Mark's Garden

We have been enjoying fruits of our labors with Mark's garden.  He doubled it this year compared to last year.  I have eaten  loads of broccoli and pea pods.  I found a really good oriental/Thai recipe at http://www.allrecipes.com/  that uses broccoli and pea pods.  I have made it twice this season with things out of our garden.  My husband has become quite the farmer.  I love this website because you can give them ingredients that you have and they will give you different recipes that you can prepare with them. 
He is trying his hand at corn again.  We had a few ears last year but, he has planted more corn this year.   Thomas is my little corn eater.  He only likes it on the cob though.  We were at  a family get together and they had fixed cream corn off the cob and I asked Thomas if he wanted any.  He simply replied, "Can you put it back on the cob?"  I laughed and said no we can't.  He passed on the cream corn.  Mark tried potatoes this year too.  They did real well.  We had a good amount of potatoes.  They are so yummy too.  Mark also planted lettuce and he planted a mixed bag of lettuce.  So we got some that we did not really  recognize.  We had one that was really hot.  It had a kick to it after  you had eaten it.  I gave some to my Mom and my sister.  My sister said it was arugula.  I had never had arugula.  I had seen it on the cooking show but never tried it my self.  Mark liked it but, he likes hot and spicy things.  I don't really like my lettuce to be hot.  My sister took it and wrapped it around chicken breasts and baked it.  She said that was really good.  I did not try that.  I have enjoyed my peas that we have gotten this year too.  I love fresh peas raw.  When I was little I used to go get them out of the garden and eat them while I was outside playing.  They are so sweet and yummy.  I tried to get my kids to try them.  Jack did not care for them, he is my little carnivore, Thomas liked them.  He did not eat them the way I used to but he liked them.  Can you tell I am trying to add some variety to my kids diet?  That is not an easy task. 

Summer Reading

So we went to the Library yesterday just in time to sign up for their Summer Reading program.  They want the kids to read in 15 minute segments.  Every 15 minutes they read they color in a picture and as they are coloring in pictures they are earning prizes.  This is very managable and the kids have to keep up with it.  Jack loves getting prizes.  He read for an hour and fourty-five minutes yesterday.  Thomas read for an hour.  They both checked out their own books and are now excited about completing their coloring pages for their reading times. 
I give kudos to the Library for such a clever plan.   All I have heard for the last several days is that you have to keep your kids reading over the summer in order to keep them learning and so they will be ready for their next grade level.   Thank you to my local Library for a great plan. 
We also went to the movies to see Marmaduke.  It was really cute.  The kids loved it.  I could not believe it but we were the only ones there.  As hot as it has been I thought it would be really crowded.  Right before the movie started another gentleman and his two kids came in so it was only the six of us in this giant theater. 
After the movies we headed for home so the kids could do their reading.  I have picked up a book myself to read.  I figure if I show them I am taking time to read it will also encourage them to do the same.  I will have to tell you about my book later.  Mine is purely for pleasure. 

Day one Summer Vacation. . .

My kids slept till 9am.  Yahoooooo!!!  I didn't of course.  For some reason I could not sleep today.   Normally I could have and would have pleaded to have slept that long.  Today we have been lazy bones, staying in our jammies till two.  I did make the boys help me with laundry and do some reading.  I have decided I am tired of the huffing and puffing when I ask  them to do something so, I have been making them do push ups when they start.  I can't really tell if it has helped just yet.  They are getting very good at their push ups though.  Jack can knock out 20 in a snap with perfect form.  Thomas takes a little longer.  I figure they will either be the best mannered boys in town or they will have arms like "the Rock."    I am just so tired of the sassy mouth they have at times.   I figure the push ups will help them get ready for football this fall too.
We are officailly done with baseball and on the last game of the season Thomas hit a home run.  A legitimate home run, out to right center.  He brought in 2 runs with that hit.   He was so excited and so was everyone else.  He had been in a bit of a hitting slump.  What a way to come out of it?   I was trying to video tape it.  I got the hit and him running to first base then all you see is the chain link fence and you hear me screaming run!  I then pick him back up again running from third base home.  I did get him crossing home plate with his hands over his head jumping up and down.  It was pretty funny.  I am glad I have that though.  I have one of Jack when he played t-ball and he is floating around the bases like a butterfly, flapping his arms.  That one I think I will show when he is in High School.

First Anual Crater Water Balloon Fight. . .

Yes, you read it right.  I decided that I would engage in  a water balloon fight with my kids.  Today was their last day of school and I thought this would be a good release.  I helped do the water balloons for the class party yesterday and the kids had so much fun I figured why not.
I left 4 balloons filled up on the porch with a note telling the kids to each take two and meet me in the back yard.  I heard them at the door I ran outside to surprise them.  Boy were they surprised.  I lay in wait to ambush them.   I had about 40 balloons that we threw like crazy at each other.  They are not as fragile as I thought they would be, the balloons I mean.  Some did not bust when they hit you. 
Our Summer is off to a loud start.   The boys are so glad to be out of school.  Thomas has a game tonight and then a make up game tomorrow.  Then we will be officailly lazy summer folks.  Yeah!!!

Gearing up for Summer

Well, as school comes to a close, we look forward to a long lazy summer.   My kids are looking forward to being able to sleep in and stay in their pjs' longer.  They love to lounge in their jammies.   Other than Mark getting up to go to work I to might get to sleep in.  Huh?  HA HA HA HA!!  Something tells me it will snow mid July before that happens.

Jack has already decided he wants to do art camp this summer.  Thomas has said no thanks to that one.  They will both go to our Church camp.  This will be the first time at sleep away camp for Thomas.   Jack has already invited my Mom, Sister and the girls to go gem mining again with us.  I do believe I have a little treasure hunter on my hands.  
We will also be spending some time at the local Library to keep our reading up to speed.  Jack is also a book hound.  He does not like checking out from the Library he wants to own them all.   He owns several different series that he has read.  His Daddy is like that too.  Mark has a collection of Stephen King that is incredible.  He even has some that he published under another name.   I collect cook books, go figure.

I will be posting more regularly this summer to keep everyone up to date.   So check by and see what we are up to.

Sorry for the long gap. . .

Our house has been crazy.  Sorry for such a long gap in posts.  I  hope with summer fast approaching that I will be able to do better with my posting.  The boys have been playing baseball like crazy this year.  They both have improved greatly.  It is rather funny that they both had a hitting slump at the same time.  Thankfully they are both on their way out. 
Thomas hit a home run last night, 3 RBIs' and a single and I did not get to see it.  I was across town at Jack's game.  Both teams got beat.  Jack has begun pitching and has really gotten very good at it.  I think anyway.  Of course you all know I am a little bias.  That is a mom's perogative you know.  Last night Jack pitched the last two inings and did quite well.  He struck two kids out.  When he is not pitching he plays third base.  At third last night he made a great play (what else would I call it) and got the kid out at first.
We have been consumed by baseball but our season is winding down.  We have been playing for a different group and it has been a good experience.  They only play an hour  on school nights and we rarely have Satruday games.  I think Jack has had one Saturday game and Thomas had one scheduled as a make up game.  This leaves us free to play on Satruday as a family which is great. 
Our Summer is going to be crazy too.  Why shouldn't it?   We have lots of things planned so I will be blogging to keep everyone up to date.
I enjoyed my time as a substitute teacher this year too.  I enjoyed working at the High School.  I thought it would be more difficult than Middle School but it was not.  I think next year I will get to work even more since they know me.  I learned a lot during this time too.
I am finishing up my 40 week Bible study.  It has been an experience.  I have learned  a lot about my self and my  relationship with God.  I am in the process of writing my "Rule of Life."  This is part of our program.  This is to be the way we want to  live our life.  The rules by which we will guide ourselves to live a more Christian life.  Like I said, I have learned a lot.  I do think I have a better relationship with God and I think I have grown as a person during this time too.  My kids are learning too.  They  see me reading my Bible and studying it and they have also been doing that at night before they go to bed.  Jack has always been interested in the Bible and since I got him a new one that is written more in lauguage that he can understand he is reading more and more everyday.  Thomas on the other hand, has just gotten started reading his.  He likes it though, he also likes reading it to me.  Jacks' Bible is "God's Word for Boys"  it is an adveture Bible.  The one I got for Thomas is also an adventrue Bible and is more for his age.   So my Bible study has benefited everyone. 
Isn't it funny how things work out?