Boredom = Creativity

What is there to do when you're stuck at home sick? Use your imagination. Yesterday morning, Tristan had Lucky Charms cereal for breakfast. Well, actually, he picked all the marshmallows out of the box and ate them. (He woke up at 4 am, so later in the morning when he asked for the whole box, I was too tired to argue!) He stuck 2 of the marshmallows together, and said, "Look, Mommy! I made a girl!" It did look like a girl. Then he bit her head off.


Later in the day, while eating a piece of swiss cheese, he told me that he'd made a seahorse. I had a little bit more trouble seeing this one. See if you can...
Before bed, desperate for something to pass the time, I made Tristan a "car" out of a Pampers box. Yes, I know it looks like a toilet seat, but that's a steering wheel with a steering wheel cover on it. Tristan knew what it was, and that's what matters. I also drew windows with people in them. Tristan played with this for at least 30 minutes, before he tore the box up.

Any ideas for what we can do for fun today? I feel better today, but Tristan is still sick, so we're home again.

Go Logan!!!

Matt, this was within 5 minutes of our phone call earlier today. I promised you I'd try to get a picture of the first time Logan stood up by himself. How about a video, instead? Logan was standing at the toy box, and then decided he'd rather go over to the jumperoo. They were only about a step apart. He was so close to taking a step. It won't be long now!

Cute

A couple of cute things Tristan has said this morning:

This morning, I asked Tristan if he is still sick. His answer? "No, I'm not still sick. I just have snot in my nose, and I look sick, but I'm not sick."

I was reading my friend Lanhee's blog, and showed Tristan a picture of her baby girl, Lily. I asked Tristan if she was a cute baby. He said yes. I asked him what he thought of her. He replied, "I think of her (long pause)......... playing cars with me!"

I've said it before, but I really love the things that Tristan comes up with. Matt, this is one of the ways that Tristan is so much like you. He makes me laugh all the time!

Oh, yeah. One more I forgot. Last night, I let Tristan sleep with me again, since he felt so bad. He was very congested, but still trying to suck on his pacifier. His nose was totally plugged up with snot, so it kinda went like this... suck, suck, gasp, suck, suck, gasp. I finally told him that he should try to sleep without his pacifier, so he could breathe better. He asked why. I said because it's good to breathe. His answer to that one? "I wanna be bad."

Pasta with Peas

For dinner tonight, I made Voila - a packaged chicken, pasta & vegetables dish that you just heat up in the skillet. Tristan refused it immediately. He told me that he didn't like it at all, because it was "yucky". I told him it had pasta and peas, two of his favorites. He still refused, on the grounds that he doesn't like pasta with peas.

I finally told him OK, but that he couldn't have one of the triple fudge brownies I made earlier unless he tried it. So, very reluctantly, he took a bite. "Wow, mommy! I do like pasta with peas. I just thought I didn't like it, but I do!" After finishing the entire bowl, he informed me that, "I ate 100 of my pasta, so now I can get brownies." :-)

Icky Yucky Eww

Tristan and I have both gotten sick with colds. Is there anything yuckier than the "common" cold? I mean, where does all that snot come from? How can the human body produce so much snot, in such a short period of time. It boggles the mind!

Tristan started feeling sick first. We all went to bed early last night, but Tristan appeared at my bedside in the middle of the night. "Mommy, I'm sick. I need to go to the doctor, to get medicine." Poor baby. I let him sleep with me the rest of the night. By the time Logan woke me up this morning, I had it too. Medicine isn't doing anything for us at all. The snot won't stop!

I get so frustrated when we are sick. We have routines in place to keep us busy while Matt is away. Our favorites are church and the gym. Now, we're going to miss both this weekend. I was especially excited about church, because this was going to be my first Sunday teaching the kindergarten class with my sister, Stephanie. Instead, I had to e-mail April at church that I won't make it. I asked her in the e-mail if God is trying to give me a message. Every time I try to teach a children's class at church, we keep getting sick. Is God telling me to stay away from His children? (Yes, I was kidding. Well, at least 75% kidding, anyway.)

I know that all my blog friends will know exactly how I'm feeling. You've all been here with your children... feeling yucky, and stuck at home. Thanks for listening!

Scary

Tristan loves playing with random household items. The past few days, he's been carrying around the stopper for the bathtub drain. He was just playing with it in the hall, when suddenly, I heard a loud popping sound, and saw sparks flying. He had gotten the metal chain too close to the power outlet. Apparently, the night light wasn't fully plugged in, so the metal chain touched the metal on the night light plug-in, and POW! Tristan was more scared than anything. He has a tiny blister on his pinky, and some small black marks on his fingers, but otherwise seems OK. Thank goodness he was holding onto the rubber part of the stopper! The fire burned right through the chain of the stopper, and scorched the night light & power outlet, too. Scary to think what might have happened!

Kindness Exists

Just wanted to share this, because it made me smile. We went to Wal-Mart a couple of days ago, and I let Tristan pick out a Hot Wheels car to replace one he lost on the trip. We went ahead and opened it, so he could play with it in the store. Well, when we went to checkout, he accidentally rolled it under the rack of chips & candy bars. I looked under, and it was right in the middle. Tristan tried to reach it, but his arms were too short. I was holding a crying Logan, so there was no way I could sprawl on the floor to get it. The man behind us in checkout, who was dressed very nicely, got down on his stomach on the floor to get it for Tristan. I didn't ask him to do this, he just did it.

I look for opportunities to do this myself. I love letting people out in traffic, helping people when they drop things, holding open doors, etc. When we were at the Roan Mountain Rhododendron Festival, a woman at a booth accidentally gave me $10 too much in change. I pointed this out to her, and gave it back. She was so surprised. It's sad that honesty is surprising to people these days.

What random acts of kindness have you witnessed lately? Or done yourself for others?

Travelin' Man

Logan is so good on trips. He doesn't cry or fuss very much at all. Here is a video I took of him in his car seat on the way home from Jennifer's house. We were playing a game with Blue. He's very easily entertained - just like his mommy! I love his laugh!

Good Morning

We got back home from Jennifer's house on Tuesday. We had a great time, but it's good to be home again.

Sometimes I ask Tristan questions just to see what answers he'll give. Here's the exchange we just had:

Me: How are you doing today?
Tristan: I'm fine.
Me: How am I doing today?
Tristan: You're good.
Me: How is Logan doing today?
Tristan: (thinks for just a minute) He's beautiful.

I love the things he comes up with. :)

God's Handwriting

Never lose an opportunity of seeing anything that is beautiful, for beauty is God's handwriting - a wayside sacrament. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

The world will never starve for want of wonders. - G.K. Chesterton

All the world is an utterance of the Almighty. Its countless beauties, its exquisite adaptations, all speak to you of Him. - Phillips Brooks

The best things are nearest: breath in your nostrils, light in your eyes, flowers at your feet, duties at your hand, the path of God just before you. - Robert Louis Stevenson

Our Creator would never have made such lovely days and have given us the deep hearts to enjoy them, above and beyond all thought, unless we were meant to be immortal. - Nathaniel Hawthorne

Festival Fun

On Saturday, we packed up and drove to Roan Mountain. Every June, they have the Rhododendron Festival. The top of the mountain is covered with rhododendrons. It's stunning! The festival itself is at the bottom of the mountain. We stopped there first. They had music (country/folk/bluegrass), crafts, and lots of food! We enjoyed shopping, playing & eating for a couple of hours.

This was at one of the craft booths. They were sprinklers designed to conserve water. Of course, Tristan had to get wet. (Mommy, too!)

Italian Ice is yummy! Tristan had blue raspberry, and I had cherry.



Cool cars in the parking area. Had to get Tristan's picture made with them.




This was how Tristan looked when we got in the car to head to the top of the mountain. He was filthy! He had been playing in the dirt and gravel, plus he was covered with his blue italian ice. He looked like Rambo! Daddy should enjoy this photo! :)

I'll post the pictures from the top of the mountain later today.... stay tuned. :)

Generations

Ok, I know I really need to go to sleep now, but just one more post before I do.

The past few days, I've really had a song on my heart.  It's a Sara Groves song, called Generations.  Here is part of the chorus...

Remind me of this with every decision

Generations will reap what I sow

I can pass on a curse or a blessing

To those I will never know

To my great-great-great-granddaughter,

Live in peace

To my great-great-great-grandson,

Live in peace

Wow!  What a sobering thought.  If you're anything like me, those words are humbling, and a bit scary.

God, please help me to remember, every moment of every day, that You are what matters in this life.  Help me to remember that my actions will affect not just myself, not just my own children, but generations.  People I will never know will be influenced by the choices I make during my lifetime.  God, let my choices be good ones.  Let them reflect my love for You.  Let them be a legacy of blessings, and of peace, for the generations that follow.

Amen

Cootie Brown's

For dinner tonight, we decided to go out to eat.  Jennifer recommended Cootie Brown's.  I was a bit hesitant, just because of the name, but this place was great!  The atmosphere was really fun.  It was an open-air restaurant, because the garage doors were all open.  You can see the track for the door in the first pic.  They had sparkly chandeliers, and all the servers were wearing tie-dye Cootie Brown t-shirts.  The walls were painted a festive yellow color, and the table was hand-painted with a coffee cup design.  I felt like I was at a party!  For dinner, I had a turkey & cheddar sandwich.  It came with lettuce, tomato & mustard.  For a dollar extra, they added cranberries and spinach leaves, too.  Yummy!  I washed it down with a peach bellini.  Also quite yummy!  If you're ever in this area, I highly recommend Cootie Brown's.  And thanks, Jennifer, for driving me home.  :D

Steve Cares About You

I spend a lot of time watching Blue's Clues these days, so I really love this video I found on YouTube.

For those who don't watch Blue's Clues, this is Steve Burns, the host of the show.

LOL

From this month's Reader's Digest...

Harry can't figure out what to get his girlfriend for her birthday.  "Oh," she says, "just take me someplace expensive."  So he drops her off at the gas station.

And this, from a sign I saw at a liquor store...

Gasoline is now more expensive than alcohol.  Don't drive.  Just drink.

:)

Logan Playing Dominoes

Outside Fun

Today is another beautiful day.  I am so thankful for the mild temperatures and low humidity!! While Logan took a nap, Tristan and I went outside to play.  This boy sure loves dirt! 

   

Hangin' With Jesus

At church, they have this awesome rug.  I thought it would be great to get our pictures made with Jesus.  I mean, kids get their pictures made with Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny.  Why not Jesus?  It's definitely more meaningful! I mean, Jesus is real, and he's good year-round. Logan didn't want to pose with Jesus, but I held him down!  He will love Jesus, darnit!  :)

Playtime!

Yesterday afternoon, Jennifer had a meeting at church.  We went along, so the boys could play. They have so many fun toys there!

This cracked me up!  Tristan wanted the dolls from the dollhouse to watch him play.  He got 2 little chairs, and set them up so they could see him!