Our Trip to Alabama

We had a good visit in Alabama this last week.  Here are some highlights.  

We went to the skating rink for a preschool time and Gwen discovered she could do the scooter thing this year.

Zeke's first time in the ball pit.

Gwen roller skating for the first time.  She was frustrated that it did not come easily to her.

Zeke refused to stand up.

We went to the splash park and had snow cones.

We also visited Mooresville, Alabama again.  I just love this little town.  Here is the little cafe in town we had lunch at.

Grandma and Gwen

We ambled down some back roads and found a vineyard.

Oak leaf hydrangea.  Gotta get one of those.  They are too beautiful!

Country lanes lined with trees.  My kind of beauty.

Preston Graduating

Last night we attended my brother Preston's pinning ceremony for finishing his degree in becoming a physical therapy assistant.  It has been a tough two years, but I believe he really likes the subject and is eager to start his new career.  

Our friend Joanne.  She teaches zumba for people with disabilities with my brother.  She is a remarkable woman and an inspiration.

We saw this on a door in the junior college.  We found it rather amusing.

High art at the junior college.

Alcohol and Pregnancy

It is extract making time!  This year I am trying something new.  I'm trying almond extract.  This first picture is of the almonds that have been blanched and skinned.  It's therapeutic to skin almonds I found.  Sometimes mindless activities like that are soothing.  When I was a kid milking goats was like that.  Have I mentioned I wasn't the typical kid playing t-ball?  Well, if you were interested in trying your hand at almond extract, it is 2 C of blanched natural almonds (blanching is putting them in boiling water for exactly 1 minute) per half gallon of alcohol. (I used vodka)  Viola!  It is ready in 2 months, but I am going to wait 5 or so for Christmas time.  When you blanch the almonds lay them out on a towel and put another towel on top and dry them gently.  Some of the skins will just come off with you touching them, but then the rest you have to pick them up and slide off the skin.  I also did one gallon of regular vanilla extract... but I have enough beans for a second gallon.  I think I will do the second gallon as well when I get enough time.

I am now 24 weeks along and I feel the presence of this baby now.  I have forgotten what it feels like to be pregnant even though it was only 3 years ago when I was expecting Zeke.  There is no hiding on the third go round and as my doctor said "I have hit a growth spurt."  In other words, I already had a belly, but now it's getting really round.  The difference this time?  I have no idea what month I'm in and this baby moves more than the other two did.  I haven't thought that much about names because I tend to over think it and drive myself crazy.

In other news, my choir is getting ready for a big concert this upcoming Friday.  This is my favorite for the concert.  Serendipitously, my pastor's sermon this week was on the Sermon on the Mount.  I'm not sure I understand it entirely... exactly what being "poor in spirit" means and so forth, but I love this song.  Isn't music wonderful that we can take Jesus's exact words and make it into praise?  This is such a complex world full of sin.. but at least we have music.  It is one of the wonderful comforts of life I believe.   

Durufle Requiem

Today has been an unexpected day.  A friend called me this morning and offered to take my kids for the day and had a surprise for me.  I recently watched her three girls for several days, but I did not expect anything in return.  She gave me a gift card to World Market and a day to myself!  I almost don't know what to do with myself.

So... I went to World Market and bought some wonderful things like a new skillet!  (you know you are a mom when you get heart palpitations over a skillet)  Then I went to Aldi and bought watermelons, then I went out to eat by myself at an Indian buffet (my favorite).  Then I went and looked at the Christian bookstore and then I went and drove through the car wash.  I am home now and practicing music for a rehearsal tomorrow night.  We are doing the Durufle Requiem and I am using this recording to practice with.  These boys sing so beautifully it makes me want to cry.

I am so fortunate to be able to sing this stuff.  I considered giving up the choir with the coming of this third baby, but I just can't do it.  My church doesn't sing this style of music and I just can't live without it.  I find it so enriching to sing intellectually engaging music!  Songs in other languages that people for centuries have sung.  So, today I am thankful for thoughtful deeds returned to me unexpectedly, good music and time off.

Artists

Last night I went to a painting class called "Thirsty Palette".  It's where you go and have a guided painting class and you can buy drinks that cost astronomical prices.  I didn't buy a drink, but I did paint.  Let's just say painting is not my gifting, but it was fun none-the-less.  

This was the lady right behind me.  Her painting was AMAZING.

My tulip field.  I saw the lady behind me paint in a lady bug and jokingly I said to my friend, "yeah, she's got a ladybug, but does she have a lightning bolt?" and then I painted in a lightning bolt.. top left.

My friend Janna's painting.

My companion for the evening... Breanne.  She is my exercise buddy on Friday mornings.  You see, if I don't have someone to show up and demand exercise I won't do it.  She is a hard working mama and I knew she needed a night out.  So glad she could come.  Look at her painting!  It's so good.

Me with mine.

This morning I found Gwen's drawing of a unicorn.  :)

Amusements

Yesterday we went to church with Ben's mom, Pam.  Gwen and Zeke came out of Sunday school with cards for me.  This is Gwen's horse.  It gave me a little chuckle and Ben asked why there was a cross stuck in his behind.

the beginnings of a strawberry bed.  My other ones got smothered out by mulched up leaves been put in the planters.

Red onions, spinach, carrots and green beans and a little dino kale.  What?  You can't see them?  HAHA

Baby spinaches

onions

Tomato seedlings I got for free from a neighbor.  Some look better than others.  We'll see.  I'm hopeful.

Cucumbers... except a rabbit came by and chomped on the middle one... grrr....

New plants in front.  We transplanted the large rose bush from the back.  Hope it makes it.

Ben's Mother's Day gift to me... flowers and mulch.  Love it.

Zeke and Paw Paw playing with a rope.  Paw Paw has been living with us for a few months now.  The kids really enjoy spending time and getting attention from him.

Stinky

My hard working man!

We work together in this family!

Gwen's Last Day of Preschool

Zeke and I went to a program at Gwen's preschool today.  It was her lasts day there.  A lady that was 7 ft tall and had a head full of curly hair sat in front of me... and she had long arms too..but still... I got some shots.  Other moms in the room were crying.  I was explaining to Zeke I didn't have gum.  :)  Gwen is so confident and she loved going to preschool.  She went three times a week for a couple of hours, but at the end of those hours she was waving to her teachers and friends and saying "Bye, I love you."  

She looked for us in the crowd and found us.  She does remember us!

Gwen and her teacher Mrs. Kristin.

This and That

Just when you think spring has sprung... Kansas throws a little snow on top.  Rare May snowfall.

We went to Jumping Jax the other day and we enjoyed it until Zeke fell off a ladder and got a huge goose egg.  Thank you Lord for skulls!

She was afraid for a long time of doing this.  I thought she had given up.

Zeke loved the inflatables.

but no.. she conquered her fear.

This is the ladder Zeke fell off of onto tile floor. UGH

My bowl with a chicken salad in there.  I take pictures of my food ok?  Can you tell my appetite has increased since early pregnancy?

Ben brought these home for me last night.  I think they are a beautiful color.  Like a sunset.

Been painting the nursery.  It's more impressive in person. :)

Caught the kids reading the Bible together today.  Zeke was saying "what in the world?" and Gwen was getting angry with how many times he kept saying "what in the world?"  It cracked me up.

Big/Little Boy

The other morning I was downstairs early and heard something drop off the stairs.  I looked over there and it was a pair of little boy underwear.  Zeke came down then and he was standing there totally naked with markings all over his legs.  I asked him where those marks came from and he said in his groggy voice, "last early I did it at night time."  Apparently someone found a marker in their room and well... he drew a map.  I made him put on his underwear before I took these photos.  He is becoming a  big boy and says the funniest/cutest things.