Planted lupine and squash today

I planted lupine seeds and butternut squash seeds by the south fence today.

The sunflowers have poked through the ground so that is good.

My poor tulips are being chomped on. Time to get some slug bait?Pin It

Check out my new header

My hubby did it for me. It still needs some tweaking but it is fun to have my boys' picture there.Pin It

Funny little poem

I found this while surfing around today. Funny. Maybe the theology is bad, but enjoy it anyway. Do I dare teach it to my boys? :)

Which Loved Best? by Joy Allison (1917)

I love you mother, said little Nell
I love you more than tongues can tell.
Then teased and pouted for half the day
Till her mother rejoiced when she went out to play.

I love you mother, said little John
Forgetting his work, his cap went on.
Then he was off to the garden swing
Leaving his mother the wood to bring

I love you mother, said little Ann
Today I’ll help you all I can
Then stepping softly she took the broom
Swept the floor and tidied the room.

I love you mother, again they said
Three little children all going to bed.

How do you think that mother guessed which one really loved her best?

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Drowning in parenting/mothering books

I currently have the following books on my nightstand:
- Don't Make Me Count to Three!
- Love and Logic Magic for Early Childhood
- How to Make Children Mind without Losing Yours
- The Power of a Positive Mom
- Positive Discipline for Preschoolers

Most are from the library. I do read fast but this is ridiculous.

I've been having some challenging times with parenting so I've been searching out good books. Maybe I've overdone it? :) That's my usual approach to a problem - buying or attempting to read too many books. I suppose I should be praying more. Oh wait, I have that book, too. The Power of a Praying Wife. Maybe I need to get the Power of a Praying Parent. Ha ha. :)Pin It

Gymnastics today

We went to gymnastics drop in time today, as well as story time at the library. Whew. No wonder I'm tired.

C is getting braver at the foam cube pit. He had me throwing him into the pit today. Last time he was just beginning to want to go in.

A is getting very adept at using the scissors. He cut out some squares today and did very well.Pin It

Dirt under my fingernails

I did more planting today. My husband dug up more ground for me.

Planted:
- sweet peas
- pumpkins

I also finally put some purple ranuculus into a container. They'd been sitting around drying out, waiting for me.Pin It

Cute can be a dangerous thing

C was saying "I'm cute, I'm cute." I wondered what he was up to (he always surprises me). I went into the dining room. He was sitting at his brother's place at the table, stealing his smoothie drink. Hmmm, cute, eh?Pin It

Planting time

I've been planting lately. Well, most of the work is digging up the ground and adding better soil. We have clay soil here with lots of little rocks. My husband and I created some new beds by a chain link fence.

On Sunday I planted tall plants in hopes of covering up the aformentioned fence, well, at least making the view a bit better. I planted delphinium (boy, those are small seeds!) and sunflower seeds in that section. I also planted zucchini seeds in my vegetable garden.

Today I planted green beans.

I don't get much done on weekdays because someone is usually calling "Mommmmmmy!"Pin It

Suckin' his thumb, twirlin' his hair

Just another day in C's paradise. Sitting on the park bench in his happy place.

This WASN'T taken today. Today was a very bad day that I will blog about later. Suffice to say, there was a lot of p**p involved.

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The family that stretches together....

Sometimes I do a stretching DVD in the evenings. It helps my chronic neck and back problems. A likes to run around me while I do it - not good for my concentration. This time he decided to do the stretches with me. He did very well. He even did one move he made up but it looked like a yoga pose I've seen. :) My husband took some other funny pictures of us where you can see the dvd on the TV so there is context. I didn't share that one becaue you can see my messy living room and dining room. :)

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Menu Plan Monday

I won't necessarily have these on the days that I list but these are the meals I'll make this week.

Monday - Salmon and red onions (BBQ), Wild rice, zucchini fritters
Tuesday - Beef Stroganoff, Green beans
Wednesday - Quinoa Chili (meatless), corn chips, peas
Thursday - Chicken Noodle supper, salad
Friday - Sausage, beans and kalePin It

Children's Book Monday

I can't remember whose blog I was visiting but the following book was recommended. A Child's Book of Art by Lucy Micklethwait. I was able to find it at my local library.

I read it to my boys tonight and my oldest(3 1/2) ate it up! My youngest (22 months) responded to the animal pictures and of course, the train. What a great way to introduce children to art from around the world and over a huge time span. I noticed one painting from the 1980s and another was a Greek urn which likely dates before Christ. A wanted to read it again after I had finished. The descriptions are just a few words and words that he knows by sight.Pin It

A Christian Easter

My husband and I have been trying to teach our sons about the real meaning of Easter but we aren't "depriving" them of the fun of egg hunts and such. We bought Resurrection Eggs and have gone through a few of them but we think this is better suited for slightly older children. A leather whip, a crown of thorns, a nail are a bit intense for them right now. As a side note, one of our children's bibles skips Jesus' death on the cross altogether. A hard thing to teach to a 3 year old and an almost 2 year old, I admit, but it shouldn't be left out! We're glad our main children's bible includes Christ's passion.

I found this article today by Focus on the Family (thanks to Kimberly's Cup) and thought I'd share the link. I like the following exerpt.

Teach them about Jesus by talking about what a real Easter Bunny is

Use a rabbit picture, a stuffed bunny or even a real one (if you are adventurous) to teach some of the characteristics of Jesus that we should all try to have. By adding a Bible verse to each quality, you will create a true Easter Bunny.

Real Easter bunnies:

• are white as snow because Jesus takes all sin away (Isaiah 1:18b).

• are gentle, kind-hearted and forgiving (Ephesians 4:32).

• have big ears that are quick to listen (James 1:19).

• have big eyes to look carefully and choose what is good (1 Thessalonians 5:21).

• have no voice for complaining or arguing (Philippians 2:13).

• are quiet in prayer, but hop with thanksgiving and rejoicing (1Thessalonians 5:21).

• have big feet to go tell others about Jesus so they can be like Easter bunnies, too (Matthew 28: 19-20).

• eat what is healthy by filling up on God’s word every day (Psalm 119:11).

I think we'll try this tonight.Pin It

Planted today

2 bleeding hearts

1 foxglove

Gorgeous day here.

Funny quote from A - "I don't like playing outside. My hands get dirty." C would never say that!Pin It

A contest to win a free vacuum cleaner

OK, so it isn't the most exciting prize in the world, but everyone loves something free, right?

5 Minutes for Mom is having this contest for a free Dyson Slim.Pin It

Easter candy

My son C (22 months) was going through his basket from today's egg hunt. He called the little chocolate eggs footballs and counted them. I don't think he realized they were candies.Pin It

Never say never

It's official. I've gone over to the dark side. My boys are watching a Barney video. Ugg. A long time ago I said "no Barney in my house!" Ha ha. Well, there you have it.

Maybe it will be a phase. A short phase.Pin It

My birthday

Today is my birthday. Its a big one. One of those decades, that's all I'm saying. ;)

Its a bit hard to realize I'm that old. I used to think of other people as old if they were the age I am now. Yikes. I'm trying my best to have a good attitude about it. I realize that I'm pretty happy with my life right now. Of course there are things that could be better (stuff I don't blog about!) but I have many things to be happy for including my two beautiful boys and my amazing husband. Lots of people have told me I don't look my age and I guess that's the main thing that as a woman you worry about with aging.

How have we celebrated/marked the occasion? So far the following:
- dinner date with my husband this past Saturday night. We went to a Moroccan restaurant that has a very authentic atmosphere. We had "the feast."
- afternoon tea today with my boys and my husband. A bit stressful since C kept trying to grab the china plates and cups or bang on the glass table. Still a fun time.
- we did my kind of shopping today - garden store and a craft store. I picked out some annuals to put in the really nice ceramic pots I got cheap at WalMart last week.
- the sun came out and it was warm today. Thank you, God! I need that!

I am going to get a piece of gemstone jewelry (probably a ring) but I haven't found what I want yet.Pin It

Awwwwwww!

Polar bear cub "Knut" in Germany.Pin It

Poem about motherhood (comforting)

Learning mother, bending oh so low;
With heart that joy and sorrow overflows;
God gives to thee a work most hard and sweet,
Guiding little hearts and tiny feet.

Weary mother, by the sickbed sore,
Contemplating joys all gone before;
The Lord thy strength and helper still will be,
When life becomes so very drear for thee.

Heavy mother, now with child so great,
Thy gentle Shepherd with great kindness waits,
Thy faltering steps to settle in safe ways,
Thy every need supplying all thy days.

Worried mother of the wayward one,
Whether it be thy daughter or thy son,
The Lord great wisdom to thy need will give,
To teach them now for Jesus Christ to live.

Careworn mother, let God's joy and love,
Flood thy soul with blessings from above;
So as thy days thy strength from Him shall be,
With everlasting arms sustaining thee.

Praying mother on thy well-worn knees,
Thy faithfulness down through the years now sees,
Thy children raised upon the word of God,
Walking safe in paths the saints have trod.


-Mary Van Nattan "A Christian Mother's Life"

Thanks, Andrea.Pin It