Spring, Swings, and a Silly Sweetie

It seems hard to believe that it is already well into April. The weather has been super windy here--so windy that I am not even enticed to go out for long. Many things are blooming around here. The redbud tree--after being here for 12 seasons, finally looks like a little tree. Looks as though the 3 crabapple trees are going to bloom (above picture of the buds)--we missed it last year due to the blizzard. The Barlett Pear tree, the peach tree, and the forsythia bush are also flowering. Cami has been a swinging fool this week, which has given me lots of opportunities to look across the landscape and decide which spots could use more spring color. I have a notion that I need a couple more of the beautiful yellow forsythia bushes. It also appears that the lilac bushes will be loaded with blossoms soon. Many tulips have and are continuing to bloom, as well as the purple masses of creeping phlox. I have been able to tally a lot of what has lived and what has died. Most of my Russian garden is coming up, and all of the little inferno strip garden I planted last fall has survived. The generic double peony mix that I planted a couple seasons ago are up and have buds growing. One of the rose bushes that I transplanted has died, and possibly a couple of grasses. The onions are faring well in the garden so far, and many of the beets and Swiss chard plants are up. The replanted tomato and pepper plants have also been successful this time. Today I repotted some tomato plants as well as some flower seeds that I started. I do brave the horrible wind each day to go on a walkabout through the yard to see what is coming out from its slumber. Spring amazes me with the many changes that occur on a daily basis!!

The boys have been battling the wind at track practice and meets. Tristan is working on the discus and high jump as well as some relays. Seems Grant may be a runner, and is determined that he will win the 400 meter run next week. I have yet to make it to a meet (In my defense, they have only had 2), but it won't be long before my schedule catches up with theirs.

J played hookie late this afternoon as he, Grant and Dev took off for the races. For those of you that don't know him, he has a '69 nova that he fixed up and turned into a race car--and LOVES taking it to various places around Kansas to race it. He came home with winner's money once, but the smile it brings to his face is usually all we see here! Anyway, they are gone for the night--testing and tuning the car, and then the big race is tomorrow. Tris is spending the night with a friend, so that just left me and Sister here. It is so quiet and peaceful (almost--if you can ignore the wind clanging something around outside)

We didn't have any trouble deciding what to do!

Swingin' . . .

Singin'. . .(everything she knew, and if she didn't know it, she made it up)

Swimmin'. . .

Scrubbin' (still singin' --scrub a dub dub, scrub a dub dub,

scrub a dub dub dub dub dub dub-song courtesy of some

Nick Jr. character)

And after we finish Sleeping, we are headed to do some

Shopping tomorrow with Granny in the city to buy

new Sandals, Swim Suits and Summer clothes.

Sweet Dreams!

Leftover Easter Eggs??

Got a few of these things still lying around?? Here's what we do with our leftover Easter eggs!!

Warning: DON'T try this if the eggs were left out too long during the hide and seeking process--you might get sick!

Bacon 'n' Egg Sandwiches

Spread a layer of sour cream or mayo on one side of 4 pieces of bread. Top each piece of bread with a slice of cheese (we use American slices), 1/2-1 hard boiled egg-sliced into 1/4 inch slices, and 2 bacon strips (cooked and drained), and some chopped green onion if you have some. Top with another piece of bread. Butter the outside of the sandwich and cook in a large skillet (we use our George Foreman grill) until brown on both sides. Makes 4 sandwiches, but obviously very easily adaptable!

This time I used some sourdough bread that our tiny grocery store carried! We think that sourdough makes THE best grilled sandwiches--cheese, ham and cheese, or bacon/egg--the firmness of the bread composition just works better--that being said--these sandwiches are nearly as good using wheat or white bread!

Even the kids like 'em! Bon appetit'!

I just couldn't resist! Aren't they CUTE!

He may never grow up!

High Hopes

Does anyone else ever find themselves in the middle of a project gone wrong??

I mean, how TERRIBLY difficult should it be to decorate a few cookies with the kids??

To get everyone in the spirit.

I suppose it was MY fault for getting out the little decorator tubes that we NEVER use

So they certainly MAY have been a little distracted because of the novelty of using them

BUT COME ON???

Just a little creativity, just a little design, just a LITTLE dab of

frosting in one place at a time, that's ALL I asked!

SERIOUSLY???

The saddest thing??? Those are Tristan's craftsmanship

UUMMM--He's 13. . . and a half

Here's me and D's--I managed to salvage a few of them

with some extra lines and dots

(the smiley face, carrot nosed creature was already too far gone)

There are just SOME things that should be done by oneself. .

Especially when the project is dessert for company on Easter.

Sorry Becky!! I'm sure they'll TASTE wonderful!

Eggs 'R Us

It's the Easter season around our house! Lots of things to think about and lots of things to do! Last weekend found me participating in a community Easter performance. In the past they have put together a performance that tells of the Easter story with narration and choir songs. This year the director of that performance has been occupied with her husband who is undergoing cancer treatments. A few other women stepped up, along with the ministerial alliance and concocted an entire program with wonderful narration and various songs that portrayed each section of the Easter miracle (Palm Sunday through the Resurrection). No group music was done, just individual songs. My part was singing "Ten thousand Angels cried" (originally sang by Leann Rhimes), which fit into the narrative on Good Friday. The words to that song are SOOO powerful--I hope you all have taken the chance to listen to them. When I practice that song each season, I usually can't get through the song without completely choking up--what an amazing thing our Lord did for us!!! If you have never before visualized in your mind what it must have been like for Jesus to hang on that cross--bleeding and suffering--knowing he was completely sinless--DYING FOR OUR BENEFIT--crying out to His Father---You must! It sure seems to put some perspective into it! Anyway, the 90 minute performance was just incredibly humbling and was a great way to kick off this very important week for Christians. A good reminder of that gift of life that seems easy to take for granted.

Today found us tackling one of our favorite Easter traditions--the egg coloring!


Look at that concentration. Cami was a lot more into the eggs this year than last. Our coloring kit came with these cool little plastic collapsible cups to hold the colors. C would pick up her egg and drop it into the water, each time making a nice big splash before I could stop her. She oohed and aahed over the pretty colors!


I am just still amazed (and glad) that the big boys still want to decorate eggs. Of course, after the decorating, then comes the hiding!! We usually just hide them around in the house. Everyone takes their turn hiding and seeking them. C figured out that the shells come off, and squeezed several of them hard enough to squish them into pieces. . . which was ok with the boys, because they like eating hard boiled eggs! Next week I will share with you a recipe we like to make with our leftover eggs (if they have been refrigerated of course!)

Tomorrow we are all geared up to go to the annual Easter egg hunt in town. This will be my 14th year to attend (minus the one year we were in Topeka). The first 8 years we went I was helping to stuff eggs and set up the egg hunt as part of the sorority group that puts it on each year! Fun times. That is absolutely one event that you DON'T go late to. It starts at 10:00, and everyone is GONE by 10:15--literally!

The rest of this warmish afternoon was spent outside swinging, jumping on the trampolene, and flying kites (though it was a little windy for the kites!)

We'll hope to make and decorate some Easter sugar cookies tomorrow afternoon and then set out our basket for that "waskally wabbit" to fill up. My favorite part of Easter is ALWAYS the sunrise service out on the front steps of the church. Always wondering "was it a morning like this" that Mary looked for her Lord in the tomb, crushed when she couldn't find him, and ecstatic when she turned and saw Him as he told her not to cling to Him but that he had asended into heaven with his father! WOW!

John 20:26-29

Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." 27Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe." 28Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" 29Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." (that's US!)

Happy Easter!

Spring Cleaning

I HATE cleaning. I have always hated cleaning. For the last 8-9 years I have actually paid someone weekly to come by and clean my house. She was my first bad habit to go when I cut my hours. So now, I am the official house cleaner (with the exception of some child labor, which, while good for teaching work ethic, isn't really good for actual cleaning). I was doing some deep cleaning a few weeks ago and was again so impressed by the following cleaning product that I just HAD to share the information. A housekeeper that I had several years ago asked me to pick up some of these cleaners for her to use. I admit that I never actually used them more than once. But I remember the one time that I did use it being very impressed by its cleaning action. HOWEVER, in my cleaning escapade a few weeks ago, I was again blown away by this products amazing ease to use and it's incredible job in cleaning! Please proceed!!

This is my new secret weapon--Mr. Clean magic erasers!! Beware: the photos you are about to see may be disturbing. Viewer discretion advised. Yes, I knowingly tolerated these living conditions in my home! Hope you continue to love me in spite of it!

This yummy view is from my back porch lookin' in. The door that the children and the grease monkey use exclusively. Apparently, no one can use the door knob for closing the door!

The bottom of the porch closet. Note the cool markings that shoes thrown AT the closet will make as they hit the door, rather than the small opening that they were aimed at.

OOOH! The bottom of the bathroom door that the animals. . .er--children utilize.

The ammunition--the top sponge is unused. The bottom sponge is one that has been in the active line of cleaning duties. These sponges waste away--literally as you clean. You simply rub your mess, occasionally cleanse off the filth with water, and return him to the work zone.

OOOOOH--the bathroom door--CLEAN

AAAAAHH. The closet doors--CLEAN

Oh, my--my back porch lookin' in--CLEEEAAAANN!

So there you have it!! A wonderful product to simplify and beautify your lives! I don't know how these little devils clean so well with so little manual scrubbin'--but then again I really don't want to know either (ignorance is bliss, and ignorance doesn't cause cancer!) I do know that IF you have little guys around--you don't want them to be handling or chewing on them--much like anything else you would CLEAN with--Duh!

But don't take my word for it-RUN to your nearest store and buy one for yourself!

Happy cleaning!

Toothless

How many more teeth can a little 7 year old fella lose before hot dogs are off the menu??

I don't know, but I sure hope we don't have to find out!!

At this rate, the tooth fairy is going to have to take out a loan!

Now We're Talking!

Delicious warm air

Radiant sunshine kissing the nape of my neck as I'm bent over my work

Slight breeze rustling my curls

My favorite gardening gloves tucked in my back pocket

The warm crumbly soil under my fingertips

One kid that was interested in digging, and one that was NOT

An hour of hoeing and digging and placing plants and seeds ever so carefully!

The joy of standing back and admiring the work

Relaxing and directing a soft sprinkle of water while deeply inhaling the spring air

Inhaling?? Take a slow deep breath in. . .MMMMM

It don't get better than this!