Batman in the house!

I know this is a "Window Seat Wanderings" day but I am not feeling it at the moment. Besides, we've got Batman in the house! He's been here since Saturday and doesn't seem to have plans to go away anytime soon. I've taken him to the grocery store, library and Walmart. So cute to see him enjoying the attention.

Meanwhile, this little guy took one look at his big brother all decked out and thought it was hilarious. He just laughs at Batman. Then he decided to make his own interpretation of a mask. Quite funny watching him walk around like this, bumping into things.

Wheelies

This weekend our not-so-little boy started pulling wheelies on his two wheel.

Sun Fun!

We've been having a good 'ol heat wave around here. The kids have been begging to get in some water so we broke out the sprinkler the other day.

I just keep realizing how big he is getting.

Some brotherly reassurance that the sprinkler wasn't so bad. :)

Made a water slide and then had to turn it off so that little sis could get in on the fun. She's not at an age where she's really into the sprinkler yet!

Wonton Soup?

We had the most delicious soup the other night. Funny thing is it wasn't Wanton soup but rather Matzo Ball Soup! Chase took one taste of it and immediately thought it tasted like Chinese Wanton Soup; which was spot on. It tastes like a Jewish take on a Chinese/American favorite. It was so tasty!

I only decided to try and make matzo soup because I got the free matzo crackers they were offering around Easter at my local grocery store. I didn't want to waste them so I decided to go ahead and try something different. Turns out we love it! My only note is that if you try to make the recipe, halve it. We easily have enough for two meals and I only used half the crackers I had mixed up. Four matzo balls is very filling for an adult and a child will need even less. Enjoy!

Window Seat Wanderings

Every Wednesday I post about a book I’ve read that I think is worth passing on. I have a personal love for Christian fiction so that is my main focus but you will find other reads sprinkled in here from time to time.

I’d love to hear what you thought of a book I recommended or if you have a new one for me to try. So grab your favorite beverage and get comfortable, let’s get wandering!

This is a brand new author! Regina Jennings writes a pleasant, easy read. The story is compelling and I found myself trying to read as fast as I could to see how each thread of the story turned out. The characters have chemistry and there's enough suspense to keep you engaged. There are parallels to the book of Ruth which adds another layer of depth to the story. I will look forward to more titles from this author!

Book cover review states: With nothing to their names, young widow Rosa Garner and her mother-in-law return to their Texas family ranch. Only now the county is demanding back taxes and the women have just three months to pay.

Though facing eviction, Rosa falls in love with the countryside and the wonderful extended family who want only her best. They welcome her vivacious spirit and try to help her navigate puzzling American customs. She can't help but stand out, though, and her beauty captures attention. Where some offer help with dangerious strings attached, only one man seems honorable. But when Weston Garner, still grieving his own lost love, is unprepared to give his heart, Rosa must decide to what lengths she will go to save her future.

Mother's Day 2012

We had gorgeous weather for Mother's Day and so we spent a great portion of it outside. First a quick photo session with mommy that did NOT go well. (Sigh) We tried...:)

The kids got me a hanging basket of flowers and purple perennials for our flower gardens (from Alexa of course!). The kids know their mommy well and they snuck in a little chocolate too!

Knowing the weather was going to be nice going into the weekend we planned on cleaning up our flower gardens, getting rid of a few plants we were not happy with and replacing them with new shrubbery if possible. We got all the work done and visited a nursery to get a few new shrubs.

 I know this probably sounds sick to most women, but I prefer manual labor where you get dirty and sweaty way more than cleaning a house or sewing, etc. I had a great day! I love feeling all achy by the end and knowing you have something to show for your labor. The kids had a great time transporting dirt and sod in their gator (I think Chase was literally in child heaven). By the end of the day he had proudly announced to both Howard and I, at separate times, that "today I became a really big helper". He was too!

We finished the day off with Chinese take-out and watched one of our own family home-videos. Watching the kids watch themselves at younger ages was too cute! It was a perfect Mother's Day for this mommy!

We're painting!

Alexa is very much into painting these days. She's very focused and deliberate about what she does with the paint, picture and water to clean her brush. It's so much fun to watch her really enjoying being creative.

Messy hands are part of it and I loved how they framed her face without having to pose the photo!

He's creating quite a few neat pictures of late. The faces on the other hand keep getting cheesier as he tries to give me the look or smile he thinks I want. (How do you teach a five year old what a "normal" smile is!)

Window Seat Wanderings

    
Every Wednesday I post about a book I’ve read that I think is worth passing on. I have a personal love for Christian fiction so that is my main focus but you will find other reads sprinkled in here from time to time.

I’d love to hear what you thought of a book I recommended or if you have a new one for me to try. So grab your favorite beverage and get comfortable, let’s get wandering!

Jeremiah Williams has been tending the gardens of the Tennessee governor’s mansion for over twenty-five years. And like most first families who have come and gone, this one has stolen his heart.
Mackenzie and her husband, Governor Gray London, have struggled for ten years to have a child and are now enjoying a sweet season of life—anticipating the coming reelection and sending their precious daughter, Maddie, off to kindergarten—when a tragedy tears their world apart. As the entire state mourns, Mackenzie falls into a grief that threatens to swallow her whole.
Though his heart is also broken, Jeremiah realizes that his gift of gardening is about far more than pulling weeds and planting flowers. It’s about tending hearts as well. As he uses the tools that have been placed in his hands, he gently begins to cultivate the hard soil of Mackenzie’s heart, hoping to help her realize what it took him years to discover.
A Southern tale of loss, love, and living, The First Gardner reminds us that all of life is a gift, but our heart is the most valuable gift of all.

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This book totally grabbed my heartstrings! It is such a heavy subject (death) that the book deals with. It is handled with such hope that I could not help but come away from reading this thinking "Wow! This book just hit all the right notes!" I really connected with the characters in the book. The ending has a bit of a surprise twist which made the story that much more poignant when I was done. Great read!
Purchase book here

Empowering Parents

So...some of you know our struggles with our strong willed child, some of you have witnessed them and some of you have no clue (count yourself lucky!). We have tried many avenues of discipline/reward and nothing has been very effective. It is sooo frustrating to have to struggle with your child and feel like you are failing them. Howard and I sought advice from others, I've prayed over the situation and for our child too. My dad heard about http://www.empoweringparents.com/ and suggested we check it out. We've been able to find some very helpful articles on how to relate to a strong willed child. Many of which describe our struggles and experiences. We found motivational charts that so far seem to be working in encouraging good behavior. I would LOVE to get my hands on their program but the cost is really expensive. I just wanted to make any other parent who is struggling with a strong willed child aware of the resources they offer. There is a lot to encourage parents on how to "behave" too. Believe me, parenting a strong willed child will bring out every last shred of ugliness your personality may hold. We've recognized how far we have to go in setting a good example for our children (especially when one of them is screaming angry words at you in rage). The articles have reinforced good behaviors in us and given us new avenues to try and diffuse bad situations in relating to our kids. I hope something on their site can encourage someone else.

*If you read this and have used their program let me know if it's as good as they claim and how it worked for you.