Entrepreneurial Spirit

Isaac has always had a passion for money. Lately it has taken the form of selling school supplies to his friends. Today he came home with $4. Paul and I are glad he's excited about something, but I'm thinking the purchasers' parents are not thrilled how the kids are spending their lunch money.

Leah was bored in the car the other day and found a new use for the not-so-great Great  Value tissue that  rubbed her the wrong way.  It's not a Barbie-sized wedding dress or a Halloween decoration.  It's a pom-pom.  Indoor sporting events only.



Benjamin's response when he saw this poster:
"Mom, that's looks like you and dad when you were younger."

Elizabeth playing with Leah's pom-pom.

A few days ago she told me what she thinks of me.
Mom: (Complimenting E after she  figured something out) You are too smart for me!
Elizabeth: Yeah, you're not smart. Not yet.

At least she sees some potential.

What it looks like to be a good dad...

tenacious: stays up late and gets up early with the kids on a camp out to snag a fish (and it won't stop him from doing it next time even though one never did bite),

 

intuitive: knows how to make a boy happy on his b-day

 

playful: is the last one to come indoors after building a snowman and a snowfort,

 

timewise: uses small bits of time to make a memory at a nearby farm

                  I'll have to agree with Leah:  "on a scale from 1-100 you are definitely 100."

Going, going, GONE!

Several weeks ago Benjamin pulled out one of his top teeth and the second one wasn't far behind.
It was so loose it sorta shifted positions to the near middle of his upper gums.

Finally he got it in his head that it must come out before bed so he could have some $ to look forward to in the am.

After several tries and trips to the bathroom to investigate, he got it!
It's always bittersweet when changes, big or small, talk place.  I'll never again see that smile he's been flashing me for the past five years and I'll miss it.   

Addiction

I've become addicted to Pad Thai from a restaurant close-by.  We went there for our anniversary, with Paul's parents when they came for graduation, and last week with friend for lunch (which I was so excited about I had a hard time sleeping the night before).  After the most recent visit I decided it was time to try making it myself.  After finding a recipe at the library and a date at Fiesta with the worker who showed me where the products were, I gave it a shot.

Elizabeth wasn't sure;  a close-up was essential.

I warned her it was spicy and doubted she would try it since she's the Davis anomaly, but she tried the noodles...and asked for more, given she had milk to wash it down.   The verdict: after the first bite Paul could taste that a certain sweetness was missing.  After drizzling honey over the top and mixing it in he gave it two thumbs up.  Me, too.  Now I can sleep at night.

And for dessert we had sticky rice with coconut milk and fresh mangoes. I told the kids how lucky they are to have such a variety of fruits since I had to wait 'til my mission to eat mangoes.  Even there they were a real treat and one of my most memorable appointments was when the lady we taught peeled and cut a whole mountain of them just for us.Mmm, mmm!

Extra, Extra! Read all about it!

Leah started a blog; if you want to see it we  can send you an invite.
She loves comments (hint, hint!)

Ha-Ha (his nickname)

Sunday

Benjamin: Mom, can Indians be members of the church?
Me: Of course!
Benjamin (in a sing-song voice running away into the other room):Anything's possible, even for a man to have a baby!

Monday

Some nights Benjamin wants me to say his personal prayers for him. When I asked him what was the best way for him to be close to Heavenly Father and feel his love he told me "prayer." But he still wanted me to say it. I asked him to think of one thing he was thankful for: "I'm glad that I get to live on earth." Then I asked him what was one thing he'd like help with: "I want to get along better with Isaac."
And so he began his prayer. It was simple and sincere. It helped me see his little seven-year-old heart the way the Lord sees it: pure and wanting to be good. It made me feel close to him and increased my love for him. It can't be easy for anyone with that much energy and personality to be good all the time;  I love when I get to peek through a window into his heart-of-hearts.

Bargain Brag

When something in the house starts bugging me and I can no longer stand looking at it, I put the old stuff on craigslist and use the money to re-do the room. It usually takes awhile because my challenge it to stay within the budget from what I sold. So....a few months ago Paul said he was tired of the bed with high posts. His comment rubbed off and me and I was ready for a change.
Here's the breakdown:
sleigh bed from CL:$130
set of two nightstands from Goodwill: $50
nearly new mattress and box spring from a garage sale: $25
(the lady didn't like how firm it was)
cream quilted bedspread and shams from garage sale: $5
sage coverlet from a friend: free! (Thanks, Liz.)
chocolate curtains, rod and clips from garage sale: $5
white sheer curtains from Pennywise: $2
set of two lamps from garage sale: $7
green wreath from garage sale: a buck
decorative pillow covers from Wal-Mart's fabric clearance: $2
coordinating shower curtain, rod and hooks from garage sale: $5

I love coming into our bedroom now (Cleaning it out for my in-law's visit helped, too...)