What?

Your child doesn't walk around
sucking his thumb
while rubbing the pant leg
of a pair of jeans against his face?Odd.
You better look into that.

A Little Honesty

Today is one of those days.
One of those days.
When I wanted to be the one driving off.
In my car.
By myself.
With only the sounds of silence.
To a job away from home.
With adult conversation.

The little boys have been fighting.
A lot.
Jobe is almost 3.
WAY worse than the 2's.
Still trying to potty train.
Ryan is gone the next two and a half days.
On a business trip.
My computer is on its last life.
I can't seem to keep my house clean.
My back is killing me.
Whine, whine, whine.Turn it around.
My kids are healthy.
My husband has a good job.
And works hard for us.
My computer is working today.
Sorta...
Only had to restart it 5 times...
To do this post.
I have a place to live.
I have much more than some.
(That would be why I can't keep the house clean.)
My back will get better.

I will choose to look for the blessings.

Some Pictures and a Quote

All by Ezzie.

I had a great idea.

But now it's stuck in my head.

And I can't remember it.

Fingerprint Friday

Ezra brought these weeds flowers to me the other day.
I had just mopped my floors.
Roots, dirt, dead leaves were attached.
Dropping all over the floor.
The clean floor.
He was holding them up above his head.
Beaming.
So proud to bring his mommy a present.
We cleaned them up.
Put them in a cute little vase.
Set them out.
And they actually looked pretty. It reminded me of bringing myself before Christ.
I come to Him with all my roots, dirt and dead leaves.
Dropping them all over His thrown room floor.
His pristine thrown room floor.
Yet somehow He sees beauty in me.
He cleans me up.
He sets me out.
He uses me for His glory.
All because He loves me.
What grace!

Ephesians 2:4&5
But because of His great love for us,
God, who is rich in mercy,
made us alive with Christ
even when we were dead in transgressions-
it is by grace you have been saved.

Each week Beki at therustedchain hosts Fingerprint Friday and uses a song by Steven Curtis Chapman as a springboard. Join in. It's a great way to be reminded of God's presence.

60th

My daddy's 60th was last week.
He likes things low-key.
Just my brother's family and our family for supper.
He wanted lasagna.
My mom and I each made a pan.
We have the best lasagna recipe.
That's my opinion, of course.
A little time consuming.
But wonderful!My parents best friends came for dessert.
They spend every Friday evening together.
And usually at least one trip a year.
With random fishing trips thrown in.
No free babysitting on Friday nights for us!
Well, okay...
Occasionally they will make an exception.
Don't want my mom too mad at me when she sees this.There's my daddy.
I like this one.
Never too old to blow out birthday candles!His nick-name in high school was Zoom.
He was a good athlete.
I mean is a good athlete.
Almost got myself in trouble again.

Happy birthday, Daddy!
Love you tons!

Top Five...

Favorite movies.
Kinda'.

Likely, no one cares what my top five
of anything is.
Can't imagine anyone would.
But I always like reading others' lists.
So...

5. I'm really not sure what #5 should be...
Up? No.
Sleepless in Seattle? No.
The Terminal? No.
I'm forgetting a good movie.
I just know I am.
Oh, maybe it's Some Kind of Wonderful.
Haven't seen that one in a long time.
Or it could be Say Anything.
I like John Cusack.
And his sister Joan too.
Just thought of one more movie.
Bringing Up Baby.
It's an old one.
With Katherine Hepburn.
And Cary Grant.
Can't really go wrong with any Cary Grant movie.

4. Sweet Home Alabama
Mostly just because of the song.
Probably.
And the guy.
Maybe.
Not Mr. McDreamy.
The other one.
Oh, that reminds me of a movie.
Patrick Dempsey was in it.
It's from high school days.
He likes the popular girl.
He's not popular.
He becomes popular.
Turns his back on his "uncool" friends.
Gets the girl.
Looses the girl.
Because he becomes a jerk.
Becomes a looser again.
Then gets the girl in the end.
He mowed lawns.
What was that movie?
It's going to bug me now.

3. How to Loose a Guy in 10 Days
It's just cute.
And Kate Hudson is cute.

2. Sandlot
Funny movie.
With cute little boys.
And great music.
So many parts of that I love.
The pool.
The fireworks.
The carnival.
Almost makes you want to be a kid again.

1. Princess Bride
Do I really need to explain why?
It makes me laugh.
E.v.e.r.y. time.
Probably the most quoted movie in our house.

There you have it.
Notice none of them are recent.
We don't get out much.

None of them are artsy.
Or thought provoking.
Or clever.
I have simple tastes.

And a simple mind, apparently.
But they all make me laugh.
That's a good thing.
It's good to laugh.
I like to laugh.

The Self-Portrait

Ezra drew this picture a couple of weeks ago.Here's the conversation that has happened
at least three times since then.

Jobie:
Ezwa, is dat me?

Ezzie:
Does it look like you?
No!
Does it look like me?
Yes!
Clearly it's Ezra.
Why would Jobe ever think otherwise?
Three times.
He's a quick one, my youngest.

Pancakes and Syrup

Love this little ditty.
Have ever since I heard it.
However many years ago.
And I've always thought:
I need to make them.

This morning I googled banana pancakes.
One site said to just add mashed banana
to your pancake batter.
Huh!
Easy enough.
Logical even.

I use the same pancake recipe that my mom does.
Why mess with a good thing?
They are delicious.
Even the next day.
Cold.
So, I just added one mashed banana.

We like our pancakes little.
And, for all of us but Ryan,
the syrup must be on the side.
No soggy pancakes.Logic would say a pancake recipe is coming.
But if I were logical,
I wouldn't have had to google banana pancakes
in the first place.
So, here's the syrup recipe.

We call it eggnog syrup.
It's given name is nutmeg syrup, though.

Nutmeg Syrup
1 c. sugar
2 T flour
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
2 c. cold water
2 T butter
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/4 tsp. rum extract, optional

In a large saucepan combine the sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg and water until smooth. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Remove from the heat; stir in the butter, vanilla and rum extract.

This stuff keeps in the fridge indefinitely.
And will make nearly any pancake taste good.
You family will think you're a gourmet cook.

The Red Balloon

One day.
Not so long ago.
Two little boys each got a red balloon.
The little boys loved their balloons.
And ran all over the yard with them.
Clutching them tightly in their cute little fists.
Occasionally they would stop.
And look up at their balloons.
Just to see them floating above their heads.
Or even stand still.
To pose for pictures.
But then the older little boy tripped.
And let go of his balloon.
And he was sad.
Very sad.
And, although the littlest boy was able to hang on to his.
He too was sad.
Very sad.
So long balloon.
It was fun.
For the five minutes we had you.
The End.

What We've Been Up To

We have been crazy busy.
Insanely busy.
Soccer tourney.
Soccer practices.
Potty training...unsuccessfully...still.
Refereeing fights between the little boys.
Kindergarten pre-enrollment...can you hear my sobs?
Last Bible study until fall.
Getting clothes ready for consignment sale.
Getting toys ready for same sale...can you hear Jobie's sobs?

In keeping with our lives right now,
my computer is acting insane also.
I am typing this with one hand
while my other hand holds the back of the screen.
If I let go for a second my screen goes plaid.
And I have to turn it off.
And start all over.
Fun.

But that's an improvement over the last two days.
Where I couldn't do anything.
No facebook.
No blogging.
Sad.

But, on the positive side,
we have been enjoying some yummy food.

A new treat.
Ryan and I ate these after the kids went to bed.
Bwahahaha!
Oh, so yummy!A longtime favorite.
Salty and sweet.
Nothing better.
And, yes.
Those are Valentine m&m's.
Bought them on clearance.
Stuck them in a cupboard.
Forgot about them.
Oh, the joy when I discovered them yesterday!ChocolateWaffleCookies
I took 4 dozen to Brookie's soccer practice.
They were gone within ten minutes. Veggie Pizza.
Brookie and I are the only ones in our family who like it.
More for us! Strawberries.
We all like these.
So pretty. Had to throw a little bit of healthy in there.

Now back to my crazy life.
I'm off to the grocery store.
And then...
More potty training.
More cooking.
More refereeing.
And on...
And on...
And on.

Fingerprint Friday

In His time,
in His time,
He makes all thing beautiful
in His time.
Lord, my life to You I bring,
May each song I have to sing,
Be to You a lovely thing,
in Your time.

We sang this song in my church
often as I was growing up.
It came to mind
as I was enjoying the beauty
of this spring day.

Ecclesiastes 3:11
He has made everything beautiful
in its time.

Each week Beki at therustedchain hosts Fingerprint Friday and uses a song by Steven Curtis Chapman as a springboard. Join in. It's a great way to be reminded of God's presence.

Thanks, But...

A few weeks ago I asked for a little help.
With a decorating dilemma.

And while you all had great ideas:
Spray painting branches.
Easter eggs.
Lemons and limes...my overall favorite.
Not to mention this particularly practical one:
Feeding trough for my kids??

I did something different.
It was free.
It was easy.
And I actually came up with it on my own.
Tell me if it looks stupid.
Really.
I don't want stupid decor
to greet people as they enter my house.I placed a votive holder with water in the center.
Went out into the windy, cold day.
Rescued some daffodils from certain destruction.
Bound them with a twist tie.
Trimmed their stems to a couple of inches.
Placed them in the votive holder.
Dug a bag of spanish moss out of a closet.
And filled in all around the flowers. Voila!
I'm trying not to be too impressed with myself at this point.
But tell me if your not equally impressed.
I'll only cry for a day or two.
And what little confidence I have
will be shattered...

Just a Little Dirt

The little boys had a bath late last night.

I snatched them out of the tub.

Pulled the drain.

Got them cozy.

Put them to bed.

Forgot all about the tub.

This is what greeted me this morning.

(none of the following pictures do this justice)

I showed the little boys.

Ezzie said:

That's not from me!

Hmmm.

He might be right.

This is the

humidity,

sweaty,

mixed with a little dirt

and a whole lot of Kansas wind look.

Somehow, I'm thinking

this look wouldn't work for me.

Just the Kids

So glad I married such a good lookin' man.
I always wanted cute kids.
Man, do I have 'em.

My favorite. Sorry I bragged.
Just couldn't help myself.