their halos act as night lights.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Hark the Herald Angels Sing!
Our home has been invaded by angel-children.
their halos act as night lights.
their halos act as night lights.
Monday, December 27, 2010
Christmas Trees and Holidays
We have an annual tradition of going and cutting down our Christmas tree...
We have to find the perfect one first.
This means going up and down the fields of the Christmas tree farm to find the PERFECT evergreen...
Then after every tree has been examined, Daddy cuts in down.
And the kids "help" him drag it to the shed to be paid for, shook and baled.
We dream of hot chocolate with marshmallows.
And wish everyone a Happy New Year!
We have to find the perfect one first.
This means going up and down the fields of the Christmas tree farm to find the PERFECT evergreen...
Then after every tree has been examined, Daddy cuts in down.
And the kids "help" him drag it to the shed to be paid for, shook and baled.
We dream of hot chocolate with marshmallows.
And wish everyone a Happy New Year!
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
turkey thoughts
Our little guy desperately wanted to see the turkey before we roasted it.
He begged to see the turkey...shamelessly.
So, I called him to the kitchen when I took the bird out of the refrigerator and removed the wrapper. He stared in disbelief.
"Where's his head?" he asked.
"Ah, well he doesn't have one anymore," I replied.
"Where's da legs?" he inquired.
I pointed them out on the bird...along with the wings. (The gizard, heart and various other bagged body parts were already in the trash.)
He was clearly troubled.
"I don't like turkey," he said. He spun around and walked away.
He begged to see the turkey...shamelessly.
So, I called him to the kitchen when I took the bird out of the refrigerator and removed the wrapper. He stared in disbelief.
"Where's his head?" he asked.
"Ah, well he doesn't have one anymore," I replied.
"Where's da legs?" he inquired.
I pointed them out on the bird...along with the wings. (The gizard, heart and various other bagged body parts were already in the trash.)
He was clearly troubled.
"I don't like turkey," he said. He spun around and walked away.
Friday, November 26, 2010
home made goodness
mix and measure some of this...
then get the candy thermometer...
to make sure it's just the correct temperature...beat thoroughly...add peppermint extract and you will have..
home made peppermint marshmallows.
make a rich cup of hot chocolate
drop in a few marshmallows
sit back
relax
yum
then get the candy thermometer...
to make sure it's just the correct temperature...beat thoroughly...add peppermint extract and you will have..
home made peppermint marshmallows.
make a rich cup of hot chocolate
drop in a few marshmallows
sit back
relax
yum
Thursday, November 25, 2010
heard on the street...
Scene: 4 year old son sitting next to Daddy as Daddy is talking...
4 year old son says, "Daddy, I was listening, but I didn't hear you..."
4 year old son says, "Daddy, I was listening, but I didn't hear you..."
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Giving
Kate has become very passionate about giving.
She has been saving the money she has been given or earned since she was about 3 years old.
(Sidebar: She is on straight commission at home: if she does her jobs, she gets paid at the end of the week. If she doesn't do her jobs, she does not get paid. There are basic jobs you are required to do if you live at our house, then there are the jobs you can do to earn coin. We believe it's important to learn the value of work at a young age...so we started the commission plan earlier this summer. No entitlements at this house.)
Sunday she reminded me we needed to take some money out of her bank to send to Chinese orphans. We had been talking about where she might want to give some of her money, and she chose the children of China.
As we took the money out of her banks, a look of panic spread across her face. She then asked, "I don't know how to count in the millions, how will I count my money?" I assured her that I could count high enough to figure out how much cash she has on hand.
We counted the all of it (less than $1 million dollars on hand) and then divided it into 3 piles. The first pile is for giving. This will be going to support her passion. The second pile is for saving. The third pile is for spending. She can use this to purchase things she wants and to learn how money works.
While she doesn't completely understand the system yet, she certainly is excited about sharing what she's earned. She also was very excited to take her own money and buy her own *Silly*Bands*. I didn't personally love the idea of buying rubber bands with her hard earned cash, but it's not my money. It's hers and it's part of her education...that is priceless.
I am proud of her giving heart and hope it only becomes more compassionate over time.
She has been saving the money she has been given or earned since she was about 3 years old.
(Sidebar: She is on straight commission at home: if she does her jobs, she gets paid at the end of the week. If she doesn't do her jobs, she does not get paid. There are basic jobs you are required to do if you live at our house, then there are the jobs you can do to earn coin. We believe it's important to learn the value of work at a young age...so we started the commission plan earlier this summer. No entitlements at this house.)
Sunday she reminded me we needed to take some money out of her bank to send to Chinese orphans. We had been talking about where she might want to give some of her money, and she chose the children of China.
As we took the money out of her banks, a look of panic spread across her face. She then asked, "I don't know how to count in the millions, how will I count my money?" I assured her that I could count high enough to figure out how much cash she has on hand.
We counted the all of it (less than $1 million dollars on hand) and then divided it into 3 piles. The first pile is for giving. This will be going to support her passion. The second pile is for saving. The third pile is for spending. She can use this to purchase things she wants and to learn how money works.
While she doesn't completely understand the system yet, she certainly is excited about sharing what she's earned. She also was very excited to take her own money and buy her own *Silly*Bands*. I didn't personally love the idea of buying rubber bands with her hard earned cash, but it's not my money. It's hers and it's part of her education...that is priceless.
I am proud of her giving heart and hope it only becomes more compassionate over time.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Busy week for Kate...
This girl has her hands full with school this week...she's been assigned a variety of jobs.
Monday: special helper to the teacher
Tuesday: attendance keeper
Wednesday: custodian (when questioned she is to "dust and stuff")
Thursday: the meteorologist
Friday: the librarian
Being a kindergartner is a not for the faint of heart.
Monday: special helper to the teacher
Tuesday: attendance keeper
Wednesday: custodian (when questioned she is to "dust and stuff")
Thursday: the meteorologist
Friday: the librarian
Being a kindergartner is a not for the faint of heart.
Monday, August 30, 2010
A Wild Night!
Before school started, the kids begged us to have a "camp out" in the family room. They had a wonderful time rolling out their sleeping bags and setting up "camp". Then the pillows came out and it was all out war...
Daddy was the target of choice through most of the battle...
Both kids gave it their best effort, but ultimately Sam came out as the champ...
He won the official "Whack-a-Mole Pillow Fight Trophy"...and he was proud of it!!!
Daddy was the target of choice through most of the battle...
Both kids gave it their best effort, but ultimately Sam came out as the champ...
He won the official "Whack-a-Mole Pillow Fight Trophy"...and he was proud of it!!!
Sunday, August 29, 2010
First Day of School...
We were so excited about our first day of school...
It's best to start out with a little yogurt....
...then maybe a bowl of cholesterol reducing oat rings...they say it's key to start with a good breakfast...
...after picking out their clothes, they pose for a few pictures. That's glitter girl and football boy...
Then it's off for her first day in kindergarten. Runner Boy took her...I think I would have cried too hard. I am happy for her, but the years have gone by so quickly! I try to enjoy the days, but sometimes I wish I could just slow time down a little...
She looks a little old in this picture, but she insisted on having "curly hair" for her first day.
Her teacher is a delight and she has an adorable classroom...
...just down the hall will be this guy...from a little 4 lb 15 oz baby, he is now heavier than his sister...and planning on playing football "on t.v."
They had a great first day at school...She even got a "medal" for surviving her first day of kindergarten!
...tomorrow we start our first full week of school...
It's best to start out with a little yogurt....
...then maybe a bowl of cholesterol reducing oat rings...they say it's key to start with a good breakfast...
...after picking out their clothes, they pose for a few pictures. That's glitter girl and football boy...
Then it's off for her first day in kindergarten. Runner Boy took her...I think I would have cried too hard. I am happy for her, but the years have gone by so quickly! I try to enjoy the days, but sometimes I wish I could just slow time down a little...
She looks a little old in this picture, but she insisted on having "curly hair" for her first day.
Her teacher is a delight and she has an adorable classroom...
...just down the hall will be this guy...from a little 4 lb 15 oz baby, he is now heavier than his sister...and planning on playing football "on t.v."
They had a great first day at school...She even got a "medal" for surviving her first day of kindergarten!
...tomorrow we start our first full week of school...
Friday, August 27, 2010
Friday, August 20, 2010
camp out
"we" have been looking forward to this all week...
the friday night "camp out" in the family room.
we had pizza (a common camp food), s'mores and a pillow fight...
as we were having our pillow battle, sam said, "momma, you are the coach of the pillow fighters."
he then told kate, "you are part of the girls who straighten up the sleeping bags after the fight."
sam then proclaimed himself "da winner of da pillow fight"...we'll reveal the trophy soon.
it's better than the heisman trophy or lord stanley's cup...trust me...
the friday night "camp out" in the family room.
we had pizza (a common camp food), s'mores and a pillow fight...
as we were having our pillow battle, sam said, "momma, you are the coach of the pillow fighters."
he then told kate, "you are part of the girls who straighten up the sleeping bags after the fight."
sam then proclaimed himself "da winner of da pillow fight"...we'll reveal the trophy soon.
it's better than the heisman trophy or lord stanley's cup...trust me...
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Another One Bites the Dust...
Another one of Kate's pets has perished.
Matthew the V is no longer with us.
He joined our family last week after coming home from the farm stand on an ear of corn.
He was a 1.5 inch long and a lovely shade of green.
I think he was some sort of pest that ruins corn crops, but Kate loved him the minute she laid eyes on him.
She scooped him up, put him into a left over Chinese take out container and gave him leaves, sticks and rocks to climb on.
He was loved while he lasted. We left him in his cozy container on the kitchen island one night.
The next morning we found the container laying on the floor...Matthew the V was missing.
Gone...
Our kitty, Pascal, tried to look aloof and innocent.
R.I.P. Matthew the V
Matthew the V is no longer with us.
He joined our family last week after coming home from the farm stand on an ear of corn.
He was a 1.5 inch long and a lovely shade of green.
I think he was some sort of pest that ruins corn crops, but Kate loved him the minute she laid eyes on him.
She scooped him up, put him into a left over Chinese take out container and gave him leaves, sticks and rocks to climb on.
He was loved while he lasted. We left him in his cozy container on the kitchen island one night.
The next morning we found the container laying on the floor...Matthew the V was missing.
Gone...
Our kitty, Pascal, tried to look aloof and innocent.
R.I.P. Matthew the V
Monday, August 16, 2010
Training Camp
I am a Packer fan. I grew up on them and regardless of where we have lived in the U.S., I have remained a true fan. This year we had a chance to go to the annual preseason scrimmage and get a close look at the players.
This is Runner Boy's favorite player...he's an alum of R.B.'s university. This is Jordy Nelson:
Sam loved this sign. Where else do they tell you to "...use your outside voice?"
This is what we lovingly call, "Packer Nation"....
This is Runner Boy and Bart Starr...
My 3 favorite Packer fans...
This is Runner Boy's favorite player...he's an alum of R.B.'s university. This is Jordy Nelson:
Sam loved this sign. Where else do they tell you to "...use your outside voice?"
This is what we lovingly call, "Packer Nation"....
This is Runner Boy and Bart Starr...
My 3 favorite Packer fans...
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Deep Thoughts by a 5 Year Old...
Kate & I were flying home from a wonderful reunion with her "China Sisters" this weekend when she grew somewhat thoughtful and introspective.
She was gazing out the window of our plane at the small, puffy clouds below when she asked, "Mom, is Jesus in those clouds? Do you think He'll fall out of the clouds?"
Me: "No, I don't think he's in those specific clouds...are you thinking that's where heaven is?
K: "Yes, is that heaven?" she asks in a quizzical voice.
Me: "Ahhh, that's not heaven...it's probably up higher than those clouds." (I am wondering how to explain this to a 5 1/2 year old.)
K: "When do we go to heaven?"
Me: "Well, after a person dies."
K: "How do you get there? I mean there's no rock walls, ladders or anything to climb up there?"
Me: "Ahhh, well, ahhh...it's kinda complicated..."
Thankfully she changed the subject...
She was gazing out the window of our plane at the small, puffy clouds below when she asked, "Mom, is Jesus in those clouds? Do you think He'll fall out of the clouds?"
Me: "No, I don't think he's in those specific clouds...are you thinking that's where heaven is?
K: "Yes, is that heaven?" she asks in a quizzical voice.
Me: "Ahhh, that's not heaven...it's probably up higher than those clouds." (I am wondering how to explain this to a 5 1/2 year old.)
K: "When do we go to heaven?"
Me: "Well, after a person dies."
K: "How do you get there? I mean there's no rock walls, ladders or anything to climb up there?"
Me: "Ahhh, well, ahhh...it's kinda complicated..."
Thankfully she changed the subject...
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
jiao zi
i went to China in may. i miss it. i saw and experienced more than i imagined. i
i am still processing.
i want to go back.
one night i went to my friends' family home and we made jiao zi (dumplings). they were fantastic.
the best part of the day wasn't the food, it was the time spent with 3 generations of a family making them. what a privilege to spend time in their home, cook side by side, laugh in different languages and share a meal.
making the dough seems to take the most time...it is rolled out into 3 inch circles...
the filling for these jiao zi was made of ground pork with egg and seasonings...
these are the beautiful hands of an elderly Chinese woman...she has made thousands of jiao zi, seen the dramatic changes of her homeland, and has a lifetime of stories...
it takes practice to make the jiao zi...
i ate about half of these...
to be continued...
i am still processing.
i want to go back.
one night i went to my friends' family home and we made jiao zi (dumplings). they were fantastic.
the best part of the day wasn't the food, it was the time spent with 3 generations of a family making them. what a privilege to spend time in their home, cook side by side, laugh in different languages and share a meal.
making the dough seems to take the most time...it is rolled out into 3 inch circles...
the filling for these jiao zi was made of ground pork with egg and seasonings...
these are the beautiful hands of an elderly Chinese woman...she has made thousands of jiao zi, seen the dramatic changes of her homeland, and has a lifetime of stories...
it takes practice to make the jiao zi...
i ate about half of these...
to be continued...
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
the news
okay, so Runner Boy hates the news. i enjoy the news...most of the time.
tonight was the perfect example of why Runner Boy hates the news.
there was a story about sun screen. the dangers of sunscreen. why? because some brands contain forms of vitamin A which can intensify some of the sun's dangerous effects. some brands contain oxybenzone--a chemical which can disrupt hormones.
so, some sun screens are DANGEROUS.
then, the reporter went to the local medical school/teaching hospital to talk to one of the experts. the doctor notes that some of the science behind concerns over sunscreen is sketchy. therefore, he would recommend DAILY use of sun screen to protect skin from the harmful effects of the sun.
now we know that sun screen is DANGEROUS and that it should be used DAILY.
that's why runner boy hates the news.
tonight was the perfect example of why Runner Boy hates the news.
there was a story about sun screen. the dangers of sunscreen. why? because some brands contain forms of vitamin A which can intensify some of the sun's dangerous effects. some brands contain oxybenzone--a chemical which can disrupt hormones.
so, some sun screens are DANGEROUS.
then, the reporter went to the local medical school/teaching hospital to talk to one of the experts. the doctor notes that some of the science behind concerns over sunscreen is sketchy. therefore, he would recommend DAILY use of sun screen to protect skin from the harmful effects of the sun.
now we know that sun screen is DANGEROUS and that it should be used DAILY.
that's why runner boy hates the news.
Monday, July 5, 2010
growing up...
Kate: "Momma, when I grow up will I have big hips?"
Me: "Huh?"
Kate: "When I grow up will I have big hips...like you?"
Me: "Do you think I have big hips Kate?"
Kate: "Yes"
...ouch...
Me: "Huh?"
Kate: "When I grow up will I have big hips...like you?"
Me: "Do you think I have big hips Kate?"
Kate: "Yes"
...ouch...
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
baseball!
kate & sam went to their first baseball game this past weekend...sam was fascinated by the whole experience. this is the little league park next to the stadium:
before the game started we enjoyed a great tailgate party, played games (yup, we brought the card table and the deluxe scrabble board), played on the playground and watched the home team get pummeled...
and we ate...sam was serious about his hot dog...
kate just hung around...
a great day...
...a beautiful ball park...
...and many more games in our future...
before the game started we enjoyed a great tailgate party, played games (yup, we brought the card table and the deluxe scrabble board), played on the playground and watched the home team get pummeled...
and we ate...sam was serious about his hot dog...
kate just hung around...
a great day...
...a beautiful ball park...
...and many more games in our future...
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