Back Porch

The backporch has become a special place to me...

It is a place to have coffee with my husband on weekend mornings.

It is a place to tend to my flowers.

It is a place where we watch Riley grow and learn.

It is a place where we can get fresh air, even when it's raining.

It is a place with little distraction.

It is a place to watch the seasons (or lack of seasons).

It is a place to think.

It is a place we can play with a little less attention than the front yard.

It is a place to watch a beautiful sunset.

Out of the Mouth of Babes

At school, the counselor comes to do lessons on friendship, making good choices, teamwork, etc. Well the latest lesson was teamwork and the goal was to make welcome mats on the sidewalk entrances of the school with sidewalk chalk. Well, we're out there, writing the school's name, the mascot, paws, happy faces, etc. I wrote "We love to learn." and one of my kids asked the counselor how to spell "lover." She was going to write:

We are lovers!

Ha! Yes dear, we are, but everyone might not take that the way you mean it. I think she was mixing up, "I love learning" and "We are learners" and there you have it--"We are lovers!"

Riley is obsessed with The Backyardigans. I'm not sure when the craziness started, but I think it was around Christmas.

Probably about a year ago, Mimi and G bought him a Backyardigans guitar (and we didn't know who they were) that sang a couple of songs that Riley really liked. He would dance to it. Then....one day we were watching t.v. and happened to pass them by. Riley got very excited and I stopped. He would dance around and just watch it for a few minutes at a time and call them "A yard."

At Christmas, Aunt Robbye and Uncle Mike bought him a car that was Backyardigans and didn't know. Robbye told Russ, "Here are the stickers we didn't put on it--they are some goofy looking animals."

NOW Riley has to watch Backyardigans every day when we get home from school. We have episodes (probably 16 of them) recorded on our DVR. On the way home from school, he goes through our routine...."Tahoe"......"Box" (that's the mailbox)......"Home"......"Dada work"........."Agains"......"Milk"........"Two" (yes, still from the Advent calendar. Can anybody help me with this??). He doesn't like to deviate from the schedule either.

We have Backyardigans on the DVR, a book, a pirate ship in the bathtub (and a two year old who says "Argh.", a sectioned plate, a jam box, a DVD, and I stopped myself from buying a Backyardigans sippy cup at the grocery store last night. Thank goodness.

Uniqua (pink)

Tyrone (orange)

Pablo (blue)

Tasha (yellow)

Austin (purple)

Some of the songs are really cute and Riley knows some of the words and will watch, sing along, and dance. After we watch 2 episodes, we tell him that it's over and he's okay with that. Though he probably would prefer "A-yard-gins" be on 24/7 around here

Flying Jacob...the story

While in Sweden in 2004, our Swedish friends, Thomas and Lotta were planning a Swedish dinner for us, homeade! We stopped at the grocery store after a day on the town in Gothenburg and picked up a few items: peanuts, chicken breasts, bananas, whipping cream, chili sauce, bacon, etc. Okay, no problem!

Then we get home and realize that those ingredients were dinner. Yes, put them all together. I can handle each of them, but mixed together I'm not so sure.

Ugh...I'm such a picky eater. Russ is NOT really an out of the box eater either, but he likes less than I do I think (in his defense, he's definitely broadening his horizons). How were we going to tell our dear friends that we couldn't stomach this concoction?

There's Lotta in the kitchen, cutting chicken breasts, slicing bananas, and the worst part.....whipping cream and folding chili sauce into it. DISGUSTING.

Russ and I had dinner with our friends.....and surprisingly LOVED it. I had to have the recipe and I've made it a few times at home.

There's my story. I think you'll be surprised, just like we were.....pleasantly. The best part is the connnection we have to the dish....it makes us miss "The Swedes" even more.

Happy Valentine's Day

Valetine's Day......not sure what I think of it. It's overrated, but it needs to be acknowledged, please. A card at the very least. Russ did good--he gave me a learning session with a fantabulous photographer--I appreciate that much more than overpriced flowers.

Here are some pics from Valentine's Day....

You'll Never Believe Me......

until you try it for yourself. It's delicious!

Flying Jacob

4 chicken breasts, cut into chunks
2 bananas, sliced lengthwise (I cut in half first)
2 cups whipping cream
1 1/2 cups chili sauce
6 slices bacon
peanuts

(I know I know, you're doubting me already--I was a doubter too, once.)

Cut chicken into chunks and place in bottom of baking dish. Slice bananas and put on top. Whip whipping cream and fold in chili sauce. Bake 25 minutes at 350.

While baking, cook bacon until crisp. Drain, cool, and crumble.

Sprinkle bacon and peanuts over dish when it comes out of the oven.

Serve over rice.

Riley Says....

Riley knows his colors well (except for brown, black, and white) and he LOVES school buses. He says they are orange and you know what, he's SO right. So why do we say they are yellow?

Phil's Ice House

If you haven't been, go. It's on Burnet Road, just south of Koenig.

It's casual, has a playground to entertain the kids when they're finished eating, mostly outdoor seating with umbrellas, and Amy's is next door.

Great burgers, fries are a mix of sweet and white potatoes, and the shakes.....well I said it was next door to Amy's.

Breathe a sigh of relief.....

My sweet mother was diagnosed with breast cancer in October 2006. She had a mastectomy and recovered well. The toughest part of her recovery was not being able to pick up her grandson.

Last week, Mom informed me that they saw something in an x-ray and wanted to look further. A bone scan was scheduled for Thursday. I've been extremely anxious about it and mom has too, but she'd never let me in on it--she's too selfless.

I called to check in (we talk at least once a day) and she said that they called with good news--her bone scan was identical to one she had three months ago. The spot they saw was a spot of osteoperosis and it was on the last one. Great news, praise God!

I can't say enough about my mother or how much I love her. She's my oldest friend. She is always there to listen, she sets me straight when I'm wrong.

Thank you for being you. I love you, WE love you.

Blue Eyes

Willie Nelson shouldn't be messed with....but I'm going to!!! As you can see, Willie gets ALL the credit.

Blue eyes smilin' at me

Nothin' but blue eyes do I see

Bluebirds singin' a song

Nothin' but bluebirds all day long

Never saw the sun shinin' so bright

Never saw things goin' so right

Noticing the days hurrying by

When you're in love, my how they fly

Blue days, all of them gone

Nothin' but blue eyes from now on

(Blue eyes smilin' at me

Nothin' but blue eyes do I see)

Never saw the sun shinin' so bright

Never saw things goin' so right

Noticing the days hurrying by

When you're in love, my how they fly

Blue days, all of them gone

Nothin' but blue eyes from now on

Nothin' but blue eyes from now on