Saturday Sweethearts

Thursday was my father-in-law's birthday. The kids wore these shirts in honor of him. Lots of fun, huh?

Friday Funnies

At one of the recent free summer movies, we caught this preview for another funny edition of one of our favorite movies. Hope you enjoy it as much as we did...and hope you're enjoying a fun Friday!

Tooth, Liberty, and the Pursuit of a Fairy

I was perusing my blog list the other day, reading and enjoying some new posts, when I came across this gem for a "Tooth Fairy Alarm."

Using the reminders on an iPod, you'll never forget (again?) to "see" her when she visits the evening following a lost tooth.

Great idea, right?

But then I'd never really forget such a momentous occasion...right? Me?

Gulp.

Well, it doesn't help that our kids somehow think the Fairy can stop by anytime...not just the night following the tooth's mouth exit.

Remember this time? And how about this one? Sigh. Or even this one among others. It all goes too fast...

Maybe, when the time comes, I'll try this new "alarm" with the smallest guy. Then, I'll hopefully be able to enjoy more visits with the Tooth Fairy...or at least see her. *wink-grin*

Wordless Wednesday

On Bunnies and Birthdays...Again

Today is a bunny birthday in our house. (For some reason, it feels like it's often a bunny or "piggy" or kitty or dog or human birthday in our house.)

Well, today is actually two bunnies' birthdays.

Our Bubble and Squeak celebrate being born at our house 7 years ago! They were the first of our Bonny and Clyde's kits. (The second pair included their younger brothers, Clementine and Earl Grey.)

It's funny how quickly time passes for pets and yet you don't realize it until you stop and look at them and at the photos of when they were "brand new."

Take a look and join us in celebrating this sweet pair of bunny girls -- from 3 days old to today.

Merely Musing on Monday

Happy Monday!  The last Monday in June!  Six months from today is....CHRISTMAS!

Don't panic. Still 183 shopping days left. Plenty of time...plennnnnty of time. Yikes.

So it's Monday, the beginning of another new week, and I realized that I never blogged about my kids finishing school. I know that I mentioned that they did. But I never posted their photos. I'll be sure to remedy that today.

Summer always lends itself to a more relaxed tone. Well, that's the theory anyway.

So we've started our Summer Bridge books and rearranged our cleaning schedule. We've walked to the park a few times. Still haven't made it to the library to sign up for their summer reading program, but hopefully this week.

Both boys got a pair of Crocs yesterday. It's so funny to me because I never knew how much they actually liked them. They're very versatile/useful shoes...though not that attractive. I have a pair of the "relief" style to help with my plantar fasciitis. I love that I can clean them in the shower, and they look as good as new. I asked Edward why he liked these shoes so much, and he said it was the little "alligator" on the side of the strap. Hmm... I don't remember any other time periods where a little "alligator" on a piece of clothing was so popular and/or desirable. Do you? *wink-grin*  I'm showing my age, of course.

Anyways....

Not much is planned for the week. Emily has a play practice and Ethan has an appointment with the allergist -- both events happening tomorrow. We're hoping to get stuff tidied up around here. School books have to go back to K12....papers need to be sorted and filed (in either the proper folders or the trashcan)... All good -- if a bit boring -- stuff, really. But sometimes life requires us to eat a bit of fiber, right?

So without further adieu, I give you the end of year "portrait" session and a video of our "promotion ceremony."

Start of school -- September 2011

End of school -- June 2012 

THE "PROMOTION CEREMONY"

Emily is promoted to 10th grade

Edward is promoted to 6th grade

Ethan is promoted to kindergarten

THEN (9/2011) AND NOW (6/2012) -- Haven't they changed?

Sweet Sunday

Today's sermon was called "Bearing Bad News" and continued the series "Daniel: Faith When Life's Confusing," learning from the book of Daniel.

As our pastor said, we are bombarded everyday with ideas and things to pursue that are meaningless. The only thing that matters is fulfilling the destiny that God has for us. The other stuff comes for a moment and then is gone.

Quite challenging...but, oh, so sweet! Enjoy this sweet Sunday!

Saturday Sweethearts

I took this photo of my three sweet blessings a few weeks ago. They were excited for the summer break to begin. I love how they love and support each other...most of the time. *wink-grin*

Friday Funnies

I love this baby's face.

Don't you just feel that way sometimes?

I love sharing things on Facebook -- both good and bad -- but sometimes it's best to do as this baby says. Yeah...yeah...just do what he says.

Actually, I'm not sure I'd want to meet him in a dark alley on a rainy moonless night....

.............

Have a funny Friday!

Reinventing a Company

We've gone to see a few movies recently, and I always get chills when the various movie product companies flash their ads across the screen. You know, for things like the surround sound, or the animation, or the digital picture.

Each one has a part -- whether large or small -- of the whole movie we're about to enjoy, and that's always exciting to me.

I know.

It doesn't take much sometimes.

*wink-grin*

The one that stood out the most to me this week was DLP, a Texas Instruments company.

Texas Instruments.

Wow! That company's name conjures up a ton of memories for me.

My dad's desk calculator. The early personal computer my aunt and friend each had: the TI-99/4. (We had the Commodore 64, which at the time seemed lightyears ahead.) The Speak & Spell. My very favorite-most toy: The Little Professor calculator (pictured above). My husband's graphing calculator.

I reminisce about some of these products with my children on the way home. We revisit times gone by....

It's exciting to see a company last so long by reinventing itself...moving along with the times, so to speak.

According to Wikipedia, "Digital Light Processing (DLP) is a trademark owned by Texas Instruments, representing a technology used in some TVs and video projectors. It was originally developed in 1987 by Dr.Larry Hornbeck of Texas Instruments."


Texas Instruments started in 1930 under another name and formally under the current name in 1951.

That's a lot of history...and a lot of fun to see that this company is still a part of our world.

Wordless Wednesday

Another From Hellish Kitchens...a.k.a. Mine

I have a reputation.

I love to buy fruit.

And while I can't eat most of it due to allergies, I love that my kids can get all the wonderful vitamins and minerals that fresh fruit offers.

Okay, so that's not a bad thing, right? Not something important enough to get a "reputation" from.

That's not the actual problem, though.

I love that the fruit is available for the kids to eat with their meals or for snacks.

But sometimes...I forget that we have it.

And when that happens, it dies, and we feel really wasteful if we have to throw it out.

Recently, I perused allrecipes.com for a good banana bread recipe. (Have I mentioned how much I love that site?) And voila! I give you the following recipe, great for when you don't have any eggs or milk in the house...or if you're on a dairy-free diet.

Banana Bread

INGREDIENTS:

2/3 cup sugar 1/3 cup shortening 2 cups all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon baking soda 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 cup mashed ripe bananas

DIRECTIONS:

Note: This recipe does NOT contain eggs or milk. In a large bowl, cream sugar and shortening for about 5 minutes (mixture does not get smooth). Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with bananas, beating after each addition (the batter will be thick). Spoon into a greased 9-in. x 5-in. x 3-in. loaf pan. Bake at 350 degrees F for 40-45 minutes or until bread tests done with a toothpick. Cool in pan for 10 minutes before removing to a wire rack.

I've made it three times, and every time has been awesome!!

Seriously.

We've eaten the entire loaf in one meal.

I use margarine for the shortening and cook it for about 10 minutes longer (but that's my oven). Some of the reviewers offer some good suggestions. But I would just make it from the original recipe the first time and see what you think and where you might tweak it.

It's a great way to use up "old" bananas...and keep from getting a "reputation."

Monday Musings...in Memory

Happy Monday!

It's our first since our summer vacation from school started. (Woo-hoo!!) And it feels good to have a lighter schedule.

The kids started their "Summer Bridge" books today...and they're actually excited. (Makes me wonder how I can use something similar for them for school time. *wink-grin*) This is Ethan's first year to join in. He's SO excited. He keeps saying it's like doing "real" school. 

We're actually using it as an experiment to see if he's ready to start school in the fall. He's already reading/spelling basic words and doing simple addition and subtraction, so we're wondering if he might do well to start kindergarten at home this coming school year. It's always a toss up since we don't want to rush anything, but then there's the notion that his "window" is wide open, too. So we'll take it gently for the moment, and see how it goes before we order any curriculum.

Emily is performing in a Shakespeare play this summer. She's "Curio" in Twelfth Night, and they'll be doing the performances in a local park. Looks like a good time for everyone. Here's hoping for good weather.

We go tonight -- clad in our tie-dye shirts -- to say farewell to Stuart's co-worker and friend, Bret. It still feels so surreal to us. We keep thinking about his wife and kids...and how much shock they must be feeling right now. Stuart's company offered to pay for the travels of any of the salesmen/women who wanted to come in for the service. Should be a large crowd. Bret worked there for over 20 years.

Sweet Father's Day Sunday

I love this time of year.

Summer is nearly here...school is finally finished as is hayfever (mostly)...and it's Father's Day, the wonderful day that we celebrate the loving and special heroes -- called Dad, Daddy, or Dad-in-law -- in our lives.

Of course, we celebrate them everyday when we give them a hug or tell them that we love them, but it's fun to have a special day to really "let 'em have it."

Our special daddy -- ie. Stuart -- has been hoping for "mail-order meat" for the past upteen years. He's hinted and looked at it and hinted some more. I haven't really "bitten" (pun intended?) because it seemed so expensive. But since he always grills something yummy for Father's Day and a great e-mail deal came through (free shipping), we decided this was the year for "mail-order meat."

And to our excitement, he wasn't disappointed. *Yay!*

It's always my parents 51st Anniversary!! 51 years together!! What a legacy!!

Today's sermon dealt with living in faith no matter what the circumstances or consequences, knowing that God always walks with us. Easier said than done sometimes, I think, but always rewarding. Our hearts and heads have been filled with sadness for the family of Stuart's co-worker who died. His family is having a service for him tomorrow night. Attendees are invited to wear tie-dye. You can bet we will.

A really meaningful song from this morning:

Saturday Sweetheart

Today marks our sweet poochie's 10th birthday. So we decided to celebrate by buying him a squeaky cupcake toy.  He decided to "celebrate" by taking a walk down the street...by himself.  Fortunately, a kind pair of neighbors found him and put him on a leash and called us.

Phew.

That would not have been a good birthday gift if something bad had happened to him on the busy road near our house. (Thank You, God!)

Here's Buster Brown, the birthday boy, in all of his glory. He wasn't too sure about the squeaky toy...but I think it's growing on him. We even sang the "Happy Birthday" song and lit some candles I put on his dinner. Not sure he knew what to do with all the extra attention today...but he's a good boy.

Friday Funnies

Happy Friday to you!

It's our first Friday of Summer Vacation!! Woo-hooo!!!

My hubby alerted me to this week's Friday Funny. I truly love this man's sense of humor and his graciousness. What a fun moment for him and for his lovely wife!

Enjoy! And have a fun Friday!

Another Bit of Writing Fun

I entered another short story contest this past spring. I wasn't sure -- even though I'd paid the $5 to enter -- that I wanted to do the contest again. The starter for this one was very similar to the first one I'd entered...and I felt so uninspired. 

Still, inspiration did hit and below is the finished product. I didn't win the actual contest...but I did win a "door prize." *grin*

*  *  *

Forever Lost

Lost. That word seemed to have so many meanings to her at the moment, Georgina thought.

For the past three years, she and Xander had been lost in love, so much so that after they’d married they’d decided to take a once-in-a-lifetime journey across the ocean to Italy. It was considered the land of love, so they knew the wine and history and music and cappuccinos would work together to strengthen their “amore” for one another.

Then, once they’d arrived, they’d been lost in frustration and anger at one another, each feeling misunderstood by the other.

All she wanted was a small souvenir to take home to remind them of their time together in Italy, and he said the “damn trip was too expensive as it was…just take mental photos.” It was supposed to be their honeymoon, a time to celebrate each other, she’d complained, adding that all the magazines she’d read described elaborate trips taken by lovebirds who’d “tied the knot” without a care in the world for the bills they’d face afterwards. That was the problem, he’d told her bitterly. It had to be paid afterwards, and it all added up to a huge loan that would take at least a decade to pay off. He wondered if she wanted to have that kind of monetary stress continue even after they had children who would no doubt add to their debts.

She’d flounced off, wondering all the while if she’d made the right decision in saying “I do.”

Now, they were lost at sea and had been for the past week. They were down to their last sips of fresh water, bobbing along in the lifeboat, hoping against hope that someone would find them.

Georgina slumped on the bow, searching for any hint of a breeze to soothe her burning face. Something…someone…had to come soon, she told herself. They wouldn’t make it much longer.

Xander lay at the bottom of the boat, much worse off than she was.  Always the “nobleman,” he’d given most of his water to her. He was obviously still crazy lost in love with her, she thought wryly.

But looking at him, she realized, with a pull in her chest, that she still loved him, too. Despite the bickering of the week before, when the talk of finances had put a damper on the sweetness of the trip, Georgina knew their relationship went deeper than that. They had history together – memories of times spent chatting and giggling over simple stuff, sharing a Coke and bag of chips. The fact that he would giggle with her made her heart swell with affection.

Lost in thought, Georgina wondered how many of those magazine celebrities could boast of such stuff.  Everything they did was for the PR it brought them. Share a kiss? Okay. The stars kissed passionately for the eager clicks of cameras around them. Hold hands? Sure. They’d walk along, clutching hands and chatting on their cellphones. Snap! Snap! went the photogs, like dogs salivating for the scraps of meat at the end of a meal, never once wondering if the feelings were real.

Then a noise startled her and her eyes widened when she noticed something fast approaching in the distance—

Bang! Thump!

“Mo-om! Cassie won’t get out of the bathroom!!”

Cassie sighed, quickly closing the book she’d lost herself to. Her brother’s impatience at wanting the bathroom had ruined the moment. She’d have to finish it later, with a flashlight under the covers of her bed.

Wordless (Mostly) Wednesday

In memory of my grandmother, Janice.
Today would have been her 91st birthday. 

What Really Matters

I have a headache the size of Montana, and my youngest is practicing to be the next drummer for Led Zeppelin and/or an organist for a horror flick. I get a phone call from my husband saying that his 43-year-old co-worker who collapsed a week and a half ago and remains in a coma doesn't look likely to pull through.

And then the kids start bickering.

I pull no punches and remind them of their pettiness, especially in light of the grief Stuart's co-worker's family is dealing with at this very moment.

Can't these kids feel the utter lack of meaning in their jibes and jabs at each other? No. They're young. They don't understand because it isn't them. They don't get it because it is surreal. Even we as adults can't grasp it -- the fragility of life -- although we know it's there.

It's a blessing and a burden.

In one sense, I feel glad to shelter them from the sadness that surrounds losing someone so precious...yet at the same time we grow complacent in our attitudes and treatment of each other. We get bored and so we poke and prod and provoke, not remembering that at some point that person may not be there to do all that to.

It's a sobering thought.

Do we want our last interactions with each other to be ones of annoyance and anger or love and kindness?

Choose what really matters.

Merrily Musing Along on Monday

"Monday. Monday. Can't trust that day."

Not sure why, but I love Mondays. Maybe because it's a fresh start to the week?

It's been a ton of months since I last did a "Monday Musings" of some sort. And I've missed it. It was always such a fun way to recap the previous week's events. I'm sure I chronicled a lot about our family's life during the years that I actually did it.

We're gradually winding down for the school year. For some reason, unbeknownst to us, we're way behind the finish line of other public schools. Everybody else seemed to get out last week (or earlier). Makes it a bit hard to concentrate given the invites to play or hang out. Still, it's always good to wind down from a school year...though I can NOT believe we're actually at this point again. Wow! Didn't we just start?

Emily is finishing 9th grade -- her first year of high school. She picked out courses for 10th grade, and they look challenging but fun for her. Edward is finishing up 5th/6th grade and will start with 7th grade math and reading next year. Yikes! It's making my head spin. We're considering what to do school-wise with Ethan this fall. On one hand, I like that kids have time to play and, well, just be kids for as long as possible. But, on the other hand, he is SO excited to be like the big kids and learn, and he's already doing some basic reading and math...so it would be a shame not to grab hold of that enthusiasm in some way....

We had a nice weekend, happy to have Stuart home from Italy (again!!). He's been travelling more often again lately. We'd gotten spoiled having him stay local with only a few trips a year. Since the end of April, he's been on three trips with another one coming up soon. Sigh. But I guess it's part of his job, and we're happy for the employment.

I finished writing 26 (!!) articles for a supplement the newspaper published this past Sunday. It was a lot more challenging than I originally thought it would be...and I have to admit I was more than a little bit burned out at the end. It felt like I started working full-time for the newspaper again. The finished product looked very nice, though.

I'll end this brief Monday Musings with a recent "Ethan-ism" that tickled me:


Me, after tucking him into bed: I love you to pieces.
Ethan: And I love you to "together things."

Sweet Sunday

The worship songs at church almost always fit the mood/feelings/burdens of the week that just finished.

And that's no accident.

It's just how God works.

The encouragement He gives us is immense. Sometimes, we think we're the only ones going through whatever it is that we're going through. We trudge through the week feeling weary and worn down. But then He gives us a song on Sunday that meets us and encourages us beyond measure.

That's called a "God thing" and a really sweet Sunday!

Jesus really is ALL to us. Enjoy!

Saturday Sweetheart

Our nephew, Erik, graduated from high school this past Wednesday.

Today, his parents celebrated his accomplishments with family and friends. It was such fun to see him and give him a big hug, remembering all those years ago when he was just a little (a relative term -- no pun intended) boy with imaginary "guys," one in particular named "Joe."

...

Gosh, the days fly by!

We're so proud of him!!

Friday Funnies

Another funny from "Simon's Cat" on this sunny Friday morning. The kids are finishing up their school for the year...and we're heading to a school picnic this afternoon. A perfectly fun Friday all around, I'd say.

Enjoy! And I hope you have a fun Friday, too!


   

A Graduated Sadness

Our one and only nephew -- the first grandchild on my side of the family -- graduated from high school yesterday.

...

Graduated. From. High. School.

[Insert shocked and sad face here.]

It seems to me that he only just started kindergarten a few months ago. He was playing with "his guys" and fire trucks and talking about "geckos" and "tids."  How is it even possible that he could be finished his secondary education?

We weren't able to go to the ceremony since he went to a HUGE high school with an even HUGER amount of students graduating and each family only got six tickets. My family alone would have used most of those...not leaving any for his parents and grandparents, who definitely "outrank" aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Still, I was thinking about him ALL day, remembering that he is really truly finished with this phase of his life...moving into the next zone...nearly completely into adulthood. I know his parents feel it far more than me.

Sigh.

It's so hard to watch kids grow up....and this is a really cool guy who really did grow up and up and up to 6'7".

He's going to study engineering at Grove City College in the fall, and we know he'll do great! We're SO proud of him!

It's moments like these that make you sit back and take stock of your own life.

Our kids are just about to finish school for the year.

Emily is heading into her sophomore year of high school, which means she is really truly a high-schooler...not a "beginner" anymore, and Edward is moving to 6th grade, his last year of elementary school before junior high school. Ethan will be 4 in September...old enough to start full-time school in England. We're considering his education already. Already?

How did we get to each of these points already?

Weren't they just born? Just learning to sit up and babbling in babytalk and trying food for the first time?

Those days feel like ages and ages ago now... And, in reality, I suppose they really were ages ago.

I guess it's just another reminder for us to enjoy these days -- the here and now.

Billy Joel said it best when he sang that "this is the time to remember...'cuz it will not last forever. These are the days to hold onto, 'cuz we won't although we'll want to."

I really want to hold onto them....

Wordless Wednesday

5. When Fights Happen...Make Cookies

When I first read out loud this post on "16 Lessons Learned in Marriage," my daughter encouraged me to elaborate on each one, especially since they really truly authentically are lessons I have indeed actually really learned in the years that I've been happily hitched to my hubby.

I thought about it, but then I decided that I'd have 16 more ready-made subjects to blog about later on down the road. Perfect, right? I thought you'd agree.

5. When fights happen...make cookies.

There have been times in our marriage when we've had a disagreement of sorts. Nothing serious. Nothing out of the ordinary. Just a mild skirmish that ends...well, that ends in the proverbial "Mexican Standoff."

Early in our marriage, Stuart and I would have one of these moments. I would end up doing what we later dubbed as a "monologue," and he would go quiet...and then we'd both stay silent for hours. No kidding. And then -- wait for it...I'm not joking you -- he'd fall asleep.

I mean, what better way to end a feud than to close your eyes and start to snore?

Not much shows loving, caring, understanding, and willingness to work things out like the sound of "Zzzzs" reverberating from our easy chair.

Sigh.

Usually, I'd end up a bit more perturbed than before.

(Go figure.)

But then something would happen.

I'd get this incredible urge to go into the kitchen and clean it up. Do all the dishes. Scour the table and counters. And then...make cookies.

It's like the idea of sharing something soft, warm, and sweet would melt the frustrations mounting between us.

And it worked.

(Go figure.)  

Sometimes -- though I'm sure more rarely in other households -- we have little tiffs with our kids, as well. Little disagreements that blow out of proportion, causing us to second-guess any funds we're putting towards vacation plans and instead put that money into a houseboat fund that would allow us as parents to stay -- childless -- offshore just for a decade year month few days for the sake of our sanity.

Just sometimes, mind you.

So a funny thing happened this morning....a mere few hours after a slightly large row happened between said children and myself....

I found myself baking...banana bread.

I woke up remembering the frustrations I'd had at them last night and suddenly had the urge to make something warm, sweet, and yummy.

And it worked. A lot of laughter was heard around the table as we devoured the freshly baked goodness.

So remember, when you fight -- and you know you will at some point -- go bake something yummy. It'll be worth the effort. I promise!

Musing About Monday Musings

We like that they want to get God to bless
the troops and everything in their store...

When I first started blogging, an eon or so ago, I wanted to somehow do a post everyday.

Ambitious, I know, but I've always loved to write so I thought it might happen? Maybe? Perhaps?

Yeah, I know. It didn't.

I've never been good at keeping a diary. I can go for a few weeks, okay, a few days, maybe, and then I forget or get busy or am plain out of ideas.

Still, I thought if I made the blog different enough to keep me amused, it might work.

So I came up with "regular features" -- ones that I could just plug something into to add a little variety to my posts, that would keep me from spraining my brain through having to come be creative 24/7...thus burning out.

Hence, Wordless Wednesdays, Fridays Funnies, Saturday Sweethearts, and Sweet Sundays were "born."

For a long time, I did a weekly recap in the form of some kind of "Monday musings" and, occasionally, I did Tuesday Tidbits or Thoughtful Thursdays. (Can you tell I like alliterations?)

I haven't done a Monday post in a long long time. I think the last time happened here.

So I'll attempt to pick up -- next week -- where I left off -- next week -- and again chronicle the life -- next week -- in our family's days...maybe next week.

If you ever get bored and have a suggestion or two, I'm all ears.

Sweet Sunday

1. How firm a foundation ye saints of the Lord,

Is laid for your faith in his excellent word;

What more can he say than to you he hath said?

You, who unto Jesus, for refuge have fled.

2. In ev'ry condition - in sickness in health,

In poverty's vale, or abounding in wealth,

At home and abroad, on the land, on the sea,

As thy days may demand, so thy succor shall be.

3. “Fear not, I am with thee; O be not dismayed!

For I am thy God, and will still give thee aid;

I'll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,

Upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.

4. “When through the deep waters I call thee to go,

The rivers of sorrow shall not thee o'erflow;

For I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless,

And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.

5. “When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,

My grace all-sufficient shall be thy supply;

The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design,

Thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.

6. “E'en down to old age, all my people shall prove

My sov'reign eternal, unchangeable love;

And then, when grey hairs shall their temples adorn,

Like lambs they shall still in my bosom be borne.

7. “The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose,

I will not, I cannot, desert to his foes:

That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,

I'll never - no, never, no, never forsake!”

Saturday Sweetheart

I loved this shot of Emily from this past Saturday. 

She had the privilege of being photographed for another "Voices" cover, and I don't want to spoil that, so I'm just posting one of the many photos I took of her afterwards (she looked so pretty!). 

She was attempting to recreate a photo from when she was about 5 or 6...but I think it captured her sweet and (still) "impy" side instead.

Friday Funnies

A classic song...sung by a classic "group."

Enjoy, and have a super funny Friday!