Domestic Adventures

I love finding gifts that are just right. It takes me forever to shop, but I’m so pleased to come away with something personal and unique. I gave my mom this Brighton bracelet for her birthday. I had no idea Brighton carried so many things. I always thought they just sold unreasonably-priced handbags, but they have dozens of (more-reasonably-priced) necklaces, bracelets, belts, and key fobs. Shopping in the Brighton store is also a treat. Even if you’re not buying an unreasonably-priced handbag, the salespeople are very friendly and down-to-earth. They invited us to park the kids in a nook with a tv and a tray of chocolate chip cookies and offered bottled water while we shopped.
I’ve never been a huge Brighton fan, but after seeing all they offer, I’m afraid I may become one!

When I accepted the free trial issue of Cook’s Country magazine, I didn’t expect to keep the subscription. But it turns out I love this magazine! It’s is published by the good people at Cooks Illustrated (you know I love them!), but it concentrates more on quick weeknight recipes than Cooks Illustrated and sometimes incorporates ready-made ingredients. The recipes are still tested and well thought out and I trust Cooks to tell me when the shortcuts will work. The articles are also shorter and there are plenty of color photographs. In fact, the whole thing is nicely designed and just beautiful - the look of it reminds me of Blueprint.
I think about half of this week’s menu came straight from this magazine. Tuesday night I made three-meat calzone and it turned out wonderfully. The thing that made it easy was using ready-made pizza dough (Publix bakery usually has this - if not ask at the bakery counter as they keep frozen in the back). I made the recipe as written, but I think next time, I’ll leave out much of the meat and put some veggies in there. My calzone even turned out looking very nice, and it made an impressive dinner for something really very easy.

During Bible story time…

T: Look at the picture of the animals, Micah.
M: Animals!
T: Do you see the rabbit?
M: Rabbit!
T: Do you see the elephant?
M: Elephant!
T: Do you see the deer?
M: John Deere!
T: No, just deer.
M: John Deere!
T: No…
M: John Deere, John Deere, John Deere!
T: sigh…

I’ve always believed I have the best mom in the whole wide world. She is my trustworthy friend, my constant encourager, and of course the best Grammy ever. Thank you for all you are and all you do! Hope your birthday is full of wonderfulness.

Remember these fun collages from Alicia at Posie gets Cosy? I finally got around to making my own. They were lots of fun to make and went together very quickly using bits and scraps from around the house. Many of the little items are leftovers from crafts gone by. Emmaline donated a shell from her collection, there are some coins from Trent’s travels, and the pocket from a pair of too tiny overalls. Very fun, and just the thing for my blank wall in the playroom.
I also love the plaque: Psalm 107:1. Since the collages are snippets from our lives and the goodness God has shown us, I think it most appropriate.

Even though I’ve taken my sweet time blogging about it, I was quite pleased with the Father’s Day presents we chose. From Emmaline, we framed Trent’s favorite drawing. Emmie drew this a couple of months ago and it’s just the happiest drawing ever. It stayed on our fridge for a while and at least once a day Trent would remind me, “Don’t ever throw that picture away. I want to keep it forever.” Now it is easily kept. (Thanks, Tricia, for your framing advice).
From Micah, Trent received The Dangerous Book for Boys. I found a review for the book at Everyday Mommy and followed her link to this article which convinced me that Trent and Micah will enjoy this book together over the years.

In an effort to find gifts for the men who have everything, Emmaline and I made these pictures and stories. The chunky acrylic frames are held together magnetically (found them at Target). I got out all the tiny bits of leftover scrapbook paper and Emmaline went to town drawing and cutting out her little collages. As she snipped and glued, Emmie dictated the story for each picture and I wrote at a furious pace to keep up with her. One is about a zebra in search of pie, and the other is about a bird whose nest falls from the tree, but is rescued by friendly monkeys. Pretty funny stuff. Since the frames are clear on the back, the story fits there nicely.
Happy Father’s Day DadDad and PopPop. We love you!

Getting out with friends is essential to surviving mommydom. The kids need it and I need it, so Friday, getting together with Hope and Ruth was refreshing and revitalizing. Between the three of us mommies, we had eleven children, so there was frequent head counting as we walked by the water at Crane’s Roost. We then headed to the mall so the kids could enjoy the (air conditioned!) play ground, and finally ice cream cones. The kids wore themselves out running and playing while we moms enjoyed a little grown-up conversation.
Thanks, guys, for a wonderfully fun day!

Making the relationship between brother and sister run smoothly is a mystery to me. Oh, Emmaline and Micah love each other to pieces, but they also drive each other crazy. Emmaline particularly struggles because it’s hard to be older. It’s hard to respond in a loving way when someone smacks you with a toy truck - even if he didn’t mean too. It’s hard to not howl and scream when he stumbles through your sandcastles or stands right in the of the tv so you can’t see. It’s hard when mom expects more of you than of him. And it’s hard for mom too, but we are making our way.
I enjoy pointing out to Emmaline how she is able to teach Micah, when he says thank you because he heard her say it, or when he picks up toys because she does. Also, making them work together is fun. I find they need to be working on the same project with different jobs, for instance, to pick up all the sticks the storms have blown down in our yard, she pedals the tractor around while Micah puts the sticks in the trailer. They have a common goal without getting in each other’s way (too much). I need to brainstorm more projects like this, any ideas?
To settle brother-sister disputes, a friend pointed me to this website that offers “Biblically-based, parent-designed, family-tested products to help you apply scripture in your home.” Of particular interest to me (though I have yet to see the actual product) is the “Brother Offended Checklist” which helps young children understand the best way to deal with the offenses of their siblings. The “If-Then” chart and “Blessing” chart also look interesting. (I love charts, and lists, and checking things off).
So…even when Micah is sticking his fingers in Emmie’s ice cream, and even when Emmie is knocking Micah over because he’s in the way of her plastic ponies, they really do love each other, and Trent and I are doing our best to help them realize it.

Baby butternut. Also, I have some eggplants and tomatoes (though many of my tomatoes have been blown off the vine by the limb-downing thunderstorms we’ve been having). Already looking forward to the cool season plantings.