Chopped

It's no secret that the Watts like food. We love to cook it, eat it and watch shows about it. Lately, one of our Food Network favorites has been Chopped. The premise of the show is that the chefs come in not knowing what the ingredients are until the competition begins. They open their baskets to find the, sometimes-surprising, required 3-4 ingredients, and then have 20-30 minutes to prepare and plate, depending on the course. Ruth particularly loves this show and wanted to challenge her dad to a Chopped-like competition. I chose the required ingredients, based on what we had on hand and what we had enough of to divide between the baskets. Neither Ruth nor Jeff knew what I was putting in the baskets ahead of time. On the actual show, they prepare an appetizer course, a main course and a dessert. We decided to just do a main course, and we decided to allow 40 minutes instead of 30. The required ingredients were jalapeño-cheese venison summer sausage, rice, sweet potatoes and lentils. It was a great competition, and both chefs held their own. Ruth did pretty much everything herself--from chopping to cooking to plating. I only assisted her once or twice in moving hot pans off the stove. Ruth ended up preparing a very tasty soup with the sweet potato, rice and lentils. She also fried some rice with some of the sweet potato, and she pan fried the sausage and then made it into a little open faced sandwich topped with BBQ sauce. I was pretty amazed at her ability to put the ingredients together in such a tasty and interesting way. Jeff made onion rice over a mornay sauce, topped with the sausage, along with a sweet potato/lentil hash. We all had such a good time, and I'm sure this will not be our last Chopped competition.

Japanese Tea Ceremony

Ruth spent the week studying about Japan in History, so we ended the week with a Japanese Tea Ceremony. Though our book claimed that this would be a light meal, it turned out to be an eight-course feast that went like this: salad and white rice, chicken broth with mushrooms, grilled fish, hot water with lemon slices, a dish representing mountains and the sea (pretzel crackers and blueberry cream cheese), pickles and white rice, sweets representing the season (fall-colored Nila Wafers), black tea, and green tea. It was fun to make and fun to eat. And Ruth had a blast playing hostess!

So, how do you really feel?

Yesterday, towards the end of the day, when emotions sometimes run high, Weston kind of lost control of himself, and in a rare fit of anger and rebellion, threw a box of crayons across the room. You can imagine that this did not go over well with the maternal figure, and after appropriate action was taken on her part, this young lad was sent to sit on his bed to cool off. When the calm finally started to settle in (after the stomping and screaming and crying), this child was overheard singing his frustration over and over again: "I'm so angry, so very angry. I've got the angry down in my heart." I literally had to step outside so as not to let him hear me laugh.

Later, when I went up to talk to Weston about his behavior, I asked him if he knew why he was in trouble. He rightly said it was because of his rebellion and because of disobeying. I then asked him if he could tell me the verse he has been memorizing in CC. Without hesitating, he started: "Children, obey your..." Then he scrunched up his face, and continued without gusto: "Children, obey your parents in the Lord for this is right. Honor your father and mother..." He was so clearly disgusted to have been "caught," that I once again found myself trying not to laugh.

An otherwise lovely weekend

We had a wonderful weekend, really, but there were a few things that made it less than perfect. Included among those were the following:

• a wee one with a MAJOR tummy bug
• a young boy with a busted, bloody nose
• a driver running her SUV into my van in a parking lot and leaving it with a huge dent and a nice little scratch--and then commenting (upon the revelation that she was also moving here from Kingwood) that "we were meant to bump into each other."
• six small handfuls of teeny, tiny cactus prickles

On the positive side, though, we also got to do the following:

• visit with my parents and grandparents
• eat yummy BBQ
• play at the park
• look at quite a lot of toy catalogs  
• visit with Jeff's parents
• eat yummy Mexican food
• enjoy cool breezes and a hint of fall-like weather
• buy supplies for upcoming science experiments and history projects
• hang out at "our" land, making measurements for our future house
• jump on the trampoline
• throw around the football

Finishing the 10 poster

Weston has been working for a while on completing ten books for his reading poster, and today was the day! He chose to go bowling for his reward, so we got to check out the local bowling alley. It was perfect, and we all had a blast! We are so proud of of our big reader!

Getting to Know Marble Falls

We spent a good portion of the day getting to know our soon-to-be new hometown. First, we tromped around on the land we are trying to buy. Jeff and I tried to walk off where the house will sit, while the kids roamed freely on the 10 acres, full of joy and adventure. The next stop was Sonic. Of course. Then, we made our way over to the Marble Falls Market Day, where vendors were set up all along Main Street, with wares of every kind for sale. At the end of Main Street we ran into the library, where we spent more than half an hour, checking out books, reading and putting puzzles together. I cut out a little early, so I could snap some photos along Main Street, and then we all met up for lunch at a lovely little deli, which we will definitely visit again! After lunch, we headed over to Home Depot for a few supplies and a lot of research. Finally, we stopped at the awesome HEB, before heading back to the casa for naps. It was such a fun day and so exciting to start to familiarize ourselves with our new surroundings!

Kid of the Week

Weston was awarded "Kid of the Week" at CC today. He is one of the youngest students on our CC campus who is in an actual class (as opposed to a nursery class). He really impressed his teacher and the director by going to class all on his own (since I was on nursery duty and wasn't able to attend with him, as would normally be the case) and participating in every activity, including a presentation in front of the class. I was able to attend class with him today and was impressed myself with his level of involvement and the way he isn't intimidated being in a class of all older kids (some as old as 7). We ran into his afternoon activity coordinator at the grocery store this afternoon, and she bragged about his behavior during that portion of the day, adding that she wasn't surprised he was given this award and that she truly felt he deserved it. This honor is such a compliment and such a testament of the big boy Weston has become. We are so proud of him!

Labor Day Weekend 2010

Moving Day

Today was moving day. No, we haven't sold our house in Kingwood. But, we were anxious to step into this new phase of our life, and we wanted to be involved with the local CC group from the beginning. And, my in-laws graciously offered us the use of their currently unoccupied house. We spent almost the entire weekend packing up all the last-minute stuff (of which, there was quite a lot) and loading it in the two vehicles. Then, we hired a cleaning company to come in today (after the boys and I left!), so we could leave the house sparkling. It was a long day of loading and driving and unloading (with a doctor's appointment, some crazy hard rain and a visit with a good friend thrown in there, too!), but we made it, and we're glad to be here. Now, excuse us while we hit the hay.

Anniversary Adventure

Jeff and I had our 12th anniversary last Sunday. But, I had a meeting, and we were traveling back from Lake Buchanan, so we really didn't celebrate then. (Because I DO NOT count eating a cold chicken sandwich from Dairy Queen, in the truck, hours after Jeff and the kids ate there, a celebration). So, we celebrated last night. It was my year to plan our outing, so I picked some place really special: Churrasco's. This is the place Jeff and I ate on the night we got engaged!

So, the sitter arrived and Jeff and I headed downtown. We ran into a traffic situation, but we were still able to arrive at the restaurant in time for our reservation. We sat in a cozy little booth and enjoyed an appetizer and some lovely conversation. Then, our main courses arrived, and I had just taken about three bites, when I noticed some movement over my right shoulder. Turning my head to get a better look, I found a two-inch long water bug running very quickly along the back of the booth straight toward me! Now these bugs (along with their evil cockroach relatives) are absolutely the thing that make me cringe the most. I. Can. Not. Stand. Them. I hopped up out of my seat like greased lightening and all but ran right out the front door of the restaurant, fighting the urge to surrender my appetizer to my napkin. Meanwhile, Jeff calls the waiter over to have him "take care of the situation."  He is appropriately mortified, and deals with the bug. Eventually, I re-enter the restaurant, but cannot sit in my spot and can barely choke down my dinner. Shortly thereafter, the manager appeared, apologizing profusely and offering to comp our meal. We left without dessert and will not likely ever return.

So, feeling that our date had been cut a little short, we headed over to Central Market for dessert. We purchased goodies from the bakery and then went over to the little coffee bar to round out the treat. I like coffee more than I used to, but it's pretty rare that I order it out. It's usually too strong for me. Plus, I really like Chai lattes, so I usually order one of those, which I did last night. When the drinks were ready, we found a table and began another lovely conversation about our new house. I took a big sip of my Chai and could hardly keep from spitting it out. It tasted just like coffee! Jeff tasted it, too, and agreed. So, he took it back, thinking the guy had only heard the "latte" part of the order, but was quickly assured that "all the Chai lattes come with a shot of espresso." So, Jeff ordered again: "A chai latte, without the espresso." This one came out a little less than lukewarm. By then, we were just tired of messing with it, so I drank it as it was, and we called it a night.

But despite all the craziness, we still had a wonderful anniversary! I'm so thankful that I get to be married to my very best friend, and I love how the years just keep getting more fun! We are filing this date night in our "adventure" file and will be laughing about it for years, no doubt--once I stop having nightmares about that bug!

A Bedtime Story

Our house. Friday night.

Mom and Dad put kids to bed, and Mom heads to the store for milk. Mom returns, and the minute she walks in the door, she hears Kid #2 (who is, ironically, out of bed) yelling, "Mom, Max is out of his bed!" Mom runs upstairs to put everyone back where they belong and finds Kid #3 sitting on the landing in his flotation suit. Mom stifles a smile, herds the wee one back to his bed and tells him he needs to take the suit off. Kid #3 starts crying and begging to wear the suit to bed. Mom throws up her hands and says, "Fine." (She has learned to pick her battles and this one just isn't worth it).

Mom and Dad sit down to watch a movie and shortly hear all manner of thumping and bumping coming from upstairs. Dad takes a turn and comes back reporting that it was the boys wrestling on the floor--Kid #3 still wearing his suit.

A few minutes later, there is more unauthorized noise upstairs, and Mom goes up to find Kid #3 lying on the landing, kicking the stair rails, without his suit on.

Finally, everyone is back in bed and, eventually, sleeping soundly.

She writes like a champion

Dreams

Sometimes I dream of cheetahs

Galloping after a gazelle.

I also dream that I'm riding a horse

Fast across the sand.

There are even times when dreams are scary,

And I wish they would leave me alone.

Sometimes dreams rock like a baby's cradle,

And that makes me happy.

Sometimes, my dreams are lonely or sad. 

There are times when dreams remind me of trees or giraffes

That are so, so high.

Sometimes, they remind me of the beach, 

With rolling waves, soft sand, pleasant sun and seagulls soaring overhead.

I don't know what dreams are to you, 

But I hope they make you happy.

Ruth's assignment for Writing Class today was to brainstorm words and phrases that come to mind upon hearing the word "dream," and then to write a poem using some items off her list. She wrote the above poem, which I think is beautiful. But, since we haven't worked much on the pre-writing process, and because she is my daughter, she actually used the brainstorming time to write another poem, which is at least as good as the final draft (in the humble opinion of the mom/writing teacher). It's no wonder the girl has the state champion title for creative writing!

Dreams (Pre-Writing Exercise)

Sometimes, dreams remind me of cheetahs,

Other times turtles.

On other occasions, they remind me of giraffes,

Looming up, up, up.

Sometimes, they're black, blue, green, even red!

There are times when they rock. 

There are days when they are happy, sad, lonely or mad.

Sometimes, I wish dreams would leave me alone. 

There are times when I dream that I am riding a horse,

Fast as the wind.

Sometimes they are scary.

They remind me of the beach.

Dear Potential Home Buyer (whoever you may be):

I really want my house to be nice for you. I want you to walk in and be completely wowed. And, goodness knows, I am trying to make it so. But the thing is, the small people who currently live in this house have made it their mission to destroy this place bit by bit--and to chip away at my sanity while they are at it. From the moment we put the sign in the yard, it seems they have ramped up their destructive forces, and I'm afraid that I will be overwhelmed by them completely in the very near future. I'm not really sure how many surfaces remain to be colored upon or how much elbow grease I have left. But, I believe you can save this house from total destruction. You can give it new life--or if you have small people of your own, perhaps step into the demolition zone without flinching. So, if you could just hurry up your decision-making process a little and buy this house, that'd be great. Also, we will become very serious about building a new house before too long, and it would be nice to hand this one off to you before that time. All that to say, we are ready when you are, and the sooner the better!

Most Sincerely,
Mandi Watts

Can I call you back in about 16 years?

I cannot even begin to tell you how many hours I spent talking on the phone when I was in high school. And don't even get me started on my home-sick, long-distance-relationship college years. All I know is that it was a lot, and it was fun.

These days it is anything but pleasurable. If I have to talk on the phone, I sort of seize up on the inside, knowing that a whole other level of chaos will ensue around me. (And that's saying something)! I have not found the magic button on the phone (or I would certainly disable it!) that magnetically pulls my children to me as soon as the phone touches my ear, but I know it exists. And I know that every phone has one. The kids can be playing happily in the furthest reaches of the house or even outside--unaware of my very existence--and they will come running (and screaming!) the moment I put the phone to my ear. It happens, without fail. Every. Single. Time. When I'm on the phone, all manor of emergencies break out, food is stolen from the pantry, a million messes are made, there is bleeding and crying and top-of-the-lungs talking, and people needing me NOW!--all taking place, literally, under my feet. And I cannot escape it. These kids are pros, and they will hunt me down, with all their chaos, if I try to hide in my closet or out on the back porch. And this is why I am certain that anyone I have talked to on the phone in the last eight years thinks I am a complete idiot. I cannot form words or coherent sentences. I cannot ask questions, and I certainly can't answer them. All I can think is that I need this phone conversation to end, so I can kill corral the children. But the minute I hang up, the questions start: "Who was that?" "What did she want?" "Why were you talking to him?" Etc. Etc. And then, they all disappear again, back to the happy place they were before I picked up the phone.

So, if you are wondering why I don't call more often (or at all!) or why I haven't returned your call, you now have your answer.  It's not because I don't love you or because I don't value our relationship; it's just that my sanity is precious, and I can't afford to whittle it away with frivolous phone calls. But, I promise, I do want to talk to you and I will get back to you...probably in about 16 years. In the meantime, send me an e-mail or an FB message or comment on my blog. The chaos can't touch cyberspace...yet.

Weston Scissor Hands

Dear Weston,

You made it through this day alive, and so you have much to be thankful for. For some reason, which I cannot begin to comprehend, you have become obsessed with cutting things. Last week, you got up from your "nap" with huge holes in your shorts and shirt. We had a serious talk about cutting at that time, and discipline followed, but you cannot seem to stop yourself. And, I'll be honest with you, today almost put me over the edge.  In a quiet moment, you found a stray pair of scissors (which I admit, I left out while packing boxes, though even when I think all scissors are accounted for and in a safe place, you still manage to find them) and went to work. You cut your shorts, your hair, the basketball net, a library book, one of Ruth's socks, one of Max's socks, a handmade baby blanket Ruth uses for her dolls, a cardboard block, a beaded necklace, and I'm not even sure what else. In a way, it's sort of impressive that you can bring so much destruction using kid scissors that will hardly cut a piece of paper. I don't think you truly mean to be destructive. I think you just want to know what happens if you cut this...and this, and this. So, I'll explain it to you: things get holey! And it drives your poor mom crazy! So, could you please STOP IT?! Thanks.

I love you no matter what,
Mom

3rd and K

Today was the first day of school for Watts Homeschool, and we were all super-excited! This is our first year to have two different grades. Our veteran is starting 3rd grade and will be studying the following subjects: Math, Spelling, Writing, History (Early Modern Times), Science (Chemistry), Latin, Grammar, and Music (Piano).

History reading

Science Experiment

Our newcomer is starting Kindergarten and will have only Math, Writing and Reading on his schedule, with an art class thrown in from time to time just for fun.

Working on "A"

Reading is fun!

We are so looking forward to this school year and hope you will stick around for our journey.

"Orange" You Glad

Our (extended) family is in charge of one of the cook sheds at the camp we go to every year in the Davis Mountains. And, every year we divide up the food that's left over and bring it home. Even divided up, it's an obscene amount of food, so then we have to figure out what to do with all of it. It's like having Iron Chef's "secret ingredient" (or in this case, several secret ingredients). Some of the large quantity items we brought home this year included two 5 lb. containers of cottage cheese, one 5 lb. container of sour cream, more than 2 dozen biscuits, almost two dozen oranges, 3 large watermelons, maybe 20 cantaloupes, 10 lbs. of carrots, 4 lbs. of celery, a half gallon of ranch dressing, around 40 lemons, a dozen or more apples, about 60 limes, at least 25 lbs. of onions and a roast that looks more like a side of beef. Earlier in the week, I dove into the cottage cheese and came out with a Jell-o salad and a lasagna. Jeff has also been eating it every day for breakfast, so now we are down to just one container. I also used some of the apples in my Chai Apple Cake, though there are still half a dozen left. Today's secret ingredient was oranges. So far, I have made Chocolate-Orange Chocolate Chip Cookies, Orange Ginger Carrot Soup, Orange Honey Muffins, and Mexican Orange Thins. I think there is just enough zest and juice left for one more dish. It might be an Orange Pound Cake, but I really haven't decided yet. I might want to go the savory route instead. My freezer is full of the baked goods, and the soup is on the menu for dinner. If you like orange-flavored things, you should plan to stop by sometime. If you prefer some of the other citrus fruits, you may want to check back in a few days.

What a Week

• Visited the land we hope to buy in Marble Falls to see where a house would go
• Arrived home from an almost two-week vacation
• Did gobs and gobs of laundry (I actually just oversaw this work, as it is Ruth's job)
• Took Weston to the dentist to have his "appliance" installed
• Wrestled with an icky head cold
• Watched the middle child prance around in winter clothes in the 100+ degree Houston heat
• Finalized the school schedule
• Bought school supplies
• Ordered CC materials
• Visited the library--for story time and school books
• Organized the homeschool room
• Celebrated a birthday at The Downtown Aquarium
• Scrubbed orange crayon off the walls and carpet at the top of the stairs
• Made homemade lasagna
• Explained to the 4-year-old why it's a bad idea to cut huge holes in the clothes you are wearing (or ANY clothes) with scissors
• Double-paid the car payment (accidentally)
• Worked on some rough draft house plans (Jeff did all the drawing and calculating, I just added my two cents every once in a while)
• Signed a contract for the land, which we plan to close on before the end of September
• Researched flooring and appliance options
• Observed the youngest child learn a powerful lesson about how spicy cinnamon can be when poured with gusto directly from the jar into the mouth
• Searched for recipes that will best use up all the food we brought back from Campmeeting
• Experimented with a chai apple cake
• Found our youngest child running around COMPLETELY naked, covered in *stuff* after attempting to change his own diaper, and of course, not even trying to go to the potty
• Facilitated a treasure box decorating session
• More-or-less finished an essay for a magazine contest

Happy Birthday to Me

It's my birthday! I'm 33. I have received e-mails and FB messages and snail mail and phone calls and drawings and plastic necklaces and a night out to remind me how very loved and blessed I am. I'm so very thankful for the special people in my life and for another year on this earth. I will admit that between my last birthday and this one I haven't always been the best me I can be. Sometimes I have been the worst one. I have experienced grief, anger, frustration, confusion, jealousy, stubbornness, and low self-esteem--and not always gracefully. But I have also cried tears of joy, laughed until my sides hurt, let go of hard feelings, loved and been loved in ways I didn't know were possible, tried new things, made new friends, and been proud of those I love and of myself. And I wouldn't trade a minute of it--good or bad--for each experience has been a shaping one. And I rather like what I'm turning into! 

Thanks, everyone, for all the birthday wishes! You have all made me feel super-special!

Campmeeting 2010

Taking a break

See you in a couple of weeks!

The price of a good photo shoot

I have recently been using nap time as photography time, in an effort to learn how to use my new camera and to snap some pics for my photo blog. I LOVE this time!! It is so peaceful and happy. There is only one problem: I live in Houston! That means humidity with a capital H and plenty of mosquitoes to go along with it! There is always a price to pay for doing something you love. I pay in sweat and blood.

This is an icky picture, but can you see all the red welts?! Click to enlarge, if you aren't easily frightened!

Fortunately, the welts go away quickly and the itching doesn't last more than a few minutes, so I haven't been deterred in my daily photography outings.

Bounce City

Weston finished his second reading poster today, this one with seven books on it! We celebrated by going to Bounce City for most of the day. The kids had an absolute blast! We are so proud of our big reader!

Because I like you and want you to be happy

Cilantro Cream Sauce

2 cups loosely packed fresh cilantro

1 (12 oz.) can evaporated milk

1 cup water

2 tsp. granulated chicken bouillon

3 Tbs. butter

3 Tbs. all-purpose flour

ground black pepper to taste

Place cilantro, milk, water and bouillon in blender. Blend until smooth. Melt butter in medium saucepan over medium heat. Remove from heat. Stir in flour, stirring constantly until smooth. Stir in cilantro mixture. Cook over medium-low hear, stirring constantly until mixture comes to a boil and thickens slightly. Season with pepper. Serve over chicken, turkey, burgers, enchiladas, or just a spoon. I haven't found anything it doesn't go well with!

"Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom"

~Proverbs 4:7

The Bible tells us that wisdom is absolutely the most important thing we can possess. The book of Proverbs is devoted to driving that point home. And it also gives us some incredible insight into what wisdom actually is. According to Proverbs 8:12, wisdom is prudence, knowledge and discretion. And a look into the dictionary* further clarifies this for us, as you will see from the following definitions:

Prudence (noun):
1: the ability to govern and discipline oneself by the use of reason
2: sagacity or shrewdness in the management of affairs
3: skill and good judgement in the use of resources
4: caution or circumspection as to danger or risk

Knowledge (noun):
2 a 1: the fact or condition of knowing something with familiarity gained through experience or association 2: acquaintance with or understanding of a science, art, or technique
2 b 1: the fact or condition of being aware of something 2: the range of one's information or understanding
2c 1: the circumstance or condition of apprehending truth or fact through reasoning: cognition
2d the fact or condition of having information or of being learned

Discretion (noun):
1: the quality of being discreet: circumspection; especially: cautious reserve in speech
2: ability to make responsible decisions
3 a:  individual choice or judgement b: power of free decision or latitude of choice within certain legal bounds
4: the result of separating or distinguishing

Many Christians (myself in the forefront) spend a great deal of time praying for and asking others to pray for situations in their lives that they have created simply by neglecting to employ even a modicum of wisdom. And then they wonder why their prayers seem to go unheard and why they don't find solutions to the problems they are facing. I am certainly not trying to downplay the importance of prayer or fellowship in our spiritual lives. I am simply trying to make a case for exercising wisdom in the first place, so that we don't find ourselves so often in the midst of unnecessary trials. The Lord commands us to get wisdom, even if it costs us everything we have (Proverbs 4:7). This negates the argument that wisdom is some special, mysterious commodity that the Lord doles out to only a lucky few. We are commanded to get it; we are urged to use it in every situation. And we are even given instructions on how to acquire it if it eludes us: just ask for it (James 1:5)! The Lord has given us extraordinary minds, capable of reasoning and choosing. Let us not make excuses for the unpleasant circumstances in our lives, or cheapen grace by rather arrogantly assuming that the Lord is required to get us out of a jam we got ourselves into by refusing wisdom's aid. Let us embrace wisdom and all she has to offer. 


I am praying for the Lord to give me wisdom, and more specifically, I'm praying that each element of these definitions would be true in my life. I expect that I will probably still find myself in difficult circumstances from time to time, but I suspect that I will be able to eliminate a good deal of them before they even surface.


*all definitions taken from Merriam-Webster online dictionary

I did not pack a single box today

Even though packing boxes was the only thing I planned on doing today. Instead, I did the following things:

• Worked out at Curves and officially gave notice to terminate my contract with them.
• Came home to a crying baby and unrelated tales of water heater woes.
• Fixed my children quesadillas for breakfast (at their request).
• Took the kids to play at the splash pad and to attend our new favorite story time.
• Snapped some pictures for my photo blog.
• Set up an appointment with a plumber to take care of the hot water heater situation.
• Tried once again to complete the exchange of my Mother's Day gift.
• Talked on the phone with my mom...three times.
• Designed and ordered a birthday gift for my father-in-law.
• Talked with Jeff about his school for entrepreneurs, Strong Academy.
• Received an hour's notice for a house showing, which prompted a flurry of house cleaning, only to receive word fifty minutes later that the showing was cancelled. 
• Made some yummy, fat-free sorbet for an impromptu dinner party with friends.
• Finished the last season of 24.

New Shoe Day

Remember New Shoe Day? Your mom wanted you to get a cheap pair. You were drawn to the flashy ones. Mom was thinking, "They need to be practical." You were thinking, "I just want to be the envy of  my class for the rest of the school year." But, eventually, you and Mom came to an agreement (maybe a settlement), and home you went with your new shoes on your feet and your old ones stuffed unlovingly in the new shoe box. You spent the rest of the day looking down, admiring your new footwear. That is, when you weren't proving the worth of your new shoes by showing anyone and everyone how high you could jump now, how fast you could run. Ah, the memories. They all came rushing back today, as it was New Shoe Day in our household. All the kids got new kicks in preparation for our annual trek west, where hiking and mountain climbing abound. Old shoes would actually be better for this, I know, but since we are almost purely a flip flop/croc family in the summertime (uh, also fall, winter and spring), the old athletic shoes have been outgrown and had to be replaced. And so, we had New Shoe Day, with all the joys I remember from my own childhood--the running, the jumping, the gazing and, of course, the challenging of siblings to numerous foot races. It was awesome!

Weston helped with the dishes today...

...And he did some floor cleaning, too!

Something New

I'm a picture person. I love taking pictures, looking at pictures, and just playing around with them--and I always have. All my picture taking is pretty much for my own enjoyment, but I also really get a kick out of sharing my pictures with others. Jeff gave me a new fancy-schmancy camera last month, and so I have decided to start a photo blog. My words and family pics will still be here whenever you'd like to know what's going on with us, but I'd like to invite you all over to take a look at my pictures if you just want to see some pretty stuff (that doesn't look like my kids):  http://prettystuffallovertheworld.blogspot.com/.

It's called "Pretty Stuff," because one time when we were riding in the car and witnessing a spectacular sunset, Weston breathlessly announced that there was "pretty stuff all over the world." My photo blog is an attempt to capture some of the pretty stuff in the world, and to share it with whoever might enjoy seeing it.

Fail!

My "Super Mom" award has been revoked and may never be reinstated. For what kind of mother allows her children's dental health to deteriorate to the point that one child has two cavities on either side of her mouth that require fillings, and another child has two cavities right on top of each other that require sedation, a pulpectomy (baby root canal), a crown, an extraction and the placement of an "appliance" (spacer)? There is some serious mama-guilt here, I can tell you, even though I felt like we were doing the right things all along to keep these kind of problems from developing.

Ruth's fillings have already been taken care of, painlessly and without fanfare, despite my warnings that there would be a shot and drilling. Turns out they don't do it that way anymore. At least not at our dentist's office. Just a completely pain-free shot with a laser that lasts about 5 minutes.

Weston went in for the first part of his procedure today, which was pretty much the opposite of that. He had to be sedated, though not put completely under, while the doctor performed the pulpectomy and the extraction. There was definitely some pain involved, with the promise of more to come when the full effects of the sedation wear off. There was also fear, which may have been an even worse pain, and certainly a pain that even I felt, especially when Weston looked at me with tears in his eyes and said, "Where were you?! That was so scary!" I had been not more than a few steps away, of course, but his feeling of abandonment struck me to the core and broke my heart! I will admit to shedding more than a few tears right along with Weston on our way home. They tell me he won't remember any of this, but I will not soon forget. His spacer has to be custom made for his mouth, so we will get to do this all over again in 4-6 weeks.

I can tell you this, we will not be taking our dental health lightly around here anymore. We will be brushing and flossing and mouth-washing like crazy, and we will be doing it with close maternal supervision.

2.5

Another reader in the house

Weston woke up this morning ready to read. I mean, really read. No more messing around with just a word here or there. We're talking whole books--yes, plural! He read two whole books today (Pat Can Camp by Cynthia Belnap and Will Bill? by Patty Carratello), sounding out every word himself! We started a reading poster for him, and rewarded him with an outing to an Astros game this evening. We are so very proud of him and his wonderful accomplishments!

Nana Camp Finale

Spoiled Pack Rats

I made a preliminary run at thinning out the kids' stuff today, in preparation for all the packing that will come later. And let me tell you, it was an all day job, thanks to my two big helpers. It's always better to do these kind of projects with as little help as possible, but I didn't get to it while the boys were away, so there was nothing to do but let them help--which means that toys that haven't seen the light of day for who knows how long suddenly became the most beloved things ever to grace the bedroom the moment they hit the "give away" pile or the "trash" pile.

Speaking of which, I ultimately came away with six trash bags full of stuff for Goodwill--along with some bigger items that wouldn't fit in sacks--and at least that many for the garbage. And, there are still more toys than I can count! Spoiled pack rats, indeed. I suspect they are in good company, though, and will most likely confirm that, when my scrutinizing packer's eye hits the rest of the house in the coming weeks.

A day with the boys

I spent the day with my boys today, and we all had a blast! Our first stop was the splash pad, where the boys enjoyed having the fountain to themselves while they entertained each other and me for over an hour. Then, we donned dry clothes and headed across the way to a quaint little bookstore for story time. The boys sat mesmerized as they listened to the stories, and Weston was so proud of himself for realizing and pointing out to the reader that all her stories were about animals, which I don't think she had even really intended. When the stories were over and the cookies were finished, the boys got to pick out some books to take home, which is always thrilling. Weston's were all reading books that he will begin working on reading himself. Finally, we met up with Daddy at one of our favorite restaurants on the lake for lunch. I love hanging out with my boys and am so thankful for this special day with them!

Good words

I have recently read two very good books, from completely different genres, that I feel compelled to tell others to read as well.

The first, Happiness is a Choice by Barry Neil Kaufman, is kind of a psychology/self-help book, which are not the kinds of books I am normally drawn to. But, following my own rule of not quitting a book once I start, I continued on with this one, after uncovering it in the pile of mostly-forgotten books in the guest bathroom at my in-laws' house. I have certainly had the occasional struggle with negativity, sadness, self-imposed stress and sometimes even a sense of hopelessness. And, in the midst of those struggles, have thought to myself that there was nothing to be done. Sort of an "I feel sad, therefore I must be sad" kind of mentality. So, the idea of choosing happiness was an intriguing one, even if I wasn't struggling with unhappiness when I picked up the book. There were times when I felt the author was a "little out there," but overall, I found the concept to be very interesting. I appreciated the scientific evidence he gave to back up his theories, as well as the anecdotal  evidence. I also appreciated having my "belief system" (as Mr. Kaufman calls it) challenged and forcing myself to think about my thoughts and feelings differently. It was an empowering and liberating book, and I'm glad I had the chance to read it.

The other book, a novel, was The Wednesday Sisters by Meg Waite Clayton. It explores the deep and abiding friendship of five women, all stay-at-home moms, in the late sixties/early seventies, who get to know each other--and themselves--through writing. The characters in this story were so real--people I could know and be friends with myself, if I would allow myself to be that vulnerable. There were laugh-out-loud moments and tear-stained pages, as well. All a celebration of friendship and womanhood and dreaming big and never giving up. If you are a daughter, a mother, a wife, a friend or an aspiring anything, this book is for you. It is beautifully written, challenging, inspiring and entertaining. I stayed up until 1:30 in the morning so I could finish it, and then was sad it was over.

Highlights from the weekend

Our Romantic Get-Away

Last night was our last night without the kids, so we decided we would slip away to San Antonio for the night. Our original plan to eat dinner on the river was thwarted by the rain, so we decided to try some indoor dining in The Market. Upon leaving the restaurant, we noticed that the sidewalks all the way to the hotel were absolutely crawling with people. We also noticed that all these throngs were wearing similar name tags, but seemed to have virtually no other commonalities. There were people from literally every demographic you can think of, dressed in every way you can imagine.

When we arrived at our hotel, which happened to adjoin the convention center, we found the crowds to be even more oppressive. Finding only signs that said "The International Convention" and unable to contain our curiosity, we asked fellow elevator passengers what was going on. "Oh, we're all with Alcoholics Anonymous!" replied one lady in an overly cheerful, yet slightly secretive way. She then went on to tell us that there were about 60,000 people there for the convention at the moment, but they were expecting more the following day. And sure enough, the city was flush with convention attendees today. We scarcely saw anyone, whether shopping or dining or just walking around, not wearing the tell-tale name tag.

Once in our room, we found two double beds (rather than one king or queen, which we would have preferred, but knowing the hotel wouldn't have even a closet to spare with the madhouse of the convention going on) and each plopped down on one to watch TV for a while. Jeff fell asleep almost immediately, sprawled out over the entirety of his bed. When I finally got ready to tuck myself in, there wasn't any way I could squeeze in under the covers next to him. So, I just hopped into the other bed and made myself cozy.

It was a rather bizarre romantic get-away, but we still had a good time and were thankful for the time together. Plus, it makes a pretty good story.

You just never know

I have recently found out that one of my closest childhood friends, a former federal agent, has been indited and, ultimately, has plead guilty to a series of very serious crimes. And I am in shock. I have not been in contact with this person much since I was in Jr. High, but not one memory I have of him could have predicted this outcome for his life. He was a very normal, very sweet kid, and I just don't know how this could possibly have happened. I am deeply saddened by this. People are so unpredictable, and I guess you truly just never know.

Day of Dates

Yesterday, Jeff's parents whisked our children off to the magical world of Pecos, where they will stay all week. No sooner had they pulled out of the driveway than Jeff and I began our dating frenzy. We had lunch at a neat little seafood place in Llano and then made our way to Marble Falls, where we went to a movie (Killers) and had a lengthy home building planning session in Home Depot. We then had dinner at a non-chain, very good Mexican food place outside of Kingsland. There was uninterrupted conversation, adult hand-holding, no spilled drinks, no crying or whining and no inconvenient potty stops. We do miss our kiddos when they are away, but we certainly enjoy the chance, every once in a while, to reconnect as a couple.

Naptime Conversation

Me: Weston, it's going to be time to take a nap in a few minutes.

Weston: But I don't want to take a nap today.

Me: Well, you didn't take a nap yesterday, so you really need one today.

Weston: How do you know?

Me: I'm just really smart.

Weston (beginning to cry): Well, so am I, but I just can't remember everything!!

They're Baaack

We picked up the boys (and all their noise) this afternoon from what must have been a wonderful "Nana Camp." When asked what they did, they both initially replied, "Nothing," so, we can't figure out why Nana looked a little tired. Later, Weston did recall a swimming trip, in which he reportedly drowned. I have to tell you, he was looking remarkably well for one who had so recently drowned. We also ultimately heard tales of a visit to the children's museum in Waco, more swimming, pizza eating, splash park playing and lots of other fun. We are so glad they got to enjoy this special time, but we are also glad to have them back with us, noise and all!

Classical Conversations

Today we visited a preview day for the Classical Conversations group in Marble Falls. This is a homeschool group that focuses on the classical model of education, which is the model we follow in our own homeschooling. The organization is not new, and is very widespread, but the group in Marble Falls is just now forming to begin in the fall. We have known a few people who have been involved with Classical Conversations and have heard good things about it, but this was our first experience with it. And, we were very impressed! It is a heavily academic-focused group, which meets once a week in age-divided classes. We are very excited about this opportunity and look forward to getting more involved after we move.

Just the Girls

We left the little boys at my parents' yesterday afternoon for their "Nana Camp," and girl time commenced this morning. Our first stop was Sonic, of course. Then we visited the "hometown variety store" in Kingsland, the resale shop in Granite Shoals, and finally the outlet store in Marble Falls. We bought some fun things, got some great deals and enjoyed each other very much. We had a late lunch when we got back to my in-laws' house, spent some time reading our individual books, spied a baby fox on the back porch, played a crazy game of Monopoly (in which I got creamed), and surprised a mommy fox near the BBQ deck. Our mother/daughter days are few and far between these days, and I soaked up every moment.

With just the click of a button

Truly anything your heart desires can be found online. Here are a few things that have been ordered online at our house this week:

• bras and panties
• shoes
• birthday gifts
• a used pick-up
• luggage
• school books for the fall

Additionally, bills have been paid, work has been done, information has been found, games have been played, employees have been paid, communication has taken place, research has been done. All with just the click of a button. What a wonderful contraption this Internet is! 

That kind of day

It was a sun dress wearing, double dentist appointment, check depositing, Sonic stopping, used pick-up buying, laundry all over the floor, Wal-Mart venturing, life jacket buying, late lunch, mall walking, birthday gift buying, hugs for no reason, coupon using, sale finding, leftover eating, peanut butter and butter sandwich, crab dying, broken plate, 24 watching, sticky floors and hands kind of day.

Since last we spoke...

• We had Ruth's final birthday party--a double party with her cousin--with my side of the family.
• We got to have dinner with our dear cousins who we haven't seen in forever.
• We visited the family ranch out in west Texas, where we slept in a camper, rode in a Ranger, shot at jack rabbits and cottontails, and saw a deer, a turkey and quite a few sheep.
• We lived quite comfortably in our cabin in the Davis Mountains without air conditioning, television, internet access, laundry facilities and quite a few other modern conveniences.
• We shopped in a small-town grocery store.
• We delivered Jeff from a winged bug who tried to burrow into his ear in the middle of the night.
• We finished laying the floor in our cabin.
• We hung shelves in the closets.
• We installed baseboards in one room and stabilized the bunk beds. (And by "we" here, I mean "Jeff").
• We enjoyed rain on a metal roof.
• We drove around in the mountains, in the back of a pick-up truck, looking for deer.
• We found and reported a mountain on fire from a lightning strike.
• We watched cattle wander through the campground and especially enjoyed all the little calves and the huge bull.
• We tended to a sobbing, bleeding child who had almost bitten through his cheek. (And by "we" here, I mean "I").
• We played Scrabble and Boggle for hours on end.
• We visited with family members and old family friends.
• We helped with some of the work projects going on at the camp.
• We tended to a sobbing, bleeding child who cracked his head open when he fell out of a chair. (And by "we" here, I once again mean "I").
• We shooed a tarantula off the screen door on my in-law's cabin. (And by "we," I mean "someone other than me", since I was not the least bit interested in getting close to the nasty thing).
• We found the largest beetle that has ever lived.
• We did some small-town shopping and got some excellent bargains. ("We" here is "Ruth and I," since the boys were neither invited on nor excited about a shopping trip).
• We helped prepare meals in a slightly unclean, slightly hard-to-use kitchen equipped with seriously large utensils and implements.
• We tended to my mother-in-law when she tried to cut her finger off with one of the very large knives in the afore-mentioned kitchen.
• We saw billions of stars.
• We bought ice cream out of a rail car, and some of us tie-dyed our clothes with it.
• We (read "I") may have broken Jeff's pinky toe while trying to defend myself against yet another ear-burrowing bug in the middle of the night.
• We dutifully had ice cream for breakfast in an attempt to help the ice cream guy test the new machine.
• We spent about 10 hours in the van, making our way home from a fabulous and productive "Work Week" in the mountains.