There are clothes that I keep in the kiddos' closets strictly for those days when I know we'll either be a) getting dirty playing outside or b) staying in where no one will see us. Ok, I confess I also have those kinds of clothes in my own closet. But while I know full well what those articles of clothing are, my darling...Read More

Once again, I took a risk and invited friends over for a dinner experiment. The planned meal was from Tyler's Ultimate - my gift from Lynnie - and so far, it has not led me astray. The meal was to be Ultimate Beef Stew, Pureed Potatoes (not to be confused with my Deceptively Delicious undertakings), yeast rolls (recipe from the back of the...Read More

Brooklyn's hair has been getting longer and thicker, but unless it's pulled up into pigtails, it just looks unruly. And I've wanted to cut her hair into a little bob for the longest time, but just wasn't able to do it - not enough hair. I had an appointment to get my own hair cut on Thursday and my hairdresser, Kate, agreed with...Read More

I found and ordered August's Halloween costume online, and it arrived in the mail the other day. I'm not gonna spoil the surprise, but I will give you a hint. A cute little hint. ...Read More

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Brooklyn just hanging out...while August slept on the Boppy on my lap. ...Read More

This has been an insanely busy few weeks. So often I stop and think about things I could blog about and want to blog about, but just don't have the TIME! On top of the normal daily tasks associated with staying at home as a mother of a two 1/2 year old and an infant and keeping that home clean (which is QUITE...Read More

Several colored Pyrex mixing bowls ($3 a piece), a lime green Pyrex serving dish ($2) and a yellow Pyrex square dish ($3), two teacups and saucers ($3 each) to add to my collection, a set of turquoise flour, sugar, coffee, tea containers (the whole set was $4!!), a Pyrex juice pitcher ($3), a glass pitcher and a yellow Hall flower pot ($1)!! What...Read More

With all this experimental cooking I've been doing, there have been times when I wished I'd been courageous enough to invite friends over to sample it with us. But there's always this little bit of pride lurking that says..."what if you mess it up? What if it's horrible? You don't want to risk it." But dadburn it, I told that little voice to...Read More

Yesterday, my mom accompanied the three daytime Floyds to an estate sale. We were smart and got there just after it opened. I knew we were smart cause we were browsing amidst flea market buyers. I perked my ears up when I heard this one woman gasping at the low prices and telling her accomplice how much she could mark the items up...Read More

Lunch today consisted of whole wheat tortillas wrapped around a mixture of cream cheese, chicken, 1/2 cup yellow squash, 1/4 cup of carrots, 1/2 cup of colby jack cheese, some garlic powder and salt. After rolling up the tortilla halfs, I popped them in a 375 oven for about 7 minutes. It was seriously good. I did not, as directed, use roasted chicken....Read More

First official attempt was this morning when I made French Toast (p. 49). I was kind of impressed with myself cause I made it on the fly during a playdate! Kyle joked last night that he was glad I'd found somebody to play with me. Well, I guess in many ways it does feel like play when you have a good time with...Read More

Ok, another CS Lewis topic. He also has a chapter on Christian Marriage. This chapter addresses, among other things, the topic of divorce. He looks at marriage in view of its relation to chastity, but also in relation to another virtue - justice. Which includes the keeping of promises.When we get married, we make a public, solemn promise to stick to our partner...Read More

Ok, before you get either (a) upset or (b) overexcited, this is a continuation of my reading of Mere Christianity. Not a confession or admission about anything related to my own sexual appetite. :)I'm sure anyone with eyes has noticed that sex is everywhere. As we all know, sex sells and it's used to sell things constantly. At a dinner the other night,...Read More

In my cookbook, Jessica Seinfeld says it should take a good hour per week to prepare for your upcoming week of meals and purees. That must be once you've really gotten going because it took me a good 3 hours this evening. Of course, Jessica may not have been wearing an infant in a sling or pausing to tend to her 2 year...Read More

For those who read this blog, if you read just to see pictures of Brooklyn and August, there are times you must, by necessity, be disappointed. As the author of this blog, it must track to some extent, the same paths my mind travels. And while there's lots of Brooklyn and August there, there is much much more. At least, I hope so!...Read More

By crafty, I mean tricky. By tricky, I mean deceptive. By deceptive, I mean, Deceptively Delicious. I made my weekly menu yesterday and it includes French Toast made with butternut squash puree, scrambled eggs made with cauliflower puree, chicken nuggets with carrot puree and squash puree plus couscous also with carrots and squash. First step of all this was to buy the ingredients:...Read More

Very often, if I'm blogging, it's with August on my lap on top of the Boppy pillow. Either nursing or just laying there smiling up at me while I coo at him and type simultaneously. I'm lucky if I happen to have a burp cloth on my shoulder...and frequently have white puke spots on both shoulders. So frequently that I kind of don't...Read More

Brooklyn has gotten more demanding in her 2 year old-ness, but sometimes this is absolutely hilarious. For instance, I just overheard Kyle chuckling and turned to see why. He was holding Brooklyn's legs in "Swing style" and she was saying, "I wanna swing a little bit!" It made me laugh too. When he put her down and sat down on the couch, she...Read More

Attempted and made successfully - Roasted Cauliflower Soup. It was only after I made and served this yummy soup as our dinner that I realized it was listed under the appetizer section and probably wasn't designed to be served solo.Don't worry, I won't tell you about the nights we have cereal or pbj's or scrambled eggs and toast. :)Later this week, like tomorrow,...Read More

As I anticipated, things that make it on to my weekly menu don't always get made on their designated day. For various reasons. One of the things I was supposed to make this week was buckwheat crepes with a leek and bacon filling. Welllll...I couldn't find buckwheat flour, of which a cup was required. Still haven't found it. I think I may try...Read More

This past year, Kyle and I have attended a weekly Bible study led by my Dad. I always benefit from studies led by him as he's one of the godliest men I know. And he has a very unique way of looking at Scripture. A perspective that really illuminates things for me. Well, he recently informed me and my brother Chad that he...Read More

Since August got two shots today at the doc, he's not feeling so hot and IS feeling incredibly cuddly. So, I have been wearing him in his sling while I have been cleaning house. I love it. When I had to take the sling off, I sort of kept him in it and he kept on snoozing. ...Read More

Semi-annually, the mother of all consignment sales comes to LR. And it's happening right now! I love these things...I'm not much of a garage sale clothes buyer, but I make an exception to buying pre-worn clothing when it comes to this sale. The majority of stuff is in great condition and some stuff still has the tags on it. So far, it's been...Read More

Ok, at this "little" guy's 2 month checkup, he tipped the scales at a whoppin 13 pounds, 11 ounces and measured 23 inches long. That means he's in the 95th percentile for weight and 75th percentile for height. I have created a monster. Albeit a very cute one. I asked the doc if I should be concerned and he laughed and said not...Read More

In the words of John Lenon,"Beautiful, beautiful, beautifulBeautiful boy." ...Read More

One of the party favors from Saturday was the "punchy balloon". I don't know the technical name, but it was a hoot watching Brooklyn try to figure it out. What she did figure out was how to maniacally abuse Kyle and his camera! ...Read More

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A radiant Lake beams at the camera while Brooklyn stuffs her face with hot dog.August, party animal or garden gnome?Brooklyn and Lake are crazy about trains, so everyone hopped on board for a little ride around Funland. August slept through the whole party, I think. Minus one poopy diaper and a little snack. ...Read More

The perfect start to any day is a do-nut!Look at me riding my horsie!!!Ok, so not every ride is desirable...even when accompanied by a big strong man, sort of.But we always like to ride red convertibles! (The driver is the birthday girl and B's best chum).We didn't trust Brooklyn to ride the helicopter herself on account of the possibility that she might leap...Read More

In order to bring some order to our lives and variety to our meals, I try to plan a weekly menu and shop accordingly each week at my local Kroger (affectionately known by me as the Krogie). This menu is adhered to loosely some weeks and strictly on others. This is also a good way for me to try new recipes out of...Read More

Brooklyn has a response for us whenever we tell her no. She says, "I DO! I DO!" Not, yes or please, just an emphatic I DO! To let us know that in spite of what we don't want her to do, she does! Or on the flip side, she also says, I DON'T, I DON'T! For example, "Brooklyn, you can't have that book."...Read More

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Josh and Zach managed to wring some fun out of an otherwise depressing task as they fought back against the rain and flooding! ...Read More

Never hurt anybody. Ok, so that's totally a lie. But at least in this instance no one was hurt. As Gustav continued to pour rain down on our helpless city, my mother made a spaghetti supper for her kids and their families. After stuffing ourselves, we headed back to Zach & Anna's house planning to cozy up on the couch and watch a...Read More