Looking through old pictures...this one portrays most accurately how I remember each of our personalities as children.  I love this picture.  (Derek was as nerdy as he looked).

Fresh Veggies...?

I'm slightly pessimistic about our new vegetable garden.  The location isn't as sunny as I feel a vegetable garden ought to be.  There are plenty of hungry, seed-loving critters around.  Um, I could list a lot of things, actually...but on the optimistic side if things go well, we will be eating fresh-from-the-garden carrots, spaghetti squash and corn.

Next week, if there's enough room in our small plot, I'd like (them) to plant a few more edibles, but Joshua picked the first round of seeds himself.  It's really his and John's project.

John had to dig up all the ground, first.  This was his second day at it.  Joshua stayed faithfully by his side through every minute of it.  He has become John's shadow.  A rototiller would have been faster and more effective, but after John discovered a random pipe of unknown origins, I am very glad that he stuck to the old-fashioned way.

Dirty face.

An ancient relic of the past, unearthed by John.  

Planting the seeds.

Oh, and my roses are in full bloom.  The bush is over 50 years old and it shows off hundreds of blooms every spring.  

A Day At Work...

John has been wanting to do this for a long, long time.  Today it happened.  Joshua went to work with his Daddy.  I stayed at home and sorted through many months worth of outgrown clothing, something that has been on my to-do list for a long, long time.  So technically, John and I both achieved long-time dreams.  Okay, not really... (though weirdly, I do enjoy doing these things)

Anyway, I wasn't there and that's my point.  John took a lot of great pictures and they all made me smile.  I'm not going to put much in the way of explanations because...like I said, I wasn't there.  

I loved this picture.    

Eating lunch in the break room:

Looking like he owns the place!

Talking to Mommy on the phone.  He played sounds for me and filled me in throughout the evening on what he was doing.  I know I hear his voice every day, but there's something SO CUTE about talking with him on the phone.  

Singing.  John recorded it and then they phoned me so I could listen.  Unfortunately there's no way to put his solo on a CD.

John, I know you'll be reading this.  You're an amazing Daddy to our son.  I love you.

Joshua-isms

This is totally a cop out post, and after skipping yesterday I should really put more effort into this.  I just haven't been in the mind to blog.  Slightly imperfect timing with the end of my one-month blogging goal just days away.  I have had a temporary setback in pain and being in such a state is hardly conducive to creativity.  Aside from the blurring of my mind when trying to deal with yet another setback, as short and temporary as I hope (know?) it to be, I guess I'm indulging in a little forbidden self-pity, too.  So...cop out or not, this is for today.  I'll be back tomorrow with a smile on my fingertips.

Joshua's quotables:


"ARGH!  For crying out loud!  Daddy...why did I say 'for crying out loud?'"

Joshua wanted cookies and milk in his blanket fort.  I said, "Not until after lunch!"  He sat down, slumped his shoulders, put on his saddest face, and said in a downcast voice, "But we have to Mommy, so we can be a family."


Joshua loves to give raspberries when he wakes up in the morning.  Lately, he's only been giving them to me.  John asked if he could have one and Joshua said, "NO!  There's hair all over you!"

"But Mommy...if you don't, I am going to CRY."

John (in a conversation with himself): "Grace Bible Fellowship..."
Joshua:  "Daddy, why did the Bible fell off the ship?"

To Cure The Grumps

Sometimes...when you wake up from an impromptu nap on the couch feeling very, very grumpy....you need to bring out the Playdoh.

Pretty soon, that silly blue monster...

...will set the world right again.

Really.  It works!  Just ask Joshua.

Joshua was teasing me with sad faces every time I asked him to smile for the camera.  I love watching his sense of humor develop.  He makes me laugh so much!

I wish I had the camera with me today.  We went to Pennypack Park.  It's a HUGE park with many miles of hiking trails.  I wasn't able to get far, about 1/8 of a mile.  It wasn't much, but I was happy with that small accomplishment since it was almost all uphill.  So...that would make it my first official "un-hike" in four years.

We stopped when I needed to and Joshua waded in the shallow creek water, tossing stones and sticking his hands under the one-foot 'waterfall.'  We stayed as long as I could handle standing and, oh, it was a glorious afternoon!  The trees were lush and green, so thick that I could barely see the sky above.  There were (barely) any traffic noises, no people, no garbage, the air was clean, the birds were singing, and the sound of trickling water was music to my ears.  Mmm-hmm...I love the country.  It made my heart happy.

When we got home, John built a small fire with sticks and he and Joshua roasted hot dogs and marshmallows.  John is now putting a tired, but very happy little boy to bed, and I am heating bean dip in the oven.  We're going to sit in the living room with out plates and watch "I Love Lucy" and pause the TV as often as we need to when we talk in between bites and laughs.

These are the kind of days that I love.

I've been reading "The Maker's Diet."  It's not a book about a diet, exactly, but about a lifestyle/eating-style changed based strictly on Biblical principles.  My brain is still in Maker's-Diet-world, so to attempt a blog post about anything would be next to impossible because my mind is in other places.  I'm not a deep thinker, just a very focused one.  I never thought I'd turn into such a research nut.  Anyway, I made it here, and I guess that counts for something.  Back to my book...

Today

Today, after nearly a week of stormy weather, we woke up to the bright sun, warm weather, birds chirping.  We headed out to do our grocery shopping in high spirits.  By the time we were half done, we were back to this:

We hurried through our shopping (including a $15 set of underwear for Joshua--isn't the ridiculous?), and headed back home.  So much for enjoying the day.  But we found enjoyment indoors, instead.  We played Crocodile Dentist.

"Look, Mommy!  It ate my foot!"

And of course, more sophisticated doings as well.  One must maintain their grown-up status in the world.

When Joshua's Been Cooking...

RIP Henrietta II

I can't resist one more post.  Just after my last blog post, Joshua wanted to phone my mom and tell her (again) that his goldfish of one year had died.  This is what he said:

"Grandma, I need to talk to you about something.  Henrietta died.  She's in the laundry room waiting for Jesus to take her."

10 Things

It's May 17th and tonight I find myself wishing I didn't say I'd blog every weekday.  I'd really like to bail.  I'm sick...not too sick, but just feeling-less-than-normal kind of sick.  It's been a long day.  A day like today needs something like a big dose of thankfulness to cure the blahs.  So, today I'm thankful for:

1) My husband.  Through my ups and the downs (both emotional and physical), loves me consistently and tenderly.  He is amazing.

2) My son.  For the smiles he brings each day, for his chubby, kissable cheeks, and for giving me a reason to push myself forward each day.

3) Rainy days.  A dark and cloudy day is just what the soul requires every once in a while.  I cozied up with a blanket and read.

4)  Good books.  Today I read some of Michael Phillip's "Stonewyke trilogy."

5) I'm super thankful that Joshua fell asleep during his quiet time this afternoon.  I needed the extra time to recoup and enjoyed the hour of sweet quiet and solitude.

6) My garden.  My parents gave us three new bushes for our garden and they are thriving in their new soil thanks to the last couple of rainy days.

7) Well...I'm glad Joshua didn't get upset when he found his goldfish belly-up this morning.  He's already talking about his next fish, which will be a black fish named "Soogy."

8) I'm so glad that Joshua is potty-trained!  I wasn't sure how it was going to work out with my unique situation with my PGP, but despite the setbacks, he's potty-trained and almost diaper-free.  I'm not quite ready to put him to bed without a diaper, though he has proven himself fine in this area, too.

9) Starbucks.

10) Friends.  I think they're the best.

Grandpa's Buttermilk Pancakes

My grandpa has always been the pancake maker in the family.  He uses the same recipe each time, one passed down by my great-great Aunt Libby who is still remembered by those who knew her as an amazing baker.  Now, due to his arthritic knees, the pancake-making duties fell on me during their visit last month.  I'd forgotten how good they taste!  I am gluten-free most of the time, but since I'm not Celiac and the repercussions are mild and often unnoticeable, an occasional 'cheat' is in order, especially for nostalgic moments such as this.

They have a splendid buttermilk flavor.  Probably the most buttermilkiest pancakes I've ever had.  If you're ever  in the mood for something easy and new, here's a pancake recipe unlike any other I've come across.

GRANDPA'S BUTTERMILK PANCAKES

3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon sugar
6 tsp baking powder (yes, you read that right)
1/4 tsp salt

3 or 4 cups buttermilk
3 eggs, beaten
3-6 tbsp melted butter

Combine the dry ingredients.  Combine the wet ingredients and add to the dry ingredients.  Mix as little as possible- lumps are okay.  Heat a griddle to 350*F and melt butter on the surface.  Pour 1/4 cup of batter on the griddle for each pancake.  Cook until the sides are starting to dry and the top is bubbly.  Flip the pancake and cook for another minute or two.  Enjoy!

The End Of A Good Time

My parents left this morning.  It never gets easier saying good-bye.  I've experienced firsthand the frailty of life and the uncertainty of seeing a loved one again.  Good-bye could be "until next time," or it could be for the last time on this earth.  I didn't come with melancholy intent, though.  Since I couldn't blog on Thursday, I'm going to go back a few days and post pictures from our day at the park....by far, one of the best afternoons of the week.

We packed a picnic lunch.  The weather couldn't have been more perfect.  Just the right amount of warm and breezy.  Sunny skies, fluffy white clouds.  Only a few other kids running around.  As we finished our lunch of fresh veggies, apple slices, chicken salad and cake, Rona and Andre arrived.  The boys had been asking for each other all week.  They played.  We talked.  And spent a GLORIOUS four hours at the park.  Nobody wanted to leave.

Rona texted when she was getting close.  I told Joshua Andre was on his way and he settled down on the bench, watching the road in anticipation.

First time on the tire swing.

The boys spent a LONG time on the swings, talking and singing together.  So cute.

My two favourite guys.  Father and son-in-law having a "cool contest."  

Joshua and Andre.

All worn out and ready to go home.

I Love My Daddy

I tried to blog yesterday but the site was shut down.  I don't have time today.  My day was nicely planned out until my Dad and I went downstairs and ended up cleaning the basement.  He's awesome.

My Favorite Picture From Today

I'm not the best photographer....but I love this anyway.