The Best of the Best This Week

Well, I know one thing that isn't the best: this durn pneumonia, which seems to have formed an attachment to me and won't go away. Tomorrow I have to go back to the doctor's {again}, but I'm very thankful for doctors and medicine when one needs it, and health insurance to boot.

But these things have just been the BEST!

Best laugh this week ~ listening to Caleb read through the states on the map and quiz Jonah on the capitals. The pronunciations that boy was coming up with were honest-to-goodness side-splitting, tears-rolling hi-lar-ious! My personal favorite? "Lowa"

Caleb had mistaken the "I" for an "L" HaHaHaHa

Best together time ~ taking my boys out in the kayaks, feeling that wonderful lake-breeze against our faces all the while

Best {ever} late-ish night snack ~ salt and pepper potato chips dipped in cottage cheese. So, so good. Deliriously good.

Best event ~ Ethan's birthday

Best Mother-of-the-Year Moment ~ this happened earlier today, at the beach, when Ethan matter-of-fact asked if I'd forgotten Isabelle's shirt in the bathroom, where we'd just changed.

'Why?' I snapped back, suddenly looking down at my little girl and realizing that I had just paraded her across the entire bathroom, changing area and back outside (where there were lots of people around!!!) in just her little underpants. I was so frazzled by the crowds and the heat, rushing to get back to the boys, perhaps hacking up a lung (or two) that I completely neglected to hand her her dress before we marched on outta there, and I didn't even notice. (I'm used to seeing her in her skivvies I guess!) Poor baby! She started crying, she was so frustrated and embarrassed. I felt bad.  :(  Bad Mommy.

Best winding down time ~ snuggling on the bed while the boys take turns reading me stories.

Best spiritual moment ~ listening to someone at our new church pray and literally feeling God's presence right there with me, as if He were gently whispering in my ear, touching my soul. And then, as if knowing, Bill reached over and took hold of my hand. It doesn't get much more powerful than that.

Best victory this week ~ staring down dessert and not having any. And the few indulgences I did have were truly savored. Big difference. And it's so much harder than I ever imagined it to be, and it makes me feel pitiful and weak. And too big.

Best day-trip ~ to the beach, baby!

Here are some pics I snapped today while we played:

 normally I discourage sand-throwing, but Ethan was asking for it, and no one else was close by

 these two...growing gills for sure!

 this one? definitely 13!!!!

I loved how all four ended up near each other, just playing around as the tide rushed in

Now I've got to go...there's a big party happening here this weekend...

Celebrating our New TEENAGER...Gasp!

 Happy Birthday Ethan!

He went and did it.

No matter how much I begged, pleaded, protested, outright forbade it, yesterday Ethan went ahead and turned 13 on me.

13.

13!

We celebrated in the morning with Birthday Donuts. Why not?

Oh, and the first-ever coffee I bought for my newly teen-aged son.

I told him I wasn't going to make a habit of that. He shrugged. And grinned. Doesn't he look so handsome in his new glasses?

I was planning on going to the beach, but he said he didn't feel like it- he hasn't been feeling too great lately either, so we had a low-key day. The fact that there was a ginormous present on the counter {staring him down} didn't bother him. At all. HA! He was so, so curious by noontime he could hardly stand it, even though he tried not to let on. A mother knows these things.

We went out for Chinese at his request, and I was actually surprised that I had enough restraint to keep from belting out Happy Birthday until we were finished, mostly anyway. The ladies who worked there enjoyed a few chuckles at our expense, but they were very sweet.

Finally, the box.

Ethan let out a squeal when he actually thought we'd bought him his very own coffee maker, for his room, I told him. No, not really. Not ever. Funny how Bill had asked me where all the dog's poop bags had gone earlier that day because every single one of them was stuffed inside that coffee box as filler. Ugh, no, they weren't used bags!

Box #2. Ha, I just snorted because given the last paragraph, that struck me funny.

Still a ruse. Ethan said I was mean. But I know he loved it! Almost as much as all the ladies, who were really chuckling - and pointing- now.

Finally, the very last package to open. 

After research and debate much lively conversation, we decided on a Nook for our read-3-books-in-one-day super reader. Both Bill and I feel that a 13 year old young man does not need internet access to use at his own discretion. We trust our son, but there is just SO much GARBAGE out there! I don't want to be stifling, but I don't want to be naive and passive either. I think this is a great first step into independence, and Ethan was thrilled with his gift, so I'm happy. 

Guess what he asked if he could download first?

The Bible.

That made me downright giddy! I know God has some amazing things in store for this boy!

We're having his party this Saturday. We'd had something really awesome planned for this past weekend, but dumb pneumonia messed that all up. I'm hoping we can make it happen later this month...

 Love the fish tanks at the restaurant! They are so pretty and fun to watch!

Today we visited my parents, who are camping at a nearby lake. I took Caleb and Jonah out on the water in our kayaks and it was just the best time! Such a picture perfect day!

Isabelle looked so pretty with the descending sun behind her.

And any night that ends with one of these is a-ok in my book.  =)

Best Ever Saturday Morning Breakfast...Homemade Hash Browns!

 Hearty Hash Browns

I have a confession to make.

I didn't actually shred the potatoes myself. Gasp.

I'm still sick, and I just didn't feel like it. But you can do it, if you really want to.

Okay, here's what you'll need:

cooking oil

1 bag frozen shredded potatoes (or again, shred your own)

eggs

sharp cheddar cheese & grater

salt & pepper to taste

any "extras" such as peppers, onions, chives, etc

large skillet or pan with fairly deep sides

Here's what you do:

1.. Pour cooking oil in pan, enough to fully coat bottom of pan, over med heat

2. Place single layer of potato shreds over oil (only half the bag)

Now here's the secret to avoiding potato mush- DON'T STIR. Seriously. Resist the temptation to dig in there with the spatula and just let them be for a good 4-5 minutes.

3. Add a dash salt and pepper

4. Add your extras - we love onions & sweet peppers- over the top of potatoes. Cook a few minutes more

5. The potatoes have now begun to hash. I don't really know if that's what you call it. Anyhow, the shreds have formed "clumps," so gently slide your spatula underneath and flip to brown other side. No stirring!

6. Now is the time to fry up some eggs, in a separate pan. Or you can scramble them- that's good too.

7. Your hash is done when the other side is golden brown like the first side. Remove from heat and shred cheese over top- as much as you like!

You can serve it platter-style like this, putting all the eggs atop the hash browns:

 Yummy! Look at that golden-y goodness!

Or as individual plates:

 Add some fresh fruit, turkey bacon, and you've got a great breakfast!

Perfect for aspiring Olympic athletes like mine.  =)

Sick Sick Sick & A Recap of Last Week

What I wasn't expecting this week was to get knocked out flat with pneumonia. For the past three days. And to take meds with a large, bright warning of caution to keep out of the sun. Perfect for steamy hot days with lots of kids. Oh, and said kids who are running around extra early this morning. Yesterday Bill took the day off work for me, mainly since I could not move out of bed or off the couch. It really isn't any fun to take time off for stuff like this, though. Much better when it's for fun stuff. I wish he was here right now.

Last week, when it was just Caleb and Isabelle with me, we did lots of fun stuff!

This was from a special day with Isabelle that I'd been hoping for for over a year now. I'll share more about that in its own post...

I still can't believe God gave me such a beautiful little girl!

Caleb doesn't usually have a chance to claim Ryder as his alone.

 I think they both kinda liked it.

Notice the sling? He slipped and fell into the pond the night before tennis camp began, and hurt his...yup, right wrist. Perfect.

I should take a picture of the entire clock tower- it's really neat! We'd been waiting for the trolley, and the clock had just struck twelve so we got to watch the whole thing.

We waited a long time for that trolley. In the rain. It never came. Sigh.

Come to find out, the info on site is very different from the info online.

Oh, I do have a picture of the whole clock tower!

Neat, right?

Smiling by the fountain's edge in one of our city's squares

We didn't have the heart to wash Isabelle's pink swan off her face the night before, so here's what was left.

It's both sweet and sad at the same time, ha!

We've enjoyed our turkey pals coming to visit. Usually, there are 4 adults and over twenty babies!

Reminds me of sister wives. Maybe it's the meds talking.

Tennis star in the making.

 I loved watching him play, but I really loved watching him interact with the two teen instructors. He wanted to be such a big help to everyone. It made me really proud.

And he looks so cute in his tennis get up.  hee hee

There were tea parties on the porch, complete with flowers and...

...sponge rollers AND...

...painted toes.

Fancy toes- coordinating lilac and sparkly blue.

 

 

And of course, date night with someone very handsome!

He showered for the occasion.

So he wouldn't "stink bad."

Now that's true love.

And just this very minute, Isabelle meanders over to me and declares that she's "going to have my baby" so I look and she's got a pillow off the couch and stuffed under her little green bathrobe.

Actually, I stand corrected. Upon further discussion, I learn it's her little lamby animal. She's still wearing it and literally waddled over to the chair at the kitchen island. The fun just never ends I guess.  =)