Complicated Math

Ok, so I am 31 years old. And 6 months. Which means I am 378 months old. Of those months, I lived 5 years and 3 months in Indiana. That's 63 months. Anyone remember % over 100 = is over of? I do- it was Mrs. Capshaw's 8th grade algebra 1. So, since I think about math all the time (Adaryll jokes that I wake up tired because sometimes I dream about math and am doing calculus in my sleep), I have been thinking about all those numbers and what they mean. Know what they mean? They mean that, technically, I am 16.67% Hoosier.
I say that to make a point. I REALLY miss all yall up there! And now, mathmatically, I can substantiate that. :)

Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary- How Does Your Garden Grow?

The kids and I planted a garden. Don't laugh- I am actually a LOT better at keeping outside plants alive than I am inside plants! After I had Elena I remember telling several people, "No, please don't give me a plant! I can't be responsible for sustaining the life of anything else!" So last summer I started an awesome perennial garden in our front bed in Indiana (How is that doing, by the way, neighbors?) and here we are growing vegetables! My, how times have changed!

Every good Christian parenting author recommends gardening with your kids. So, in reality, this is more about the spiritual illustrations than the actual produce. If we actually get veggies in the end- BONUS!

We have already seen how different plants grow at different rates. We sowed all the seeds on the same day (except the pumpkin and watermelon which grew in our windowsill for a month, which is really what started this whole thing). Some of them sprouted within 5 days. The peppers still aren't doing anything. Some of them have really rapid overnight change- the corn looks different every time we look at it! And other things grow more slowly. All of those things are examples of how God works in the lives of different people. And how it is only our job to sow the seed. The Holy Spirit makes it grow.

So, I thought it would be fun- if I can remember- to take pictures each Friday of our garden so we can all watch it grow together. And if you really get into it, you are welcome to come over for dinner made with something from our garden when we start the harvest! (Even you Hoosiers- it's a good excuse for a trip to TX being that you will have put so much time and effort into this garden checking up on it each Friday!)

So, here is what we are growing....

A row of carrots, not yet thinned as they just came up yesterday.

Lettuce

Okra (mmmm, fried okra!)

Squash

Cantaloupe

Cherry Tomatoes

Watermelon

Pumpkin

And, last but not least, Sweet Corn (a tribute to all our Hoosier friends)

So, if anyone has any advice on growing veggies or teaching your kids spiritual things through gardening, post a comment and let me know!

Ruffles

This is the latest sweet little outfit I have made for Elena. The top is 3 ruffles layered on one another and is a cherry print (which Elena proudly boasts "Cherry!" while grabbing a ruffle and lifting it up). The bottoms are little elastic waist capris in a gingham print.

So, here is an idea. A friend of mine suggested that I start taking orders and making custom little girl clothes to make some extra money. Maybe having 5 or 6 outfits available in a range of sizes and maybe 6 or 8 fabrics to choose from. Maybe offer accessories like hairbows, headbands, purses, etc to match? My new machine does embroidery, so I could offer monogramming once I figure out how to use it.

Anyone have any comments? Is this something people would buy, do you think? In order to make it worth my time and the cost of fabric, I think an outfit like the one below would have to cost around $40. Would people pay that? What do yall think?!

First Trip to the Dentist

Elias had his first dentist appointment today! (If you knew how much I despise trips to the dentist, then you would understand why I was about a year and a half late getting him in...) I have never actually had a bad experience at the dentist (other than the typical traumatic wisdom teeth removal). In fact, I have never even had a cavity to fill, but I am terrified of needles in the mouth, drills in the mouth, pointy hooks in the mouth, etc! Subjecting my one and only sweethearted son to such a thing was quite difficult for me! I did, however, put on a REALLY good show. So much so that Elias was EXCITED about his trip to the dentist and he ended up doing awesome!!! Here are some pictures that tell the story...

Hygenist takes Elias back to do xrays. You know the drill, put that hard plastic thing in there and bite down and hold until they take the picture. He had 4 xrays and did exactly what she asked for each one.

This is the actual machine that took the xrays. Good thing he wasn't scared because if I were a 5 year old boy, I would have been totally seeing the scene in Monsters, Inc where the slimy lizard guy straps Mike to the machine that is supposed to suck the screams out of him. lol

Here he is waiting for the hygenist to come back after developing the xrays. He decided as soon as he got into the "comfy bed" that he needed to have his shoes off. Look at those long, lanky legs!!! Where did my little boy go?

She comes back and gives him these "AWESOME!!!" (as Elias said) shades to wear.

Then she introduced him to "Mr. Thirsty" (the thing that sucks the spit from your mouth). She shows him how thirsty Mr. Thirsty is by letting Mr. Thirsty drink the water from this cup.

And here he is getting his teeth polished, holding Mr. Thirsty for the hygenist.

Final report: NO CAVITIES! (HUGE sigh of relief from mom- seriously, teeth and all things related ~i.e. cavities, loose teeth, braces, etc.~ are going to be my nemesis as a mother)

Last funny story about this: Tonight at dinner Elias was telling Adaryll about his dentist appointment.

Elias: The toothbrush was CRAZY!

Me: What did it feel like?

Elias: Like a toothbrush with a gear inside.

Me: A gear? What is a gear?

Elias: You know, to make it turn. Like what is inside a clock.

Me: (astonished at my genius child) What? How do you know what is inside a clock?

Elias: (casually) I read it in my How Things Work book.

A New Friend, Whatever Her Name Is

Elena had her new friend, Sophie, over to play last week. What really happened was that Sophie and her sister needed someone to watch them while their mom had a meeting, but all that mattered to Elena was that Sophie came to play! For the first 15 minutes Elena called her Jenna (aka Jenna from Indiana who was here to play for an entire week recently). For the next 20 minutes she called her Soapy. Finally, just before playtime was over, she began calling her SoFeeeeeee. Close enough.

Papa-G In the House!

Adaryll's dad (Papa-G) and his wonderful wife, Gladys, came to visit last weekend. It was a busy, fun-filled couple of days! Elias had a t-ball game Saturday afternoon and then it was his league's night at the Triple-A ballpark that night. The whole league (over 1200 kids) got to march around the Roundrock Express field, which was VERY cool to a 5-year-old! We are so glad Guy and Gladys got to come visit and be a part of it all!

Introduction to the Wiggles

If any of you knew Elias when he was younger, you knew how much he LOVED the Wiggles. Elena has not had nearly the interest in TV as Elias did (and still does!!), but I decided to put on a Wiggles DVD this morning to see what she would think. The following video is what commenced, which I think is sufficient enough to say that we have another Wiggles fan on our hands! Good thing we kept all those DVD's!

I Believe I Can Fly

Everyone remember the song?

"I believe I can fly, I believe I can touch the sky, I think about it every night and day, Spread my wings and fly away..."

Well, I think we are entering the stage of boyhood (every boy seems to go through this stage, some faster than others!) of imagining how cool it would be if we could fly. Here are some pics of Elias doing what he called "Power Ranger moves" off the couch the other day. Which is funny, because he has never actually seen Power Rangers.

I think the acrobatics are impressive, but what I love most are his facial expressions!!! That is one thing I think I've got to give my kids credit for- they do have great, vivid expressions!!!

Good Friends

We have had such a great time with Andy, Lori, Jaren and Jenna this week! I am so sad to see them head back to Indiana tomorrow. It has just been so good to spend time with good friends. A good reminder that these friendships will remain, even across the miles! And when we do actually cross the miles to see one another face to face, it will be just like old times!

Here are some highlights of the week...

Welcome to Texas!

Kids after church Sunday

Yeah for friends!

Double Yeah for friends!!!

Elias had a TBall game Sunday night

Jaren and Andy went to cheer on the Mets

Playing in the playhouse outside. Nothing like the smell of fake bluebonnets!!!

Sweet girls holding hands

Daddies took the kids to a playground where they could excavate dinosaurs while Mommies had a girls' day out.

I kept the kids while Andy and Lori went to San Antonio. Here are the boys at dinner showing me their muscles.

All 8 of us at dinner at Rudy's ("The Worst Bar-B-Q in Texas") www.rudys.com

Girlfriends

Daveeeeeeeeeeeeee, Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier...

Everyone eating popcorn and watching a movie the last night

Funnies

Ok, so we all know that kids say funny things. Elias (and his friends) have said some particularly funny things lately, and I thought I would share...

#1. Elias singing...
The real words are: "The mountains are His, the valleys are His, the stars are His handiwork too."
What Elias sings: "The mountains are here, the valleys are here, the stars are in San Diego too."

#2. Last night Elias telling his best friend from Indiana, who is in town visiting, what they can do today...
Elias: "My Mommy said that tomorrow we can wear our swimming suits and play outside in the sprinklers!!!"
Jaren: "I have a sprinkler at home too. It is really big and it has a lot of sprinks!"
(FYI to all you hoosiers- yes, it IS warm enough to play in the sprinklers- it has been close to 90 for several days in a row. If, in reading that, you just decided you would like to have a trip to TX right now, Andy & Lori leave Thursday and the guest room will be available. LOL)

#3. Elias singing again...
Real words: "There is therefore now, no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus"
Elias sings: "There is therefore now, no combination for those who are in Christ Jesus"