to mention the times I find his head back and eyes closed. Sweet.

A few days ago he told me, "I love sitting in that wingback chair with my feet up on that ottoman."

Well worth the effort.

Banana Fana

We have discovered a new favorite. We can't get enough. I've traded my junk candy addiction for this...

They're wonderful by themselves...

But they're even better with a little of this.

And all you have to do is peel 'em, cut 'em in half, employ a popsicle stick...freeze for a few hours, pour on the chocolate magic...and wha-la. Instant gratification. (You can even coat them in the chocolate, let it harden, and store them ready to go in the freezer.)

We freeze grapes, too. They are marvelous. An instant escape from summer's heat.

And now, I want to share something my mom sent me a while back. The bottom of the photocopy reads: A message as published in the Wall Street Journal by United Technologies Corporation, Hartford Connecticut 06101.

The Most Creative Job in the World

It involves

taste,

fashion,

decorating,

recreation,

education,

transportation,

psychology,

romance,

cuisine,

designing,

literature,

medicine,

handicraft,

art,

horticulture,

economics,

government,

community relations,

pediatrics,

geriatrics,

entertainment,

maintenance,

purchasing,

direct mail,

law,

accounting,

religion,

energy,

and management.

Anyone who can

handle all those

has to be somebody

special.

She is.

She's a homemaker.

All you mamas out there enjoy!

PAUSE, please.

Can I please hit the pause button?

Yesterday morning just Sister and I went to breakfast. It was really special. And a surprise. We sat beside one another in our own little secret corner beside a fireplace...we talked and ate a cinnamon roll and bagel. Towards the end of our time there, she came over and SAT IN MY LAP. Do you know how precious that was??? She leaned back against me and said, "Mom, this has just been so special." Then she held my hand all the way out to the car and all the way to her classroom. I love that girl. I can't believe how precious and wonderful and grown she is!

And this morning, because it was the last day of school, I promised her breakfast in bed! Little Man accompanied.

She was delighted.

Cinnamon rolls always taste better in bed.

And then she readied herself for her last day of kindergarten. She proudly donned the outfit we made together, and then modeled for me. I was teary all morning.

Little Man wanted "in there," too.

And then we headed for school. It's so bittersweet. I want to hit the pause button. Such a sweet, sweet season of life is coming to an end. I've been reading in Ecclesiastes...there is a time for everything. It is time for this season - of Sister being in Kindergarten - to come to a close. It has been so rich. So wonderful. It's been like honeycomb to my soul.

I want to PAUSE...to take time to thoroughly enjoy everything.

On the way home I wound up beside this truck..."LONG LIVE THE HOME." I love that. I suspect they are referring to the house itself, but I loved reading it. Yes, long live the home. Long live the family!!! Long live the bonds that tie.

Life is often hard, but it is rich and it is good. God's mercies are new every morning and He is faithful, even in the seemingly insignificant and small. I give Him thanks and praise for this wonderful season of life. A season that has brought me to my knees in both total exhaustion, pleading for strength to stand again, and also in thanksgiving for His goodness and love. There is a time for everything and this has been a sweet, sweet time.

Sister, I love you with all my heart! It has been an honor and a joy to watch you grow and mature. I am so happy God gave us you! Perfect little you! You bring such joy and delight to my heart. Your imagination runs wild and you are incredibly creative! I am so thankful to God for the gift of you. I pray He will continue to draw your heart to Himself. I love you, dear one and I cannot wait to spend these long summer days with you...not to mention having you under my wing this fall as we begin our homeschooling adventure! I love you!!!

A Little Play

Saturday evening brought squeals of delight. One of my roommates, who also happens to be one of my best friends from college, rolled into town with her husband and their two babies!

We had a blast. I am exhausted. I know she is, too.

The children wore themselves slap out.

It was awesome.

Her baby girl, who is just six months, let me take all the pictures I wanted. I could have eaten her alive.

She never complained or made a mad face or argued.

So I played and played.

Sweet friend, I had so much fun - can't wait for next time!!! Your family is precious and I love you dearly!

Winding Down

This sweet year is coming to a close. This rich season is coming to an end. It's bittersweet. While I am thrilled over the thought of NO SCHOOL for an entire summer...I cannot believe my baby girl, who just started Kindergarten, yesterday, wasn't it? Is finishing this week. She is so big. She is so mature. She is reading. She is precious and I love her dearly. No more morning carpool, or afternoon carpool. Sigh. The mundane of this year is coming to a close. I am determined to savor these last few days. And I am excited with our summer plans...specifically with homeschooling next year! But I am sad (and happy) that she is SO GROWN UP. When did it happen?

She's also figured out a few things about being the oldest. I had her feather dusting this afternoon. Little Man pleaded to feather dust. As I pondered the best resolve, Sister piped up, "You can be my assistant."

To which he immediately replied, "Okay!"

"Now Little Man," said she, "you are my assistant and my assistant does whatever I say."

"Yes sir, Captain." said he.

"Get me some water, Assistant."

"Yes, Captain." And he marched into the kitchen, singing "hup, two, three, four, keep it up, two, three, four, yes Captain!" and fetched her a cup of water.

Which she promptly, accidentally, knocked from his hands and declared, "you're the assistant. Now you have to clean that up."

And he did.

I can't wait to see what happens the day he figures out she's not "the boss of him."

Little Bit has another double ear infection. She's not been a happy camper. Lots of holding, cuddling, and in general, babying. Given her mobility and desire for independence, while I hate for her to be in pain, I have thoroughly enjoyed her need for some motherly affection.

We're on day six. She's mending nicely.

I'm making progress on the little love seat. Thanks to my Superman, all those stubborn nails, etc. have been removed. I photographed the "taking apart" of everything, have bought nearly all my replacement supplies, and hope to begin sanding and painting in the next few days. Hoping to...

Check out the holster.

And the cukes. Two for the eyes and one in the mouth.

I couldn't even believe it when I saw it. I thought they were teasing. They were really. Both. Asleep. And that shelf in the background is progress. The bases are in. The first shelf is up. We're still in the skeletal phase, but I'll take it! (See that wire thing to the right? That's PART of Warrior's kennel. Uh-huh.)

The past few mornings the sun streaming into our living room has caused me to pause. The quiet solitude those last few minutes before the children stir is most welcome. I find myself smiling and breathing deeply as I read and sip my cappuccino. When the pitter patter of little feet and the hoarse cries of "mama" begin, I find I am much better prepared to lovingly reach out my hands. (Of course, if said child is whiny or their pleas are to me, in excess, and when two need me at once, let alone three, which happens frequently, I find that sweet attitude of mine has a tendency to disappear. Without thinking, I forget everything I read that morning, or for that matter, have been taught all my life, I don my flesh, and the process of death to self begins. And while laying down our lives is beautiful in light of the Gospel, death to self can be rather gruesome.

Salsa, Anyone?

Best EVER Salsa:

Serves a crowd!

(My family eats on it for days...)

• 1 large can diced tomatoes
• 3 jalapeno peppers (mine are frozen from our garden, pickled would be fine, too), diced
• 3 t jalapeno pepper juice (right out of the jar)
• 1 purple onion, diced
• 2 red peppers, diced
• 2 yellow peppers, diced
• 2 orange peppers, diced
• a few "glugs" of olive oil
• a few dashes of lime juice (I keep adding until it tastes good to me.)
• 2 T dried oregano
• 3 T minced garlic (You can buy a giant jar of this at Sams for about $4.)
• 1 bunch of fresh cilantro, diced
• salt (to taste, and I like Coarse Kosher salt)
• fresh ground pepper (to taste)

I usually stick my kitchen scissors in the can of tomatoes and cut, cut, cut/chop, chop, chop - randomly. It just helps avoid large tomato chunks...dice everything else, throw it in a bowl, stir, and feast!!! (I might add, this totally ROCKS taco night!)

PS: This morning, while I was on the phone with my sister, Little Man took out all my cleaning supplies and DUMPED Bar Keepers Friend all over the breakfast room floor. That stuff totally gets in every crack and crevice.

Yesterday morning, I woke quite early to the Little Man on the pot, hollering for help. As I approached the bathroom I could smell something akin to melting wires. (We had the beginnings of a true electrical fire in our kitchen wall shortly after moving in...so I know the smell.) T has just finished rewiring the den and all I could think was that something had gone wrong. I screamed for him to come. We checked everything, but found nothing. His nose was stopped up so he couldn't smell a thing, but I could definitely still smell "it." All the while Little Man is hollering from the toilet. Just as T offered to crawl under the house to investigate further, I stepped in the bathroom to help Little Man and found the source. He'd cranked on the space heater in the bathroom wall...the one that hasn't been turned on in over a decade. We had a nice little "chat." He will NOT be doing that again. (And I think we'll be looking for a way to disable the thing.)

The Biter

This Little Bit has become quite a biter over the past few weeks. With a fourth tooth soon to make an appearance, she is very effective.

And so it is with much sadness and lots of tears (on my part), that in the midst of Friday's noon biting nursing, I made an immediate decision she HAD to be weaned. For my sake. We've made it past ten months and with what we have frozen, she'll make it another month, and then I suppose the supplements will begin. Too bad my neighbor's freezer unknowingly went kaput, with a TON of my milk in it. Ugh.

It's been an emotional (I am embarrassingly and unreasonably teary) few days. I am sad and will miss those sweet times with her. And as much as I hate to admit it, it's a pride issue, too. Funny how God has a way of working on a prideful heart.