Brothers

Jake reading his Bible to Sam Reading with Grandma during her visit this week.

Fun hats from Grandma.

Jake and Ben's friendship has grown profoundly in the past 6 months. Last spring I could not keep them from fighting for more that a few minutes at a time. Now they play and play, mostly Ben following whatever big brother is doing, and sometimes doing some instigating of trouble on his own. A few times recently, things have become very quiet upstairs. Once it was because they had found some bath crayons and done some artwork on the walls. But all the other times I have found them sitting together on the floor in one of their rooms, and Jake is "reading" a book to Ben. It absolutely melts my heart! Today Jake asked if he could go get Ben up from his nap, and when I followed him upstairs a few minutes later, they were both in Ben's crib, reading a book together.

Things I want to remember about Ben at age 2.

1. He loves to clutch two armfuls of toys everywhere he goes. He can't go from point A to point B without bringing more than he can carry. This includes when he goes to bed. When we tuck him in at night, he has his soft blue elephant, his cup of water, and a number of various little cars, trains, action figures, rocks, and random household objects that he can't seem to live without right at that moment. He has been this way since he started walking.

2. Phrases Ben likes to use often:

Ben, are you okay? "I'm am."

"Can I have some nelk?" (milk)

"Can we listen to Hella-du-jah what a Savior?"

"I gah booger!" then he extends the booger on his finger for your inspection and disposal.

"Can you kiss it?" whenever he hurts something.

"Can I have it?"

"There's TWO of um!"

"I'm Brumming!" (driving a toy vehicle around)

3. When Ben sings "church songs" with Jake, it is always at full yelling volume. This is especially fun with the chorus of "I Am."

4. Ben loves tools, and he expecially loves to hammer. Any object can be used as a hammer and anything is appropriate for hammering. He can be seen and especially heard (still with arms full of toys) joyfully whacking his plastic hammer, or other repurposed toys on every surface he can get away with. He has not broken any windows yet although he did once hit our glass door with a real hammer.

5. Ben is all boy. He seems to have a natural affinity for sports and intense physical play. He seems very coordinated for his age, being able to dribble a ball with his feet by 18 months and peddle a bicycle and scooter by his second birthday. He has a natural toughness about him that always amazes me.

6. When Ben is especially happy, he likes to walk around swinging his arms and clapping his hands with each stride.

7. Ben is a cheerful, easygoing little guy. He is usually obedient and straightforward to deal with. He likes to imitate Jake and do whatever he does, which is a good thing most of the time.

This picture pretty much sums it up: two toys to "whack" with, a tractor and its trailer in hand, and of course the "measure" hooked to his pants. Oh, and I don't want to forget the drool! We go through several shirts each day. Ben is not into wearing bibs.

Happy, happy half birthday to you!

I never did this with the first two children, but this time since the first two are old enough to be really, really into birthdays, I thought it would be fun if we had our own little half birthday party for Sam. We made pumpkin muffins that I dubbed cupcakes to increase their birthday appeal, and we all had a half of one, except for the birthday boy of course. Notice Ben was gleefully clutching the birthday candle. Sam seemed amused at Jake and Ben's enthusiasm for the whole thing. As usual, the enthusiasm was not well documented on camera due to the big boys' stopping whatever cute thing they are doing each time I want to take a picture!


So often, well more like constantly, I am aware of the many challenges of how little the boys are- everyone needing so much help and attention all the time. But activities like this remind me to appreciate how simple our life is too, that is if I let it be simple. I don't have to teach them long division or all the state capitols just yet, and we don't have to have hard talks about girlfriends and curfews and answer questions like, "why does God allow there to be poverty?" I want to be more aware of the simple joys of being just little, for now, like the thrill of the 6 month birthday party with pumpin spice muffins. I know these days will disappear all too quickly. They are so precious and I want to soak up every little bit!

Why I just washed raw turkey juice off my face

About 10 years ago, my grandmother gave me a cookbook composed entirely of turkey recipes. I haven't really used the recipes, but one statement in the book's introduction has stayed with me all these years. Turkey is a cheap source of quality lean protein and you can feed your family for a week on one turkey.


My husband's employer gives away free turkeys every year to each employee. Our first year of marraige, I made a heroic first attempt to cook the whole turkey. The scene was not like a Norman Rockwell Thanksgiving table. It was an enormous mess. I remember Jason saying, "We are never going to do this again."


So last year, I learned how to cook just the turkey breast. It is still a sizable portion of meat and after a few attempts I became quite proficient at it. It fulfills that guilty part of me that still clings to the cheap protein feeding the family bit.


I took the summer off from the turkey cooking, but on a recent trip to Wal-Mart, we (by that I mean me and the 3 small children) hastily picked up what I thought was another frozen turkey breast. I have been thawing it in the fridge since last Thursday. I have been avoiding the thawed bird in the fridge like the plague, because delving into large quantities of raw meat with the little people running around needing constant attention is such a complicated task.


Finally I hauled the package out and heaved it into the sink. The thing weighs 15 pounds! I cut it open to realize that 1) this is not just the turkey breast, it is the whole turkey complete with neck and bag of mystery brown juice inside and 2) it is STILL frozen inside and 3) it is 4:30 pm and it needs to cook for 20 minutes per pound. In spite of these realizations, I plunge ahead and try to free the turkey from this plastic device that appears to be wound all around its leg parts. Surely the plastic is not meant for the hot oven. As I finally pry the plastic free from its frozen grip, the juice sprays all over my face. Nasty! Then I turn the bird around this way and that and there is some mystery part hanging off the end of the turkey. This must be the Butt of the turkey. Surely we need not cook that portion. So I cut that off with scissors. Now. To find a pan...
the largest pan I can find is a 9 x 13 and even when buttless, the turkey appears to be a bit too cozy in this pan. So now I must surrender and call the home economics hotline. My mother in law. Needless to say the turkey was returned to its roost in the fridge for now. I have a looooong way to go in the homemaking realm.

Voting

So today, Sam and I went to vote. I have never been one to pay much attention to politics. That is, until now. I don't know if its just a part of getting old, or that I've been listening to talk radio, maybe too many sleepless nights with little children and lack of clear thinking that comes with it, but I feel anxious about the future. The possibility that what happens with the government today may actually affect the happy little microcosm that is my life sort of disturbs me.


As I stood in line at the polls and thought about democracy, voters, candidates and what little I know of the global and national issues at hand, the question came to mind, "who are the true patriots?" It came to mind what my 3 year old son had prayed yesterday. After his usual litany of thank-you's for various toys, his house, and his food, he spontanously said in closing, "... and please help me to believe in You so that I can go up to heaven." I am reminded that my job as a parent is to disciple my children in the Truth and prepare them to suffer for it. We are patriots of a kingdom that transcends government and nation. Our issues are eternal. Our Truth is absolute. Our God is sovereign and I need to be above all about the business of my heavenly Father and the salvation of souls.

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7

Sam's first haircut

Say bye-bye to that rat tail Sam!

All nice and clean cut now!
Well, since my older boys are not into posing for the camera, I am enjoying every photo opportunity with my bubbly, smiley little baby. He melts my heart with his irresistable cuteness!

Gentry Farm 2008

Good thing its going to be another boy!

We're all about being outside. Dirt, rocks, sand, water, and construction equipment are all we need for unlimited entertainment around here. I never realized how thankful I would be to be living in a neighborhood with ongoing construction when we first moved. What a blessing!