Worth a snapshot

     Samuel is a picky eater. Healthy non the less. He likes his veggies and rice. Certain soups made by Grandmother. Selective at best. He still enjoys waffle fries and chicken nuggets in between broccoli and peas, but that's the limit on his "junk food cravings." As a mom to the core, I worry over his eating habits and pray he grows out of it some day.  For now I'll sneak in hidden calories among whatever I can. Tonight I was short on ingredients so the menu was scratched and I went digging through the fridge for inspiration. I ended up making breakfast. Creamy hash-brown casserole, Sausage-Cheese Muffins (a glorified sausage ball), and broccoli(kids gotta have the green stuff OK) were served. I asked Samuel if he would like a muffin. In his short lifespan his understanding of muffins involves blueberry, pumpkin cinnamon spice, strawberry, ect... He readily agreed and I set the plate before him. This was his reaction...

Silly kid ate the muffin without batting an eyelash as I pretended not to stare. As you can see I gave up , dug out the camera, and captured this oh-so-picky eater trying something new.

Feet First

     How do I begin? FIRST, I married my husband for his charm and whit. In turn he gave me adorable handsome sweet boys, many moments of laughter, and godly sense to keep me straight.
     Let's fast forward to today. It's cold and icy outside but I needed a breather and so I volunteered to make the Wal-mart run. As I was exiting the house Tim reminded me the front steps were iced over and to be careful. "Uh-huh" was my reply as I balanced a jug of hot water for my windshield, my grocery list, purse, and large winter coat. I gingerly took my first step and knew I could tackle these steps with the grace of a ballerina.  The second step sent my feet up towards the sky, my bum accepting all the weight of my body and my back catching the remaining force as I slithered bounced down 3 front steps. MY blond moment was NOT in the second step but in the fact that I tried to save my hot water jug and not my body.... WHAT WAS I THINKING?!?! My knight in shining armor heard the crash and responded in record time. After my bruised pride began to calm I paced around the yard determined the fire in my bum could be lived with and I would proceed to run my errands.
     Armed with goodies for my sweet husband I returned home limping and ready for the couch. Sadly I should have foreseen the charm and whit were not to be wasted on my clumsy episode. The rest of the evening I endured wise cracks I shall not utter on this child-friendly blog. That fire still simmers as I bare a blue and purple memory that scans the whole of my left posterior... so because I cherish and adore my sweet husband who couldn't keep his pie hole shut.  This is for you dear-est! :*

p.s. All wise cracks towards my husband are in good faith. Please enjoy the humor of the moment!

Toddler's Creed

I loved this and "bummed" it off another friends blog!! Thanks Elizabeth.

Toddler's Creed

If it is on, I must turn it off.

If it is off, I must turn it on.

If it is folded, I must unfold it.

If it is a liquid, it must be shaken, then spilled.

If it a solid, it must be crumbled, chewed or smeared.

If it is high, it must be reached.

If it is shelved, it must be unshelved.

If it is pointed, it must be run with at top speed.

If it has leaves, they must be picked.

If it is plugged, it must be unplugged.

If it is not trash, it must be thrown away.

If it is in the trash, it must be removed, inspected, and thrown on the floor.

If it is closed, it must be opened.

If it does not open, it must be screamed at.

If it has drawers, they must be rifled.

If it is a pencil, it must write on the refrigerator, monitor, or table.

If it is full, it will be more interesting emptied.

If it is empty, it will be more interesting full.

If it is a pile of dirt, it must be laid upon.

If it is stroller, it must under no circumstances be ridden in without protest. It must be pushed by me instead.

If it has a flat surface, it must be banged upon.

If Mommy's hands are full, I must be carried.

If Mommy is in a hurry and wants to carry me, I must walk alone.

If it is paper, it must be torn.

If it has buttons, they must be pressed.

If the volume is low, it must go high.

If it is toilet paper, it must be unrolled on the floor.

If it is a drawer, it must be pulled upon.

If it is a toothbrush, it must be inserted into my mouth.

If it has a faucet, it must be turned on at full force.

If it is a phone, I must talk to it.

If it is a bug, it must be swallowed.

If it doesn't stay on my spoon, it must be dropped on the floor.

If it is not food, it must be tasted.

If it is food, it must not be tasted.

If it is dry, it must be made wet with drool, milk, or toilet water.

If it is a carseat, it must be protested with an arched back.

If it is Mommy (or Daddy), it must be hugged...

I am toddler!

Gobble Gobble

I'm thankful for shrills and shrieks. That reminds me that my children are having fun as they wreck havoc in our living room.

I'm thankful for open-mouthed kisses from my gummy baby! That tells me he is absorbing his surroundings and practicing with his own twist.

I'm thankful for extra quilts and sweatpants. I don't lack clothing or shelter.

I'm thankful for my husband. He is the man that takes time to invest in his children AND changes a dirty diaper or two. He encourages me and keeps me in check...usually in the same sentence!

I'm thankful for phrases like "bwu momas" and "pwease" and "wove u." Affectionately dubbed the toddler, Samuel is blooming into a big brother, a loving son, and an ecstatic cousin.

I'm reluctantly thankful for dirty dishes. For though I do not possess a dish washer, I never lack hot meals to feed my loved ones.

I'm thankful for overcrowded closets oozing with toys, shoes, and clothes. This allows us to tidy up, strip down, and dust off. There are many in want and many in need 365 days a year. Hopefully we can pass on the Peace that passes all understanding to a deserving family and some toys too.

Even though we face an uncertain future with the loss of Tim's job this autumn, we are surrounded by friends and family.  My children may never know how many newspapers I've scoured or coupons I've clipped. I rejoice in the golden consignment sales I've cruised when Christmas morning arrives and my boys have "new" toys to explore and warm winter clothes to wear. I accept the challenge of "free dates." THEY do exist and can be just as much fun to keep the fire alive in my marriage. Love covers all.

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him,  rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. Colossians 2:6-7

Nursing Cover

I heard about this great deal from my friend Stephanie and I just had to share it! Udder Covers is offering a free nursing cover (you pay shipping) with the coupon code cousin2.  Who can pass up such a cute offer???

David turns 1... where did the time fly?

Yee-haw ... David's birthday was a grand success!!!

All the cowboys and cowgirls!

...happy birthday to you...

"who me? what's going on here?"

Now this is the new style to wear your hat....I'm sure the trend will spread like wildfire! ;)

curious and helpful big brother

somewhat distracted as David takes in all the animated new toys!

appreciation that he has been let loose on sugar...RARELY happens at home!

helpful and charismatic cousin of the boys, Miss Imy!

that's chili around this birthday boy's mouth,
which he managed to slosh all over mommy too!

a cowboy feast

David's very own Thomas the train... now we have to convince Samuel of this first!!

Daddy and all the helpful party guests ooh-ing and ahh-ing over the new toys

Refilling his "tin cup" the way only a real cattle rustler knows how

Family Pictures courtesy of Amanda P.

A quick rinse

So David LOVES the water. Be it  bath time, pool, washing hands, rain, dog bowl, puddle...you name it he goes for it. So I should have known that quick wash down on the counter was impossible to maneuver. My goal was to wash hands, feet, and face. Toss the pajamas on and make the bedtime routine quick and painless.When David saw the tiny sink full of water he refused to sit on the towel like a good little boy. He wanted all in!!! SO I yelled for Tim to get the camera and took pictures of my jelly roll squished in the bathroom sink as happy as a lark....

After I let the water out, he communicated in no uncertain terms that he was NOT happy about the loss of water. I never doubt what David is thinking or feeling. This kid is very expressive in everything that does!!!

Punkin' Pickin' Goodness

We braved the crowds and headed to Tate Farms this past weekend.

We climbed tires and pretended  to measure our height. 

We checked out the petting zoo, climbed around in a cool vintage fire truck and enjoyed an array of climbing gear.

We took a trip on the corn train and made several stops at the corn bins.

 A short ride out to the pumpkin field and daddy and Samuel picked some good looking pumpkins,  while David and I played in the hay. 

Exhausting but fun day!

Guilty by show of hands

BOTH the boys are sick. And not just one symptom. We have the full on crusty, drippy nose. The kind that leaves a trail up the arm as its wiped haphazardly and could easily win some sort of guiness book of world record in the boogers department. Then there is the coughing. We haven't hit the stage of manners yet, so the cough goes spewing into whatever is close by: Person, animal, toy or furniture. Tack on whining, fever, on and off cuddling, and did I mention whining... my weekend and Monday have been put on hold. Nothing is accomplished and lots of tissues are piling up. 

I wrote such a descriptive preview as to point out that boys should not be prone to mischief when sick. Shouldn't they want to lay on the couch, read a book and sip hot tea???? It always works for me.... No, Samuel would rather get into my  BLACK stamp pad that I, the responsible adult, left on the kitchen table. Whilst cooking a nutritious luncheon of fish sticks, corn on the cob, and cantaloupe(1 out of 3 isn't bad), He managed to paint the table, chair, chair cushion, wall, his companion the backhoe, my laundry basket and of course the clothes and hands attached to his body.

 Ink is permanent for a reason. Yet stubbornly I tried several methods of removing the stains from his hands. FOR THE RECORD: lotion, soap, and eye makeup remover do not cut it!

Do you see that guilty face? Cute, yet loaded with regret....

Many hands make composting happen

Ain't it a beauty?! I've been wading through dead leaves, pine straw and garden cast offs for some weeks now. I've also been researching how to reduce our trash pile-up. Since the weather has turned nice, I've got the extra boost to get outside and scratch off some of the TO DO list items. This week it was a bon-a-fide Compost Bin.  Of course, this became a family project...

 After David went down for his morning siesta and Tim headed to town to run errands, Samuel and I were left to load up our newly built bins. I lost count after ten trips...

Samuel eventually gave up helping and just hitched a ride and chatted in his toddler language.

I don't have a "finished" picture, b/c I was to tuckered out to retrieve the camera. I'm looking forward to having home grown nutritious compost to use our our flower and veggie gardens in the spring!

Creative Cleaning

My children are notorious for leaving a trail of crumbs wherever they go. I firmly believe in eating at the table or AT LEAST on tile flooring. Yet somehow cheerios, bananas, and countless other food groups find ways to cling to tiny toes and pants... inevitably making their way throughout the house! At this point in my cleaning strategies, I've just about retired the broom entirely. In its place are my trusty vacuum attachments!!  These small yet wonderful tools can get in cracks and crevices, way under couches and beds, behind the washer, ect... As I was furiously cleaning house today (Tim was entertaining the boys..the house was EMPTY), I began to chuckle at one of my methods of cleaning. I asked myself, "Do other moms vacuum the top of their kitchen table?" So now I'm most curious.  Here's the assignment:

Email/Facebook/Comment on your most unconventional method of cleaning. It can vary from cleaning the house, cleaning out the car, or scrubbing down a kid. I'll repost a compiled list in a week or so. I'll start it off:

1. Vacuum: Good for retrieving wooden train pieces from behind the TV, under the crib, and the far corner of the closest. 
2. Vacuum: Also useful for disposing of food particles ON, under and around the kitchen table.

Farm livin' is the life for me

Green acres is the place to be. Farm livin' is the life for me. Land spreadin' out so far and wide... 

I've been debating how to paint the picture of my newest "farm experience." The best example I can come up with is how many hours our children log in front of the tv. Studies show that by the time a child is 5 years old they have seen gory murder, nudity, betrayal, infidelity, profanity, incompetent fathers, worthless mothers, and children who know everything. Crazy?!? Sadly, it's true and uncensored. So how does this have ANYTHING to do with farming you ask?!  

I'm GETTING there. Please be patient.

I tried something new and out of my league this past weekend. I even had Tim snap a picture with his handy-dandy cell phone camera. I was excited and ready to post it online to share with my few avid readers. Suddenly I was flooded with doubts. How would people react? Would they shake their heads in disgust or chuckle and roll their eyes.  Then, I had my epiphany! It can't be worse than what we expose our kids (intentionally or unintentionally) to on television on a daily basis.  So here's my over-analyzed farming experience:

I am a slayer of roosters. Neck wringer, feather-plucker, ax swinger, and giblet extractor. Wayne, my father-in-law(pictured behind me) taught me a seemingly lost form of bringing the meat home. 

I, the dainty city gal who LOVES her heels and spa treatments, got a lesson in taking the chicken from the roost to the kitchen table. Timidly observing Wayne, I had no idea if I would have the guts to participate in this endeavor. Surprisingly those guts did appear...and not just from the feathery fowl hanging next to me. 

I managed to take the challenge and plunged head first into the process.  Ax in hand, I knocked off 3 rooster heads and not so expertly skinned and gutted one lucky rooster. I am first to admit that it was messy. I kept my nose wrinkled and a close watch on the expert as he patiently demonstrated. It's not exactly charming to reach up in the rooster's business and take out his innards or wrestle with firmly attached armory of feathers. We did, however, play guess this organ to keep the mood light. 

Now tucked away is this valued skill and of course a tiny notch in my farming belt. So folks, next time you see me swinging through with my coordinating purse, earrings, bracelet, and shoes, no ruffle out of place... WATCH OUT. This gal has blood on her hands.  ;) 

Fried chicken anyone??

... I get allergic smelling hay. I just adore a penthouse view. Dah-ling I love you but give me Park Avenue... Good bye, city life. Green Acres we are there.        -Green Acres TV Theme

A look into the future perhaps...

This was supposed to be big brother hugging little brother and smiling for the camera. Needless to say we never actually got that far... guess I'll try again some other day.

10 months old

Wow how times flies! My boys are such a joy. Of course I can write that since at the moment there are no screaming babies tugging at my legs or demanding my undivided attention. THEN there are days that I live for nap time! :) The house stays cluttered and any attempt to pick up as we go is futile. Well I'm getting off topic a bit. TODAY it's about my 10 month old, David.

He eats ANYTHING and EVERYTHING. Feta cheese, grapes, avocado, fried rice, spaghetti, dead leaves, fixodent wrappers, dog food...

He LOVES the outdoors. Anytime we even go near the door he falls apart if we don't exit to the porch or yard.

He loves to swing. We have a classy tikes swing hanging from our shade tree in the yard. He would swing all day if allowed.

He's firmly attached to his pacifier and blanket. Just this month he has also started sleeping through the night. BLISS for mommy and daddy.


He is FINALLY crawling. This of course leads to constant new discoveries -the good kind and the scary kind.
     Funny example: Samuel had to go potty. A SLOW and non-progressing learning curve. So we head to the restroom and David was left to play contently in the living room. But how much fun is that?!?! So he makes a beeline for the dog water bowl in the kitchen behind the door and trash can(which is technically out of his reach, right?). He dumped the water, swam around on the kitchen floor and then proceeded to get mad and upset. I left Samuel unattended on the toilet and took off for the kitchen. I found David soaked from head to toe face down and flailing. Samuel's toddler curiosity sent him running after me, bare from the waist down .  Thankfully no more puddles were "discovered" on the way back to the bathroom. That was a busy 2 minutes!

and last but not least, David's a momma's boy! He gets excited when he sees me and as soon as I scoop him up he cuddles into my shoulder and dishes out the baby love.

Summer Recap from my Mobile

I always tote my camera around and I always forget to get it out and snap pictures! Thankfully my cell phone is usually handy to get a grainy image of our most treasured moments.  As I was cleaning out my images I thought I'd recap our summer. 

My brother Caleb left for Iraq this summer. We went to his sendoff in southern Alabama and then saw him just once more on leave before he headed out. Thanks to modern technology he has actually called once and talked online once since arriving in Kuwait. It's hard to believe he is halfway across the world defending (whats left) of our American Freedom.

Here we have Poppi, David, Caleb, and me sweating BUCKETS at Caleb's  military sendoff.

NEVER DOUBT your children are watching... I was making Chicken fajitas as Samuel sat at the island in our kitchen and chatted in toddler language to keep me company.  I turned my back for a mere .00002 of a second and when I looked back he was taking the remaining cilantro and shredding it over his peas and rice.

We played outside a lot this summer. Rain or shine. Heat or more heat. The boys have a serious diaper tan line.

 I sold my Honda Pilot this summer as we reduce eliminate our debt and prepare for unemployment. Now we drive an older Jeep Grand Cherokee that has challenged our checking account already. Samuel and I got stuck at my Dad's one Sunday afternoon. Dad, Samuel and eventually Tim spent the afternoon replacing the starter and battery.

Please notice Samuel's hands and clothes. I'm glad I changed him out of his sunday best (a last minute thought)!!! HE "helped" with the jeep and LOOKED as if he made a difference!

After dragging Samuel in to rehydrate I styled his hair with sweat.
DISGUSTING. 

Still working on crawling... he prefers the army crawl