When Shav Was Born...

...we got the boys a Gator, knowing that having a new special toy (that would occupy them OUTDOORS for long periods of time) would be a win-win situation for everyone involved.  ;-)  One of Jeff's co-workers was getting rid of it, and we got a great deal on it.  It worked out perfectly.

Then I blinked...

 ...and somehow, Shav himself...

 ...got old enough to ride on the Gator.

A far cry from the tiny helpless newborn we brought home from the hospital on the first day the Gator made tracks in our yard...

 ...he is now almost two years old...

 ...plenty old enough to hitch a ride with his biggest brother (while another brother runs behind, eager for his turn on it).

From the evidence, I'd say Shav enjoyed himself tremendously.  :)

And meanwhile...

...this brother helped me plant the marigolds that he chose for his small portion of our garden.

I hope they survive.  ;-)

Wordless Wednesday {Lily of the Valley}

Playing with the Big Girls Now

It was a beautiful spring evening in the Fishers' backyard.

It was simply delightful to be outdoors...just to smell the fresh air, feel the slight breeze, enjoy the last rays of the day's sunshine, admire the lush green grass, and...but wait!  What are they looking at?!?!

Chicks!  These chicks!

If you've never had chicks, let me just tell you something:  it's amazing how fast they grow up.  Why, one minute you're rocking them to sleep in your arms while singing soft lullabies; and the next, you're saying goodbye and sending them out into the big wide world.  The world where the big boys await.

Or, in this case, the big girls.  And one big boy.  That black & white creature on the left is a rooster, and he's not afraid to say so.

I feel a little nervous about putting the chicks into the enclosure with the other chickens so soon, but I don't feel nervous enough about it to keep them on my porch.  A dozen days of dealing with their stink and mess was quite enough, thank you.  :)  Now their stink and mess can be outside, where any self-respecting hen keeps her stink and mess!  

I hope the chicks do well.  I hope their older comrades don't hen-peck them too much.  I hope the chicks don't squeeze under the fence and become a tasty chicken dinner for the dogs.  I hope they don't freeze (which would be tough to do since the temperature is 50 degrees at night and in the 70s during the day).  I hope they live long and prosper (and lay many eggs).  

Farewell, chicks!  Have fun playing with the big girls--and becoming them yourselves!

Recipe Box - Donna's Mac & Cheese

I never met a mac & cheese I didn't like.

Someone famous once said that, and I couldn't agree more.  Oh, wait!  That was me that said that!  Well, scratch the "famous" part, and it's true.  ;-)

Of all the mac & cheeses in the world, this one stays near the top for me.  Maybe it's because it's my sister's recipe?  Maybe it's because it's just plain good.

When I asked my sister for the recipe, she told me--in a rather inexact, throw-in-some-of-this-and-a-handful-of-that sort of way--how she makes it.  It goes something like this...

Cook 5 cups macaroni.  Meanwhile, melt 1 stick of butter and stir 2 tablespoons of flour into it.  Add 2 cups of milk, salt and pepper to taste, and 1 (32 oz.) block of Velveeta.  (By now, it's apparent that this isn't a very healthy version of mac & cheese; but really, who ever heard of a healthy one?  It probably wouldn't be fit to eat!)  Melt that together, then combine that with your cooked, drained macaroni..  Pour that into a casserole dish, and sprinkle 2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese on top.  Pop it into the oven (I forgot to write down what temperature she said, but around 300-350 degrees works for me), until it's all melted and gooey.  Devour.

This makes quite a bit.  In fact, for our supper tonight, I halved the recipe; and we still ended up with leftovers.

Oh, one more thing!  Serving it with a rose is optional...

...but including a rose with anything is always a good idea.  ;-)

I'm Rising Up...

...to call her blessed.  This mother of mine--isn't she something?  Would you like to see her latest antic?

Do you think it's wise for a woman of her age to be acting like such a kid?!?!  ;-)

I love the look of astonishment on Josiah's face in this next picture.  :)

Here she is in action (just to prove that she wasn't just standing on the trampoline for a photo op, but was really and truly jumping).  ;-)

Amazing, I tell ya!  

Besides her willingness to be playful and silly and get on my boys' level, the thing I'm most grateful for, when I think of my mother, is her availability.  It's SUCH a comfort to know that she is right down the hill--and not only her, but my dad, too.  They are so willing to drop what they're doing and give me a hand, if I need one.  They're so gracious about being interrupted!  I don't like interruptions--few of us do--but my parents handle them so beautifully that they make you feel like they're glad to be interrupted because you're the most important thing in the world at that moment.  I want to be like that when I grow up!  

Here's a picture I really like but never posted; this is from some weeks ago when Shav was sick.  He discovered Grandpa's lap was a good place to hang out...

...and the wonderful thing is:  Grandpa's lap was HERE.  Just like Grandma's hands are here to help me wash the supper dishes when I have a huge pile and I just know my energy will run out long before the dishes are done...like Grandpa's car is here, with him in the driver's seat, when I need to take Josiah to choir practice but Shav just threw up and I can't go, but Grandpa can and does...like Grandma's voice is here and ready to read The Three Little Pigs to Tobin after he finishes his supper, never mind the fact that she's read that same book to him every evening for the past week because that's the one he always chooses...like Grandpa's ear is here and ready to listen on the phone when I call in a panic, saying that Josiah is still at choir and Jeff was supposed to pick him up after work but the Jeep won't start and Jeff can't get to him and could Grandpa please go RIGHT NOW and retrieve Josiah?

Available.  What a beautiful characteristic!  What a beautiful mother (and father!) I have!

Happy Mother's Day, dearest Mother, with all my love!!!

What Does Love Mean?

I found this bit of syrupy sweetness lurking in my email inbox as I was trying to clean it out; and since Mother's Day is tomorrow, it seems like a good weekend to be a little sentimental.  :)  Somebody sent this to me more than five years ago; it's about time I did something with this and didn't just let it clutter up my inbox!  Of course, I have no way of validating whether Rebecca, age 8, really said the quote attributed to her, or whether Billy, age 4, the one attributed to him, etc.  But that's not really the point, is it?  It's just to make us smile...


What Does Love Mean?
answers by children, ages 4 - 8


When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore.  So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis, too.  That's love.
~ Rebecca, age 8


When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different.  You just know that your name is safe in their mouth.
~ Billy, age 4


Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other.
~ Karl, age 5


Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs.
~ Chrissy, age 6


Love is what makes you smile when you're tired.
~ Terri, age 4


Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK.
~ Danny, age 7


Love is when you kiss all the time.  Then when you get tired of kissing, you still want to be together and you talk more.  My Mommy and Daddy are like that.  They look gross when they kiss.
~ Emily, age 8


Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen.
~ Bobby, age 7


If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate.
~ Nikka, age 6


Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt; then he wears it every day.
~ Noelle, age 7


Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well.
~ Tommy, age 6


During my piano recital, I was on a stage, and I was scared.  I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling.  He was the only one doing that.  I wasn't scared anymore.
~ Cindy, age 8


My mommy loves me more than anybody.  You don't see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night.
~ Clare, age 6


Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken.
~ Elaine, age 5


Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford.
~ Chris, age 7


Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day.
~ Mary Ann, age 4


I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones.
~ Lauren, age 4


When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you.
~ Karen, age 7


Love is when Mommy sees Daddy on the toilet and she doesn't think it's gross.
~ Mark, age 6


You really shouldn't say "I love you" unless you mean it.  But if you mean it, you should say it a lot.  People forget.
~ Jessica, age 8


Author and lecturer Leo Buscaglia once talked about a contest he was asked to judge.  The purpose of the contest was to find the most caring child.  The winner was a four year old child whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife.  Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman's yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there.  When his mother asked what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said, "Nothing.  I just helped him cry."

I could add my own "Love Is" to this list.  Actually, I could add quite a few of them; but how about just one for tonight?

Love is four laughing boys in a tub and a daddy who, although tired from a long day at work, gives of himself to make bath time a delight for his sons!

There's a Boy...

...in this tree!

 What a good place...

...to be!  :)