crawling...

Today Jude finally figured out that if you get on all four limbs and make your hands go forward and then push your legs forward, you can actually get somewhere! Yes, he crawled just a bit today. Now I won't be able to just plop him down on the floor and expect that he will stay here. Let the chasing begin! July 1st he will be 8 months.

sprouting some fun!

We drove to our local co-op today to get some wheat berries. Have you ever heard of them? I hadn't until now. We are going to try growing some grass with them. We found the idea over at Me and My Girl . We'll keep you updated once they sprout and let you know how it goes!

what to say?

On Sunday morning we were driving to church downtown. When we got to about 3rd and Hennepin we noticed a lot of people around getting ready for something. I told Jeneva that it was probably a parade and wondered what the occasion was. A few moments later Jeneva pointed out the "pretty rainbows" and asked what the sign by it said. "PRIDE." Shoot! Not planning on talking about this yet! So we didn't. Thankfully her questions didn't persist. Of course if she were to go to a Minneapolis Public School in the fall, she would be get introduced to this topic in the classroom...from her teacher...through a specific curriculum emphasizing alternative lifestyles. Rumor has it that this would begin at the tender age of...kindergarten. This has been a hot conversation topic among many of my friends (many of you) with near school age children. One thing we haven't really talked much about is how do you respond if your 5 year old has a question? At this age, it should be avoided, but they don't stay 5 forever. Our kids watch and model how we respond to sin. Do we model 'loving the sinner, yet hating the sin?' I think so.

reminiscing...two years ago

I have to say that looking at these pictures makes me miss it. I miss age 3. I am, however, looking forward to age 5 . Her language is more descriptive. Her understanding is deeper. Her independence is stronger. Oh, and I think I'll vote for the long hair too. We're growing it again!

foody friday

It's Foody Friday again at Jenny's blog: a-latte-talk. I've missed the past couple of weeks, but tried a handful of the recipes that others submitted. It was fun to get some new ideas! Today's theme is "drinkables." Summer time rolls around and I always get a craving for Russian Tea. It reminds me of my dear friend, Megan. No, she is not Russian, but she used to make this years ago when we were roommates at Northwestern. I guess it just brings back pleasant memories. The main ingredient is Tang. Tang kind of ranks right up there with Kool-Aid and Velveeta for me. Fake juice and fake cheese. Sometimes though....you just gotta do it. It is super tasty!

Russian Tea Mix

1 cup Tang
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup instant tea
3T. sweetened lemonade mix
1/4 tsp. ground cloves
1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon

Mix all of these ingredients well. Store in an airtight glass or plastic container.

1 Tablespoon per 1 cup of HOT or COLD water. I prefer it as a cold drink.

Enjoy!

ignorance

This morning Steve and I were discussing and revamping our budget when he said to me: "So, what do we typically spend a month on groceries? About $100?"

One hundred dollars a month! Are you kidding? I'm not certain what century he thinks we are in never mind the fact that our country is in an economic crisis... If anyone has figured out HOW to spend only $100 a month on groceries, please do tell me how!

Oh, Steve. I do love you! And by the way, we will be having rice and beans for lunch AND dinner!

a tag

I am…tiffany
I want…to know Jesus more deeply
I wish... I could travel more
I hate…that I have a hard time changing
I miss…my family
I fear…not much
I feel…pain in my back
I hear…steve washing dishes
I smell…nothing
I crave…a snack
I search…the internet
I wonder…about lots of things
I regret…yelling at my daughter
I love…my husband
I care…about people
I ache…right now (my back)
I always...overanalyze
I believe…that God is sovereign, supreme, and sufficient
I dance…in my dreams
I sing...in the car
I cry…when I read certain blogs
I don’t always... like myself
I fight…sin
I write…in a journal mostly and a little on this blog
I never…change the oil on our car (steve does)
I listen…to people
I need…to be content
I am happy...to be me

i tag jenny and erin

a bit cheeky

Notice the cheeks? Do I discipline the 4 year old for using her brother as an art easel? Or do I laugh, take a picture, and blog about it?

wordless wednesday

Yeah, yeah, I know it's Thursday. I meant to post it on Wednesday. This girl, who is looking a bit too grown up, ate a 6 oz. steak, a whole baked potato, and a whopping portion of Greek chicken and artichoke pasta salad for our Father's Day picnic. Do you think she's maybe just maybe going through a growth spurt? Wait a minute. This was supposed to be "wordless" hence the title. I just had to add a few words to it I guess.

my ONLY form of exercise now days

Hooray for warm weather! We love to go biking and it's too bad there's only about 3 months in this state to enjoy that luxury! We weren't sure if Jude would be big enough for the Burley. Thursday evening we tried and wa-la he fits well (as evidenced in the photo), but only if Jeneva is beside him. She kind of keeps him propped up. For our first trip we went about 2 miles from our house. There was a live concert on the Parkway, so we packed a picnic and away we went. About 1/2 a block from home Jude fell asleep. We went again for a long ride down by the river on Father's Day. We didn't realize how swollen the river was. Nothing like the southern states, but definitely full. I enjoy living so close to the Mississippi. It's just about 3 blocks to a nice little "escape" from the chaos of urban dwelling. The trails are pretty, the trees are thick and tall, and the noise....what noise....it's quiet! Except for the chatter of fishermen and an occasional "beep" from the highway in the background, it's still. Oh yeah, Jeneva learned to ride her bike...WITHOUT TRAINING WHEELS! Hooray for Jeneva! Seeing the bigger kids ride around our neighborhood without them was all of the motivation she needed.

Wait a minute. I don't know if I like it in here. Jeneva, out with you!

after the storm clean-up

When neighbor kids come over and say they are bored....

put them to work picking up sticks that came down in the storm.

The result? A clean driveway. The reward? A sweet treat!

Good times! Thanks Rashawn, Jordan, and Jeneva!

happy father's day

a few things i love about steve...

1. he loves me and never neglects to tell me
2. he gives the kids lots of hugs and kisses
3. he takes Jeneva fishing
4. he enjoys helping other people
5. he does the whole bedtime routine with the kids
6. he loves the great outdoors
7. he plays "pretend" with kids
8. he cheerfully eats what I cook (or concoct)
9. he really tries to understand his daughters heart
10. he supports me
11. he thinks outside the box
12. he takes parenting seriously
13. he is an awesome athlete
14. he can be crazy and goofy
15. he thinks about stuff and is intelligent
16. he has been blessed with tons of patience

I love him! Happy Father's Day Honey!

flooding in my home town

The flooding in Iowa is incredible. Here are pictures from Iowa City. Out of 99 counties, 83 of them have been declared disaster areas. I know that natural disasters happen all of the time all over the world, it's just a surreal feeling when it happens in such a familiar place. The amount of natural disasters world wide has gone up 200% in the past 2 decades. Surely that is a sign of the times.

excerpt from charlotte's web

This cracked me up when I read it aloud to Jeneva today:

"Run! Commanded Mrs. Arable, taking the pig from Fern and slipping a donut into her hand. Avery grabbed his gun and another donut.....ran down the road and climbed onto the bus."

What's that? He grabbed his gun and then got on the bus? Ha! Absurd!

I read it to Steve and then he told me that he too used to take his gun with him on the bus. WHA???!!! I grew up in a rural area as well, but even 20 years ago I don't think guns would have been allowed on the bus. That boggles my mind! Or should I say....it blows me away!

what jude is up to these days

People always ask how Jude is doing. Well, he's sitting up, smiling, eating....what else? My answers tend to be rather normal. Here's what he would say are his new feats in life.

1. I drool. Evidenced in the photo. (though this is nothing 'new' per se)
2. When Jeneva sings and dances I break out in uncontrollable fits of laughter.
3. When everyone else gets to eat ice cream, I get peas.
4. I don't feel the need to crawl yet.
5. I can clap my hands.
6. I laugh and squeal.
7. I can do numbers 5 and 6 simultaneously.
8. I don't mind when Jeneva picks the lint out from between my toes. How does it get there anyway? (Jeneva picks the lint out of her own toes too. It's her little ritual every night. Quirky girl.)
9. I can pinch HARD and make people scream.
10. I have a crush on my friend Jillian.
11. Or maybe it's Avery (Avery Ley that is. How many Avery's can one babe possibly know?!).
12. Eli is smaller than me. Yes!
13. I like to pull my buddy Seth's curly hair.
14. My nuk belongs in my mouth upside down.
15. Johnny-Jump-Up is my best friend, but he never leaves the kitchen.
16. I still sleep in a pack-n-play (AKA Jude's Jail)
17. I love being outside. LOVE. IT. I. LOVE. IT. My stroller rocks!

And THAT, folks, is just the way I roll!

super healthy vs. not super healthy

Last night for dinner we had Veggies Enchiladas. Packed full of nutrition.

Tonight we had this. That's right. Bananas, strawberries, peanut butter, chocolate chips. All that goodness was topped with a drizzle of caramel. Yum!

animals in our back yard

Kidding. Just a few more zoo pictures. :)

i would be 65...

Today I told Jeneva I would be going to a meeting tonight and she would be at home with Papa.

"Oh MAMA, don't go! I hate it when you go." (typical drama)

A few minutes later...

"Mom, when I'm 40, will you let me come with you to your meetings?"

lovely day

So we made our way to Malmborg's Garden Center down the street today to get a few more things. We planted a few flowers as well as tomato plants, beans, carrots, peas, cilantro and basil. Let's hope it all fares better than last years attempts. You better watch out squirrels. Steve is armed and dangerous and ready for you. I know someone who trapped 55 squirrels last year in his back yard. FIFTY FIVE! Don't ask what he did with them. :) Now, back to those tree house blueprints. Kidding. Have a great day y'all.

neighbors, garage sales, back-yard-envy

We have new neighbors! They have two little girls. Excitement for Jeneva. They own a Thai restaurant in St. Paul. My favorite! They said they would bring us food. Yipee!

Speaking of neighbors, I am having "back-yard-envy." Our neighboring neighborhood hosted their annual garage sale on Saturday. I love "neighborhood" sales.

Normally it's challenging with kids to go to garage sales. Load everyone in the car. Try and follow the signs that typically have too-small-print. Get out. Get the kids out. Look around and realize it really IS just someone else's junk. Get back in. Drive to the next sale. Hope you hit the jackpot. It's reeks havoc on the car. It's time consuming. With gas at $4 a gallon....you get the point. Neighborhood sales simply involve getting on your bike with the burley on back and away you go.

Well, Saturday was a glorious day and it seemed like the entire neighborhood was out. We shopped with some friends which made the trip even more enjoyable. As we strolled through the alley ways of the homes in this lovely neighborhood, I got envious. What lovely back yards! Big? Nope. Quaint. Yes! We don't live in the suburbs. There's no such thing as big back yards in the city, BUT it has way cute houses and big beautiful trees! Quaint little bungalos with charm and character and design that only the 1920's and 30's brought to us.

Maybe someday we will have a quaint little back yard WITH a treehouse and a square foot garden! Does anyone have anything to offer me on contentment? :) Well, maybe tomorrow I will just take it upon myself to begin designing that tree house. Steve's handy. He's got tools. I'm sure he'll LOVE my idea.

it's berry season!

At a picnic recently Jude got a taste of his first strawberry. He ended up "gumming" the whole thing down. Later I remembered that strawberries shouldn't be introduced to a baby in the first year because it is a highly allergenic food. Oops. Oh well, so far he's just fine. We hope to make it to a berry farm sometime soon!