My all time favorite Sesame Street clip

*turn the music off on the sidebar before viewing.

Little Worm

Ellie has a new pet.

It's a Caterpillar, (I made her give up the frog of last week, due to my fear of accidental release in my kitchen).

She has named her colorful little fellow "little worm". It's a Monarch Butterfly caterpillar. Barry says he hasn't seen one since he was a kid, I don't know if I ever have. This little guy eats milkweed at an alarming rate, and doesn't seem to mind living in captivity. We have no shortage of milkweed around here, so I think he's going to be very happy

We'll keep you updated on it's development or decease.

Mmmmm girl or boy? Girl or Boy????






What could it be????




We know somthing you don't know.



Can you sense we're eager to tell?




























Oh BOY! It's a girl!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Ellie said she knew all along.

They moved my due date up a week.




Her face. Cute little nose.

Yesterday, I did my monthly grocery shopping, and went a little wild buying candy. I haven't had any for ever so long, and so many things sounded good. When I came home I hid my stash for future consumption, and began making dinner.

A little later than usual, Barry comes home from work bearing a gift. A huge bag of candy for his wife. AH hah! With a little guilty glee I snatched the bag with a thank you and a hug. At that moment, Ellie, who accompanied me to the grocery store, started to say something that started with "but she already..." was promptly hushed and given the evil eye.(Which in my case, can be quite evil). Thankfully she hushed.

Next day.

Dishes done,
House cleaned,
Laundry washed and ready to be folded
Ellie napping

I broke out the candy bag.
Sitting in the middle of the living room, I poured out the bag.
What a sight of colorful gems.

James, who was NOT napping was quite interested, to say the least.
He promptly walked over and plopped his diapered-self down beside me.

I decided to share my treasures

First, James tried a SweetTart. Not what he expected, but acceptable
Second, James tried a Cinnamon Bear. This poor bear's leg was given a small bite and
swiftly rejected.
Third, James tried a Carmel, and then folks it was all over. He took one bite and let out the longest most sincere "Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm", that a little boy could make. Then he held out his little palm and said "plezzz" in his sweetest voice.

As I looked at his little outstretched hand, and his little dark brown beggar eyes, I thought, as I have thought a hundred times in so many months, "This little boy is after my heart."

Carmel's being by far my favorite and best candy in the whole world.

So with the guise of folding laundry, little James and I sat side by side on the living room floor in a short but efficient assembly line. He'd select and take the Carmel out of the bag, hand it to me, I would unwrap it, he would take a bite, and I would finish it off.

Many happy minutes followed and many many carmels were enjoyed.

It's True!

Turn off the music on the sidebar, before playing.

So glad when Daddy comes home.....

Barry going back to work has probably been the hardest on James. He really misses his Daddy. They are best pals. They feed the animals together, go jogging, irrigate the lawn, weed the garden, mow the law, drive the tractor, take trips to the hardware store, fix things, build things ...etc

This past week James has wandered around the house. Saying Dad, Dad!. He goes to the top of the stairs and yells Daddy! and looks and waits for him to come up. He also spends a lot of time in the window watching for Dad. I took this picture at 6:00 in the morning after Barry had left, James was already on the look out for him to come back.

Because of James' sadness we call Barry's office phone several times during the day and listen to his answering machine. I try to hang up before it beeps, but James is often leaving his dad messages, "HI!, Hi Dad!, Hi!, Dad Dad! Daddddddddy!." Fortunately Barry usually doesn't get to upset about getting messages from his boy.

We're so glad when Barry finally comes home each day, James runs to him with a grin and gives him huge hugs and kisses.

For Posterity

Here's my baby bump picture at ~19 Wks. Yes I know the baby is riding low, I think that's why I cramp up every time I work hard. ....or I might just be really lazy and be milking this pregnancy for all it's worth. :)


Names suggestions please. My appt is next week and then I'll schedule my ultrasound within a couple of days.

So for now Boy names, and Girl names are both welcome.

Fair warning, I do not like trendy names, unisex names, or just plain weird names for my children.

Thanks.

Cookies

We'll I'm supposed to be canning today, but Ellie wanted to make cookies, and she's been so sweet lately, I couldn't resist.

First: This is how James eats a peanut butter sandwich, almost no bread enters the mouth.



Here's are the cookies, aren't they fun?
Watch the progression of the pictures. I think James has an idea how who is going to eat the cookies.
























Don't worry, I gave him ONE. He was saying "cheese" for the camera so cute.

....We'll actually I gave him three, ate three myself and gave Ellie three, but don't tell Barry. We're going to tell him it was a small batch .....or something.

Garden and Harvest Time.

So I'm mourning the end of summer, and dreading the start of canning season. I have been so lazy this year. I have done exactly nothing, no jams, no jellies, nothing.

I hate the urgency of it all, it's like having a job. I hated having a job with deadlines and stress.

But here we go ...... First in the line up

Green Beans
Drying my herbs
Raspberries and Strawberries
Peaches
Apples for sauce and pies. (I would love to dry some and make leather and chips)
Freezer Corn

I'm going to let Barry worry about the Sun flowers, Indian corn, popcorn, potatoes, carrots and onions.

There that doesn't look too bad.
(Out of pure laziness I'm skipping things I don't like this year, like pears and apricots.)

Feel free to drop by and help, otherwise steer clear, the canning dragon lady is a frightful sight.

Summer

I've enjoyed this summer more than any other in my life. I am sad to see it go, but I will cherish the many happy memories.