What A Weekend

It has been one busy weekend!  We had a community garage sale this Friday and Saturday.  We had three households combined in my garage and so we had a lot of things to sell and keep up with not to mention the kids.  Even though it has been busy, it was full, full of good times and lots of sunshine which we are thankful for.  Here are many pictures for you to enjoy.

This is Gwen and Zeke taking a break together.  I think it's so cute how they sit together and drink like little buddies.

Today we went to Gwen's friend Clara's birthday party.  Here they are.

When they couldn't find the candles... this was how they solved that problem!  For someone who likes the unusual, it made my day.

After naps the kids put on their bathing suits and played washing the baby.

and swinging on the swing set.  Thank you Lord for neighbors with swing sets. :)

All this action is tiring me out!

Mid play drink

Mom, recognize that bathing suit?

We got out our slip n slide and even Ben decided to get in on the fun.

Jumping on the trampoline.

Zeke wasn't a huge fan of getting in the water. 

But something both kids were a big fan of was this barrel of cheese puffs my neighbors brought out.  We had to pry their little hands off of it to go home and get some real food in their bellies.  :)

My Current Favorite Song

* if on facebook you gotta go to my blog to see video:  www.benmere.blogspot.com

Stuff I'm Learning and Goals

Something I learned yesterday off of a package of Ravioli:  Originally called "rabioli" or "scraps" in Italian, ravioli was traditionally leftovers from previous meals wrapped between two sheets of pasta dough and served hot.

Also, randomly I got sent an Amish calendar from a Christian bookstore advertising their latest Amish fiction author.  The calendar has recipes and sayings and facts about the Amish.  Here are some Amish proverbs I found interesting:

We did not inherit this land from our fathers.  We are borrowing it from our children.

When you're making vegetable soup, you don't ask whether the peas or the carrots are more important.

True humility is neither thinking too highly of one's self, or thinking too little of one's self, but rather not thinking of one's self at all.

It is easy to be thankful for food when you know where it comes from.

Silence should not be broken unless improved upon.

and finally... some projects I've got on my mind that I'm going to do.  I get these ideas and I can't let them go until I do them.  This embroidery hoop art idea appeals to me because I think it would be fun to choose my own fabrics and shapes.  I'd like to put this in my entryway up high under the overlook at the top of the stairs.  It may not be this exact arrangement, but I like the concept.

This is the project I'm doing next though.  I saw this the other night when Ben and I went on a date.  We stopped by a store just to look- Pottery Barn Kids and I loved the idea.  They had the vent turned onto this thing and it looked like the butterflies were fluttering.  I've gotten all the supplies except the punch for the butterfly.  (still looking for someone that has one)  I'll keep you updated on this little project of mine. It will go in Gwen's room.

It Has Arrived

I was told this day would come and here it is.  They are playing happily together people.  Zeke loves her and she is pretty good about sharing with him.  She speaks to him like a little teacher though saying "no no Zekey... are you listening to me?"  It makes me laugh.  They are under a car table.  They love playing under it.  It's like their very own fort.

*If you are reading this on facebook you must go to www.benmere.blogspot.com to see the video.

My New Hobby

Everyone needs a hobby right?  Even if it is kind of silly and hardly anyone appreciates it like you do.  Sometimes I think I'm getting more and more eccentric as the days fly by.  I am into coloring these stained glass butterfly pages.  I got a book of them for signing up to get the paper delivered to me.  It's got all kinds of butterflies and moths... even luner moths.  It is amazing at the intricacies of these butterflies.  If you'd like one of your very own I am accepting orders and it's free. :)

Here's one I did for myself of a Viceroy Butterfly.

I am currently working on one for Ben's Grandma of one of these moths.  It is a Madagascan Sunset Moth and it just might be the most beautiful creature I've ever seen (except my husband and children).

Speaking of which, here's Zeke caught in the act. 

Egg People

Today we made egg people.  Here is the original idea in a magazine I found.  We made construction paper ones instead of using eggs. 

These are mine I made to show Gwen examples.  Starting from the left you have the bird, chicken, and bunny.

 

 Here are some of Gwen's.  I thought the one on the left looked a little forlorn.  Maybe he knows he'll be scrambled tomorrow for breakfast.

  

You may wonder what I do with Zeke during these times.  Well, he made a ROYAL mess with some crackers and then he played his recorder and attempted to get a ladel in his mouth!

  By the way, he now can woof like a dog and quack like a duck and just today started saying "uh oh."

My cutie working on her eggs.

Her bird.

Some more of her egg people.  The one on the left is really lucky she says cause he got cheeks!  HA

Um... Ok

This was sent in by none other than Beki.



*gotta watch it at www.benmere.blogspot.com if you're on facebook.  Come again!

Scentsy

The other day I went to a consignment sale for kid's stuff and I slurged and bought myself this Scentsy.  It melts wax that smells really nice and you can pick all these different smells.  I chose this lacy looking one and I like it so much.  It sits behind my kitchen sink with my aloe plant that I also love.  (Mom, remember when we bought that baby aloe for $2?  Yes, this is the same one)  I just thought I'd share something that makes me happy lately.  What makes you happy?

Lovin' Life

I just got through putting Gwen to be and I read her this book.  It is my favorite of her books at the moment.  I got it from a Goodwill store and it is precious.  It's called "When I'm Sleepy" by Jane R. Howard and illustrated by Lynne Cherry.  The illustrations are beautiful too.  Check it out at the library if you can.

By the way, we've been sick for the last three weeks so we've missed church.  I asked Gwen tonight before bed, "hey, guess where we get to go tomorrow?" (the answer being church) and she replied, "California!"  It made ma laugh.

Uncle Jake is back in town for a few weeks and then back to Haiti.  He works with an organization that helps orphans in Haiti.  Our kids LOVE their Uncle Jake and I can honestly say that he is one of the few people upon first meeting that Zeke has taken to.

Hum.. think this is an indicator that I'm not a shopper?  Time to darn that sock!  :)

Have I told you lately just how gaga crazy I am for my little Zekeaboy?  That's what I call him most of the time... Zeke-a-boy.  He has discovered his musical gifts in a recorder I found in the basement that I used to use when I was a music teacher.  Oh, the thrilling sound of a recorder.  He's so pleased with himself though that I sometimes, and I said sometimes, don't have the heart to take it away from him. 

Here is Zeke providing some after dinner entertainment for our family.  And before you comment about Gwen laying down on the table... well... what can I possibly say to that??? Yes, she in fact is on the table providing the percussion.



* You have to go to www.benmere.blogspot.com to see the video if you're reading this on facebook.

Kites and Daffodils

This is Gwen's idea of "flying a kite".  I think I have been more into this kite than she has.  It's ridiculous how much it means to me to get that thing up in the air.  It was so windy yesterday I think we finally obliterated the Barbie kite. 

A little disgruntled that I pulled out his paci.  That thing has to go soon!  Does he look like his daddy or WHAT in this picture?  LOVE IT

My favorite flower.... the daffodil.  I love the color, the smell, the everything.  We made some inside the house too.  I was pretty pleased with my paper daffodil so I thought I'd show it to you.  Oh, and the real one was one we picked in a park on a walk recently.  LOVE SPRING!!!!!!!!

I know, I know...

I know I said I'd not advertise on this blog... but I thought I'd just throw this out there for ya.  My choir, the Kansas City Chorale, is having a fundraising initiative this spring and my goal is to raise $500.  I can honestly say that this is the best choir I've ever been in and I truly love to sing with these people.  Even a small donation is great, 'cause every bit counts!  Here's the link: 

https://kcchorale.dojiggy.com/meredith

Birds

Since Zeke is so interested in birds, well, I have become also.  Here is a section of an article I read last night from our local paper.  This is what we can learn from birds.

1.  Sometimes you need to move on.
2.  Stand on your own two feet.
3.  Be ready with a plan B.
4.  Finally, believe in magic (or miracles if you prefer like me)

The Dots

This is a picture Gwen painted the other day with the new glitter glue I bought for her at the store.  Notice anything... um... distracting?  I PROMISE I didn't coach her to do that!  HEE HEE!

Two Pots

An elderly Chinese woman had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a pole which she carried across her neck.
One of the pots had a crack in it while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water.
At the end of the long walk from the stream to the house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.  For a full two years this went on daily, with the woman bringing home only one and a half pots of water.
Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments.
But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it could only do half of what it had been created to do.
After 2 years of what it perceived to be bitter failure, it spoke to the woman one day by the stream.
"I am ashamed of myself, because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house."
The old woman smiled, "did you notice that there are flowers on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side?  That's because I have always known about your flaw, so I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back, you water them.  For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table.  Without you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty to grace the house."
Each of us has our own unique flaw.  But it's the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding.
You've just got to take each person for what they are and look for the good in them.
To all of my crackpot friends, remember to smell the flowers on your side of the path.

What To Do... Number 2

What to do when the kids are sick and you have to stay home?  Well... I know gas prices are high right now, so hey, look on the bright side, you are saving gas!  BUT if you did take a short drive to Sonic for a "special drink" then that makes you feel like you really have gotten out.  At least from our vantage point.  We drove through "the country" on the way to our Sonic and saw this barn that has a collapsed roof.  When Gwen saw it she said, "it just needs a few screws to fix it.  Hey!  Maybe I could fix it."  I told her maybe she could and that she was always a good helper.  :) 

I think also you have to make ordinary things a big deal if you are home all the time.  St. Patrick's Day?  Usually not a holiday I really celebrate... but we made a green lunch today.  Everything had to have some green on it.  The kids enjoyed it.  Our menu consisted of:

ranch spinach pasta
watermelon (at least the outside is green)
edamame
green apples
and dessert- lime Popsicles

 

Also yesterday I found a bag of our old Christmas wrapping paper.  I was saving it to put in our plastic baby swimming pool and have a rip up party... but I just dumped it out on the floor and at first the kids didn't know what to do with it.  In fact, Zeke screamed and crawled away.  But after a little coaxing and showing them how the bows looked in my hair and throwing the paper in the air they followed suit.  I know... who has old wrapping paper in their closet in March?  Me, that's who.

Gwen giving the paper a good stomp. 

Today we went to the doctor just to make sure everything was ok with Gwen.  Her mouth looks just dreadful and her finger was getting bigger and bigger.  They said that indeed it is hand, foot and mouth disease and that she has an infected hangnail.  What?  So, if someone says their baby has hand, foot and mouth disease run screaming in the opposite direction. 

Blast From The Past

Can I just tell you how much I love this song?  My neighbor, Liza, and I growing up had a whole routine to it and listened to it on a record.  I thought Donnie and Marie were about the best looking people I'd ever seen.  If I woke up and looked like Marie one day I wouldn't mind even today. :)

Zeke

Zeke is 14 months now.  I've been working with him on speaking and on the parts of the face.  When I try to get him to talk he mostly puts up his hand, looks out the window and yells really loud "hi" with a huge grin.  He can say "ball", but doesn't say mama and dada much.  He also has an affinity for birds.  He seems really interested to point them out to me and watch them and read about them.  Interesting!

and finally, Zeke dancing.  He's definitely got the Latin shoulder action don't you think? 

What To Do... What To Do

What to do when you have sick kids and can't get out of the house much... well, we do crafts and watch cartoons and play as much as they can stand and read books and rock in the rocking chair and cuddle.  It's days like this that I am thankful I get to stay home with them.  I mean, who knows their little hurts and every inch of them better than Ben and I?

Here's a little leprechaun we made today of construction paper.  Try explaining to a 2 1/2 yr old what a leprechaun is.  It went something like "a leprechaun is not real, but it is just pretend and they are little men with beards that are tricky and keep watch over the pot of gold at the end of a rainbow and some people like to draw them and stuff around St. Patrick's Day."  I've decided that on Thursday we'll have a whole meal of only green things for fun.  After her nap I'll get her to brainstorm with me on things that are green to have. 

Also we have been making jewelry out of pipe cleaners.  My necklace is a rare blue diamond like off of the Titanic movie.  By the way, this is me without makeup- so don't judge me! :)

 

This is Ben's lovely earring.

This is Gwen making a bracelet.

  

My poor baby girl... this is Gwen with hand foot and mouth disease.  Kitty Cat makes her feel better and she asks for medicine oh, about a 100 times a day.  When she is sick she asks for me to hold her a lot which is unusual for her.  I am loving the opportunity to hold her and brush her hair back from her face and look at her long eyelashes and just drink her in.  You moms know what I'm talking about.

  I am ready for this dreaded illness to leave our house and for SPRING to come!!

Peppernuts- Another one

Here's another recipe for peppernuts I came across today in my cookbook "Recipes from the Old Mill- Baking With Whole Grains" by Sarah E. Myers and Mary Beth Lind.  She says she knew someone that made peppernuts every Christmas and cut them out with a thimble!  I have found that they become spicier a few days after making them.  We call them "spicy bites".  This recipe varies by adding nuts and cardamom and it doesn't use all whole wheat flour.  I have cardamom seeds, but I don't have ground cardamom.  Do any of you have ground cardamom?

1 C honey
1/4 C margarine (or butter)
1 small egg
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp ginger
1/8 tsp cloves
1/4 tsp cardamom
1/8 tsp allspice
3/4 tsp Baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
2 C flour
2 C whole wheat flour
1/4 C finely chopped nuts
1/3 C hot water

1.  Cream honey, marg, and egg together
2.  Sift together all dry ingredients.  Add to creamed mixture, along with nuts and water.
3.  Roll dough into long 3/4 " diameter sticks and freeze overnight between layers of waxed paper.  The next day, slice 3/8 " thick and place on greased baking sheet.
4.  Bake at 400 degrees for about 10 min.  Peppernuts will be hard after they cool.  They keep for months in a closed container.  Yeehaw!  (I added that)

Funny Things Gwen's Been Saying

The other day she wanted me to meet her "princess" (which was imaginary) and I walked over and faced a wall and she said "this is my mom, and this is my Zekey, and I am me.  Princess, we will have lots of anguish today."
I'm not even lying- she said anguish.  I asked her what anguish meant and she said "um...." and I told her it means lots and lots of pain.  Now when I ask her what anguish means she says "mean lady."  I'm thinking she got this from a Barbie movie.

Another day this week she said "mom, God took away the clouds!" I told her that it was only for a little while because it was rainy.  She said, "we need them back!"

The other night Zeke was crying while Ben was putting him to bed and Gwen was still in the bath.  I told her we needed to pray for Zeke because he was having a hard time.  She said, "I'll pray" and I said ok, and then she said a prayer that actually made sense.  "Thank you for Zekey and please help him to feel better and put medicine in his mouth. Amen."  It was so sweet.

In other news... we were playing outside yesterday and saw Lugie and another Lugie.... meaning we think Lugie has found a mate.  They were flying together and Lugie flew right over our heads and we were waving and saying "hi Lugie."  You know with the eyesight that hawks have that he saw us.  I swear that bird knows us.  I just KNOW IT.  If you have forgotten who Lugie is I will picture him below.  He is our resident hawk.

Potato Chip

Even Cinderella likes potato chips.  

In The Night We Shall Go In

I've been thinking on this poem for a while now.  It's another song we are singing in choir.  How do you interpret this poem?

In the night we shall go in, 
we shall go in to steal a flowering branch.
We shall climb over the wall
in the darkness of the alien garden,
two shadows in the shadow.


Winter is not yet gone,
and the apple tree appears
suddenly changed into 
a fragment of cascade stars.


In the night we shall go in
up to its trembling firmament,
and your hands, your little hands
and mine will steal the stars.


And silently to our house
in the night and the shadow,
perfume's silent step,
and with starry feet,
the clear body of spring.


-Pablo Neruda

Elmo Lullaby

I love Elmo and I love this scene from Sesame Street.  You ever feel like someone has woken you up all night long in 15 minute increments?  Yeah, me too.



*If you are reading this on facebook, you must go to www.benmere.blogspot.com to see the video

Peppernuttery

Today we made peppernuts.  They are a spicy little cookie thing and nice to give away.  Zeke loved them surprisingly and I didn't that much.  They are like little ginger cookies.  Here's the link if you want to check out the recipe.  http://heavenlyhomemakers.com/homemade-peppernuts-the-best-little-cookies-in-the-world

Here is Zeke with hand, foot, and mouth disease.  How can he have sores on his mouth and in his mouth and be teething and be THIS adorable?  I don't know, but he manages it. 

Gorgeous playing with a car.

Gwen still hasn't got the smile down, but she sure is helpful (when she wants to be).