Little Things in the Garden

marigold cucumber
squash

pumpkin

cherry tomatoes

cantaloupe blossom

Corn Week 4

The corn is now 24 inches tall! I am trying my best to line up the shot with the same angle each time...sorry it's not quite right. But you can see the progression pretty easily in these shots.

Trip #4

Get a hanky!

Got this on Facebook this evening. How timely! We just put John on the plane. Six more months to go.

Birthdays

Today it was my turn to have a birthday--and JT and Luci tried to fit the correct number of candles on my cake! JT made this cake for me while I was at the homeschool convention. He made it ALL BY HIMSELF! John only helped with keeping track of how long the cake was in the oven. I am so proud of JT--and thrilled to bits. I'm pretty sure the only other person who's ever made me a birthday cake is my Mom! (No, Feingold friends, it is not Feingold acceptable...but it was from his heart and filled with lots of love. Remember, he had Dad helping him pick stuff out. John can't remember Feingold when he's shopping.) After the birthday bash (I got a DVD, some books, and some chocolate!), we did something I've been wanting to do ever since we moved in to this house. I guess I was just waiting for a very hot, humid day to do it. This is in the garage.

I'll outline it with black to give it more definition, and I've already painted over the worst of the dribbles into the white stripes. The new flag is right next to our old basement door, the one where we measure kids and milestones. I love this flag! Since taking this picture, we signed and dated it.

Homeschool Convention

Diane and I took our daughters to the first day of the Alabama Christian Home Education Fellowship (CHEF) convention. We got to listen to some good lecturers, talk, look at books, talk, buy books, and talk. It was a fun time. Since our last names both begin with W, Diane made matching t-shirts for the girls. Each had her name embroidered across the front on a little banner. Very cute!
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Luci and Rachel Luci ready for the first lecture we went to--she was prepared for a noisy speaker, but ended up not needing these.

Making a polymer at one of the booths--Elmer's glue, borax powder, water and a little food coloring.

Look at what I made!

Cracker Barrel always makes the list on any important trip.

It's Really Going to Happen...

John's trip, that is.

All of the "Honey-Do's" are done. That list began months ago as I found things that needed doing, and the kids thought of things that they really wanted to do with Daddy before his vacation was over.

He turned in his cell phone at work. So now John belongs to us, instead of his job, until we put him on the plane on Sunday afternoon.

Sigh.

Workin' at the Car Wash....

JT and Luci washed the van for me today. It hasn't been washed in a long time...there even was part of a tumbleweed stuck in the front grill which was caught in Colorado last month!

Mom! He's squirting me!!

What-cha going to do about it? (Nothing.)

Luci got over it pretty quickly, because she came up with an idea....

Squirting him back!

Luci-Speak

John called from work yesterday...Luci knows that Daddy is going back overseas soon, but got confused as to when, exactly.

Luci begged me for the phone, and said,

Hi, Daddy--

How's 'ghanistan?

John has now retired from the US Army Reserves (Hoo-Ah!), and gave J.T. and Luci his army berets. My, these two kids were delighted! Happy children, so proud of their Daddy. I just noticed that both kids are wearing USA shirts!

I'm as corny as Kansas in August...

wait, that's not right. It's June, and we're in Alabama!

Today

Progress: June 7, 15 and 22

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My Mom's surgery is today, Monday--late afternoon. Please remember her in your prayers.

Tea Party

What a great thing--a real tea party with Daddy! John talked to Luci about the nationals in Af ghan istan with whom he had tea, and told Luci that he wanted to have a tea party with her. Friday was the day...Some of Great-Nana's China, the table and chairs from Nana and Papa, and a princess dress. Feingold friends, don't despair over that Little Debbie cake. She didn't eat much. :) She seems to only react to wheat, not the artificial colors and flavoring in the cake.

Look at Luci's eye-ball watching her Daddy!

They had iced tea in their cups--too hot for real, hot tea in that teapot.

Afterwards, Luci and John worked in the yard. Luci lasted quite a while in the heat. It was a good day of playing and working with Daddy!

Gardening

Monday's picture: The corn is about 8 inches tall. Everything is growing, we are happy!

Luci and Daddy

Luci helped Bryan hold the ladder for Daddy, while he cleaned out the rain gutter. She held on to Bryan and Bryan held on to the ladder.I love my Daddy!

Something Simple, Something Good

This is a 3 minute or so powerful video. I hope you will watch it!

The Simple Truth

Work in Progress

We are finally adding to our driveway, to make a half-circle so people can get in and out of our driveway more safely. Today was the beginning of the process:

Luci--this is as close as she would get. She dressed herself, don't blame me for the outfit! :) No, it wasn't raining. She just likes umbrellas.

I got Luci settled in, watching from the dining room. She was eating her yogurt as she watched. She wrote, "I (heart) JT" on the window. In yogurt. If you look at the area just above the the front porch railing, you can see it. I was sitting just TWO FEET away! Yes, she got to clean it off, too. No, I don't have a picture of that. General Mayhem, indeed!

Say It, Tell It, Yell It---Communicating Christ

Vacation Bible School 2009

Luci has had a great time this year. The noise level didn't bother her, and she stayed with a large group without any family in the group, for 2 hours straight! That is a record for her.

If you ask Luci, she'll tell you that "V.B.S. is spelled V-V-S," and she spent the morning at "P.B.S."

Growing!

Here's Luci next to our little garden. There really is some corn growing, and I'll try to have a weekly photo of Luci and the corn. This was taken one week after we planted, and the corn is 3 inches tall. Luci is taller.

Our little sprouts--yes, I do have some thinning out to do. Told ya we have rocky ground!

What you eat *does* make a difference...

Did you know that the brand of ice cream, cookie and potato chip you select can have a direct effect on the behavior, health and ability to learn for you or your children?

Numerous studies show that some of the widely-used synthetic food additives can have serious learning, behavior and/or health effects for sensitive people.

The Feingold Program is a test to determining if certain foods or food additives are triggering particular symptoms. Symptoms of sensitivity to these foods and food additives can include behavior problems, asthma, learning disabilities, ADD, ADHD, developmental delays, irritability, hives, autism, PDD, headaches, bedwetting, ODD, dyslexia, chronic ear infections and eczema, among others.

The Feingold Association teaches people how to find the foods they enjoy, but without the unwanted additives.

Free Introductory Workshop

Thursday, June 25th 2009

7pm to 8:30 pm

Marriott SpringHill Suites

899 Elkridge Landing Road

Linthicum, MD (Near BWI Airport)

Sponsored by the Feingold Association of the US

631.369.9340

www.ADHDdiet.org

My family has been helped by the Feingold Association. I don't have migraines much anymore; Bryan is no longer Mr. Hyper; JT is affected greatly by artificial scents (think: fabric softener and candles), and Luci's eczema is controlled by diet.

My Mom and Dad

Please remember my Mom, Audrey, in your prayers...she is in lots of pain, waiting for a hip replacement operation. Pray for my Dad, Charles, too--Dad is taking care of Mom and both of them are exhausted.

Happy Birthday, John!

We celebrated John's birthday...on his birthday! That sounds like a "Duh!" kind of statement, but around here, we are not always together on the actual date. Witness Monday's post. Days are just days around here. We've even celebrated Christmas on a different day!

We got John some things he needs and wants for this next part of his trip...DVDs, sheets and hand wipes. Oh, and a German chocolate cake for eating now!

Sorry the picture is all blurry--but the happiness is obvious.

It was also the birth day for Truett, my brother Tom's newest grandson. Congratulations, Connor and Kaylee, with boy #3!