Click here to see last year's picture of my sweet girlies by the blooming redbud trees!
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Monday, March 29, 2010
Mass Confusion
Just when you think you've got things under control, life mixes things up again. I guess it keeps us on our toes.
Things started getting mixed up around here about a week ago when a child, who will remain initial-less, walked out of the back bathroom while the potty was still running. Said potty was also stopped up (does anyone else despise low-flow toilets?) Can you guess where this is headed?
Fortunately, another child came and found me about 20 minutes later to report the suspicious situation. (Now, see, I'm a glass-half-full kind of gal~ because 20 minutes may sound like a long time for water to be flooding a bathroom, but 20 minutes is waaaay better than 40 minutes, right?)
He looked quizzically at me as he stated quietly, "The potty is running water all over the bathroom floor."
Now, in case this ever happens in your house, don't do what I did. Don't throw the stack of books you are holding and run pell-mell down the hall, thinking that the extra split-second you shave off the overflow will amount to anything. It won't matter one whit. And you'll nearly kill yourself in the process. Nope, it was already seriously too late, and no amount of my jumping up and down and yelling at the kids to bring towels could change that. As I splashed to the water cut-off behind the toilet, I realized that our bathroom and master bedroom were partially flooded. And so our fun began.
To keep the excitement going, after the noisy fans and blowers were placed strategically under pulled up carpeting, baby S decided that right now would be a great time to dramatically alter her nap schedule. So she did. If you have a little one, you know exactly how unbalancing it is to get your routine all tweaked, just in time for the baby to outgrow that routine and develop a new one. I know we'll get the hang of it eventually, but so far, on her new schedule there have been several days when I haven't even managed to brush my hair by the time Mike arrives home after work.
Being the gluttons for punishment that we are, we decided that since we had the whole bathroom and master bedroom torn apart anyway, now would be a good time to move baby S's crib out of our bedroom into her big sister's room. Therefore, we spent the entire weekend disassembling the crib and moving around furniture to accommodate the changes. And, since this great move was taking place into the room of a 12-year-old, you can imagine that the "cleaning up a place for the crib and rocker" part took a little bit of time. Fortunately sweet big sissy has been waiting impatiently for this day and is so excited to be sharing her room now! We are blessed.
As of today, here is the overall situation, status-wise here at Pecan Bluff:
The master bath looks good. Actually, considering what it looked like last week, it looks great. The carpet is back down, the bathroom has been thoroughly cleaned, and everything is put back in place. I thank my wonderful hubby for completing a very tough restoration project by himself. Kudos, honey.
The baby has had a nap and a night in the new girls' room. So far, so good. She woke once in the night and fussed because she was disoriented and needed to be rocked and snuggled. But this week has been a little disorienting for all of us, so that is understandable. In fact, there have been several moments where I whined and needed to be snuggled, too.
We are now just days away from putting the master bedroom back together and getting to sleep in our own bed again. Can't wait, because the novelty of sleeping on the couches in the living room is gone.
So, barring any major messes, catastrophes, breakdowns, or other craziness, we hope to be back to normal soon. Whatever that is.
Things started getting mixed up around here about a week ago when a child, who will remain initial-less, walked out of the back bathroom while the potty was still running. Said potty was also stopped up (does anyone else despise low-flow toilets?) Can you guess where this is headed?
Fortunately, another child came and found me about 20 minutes later to report the suspicious situation. (Now, see, I'm a glass-half-full kind of gal~ because 20 minutes may sound like a long time for water to be flooding a bathroom, but 20 minutes is waaaay better than 40 minutes, right?)
He looked quizzically at me as he stated quietly, "The potty is running water all over the bathroom floor."
Now, in case this ever happens in your house, don't do what I did. Don't throw the stack of books you are holding and run pell-mell down the hall, thinking that the extra split-second you shave off the overflow will amount to anything. It won't matter one whit. And you'll nearly kill yourself in the process. Nope, it was already seriously too late, and no amount of my jumping up and down and yelling at the kids to bring towels could change that. As I splashed to the water cut-off behind the toilet, I realized that our bathroom and master bedroom were partially flooded. And so our fun began.
To keep the excitement going, after the noisy fans and blowers were placed strategically under pulled up carpeting, baby S decided that right now would be a great time to dramatically alter her nap schedule. So she did. If you have a little one, you know exactly how unbalancing it is to get your routine all tweaked, just in time for the baby to outgrow that routine and develop a new one. I know we'll get the hang of it eventually, but so far, on her new schedule there have been several days when I haven't even managed to brush my hair by the time Mike arrives home after work.
Being the gluttons for punishment that we are, we decided that since we had the whole bathroom and master bedroom torn apart anyway, now would be a good time to move baby S's crib out of our bedroom into her big sister's room. Therefore, we spent the entire weekend disassembling the crib and moving around furniture to accommodate the changes. And, since this great move was taking place into the room of a 12-year-old, you can imagine that the "cleaning up a place for the crib and rocker" part took a little bit of time. Fortunately sweet big sissy has been waiting impatiently for this day and is so excited to be sharing her room now! We are blessed.
As of today, here is the overall situation, status-wise here at Pecan Bluff:
The master bath looks good. Actually, considering what it looked like last week, it looks great. The carpet is back down, the bathroom has been thoroughly cleaned, and everything is put back in place. I thank my wonderful hubby for completing a very tough restoration project by himself. Kudos, honey.
The baby has had a nap and a night in the new girls' room. So far, so good. She woke once in the night and fussed because she was disoriented and needed to be rocked and snuggled. But this week has been a little disorienting for all of us, so that is understandable. In fact, there have been several moments where I whined and needed to be snuggled, too.
We are now just days away from putting the master bedroom back together and getting to sleep in our own bed again. Can't wait, because the novelty of sleeping on the couches in the living room is gone.
So, barring any major messes, catastrophes, breakdowns, or other craziness, we hope to be back to normal soon. Whatever that is.
Friday, March 26, 2010
Meal From Scratch~ Start to Finish
As a part of our unit called Real Life University, twelve-year-old R was responsible for planning, preparing, and serving a complete meal made entirely from scratch. Now, we already cook from scratch around here. But we usually all pitch in on meal prep on a daily basis. So, this was her day to shine and do it all herself. She tackled the job with gusto and whipped up a feast fit for kings!
It was a long day for her, filled with cutting, chopping, browning, kneading, simmering, stirring, stuffing, rolling, and baking. I think she did it all that day. The menu she planned included a vegetable beef soup, homemade bread, a special green bean dish, and cinnamon rolls for dessert. Wow. It was so impressive, and so delicious. She enjoyed every minute, but she slept well that night, for sure.
She cut the beef evenly into one-inch pieces so it would cook nicely, then she started on the homemade bread.
Looks like I'm working myself right out of a job around here, and we couldn't be more proud of our young homemaker.
It was a long day for her, filled with cutting, chopping, browning, kneading, simmering, stirring, stuffing, rolling, and baking. I think she did it all that day. The menu she planned included a vegetable beef soup, homemade bread, a special green bean dish, and cinnamon rolls for dessert. Wow. It was so impressive, and so delicious. She enjoyed every minute, but she slept well that night, for sure.
She cut the beef evenly into one-inch pieces so it would cook nicely, then she started on the homemade bread.
Next it was time to chop veggies, and she handled it like a pro. After a quick check of the recipe book, she finished up the chopping and put everything on to simmer.
The cinnamon rolls were very involved, but she worked through some good techniques while making them.
The whole meal was fabulous, and God sent a special backdrop out the dining room window while we ate dessert.
Looks like I'm working myself right out of a job around here, and we couldn't be more proud of our young homemaker.
Monday, March 22, 2010
Picking Supper
Two of my best gardeners, HA and HW, picking our green stuff for supper ~ fresh asparagus, speckled lettuce, buttercrunch lettuce, baby spinach, and leaf lettuce. Yum!
When people ask why my kids like veggies so much, I always tell them that kids love to eat what they grow. And sometimes, they will eat it before it even reaches the kitchen!
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Go Lightning!
R finished up a great season of volleyball with her friends.
We are so proud of your hard work, sweet girl!
She was so happy that Granny and Grandpa were here to cheer her on in the playoff games.
R made a pretty cake for a little party at home.
And this is what Grandpa did when he saw the cake!
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Vigilance
I had an guest column printed in a central Texas paper a few weeks ago. Then last week I was interviewed for a piece in the Fort Worth Star Telegram. The article is up today. Steeve :) spelled my name wrong, but my comment was right, and that is the important part. I had lots more I contributed that didn't make the cut for the article, so I'll share it with you here.
Click on the word English below if you'd like to read the intrusive questions for yourself.
Read carefully so you don't miss the questions like whether you can bathe or dress yourself, what time you leave your house for work, how many sick days you took, how many bedrooms you have, whether or not your toilets flush, how you heat your home, and all the private details of your finances. Oh, and there are special questions that trans-racial families like us won't want to miss, so be sure and check out the race questions. You won't want to miss a single offensive inquiry!
For some background on our American Community Survey experience, click here to read a little bit about how the Census Bureau harassed our family.
The American Community Survey, conducted by the Census Bureau, asks for information that is none of my government's business. Census workers harassed me for months trying to get this information from me. That is absolutely unacceptable. Americans who are "lucky" like me and get tapped for this lengthy survey should stand strong against this abuse of power.
Some argue that our government needs all this information about me and my family for noble community projects. The Census Bureau claims it uses the data that is mined from the American Community Survey so the federal government can "help communities determine where to locate services and allocate resources" at the LOCAL level. But fellow Americans, the planning for LOCAL projects should be done by LOCAL government, not the federal government.
Others argue that the American Community Survey is constitutional, simply because congress authorized it. But if you read the constitution you will find that Article One, Section Two of the U.S. Constitution authorizes the enumeration of the population. The census was to be conducted every ten years. The census was meant to count the people, to help us keep accurate representation in the House of Representative. The census was not intended to be an ongoing, multi-multi-million-dollar data mining project that threatens to fine Americans who don't want to answer intrusive, private, personal questions about our families.
It is true that our own representatives in congress approved the funding of hundreds of millions of dollars needed for the Census Bureau to conduct its intrusive American Community Survey. So our hard-earned tax dollars are paying for this harassment and intrusion into our private lives. But just because congress funded it doesn't make it right, and it doesn't make it constitutional. Information is power, friends. And the fact that our own representatives approved this Washington power grab of information gives us just one more reason to vote them out!
It is wrong for my government to harass and interrogate me on my own property in order to get my private information. It is wrong for my government to threaten me into answering questions that are private and personal.
So, I did not answer the intrusive questions in the American Community Survey. I prayed over my decision and did not make that decision lightly. But, I love my country! As Americans, we have to take a stand for liberty, we have to stand up for what is right.
Freedom is worth taking a stand.
If I want my children and grandchildren
to know American freedom tomorrow,
I have to stand up for liberty today.
"Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty."
Wendell Phillips
Wendell Phillips
Monday, March 8, 2010
Chewy Oatmeal Peanut Butter Cookies
This delicious cookie recipe is one I developed years ago. These cookies are so good! I always make a double batch and the kids gobble them up.
Chewy Oatmeal Peanut Butter Cookies
3/4 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup rolled oats OR quick cooking oats (we like either)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a large bowl cream together butter, peanut butter, both sugars and vanilla. Add egg and beat well.
In another bowl whisk together flour, soda, baking powder and salt. Add dry ingredients to the creamed mixture and mix well. Stir in oats.
Drop by teaspoonfuls onto silpat or greased cookie sheet. Bake for 6-8 minutes, just until edges are brown and centers appear set.
Let cool on cookie sheet for 3 minutes before removing to a wire rack or paper towel to cool.
Chewy Oatmeal Peanut Butter Cookies
3/4 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup rolled oats OR quick cooking oats (we like either)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a large bowl cream together butter, peanut butter, both sugars and vanilla. Add egg and beat well.
In another bowl whisk together flour, soda, baking powder and salt. Add dry ingredients to the creamed mixture and mix well. Stir in oats.
Drop by teaspoonfuls onto silpat or greased cookie sheet. Bake for 6-8 minutes, just until edges are brown and centers appear set.
Let cool on cookie sheet for 3 minutes before removing to a wire rack or paper towel to cool.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Friday, March 5, 2010
Not Quite Quick Enough
We've enjoyed some great weather today. The big kids kayaked in the tank, while Baby S and I chased each other around the big pecan tree and she picked flowers and rode in her little car.
She got really interested in running after the new pink ball Granny and Grandpa brought her yesterday, so I took advantage of the chance to pull some weeds and toss them over the fence to the goats. I got on a roll, and when I looked up a moment later Baby S had two double handfuls of moist, rich soil, and a big brown mud mustache from all the dirt she'd been cramming in her mouth. I frantically scooped what I could out of her grinning mouth and we headed for the house.
I washed her face off first, then sat her on the bathroom counter. I put her legs into the sink and went to work on her cute little feet. While I busily scrubbed her toes, I said a little prayer for protection against whatever dirt she'd swallowed before I caught her.
Then I glanced up into the mirror to see her sucking on the liquid soap dispenser! Her smiling eyes seemed to say, "I know you do your best, Mama, but you are just waaaay too slow."
She got really interested in running after the new pink ball Granny and Grandpa brought her yesterday, so I took advantage of the chance to pull some weeds and toss them over the fence to the goats. I got on a roll, and when I looked up a moment later Baby S had two double handfuls of moist, rich soil, and a big brown mud mustache from all the dirt she'd been cramming in her mouth. I frantically scooped what I could out of her grinning mouth and we headed for the house.
I washed her face off first, then sat her on the bathroom counter. I put her legs into the sink and went to work on her cute little feet. While I busily scrubbed her toes, I said a little prayer for protection against whatever dirt she'd swallowed before I caught her.
Then I glanced up into the mirror to see her sucking on the liquid soap dispenser! Her smiling eyes seemed to say, "I know you do your best, Mama, but you are just waaaay too slow."
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Bouquet
I love seeing HA's smiling face when he comes to the kitchen door, and hides his hands behind his back to see if I can guess the surprise. I love how he grins when I tuck the sprigs proudly in a jelly jar and set it on my kitchen windowsill. I love the way he smells like earth and sky when I give him his big thank-you hug and kiss.
I cherish every precious handful, straight from his tender heart. Because, one day, he'll be too busy to bring me those flowers in the winter. And I'm going to miss it.
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