Going To Bama

You know you aren't in Kansas anymore when you see bologna on sale by the pound.  Also... I thought it was interesting that they are selling bags for $4.99.  Hum... those better be good bags.

I bought a teeny box of these.  Love them, but they aren't the best for you.

Here are some pictures of the tornado damage in Cullman, Alabama two months after the tornado.

I felt kind of bad passing by this house that reads "quit looking, start helping" and backing up to take a picture and then driving away.  :)

Sweet Violets

Today Ben's Grandma and Grandpa celebrated 60 years of marriage.  Grandma's sister, Aunt Jo, sang this clever song.  I'd never heard it before.  She accompanied herself on ukulele.

Blobfish

Gwen got an oceans book for her birthday and I've been reading it.  OK... I'm traumatized by this fish.  The blobfish.  Have you ever seen this thing?  YUCK!  HAD to share that.

Also, baby whales gain 9 lbs every HOUR on their mother's milk.  Yowzer!

Take a look at these Nomura's jellyfish... They get up to 450lbs!

Look at this guy.  The devilfish.

Peep Hole Frame

Weeds and Silhouettes

Gwen likes her tortillas plain.  I though it was funny seeing her eat it like that.

Even a weed can be pretty in a little bud vase.

So last night I took some books I was given to the local used book store.  They gave me the cash to get this kit for free.  I can't get this picture to sit the right way, so you'll have to turn your head, but it is a silhouettes kit.  You know, cutting out a silhouette of someone for decoration.  I thought it would make interesting Christmas presents.  I took some profile pictures of the kids this morning.  Wish me luck.

Picture of the Day- Yesterday

I came around the corner to see Zeke on top of the table covered in milk. 

Moments in Our Day

Gwen and Zeke playing peek-a-boo together.

Wearing sunglasses together and running around.

My new "my hands can not be idle" project.  I found this for free at a yard sale.  I am currently stripping it. 

This is a flower on a plant Ben got for me.  I believe it is called Columbine. 

Gwen ready for church on Sunday morning.

Zeke Talking

Zeke saying "peek-a-boo"



This is a good sampling of Zeke's emerging speech.  I once thought he might be a quiet guy.  I was mistaken I think.  I love his little gravely voice... and Gwen is imaginative as usual.

Garden Update

Here are my tomatoes.  The Goliath plants have tomatoes on them, but the rest just have blooms. 

Ben's bamboo.  It is really lovely and looked wonderful in flower arrangements.

My, um, wildflower patch.  It looks pretty "wild" to you doesn't it?

Cucumbers are blooming and spreading out nicely and my pepper plants have blooms.

Ben's bamboo again.

Gwen's 3rd Birthday

We had an eventful day!  My baby girl turned three yesterday.  This first photo is a birthday gift from Uncle Preston.  This peacock grew feathers when you sat it in water.  It's fabulous!

My kitchen funnels turned into trumpets.

Ah... the face of an angel.

Running in the sprinkler.

My sweetie peetie.

Taking a swing at the pinata.

after Gwen threw a fit at seeing the other kids get turns at hitting the pinata we all decided we'd better pull the ribbons and fast.

Opening presents.

and after everyone had left and naps were over... the kids went out again to enjoy the water again... except this time, in their birthday suits.

More

Today I went to Home Goods to get a butter dish cause mine has finally bitten the dust and I came out with glasses.  Oh well.  I love these glasses!  They say on there authentic glass 100% recycled.  I love it.

Zeke and Gwen ate one of the cookies on a stick today and approved of them.

Cooks

Last night I made cookies on sticks for take home gifts for Gwen's party.  They are pretty neat and I'll show you the finished product later.

Gwen went to a VBS (Vacation Bible School) down the street this week and the theme was "Stir it up".  She didn't have a good day on Monday so she begged me not to go on Tuesday and so she didn't.  I convinced her to give it another try on Wednesday and I was so worried about her only to arrive and she had this chef's hat on, apron, and holding a raccoon with a chef's hat also and singing waving her arms.  She had a great time!  It almost made me cry.  She'll be three on Friday... wow! 

Little Things Make Me Happy

A couple of things that made me happy today.  I got a free little picket fence holder from someone, I had the styrofoam cube from my friend, and I had the construction paper for the grass and I bought the long suckers today as take home gifts for Gwen's birthday party.  You can't really see in the picture, but the suckers are watermelon slices.  I plan on making chocolate chip cookies on sticks also, but I kind of like the long sticks and watermelon slices in there.  It makes me happy OK?

Another thing that has made me very happy in the last few months is this little framed footprint of Zeke's feet when he was two months.  I had it laying around and I thought... I'm going to frame it and I just LOVE looking at them.  When I'm having a frustrating moment I look at these little tiny feet and it makes me happy.

Now in case you are wondering... I'm toying with making a t-shirt blanket and also getting a frame for my peep hole on my door.  More on that another day.  What makes YOU happy?