lounging

Because Nathan didn't have to go into work until the afternoon, we were able to have a little bit of an easier relaxing morning (mind you, we still have 3 kids in the house that wake up ready to go) rather than the rush it usually becomes. This morning, Nathan treated me to a really nice and much needed and welcomed backrub. As I was lying on the couch enjoying this rare treat for a few minutes, Daddy just had to jokingly comment, "What's Mom doing today, Ivy, lounging?" Ivy then remarked, "Yeah, while all of her kids are hungry." There's no rest for the weary in this house...or at least just for Mommy.

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light. ~Matthew 11:28-30

cheese beans

Growing up, my Mom would sometimes make a special side dish for our family called cheese beans. The dish was really nothing extra ordinary - take a can of green beans and melt Velveeta cheese over them. Simple. Easy. Yummy. My Mom even tells us that on the nights that we had plain, old greens beans, she would open only one can for our family of six, and there would almost always be some beans left over. BUT, on the nights she would serve cheese beans, she would open 2 cans of beans, and miraculously there wouldn't be any left.

Well, tonight...

I passed on an Ochs family dish to my family. (Yeah, Kim!)

I made cheese beans. My family LOVES cheese. My family LOVES green beans. SO, they will definitely LOVE cheese beans. Right? Boy was I WRONG!!!!

Daddy choked down one spoonful of them. I threatened Ivy and Owen with the idea that they would not be excused from the table until they ate ONE bean or until it was bath time, whichever came first. Ivy closed her eyes, ate the bean off of her fork really fast, and then grabbed her cup of milk to wash the bean down. She ate her required bean so she was allowed to get up from the table. And then there was Owen... Owen and his stubborn self or fixated mind was just going to sit there until bath time until Daddy came along to encourage him to eat the bean. SO, Owen ate the bean while Daddy fed it to him and then immediately threw up ALL of his food all over himself and into Daddy's hands! (Don't worry...I won't show you any pictures of that!) BUT, at least Owen ate his bean so he was excused from the table. ;)

Do you think we will be having cheese beans EVER again????

(For the record, though, Letty didn't mind eating ALL of her cheese beans!) :0)

receipt

Since Ivy received a grocery cart for her birthday and now has a cash register that really scans and beeps bar codes from Christmas, pretending to go grocery shopping (or any kind of shopping) has pretty much been an everyday occurrence in this house. Today, Ivy gave me my receipt and commented, "Mom, here's your receipt. It tells you how much you've wasted." :o)

walking

Look what Letty is doing now...

...WALKING!!!!

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. ~III John v. 4

slushy pie

While Letty was taking her afternoon nap, the kids and I bundled up and got outside to enjoy the "warmer" weather. Owen and Ivy worked so hard creating dinner...

...SLUSHY PIE!