Like a Handprint on My Heart...

This is one of the best lines from one of my favorite "Wicked" songs ("For Good" - it's in my playlist below if you want to take a listen). Memories like the ones we made on our day-trip to Atlanta to see the play will hopefully stay with me . . . like a handprint on my heart. If you've not seen this show, don't let the title fool you. It's sooooo good.

Thanks to Jason, Valerie, and Mary for making the trip even more fun!! From fussing at the GPS system and playing McD's Monopoly, to dinner at Maggiano's and eating Mary's famous Fairy Drop Cookies (see the recipe in an earlier post!) -- I think we laughed more than we did anything else. Well . . . except eat!

Tight Wad

The kids have discovered how fun it is to run down the hall and plummet onto Hudson's bed. I have asked them to stop, and they've complied. However, tonight I noticed some paint missing from Hudson's wall where his head board and foot board have scraped it -- yep, you guessed it, from the kids doing acrobatics on the bed. They were both in the vicinity when I made the discovery, and I really wanted to make a stern point that this was not acceptable behavior. So I say . . .

Me: Hey, guys -- see this on the wall?
Them: Yeah.
Me: Guess how that happened?
Olivia: Ummm. From when we jumped on Hudson's bed?
Me: Yes. (long pause) If I see either of you jumping on the bed again, you're both in trouble. That means if I see Olivia jumping, then you both will be punished; if I see Hudson jumping, you both will be punished.
Olivia: Why both of us?
Me: Because I don't know which of you started this, but I do know that you tend to do this together as a group activity. No more, or there will be a price to pay.
Hudson: Well, I'm not paying you any of MY money!

I had to look away because I was laughing so hard. The little stinker!!

Baby has the WHAT?

Olivia and Hudson have been taking care of Olivia's baby dolls the last few days. Making serious efforts to feed, nap, dress, and entertain them. It's been rather hilarious. Tonight, Hudson was very worried about one of them. Here's the conversation...

Me: Hudson, it's time to put things away to go to bed.
Hudson: But Momma, one of the babies is sick. I have to give it its medicine.
Olivia: Yeah, it has the "lu".
Me: The what?
Olivia: The "lu". We thought it was the flu, but it didn't have a fever, so it's just the "lu".
Me: So the "f" in "flu" stands for fever?
Olivia: (very matter-of-factly) Yes.

Guess we should all get the "lu" shot as well as the flu shot. Hey, and don't make fun of my boy -- he's just learning to be a good daddy like the one he has!

*** Added on Sunday, 10/26 -- Olivia was reading this post today and asked me . . .
Olivia: What's laryngitis?
Me: It's where you can't talk.
Olivia: We thought "flu" stood for Fever, Laryngitis, and Upset stomach
Me: laughed and added it to this post immediately!

Curiously Similar?

Is it just me, or does Hudson strike a resemblence to Curious George?

Saying of the Day

We went to the Museum of Science and Energy in Oak Ridge today (pic is of the kids on the way there). When entering the room that had a replica of the huge switchboard used at the nuclear facility during the 1940s, Hudson stared at all of the buttons and switches and said loudly, "Well, wouldcha getta load of that?"

Pulled Pork

This is something I fix often -- most anytime we entertain, tailgate, or need to feed a crowd. It's super easy, virtually fool-proof, and it feeds a lot of people for very little expense. Randy likes his with BBQ sauce; I like mine plain or served over baked beans (you already know I'm strange, so this should come at no surprise); the kids like it anyway you throw it at them. It's great on a bun, bun-less, on a tortilla, hot, cold, immediately, left-over, and used in a completely different form later on (makes yummy enchiladas!). Try it. You'll be hooked!

Pulled Pork

- boneless pork picnic shoulder (I can only find them at Wal-Mart so far, Tyson puts them out); any size will do, but the bigger the better
- garlic cloves, peeled (use as many as you want; I usually do 4-6)
- coarse salt, about 1/2 teaspoon
- coarse pepper, same
- 1 cup of liquid (cider vinegar, water, apple juice, or any combination of; I like 1/2 vinegar & 1/2 water)

Remove the strings and plastic pop-up thermometer from the pork; place it in a crock pot. Add the rest of the ingredients; cover and turn the temperature on high. Cook for 6 hours and don't mess with it if you can stand it. At this point, start picking at it with a fork. It will start falling apart, and it will be pink inside. Turn it down to low heat. Continue cooking for at least another hour, and continue picking at it so it will end up shredded. Search out the garlic and make sure it gets broken up into the meat. The liquid will get absorbed the more you stir and pick at it. Enjoy!

Plane Maker

Overheard in Upaji Village this morning while the kids were waiting for parents to pick them up:

Campbell (holding a paper airplane made out of a coloring page): "Does your plane go fast?"

Hudson (holding his paper airplane also made out of a coloring page): "Yes. My dad made it, and he's a brofessional."

Hilarious!!

SoKno Gets the Shaft

I like South Knoxville. I have no problem living here. But, I do have a problem. It's so unfortunate that retailers don't realize that people actually live here and need to buy things. Real things. Not just things that will do or that are second best. Why, for example, do we have 3 Sonics within a 10-mile stretch of Chapmay Highway, BUT we have to drive 20 minutes to a Target? I love Sonic, but that just doesn't make sense. Anyway . . .

This soap box got a little higher today.

Olivia had a birthday party to attend in way-west Knoxville, so I decide to spend that time grocery shopping. I dropped her off then I found a new Kroger just a few minutes from party central. Granted, this is a newer part of town and I know there's going to be bigger and better stuff out there, but OH MY GOODNESS!! I walked in, and this place was a foodie's theme park. There was the usual Starbucks (I'm used to this; everyone has a SB except SoKno grocery stores), but also a real-live jewlery store and a FURNITURE department. Furniture! At Kroger! Don't get me started about the 'normal' food areas -- there was produce I have never ever seen before. Sea beans (see picture)? Miniature African pineapple? What do people do with these things?

I only got through about a third of the square footage before my hour of limited time was up. I can't even tell you what else was there. I'm going to have to plan a day when Hudson is in school to go back and hit the other two thirds. Who knows. I might bring home a couch!

Anyone for Tea?

Tea parties are best when shared with friends . . .

girlie girls . . .

manly men . . .

. . . and toes!

How sweet is this?

The girls liked being served (by me!) as much as they liked serving the boys. What a great way to spend a lazy summer afternoon.

I'm thankful for days and memories such as these.

Tea Partiers: Jack, Kasey, Olivia & Hudson; July 2008

Who Knew?

We celebrated The Lord's Supper tonight at church, and a crazy thought got into my head . . . What is Hudson going to do when he's able to partake in this ceremony? The little square bread things are made of FLOUR!! What a bummer. He's very close to salvation, and he was quite curious as to what we were doing with these 'special snacks' tonight. I'd hate for him to be all excited about taking part in his first Lord's Supper (by the way, that's 'communion' for all my Catholic buddies!) and then not being able to eat the bread.

Well, as I was just about to shut down the 'puter tonight, I thought about it again and did a little Google search. Can you believe, there's actually a GLUTEN-FREE COMMUNION WAFER? "... sold in a pack of 50 and now soy-free!" I'm cracking up. Who knew?? Guess I'll have to give our Deacons a heads-up on this. Will we have a special 'wheat free' pew? Will we have to BYOB -- Bring Your Own Bread? The wafers are made by Ener-G Foods. I think I have a coupon . . .