Easy Bake

Sammy may one day be a chef. However, today he is an "Easy Bake" chef. They made cinnamon cookies with frosting and one chocolate chip. The best part is he did it ALL by himself, including clean up. Good Job Sammy!

Pizza! Pizza!

Why do I post a picture of a pizza? To remind myself to be thankful for what we can eat. For those who don't know, Christopher recently tested positive for gluten intolerance which we think has been the cause for some past issues he has had. His genetic testing also showed that it runs in the family. I would also adhere to the gluten free diet due to the autoimmune issues I have experienced which we believe are linked to gluten intolerance. So there is the long and the short of it. So as we seek to change life in this way, I have done a lot of cooking to try and find good alternatives for my boy's favorites. But at this point, as good as it looks, it is still "homemade" pizza. Sigh.... So this is where I remind myself that this is an answer to prayer, and thank my good God for providing a way to help my baby feel better. As hard as this diet may be, it is all worth it when my 10 year old has all his old energy, no stomach aches or other odds and ends feel bad stuff. Thank you Lord for the provision!

Beautiful Days

Christopher reading in his homemade hammock.

Samuel reading in his homemade hammock.

And this is where I spent the next 1 1/2 hours reading, quietly and undisturbed on a most beautiful day.

The Rest of the Story

So in the end, he pulls the tarp onto the porch, fills it with water and plays there with the little toad he happened to find as well. And that's the rest of the story.

A Commentary on Boys

So you see your son playing in the drainage water around your house in a thunderstorm. You say, "come in, you can't play in a thunderstorm, and you are tearing up the grass we are growing in the drainage area", and the reply is "why?", but he comes onto the porch. You go back in and a few minutes later see he is off the covered porch again. So you walk out and see him playing in the water that drains off the house. Again you say "out of the drainage water, it is thundering, and again you are making a muddy mess....". So you go in leaving him to "clean off his feet in order to follow you in", but he never makes it in. You go back out and find him playing in the water that has collected in a tarp he pulled into the rain. Hmmmm... Ok, so you go back out and tell him "you are killing the grass and you are still playing in a thunderstorm, get on the porch and don't get off again..". He then asks, " why don't you ever let us have any fun?" To which you reply "because I am really an ogre dressed up like a mommy!"

More pics

Can you tell two boys live here???? I must love you all to show you how things really are.... I'm sorry to say that I am not super mom with perfect kids. (Well, let me rephrase that...my kids are perfect :), just not perfectly neat.)

The guest room for anyone who would like to stay. Just make sure you bring pajamas, that curtain rod in the corner is still in the corner.

And these are our great outdoors. These are taken off my side porch. God is so good. I still can't believe I live here.

So there you all have it, my house and my mess, all in one. We love visitors, so just give me a call. (Tours daily from 9-6, reservations not required. :) )

My bedroom

The school room

The bonus room for both sides.

Finally, House Pictures

Living Room

Dining and Kitchen, Junk included

The front door to welcome you all. Please come visit. :)

The Shanty Shack

My boys love junk, any junk and all junk. They like to build things with it. So welcome to the shanty shack, located on one prime pile of mulch with an excellent view overlooking a serene winter pond. There is even a refrigeration unit and safety rail for extra amenities. If you consider visiting this humble abode, please make sure your insurance is current. Due to some questionable materials and building techniques, the roof just may cave in on a windy day.
Yes, my boys were the only ones allowed to play in it because I couldn't justify risking any of their friends lives. This lovely dwelling stayed right outside my large glass door wall until it met its' demise a couple weeks ago when a small monsoon hit Treasure Cove.