Teaching Moment

Cristian ran into our bedroom this morning saying he had just had a 'special experience'. So Jen and I asked what the 'special experience' had been. This is the experience Cristian recounted:

"I was looking for Mason's batman helicopter bullet and I couldn't find it. So, I said a prayer and when I was done I walked over to the toy box and I had a feeling that it was at the bottom of the toy box. I looked at the bottom of the toy box and I found the bullet!"

Needless to say that this was a great teaching moment for Cristian and us. Children have such simple faith. If only we could have faith as a child.

Guess what topic we'll be covering in FHE this Monday.

SAY WHAT?!?

Perry has something cute that she says. Whenever we got to eat kolaches, we have to get a few donuts as well. She always asks for a "pink donut with SPRINKLERS".

MASON has his own vocab too. Did you know that another title for people is "human BEANS?"

Culinary Picasso

So, I just discovered that I AM actually artistic! And who knew that I had been cultivating this talent everyday for the past 11 years. As you can distinctly see I effortlessly created a human face full of glee while preparing egg sandwiches for dinner last night. I am truly a genius. I believe Grandma Van, Markie, Shay, & Tay (the true artists) would be everlastingly impressed.

Or not.

SAY WHAT?!?

Here's another lovely addition from Mason, who I have been calling Mace as of late. It is driving Cristian crazy, but I give EVERYONE dear to me a nickname. Oh well.

So the kids were eating left over Popsicle's from the tonsillectomy days. Mason is standing there with his goodie in one hand and grabbing his penis with the other.

I ask, "Mace, do you need to go to the bathroom?"

"No," he replies.

"But you are holding your penis like you need to go pee-pee."

"No mom, it is just getting ready for a nap," he retorts.

I give him a very confused expression.

"Well, mom I already had my nap so my body isn't tired. Just my penis is ready for its nap."

Okay, and so we see here men are in tune with their penis' at such an early age. And that penis' do, in fact, have their own brains. THIS is valuable research.

Lebanese Grape Leaves - Oooh, that rhymes

Noel has her spring break this week so she and I took on a little culinary adventure. I had purchased these grape leaves about 6 months ago & finally found my cooking mojo. These are not hard, nor complicated. Just time consuming. The leaves had to be rinsed. Does it mildly resemble a pot leaf or am I just too hopeful?

Little Miss Noel was handy with the kitchen scissors. She deveined each leaf with gentle loving care. Let's face it, she is good for small detailed work. It must be her PT training. On a happy note, I love it that Noel is the one person that I can prep food with while talking about gory surgery and decaying limbs. That's a gift.



The time consuming task of stuffing the leaves. My recipe actually said that the prep time for this recipe was 45 minutes. What a bunch of crack smokers! That must be measured against Martha Stewart who has a prep staff of 15 beneath her per recipe. Cora was wherever her auntie was. She loves Noel terribly.









All the white granules are minced garlic. We sandwiched garlic between each layer. Then you pour lemon juice over all the bundles. Fill the pot with water. Cover the leaves with a heavy plate to keep them still. Cook for 2 hours. They were better tasting I thought the next day. It was fun making something ethnic and different. Carlos enjoyed showing them off at work.

Downward Spiral

One of our finer moments as parents...I am reminded of a comment my brother makes about his sons. He's saving for college tuition for one and bail money for the other. Sometimes that hits too close to home. Case in point, the minor offense discipline record sheet. Amazing that our little four-year-old can generate such a piece of paper.



I do pride myself that I'm at least not one of those parents that gets all defensive and points the finger in every direction but mine and my boy's. It helps that I L-O-V-E his teacher too. I've asked her if she'd move up to kindergarten and teach Mason again. She declined. She is tough, consistent, fair, and doesn't stand for his shenanigans. I will confess it wounds me a bit to have the problem child. I think that is just my pride though.

Cuz dang it, if all the drama of Mason isn't one of the greatest joys of my life. He amuses me to no end. We'll learn to handle to moods. He is a great kid.

Besides how many of you guys can boast a referral on your four-year old?

He even got to "chat" with the vice principle. Divine.

Mason's Surgery

Mason had his tonsils taken out today. These are a couple of pictures and a short video of the hospital stay. The video was taken about an hour-and-a-half after the procedure was over. We knew he was feeling better. I'm sure we all wish we could be that resilient.

Before

After

Hammin it up!

BFF

Exhibit a: This would be Perry, not on the friendship drug we like to call Emmy. This is a normal little 3 year old, happy as can be drug-free.

Exhibit b: And then our sweet little girl was introduced to the enticing, fast-paced, dramatic drug called friendship. Friendship disguised itself as a perky blonde, blue-eyed mistress called Emily. The addiction was immediate and can often be life threatening.

Exhibit c: The sick relationship continues. Familial co-dependency keeps both families sucked into this dangerous relationship. Life cannot go on without Emmy and Perry tied at the hip. Their names are uttered frequently on each others lips. Continued contact only enforces more need for the friendship drug.

Folks, just say "no" to the Jensens.

Gremlin

For New Year's we had Shay, David, Noel & Jared over for dinner and games. The girls decided to do appetizers for dinner. One of my favorite kind of meals by the way. I bought this loaf of sourdough for dipping. It wasn't until I began the prep work that I discovered this face looking back at me. I was in the middle of stuffed mushrooms so I popped 2 mushrooms stems in for eyes. Look how realistic my little old man is. I was so amused with myself, as is sadly often the case. I thought he was darling in a very creepy way.