The Work of His Hands

N recently went on a field trip with his Honors Art Class to the Governor's School for the Arts.  He had a great time and this picture is one that he did while there.  He is very talented in art and seems to enjoy it very much.  He does not, however, like to use color.  He is strictly a black and white boy!  

He is interested in attending a summer camp at the school.  We will have to see if he is willing to pursue the application for getting into the school.  I am very proud of him!

Psalms 90:17 And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it.

Thrifty Thursday - Radishes

 It's time for Thrifty Thursday!

Today's entry - Deniska's home grown radishes.  

Both my boys LOVE radishes and will eat them like candy.

Home grown is much cheaper (and better) than buying in the grocery store.

Now, let me tell you about these radishes.

While cleaning out his room, Deniska found a packet of radish seeds which was probably bought years ago.  He asked if he could plant them and I said "Of course!"

He planted both packs of seed in planter boxes on our deck.

Then, we had freezing weather, rain, wind, cold, heat, horrible weather and good weather.

But, these little fellas just keep growing.

According to my little master gardener, these will be ready in 30 days! 

 (At least that is what the back of the pack said, according to him.)

If all of them produce, we should have a bumper crop from both boxes.

I am very proud of him.

He has big plans for us to have a big garden this year.  

He has a special touch with growing things in his little 12 year old hands.

We were bowled over!

Dennis and I took the boys bowling on Friday.  

It was packed with parents and children.  Everyone had the same idea!  

We bowled two games. 

 N won the first one.  

D won the second one. 

 And, I called it a day!

No one would believe I had a whole year of bowling in college! 

 I think my high score was in the 40s!

 

We all had a good time.

After the game, we all went to the chiropractor!

I see lots more games at the bowling alley (along with trips to the chiropractor for me!)

Happy Sunday to Everyone

 

Last week, we arrived at church to find the banners flying in honor of Pope Francis I.  I snapped this shot of the boys while they were waiting for us to catch up with them. 

 

 

Of course, they had to come and check out what I was doing....

 

My boys are growing up. 

 

I just blinked my eyes and they are already 12. 

 

(Lean close for a secret - they are not too big for me to love on. 

When they are sick, it is to mama's lap they go for loving! 

Don't tell them you heard it from me!!)

 

D is almost as tall as I am, with N close behind! 

 

Where does the time go?

 

Dennis and I are very blessed!

 

 

Conversation from the recliner

Source

This past week-end was really busy.  Poor Dennis, who did not feel good, had about all the "love" he could stand from all of us.  After telling the boys to pick up something for the 50th time, he turned to me and said:

Dennis:  I am beginning to sound like a broken record.

Me:  Dear, they don't know what records are.

Dennis:  OK, I sound like a broken CD.

Me:  Nope, 'fraid not.  Kids do not buy CDs these days.

Dennis:  Then, what do they buy?

Me:  Hmm, I suppose a mp3.

Dennis:  Then I sound like a broken mp3!!

Me:  Mp3s are digital and downloaded.  Maybe you can just be a broken link???

He was not amused!

October is Respect Life month

I am so thankful that the birth mothers of my two children did not choose abortion.

These are my boys that God meant for us to have. 

I can't imagine life without them.  

 

July 16th to September 8th

53 days that I have not been on the Internet other than to look and pin at Pinterest!  Funny how life can get in the way and stop you in your tracks.  That's how my life has been these past 53 days.

The boys loved camp and are looking forward to going back next year.  Matter of fact, I think they have it figured out how to spend the next 15 years or so at this camp every summer.  First, as a camper, then - as a Junior counselor, and finally as an adult counselor.  Want to know which two boys are mine?  The two that are NOT smiling!  Silly boys!!  The camp sent this picture to us - wasn't that nice?!

After camp and loads of dirty clothes from camp, it was time to get ready for school which meant school supplies.  A couple of hundred dollars later, they were set to do to school.  They each got new bookbags (after all they just couldn't carry their elementary school backbags - didn't I know that?)  New bookbags meant having their names embroidered on the bags.  Then the usual supplies - notebooks, folders, paper, pencils, pens, graph paper, memory sticks, dividers, note cards, colored pencils, markers, highlighters, tape, glue, lunch bags, etc..... 

After that - new clothes (which I by-passed and opted to just buy new tennis shoes.)  I am not going to order new jeans until cooler weather for I am sure D will grow another few inches before then.

 

This was made on the first day of school as I was racing out the door to go to my school!

 

Please do notice the bright colors of their shoes. 

 I just realized they put on shirts to match - good boys!!

 

In the meantime, I had a vicious back attack the last day of July!  Down on the floor crying with pain in the wee hours of the morning.  I knew this pain well - it was my sciatica (something I have put up with endured off and on for the past 25 years).  I crawled hobbled to the chiropractor and even he could not give me relief after a few treatments.  Then, my leg was numb from my hip to mid-calf. Hmm, that a new one for me. I went to my medical doctor (who asked me if I had been to the chiropractor to get help.)   Yes, I have.  She gave me muscle relaxers, anti-inflammatory pills, and pain pills.  My chiropractor ordered an MRI (which my medical doctor wanted as well.)  Long story short - I was sent to a Neurosurgeon because my back has a herniated disc, bulging discs, narrowing, and arthritis.  I was managing pretty well until my medical doctor just kept saying, "Your back is HORRIBLE, just HORRIBLE!" 

 

I might add I had to wait 2 weeks to get in to see the surgeon.  By this time, I had been in pain for a month but as suddenly as it came, it was gone.  (I attribute this to prayer and continuing with my chiropractor and medicines).  My surgeon (who was the nicest person) decided I did not have to have surgery at this time.  I suspect it will have to be done sooner or later but I am opting for later!  So, that was all of August.  My back still hurts here and there, but at least it is manageable.

 

 

I do have to say that these two (Oscar and Ozzie) kept me company and gave me lots of kitty kisses and purring during this time.  Their new favorite place is in the laundry room on top of the washer and dryer.  They are sweet babies!  (Nikolai took this picture, I thought he did a wonderful job!)

And finally, Dennis became a 4th degree knight.  I think he should wear a tux more often!  (Notice he, too, is not smiling!  What is it with my family?!) 

Wonder if I should always address him as Sir Knight....

 

To Cut a Long Story Short - or jeans in this case!

  Those of you who have boys will understand this story.

Nikolai goes through jeans like nobody's business. 

That boy is HARD on the knees of his jeans.

(Why ARE boys so hard on jeans?)

He has religious camp coming up next week and needed shorts.

Yes, you are ahead of me, I cut his jeans off at the knees to make shorts!

 I cut all the strings off (which resulted from me washing the jeans after I cut them!)

Then, I zig-zagged the edge, turned them up, pinned them, and hemmed them!

I only lost one machine needle and that was my fault.  

I should  have put on my denim needle to start.  

Anna approves!  She is my official inspector - especially if clean clothes are involved!

After I had finished, he brought me another pair that just happened to have a hole in the knee.

That will just have to wait for another day!

Turtle boy and Snappy!

Coming home last night from church, we saw "Snappy" trying to make his way across the road. (Eastern Box Turtles thrive in our area.) 

Dennis stopped the car and "Turtle Boy" jumped out of the car, raced into the road, and rescued Snappy!

(This was without Mama's approval!)

Turtle Boy loves Snappy.  

He likes to put in him odd places - like the top of his head!

 Snappy does not look amused!

 Turtle Boy had a long talk with Snappy.

They are trying to see "eye to eye" on issues!

(Sorry, I couldn't resist!)

We all need love ~

even if we are hard-shelled and closed off to others!

 

Days 17 and 18 of Thanksgiving

Day 18 - Seeing the world through the eyes of a child! 

There are days that this picture reminds me that I need to brave like a tiger and secretive like Batman.  This picture was made in 2007 but both boys are still very imaginative and I love hearing their thoughts on the way they see the world.  They keep me in line!

  Day 17 - Umbrellas! 

Yesterday, it was pouring rain and was I ever thankful for an umbrella!!!  Sometimes you forget about the little items that make life so much easier! 

Happy Halloween!

Wishing you and yours a Happy Halloween!  If you would like to read about the boys and their outfits, click here!

Camp is over, the boys are home!

I thought I would share some camp pictures with you all.  Both boys had a wonderful time at camp.  Their counselor was 16 and it sounds as if they all kept each other on their toes with pranks and fun!  The only complaints were not getting enough sleep, hot weather, and the food!  All in all, a great experience for both of them.

Excitement was running high when we took them last Sunday.  This was at a rest area before we got to camp.

The boys settle in to their cabin.  It only slept 4 (1 counselor and 3 campers). 

This is their counselor for the week, Gavin.  A really nice young man!

Time for Papa and me to leave. 

The camp was having Mass that night but we did not stay. 

This was the dining hall and the only air conditioned building on the site.  They had their morning lessons in here as well.

When we picked them up, their first request was for a meal!  They were both hungry.  So, we took them to McDonald's! 

Deniska ate almost every bite of the big meal.  Both boys needed a good shower! 

We are glad to have our boys home aren't we?  I think so!!

This is what is waiting on me for tomorrow!  Camp clothes!

This week's menu:

Monday - oven baked chicken, cabbage, mashed potatoes

Tuesday - roast (w/potatoes, celery, carrots), green beans, rice

Wednesday - BBQ ribs, peas, macaroni & cheese

Thursday -  creamy chicken with broccoli with rice

Friday - baked tilapia veggie packets, salad

Saturday - chicken parmesan, spaghetti, garlic bread, salad

Sunday - hamburgers (tomato, onion, lettuce), chips



A Metal Detector Equals Great Fun!

 This morning found D outside with his metal detector (a loan from his "grandpa".)  He unearth this unusual piece of metal in our front yard.  (My brother told him that it was a part of a lawn mower motor.)  Our yard has little holes all over it where he has dug up treasures.  It's a small price to pay for hours of fun!  You can also see some green beginning to show up in the yard!

The shirt he has on is a shirt we wore yesterday to the math competition for our county.  Both he and Nikolai were chosen to be part of the competition.  They did very well and we were very proud of them!  They both did well in the algorithms section.

 "A Metal Detector Equals Great Fun!" is my entry to this week's 6WS.  (I know I am a day late!  But better late than never - right?!)