Amber Waves of Grain

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MEL!!! I met Mel in 1991-92 through a group called Student Venture. We also went to high school youth group together. Now, 18 years later (I keep re-doing the math because I don't believe I'm old enough to know someone that long)..... we are both in the official BIRTHDAY CLUB with 3 other girls. The 5 of us get together for each of our birthdays and celebrate! We all went to the park Friday night for Mel's birthday celebration..... We're a club that knows how to eat. We had pizza from Jockamo's which is one of my favorites ( LINK ). We also had breadsticks with their creamy parmesan dipping sauce which is the bomb. And, of course there were 2 desserts! Yum! So...... HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MEL!! ENJOY YOUR SPECIAL DAY!!

Most of you already know that my car overheated on the interstate a week ago and we took it to the shop. The shop told us that the necessary part is really hard to find and that they ordered it through Chrysler. Well, Chrysler is bankrupt and so the part is on national backorder. We were #93 on the list to receive this part, which they said could take weeks or months to get in. A team of us have been looking everywhere for this part in the meantime. We've looked nationally at junkyards, parts stores, ebay, you name it. It's simply in high demand and hard to find. I even had a friend who works at Chrysler make some calls. Nathan found the part finally at a place in Minnesota who was willing to overnight it to us. So, we received the part yesterday and I drove it up to the shop. The shop isn't technically allowed to put in parts that aren't from their dealer, so we were going to have to transfer our car to a different mechanic. When we got to the shop with th...

Two posts ago I mentioned my dilemma with finding a modest bathing suit that would work with my postpartum, 31 year old body. I thought it was funny that that post was one that I received so many comments (some by email too) on. Apparently I'm not the only one with a bathing suit saga. So, I thought this deserved its' own post! I visited a variety of stores, thanks to the help of a babysitter this time who stayed with my kids. I looked at suits at Kohls , Target, Walmart , Dick Sporting Goods, Marshalls , Macys , JcPenny , and I forget where else. I found that most suits were made for teens or women in their 20's who clearly haven't given birth before. The other option was at the clear other extreme: the old person suit. Really, I just want something in the middle. Then 2 people mentioned Sears (thanks, Jen & Andrea). My initial thought was, "Clothes from Sears? What, am I 90?" Then I got desperate after that container of Edy's ice ...

Kennedy turned 6 months old yesterday!! We had her checkup and immunizations today with the doctor and she is doing well. She weighs 14lbs, 15oz and is 26" long. She has a very sweet disposition and loves to smile. She is so easy going and loves to roll on the floor. She also started Gerber baby foods and is a great eater!! Here are a few snapshots I took of her today, and one from Father's Day.... Here she is on Father's Day with her I Love Dad shirt: On a side note, some of you have asked about my car. It's still in the shop. I am #93 nationally on the backorder list to receive the part we need. They told me one month is "wishful thinking". However, Nathan & I are still searching for the part online. I'm very thankful that we've had our in-law's car this week so I haven't had to do without a car yet. Still waiting for that part!

In preparation for our upcoming vacation, I'm in need of a bathing suit . Now, not just any bathing suit. Rather, the kind of bathing suit that fits a 31-year-old, modest, postpartum kind of stay at home mom . I know-- you're thinking what I'm thinking.... Kohl's! I've recently discovered that Kohl's actually has a department called " Stay at home moms in their 30s who clean toilets but still want to look halfway stylish ". It's right between Misses and Juniors. I thought Kohls would be the place where I would find "the suit". I attempted going there today with both kids. Between changing 2 diapers, cleaning projectile spit-up, keeping my toddler from peeping at others, and feeding 2 children all in the dressing room stall....I did manage to try on some suits. But, they just weren't right. So, tonight I tried a few more stores including Walmart since I was there anyway. Unless I want a teeny weeny bikini or low, low ...

Happy Father's Day, Nathan!!!! Nathan is a wonderful dad. I didn't think my own words could do Nathan justice, so I've interviewed Keegan. Here are the questions I asked him, with his answers word-for-word! What's your favorite thing to do with Daddy? : Computers and games and go in tents What's your favorite place to go with Daddy?: Church What does Daddy teach you?: To play computers and games How old is Daddy?: Ten hundred hundred. Is Daddy old or young?: Old. What does Daddy do for work?: Computers. And mommy. Where is Daddy ticklish?: On his little face. What does Daddy look like?: Nathan. Why do you want Daddy to have a great Father's Day? : 'Cause I love him. Why do you love him? : 'Cause I just want to see him. And he gets me cookies. What is daddy's favorite food?: Um, Pizza. What is fun about Daddy?: He tickles me and plays David and Goliath and Robot. Is Daddy funny?: Yeah. Is Daddy good at sports?: Yes! Is Dad...

So, this past week was SBS ( Summer Bible School.. . aka Vacation Bible School). Nathan and I both helped. I was the photographer which was fun. I wish I could share some specific pictures but they are of other people's kids and I don't have permission. After all, you could be some creepy stalker reading this. I can just post generic pictures that don't show faces and whatnot. We had 75+ kids and most of them I would say were visitors from the community. I loved to see them smiling and having so much fun, and also hearing about Jesus. Keegan went to class too; there was a class for 2-3 year olds and he had fun. His favorite part were the puppets. The first and last night, the church brought in one of those fun inflatable things. The kids really loved this. I planned on going through it Fri night but due to our car trouble we never made it. I spent much of my week taking individual pictures of each child for their crafts. Here is Keegan's picture with the f...

This Sunday is the first day of summer. In looking back through my spring pictures, I love seeing the beauty of God's creation! I marvel in the things He has made for us to enjoy throughout the spring. My pictures can't do it justice, but it's a good place to start! Here are a few highlights from this spring! I just praise God for all the color, the beauty, and the detail of His creation! "God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good." Genesis 1:31

This week is our church's annual Summer Bible School (SBS). It's a lot of fun but it's also a challenging week for those of us with small children who do not nap. The kids are up extra late this week. At our house, extra late equals extra grumpy . Keegan is not a napper, but will fall asleep in the car if he's really tired. So, this week I've been taking him for a ' country drive' in the afternoon so that he can make it to our evening SBS. His teachers should thank me later for making sure he's well-rested. Anyway, I wait until he falls asleep in the car, then I drive home and he finishes his nap in the car, in the garage (windows rolled down, of course). The car is the only way he will nap. My friend, Nancy , and I have invented a bed for kids like Keegan. It's not just a normal kid's car bed. This one would actually simulate the child's normal car experience. It would vibrate to feel just like a car. Maybe it would smell like ...

Do you realize that there are only FIFTY FOUR days left until my favorite holiday!?!? Some of you are thinking Christmas, Thanksgiving, or Easter. Of course not. Do you even know me? I'm talking about OPENING DAY for the STATE FAIR . This is a major event at our house. The state fair is Aug 7-23rd . This year's theme is YEAR OF THE TOMATOES . Sure, why not? If you go to this LINK , you can vote for what should be this year's signature food. (thanks for the link, Jen) All the foods will be available, but the signature food that wins gets all the hype and the best booth space. This might just be the most important decision you've made all year. Here are this year's options. Now, I'm not going to lie to you; not all of them look good. And, one of them is downright healthy even. Nevertheless, here they are. Drumroll, please. Fine Print: So that I don't go to jail for plagerism.... these pictures and descriptions were stolen directly from the Ind...

People seem to think that Keegan looks like me when I was little. I can't decide. Here are some pictures of me from back in the day. You be the judge! You should be most impressed with my CHIPS motorcycle in this picture. I loved that thing. I always dreamed of having a motorcycle when I grew up. Ironically, Nathan has a motorcycle now and I refuse to get on it. Also, if you are too young to remember Chips then you are no longer allowed to read my blog... :) I think Keegan sort of looks like me here.... This is a baby picture of me but I can sort of see Kennedy's face in this one. Mostly the cheeks and eyes..... So, that's it. You be the judge!

Most of our weekend can be described with one word: MULCH . We came home Saturday afternoon to see this in our driveway: That's right; it's TWELVE cubic yards. You're probably asking yourself, "How is that red car going to get out of the garage?" That's a good one. I'm just glad it was Nathan's car, not mine. Keegan thought this was all great fun and soon turned the pile into a slide. Nathan also had some trees and bushes delivered. Notice the one on the left in the pic below? I don't know what it weighed but I couldn't even get it to budge an inch when I pulled it with all my might (and I drink milk). We used anyone that could help. And I mean anyone .... Nathan and Keegan worked all day Sunday after church and by Sunday evening, we were down to this much. Just enough to get the cars by..... barely...... Nathan also dug a humongo-jumbo hole for that tree bulb to fit down into. It was about 4 hours of work just to plant this bush!...

In looking back at old pictures, I realized that I invented UGG-type boots! That's right, I think I started the trend! Here I am in 1984 (1st grade). I'm the girl front and center with the oh-so-cool boots on. So, next time you see girls with those UGG boots on..... think of me! Oh, and I should mention this. I remember those boots now the more I think about it. I was 6 years old. One day after gym class I was getting dressed and put my boots on the wrong feet. A teacher pointed it out to me in front of the other kids. I was embarrassed, so I said, "They are supposed to be like that." and left them on the wrong feet. I was terribly uncomfortable and walked like a duck the rest of the day. :)

A lot of you have been asking me for updates on Keegan's food issues . It deserves its' own official post today. For those of you who don't know what I'm talking about, Keegan has sensory issues and struggles to eat tables foods (or even touch them with his hands). He also doesn't eat much quantity-wise for other reasons. I've blogged a couple of times about it if you wants some history: Link 1 , Link 2 . Let me try to answer all the FAQ's below..... 1. Is he getting better? If I look at Keegan over the past year, I can definitely see progress. He touches food with his hands much better and doesn't freak out about it. He has also been willing to taste new foods when threatened or motivated in the right ways. :) On the other hand, if I only look at Keegan in the past month or few months, I do not see progress and get discouraged. I try to look at the big, overall picture. He's been eating some baby food again lately which is good and bad. ...