Projections

There's a little advanced planning going on around here these days.

"Mommy, I'm going to marry a girl I really, really like." - Gavyn, Age 5

History Repeats Itself?

One of my early childhood memories:

When I was in first grade, I took some real pig tails (I'm not even kidding.) to school for show and tell.  We were in about the same location as where my boys are standing in the picture above several years earlier when "operation tail snipping" was in full swing.  It's not an uncommon farm practice to snip down the long curly tails of a pig so they don't bite each others tails.  I was busily picking the tails up as they fell to the ground and pocketing for future scientific observation and reference.  Pigs tails are cool.  And somehow in my little first grade mind, I thought they would be cool to take to school for show and tell.  But I was smart enough not to tell Mom and Dad.  I must have known they might tell me "no".  The kids were fascinated.  The teachers were fascinated, amused, and horrified all at the same time.  It caused a "pause" in the school day as Mrs. Sorenson sent me to other classrooms to show the other elementary teachers what I had shared with her first grade class that morning.  I was pleased to be the center of attention.  When I offered to let them hold them, however, they politely declined.

A few summer's ago, the boys found a dried up dead guinea hen on the farm.  Kekoa then toted the thing around the farm like a doll.  Gross.  He evidently thought it was cool.  He even "fed" it feed when Grandpa was filling buckets for feeding the other animals.  I thought we were over that little fascination with dead animal parts until he came home from a visit to Grandpa & Grandma's farm this summer with dried up chicken skeleton bones in a ziplock bag.  I picked the boys up and then we headed straight to the elementary school's open house for his first grade classroom orientation.  As were leaving, Mrs. B (his Kindergarten teacher from the previous school year) appeared out of the school doors and wandered innocently into the parking lot unaware of the horror she was about to experience.  Kekoa rolled down his window, "Mrs. B!  Mrs. B!" he yelled across the parking lot.  "Yes, Kekoa?" she asked.  "Come here.  I want to show you something," he urged.  As she arrived at the window to take a peek, he held up the plastic bag of dried up animal bones.  "It's a dead chicken.  Would you like to touch it?" he asked.  She politely declined while backing away from the vehicle.  "That's ok, Kekoa.  I'll just look."

The dead chicken? Well, it mysteriously disappeared that night while the boys were sleeping.

I'm Here Now

The other day after getting home from work and school, I sat at my computer perusing Facebook status updates and pictures or some nonsense like that.  Kekoa mentioned he'd like to "wrestle".  I agreed it was a good idea, but kept at what I did.  He was patient.  A little while later he mentioned it again.  More persistent this time.  And maybe a little more insistent, "Mommy, let's WRESTLE."  "Yes, that's a good idea. Let's. Just a minute, Kekoa," was my distant answer.  There were a few more insistent requests and a few more "just a minutes".  All of the sudden, I had a little boy at my elbow.  "I'm here now," he whispered in my ear.  And it went straight from my ear to my heart.  I abandoned my computer immediately and had wrestle time with my seven year old.  Wrestle time equates cuddle time in little boy speak.  Why does it take so long for me to "get it" sometimes?



More Fun With Kids

We hadn't been back to the Renaissance Festival in years.  Think several years before the kids were born years.  Think our friend, Nathan, was in college back then years. A last minute, whirlwind trip this weekend took care of that.  I had forgotten.  You step through those gates and it's like you've entered an entirely new world.  And experiencing it through the eyes of two imaginative boys?  Now that was worth the price of admission and then some.  This weekend's theme was High Seas Adventure.  Thus the pirate costumes.  Rrrrr.

Who wants to go with us next year?

Fall? Already?! I Need Chocolate.

Athleta made a delivery at my house yesterday, and of course, instead of the nap I was planning on, I had to try out my new clothes.  So I went for a run instead.  Craig got the nap.

Here I go.  Running.  Photo courtesy of Craig.  He was the one who suggested a running pose.  But what I'm really modeling here is the new headband.  You see.  I ordered two of them.  So, as I've already posted on my Facebook account, the first person that can prove to me they are signed up for the 15K/5K Hot Chocolate Run (the Hot Chocolate picture I posted on this link is actually a link to the race site) on November 5th in Chicago, gets the head band.  Anyone want to join my "Will Run for Chocolate" team?  It'll be fun.  I'll try not to disappoint.

Riverdance

A beautiful Sunday lunch with friends:

A bunch of posers.

Angie's Sunday "Go to Meeting" Shoes

And last, but not least.  I bring you...

Riverdance!

Because there's nothing better than dancing in the rain.

Have I Mentioned

I love my boys?  Every last awnry inch of BOTH Of them. Story of my life.  I'm sorry if you get sick of hearing it.  The same ole, same ole.  But it bears repeating.  And repeating.  Have I mentioned I love my boys?

Gavyn - Age 5, Kindergarten
September 14, 2011



Kekoa - Age 7, 1st Grade
September 18, 2011

After weekends like this, I'm always left wondering:

Why don't we go to the library more?
Why don't I spend more weekends like this, just hanging out at home all day with my boys - all three of them?
Why does time go so fast?

The boys begged (through tears) to go to the library on Saturday, so we did.  Kekoa has pored over his stack of books on snakes.  Gavyn picked out a couple of really cute library books we've read a few times.  We also checked out some Abbott & Costello, Laurel & Hardy, and Three Stooges movies and we laughed and laughed until we couldn't breath.  It felt good to laugh.  It felt good to be with them.  They are so fun to hang out with.  I'm going to make a concerted effort to do it more.

Pioneer Woman's Got NOTHING on Me

The last CSA delivery arrived on Wednesday.  It's contents combined with this chilly weather inspired me to seek out my favorite leek potato soup recipe last night.  You'll probably want to double this recipe when making it.  I like that it doesn't call for cream (although I did add a can of cream of chicken soup), and it is so tasty.

Whipped up a pot of this soup and a batch of oatmeal chocolate chip cookies and headed over to Grandpa & Grandma's house to watch some football.  ISU won again!  Nothing says football season is here like...

BACON, POTATO, WHITE BEAN AND RED PEPPER SOUP

from COOKS.COM

1/2 lb. slab of hickory-cured bacon, cut into 3/8 inch dice (I used turkey bacon.)
1 tbsp. unsalted butter (I used olive oil.)
1 sm. onion, minced
3 lg. leeks (white and tender green) cut 1/2 inch
1/2 lg. carrot, peeled and coarsely chopped
1 sm. celery rib, coarsely chopped
1 med. red pepper, cut 1/4 inch
4 c. chicken stock or canned broth
3/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. ground white pepper
2 lg. potatoes (about 1 lb.) peeled, cut 1/2 inch
1 can (19 oz.) white kidney beans, drained and rinsed

Place bacon in large saucepan, cover with water. Simmer on medium-high heat 5 minutes. Drain, pat dry with paper towel. Wipe out pan and return bacon to pan. Fry until golden and crispy. Drain bacon, discard fat, wipe with paper towel in pan.

Add butter, reduce heat, when melted add onion, leeks, carrot, celery and red pepper. Cook vegetables until lightly browned and softened, about 5 minutes. Add bacon, chicken stock, salt and pepper. Simmer, stir occasionally, 5 minutes.

Add potatoes and simmer, stir until potatoes are tender when pierced with a knife, about 15 minutes. Add white beans simmer 1 to 2 minutes more. Serve hot. (Can be made 1 day ahead of time. Remove any fat before serving.)

Serve with buttermilk jalapeno corn sticks.

Impromptu Fashion Show

Well, it seems when you have a birthday and you are related to and are friends with some pretty awesome peeps that gives you access to some pretty cute clothes.  So consider this a big fashion show thank you to everyone who've made my birthday month so awesome:

A cute dish towel that will soon be
a cute half apron.  Thanks, Shannon!

Some flying pig socks I bought for me
and my convention birthday sister, LaGaya.

A really awesome orange scarf that arrived in my mailbox
 this week from a pretty awesome cousin.  I love it, Sarah.
Thank you. I wore this to work yesterday.

A sweater I got at Goodwill for $3 (with birthday money from my Mommy).  It
 still had the Target tags attached.  Brand new, baby!

A skirt I bought from Goodwill for $3 with birthday money.

A Ralph Lauren skirt I bought for $3 at Goodwill with birthday money.

I almost didn't buy this skirt because it's not super comfortable.  But in the
end I just couldn't resist this cute print and ruffle.

I bought this long sleeve leopard patterned print
white shirt for $3 at Goodwill. It's sheer, but I plan to wear it
under other short sleeve shirts and vests and/or sweaters.

My pretty awesome sister sent me this cute brown skirt
for my birthday.  Love you, Heids!

Bought this jean jacket at Goodwill.  What I like about it.  It's fitted
 at the waist (slimming!), but the sleeves are long enough (comfortable!).

I spent a lot of time in Goodwill in front of the mirror agonizing
over this coat.  I was in love with it, but wasn't sure I'd wear it.  But I
couldn't tear myself away from it.  I can't wait to wear it next SPRING!

A little something-something I bought myself for my
birthday.  A Phat Strap for my Nikon D90.  Isn't she pretty?
Now, if only I could find the lens cap...

A little something fun that came in the mail from my sis.

And finally, this is how I roll.  Cozy sweats whenever possible.  That comfy hoodie was $3 at Goodwill.

I haven't had the luxury of time to browse through our Goodwill in YEARS.  Wow.  Did I ever have fun.  A spring rain coat, a jean jacket, a brand new sweater, a white long-sleeve t-shirt, a hoodie, and two skirts for $30.  Nice.