Spicey Spencer

Spencer was taking a nap. In his bedroom. In the basement. Totally asleep, zonked!! I know this for sure because I was sitting on the edge of his bed scratching his back and singing until he started to snore. Then I scratched the back a tad bit longer, just for good measure. He was wasted.

I'm not really sure how long that lasted, but about 45 minutes later I entered the basement to this waste...
1 bottle of parsley flakes
2 bottles of beef bouillon
1 bottle of chicken bouillon
2 bottles of cinnamon
1 bottle of garlic powder
2 bottles of black pepper
1 bottle of chopped onion

Sweet. Spicey. Just the way I love my basement to smell. And when I'm killing myself on the treadmill tonight, I have a feeling I'm going to crave some chicken noodle soup...

The Nativity...a la Spencer

We LOVE our Fisher-Price Nativity set...thanks, Lorene!! Here is what it is supposed to look like:
The next 3 pictures are Spencer's interpretation...basically, he isn't very fond of the "butterfly" being on top of the stable. He much prefers to have the blessed event heralded by the sheep, wiseman, or cow!

Hieroglyphics

(the girls' room)
interpretation: "if you jump on the bed mom will whack you!"

(by the basement door)
interpretation: "there's lots of trees outside"

(Gracie's dresser)
interpretation: "too many clothes"

(the kitchen table)
interpretation: "dinner tonight was about 2 stars"

(the bathroom door)
interpretation: "I love the way mom decorated the bathroom"

(the arm of the couch)
interpretation: "this way to the toys"

(hallway)
interpretation: "i was starting to draw a star but then mom walked up"

Missing Baby

ATTENTION!!

Someone has taken my sweet, mellow, cuddly baby girl and replaced her with a bigger, sassy, independent version...No Fair!!

Mother

Dear Mom,

Happy Birthday to you! Do they have birthday parties in heaven? I like to think they do...after all, it's a place of happiness and parties are SO happy!

If you were here we'd probably be gorging ourselves on hot & spicy chicken from Chinese Chef, followed by some Grasshoppers and milk...yummy! I'll have some for you!

If you were here we'd laugh at the kids being silly on the floor, then we'd take a quiet walk around the neighborhood and enjoy the beautiful fall colors. Remember the gorgeous trees at the church across the street? They're still gorgeous...

If you were here we'd come back inside for some Postum and funny talk around the table and laugh until we wet our pants. Wonder how our old friend "Hose B" is doing?! Then you'd play the piano with your beautiful fingers and we'd all sing along...but mostly we'd listen to your angelic voice.

If you were here you'd snuggle up with the girls on the couch and read "Little House on the Prairie" and put their hair in pink rollers--and you'd be careful to never brush too hard.

If you were here you'd sit on the porch steps with the boys and tell them stories about "when you were a little boy"...and let them bring snakes and lizards and bugs inside. :)

If you were here you would cuddle the babies and sing them "Wee Baby Moon" while you kissed them in that super-soft spot just in front of their ears. You would tell them they were the sweetest babies ever, and you'd mean it.

Did you ever know that Dad gave me your jacket? I wear it every fall, just a time or two...and in the left pocket are treasures...a cough drop, a toothpick, and a kleenex. :) Thanks for leaving them for me!!

Sometimes I feel cheated that I only got to call you "Mom" for 23 years...but then I remind myself to feel blessed that I get to call you "Mother" for eternity!

I love you, Mama. Happy Birthday!
Love, Amy

Overrated

If you have enough conversations with me, you'll hear this phrase more than once..."It's overrated!". What might I be referring to, you ask? Things like this:

1. A clean house
2. A college education
3. Home-cooked meals
4. Being popular
5. Being thin
6. Kids in matching clothes
7. Folded laundry
8. Dusting
9. Vacations
10. Bedtimes
11. Drinking water
12. Knowing how to play the piano
13. The beach
14. Working out
15. Whole grains
16. Cleaning behind your ears
17. Being on time to church
18. Savings accounts
19. Making the bed
20. Dancing in the rain

...Just to name a few!

My Kind of Pet

Joe's class did a "class store" last week...Joe and his partner decided to make and sell Pet Rocks! Awesome! Joe worked hard and had a lot of fun making his rocks, he would have made 100 more if he had time. I told him he could make them for Christmas presents this year and that seemed to satisfy him. :) I like that rat rock better than the real thing...think he'd be happy with a dog rock?