A Tasty Treasure

A week or so ago, I went to an auction with some friends. I bought a few different exciting things which included four block planers for my Dad, a wheelbarrow with a metal wheel, a four-foot ladder, and a box of old sheet music (for which I did a happy dance). Along with the sheet music came a small box of random pamphlets and papers, which I didn't even get a chance to look in until this past Saturday. But when I did finally get to see what was in the shallow box of papers, I found a little treasure. It looks old and worn out but inside it is a like a tasty trifle. Literally. The pages are water damaged and worn, and some are completely faded, but the pages which you can still read, makes my heart flutter... The little book is filled with a woman's hand-written recipes, desserts, cakes, cookies, and tastinesses. She even has a recipe for cream puffs written in there! What really made me smile was the recipe for gingerbread cake, since last week I had been craving it. You must understand that I NEVER crave gingerbread cake. I mean, I rarely even think about such delicacies, except for last week. So, it was a funny little blessing from God, to find a gingerbread recipe in that little book. I fully intend to copy out those recipes onto something more durable before the pages completely fall apart... Then I can get to baking! Now how about those cream puffs....

"The Food in Your Belly"

Dinner time this evening:

Josh was full. His plate was full. He was full of it. I "stupidly" let Josh have hot chocolate after we shoveled the driveway this evening. It was after 5 o'clock. Dinner was ready at 6:45. Josh's tummy was not ready for dinner, especially after he and I finished off that last piece of pumpkin pie together. Another "stupid" move. But Josh's eyes were twinkling at me while I shared those few bites of pie with him... I think it was worth it. But back to my story. He was full... Who could blame him really? His belly most likely felt like bursting, because very soon his comment was, "I want to see the food in my belly." Josh grabbed his lower belly roll, right around his belly button, and began tugging. We asked him what he was doing and he said, "I'm trying to see my food!" He complained that his belly was stuck and that it would not open. Adam and I couldn't help but giggle and I asked him what he was going to see in his belly. "My dinner and my lunch and my drink and dessert..." Poor kid, probably just wanted to open his belly and let a little bit out. Somehow our dinner conversation turned to how food really came out and Josh was quite surprised to hear that our food actually came out as poop, after our bodies were done using it. He had this silly grin on his face and was quite adamant that this was NOT true. He looked at me, as if I would confirm his suspicions. I reaffirmed the truth and Josh thought that was the most unusual thing he heard yet... Funny, the things that you and I know and just take for granted, and how those bits of information can really rock a little persons' world. I am left wondering when the subject will come up again. Perhaps tomorrow, after a good meal......

A Good, Clean Birthday Present

To start off, I want you all to know that my very least favorite household chore is washing dishes. Not because it is hard or inconvenient, but because you are never really done washing dishes. Dirty dishes never go away. My sink is ALWAYS full of dishes waiting to be washed.

It was a very nice early birthday gift. Though I'm not sure it was intended to be a birthday gift. It all started when my hubby found out that my Aunt and Uncle were getting a new dishwasher and were getting rid of their old one. Their old one had a leaky seal. I have never hoped that I could fit a dishwasher in my teeny-tiny kitchen. To me, it was just impossible. But when Adam heard about the "leaky" dishwasher, his wheels started spinning. He is very handy and could fix that dishwasher. But in order to fit in a dishwasher, a cabinet needed to be taken out. That meant that a cabinet had to be emptied... That meant we needed somewhere else to put the emptied out stuff, whatever that stuff may be. So this is what happened Thursday when I was at work. We have a fine closet in our kitchen where we keep our garbage can and recyclables. Garbage can was moved to other side of kitchen. Adam hung very nice wire shelves in the closet to turn this space into a WONDERFUL pantry. (I'm not sure which pleases me more, the dishwasher or the pantry. Yes, I am... The dishwasher.) He emptied one and a half lower cabinets of their food contents and placed it all on the pantry shelves. The pots and pans moved out of their cabinet and into the now empty food cabinets. Pots and Pans cabinet was taken out. Dishwasher was put in. Wife now smiles broadly as she washes her dishes. Husband is happy. Counters look cleaner and sink has been empty almost ALL day! Woo-hoot! I am feeling much better about the state of affairs at our house. And I am ready to keep Adam around for quite a bit longer. :)

Holding Still... Or Not

He squirmed, he wriggled, he ran, he giggled. He tried his best to get away. Do you know how hard it is to get a small boys' photograph? He won't look at the camera. He closes his eyes. He slouches over. His sweatshirt covers his face. He turns around. You get the idea, right? Maybe you don't really. Then you need some pictures as a demonstration.
But I finally grabbed him and squeezed him close. He couldn't get away this time. Can you tell by the looks of my hair that I had had quite a time of getting him to hold still? He's a funny kid.

Happiness

Having some outside fun... I so enjoy the times when Josh and I can play outside together. He loves swinging and playing on the slide, whether going up or down. These are certainly times to cherish. (Estos son tiempos de abrigar. Abrigar means cherish.)

Fun in a Box

Josh and I have been having fun with boxes lately. I am honestly not sure who is having more fun, me or him. I had a Tupperware party recently and when the order came, they arrived in four very fine boxes. Two of the boxes were plenty big for both Josh and I to sit in, with enough room left over for "Mahy-net" (aka blanket). The boxes have since turned into houses, boats and a place to hide when Daddy comes home from work. Although by the time Daddy actually got in the door, I was the only one still hiding... Thankfully Daddy is pretty good at playing along. Ah... Fun in a box.

A Fun Day

Josh and I did something fun today. The sin was shining and it was feeling nice-ish out, so out we went. Molly just had to come too. She would not be left home this time. We took our old loaf of crusty Italian bread and wandered down to the "sea-shore". Lake Ontario is not too far away from home and is a good spot to look for birds, pretty much any time of year. So, Josh holding the bread bag in one hand and mine in the other, and I, holding Josh's hand in one hand and a rope leading to Molly in the other, set out along the Bay side of our "sea-shore" looking for birds. I could hear the birds and I could see them. I saw one lonely swan. But they were all far away. The gulls had settled down on the remaining ice in the middle of the bay, which was far, far away. There was no tempting those birds with our bag of bread. Molly was disappointed when we turned to go back to the car. So was I really. I kinda felt dumb and like I must not have been thinking thoroughly to want to feed the birds in February. But as we were walking back across the parking lot, who drives by?? My Grandparents and Uncle Tim! I am never down that way and they didn't know I was going to be there, so God just put it together. I explained to them what we had been trying to do and how we hadn't found any birds. Seeing them was enough to make the trip seem worthwhile after all, but Grandma pointed up to the top of a light post. There on the top was a lone sea gull. And everyone knows, if one gull knows there is food, than every gull will know there is food. I throw bread. No reaction. I throw another piece. Still nothing. Grandpa and Grandma drive away. But before they are out of the parking lot, there are a dozen gulls flying in the air. I have thrown out handfuls, but still no gull is brave enough to come down. Oh Molly... The poor thing has to go back to the car. As soon as we start walking toward the car, the gulls swoop down and flocking over the bread. Since I had left home with a ample supply of crusty bread, we set up residence next to our car this time. I sit Josh on the passenger seat, so he can see all the birds and be out of the wind (which is cold in upstate NY in February). And as soon as the seagulls see that I have begun throwing bread again, without that dog around, they swarm on over, with more friends. They must've been hungry, or something. I tore off one piece at a time. More and more birds. I was enjoying myself and Josh was grinning ear to ear too. I'm not sure which part he liked most- watching the birds or getting to eat the soft inside of our crusty bread loaf.

(editors note: the picture was stolen from my mom's blog. i forgot my camera.)

Rollercoasters of Life

It was a long and arduous weekend, filled with agony and turmoil. I wrote that in retrospect of how I was feeling, but to be truthful, it certainly holds more true for many others who live near. I spent three days lying in bed writhing in pain, while others writhed in pain much deeper than mine. I cannot feel sorry for myself now, nor can I tell you all about "how bad my weekend was".

Feb 12th, 2009- Flight 3047 crashed into a home in the village of Clarence, NY. I've driven through Clarence often, on our way to see family in Buffalo. 49 or 50 people died.

Feb 14th, 2009- A man and his wife were murdered in Canandaigua, NY. The man was manager at a nursing home that my husband services (HVAC) and Adam's boss was good friends with him. I'm told their children were at home.

So, as soon as I wrote that first sentence, I realized that I could not tell a pitiful story about my woeful, sickly experience and how I weigh less now than I did at age 14. Now my heart aches with sadness for the loss of so many. I rest my head on Your shoulder, dear Lord.

But sadness is not all that happened this weekend. Bekah, the girl I work with at the daycare, had her baby yesterday. She and her husband had not found out what the baby was, but they thought it would be a boy. I though so too. But it really tickled my fancy to find out it was a girl!! She was born on Sunday at 1:30, and was named Rosalie Grace. Which I think is so pretty. :) And I think that news of a new baby should make anyone smile.

Boots Please

Josh loves his boots. He think's they're great. One day last week, he got them out and was very obviously trying to put them on. I helped him out a bit and then he clomped through the house, pleased as punch to be wearing such fine attire. And to make his outfit even finer, was the fact that he had no pants on. What a riot!

My Little Sailor

Isn't he the cutest little sailor? Josh amazes me more everyday. He seems to be a pretty bright kid, if you want my opinion. He makes car noises when he plays with his trucks. He points at the pictures when we read a book. Josh can even put shapes in his "shape house", though they go in through the chimney, not in the shape holes. I enjoy hearing him mimic the words I say and I love when he says "Mommom", which I know means me. People say that I will grow tired of being called Mom, because I will hear it all the time. But for now I enjoy it and try to believe that I will never grow tired of my child/children calling me Mom. I think it's the greatest thing anyone could be called.

Another Year Older

I have been feeling a bit of animosity, or perhaps resentment, at the fact that today is my birthday. I don't want to be 23. I want to stay 22. I will only get older from here on out. Twenty-two was a wonderful year. So many great things happened in it. For instance, the love of my life was born. And he holds my hand and runs into my arms. It is "practically perfect in every way." I guess the excitement of birthdays has just worn off... Just another day that is supposed to be exciting. Ugh, what is wrong with me? I am much too sentimental, I think. And for some reason that makes me regret that I am no longer a young wisp of a willow. Tell me, how beauty becomes you more as you age. Like good cheese or wine...

On a cheerier note: Adam called me on his way home Monday evening. He said that he had bought me something for my birthday and wondered if he could give it to me when he got home. It was a whole three days before my birthday, but he couldn't wait. It did make me curious!! Upon his arrival, he brought in this large box, inside of which was... A brand spankin' new vacuum!!!!!!! I was pretty excited. I had been fighting with our vacuum cleaner all summer. The hose had busted, it tried to eat me, etc, etc. It was a very inexpensive vacuum, which makes it hardly worth replacing parts on, but it did the job. But Adam is such a good man, he wants me to have a easy life. The new vaccum has a pet hair brush and great filters and it comes with 0 bags, just a neat emptying thingy that you just empty into the trash when its full. Pretty cool. Now I can clean the car, which, oddly enough, I am actually looking forward to... What a great guy. Maybe my birthday isn't that bad after all. *smile*

A Sunny Saturday at the Playground

On Saturday, Adam and I took Josh to a playground. He just loved walking through the stones and collecting sticks and pine cones. He was such a pleasure to watch! Enjoy these photos from our first trip to a playground.

Josh admires all the neat things to play on.
Josh tries his very best to collect all the sticks at the playground.

"I wonder if I can find anymore sticks?"
He's going to try climbing up the climber.
Josh makes sure Daddy is paying attention.
I try to get a shot of my hubby and I.
"Mommy, look what I found!"
Daddy thought Josh should try out the big slide.
He had such a blast going down!
Look how much he loves hanging out with Daddy!

My Big Boy

My Joshua is getting big. Last week he cut two molars and his incisors are cutting through too. His hair is long enough to play with and he walks all the time. He is wearing size 18 month clothes and his favorite word is "ball" and "Da". Joshua also weighs almost, if not, 27+ lbs. He is quite thick, meaning stocky, not fat. He takes after his Daddy in that sense. I find it quite funny when Josh finds a sock and tries to put it on himself. And I am enjoying watching him learn, especially learning to be obedient. It's quite great actually. Like the other day, I taught him not to throw his cup. He does need daily reminding, but has improved substantially. He has also caught on to the phrase I use when I don't want him to touch or do something. He'll stop and just stare at it like, "Oh, I so want to, but Mom said no..." Josh is going through the seperation anxiety stage too. He started crying at the daycare I work at, when ever I leave the room or walk away from him. He does this at church now too. I just sit him down and say, "Bye Josh, be good." And then I leave, hoping that he isn't terrible for the girls during the whole service. I pray for my boy every day and sing him "Jesus Loves Me" every time he goes to bed. That was my favorite song when I was little and maybe it'll be Joshua's too. I've uploaded a video so you can admire him walking. Ain't he the cutest little guy you've ever seen??

Is He A Climber, You Ask?

"Oh no, he's not a climber..."

(Don't worry folks, I was right there to catch him when he started to fall.)

Say CHEESE!

Wouldn't that face make anybody smile?

Baby Babble

Josh has discovered a new sound and demonstrates it very nicely in this video. The video is filled with an abundance of babble, but I was thinking of those of you who haven't been able to hear baby talk in a long while. It really is a wonderful sound.

New Tricks

Josh has learned a new trick. Two new tricks actually. One of them is called smiling and is one of the most wonderful things in the world, as is baby talk. Lately, Josh enjoys talking to me and tells me "stories." It is so cute and I can tell he finds it as much fun to talk to me as it is for me to hear him. He also has discovered how to suck his thumb. One day he was lying in his cradle and I was in the kitchen. I heard this strange sound coming from the other room. I thought it was the cat, but upon further investigation, I found it was Josh sucking away, quite furiously, on his thumb. I must admit, it was quite cute.

Six Months

Sentences of Joy

Hullo... here I am blogging again. I went teaching again today. Lovely day to do so. I was greatly encouraged today because two of the kids I teach wrote their very first sentences all by themselves! They even sounded out the words themselves! Yes, yes, yes!!! Now they will be able to do so many more things! Like learn to spell and write stories and write more sentences and use their imaginations!!! I'm so excited! Now let's just see if they feel like writing more sentences on Friday. You have to understand why I am so excited that they wrote sentences all by themselves. Seven weeks ago, they were both struggling to read, not quite knowing all the sounds or how to write certain letters. Now I know that I actually have been making a difference and have been helping these kids to grow and develop and learn many new things. Josiah (who is eight and just wrote his first sentences on his own) also started learning how to divide today. Simple division, of course, but none the less, division. It is good to be seeing progress. It is encouraging. Although, working five days a week is very tiring and maybe more stressful on my relationships and my housework. On which note I shall leave you all and go back to my real life. Good bye!