I really ought to watch my blood pressure

I think I saw a Christmas tree lot tonight. I can't be sure because when I got closer, I forgot to check and see. My short-term memory leaves quite a bit to be desired these days. Either way, just the thought of Christmas trees on sale already triggered simultaneous panic and rage. I wonder if heightened levels of anger at Christmas edging out Thanksgiving is better or worse than the original offense. Angrily insisting that we be grateful really does take some of the gratitude out.

I think I'll drive another way tomorrow to avoid the potential issue. Or maybe I will drive by just so I can complain to the air about it. On second thought, I might just mutter to myself. That seems entirely more sane.

Robin Hood and Little John were walking through the forest...

In our case, Robin Hood and Prince John:

  Complete with bow and arrows. Quiver care of empty Pringles can and bow/arrows thanks to Josh.

Here's Robin Hood "frosting a cookie" (or in other words, eating icing):

I hope to get some pictures of the costume in the sunlight, but seeing as this is the most I've ever taken pictures of a Halloween costume, we'll see. Apparently it's a lot of work around here to get dressed up and take pictures. Still, Happy Halloween!

half a year down, sixty or more to go

Today marks six months since the tornado that tore apart our town, home, and life. In most ways, we are better off now than we were before. Still, I'm a little melancholy tonight.

Some things still make me very sad. Sound and especially video clips of the storm and its aftermath are still unbearable. I don't know if I'll ever be able to stomach it, really.

All in all, though, we are much happier now than we were a few months ago. In some ways, we're even better off than before the storm. We're closer to each other, to God, and to friends and family (here and all over the world) who picked us up when we were a mess. We care less about stuff. While I care more about making our home clean and welcoming and calm, I care a whole lot less about what is actually IN said home.

All in all, I think we're doing well. Here are two ways that I know:

#1- I finally have some energy to get ready for this baby. While we always wanted her, there just wasn't any emotional energy to spare. One day a few weeks ago I just woke up wanting to talk and think baby. Suddenly, the baby stuff at the store was cute, the birthing books came home with me from the library, and the blankets and bottles we still have from Jonah got washed and sorted.

#2- I threw away a picture the other day that I'd salvaged from our home. It's a picture of Jonah and me that I couldn't bear to leave in the rubble. Seeing our smiling faces amidst all that destruction was just too much for me. It's been hanging on our fridge since we moved in. I've already ordered a reprint, but it's just so hard to throw away something like that. I finally decided I was tired of seeing the dirt and grime all over it (it was too caked in the stuff to ever hope to clean it off), so I took it down and threw it away. I almost pulled it out of the trash 3 or 4 times, but I did eventually just leave it. I still have a digital copy, I will soon have another hard copy, and most importantly: I still have the little face to look at in person. I'm grateful for that every day.

Happy six months, world! We're glad to still be here.

good, bad, or special treat

Tonight, we had a lesson on nutrition. We had some pictures that we helped Jonah divide into three categories: good for our body, bad for our body, and a special treat. The first funny moment was when we tried to explain what drugs are. It didn't go well, but we all decided they were bad for our bodies. But really, try describing it to a three-year old sometime!  The second went something like this.

Me: Oh, the next one is vegetables!
Jonah: That's brocolli.
Me: Yes, and asparagus.
Josh: So Jonah, is this good for us, bad for us, or a special treat?
Jonah: Dad, I think it's dinner.

Aunt Kim, the stalker

I sometimes wish Facebook never existed. More often than not, I just wish that it was simpler and game-free (or at least game spam-free) like it used to be. I worry about my young women at church and what their socialization is like compared to mine at that age now that they have text and twitter and fb and and and. I also worry about how to teach my own kids to communicate with their peers (read this as: some online media will likely be necessary) and also avoid the constant stream of what their friends think. I mean, really, who would have even been able to survive a pimple, let alone a break up, if all this had been around when we were younger?

The whole point of this musing is that when I feel like it has no use for me other than wasting time, I remember something: I habitually stalk my nieces and nephews. Maybe they know and care, maybe they don't. Either way, I can get a really great feel for what's going on in their lives online and it helps me feel a little less removed from the family I love.

So, should they or their parents read this, here is the official warning kids: I read every comment your friends make. I'd feel more like a stalker if I hadn't wiped all your snotty noses at some point.

two contributions from Josh

First, he would like me to clarify (and rightly so) that the table and benches are made from free wood! Other than the tools and screws, it cost nothing. He and Q scavenged fences blown down from the tornado and we now have a "wood store" (as Jonah calls it) in our backyard.

Second, this conversation took place this evening:

Jonah (from his room): Hey daddy, can you say (in a funny impression of Josh's voice), "Hey Jonah, do you want to come lay with me?" and then I'll say, "Oh, uhh, not right now but maybe later."

Josh: Okay, Hey Jonah, do you want to come lay with me in my bed?

Jonah: SURE!

why it's hard to reason with a three-year old

Jonah: "When I'm cinnamon and sugar, will you eat me on toast?"
Josh: "I don't think you'll ever be cinnamon and sugar."
Jonah: "Yes, but I can be when I want to."


Jonah (as we pulled in the driveway): "What if we didn't live here?"
me: "Then we wouldn't live here." (yes, I'm full of wisdom early in the morning.)
Jonah: "But what if we lived in our old house and our new house was broken?"
me: "Then we'd live in our old house."
Jonah: "But what if our old house was broken and our new house was fixed?"
me: "Then we'd live in our new house. Do you miss our old house?"
Jonah: "Meow. I'm a kitty now."

...which leads to a whole host of other problems like "a kitty doesn't wear shoes/pants/underwear/jackets" or when he insists on licking me and I really don't like it, "but a kitty kisses by licking! I just want to give you kisses!"


Jonah: "Mom, do you like crunchy tires?"
me: "Crunchy tires?"
Jonah: "Yes, that means flat tires."
me: "No, I don't like flat tires."
Jonah: "but do you?"
me: "No."
Jonah: "Do you like crunchy flat tires?"
me: "No, I don't."
Jonah: "Did you say yes or no?"
me: "I said no."
Jonah: "So you don't like crunchy flat tires?"
me: "Jonah, I'm not answering this question anymore."
Jonah: "Do you like crunchy flat tires?"

Josh's baby

Josh been working hard with his new toys (or "tools" as he tries to call them) and seems put out that I haven't posted pictures of the table yet. I assure you, it's not because the table hasn't been used. In fact, we eat at least one meal outside almost every day.  But really, how many people take pictures at dinner? Well, not us. 

Here it is in all it's after-dinner glory:

And then there's the castle Josh has been planning since we moved in. How often do you have such great huge boxes? I'm pretty sure Josh is depressed I won't let him make a moat around it, but the drawbridge is fully functional, so I often find one or both of the boys hiding inside (I will leave it to the imagination who is most often found within. For those without imaginations, it's the one who rhymes with Bosh.)

All in all, I'm glad someone around here has some creative energy and I've even been known to hang out in the castle for a bit to read books.

----------------

Finally, a funny Jonah story:

This morning, while driving around town, we ended up stopped at a light next to (but slightly in front of) a school bus. The conversation proceeded as follows:

Jonah: Will you drive backwards?
Me: What?
Jonah: Drive backwards so we're next to the bus.
Me (having been known to stop with a huge gap between us and the next car just so Jonah can check out some truck): Well dear, there's a car behind us, so I can only scoot back so far.
[car in reverse, we inch back enough to see the bus but not enough to scare the guy behind us, I hope.]
Me: There, how's that?
Jonah: Nope, not far enough.
Me: I can't scoot back any more, Jonah, because there's another car behind us.
Jonah: Well the sun is still in my eyes. We're not in the shade of the bus yet.

Oh. Well then.

food, glorious food

At the risk of sounding like an oppressed house elf, I'll admit this publicly: there is a direct relationship between my mood and how clean the house is/how dinner turns out. In addition to my love of food (and subsequent desire to eat and create good food), I am getting slower as this baby grows and getting a good dinner done is sometimes all I can accomplish for the day. That said, I'm feeling pretty good about myself this week. We've had a few old standbys and tried some new recipes successfully! In case anyone is looking for some new yummies:

-Fettucine Alfredo care of Kayla. It really is that good. We used chicken broth instead of the white wine so it didn't need any other salt (for our taste). It was a little thin but that was likely my impatience more than the recipe. It clearly didn't matter since we devoured it all. What little was left was even better the next day. Also, it's a bit garlic heavy, but I loved it that way.
-With said pasta, we had these Olive Garden rip off bread sticks. The trick is the ridiculous amount of butter and salt brushed on the bread sticks while they cook. I'd prefer some French bread with the pasta next time just because these were so salty. Then again, that's what I love about the original at Olive Garden. Maybe next time I get a craving for these I'll just serve them with a salad instead.
-The leftover bread sticks went really well with my old favorite, braised white beans with tomatoes and zucchini. I don't know if Josh's love for this is quite as intense, but he gets a second helping and eats it without complaint, so I keep on making it.
-From the same site as the previous recipe, I tried this banana bread. Banana bread is still third on my list after pumpkin and zucchini bread, but this recipe did not disappoint. I cut the sugar topping in half and it was still delightfully sweet and caramelized. Like the author, I did not put the bananas on top. I didn't have any fresh ones and I thought a mushy frozen banana would look and taste disgusting.

I know better than to think this is a permanent shift to only successful cooking, but I've still been enjoying the fruits of my labor. Rather than push my luck for 3 great meals in a row, though, we're having leftovers tonight. Thursday should be these delicious tacos, though, so perhaps we have more feasting in store.