It was bound to happen

I said never again! (It's too much work.)


I'm done! (It takes too much effort.)


No way! (I don't want to sort through everything.)


But then my good friend told me she was going to do it.


And then I went through the girl's closets and drawers, to try on the summer clothes from last year, the girls have grown by leaps and bounds, nothing fits them anymore.


This pile of clothing, that no longer fits, really must go!

And, after 9 years of yellow, I decided I wanted to go back to white dishes, which we had prior to the yellow. 


This pile of dishes really must go!

Fortunately I still had most of the white dishes from before, and I was able to fill in the missing pieces I needed from Ikea without spending too much. Gotta love Ikea!

The part about the old dishes doesn't really have anything to do with this blog post. I just wanted to tell you that I like Ikea.


We also have some small pieces of furniture that we don't have a place for any longer. This table really must go!

And there are some odds and ends, really an assortment of items that we no longer need or have space for, that really must go. Not to mention the things that our two, double digit girls have outgrown or simply no longer use. 

Polly Pockets anyone?

I guess what I'm saying is...I think I will be having a garage sale with my friend, who said she will be having a garage sale.

Drat! I said it out loud, it must be so. 

Christine

It's Friday

We met my parents for dinner yesterday.


My Mom brought some Lily of the Valley for me.


I placed them on my bedside table so I could smell them all night. Lovely!

Thanks Mom!!


After dinner Emma purchased a volleyball with some of her birthday money.


Both girls have decided they want to play volleyball this year. Volleyball is in, soccer is out.

Volleyball may take some getting used to.


This morning I reminded Miss Sofi Bug that there are only 9 days of school left.

I know, I am very excited too!


I'm so glad she still allows me to call her Miss Sofi Bug in front of all of you.


I overheard a woman call her little girl Sofi Bug once. My Miss Sofi Bug was about 10 then. I had to stop and talk to the woman. I told her that I call my girl Sofi Bug too. We liked each other instantly.


The Husband wore a purple shirt today. I think he was making a statement about yesterday's blog post. He wouldn't look me in the eye when I asked him about it.

The purple one is mine!


I am happy that the iris my nice neighbor gave me is going to flower this year. She thought it would take a couple of years for it to bloom after having been transplanted into my garden.

She didn't say what color it is, but she said it is beautiful. I can't wait to see it!


We are kinda sad because we wanted to visit my in-laws, who live several hours away from us, over the long weekend. It isn't going to work out. Hopefully we'll get to go for a visit soon. We miss them and love them!


The husband and I found this mug that bears a striking resemblance to my Father-in-law.

We didn't buy it. We much rather spend time with the real thing. (my Father-in-law that is, he's not a thing) 


But hopefully he will see the blog today and it will give him a good laugh!


Anyway, I'm rambling. 


Hope you all have a fantastic weekend and a good Memorial Day!


Christine

He said/She said 2

She decided that it was about time to replace the body poofs that she and the Husband had been using. The old ones had been around for awhile and she began to think about the amount of dead skin and crud that might be lurking in the old poofs. YUCK! It was time for the old ones to go.


Yes she calls them poofs. She does not know what else to call them.


Yes, she has just told you the Husband uses a poof and it does not in any way reflect on his manliness! 


But she might choose to call his a body scrubber instead of a poof.


For those who are totally confused and have no idea what a poof/scrubber is...tah dah!

Body poof/scrubber.


She specifically purchased a scrubber that was a bit more compact for the Husband because that is the way he likes his scrubber. She also chose a manly shade of gray for him.

Wasn't she thoughtful? 


She was!


She purchased a less compact poof for herself, for that is how she prefers her poof. Her poof is a lovely shade of purple.

I like that word...poof, poof, poof.


Sorry. It's out of my system now. Wait...poof! OK, I'm done.


This morning, after using the new scrubber for the first time...


He said: I wasn't sure which scrubber was for me, so I used the one on my side, the purple one.

She said: The purple one is mine. I bought the gray, more compact one for you.


He said: I don't like the compact ones.


She said: Yes you do. The one you'd been using was a more compact one.


He said: I never used that one. I told you I didn't like that old compact one.


She said: You did not!


He never told her that he did not like the compact one. NEVER. She would have remembered. She has a memory like a...a...well she can't remember what it's called, but her memory is very good.


She said: So I just replaced a poof that has never been used with a poof that will never be used?


He said nothing.


Now she wonders if a poof can be returned. 


Returning a poof just seems wrong. 


Thankfully the poofs were only a dollar each.


By the way, did she mention that she found the birdbath? It was right where she left it last fall.

Yep, she has a memory like a...


Christine


P.S. This post was Husband approved.

Out of the mouth of my teenager

So, I was telling my sweet Miss Sofi Bug that there are ten women in my Bible study, including myself, and there are currently, when all little heads are counted, 28 children between us. I say currently because one of the ladies is expecting another little one. Woohoo!

My girl's eyes opened wide and she said "Wow, that's almost three kids per mom!"


"Some moms have two children and a few moms have 4."


Her response was a shocked, "Four kids! How do they do that!?"


I laughed. "Honey, moms just do. Those moms are pretty amazing though, aren't they?"


"They are amazing! But Mom, kids are hard! I mean, like I have issues!"


This is the point where I began to wonder. 


Aside from the normal struggles of raising children, I think she's a pretty easy kid. 


I'm not exactly clear on what she meant by issues. (school, boys, friends, just being 13) 


Is she gearing up to be trouble for awhile and this was my warning or does she think that raising her is a lot more difficult than it really is? 


I swear I have not lamented the hardship of raising children to her! OK, maybe I rolled my eyes once...twice...tops! 


I'm really hoping she just thinks she's a difficult child to raise and she is not warning me of trouble ahead. Maybe her concern that raising her is a lot of work is why she is so easy. So shhhh. We'll let the fact that she is mostly an easy child be our little secret!


However, I might be asking all of the ladies in my Bible study for some prayers, you know, just in case.


And hey moms, out of the mouth of my teenager...raising kids is hard and you are AMAZING!!


Christine

The end...not

This was the view from Miss Sofi Bug's room on Friday.

Beautiful!


This is the view from Miss Sofi Bug's room today.

Sad.


What a difference one very rainy weekend can make.


All of those pretty pink petals now litter the back patio...

...and the back flower bed.

The time for blooming came to an end for the crab apple tree this past weekend.


The world however did not come to an end this past weekend as some claimed it would.


Jesus did not come back.


I know He did not come back because I am still here. You see I fully intend to leave with Him when He returns.


I do not know when that day will arrive...no person does. Jesus said "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." (Mark 13:32)


What I do know is that one day Jesus will return, maybe I will live to see that day, maybe I will not live to see that day, but I will be ready!


I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. He has my heart and my soul. My faith is in Him and the salvation He died to give to all who would believe. 


It's so easy to be prepared for that day. "Whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:15)


Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.


There is no need to fear the end of the world or Jesus return, only the need to be ready.


And now, because the world did not end, I have to go clean pink off the back patio.


Christine

Pretty in pink

This is the stunning view from Miss Sofi Bug's bedroom window.

My beautiful, smart, funny Sofi Bug, who like her Dad is able to make me laugh, not a simple chuckle mind you, but the whole hearted, make my sides ache, kind of laugh.

It always surprises me that they can make me laugh so much because the things that Miss Sofi Bug and her Dad find funny are often lost on me. The two of them can be in stitches over something that causes me to wrinkle my nose and scrunch my forehead in an effort to grasp the humor they have found. 


Huh! So that's where those wrinkles are coming from.


It's also the reason I treasure the times that I am able to make them crack up with laughter. It doesn't happen very often but when it does it gives me great pleasure and I have to say out loud, "I made you laugh!" just to confirm that it really happened.


Anyway...


Our pretty pink crab apple tree is right outside Miss Sofi Bug's window, it has finally bloomed and it's gorgeous!

It smells fantastic too.


I'd like to trade rooms with her for the few days the tree will be in bloom, so that I can enjoy the lovely fragrance that wafts into Sofi Bug's room and see it out the window first thing every morning.

It truly is a sight to behold!


I suspect the Husband would not agree to the room switch though. While it might be cute for about 5 minutes to snuggle together in a twin size bed, spending an entire night in one might annoy him. 


There might also be a struggle convincing Miss Sofi Bug to give us our spacious queen size bed back and return to her compact twin size bed.


I will have to settle for standing under the tree and breathing in deeply to get my fill of it's wonderful scent.

Then again, if we get the storms that have been forecasted for tonight it won't matter anyway, all of the petals will be blown away and that will be that. I will be so disappointed.


It happens every year. I really should be used to it by now.


I'm off to breath deeply!


Christine

Not-so-little Emma Bean

Emma Bean asked me if I wished she would stay little forever. Was I sad that she was growing up?

The answer was easy.


Little one it is a joy watching you grow.

I am thrilled by each new thing you learn!

I take delight in the joy you find in each new day!

I hope you follow your dreams and discover God's plan for you.

I have watched creativity blossom in you and it is a gift.

I am amazed watching you grow bold and courageous and try something different.

It is a blessing to witness a heart of compassion grow in you.

Always hold on to your playful spirit.

No, my not-so-little one, I do not want you to stay little forever. I want you to grow and experience all the wonders God has planned for you. It will give me great joy!


Yes, my not-so-little one, I wish you could stay little forever so I could take care of your every need and snuggle you and kiss your little nose and sing you silly songs. It would give me great joy.


As I said, the answer is easy, and you will fully understand it one day if you decide to become a Mommy.


But, whether my little one or my grown up girl, my love for you is absolute! I delight in you!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY my Emma Bean!


Mommy 

Garden decor!

I am on the edge of my seat, waiting for the promise of beauty to burst into reality. 


Some flowers will open any moment now.

Others will need a few more days.

Ok maybe weeks, but soon the garden will be full of gorgeous, fragrant blooms.


Thus begins the ritual of digging out all of the garden decor that has been tucked away in the garage for the winter, so that it can once again add that delightful touch of whimsy to the flower beds. 


That's right decorations for the garden. I am that person. 


NO pink flamingos mind you! And I don't have any plastic deer. No way!


I do have a cute little frog.

I have this darling little mosaic Emmabean made for me in preschool. 


Emmabean who will be double digits TOMORROW!! I can't believe it!

I also have this cute mushroom that was given to me for Mother's Day.

And this silly bird. I have no explanation for the bird. I like it. I got it. It is what it is.

The only item left to be placed in the garden is the birdbath.


That's when I ran into trouble. 


I can't find the birdbath.


I've looked everywhere!


Nothing.


The birdbath is MIA!


The system of tucking the garden decorations wherever I can find space is not working. I can't remember where I stashed the birdbath.


The birdbath stand, which we leave in the garden all winter, is ready and waiting. But I have no bath.

I will have to get a new birdbath. We can't have dirty birds all summer!


Drat! I just know that as soon as I get a new birdbath, I'll remember where I hid the old one.


Christine

Easiest salmon recipe ever!

For the longest time my girls would not eat fish. They wouldn't even go for the highly battered, deeply fried, can't even tell if there's any fish in them at all fish sticks that kids are supposed to like. They simply weren't having it!


All of that changed when I found this recipe for salmon in the Everyday Foods magazine. It is delicious! The girls get to help make their own...they love that, and there is minimal clean up...I love that!


This recipe needs only a few simple ingredients. Salmon fillets (6oz each), green beans (trimmed of ends), lemon, capers (rinsed and drained), salt and pepper, and extra virgin olive oil.

I get my salmon frozen from Sams Club. It's always very good and the fillets are the perfect portion size.

Preheat the oven to 400˚. Place each salmon fillet in the center of it's own 16inch piece of parchment paper. 


I set out the parchment with a piece of salmon on each one and from there everyone in the family gets to finish preparing their own meal. 

Top the salmon with green beans.

Everyone has their own way of placing their green beans. That's just fine!

Add lemon zest to taste and a teaspoon of capers. 

Then season with salt and pepper, again to taste, and drizzle each fillet with 1 teaspoon of extra virgin olive oil.

Fold one side of parchment over salmon and roll top and bottom edges together making a sealed packet for the salmon to cook in. The girls like this part and have gotten really good at it.

Place packets on a cookie sheet and place in 400˚ oven for 12-15 minutes.


Remove salmon from packets and serve with a favorite side dish.

This dish gets four thumbs at my house. It is so good and because the salmon cooks in packets there aren't any pots or pans to wash. Bonus!


This meal also helped change my girl's minds about fish! Since trying this salmon recipe they have tried and liked halibut, cod, beer-battered and fried and you could definitely tell there was fish under that batter (yum!) and walleye.


I'm loving that the whole family finally likes fish!


Christine