EXCUSE THIS HOUSE

Some houses try to hide the fact
that children shelter there.
Ours boasts of it quite openly,
The signs are everywhere----

For smears are on the windows
Little smudges on the doors;
I should apologize, I guess
For the toys strewn on the floor

But I sat down with the children
and we played and laughed and read;
And if the doorbell doesn't shine,
Their eyes will shine instead.

For when at times I'm forced to choose
The one job or the other----
I want to be a housewife,
But first I'll be a Mother.

- Author Unknown 

Rules of the Toddler

1.  If I like it, it's mine.

2. If it's in my hand, it's mine.

3. If I can take it from you, it's mine.

4. If I had it a little while ago, it's mine.

5. If it's mine, it must never appear to be yours.

6. If I think it's mine, it's mine.

7. If you are playing with it and you put it down, 

it’s mine.

8. If it's broken, it's yours.

(Author Unknown, but brilliant!)

Trust Him Today!

Trust in the Lord with all your heart.
Lean not on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall DIRECT YOUR PATHS.

~Proverbs 3:5-6

Mother's Day, Today and Every Day

Today, my sweet children and dear husband celebrated me. They made me feel special! I wish Mother's Day was every day, not just today!

I love being a mother. I have had many "real jobs," but none has offered the job satisfaction that mothering does. I have the freedom to stay home all day, head to the park for a picnic, take a walk, or go to a museum. I get paid with smiles, hugs, kisses, and laughs. I may not always get to sleep through the night, but I can take an afternoon nap snuggled up with a small child. I only have a short time to "mother" my children. They grow up so quickly and become licensed drivers. Someday, there will be time for me to pursue a career if I choose to. Right now, I am pursuing time with my children. I can't make them be little again... I only have today. Tomorrow, they'll be bigger. Tomorrow, they'll have grown up and moved away to start a family of their own. I will cherish today. I will cherish the gifts that God has given me!
This is what my mother did. She was my example. She is walking streets of gold today, but I know that when I was little, she put off cleaning the house in favor of reading a book to me, or playing catch with my brother. There was a time for everything. I am thankful for the time she gave to me.
Let's give our children what they want the most... time together.

And if you are a mother, I wish you a truly Happy Mother's Day!

Children hear what you say....
but believe what you do.

Heard it today and thought it was so true!

For this is Right

I recently finished reading "For the Children's Sake" by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay. This book, along with Elizabeth Foss's "Real Learning" are my two favorite how-to homeschool books. Both ladies have a Charlotte Mason perspective. I love how Charlotte encourages mothers to let the children play freely, as much as possible to go outside. She believed (and I do too) that children obey best when their lives are as satisfying as possible. Macaulay wrote a short check list of what would be included in a satisfying childhood: interesting things to think about, learning new skills, enjoying loving relationships with family members and friends, encouraged to be creative, hours to spend in free play.
When children are at home all day, it is easier for the child to have these freedoms, and to learn that it is ok to make mistakes, and to understand there are consequences for their wrong choices.
Teaching children to obey is the first habit a mother needs to work on with her child. We should tell them the reason for all obedience:
"For this is right." Sometimes this simple explanation is all a child requires. A lengthy, boring lecture is too much to take in, but the short reminder sticks in their mind more easily. We can help our children do what is right, giving them tasks that are easy, but which gradually get harder. Many times a mother's hardest job is to teach the child that he can choose to do what he doesn't always feel like doing. This is hard because it reflects on us mothers as well. I have to make dinner and clean up afterwards even when I don't feel like doing it! But these routines of life form important habits for our children. They are always watching us.... May we inspire them to do what is right!

Healthy Habits

Tip #3

Well, this one was a long time coming. Good things come to those who wait, right?

I like to use SPINACH instead of iceburg lettuce....
Chop it fine and use it on tacos.
Mix it with Romaine when making a salad.
Put it on your sandwiches.

This is my favorite salad. Try it!

Apple Spinach Salad

for the dressing, whisk together till smooth:
1/3 cup mayonnaise
4 tsp white vinegar
5 tsp sugar
1/4 tsp celery salt
1/4 tsp pepper

In a salad bowl combine 4 cups fresh spinach and 1 unpeeled sliced red apple. Drizzle with salad dressing and toss to coat. Makes 4 servings


Eat your greens-- They're good for ya!
Smarter brain, better eyesight, iron for energy.... declares "World's Healthiest Foods."

Healthy Habits

Tip #2

We like to substitute plain organic yogurt for sour cream. I wanted to get more yogurt in our diets and one way to do it was to buy the big 32 oz. containers (we like the Stonyfield Farm brand) and use it whenever we would have used sour cream. Since Clara was old enough to sit up and eat I have given her yogurt in a bowl, sometimes sweetening it a little bit, or adding sprinkles (it looks like a dessert then!), or stirring in her favorite cereal for some added crunch and texture. I like to stir in slivered almonds, frozen blueberries, and a sprinkling of brown sugar to a bowl of plain yogurt. The vanilla flavored yogurt is also awesome, but it doesn't substitute well for sour cream because it is sweet!

Here's my favorite pancake recipe:

YOGURT PANCAKES

2 eggs beaten
1 cup plain yogurt
1 cup milk or soymilk
1 1/2 cups self rising flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tbsp. flax seed meal (optional)

To the beaten eggs, stir in the yogurt. Slowly add the milk. Add the rest of the ingredients. It is ok for batter to be slightly lumpy.

I cook these in my cast iron skillet. Butter the skillet and measure about 2 tbsp batter for each pancake. I can get 4 in my large skillet. Turn over when the edges are lightly browned and the pancake is puffed up a little. (These pancakes are moister than regular pancakes.)

Serve pancakes with pure maple syrup!

Healthy Habits

Tip #1

Get soymilk into your diet! Its easy to do. We like Kikkoman Pearl Organic Soymilk, which is sold in aseptic cartons that keep fresh without refrigeration until opened. I keep them in my pantry and substitute soymilk for milk in recipes and no one ever knows it. We also like the chocolate soymilk-- its great when you have that urge for chocolate! And the Creamy Vanilla flavor is great for adding to oatmeal, pancake batter and anything else you might add vanilla or milk to.
Soymilk is as high in calcium, Vitamins A and D as whole milk, is low in saturated fat, is cholesterol free and high in protein. (Soy protein may help reduce the risk of heart disease.) And it's just convenient to have on hand for those times when you run out of milk unexpectedly!

Merry Christmas!

Ten days ago we moved into base housing. I have unpacked every box and almost have all the pictures up on the new walls. It has been an exhausting week but we are happy in our new home. That will be our last move until Danny retires from the Marine Corps, which is only a little more than a year away!






Well, I have suitcases to get packed for lots of little people around here. And tonight we're going to load up on hot chocolate and drive around town to see Christmas lights. It's a wonderful time of year to be together with those you love. Hope you're enjoying it!

The Girls

Well, Linnea is growing and changing more every day. She is not the same little newborn we brought home. She smiles and coos, has filled out and is as pretty as ever. When she was around 2 weeks old she developed a "strawberry" over her left eye. We'll see if our pediatrician recommends doing anything with it at her next checkup. It is starting to be puffy enough that her eyelid droops a little over her eye when she is awake. I have read that if a strawberry interferes with vision, they might recommend treatment. She is now 7 weeks old.

Clara will be 3 next month on the 4th.


We're all doing quite well, though I do not find much time for keeping up with my blog these days!

She's Here!

We are happy to announce the birth of our daughter....

Linnea Valerie
(pronounced "Lin-nay-uh")
Born on her due date, Sept. 14 at 7:38 AM at Birth and Women's Center in Dallas

Here she is right after birth, bright eyed, beautiful, and alert!



Our midwife weighs her and finds that she is 7 lbs. 6 oz, and 20 inches long - just right!



Big sister is very excited to finally hold her own little baby!




Proud Mama and Papa




Her wonderful big brothers being helpful after the bath



Welcome to our family, little one! We love you!

Picture Day

Two weeks before the due date...and my midwife says I'm "all baby!"


Our three beautiful children, after we visited the Kimbell Art Museum and saw the Impressionist exhibit


Soon we'll be a family of six!

No Baby Yet...

Baby is due on Sept. 14 and there is no sign of her making an entrance anytime soon. The countdown to a birth - day is a nerve wracking thing. We're excited though and are praying that God will bless this special day with joy, no complications, and a healthy little girl!

We recently watched The Business of Being Born. Have you seen it? (It is available from Netflix.) I thought it was informative and very well done.

Time for bed. Hope to get some sleep, but wouldn't mind waking up to some contractions!!!

Wow - Am I really updating my blog?!

I don't know if anyone drops by my blog anymore since I haven't updated it in a LONG time. If you're wondering why I haven't written, you'll just have to keep wondering, because I don't really have an answer! But just to prove that we're still counted among the living, I'll update it now with these brief words and a few pictures.




My pregnancy is going well and we are all looking forward to the arrival of our second little girl in the middle of September. I can't wait to hold a newborn baby again! And I'm sure Clara will get her fair share of holding and kissing her little sister!




That's all for now!