Memorial Day 2011

Memorial Day really snuck up on me this year.  We used to live just a couple of miles from The Track and the first sign of spring was hearing the cars.  Before Callie was born and I worked full time at a paying job :) there was always lots of racing talk for the whole month of May.  Now, we don't live close enough to hear them and see the blimps and no one out here in the cornfields are talking about the race.  So anyway, I totally forgot about Memorial Day and even had school planned for that day. 

Then I realized Cameron was off work.  "Oh yeah, it's a holiday."  We had a big day on Sunday visiting our old church and going to the music recital of some dear friend's children.  We were gone from 8:45 AM until about 5:00 PM.  So I was glad that we had no plans on Monday.

 We all slept in and then packed a picnic to take to Holiday Park.  It's a great park with woods, trails, creeks and playgrounds and a nature center.  We had a great time.  It was very hot, especially considering that 24 hours earlier it had been about 20 degrees cooler!  So we ended our outing with fruit smoothies and some large ice cold drinks. 

Everyone slept very well that night.

Out of the Mouth of Kate III

**"Why is Greencastle (Indiana) called Greencastle when even it's not green and there's no castle?"

Kate asked me this in the morning and then asked Cameron at supper.  You should have heard the story he told.  Basically, they had so much cheese they carved it into the shape of a castle, but eventually it got moldy and green and so they called it Greencastle.  LOL  I think he missed his calling.

**Anytime one would normally say "because" she says "that's why".   She'll say, "I want you to go with me that's why I love you".  It's so cute.  I think the other day I heard her say because and I didn't like it. :)

I remember the last funny things that Callie said was "rice kribbies" instead of "rice krispies" and
"yogrit" instead of "yogurt".  I think she was about Kate's age when she started saying those words right.

**"Why do we have blood? It's yucky"

**The other cute thing is instead of saying "pretend", she says "I'm looking like".  For instance today she was "looking like I'm a dog named Emma and I'm shy".

I've been having a terrible time with the computers lately.  I don't know if it's Blogger or my computer.  Callie can only get on her blog on the main computer and I can only get on this blog on the laptop.  The pictures are usually downloaded to the main computer, so I can't get to any of them from the laptop.  Hopefully, I can get it figured out soon because no matter which computer we put the pictures on, someone is not going to be able to put them on their blog.

Gratitude

291.  A beautiful spring day.  Breezy, sunny, not too hot.  Perfect.

292.  http://www.knittinghelp.com/!  I figured out how to do something new without having to run to my friend.  I'm sure she doesn't mind helping, but I didn't want to wait until I saw her next.  This website is great!  There are videos of how to do the stitches.  It's like your sitting in their lap and they are holding your hands and knitting.  I'm very excited.

293.  Knitting needles delivered.  I've really enjoyed learning how to knit.  I like it because you can take it almost anywhere, unlike sewing where you pretty much have to be home.  It's nice to feel productive while riding in the car or sitting for hours at ballet class.  The only down side is that this hobby can be a little on the expensive side if one is not careful.  I'm making a baby present that needs to be ready soon and it requires two different sizes of needles.  I was ready for the second size but was having trouble finding some that didn't cost so much.  A Google search led me to Etsy.com and I found a pair for half the price!  And not only that, the woman was in Noblesville where I was going to be all day Saturday.  She brought them to me and now I'm ready to finish the gift.  I was very excited!!  It was truly a blessing from God to find them less expensive and get them that same day.

294.  Well, the end of the earth didn't happen.  I'm so thankful for parents who taught me the Bible, taught me how to think for myself and how discern what the truth is.  I'm not saying I (or they) have it all figured out.  But on this issue, the Bible is pretty clear.  "No one knows the day or the hour"  How much clearer could Jesus have been?!

295.  Cameron's work.  He has a love/hate relationship with his job, but I am so thankful he has one.  I'm thankful that God has given him work to do and that He is our provider. 

296.  The opportunity to serve others as a family.

297.  Learning with Kate.  We've been having fun reading books each week that go with our letter of the week.  Most weeks it's just been reading and coloring and some writing, but some weeks we have some sort of activity to go with it.  I'm really excited about "W" week.  There is a woman at our church who raises sheep and shears them for their wool.  She also spins the wool into yarn.  So....we are going to go to her house and visit her sheep and watch her spin.  We are also going to dye some yarn that I already bought from her, based on the instructions found here and here.  I had Cameron pick up the dye the same day I read these.  I'm really excited.  I'm sure both girls will enjoy it.  Then we will have to decide what to make with our yarn.

298.  Radishes from the garden.  These are mostly for Cameron and Callie.  They love them.
299.  Field trips to the local chocolate store.  Yummy!!  I showed great restraint!

300.  There is no shortage of things to do today and for that also, I am very grateful.  Grateful for a family to take care of  and the ability to do it.



 

{This Moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

I'm really excited that Callie is wanting to learn to sew.  So far she has made a robe, an apron, and a skirt for one of her dolls.  This project is a "quilt" for Kate's doll.  The one she doesn't have yet because they are still saving up for it. :) 

This quilt came about because there was a rather upsetting issue over some scrapbook paper that caused quite a few tears one morning.  A certain little girl had grabbed the piece of glittery paper and proceeded to cut it up to make a "quilt".  When a certain older girl saw her cut up paper....well lets just say it wasn't pretty.  After the wailing by both finally subsided, I showed them that there was more of this precious paper and that life really would go on.  Everyone was happy and not only did Callie offer to fix Kate's paper quilt (that got destroyed) she decided to make her a real one. 

It's like a soap opera around here.  One minute they are fighting and the next minute they are loving!



If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments at Soulemama for all to find and see.

The Ability to Hear

275.  The girls sitting at the table oohing and ahhing over The Barefoot Contessa cookbook.  Kate's biggest excitement?  Tiramisu.  That's my girl!  Callie wants to try the baked macaroni and cheese.

276.  "I love you"  from so many people.  I am blessed to have wonderful relationships with family and friends both. 

277.  "I love you and I will never leave you and Lilly"  Guess who?

278.  "You're the best cooker" Said by the girl who likes almost nothing! LOL

279.  "You're so pretty"  Said by Callie during church.  I'm glad love is blind! :)

280.  "Hey, you want to watch a movie?"  I am so blessed to have a husband that would rather hang out with me and the girls than anything else.

281.  "It started!"  Thank God the van just needed a new battery!!

282.  Giggles from the girls and sometimes the "boy" too.

283.  All the times I hear how "tall and beautiful" Callie is.

284.  Callie reading

285.  Kate singing.  Sometimes she can get a little nasal and loud, but it honestly doesn't bother me.  It makes Callie crazy! LOL  I gently remind her that she used to do the same thing and how long we prayed for more little voices.

286.  Beautiful music

287.  A husband who is always encouraging, kind and loving.  Even when I am about to blow a gasket.  Not at him of course. :)

288.  "Good night"

289.  "Look Mommy"

All photos taken by Callie, which is why there are none of Callie.  I'll have to get some this week.

290.  "Baba's home!!"

Who Needs Cracker Barrel?

Somewhere, I think maybe in Knoxville, TN, there was a biscuit contest.  The name of the winning biscuit?  The Fat Elvis!!  Is that a great name for a southern biscuit or what?  Or any southern recipe for that matter.

Cameron's dad sent us a copy of the recipe from Southern Living magazine and of course we had to try it.  We loved Elvis's favorite sandwich, so I was pretty sure these would be a hit.  I was right!  They were pretty yummy.

I did leave out the chopped peanuts in the biscuits, mostly because I didn't have any on hand and because I knew at least one person wouldn't like them.  Cameron had already brought home some smoked sausage that tastes just like Cracker Barrel's so we didn't serve it with the recommended bacon either.  I assure you, no one was complaining!

If you make these, you make think the dough is too dry and you may be tempted to add more milk.  I almost did, but while shaping it to roll it out, all that banana moisture came through and it was not at all dry.

Even without the peanut butter spread these are delicious!  So who needs to go to Cracker Barrel?  Well, actually we still need Cracker Barrel occasionally, but at least now we know how to get some yummy sausage if we are having a craving and a delicious biscuit to go with it.

Thanks Poppy!

{This Moment--For The Love of Lilly}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments at Soulemama for all to find and see.

I Can't Take Anymore

It all started a year or so ago.  I was realizing how truly fast time was flying right by me, even more than ever.  One day Callie brought it to my attention that she needed a razor and deoderant.  Really?  You're kidding me!  So off to Wal-Mart we went.  I actually had tears in my eyes at Wal-mart!  She laughed at me.  Then, a few months later, she was picking out some of her picture books to get rid of and putting her beloved "baby Sarah" away in a box.  "I don't want to get rid of her, but I don't want her on my bed anymore."  This was huge!  'Baby Sarah' and reading were Callie's whole world at one point.  I used to worry that she was only interested in two things.  More lumps in my throat.

This spring my eleven year old daughter is just a teeny tiny bit taller than me.  I'm 5' 6 1/2"!  I'm not short.  This is not supposed to happen already.  This is what happens to mom's of teenagers, I have more time.

I've always loved babies and toddlers!  I could feed and diaper and play and read to them all day and be perfectly happy.  But big kids?  I'm not so sure about this growing up.  I didn't think it would happen so fast.  People told me it would and I got sick of hearing it.  I was totally enjoying her as a baby and toddler, I didn't need everyone to tell me to. 

Now, I'm knee deep in research for 6th grade and thinking ahead to Junior High.  Just typing those words makes me want to cry, to run away and find a time machine.

My head knows this is how it is suppose to be.  God didn't intend for us to stay babies forever.  I can only imagine how awful it would be if Callie were not strong and healthy and growing and maturing.  My heart doesn't quite see it that way though.  Some days are hard with a creative pre-teen and a sometimes demanding five year old.  I think "I can't do this!  I can't take anymore!"  And then this little song pops in my head "I can do all things, all things, all things.  I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.  Phillipians 4:13"  We sing and say it a lot around here.

I'm so thankful for the time that we have had.  I'm so thankful I have a husband that wanted us to homeschool. Even when she was a baby he talked about it.  I thought he was nuts.  I probably told him flat out, "No way.  Homeschoolers are wierd."

I'm thankful to be wierd.

Our Mother's Day

Callie takes the most amazing pictures!

Today was a wonderful day to celebrate Mother's Day.  There was SUNSHINE!  This truly deserves all capital letters.  It's been so rare this spring.  Maybe it's like this every spring and I have forgotten, but I really don't think so.

I received some sweet home made cards from Callie and Kate and and lots of hugs and kisses.  I heard lots of reminders from the oldest to the youngest, to "be good because it's Mother's Day".  Somehow, by the end of the day, I was hearing "Happy New Year and Mother's Day".  I don't know where Kate came up with that one, but it was very funny and cute. 

We ate lunch at our favorite Indian restaurant and then went to pick out apple trees.  I thought about peach trees but I'm not sure how they will grow and taste here in IN.  I'll have to do some research on that though because I enjoy eating fresh peaches more than apples.  We chose Winesap and Honey Crisp.  I'm excited to think that maybe next fall we will have our very own apples.

The poor trees had to ride home in the trunk, while we prayed we didn't ruin them.

Cameron hard at work.

Callie gave me some great coupons!  I think my favorite may be "This coupon good for: Not arguing.  As best as I can help it."  Poor girl got my mouth, frizzy hair and big feet! :)  She's wonderful though and I'm glad she is my daughter.  As much as she wears me out sometimes, I can't imagine life without her.  We prayed long and hard for a child.  I remember life without her.  Boring!  Not that Cameron was boring!!  But you know what I mean. :)

We prayed long and hard for Kate too.  God has blessed us with two of the sweetest and funniest little girls we could imagine.

And a pretty good photographer too.

Gratitude-Spring Edition

It's another rainy day here in Central Indiana.  Considering it is just raining and not storming, or worse, I guess that right there is # 265 on my list of thanks.


266.  My husband who brings beautiful flowers.

267.  That those flowers are still beautiful a week later.

268.  A great weekend visiting and celebrating with family.

269.  Sunshine.  Not much these days, but anytime we have it I am thankful!



270.  Little boys who were born to play ball.

271.  And their sisters too.

272.  Seeing an idea and wishing I had the right "tools" and then finding that very thing a few days later at Goodwill!  Very fun!  I even tricked Kate into eating raw carrots.



273.  God's protection while Cameron was away and the weather was stormy.

274.  God's protection of Cameron while he was in stormy weather too.  And also of Cameron's parents who live not too far away from some of the places in the South that were so damaged by tornadoes.  They said there were some small towns that were completely wiped out.