Mmmmm....

Do you want to know why I LOVE summer? For days such as this:

He's got that worried look.  "Mama are you going to not pick me up?"

We made fresh french fries.  Never tried it before, but they came out beautiful the first day we tried.  I have no picture of the second day because they disintegrated and turned to mush for some reason in the oil.  Too bad, so we opened up a can of baked beans instead.

This is how we eat around here, straight out of the pot.

My first born son

Here is a survey I once filled out before Jedidiah was even heard of.  I just wanted to re-post this.

MY FIRST BORN....
- a different kind of survey for a change - it's all about your first born! Just copy and paste it in a new note for yourself! Tag 10 mommies when you're finished.
Let's see how much you remember!
1. Was your first pregnancy planned?
No, was a total surprise!
2. WERE YOU MARRIED AT THE TIME?
Not yet
3. WHAT WERE YOUR REACTIONS?
Fever, hives, Chills, and blindness
4. WAS ABORTION AN OPTION FOR YOU?
No.
5. HOW OLD WERE YOU?
26
6. HOW DID YOU FIND OUT YOU WERE PREGNANT?
I took a pregnancy test, also, I could just tell. Mother's intuition.
7. WHO DID YOU TELL FIRST?
My bank Teller
8. DID YOU WANT TO FIND OUT THE SEX?
No, but I knew what it was anyway. I just knew.
10. DID YOU HAVE MORNING SICKNESS?
A little bit, but I just ate some soda crackers and was fine after that.
11 WHAT DID YOU CRAVE?
To lay out in the sun by the ocean, and drink cold Pina Coladas.
12. WHO/WHAT IRRITATED YOU THE MOST?
Telemarketers, Collections agencies, the DMV.
13. WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST CHILD'S SEX?
Male
14. DID YOU WISH YOU HAD THE OPPOSITE SEX OF WHAT YOU WERE GETTING?
Yes, because boys grow up to be icky and stinky and smelly. But oh well what ya gonna do?
15. HOW MANY POUNDS DID YOU GAIN THROUGHOUT THE PREGNANCY?
Just about 300, but I have lost most of it by now.
16. DID YOU HAVE A BABY SHOWER?
No. No one knew there was a baby coming.
17. WAS IT A SURPRISE OR DID YOU KNOW?
?
18. DID YOU HAVE ANY COMPLICATIONS DURING YOUR PREGNANCY?
Yeah, I gained some weight.
19. WHERE DID YOU GIVE BIRTH?
In Arkansas. We wanted to birth the baby where Isaiah was born.
20. HOW MANY HOURS WERE YOU IN LABOR?
12
21. WHO DROVE YOU TO THE HOSPITAL?
A really cute boy.
22. WHO WATCHED YOU GIVE BIRTH?
Anyone who could get to you-tube.
23. WAS IT NATURAL OR C-SECTION?
Natural
24. DID YOU TAKE MEDICINE TO EASE THE PAIN?
Nope, went all natural.
25. WHEN WAS YOUR DUE DATE?
December 1, 2006
26. HOW LONG WAS YOUR CHILD?
Too long.
27. HOW MUCH DID YOUR CHILD WEIGH?
Not much.
28. WHEN WAS YOUR CHILD ACTUALLY BORN ?
I don't remember.
30. WHAT DID YOU NAME HIM/HER?
Philip, after philip the III
31. HOW OLD IS YOUR FIRST BORN TODAY?
12 years old.

My little indentured servant

Easter 2012

Easter, 2012 on the radio on the way to Church:

Isaiah put on a Cassette tape, (yes you read that right, a cassette tape.) here is the inspiring 

and perfectly fitted hymn:

Morning has broken, like the first morning
Blackbird has spoken, like the first bird
Praise for the singing, praise for the morning
Praise for the springing fresh from the word

Sweet the rain's new fall, sunlit from heaven
Like the first dewfall, on the first grass
Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden
Sprung in completeness where his feet pass

Mine is the sunlight, mine is the morning
Born of the one light, Eden saw play
Praise with elation, praise every morning
God's re-creation of the new day.

Also, We were graced with a pleasant few hours broken free of the typical Oregonian grey.  What a beautiful reminder of Newness of life.  We were also graced with someone willing to take our family picture.  We are not usually graced with this gift.  Beth took these photos.  

When Beth finished these photos, she looked at me and said "Isn't Easter wonderful"  Or something like that.

Easter is wonderful.  It always has been to me.  

Showing off my ear