Piano Recital

When Tina saw her picture she said, "Oooh, I'm pretty. I knew I looked good, but I didn't know I looked that good."

Nope, no self-esteem issues here.

Videos of the kids' performances are uploaded on youtube for the Grandmas (start with Joe and you should find the others if you look at all videos uploaded by farmers1995)

Spontaneity

John called home on his way home from work with a "crazy idea". He had read in the news that the local strawberry farm had a beautiful crop of strawberries and suggested we go pick some - that night. Our normally scheduled activity for that evening was cancelled, so it worked out perfectly. We left dinner on the stove and off we went. We found the news report to be absolutely true. The strawberries were large, ripe, and plentiful. We picked 3 gallons. And had fun doing it.





Then on the way home we went by the Clemson University horse farm. The kids hopped out of the car and petted the foals.


Finally, we drove past the lake to see the sunset.

Sometimes it drives me crazy that we don't live a more structured life. But on nights like this, I realize our carefree personalities fit well together, we love to be spontaneous with each other, and we find great joy.

Overheard

Wow! I've had this "Overheard" post sitting in my draft list since October of last year. I figured it was time to finally post it. To go with it, I'm loading some pictures from January that never made it to the blog.

Here are several one-liners. I no longer remember the context in which these were said or who said them, but they are still amusing:

"Quit! Your breath has too much water in it."

"I didn't know it, but I'm good at drawing Chinese clothes."

"Mommy, you are the best laundry folder. It's like underwear origami."

"No, it doesn't stink. It smells like Mommy...." [pause] "... when she's clean." I'm wondering what sort of looks the other kids gave to necessitate the little addendum there.

A malapropism from Taryn. (Who says teens can't be just as hilarious as a little kid learning to talk.)
"Their marriage wasn't circumcised until after Jesus was born."



A Taryn malapropism while studying the human body:
The muscle in your bottom is the Gluttonous maximus.

True, that.



Rebekah got a Wave board (one of those 2-wheeled skateboards with a pivot in the middle) for her birthday (see I told you this was an old post). The girls got the hang of it in about one morning. They made it look easy is what I'm saying.
So, I jumped on to try it. Through their laughter they tried to coach me. "You're not really doing the wave, Mom, you're just kind of jiggling."

I was helping David in the tub and noticed several scabs on his back. I asked him about how he got them. "I fell into the toilet but it's okay. I climbed back out."

See, there are benefits to having a gluttonous maximus. I've never fallen into the toilet and had to climb out.


Tina was playing with 3 smaller girls and was giving horsey rides with them on her back, 2 at a time. Joseph told her he would have been strong enough to give all 3 of them rides at once. She retorted, "So could I! I'm just not 3 buns long!"

Bullet Point Observations

• My kids have caught both a snake and a mouse today. They released the snake, but are making the mouse comfortable in a cage. Hmph.


• None of our okra seeds sprouted. Of all the seeds we planted, it was the only variety with 0% to sprout. I'm thinking this could be sabotage on the part of one (or all) of the kids... or their effective prayer.


• There is actually such a thing as being "a pro" at eating Fun Dip (and Taryn declared herself to be one).


• You might be a redneck if you live in a state which has a "Venison for Charity" credit for taxes.


• You might need to consider some way to boost your brain power when even the 4 year old thinks you are an easy opponent at Memory.


• Yesterday one of the boys could not find his shoes as we were trying to head to the playground and his brothers and sisters were already in the car waiting for him. All we could find that fit was an old pair of girl tennis shoes which were blue and black. He was distressed. A compassionate mom may have sympathized. At that moment I was not a compassionate mom. I said, "You're lucky they are blue and black. I wish they were bright pink."


• I don't know how southern kids ever learn to read or write. Today Tina spelled drink d-r-e-e-n-k. No matter how I emphasized it, she could not hear a short "i" sound. "That's what I said, Mom!"
  
• Observation by David: "The Titanic wasn't the goodest boat. [pause] They thought it was the goodest boat but it got sunk because it scratched the mountain of iceberg."

He is Risen!

These are the kids telling you "Happy Easter!"



John used this text in his message this morning. Love it!

After two days he will revive us;
on the third day he will restore us,
that we may live in his presence.

Let us acknowledge the LORD;
let us press on to acknowledge him.
As surely as the sun rises,
he will appear;
he will come to us like the winter rains,
like the spring rains that water the earth."
Hosea 6:2-3

Birthday Girls

The whole gang celebrating Taryn

Birthday menu for Taryn was pork tenderloin, mac and cheese, veggies and carrot cake (no raisins, no nuts).
Taryn blowing out her candles.

Taryn trying out her new roller blades in the dark and rain.

We celebrated Christina's birthday a day early since we will not be home tomorrow night.
Christina's birthday menu was shrimp creole, salad, bread and strawberry cake.

Christina got the mini Josefina American Girl doll. She was kind of wanting it.

Don't be like me

Go put some sunscreen in your purse/diaper bag and make your kids use it.

That's Rebekah, also affectionately known as "Red".