January reads

At the beginning of the year, I posted my 2012 Reading List. It had 24 books on it, two for each month, that I was hoping to read this year. I mentioned that I was hesitant to post it, because I didn't want to worry about it if I wasn't successful with it. Well, the first month is through, and I'm happy to say that I read not just two books, but three! I'm also up-to-date on my Bible reading and my D.A. Carson devotions. I'll have to admit, they were all three great books, which I think is one of the biggest reasons I finished three. I couldn't put them down! (This is the biggest reason I got behind on my blogging. I was reading during the boys' nap time instead of blogging.)


A dear friend emailed me half-way through the month and asked how I was doing with my reading list. I emailed her back to tell her I was on my third book, and she encouraged me to write a brief review on here of each book. Heath also mentioned that I should blog about what I thought about the books, especially what I learned from the first, Twelve Ordinary Men. So here goes...


Twelve Ordinary Men, by John MacArthur


This was one of the books that Heath suggested that I read. I have read Twelve Extraordinary Women (also by JMac), but never this book that preceded about the twelve apostles. Before reading the book, I thought I knew who they were. I could name them and tell you a few facts about them both while they were with Jesus and after His death and resurrection, but after reading just a few pages in this book, I found out I was wrong. This book was packed full of so much information on these twelve important men! You can read the scriptures over and over, but John MacArthur seemed to connect-the-dots with history and scripture to really dig in to the lives of these men. 
On the other hand, this book told a lot about why Jesus chose these men and not others, like rabbis, priests or scholars. Instead he chose twelve men who were nobodies, who struggled with their own sin, the power of God and even commitment. Honestly, they were quite dense about it all. 
Which made me think -- hey, that's just like me. God took these men and shaped them into what He needed them to be and what he needed them to do. It opened my eyes to see that He's constantly doing the same to me. Loved this book!


The Paris Wife by Paula McLain


Awesome book. I guess I need to say more than that. This book is about Hadley Richardson, Ernest Hemingway's first wife. It starts with the two being in the states, meeting through a mutual friend and throughout the book, the two marry, live in Paris, but travel all over Europe, have a child together, and (because we know he had four wives) eventually get divorced. Wow. I had no idea that Hemingway was such a selfish pig-headed man. This story is told through Hadley's perspective, so it breaks your heart to know she completely supported him while he was trying to become a writer. She was lonely and heartbroken throughout their marriage, but eventually found love again after Hemingway. 
I loved that this book was so factual, although still fiction. It took you to Paris in the 20's during the jazz age and when everyone enjoyed their alcohol, and names like Gertrude Stein and F. Scott Fitzgerald were still unknown. 
I think I loved this book because it was historical fiction, about a favorite author, and it had a bit of romance, too. McLain is a great writer, very artistic in style, which I appreciate. Thanks to Amy for recommending this book!


The Help by Kathryn Stockett


What can I say? If the book could be nominated for an Oscar, too, it would definitely win. This 400 plus page book took me about a week to read. I couldn't put it down. I got behind on laundry, ironing, dishes and house cleaning. Yeah, it basically got me in trouble, but it was well worth it. (I'm caught up now, by the way.) I'm sure most people know the plot of this book, since it's already been in the theaters. Based in Jackson, Mississippi in the 1960's, this book is told from the voices of three ladies. One is a young, white girl just out of college who decides to write a book telling the story of black ladies who raise white children for their employers. The other two are black ladies who have spent their lives working for white families and raising their children (among other things.) This book is also a bit historical, so it was right up my alley. Stockett is also a wonderful writer who made this a definite page turner. I don't want to give anything away since it's a hit movie right now. I'm hoping to see the movie soon, although I'm number 57 on the waiting list to borrow it from the library. :)


Right now I'm squeezing in a book that's not on my reading list, The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks. It's also coming out as a movie in April, so I'm wanting to read it before then. When I finish this one, I'll pick up where I left off with my reading list with Bringing Up Boys.

One year ago today

a lot can change in a year

The $250 Cookie Recipe

Have you heard of the Neiman-Marcus cookie recipe? It's an email that has been forwarded through emails for over a year now. It tells of a lady who ate at a Neiman-Marcus restaurant, and after ordering a salad, they enjoyed a chocolate chip cookie. They loved the cookies so much, they asked for the recipe. Their waitress told them that the recipe was two-fifty. She agreed to pay it, and they added it to her bill. A month later, she received her credit card bill in the mail and saw that the recipe was not $2.50, but $250. She was floored and decided to call the store to argue the amount. In the end she lost, had to pay the $250, but thought she could get back at the store by emailing the recipe out asking for everyone to circulate it around.


I looked the email up on urbanlegends.com and found out that the story is, of course, false. It actually dates back to 1948, when the same story was told with a recipe of red velvet fudge cake. Interesting. You can read the whole story here. My sister received the email and then forwarded it on to me and my mom a few weeks ago, and after looking at the recipe, mom and I thought we would give it a try. At the time, we didn't know it was false, and thought, 'Hey, if it's that good, we better try it!'

So it's a good thing we halved the recipe. The dough was so thick, but nothing my new mixer couldn't handle!

I rolled them into balls to put on the cookie sheet. It made 56 cookies, so it was a good thing we only did half! They weren't hard to make at all. I had never blended oatmeal, but it wasn't hard at all - just put it in the blender. The hardest part was grating the King size Hershey bar.

And here they are! How were they? Mom said, "I wouldn't pay $250 for them." Baylen ate the majority of one with no complaints while Cash passed on one to throw his bouncy ball around the house. As for me, I thought they were great, a little chocolate-y for me, but I loved the chopped nuts and blended oatmeal effect. If you decide to try it out, let me know what you think.

A heart a little o and a big O

Yay for Y!

Honestly, I slacked for about a week and a half with school games. I hadn't been doing any searching for fun things to do, we were working out the kinks in our new schedule after adding Musikgarten, tumbling and my own ladies' Bible study, and we were just not with-it after Christmas and the new year. I finally got around to looking at our schedule and rounded up some things to do. I didn't go overboard with the letter for this particular week, because we were still trying to get used to our more-busy days. Cash had been asking for school games though, so with the letter Y, we took it easy and did a few things here and there.

We did, of course, have a Bible verse to memorize, and both boys did really well with it. Cash memorized the entire thing, and B was able to fill in the blanks as we said it with him.

You are my friends if you do whatever I command you. - John 15:14

Mom got Cash some more Do-A-Dots for Christmas, so now we have 12 different colors. Cash was using all his new colors on his Do-A-Dot page this week.

B and I were just practicing using them and then we traced hands and wrote the letter B. He loves purple, so after he saw this violet one, he stuck with it the rest of the time.

Cash was making sure that his colors lined up with the colors on the yo-yo. He became very curious about a yo-yo and asked me if we could find one at the store. I had some Reward money from Toys-R-Us after Christmas, so one day we went and picked out one for him and one for B. Although it was great for him to be able to have one for the letter Y week, it was impossible to teach him how to use it. He was too short for the string, and he just couldn't get the wrist flick down. We'll keep trying though!

Here's Cash putting the different size balls of yarn in order from smallest to biggest.

We also took turns changing the number on this game and counting out balls of yarn, but the highlight of the week was making some "cat toys" for Ruth to play with.

I had found an activity where you can make a yarn doll to play with, but I didn't have to think twice about that to know the boys wouldn't have much interest in it. Instead, I cut off some yarn, gave it to the boys, and we let Ruth in for a bit to play.

She chased the string for quite awhile. The boys squealed! I don't think they'd ever seen her play like that.

Later, I showed them how to make a pom-pom with the yarn, and then we tied it onto the end of the string. Ruth loved playing with it even more.

To celebrate the letter Y, we ate lots of yogurt, read books about yacks getting haircuts and Tabby playing with yarn, and ended the week by watching the Veggie Tales movie God Loves You. (I couldn't find a Y movie!) Even if I didn't plan a lot, we still had a fun week of learning!

Haircuts!

Last Thursday, the 26th, I took the boys to Glasgow for haircuts. Mom and I had also promised Cash that he could watch the new Tom and Jerry movie that mom found (he was extra-super good at his speech screening the day before). After watching the Tom and Jerry movie and eating a yummy supper, we headed across town to get haircuts. Both the boys and Grandad all got haircuts together!

On the way to Glasgow, I was talking to a friend who informed me that there were places in Bowling Green to get your hair cut. I explained that I was aware of this, but there was just something about getting their haircut with Grandad and having Freda do it that was just so much more fun (and less stressful for everyone!)

B went first. He was really good, just like last time. He played with the curlers while Freda snipped away. As I was taking the pictures, I noticed how pale the boys are - we definitely need some beach time this summer. Hmmm...

Cash played with the curlers, too, while B was getting his hair cut. He had "sharp cwaws!"

Monkey see, monkey do! B wanted sharp claws, too.

Cash kept himself entertained by checking out the rest of Freda's place. The chairs were very interesting to him, how they spun around and went up and down He was down trying to figure it all out. He's definitely got his daddy's engineering mind!

B loved this part! It "tittles!"

What a serious face! Cash was good, too, for his haircut, although we had to remind him to hold his head still. At times, I think Freda was chasing his hair around his head.

And as prizes, Grammy got them both small flashlights that spun around and made different colors. No wonder they love getting haircuts with Grammy and Grandad! :)

My birthday present from Heath

This year for my birthday, I asked for a very specific present from Heath. It's a present that I'm sure not too many wives have asked for as a birthday present. I'd been wanting to start a compost pile for some time. I'd read a lot on the benefits of one - fertilizer for flower beds, the garden, cutting down on garbage (in our case, less scraps down the garbage disposal and septic tank). So a few weeks before my birthday, I told Heath I wanted a compost bin for my 31st birthday. 

I'm not sure what I was expecting. I had seen the compost bins that you can buy, compost bins made out of old watering troughs, pallets, and garbage cans. I left it up to Heath, though. 

He starting working on the bin the second week of January. My dad even came down to help one afternoon. He used some scrap wood that he had, but bought most of the stuff in town. Here's part of it, as it was being assembled.

Hmm... here's some more supplies that were going to be used.

And here's the boys standing with Heath in the frame. Seemed kind of big to me, but I knew we had lots of leaves and could accumulate a lot of kitchen scraps. 

Sweet face -- loves helping Daddy downstairs in the basement.

The other night, I took the boys to Glasgow to get haircuts, and we stayed and had supper with my parents. Heath came home early, and after doing some work in his office, went downstairs to finish the compost bin. He sent me a picture of the finished project:

Isn't it fancy? I love it! (I'm crazy, I know.) It has a nice roof on top, and the front slats slide out so we (probably Heath) can mix it all up and also scoop out the nutrient-rich finished project.

What a talented compost-bin-making-husband I have!

Brown Butter Blueberry Muffins

Last year, I posted one of our favorite muffin recipes. I use it a lot for the boys for breakfast, and I love that I can use any kind of berries, bananas, nuts, or whatever in it. It's a pretty healthy recipe, too. Whole wheat, yogurt, fresh berries and not too much sugar.

But there's another muffin recipe that we love around here, too, and just like the other recipe, I can add in any kind of berries.The only difference is that this one is much more sweet, and, of course, not as healthy. It even has sugar sprinkled on top of them, if that tells you anything.

Baylen and I made them the other morning. Here's a look at how it's done, and I've included the recipe, too, in case you're interested.



When I mentioned making muffins, of course B wanted to help. I sat him on top of the island in the kitchen and put him to work. Here he is mixing the dry ingredients.

As I was mixing some of the other ingredients, Baylen was playing with the measuring spoons. (Aren't those fun measuring spoons? They were a Christmas present from mom. Love them!)

B's holding up the one and a half cups of fresh blueberries. Cheese! (He could not wait to pour them in.)

And here they are, yummy!

Brown Butter Blueberry Muffins

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt (it calls for kosher salt, but in my experience, it doesn't matter)

1/2 cup plus 2 Tbsp sugar

1/2 cup (yes, that's one full stick) butter

1 cup whole milk

1 large egg, beaten

1 1/2 cups fresh blueberries (again, you can use raspberries, bananas, nuts, whatever...)

Heat oven to 400 degrees. Line muffin tins with paper liners. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, and 1/2 cup of sugar. Make a well in the center. Melt the stick of butter in a saucepan on the stove. Once it melts, swirl the pan until the butter begins to brown (hence the name) and smell nutty, 2 to 3 minutes. Pour the butter, milk and (beaten) egg into the well of the flour and stir to combing (a few lumps is okay). Fold in the blueberries. Divide the batter among the muffin cups. Sprinkle remaining sugar on top. Bake for 16 to 20 minutes. It usually makes 18 muffins for me. Enjoy!



Happy birthday to me!

Happy 31st birthday to me!

No, I don't mind telling my age.

On January 16th, I celebrated my birthday with my boys. They got me a new comfy rug for the kitchen, a Rachel Ray garbage bowl, and Casting Crowns new CD.


That morning I was able to have breakfast with my three favorite boys. We had blueberry and banana pancakes.

Then we headed to Glasgow to celebrate some more. My mom fixed a yummy lunch, and my Granny brought the birthday cake - a homemade hot fudge cake. My favorite, and she knows it!

Every year I ask for the same cake. It's so yummy, and the more hot fudge, the better!

Karalee was off work since it was MLK day, and Kennick was out of school. My aunt Kathy also came, too, and since it was lunch time, Dad and Derek came by to celebrate with us!

As you can see, B and Cash enjoyed the hot fudge cake, too!

B sat with mom while I opened some presents. He has really become attached to both mom and Bubba lately. If there's a choice between me, Bubba or Grammy, I never get chosen. :)

Present time! I had lots of help ... 

Yes! New SKOY cloths! Love these.

I had asked Karalee for some of her handiwork. I wanted a sign painted with Galatians 6:7 on it for my garden, and then some of her super cute garden stakes! She is so talented!

Here's the squash garden stake. I don't think B knew what to think of them.

And here's the pepper and tomato stakes! They are going to look great in the garden this summer. :)

After lunch, the boys played while Karalee took me to the movies. We saw the new Dolly Parton and Queen Latifah movie. The boys and I ended up staying in Glasgow past suppertime since Heath had to work late. It was a fun day -- I love it when I can celebrate it with my family!

Borrow some Cash

For the past few days, Cash has been pointing to things outside the car window as we drive around town saying, "Look, mommy, an antenna!" I'd try to look around, searching for a car with an antenna, but never saw one. Wondering where he learned what an antenna was, I asked him what color it was. "It's yellow and black." I wasn't sure what he thought an antenna was, so the last few times he brought it up, I searched around trying to find cars or trucks with an actual antenna on it, so I could show him what one was.

Today, after leaving Pizza Hut, Cash pointed to a yellow car that was parked in the parking lot, and said, "Antenna, mommy!" I didn't see an antenna on that car, but as I stopped at the stop light, there was a short, black antenna on the car in front of us. I pointed to it, and said, "Cash, that black, skinny stick on top of that white car in front of us is an antenna." Heath went on to explain that an antenna is something that picks up a signal. As we pulled onto the parkway, Cash brought it up again, but this time he said, "That skinny antenna is like those skinny cows that ate those fat cows."

Heath and I looked at each other and smiled. Right then we knew that he had been listening as we've been reading through the boys' Bible at night during family worship time. The story in Genesis where Joseph interprets Pharoah's dream about the seven skinny cows eating the seven fat cows is one that we read this past week. It's such a sweet time each night when we open their Bible, read a story, sing a song, and then pray together as a family. To know that our lil' man is really listening to these stories and remembering details makes it all the more special. My prayer is that as the boys get older and we continue with family worship time, they will begin to really remember the details and learn more and more about our loving God.

'No!

Cash and Baylen were both very excited last Friday when they woke up to more snow! As soon as their breakfast was finished, both of the boys were ready to go out in the snow ('no to Cash, as he doesn't really say his two-letter blends). Heath had his early morning PM meeting (had to be in Nashville at seven), so it was just me and the boys. 

Obviously, I wasn't moving fast enough for Baylen. He still had his jammie bottoms on, but was ready for his hat and mittens!

There's just something about little ones in snow bibs. It's just too adorable!

Cash loved his, too. The night before they had fought the idea of these pants, but after seeing how warm and water proof they were, both were ready to slide them on.

We headed out the backdoor, making sure we had our sled. Both boys got on, and I drug the (heavy) sled around the side of the house towards the slopes near the fencerow. When we got to a good spot, Cash wanted off, and B and I slid down. He loved it! The second time, Cash got on, too. We didn't go as fast - maybe because the weight of the sled was too much for the little snow we had. A few more times down some hills, and then they were ready to play and explore.

B decided he wanted to pull the wagon around the yard. I tried hard not to think about what this was doing to our not-so-established yard.

Cash tried hard to get Ruth in the sled. He wanted to pull her around, but had no success. So he just pulled the empty sled around for a bit.

I pulled Baylen around in the wagon, thinking there's just not enough snow ('no) to have a great deal of fun.

That's when my boys' true side came out, and they disappeared in the garage and found their machines. Of course, they could work in the snow, too!

They played for quite awhile scooping up the snow and making piles. Love their dedication to their machines, no matter the weather!

Cash got he "car tuck in the snow." (I had told them earlier that Heath did some spinning trying to get up the driveway that morning. I guess their car was having some difficulty, too.)

And, yes, the shovels came out, too. 

The roller made some fun imprints in the snow, and...

so did we! They loved making snow angels with me. 

I looked over to find B like this. He was getting tired. We had been outside for over an hour.

So we retreated to the warm house where we made some hot chocolate complete with marshmallows! What a super fun day in the 'no!