Grandma Dawson

Up until a few weeks ago, Grandma Dawson was getting up and getting dressed every day. Around Thanksgiving it seemed she lost her will to live. At 94 she still has her mind, but her body is slowly giving out on her. It is so sad to watch her slowly fade away. We took the kiddos to see her the other day which made her very happy. They sang for her and by the end of their little concert there was not a dry eye in the room.

A couple of days later, I was going through some pictures and came across one two years ago with Grandma holding a 5 month old Millie. I showed it to Millie and she sweetly said, "Ah, Grandma wake up!" I pray she will be able to remember her.

An assignment

For the past two years I have compared and contrasted the cooking styles of myself, Susan, and Sara Jane. So I was thinking maybe Sara Jane and Susan could do a little comparing themselves. I would like to see what they come up for me. Because I personally believe that I have them pegged! They read the blog, they laugh, they know it is true.

So Susan, Sara Jane, what can you come up with. Do you accept the challenge?

Millie is Funny

Along with making progress in the potty training business, Millie is becoming quit the commedian in the bathroom. Here are a few of my favorites.

"Mommy you potty training?" Millie asked me this in a gas station bathroom.

"It's stuck." I'll leave it up to you to figure this one out.

Mommy: Millie where does you potty go?
Millie: In the toilet.
Mommy: And when you go potty in the toilet...
Millie: Mommy sooo happy!

and this morning...I got Millie out of bed and she went running into the bathroom saying, "potty, potty!" When I got her off the toilet after she had successfully went she said, "Oh how-way-wu-jah!"

Three Sisters and Green Beans

The Thanksgiving Season is upon us, and again I am inspired to find the differences between the cooking styles of Sara Jane, Susan, and I. If you go back to last November you will find the post on Sweet Potatoes. I wanted to mix it up this year so I thought I would contemplate.............green beans.

Green beans are something that we have at every family dinner. It is a staple that my mother always fixes. She starts by saving her bacon grease from a couple of breakfasts. Then she puts the beans on, adds a little onion, and a bunch of bacon grease and cooks them for hours until they are good and tender. Mmmmm goood, fattening but good.

If Sara Jane would bring the green beans...

She would probably make "Sizzled Green Beans with Crispy Prosciutto and Pine Nuts."

Ingredients
2 pounds green beans trimmed
2 1/2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil divided
2 ounces prosciutto thinly sliced, cut into ribbons
4 cloves garlic minced
2 teaspoons minced fresh sage
1/4 teaspoon salt divided
Freshly ground pepper to taste
1/4 cup toasted pine nuts
1 1/2 teaspoons freshly grated lemon zest
1 teaspoon lemon juice

Directions
Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add beans, return to a boil, and simmer until crisp-tender, 3 to 4 minutes. Drain.
Heat 1/2 teaspoon oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add prosciutto; cook, stirring, until crispy, 4 to 5 minutes. Drain on a paper towel.
Wipe out the pan; heat the remaining 2 teaspoons oil over medium heat. Add the beans, garlic, sage, 1/8 teaspoon salt and several grinds of pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the beans are browned in places, 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in pine nuts, lemon zest and the prosciutto. Season with lemon juice, the remaining 1/8 teaspoon salt and pepper.
To toast chopped nuts & seeds: Cook in a small dry skillet over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until fragrant and lightly browned, 2 to 4 minutes.

For the ingredients she would not just go to the store to buy them, no she would search online in a one hundred mile radius of her house, and find the local farmer who had what she needed in stock. Or she would have planned for it back in May, had a community garden work day to plant the green beans, and several more to water, weed, and tend to the beans in preparation for the big feast.

If Susan were to bring the green beans...

She would probably bring the classic "Green Bean Casserole"

1 can (10 3/4 ounces) Campbell's® Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup (Regular or 98% Fat Free)
1/2 cup milk
1 teaspoon soy sauce
Dash ground black pepper
4 cups cooked cut green beans
1 1/3 cups French's® French Fried Onions
Stir the soup, milk, soy sauce, black pepper, beans and 2/3 cup onions in a 1 1/2-quart casserole.
Bake at 350°F. for 25 minutes or until the bean mixture is hot and bubbling. Stir the bean mixture. Sprinkle with the remaining onions.
Bake for 5 minutes or until the onions are golden brown.

Now before she decided on this recipe she would first start the Internet search back in October for green bean recipes, she would then print out a couple that sounded good and try them out on Gabriel to see what his opinion was about the green beans, then ultimately deciding on the classic casserole.

If Leah were to bring the beans...

I would more than likely bring..."Canned Green Beans, Leah Style"

2 cans of green beans

smokie links

onion salt

Open cans and place them in a pot

cut up smokie links and add to pot

sprinkli some onion salt, stir and heat up.

Now I would probably remember Wednesday night after church that I needed to make the green beans, and I think that I have some at home so there is no need to go to the store while I am out. I then arrive home, get the kiddos in bed, check facebook, and then while on my way to bed look in the cabinet to realize that I used my last can Monday night and I indeed do need some. So then I reluctantly get dressed again and run to the store only to be with the rest of Columbus in Wal-Mart fighting to get a can a green beans.

Hmmm, I wonder who is going to get to bring the green beans?

Millie's Boo Boo

This is what Milllie's face looks like after she ran over Miss Leanne's foot on a scooter and crashed and hit her head on the metal handle bar. I was not there, so I got received a text message..."Call as soon as you can....Millie fell in big room.....we dont think stitches." This is always very comforting. I got there as soon as I could, and Millie was acting just. I took her to the doctor and no stitches were needed. They cleaned it up and gave instructions to keep it clean, watch for infection, and antibiotic ointment for two weeks and then Mederma for a month to help with the whole scarring issue. She will probably have a black eye, but should be fine. As long as we can keep her from picking at it.

The Wonder of Play

Millie loves to pretend play, as do most yound children. The other day while I was folding the laundry in the laundry room, Millie kept bringing in her animals. The she came in with her doctors bag and said, "I Dr. Millie" We have all been seen by Dr. Millie now. When she is finished with her procedures she will hand you the kit, lay down on the floor and say, "my turn."

New PJ's

Both Levi and Millie are growing like crazy right now. This evening Levi filled and cleaned his plate three times. At lunch he ate all his food and finished mine. With all of this growth action going on both kiddos were in desperate need for new pj's. So today I took them shopping with me (which is a scary thing to do) and we got new jamies. Millie got size 3T and Levi took the jump into 10-12 (he is wearing an 8 in pants, but I wanted them to last a little longer).

Levi is very proud of his size 10-12 pjs that do ot swamp him. Millie was excited to put her "snowmam" jamies on, but when I asked her for a picture this is the pose I got. She said, "I flopping"

Good Bye Pull-Ups

For the past five months we have been doing the whole potty training thing with Millie. I didn't ever think she was going to master it. So this week I had enough. Millie and I had a little talk and she said good bye to pull-ups and hello to Elmo and Dora underware. At home she is doing great, with no accidents. At CMO she is still working on it, but it is coming along!!! WHOO HOO!

The Punies

This past week the weather has been beautiful. Upper sixties and sunny, but we have not been able to get out and play. Millie has been very sick. Last Sunday evening she fell asleep during church, and I knew something was up. (She never sleeps in church). When we got home her temperature was 99.8. I gave her some Tylenol and put her to bed. Monday morning the temp was up to 101.5. By 5:30 it was 103.5. She was just sick. All she wanted to do was be held or lay down. She wanted to play, but when she would get up she would walk over to a toy, stop and look at it, then she would go back and lay down. It was pitiful. I kept her home and Scott went off to prayer meeting. At 7:30 she was making little grunting noises when she breathed, her heart was racing, and she was burning up. I took her temperature and it only read "HIGH." I am not sure what that is, but I was nervous. I called the Dr. and he advised switching to Motrin, a bath, and if not better in 45 min. Get her to the ER. I called Mom and Scott. Mom started praying and Scott told the church what was happening, they started praying, and Scott went to get the medicine.

By the time Scott got home with the Motrin, Millie's temp was already coming down! I went ahead and gave her the Motrin and when I put her to bed at 8:30 her temp was only 100.4!!! My God Answers Prayer!!!

She is now doing much better, and is on antibiotics for an ear and respiratory infection.

Millie in Action

Millie has been entertaining herself the past couple of days in the toy cabinet in the kitchen while I have been cooking. Usually I don't pay much attention to what she is saying, but a couple of times I have caught her in action and this is what I discovered her doing. Thank goodness the camera was close by.

Millie loves Blues Clues. "You find a paw print cause thats the first clue, you put it in the notebook, cause it is blues clues, blues clues."

And how could I not post her 'reading?' I paid attention because I heard her say, "Peek a Boo...crying, hoo hoo (fake crying)"

Cleaning Carpets

Last week while Millie and Levi were at Grandma and Paps, Scott and I had a date night. We went to dinner at Texas Roadhouse, hoped over to Wal Mart for a prescription, stopped in at Kohls to get a coat for Levi, and skipped over to Lowes to rent a carpet cleaner, then back home to get to work. Scott was not to much for the work, but he did it without complaining too much. :)
As you can see they really needed it. It was a great night with alot of work accomplished. I have to do it when the kids are gone, because all I do when they are here is clean up after them.

Beautiful Fall Weather

This past week we have been blessed with beautiful fall weather. The temperature has reached up into the high 60s and low 70s. Which beats last weeks frigid cold of 30s. Therefore we played outside as much as possible.

Levi loves to play on his swing.

Say cheese....

Millie would hop on her bike and say "bye mom...I go to CMO" then she would take off and ride around the SUV and then come back to me and say, "I'm home."

In the background you can see Levi's bike over on its side. Which is how Levi leaves his bike most of the time. Mille was riding her bike when she stopped and studied Levi's bike for a while then she hopped off and layed her bike over and "I'm done."

Check them out in action.

Levi and Millie go redneck.

After many years of waiting and anticipating, Levi finally got to hunting with Scott this morning. Now I would like to tell you that I got up at 4:45 with them to take these pictures, but you all would know that it would not be true (I like my sleep). I had Levi try on his clothes the night before to get the pictures. Hey at least I got pictures.They were going to be hunting in the double tree stand that I got Scott for our anniversary. So of course he had to have a harness. I think it will hold him. Now that I look at this photo it kind of looks like scott is trying to hang Levi. Now what could be worse than Levi hitting the woods at 8 years old. Oh yeah, my two year old wearing "bubby teeth" as she called them. Even with them in she is still adorable. Look at those eyes. Noooo I don't want my children to be rednecks!!!!! lol

More Musical Talent

A while back I gave millie a toy microphone. She didn't really appreciate it them, but this past week she has been carrying it around everywhere. Here she is singing Sunshine.

On my birthday Millie was enjoying a piece of cake while trying to sing Happy Birthday....I think the cake won out.

Of course Levi is still on his musical journey. You have seen him play the guitar and the piano, here he is on the drums with me on the piano playing "Revelation Song." He has been playing quite a bit for church. The boy has rhythm and we are quite proud!

Millie gets new boots

If you know me at all then you know that I have a fascination with shoes. I love them and keep them forever. It is only right that I pass this love on to my daughter. The other day when I was getting out my fall and winter shoes Millie was digging my boots. She went to her closet and in search of hers and was very disappointed when she came up empty handed. So of course I went out and got her a pair. She was super excited. When she first walked in them she wasnt sure what to do. She was taking very wide, outward steps and walking super slow. I tried to capture this walk, but she soon got the hang of it. Not sure why the video is sideways.

Coming Soon

Updates are coming soom...I promise. Working during the day and have "stuff" going on during the evening, like tonight I had to go and get CPR certified it is an annual thing but it lasted four hours. Not much time for the ol blog. Soon, very soon...I promise.

Love Lessons at the Lilly Pond

It is that time again for me to redo my Sunday School room. The theme this quarter is a bug themed backyard with a lily pond. I have so much fun decorating my room, because it is the best feeling when my little kiddos come in and get so excited about the room.

"The Love Bugs Loving Each Other"
The puppets I made, Lovey and Lampy, brother and sister lightning bugs. I forgot their wings though. And don't look to close at the sewing job....it is pretty rough. I certainly didn't get the sewing gene passed to me from my mom. I wasn't even for sure what a whip stitch was. The lilly pond and "Bug Club" area.

You can't have a bug backyard without a fence, nets and bug collecting equipment.
All the "logs" along the wall have my student's names on them and each week we are adding bug stickers for learning our memory verses.

On the table are butterfly, bee, and lady bug masks (from the dollar tree!). It is absolutely adorable when the kids put these on. It is also a little funny when I look out telling the story of David and Golliath to a bunch of bugs.

Short Trip to Marion

Last Friday on a crazy whim I called my brother and told him that if he would drive 2 hours south then I would drive 2 hours north and we could meet at Mom and Dad's and have dinner with Sara Jane and company who were in from St. Louis. Well he agreed to be crazy with me so we hopped in the car and arrived at the exact same time.

I was a great evening of fun, food, mmm pies, play, and most importantly family.

Labor Day Fun!

When you marry a country boy your children are going to follow in their fathers footsteps. Therefore Levi likes to shoot bows and arrows, shoot guns, fish, track deer, hang tree stands, and watch deer hunting vidoes. Here lately every time we go over to Nick and Karens the guns and fishing poles come out.

Uncle Nick showing Levi how to load the 22 rifle.
I don't think I make a very good rifleman or should I say riflewoman?Miss Millie was taking a nap while all of the shooting action was going on, but she enjoyed the great outdoors of Grandma's porch. And of course Adrian is always eating, that girl can't get enough.
Labor day was a good day for all of us. Scott and Levi hung the new double man tree stand I got him for our anniversary, the weather was beautiful, the food was great, and the Seniour family was together.

The Power of Play

Millie has been having some good times with the "cooking monster" as she calls the toy grill Grandma Nancy scored at the garage sale for .$75! She loves to pretend to cook and clean.
Millie got the kitchen for Christmas and the highchair and baby doll for her birthday. The baby, who has no name, never gets taken out of the highchair but gets fed frequently.

As for Levi.......He plays alot with lego, lincoln logs, tinker toys, His latest creation was a skate park out of lincoln logs, which took about an hour to build. I would have gotten a picture but, Miss Millie walked through it. Levi took it in stride and said he would build another one. I guess he decided to take a break instead and build a nest to watch a little television. I was searching for my laundry basket and found Mr. Levi in it. A little close to the tv, but he says he is comforatable. Check out his toes!