Yep they are my kids

Their new favorite phrase when they are excited "Woohoo!"

A friend to the poor

Chris and I bought this CD CompassionArt at Family Christian store on our date night. Little did we know what an awesome project and awesome music this was. Great songs that will touch and change lives afflicted by poverty: http://www.compassionart.tv/

My favorites so far: A friend to the Poor and Come to the Water (good workout song)

I am doing a cartwheel

This article about growth of small local farms is very encouraging after reading much about industrialized food (including produce) and how it is less nutritious. My favorite part is where they talk about how people are realizing they want to know the farmers and where their food comes from and that the business is about relationships. It reminds me of what a local beer company's slogan used to be: "Making friends is our business", or something along those lines. 

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/stlouiscitycounty/story/0FA135232C7EE633862575C400095D98?OpenDocument

That's not my kid

Well I signed BOTH of the kiddos up for summer gymnastics today. We went to sign Peanut up because she has been talking about going back to gymnastics since we stopped Little Gym in December. She was thrilled and apparently T-man was too because he also wanted to sign up, I guess we will hold off on soccer. I did explain to them we were just signing up today, not actually going but I guess the Peanut didn't get it. She had to be carried from the building kicking, thrashing, and screaming at the top of her lungs, worst meltdown EVER! I was completely embarrassed and shocked and did not discipline her until we got to the car (I hope they don't think my kid is going to be a nightmare of a student). I truly think she got so upset because she is excited about gymnastics. The whole time we were in the building signing up she was chanting about going to gymnastics and trying to stand on her head. Oh, and she tried to steal a Popsicle from the little cooler so maybe her low blood sugar contributed to the insanity. 

Oxyclean Magic

I finally tried Oxyclean since I had a sample of it. I soaked some of Peanut's shirts where the stains had been washed in.....including chocolate. It worked like magic. I am wary of what is in that stuff though. I kept thinking my hands might fall off from touching it.

Ecclesiastes 8:15

¹⁵ So I commend the enjoyment of life, because nothing is better for a man under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad. Then joy will accompany him in his work all the days of the life God has given him under the sun.

Quotes....I like Billy Graham

The Christian life is not a constant high. I have my moments of deep discouragement. I have to go to God in prayer with tears in my eyes, and say, 'O God, forgive me,' or 'Help me.' 
Billy Graham 

You're born. You suffer. You die. Fortunately, there's a loophole. 
Billy Graham 

Nice weekend

We had a nice weekend. Friday night the kids went to Gigi's and Sat morning I got up early to help out with the Kids Stuff sale. It was really fun to be a helper. I bought some fun things for the kids too! Then we went to pick up the kids, grab a coffee, and just chill in the cool weather the rest of the day. It was super nice and makes me realize our family needs chill days often. Today we went to a fun luncheon at church where we had some really good food (prepared by Chef Mike), some great entertainment (skit parody of Wayne's World done by church staff), and time to talk with friends. Tonight we have bible study and so ends a nice balanced weekend, with both activities and family down time. Now to balance the rest of the year just like that. 

Big Big Girl!

The peanut had her scheduled echo cardiogram EARLY today and it went so well! First, because she is SO big and they did not have to sedate her this time! She held still to have her blood pressure taken and laid and watched Dora while they did the echo cardiogram, which is not brief, it takes about 20 minutes or so. She did get upset in the end and we did not get an EKG but I think they accidentally pinched her a bit. 

So the results are no more blood pressure medicine, everything has stabilized, and she only has to go annually now. However, he did remind me that with a bicuspid aortic valve, coarctation of the aorta, and Turner's she has a higher risk of being hypertensive, diabetic, and overweight. He said now is the time to form good habits with eating and exercise because we won't be able to change a teenager. So please friends and family help us with those habits! She is not on a strict diet and she can have treats but maybe only one treat a day after she eats something healthy, huh? Love you all ;-)

So here is a pic enjoying her reward for being so good at the doctor. Ice cream (ff sorbet) for breakfast, just this once:

Mother's Day

Well I had a lovely Mother's Day. It started with the children excitedly getting up before 7 to help make Mama breakfast, which is saying something because sometimes they sleep until 9. I had french toast, berries, and coffee on a tray in bed. It included two small roses from our rose bush too, how sweet! Then we made it to church by 9:30 and we went to Sunday school where they colored me pretty pictures. Abby kept saying "it's your special day Mama!".  

I don't know if it was the breakfast in bed or if I thought since it was mother's day I was allowed to gorge myself with junk food but diet wise, it was down hill from there. I picked Lion's Choice for lunch with soda (not diet). Ugh. Later we met up with my mother and grandmother for dinner followed up with chocolate cake and cookies my sister made. It was all good but my stomach is doing some somersaults. 

All in all though it was a good day and I was glad to spend time with my family. Oh, and I got a great mother's day gift. Only Office fans will get it but I love it!

Enchanted

We watched Enchanted with the kiddos last night. It was pretty cute and like most movies with show tunes I cannot get the songs out of my head. Hence, I added them to the playlist. Along with a song from one of my other favorites, Ratatouille. 

Scrubs

Well last night was Zach Braff's last Scrubs episode. It was cute and funny, really great ending. There is word it may continue without him but I really don't think it would be the same caliber show. This was a great show though, the kind that can give you a good belly laugh but also had it's sweet sentimental moments too. Someday I will have to own this on DVD. The other thing I always loved about this show is the music, which I think Zach had a hand in picking a lot of the time. Check out this ending scene. It is him picturing his future, and what a beautiful song!!!!

I did it!

I did it I did it I shout to the crowd, roasting a chicken by myself makes me feel proud! LOL. Sound familiar? It's from The Way I Feel, we like to read that one before bed. I don't think the line was about roasting a chicken but tomayto/tomahto. I did have little help from the hubby and two dear friends but it turned out and was very good. It will be a repeat venture. 

I also experimented and tried a new dressing on my spinach salad: red wine vinegar, olive oil, strawberries, blue agave nectar (sweetener), and a little Italian seasoning in the food processor...that thing is like gold in the kitchen. It was not bad. Makes me want to try more salad dressing combos. 

We are home

We are home from our lovely week long vacation at our favorite cabin in Kearney, MO. We had a good time and even did some fun things in Kansas City this time: Royals game, Crown Center, and the T-Rex restaurant. We also hung out at the cabin walked, fished, games, movies, fire, food and relaxation. Today it's back to reality and much to do. It was nice for a while though, just the four of us, disconnected from everything. Oh, and the big decision we came to from our time away...........we are getting rid of our pool. It is too much of a headache and a mosquito haven.