Toothless

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I can't decide which is more precious: the toothless smile, the freckled cheeks, or the blue eyes.

Perfect day

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Makings for a perfect Saturday:
Snuggling, reading, basketball, soup on the stove, a "super" moon,
and a visit from Rob's Arizona cousin who brought the neatest gift -- a real pencil sharpener.

February Brady Quotes

1.

While sitting in the car garage with the boys waiting for my tail light to be replaced, Brady was playing and talking (not always talking to someone, just talking in general). He stopped playing and looked up at me and said, "I DO have a point." I asked him what his point was, and he responded, " I don't know, but you told me once I have a good one." Good point, Brady. Yes, I have said that!

2.

More talking in the car... Brady announces with a little sigh, "I have a LOT to do before I'm a super hero." Cooper & learned by asking a few questions that he has only worked on his "super fast running" and "stretchy arms" skills. We think super hero training must be exhausting.

3.

I got a little nervous when Brady said to me, "Mom, I wish you were a normal mom." Fearing the guilt for whatever he was about to lay on me, I asked, "Brady, what do you think would make me a normal mom?" Without a pause he said, "Well, if you liked pink like girls do." This continued into a long conversation (that we've had parts of several times before) about pink & purple being "girl colors" (or not) and the apparently serious problem of me being the only girl he knows who does not really like or wear pink. Anyway, I bought a pink shirt, wore it, and Brady noticed on his own and told me I was beautiful.

Snakes, and snails, and puppy dog tails....but that's not all

Just lately the boys make the old rhyme "What are little boys made of?" come to mind.

First, our kitty, Pearl, found this bullfrog. Cooper came to the rescue and moved it to a safe place.

Then Cooper found this little snake in the backyard and moved it to the other side of the creek for me (with Rob's help). It is beyond me how they have the courage (or the desire) to hold a snake.

Some (unfinished) yard work created a great dirt pile for the boys to play in. This rock-stick castle creation, as Brady explained it, was to "keep the princesses out."

We had dinosaurs on the prowl for my garden goodies. Finally, I couldn't protect the blackberries and tomatoes any longer.

But, oh boy, these critter and dirt loving little boys sure do have a sweet side, too!

Flowers and craft projects -- showing their softer and cleaner side.

Today, Cooper brought me my little sewing kit and asked me to teach him how to sew. He convincingly said, "I need to learn since I'm in the first grade."

Here's his first sewing project finished already! A cute little pillow, stitched by hand. He says he wants to get out the sewing machine for his next project.

This is my season!

Rob has hunting season & various sports seasons; I have gardening & cooking seasons. I love this season! Here's a little bit of what's being eaten around here from the garden goodies:

These are the much anticipated Indiana tomatoes. Thank you, Jones family!

We've had the best BLT sandwiches ever, and salsa is in the plans for many of these, but here's my other favorite way to eat fresh tomatoes:


with mozzarella, fresh basil, & a drizzle of olive oil

Cooper & I picked this container of blackberries in about 10 minutes time or less! The bushes are absolutely LOADED with berries.

This batch of berries turned into Blackberry Lemon Crisp.

I roughly followed this recipe from a neat cooking blog (Pinch my Salt), and she adapted her recipe from "Taste of Home." It is basically sugar, lemon zest, and a little flour mixed in with the berries, topped with a traditional crisp of oatmeal, brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, & butter.
Delicious with vanilla ice cream, of course!

It did NOT last long around here. Notice my special blackberry pie plate - painted by Rob's mom specifically for us and our blackberries.

Some yellow squash & zucchini found a great home in this sausage casserole.

Brown the sausage first (I had some random sausage in the freezer so some of this was spicy). Chop an onion, and a few small squash & or zucchini. Cook all together, covering to help steam the vegetables until they are tender.

Add a can of cream of mushroom soup (depending on how much squash/sausage I have, I don't always use the whole can -- I don't want the creamy soup to overpower the squash). Optional ingredients: sour cream (about 1/3 cup), or shredded cheese (depends on my mood & what I have on hand). Pour into a baking dish & cover with crushed crackers & pepper. For a heartier, alternate topping, I've used prepared Stove Top stuffing. This is very good a variety of ways!

Around the yard

Flowery spots & pickles

Brady & I walked around the yard today to check out the flowers and the garden. He got upset with me because I "didn't plant any pickles." If you know Brady, you know I got an earful about this for quite awhile!

These are our favorite flowery spots at the moment.