April 30, 2014

The Parable of the Pie




There once was a young girl named Savannah who approached her mother one afternoon and inquired as to what she could do, for she was bored.

As someone who rarely gets bored, Savannah said she didn't feel like doing any of the stuff she usually likes to do.

A random idea entered this usually daft mother's head as she preceded with the dinner prep, and asked Savannah if she would like to make chocolate chip cookies or key lime pie.

A smile lit up Savannah's face as she excitedly responded, "Pie!"

Her mother told her where to find the key lime juice and told her to follow the instructions on the bottle.

Soon, the ingredients were assembled and the blender stood ready.

But Savannah paused as she turned a question to her mom. "It says to only use egg yolks, not the whites. How do we do that?"

The mother paused the dinner prep and pulled out a slotted spoon, did a little eyebrow jiggle and said, "With this."

The mother then proceeded to demonstrate her rather marvelous egg separating skills and showed Savannah how to do it herself.

She then handed over the spoon, and Savannah gave it a try.

As soon as she had cracked the egg onto the spoon, the bright yellow yolk began to leak out of a small tear.

Devastated that she had messed up, Savannah started to bemoan that fact that she had ruined everything and couldn't do anything right.

Stepping in, the mother wholeheartedly assured her that she had done nothing of the sort.

With another eyebrow jiggle, she said, "Watch this".

She then carefully scooped out as much of the eye yolk as possible and gave a hearty, "See? No biggie! Now try again with the last egg."

Once again, Savannah picked up the egg and cracked it onto the spoon.

Once again, the yolk began to leak just a bit, but this time, Savannah quickly intervened and moved as much of the egg yolk as she could.

With a "well done" from her mom, and a renewed smile on her face, Savannah continued to add the remaining ingredients. Soon, the blender was in motion.

Once everything was well mixed, Savannah picked up the pre-made Keebler graham cracker crust, held it up over her head and called over to her mother, who was now feeding the baby on the couch, if she should pour it all into the crust.

Just as she finished asking, the pie crust slipped from Savannah's fingers and crashed onto the counter top, breaking the whole thing up into a million pieces.

Savannah stared in devastation and began to cry, once again proclaiming that she ruins everything and that she never should have tried in the first place.

Putting the baby down, the mother walked back into the kitchen, and calmly started putting the pie crust back together as best she could, assuring Savannah it was okay.

Reluctantly, Savannah helped with the reconstruction and soon they had a pie crust again. Perhaps not as smooth or pretty as before, but a crust nonetheless.

Not long after, the filling was poured, cooked, and set aside to cool.

Whip cream was made and refrigerated until the pie was cool enough to have it added.

Later that night after dinner, the mother handed Savannah a spatula and told her to add the cream to the pie so they could all try it out.

Savannah did as instructed only to be found standing still, staring at it. "It doesn't look very good, does it." she stated sadly.

The mother placed a hand on her shoulder and responded, "I think it looks wonderful."

After slicing up the pie, Savannah took a bite and the mother asked her how it tasted.

This time with a huge smile on her face, Savannah happily answered, "Good!"

For the second time that day, (which is a rare and earth-shattering occurrence for her) a quiet thought entered into this mother's mind and soon found it coming out of her mouth as well.

"Aren't you glad you didn't give up? Sure you made a couple mistakes along the way, and maybe your pie isn't the prettiest thing in the world to look at, but it tastes awesome. Aren't you glad now that you didn't quit?

It's kind of how life is too. Sometimes we make mistakes and think that we've ruined everything or that we can't do anything right. But if we give up and quit trying, we will miss out on the good stuff that comes at the end."

(I know right? Could anything possibly be any cheesier than that?)

And despite the fact that it was super cheesy sounding and may have made you roll your eyes a bit, one nine-year old girl saw and understood the connection, and smiled as she took another bite of her pie.

April 28, 2014

Weekend What-Naughts


What happens when over half of your older siblings are girls?

Well, you may end up wearing a pink "Lil' Flirt" bib every once in a while.


He doesn't seem to mind too much.


Oh goodness, I can't tell you how much I just love and adore this little guy.


Only two more months in the helmet. I can't wait!




So, here are just some weekend what-naughts.

Saturday morning I made a super special effort to go above and beyond the call of duty, to make exquisite and decedent blueberry and almond poppy seed muffins for breakfast!*cough -from a box- cough*



Sometimes my awesome baking skills astound even me. (baking from a box mix totally counts as having mad skills)

Since I never think to make muffins, it was indeed a special event around here. (even if they did come from a box)

Savannah mentioned one day how much she loved poppy seed muffins and asked if we could make some.

Who am I to refuse such a request? (thank goodness for box mixes, eh hem...)


After the kids did some cleaning, some fighting, and some apologizing, we took them out to see "The Lego Movie".


Which may have had something to do with this Sunday afternoon activity.




But the rest of Saturday, Hubby and I worked on painting the basement.

We are soooooooo close to being done with the blasted painting portion!

Ceilings and trim are done!

Savannah's room is done! (Hubby doesn't like the color)


We have two short hallways, the bathroom...


and the boys room left.


Then carpet! YAY!

This is one super excited gal!

And despite the fact that I was PROMISED a finished basement before Jackson was born, I'm not giving Hubby a hard time for STILL not having it done.

Well, not too much anyway.

Maybe a tease here and there.

After all, Jackson is 5 1/2 months old now.

So a little teasing is allowed now and then. I'm pretty sure it says so in the couple's manual some where.

Wait... there's a manual?


But Hubby has done a fabulous job nonetheless.





Over all, not a bad weekend.



April 22, 2014

Our Calm Easter 2014



For the last couple years, the Easter celebrations have been held at our home.

Two years ago was some seriously awesome fun. (Easter Part 1 and Easter Part 2)

We had been the middle meeting ground between my parents, who had moved north of us, and three of my siblings who lived south of us. We usually had some cousins thrown into the mix as well.

This year, things were a lot different.

Two siblings have since moved far away, (abandoning their favorite sister for jobs and their lives... pish, some people have skewed priorities) the other couldn't make it. Cousins were out of town and... miracle of miracles, my parents now only live 25 minutes away! Yay!

Clearly they have correct priorities. *wink wink*

So this year, we were invited up to their home for Easter dinner.

It was just us, my little brother, and our friend Michelle.


Michelle and my mom, getting things ready for dinner.


My mom LOVES making things cute for a holiday and went all out to make the dinner table as adorable as possible.

I'm pretty sure every holiday growing up included a cutely decorated table.


This year my children got to enjoy that tradition.



Even Jackson was excited.

Clearly a far prettier Easter than I could have provided.


My dad getting the food ready while my little bro eats it.


Extra snack table!


While I greatly missed all the craziness and fun of extra family at my home, I have to admit, it was kind of nice to be able to just... sit back, relax, and enjoy the show.

After everyone gorged themselves on delicious food, we all gathered around and watched THIS amazing video on Christ and why we really celebrate Easter.

It. Was. Awesome.

But soon, the kids were chomping at the bit to get on with the Easter egg hunt they knew awaited them outside.


I LOVE this picture of little miss Claira. It just... makes me happy.


My brother had hid all the eggs so he ran the show-down.

It was actually entertaining to watch him try and hold back the tide and talk sensibly to them as he let Claira go out and find the first egg before allowing the older kids follow one by one, when all they wanted to do was run out there in a haze of sugared frenzy to get the eggs.

How's that for an awesome run-on sentence!



 Jackson wasn't quite sure what to think about it all.


 Enjoying the spoils of the hunt!


Some squealing let us know that a few ants had found their way into a couple of the eggs.


Thanks for all your help little brother!

(I told you I would post this picture. Mwah ha ha ha!)

He is single and available if you want to risk it.


My two favorite men, checking out my parents's new property.


Later, the kids spent some time inside, doing some good ole' fashioned playing.



Those colored things are ancient devices called b. l. o. c. k. s....


We had a wonderful day.

Thanks again mom and dad!

Love having you so close!

April 20, 2014


HAPPY EASTER



From our crazy family to you.

April 18, 2014

What Else Would You Be?


The other night, Hubby turned to Jacob (who is almost seven) and randomly asked, "Jacob, what do want to be when you grow up?"

Without hesitation, Jacob responded, "A superhero with everything powers."

Hubby and I glanced at each other trying to hide out laughter.

Hubby then asked, "If you couldn't be a superhero, what else would you want to be?"

Jacob paused only a moment before saying, "An adult with everything powers."


He's guy who knows what he wants, and also has a back-up plan.


I like it.
image found on google

April 15, 2014

Jackson Graduates to a New Helmet


It is such a simple thing, to have your baby snuggled up under your chin.

As my five-month old Jackson slept in my arms, his cheek against my chest, I couldn't help but think that this was the first time he has slept on me like that since before his surgery at seven weeks old. 

I loved it. I relished in the knowledge that he could hear my heartbeat, that I could feel his hair and kiss his forehead as he slept peacefully.

I've missed it. 


He was on helmet break and after feeding him he had fallen asleep. So I gently lifted him up so I could snuggle with him.

It's not the same with the helmet on.

Speaking from experience, it's really, really hard to snuggle with a piece of plastic.

I was loathe to wake him up to put his helmet back on.

But, I also feel gratitude down to my toes that he is doing so remarkably well.



Three weeks ago we had a helmet check-up appointment. At this appointment they took new scans of his head.


Before Surgery                                                            After 2 1/2 months in the helmet


 Before Surgery                                                            After 2 1/2 months in the helmet

Remarkable, isn't it?

Here is another view.

Red line is before surgery, blue is after 2 1/2 months on the helmet.


This next one is comparing his head from after his first month.

So, red line is after one month in the helmet, blue is after 2 1/2 months.


Two weeks later, (last week) we went back down to pick up his new helmet and have a check-up with the surgeon.

At these appointments we received the news I was so hoping and praying for.

He is doing SO well that he will only have three more months in the helmet. Then we will go back for more head scans. After which he will get to be out of the helmet for one month. After that we go back for more scans. If at the end of that month his head shape is holding and everything is growing normally, he will get to stay out of the helmet permanently!

YEA! And YEA again!


We are having to re-adjust to this new helmet since it is a whole lot bigger than his last one and it shifts around a lot.

Which means his ears and cheeks get pocked and mushed a lot.

He doesn't care too much for that. 

Especially since this little guy is now rolling!



Quite a feat with that bulky thing if you ask me.


What a little blessing this guy is in our lives.

Thank you all again for the prayers offered in his behalf. And thank you to the wonderful surgeons who have taken such good care of both my cranio-babies.
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