Friday, July 29, 2011

A Little Vacay...


I've been missin' this little ol' blog! We've had a wonderfully full last three weeks...some time at the lake, a week sans the kiddos, and a week of cousins! Which is way too much for one post. 



The lake trip began because we encouraged Sister to choose to make a memory rather than accumulate more stuff for her seventh birthday. She wanted to go camping as a family. But...it's really hot here in June. We looked into state parks, but couldn't find what we wanted when we wanted it. Enter VRBO.



We found a great rental on a lake not too far from home. We invited the grands and made it a long weekend. Had we known what Little Man would do, and that he would NOT be able to swim, we would never have planned a trip like this. 


Alas, God is good in all things. It rained almost The. Entire. Time. And it was wonderful.


There would be enough of a break in the rain for the children to run down to the dock and check on their fishing poles...


Little Man caught TWO catfish! But wouldn't get near enough the fish for a picture!


One drizzly afternoon The Engineer took the children down to the "beach" to build a fort. Entertainment for hours.


Later that afternoon we enjoyed a brief respite from the rain.


The children found a stick from a beaver's dam...


Which proved to be the ideal shovel. At least the children said so.


The shore was littered with pebbles and shells, pine straw and sticks.


And here are my favorite peeps in all the world! I love these people!


My fearless Little Man...who now claims he can "run faster than a train and I'm stronger than my daddy, but I'll never jump backwards off a diving board again until I'm five."


Little Bit seems a little fearless herself. She wandered right on out into that lake water...diaper and all.


The last night we played with sparklers.


It was a wonderful vacation! This is the first time we've ever done something like this - where we (The Engineer and I) picked where and when and it wasn't work related. It was a LOT of fun. 


I loved being away from home with my favorite people, and knowing there were no projects, nothing that had to be cleaned out, etc. It was a fantastic break!


Happy Weekend, Y'all!

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Here, There, & Everywhere



This is going to be a totally random post. These are all pictures I'd uploaded prior to the making of Little Man's Indiana Jones scar. Thank you ALL so much for your sweet comments and emails and phone calls. It is precious to be blessed with so many sweet friends who care so much. Y'all are a precious encouragement to me and I appreciate you all! Thank you for loving us! 

Little Man had his stitches removed Sunday afternoon by a good friend of mine. He screamed...she was quick! He is doing great! The inside looks a little like an ulcer in the exact imprint of his top teeth. The outside looks like a cut. Not bad at all considering the fact that last Tuesday the doctor said, "it would be really great if we could keep saliva from leaking through." Ugh. God made our bodies in amazing ways. The healing process is quite astounding.

Earlier this summer I got to spend three days sans the children with my mama. We did this last summer (thanks to my sweet MIL who kept the children!), too. Let me be clear, this time when it's just the two of us is WORK time. Project time.  Check out the gallery wall. We used every gold frame in the house and then used some of this to "gold" a few more. Since I took this photo, Mom has added to the wall and rearranged a bit. It looks SO good!



Once the gallery wall was finished we decided she needed a round mirror to hang over her headboard. One trip to Homegoods, one white wooden mirror, some rub n buff, and a late night, and Mama has a beautiful gold framed mirror. 


We also did some cleaning out. Found this. I distinctly remember ice skating and hearing God Blessed Texas...and then I remember exiting the rink and while unlacing my skates, I heard some guys from the youth group singing it...so I bought the single. Cause, you know, I was in the seventh grade and I was cool like that. Ha! Yeah right. Makes me laugh now.


Little Man, playing the "drums." This is an AWESOME sound to hear at 7:30 in the morning. It's like he has three hands. Super talented.


Speaking of talented...the kids have been making mustaches on scotch tape. They're so cool.


Little Man and his daddy built this tank.


He dressed to match. Including his Sister's camo socks. 


Let me tell you about the best ever marinade and sauce for pork tenderloin. Like - slap yo mama good. Place pork tenderloin in a ziplock bag. Dump in some brown sugar. (Maybe a cup - not sure. I don't measure.)


Now pour on the soy sauce. I don't know...just some glugs...about a cup? Maybe? You can't mess this up. I promise.


Now squirt in some dijon mustard. Several good squeezes. If you're feeling adventurous, spoon in some garlic, too. Fresh, from the jar, whatever. 

Now let it sit. All. Day. Long. 

Grill over high heat for a few minutes, flip, grill a few minutes more. Baste it with that marinade. Butterfly the meat (slice it almost all the way through cutting lengthwise, so you have a long winged "butterfly").

Grill a little longer...until done...let cool for a few minutes and slice thin. 

Then...I mix up a little more brown sugar, soy sauce, and dijon mustard and drizzle it over the sliced meat. Y'all, I am telling you, this is GOOD stuff. You will thank me.


Sister received lots of art supplies for her birthday. The children have been putting them to good use. We have a plethora of art being created. I love it!


So do the children. (Pre-accident.)


A few weeks ago we did a little homeschooling. I cannot get over how much faster Sister is at her reading. WOW! She is flying through! I am so excited! We've gotten six days under our belt over the last couple of weeks. I am thrilled with that! We'll get a few more days in before school "officially" starts.


What that really means is that on those days this fall when I feel I can't do another school day...when the laundry and house are SCREAMING my name...or when it's just too nice out to stay inside all day...or when life happens...we can afford to take a day off. 


Check out that balance. I mentioned needing one for a math lesson. A short time later The Engineer returned with what you see above, in hand. He whipped it out in no time. I do believe that has been the favorite math lesson. Even Little Bit wanted in on the action.


We've kind of worked a little morning routine. She takes her sweet time with yogurt...especially if I let her feed herself...and for the sake of homeschooling, we move her highchair into the office and let her feed herself.


I've been re-arranging. I moved our gigantic bulletin board into the office so we can use it for the children's school papers. As I cleared it off I came across a few pictures...I love this picture. It was taken December of 2006...the first December my parents weren't together, and the December the baby we miscarried was due. My sister's in-laws invited us to spend Christmas with them. It was amazing. A really sweet time for our family during a chapter in life that was very difficult and extremely heartbreaking. The change of scenery was such a blessing.


This picture, though a little washed out, is of me and The Engineer at prom, senior year. We were so young and in love. We knew we wanted to get married. Such a fun night! He is so good lookin'!


Me and my sisters. This was taken during a trip to Colorado. Such a fun trip! That year Dad was the president of a window and door makers association and their convention was in Colorado. The association gave us an all expenses paid vacation to thank Dad for his service. We stayed at the Broadmore. We drank cappuccino every night after dinner. We had GRAND breakfasts. Such sweet memories. And the first and only time I have ever gone fly-fishing.


This was taken at my sister's wedding. Such a precious time for so many reasons. A hard time for many reasons, too. Dad had just moved out. We'd miscarried a month earlier. The best of times and the worst of times. Still, a very, very joyous and wonderful day in my book!


And last, but not least...a portrait of the beloved Land Cruiser, drawn by Sister. That would be me driving and Sister in the backseat (right) crying. Yes, those are tears. 

Happy Wednesday - or Thursday - to you!

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Properly Initiated


I feel that I have now officially been initiated into the club all mothers of boys eventually join.

Bobo (my Mom) is visiting and we thought we'd enjoy a nice afternoon swim at the pool. Both Sister and Little Man conquered their long time fear of the diving board...and it was much like it was at the lake...once they jumped, they kept jumping and jumping and jumping.

With each jump, fear decreased. Mom and I sat beside the baby pool with Little Bit and cheered...and then Little Man walked to the end of the diving board and turned around...to jump off backwards. We yelled, "NO! Turn AROUND!" The life guard yelled, "NO! TURN AROUND!" As Little Man ignored our commands and bent his knees to jump, Mama said, "I'm turning my head. I can't watch." And he hit the diving board. HARD. With his head. 


I screamed his name and ran through the baby pool. As he hit the water, a young man who'd been standing in line dove into the water and wrapped one arm around Little Man and swam him to the side, where I pulled him out. Blood. Was. Gushing. 

As I gathered him in my arms, a friend told me she was getting ice. We made our way out of eye shot and I tried to calm him...to get a good look. I pulled his lip down to survey the damage. All I could see was a mouth spilling over with blood. Finally, I got a small glimpse. I felt a wave of nausea and thought I saw a tooth upside down...about that time a woman named Lyn approached and told me she was a nurse and offered to take a look. Immediately she turned to me and said, "He bit all the way through. You need stitches. NOW." 

She ran with me to gather our things. My friend helped, too. Mama grabbed Little Bit. Another friend said she'd care for Sister. And this mysterious nurse, Lyn, who had a cast on part of her leg, ran with our things and helped us load into the car. She recommended a specific doctor at a local urgent care clinic.



As we pulled out I dialed another friend, who works at said clinic. She was working out of town, but recommended the same doctor. She also called ahead and let him know we were coming.

In we sped, me cradling my baby boy, in bathing suits, still dripping wet, and with a popsicle melting sticky and running down Little Man's arms. A nurse came out to take a look and said, "We can fix this, but he's going to have to be very still. We can't put him to sleep, but we can put him in something like a straight jacket to hold him down. What do you want to do?"

And my reply, "I'm game if you're game."



And so we went back. And it was humbling. We wrapped Little Man like a caterpillar and laid him on the exam table. I had to hold his legs down. One nurse held his chest, and another cradled his face so the doctor could sew the stitches. Four inside. Two outside. Little Man. SCREAMED. THE. ENTIRE. TIME. Even after he got local anesthesia. The doctor never missed a beat. Neither did the nurses. 

When all was said and done, the doctor returned and told Little Man he was really brave. I sort of made a face, as if to say, "sorry for all that screaming." He smiled and said, "I've been doing this for eleven years. I'm used to it. He did great."



Y'all, I'm so glad that's over. I am exhausted. I haven't cried yet. I watched almost the entire time, except when the doctor cut out a piece of fat...the piece of fat I thought was a tooth. Gross. When I saw his scissors closing in on that spot, I decided one patient was enough and turned my head. 

I am in awe of God...of the creativity and wisdom and abilities He gives people. I am in awe of His awesome provision. The boy who jumped in to rescue Little Man is from Texas. He was at the pool with a cousin. Lyn, the nurse...she isn't a member. She just happened to be at the pool this afternoon. The fact that my Mom was with us and could care for Little Bit - without a sippy cup, without even clothing...in a swim diaper and a wet bathing suit - for over two hours. AMAZING! The fact that my friend who is a P.A. answered her phone while at work the FIRST time I called. UNREAL. That she called ahead and let the doctor know we were coming. BLESSING. And the patience and kindness of a staff in dealing with the terrified screams of a small child. PRECIOUS. Ministered to my heart! And everyone there...EVERYONE...as in ALL the  people in the building...even in the front lobby...could hear him SCREAMING...and they were all so kind. So sympathetic. Y'all - God provided in every way. In EVERY way. I am so thankful. So. VERY. Thankful. I held my baby for quite a while tonight. I am so very thankful to God for His life. I am so thankful for doctors and friends and strangers and mothers and smart phones - oh, the blessings God gives us!


Little Man wanted to sleep with Sister tonight. As we tucked them into bed, Sister got a little wistful and said, "You know, today when I was fighting with Little Man about legos? Well, I just didn't care about him. I didn't care what happened to him." And then there was a long pause..."I'm so glad he's okay. I love him so much."

Father, thank You. Thank You for your perfect sovereignty and goodness. In all things. All the time. We love You and we stand amazed.


Friday, July 8, 2011

Party On!


It was quite the party. An art party. 


My sister, (who has some exciting news, btw), made up a precious rhyme for the invitations...

Sister's Turning 7! 
It's Her Birthday, Ya Know?
We'll Celebrate with Cake & Candy
& Have An Art Show!


And that, my friends, is exactly what we did.


Mama and I stayed up past midnight adding layer upon layer of candy to the cake. (We may or may not have eaten some, too.)


We wrapped the breakfast room table with paint drop cloth and topped her with canvases, paints, and cups of candy!


I walked them through a really simple little painting...


We painted the background and stuck on our little birds, and The Engineer blew them dry with a hairdryer, 'cause he rocks like that.


And while they got good and dry, we sang Happy Birthday to the birthday girl.


But we had these cellophane wrapped suckers on top of the cake, you see, and one caught fire...so there was a little drama!


Ta-DA!!!

Fabric and paper and paint...and the children wrote:

"My lips will shout for joy, when I sing praises to you; My soul also, which You have redeemed." ~Psalm 71:23


The very next day was Little Bit's birthday. 


Always prepared, Mama had Little Bit's gifts wrapped and ready. I, on the other hand, did not. 


So Little Bit opened a few gifts from Bobo...


and played...


and played...


and then we hit the road because...


We had another party for Sister and Little Bit a little closer to the great-grands, so they could celebrate with us. Mama cooked up a FEAST and spread her finest. It was delicious!!!


My baby sister and her little boy joined in the festivities. (He and Little Man are QUITE the pair.)


JJ made the three tiered cake with homemade butter cream frosting. (Why haven't I asked her to make EVERY cake?)


Everyone sang to the girls...



Sister blew out all the candles before Little Bit knew what was happening...


So we re-lit two so she could have a turn.



What happy memories for the girls! Thank you fam for all you did to celebrate and make the days special! We LOVE birthdays!