Mama Said...

Camp Listing

2012-02-04T12:29:00.000-08:00

Camp	Location	Description	Cost	Register
Fairies and Pirates  June 18-22, 2012 9:00pm-12:00pm	Bizzie Bodies 155 Ridgecrest Dr. Madison, MS	Half-Day Drama Camp	$90	Register Here
Fairies and Pirates  June 18-22, 2012 9:00pm-3:30pm	Bizzie Bodies 155 Ridgecrest Dr. Madison, MS	Full-Day Drama Camp in the morning and Bizzie Bodies Camp in the afternoon with lunch* from 12:00-12:30. *(Bring a sack lunch)	$162 (originally $180, 10% savings)	Register Here
Cheer and Jock Jam  July 9-13, 2012 12:30pm-3:30pm	Bizzie Bodies 155 Ridgecrest Dr. Madison, MS	Half Day Drama Camp	$90	Register Here
Cheer and Jock Jam  July 9-13, 2012 9.00am-3:30pm	Bizzie Bodies 155 Ridgecrest Dr. Madison, MS	Full-Day Bizzie Bodies Camp in the morning and Drama Camp in the afternoon with lunch* from 12:00-12:30. *(Bring a sack lunch)	$162 (originally $180, 10% savings)	Register Here

So Long

2009-09-20T20:15:00.000-07:00

If anyone still reads this blog, this will be my last post. I created it when I made my family blog private because I didn't want to lose one of my favorite aspects of blogging - connecting with people that I haven't seen in a while. However, since the arrival of my second child, I haven't had much time to keep up the second blog. So, this is goodbye.

If you are a friend, I'd love to add you to the private blog's invitation list. Just send me an email at lhowell2@yahoo.com. I'd love for you to follow us there.

Fallen Princesses

2009-07-11T09:07:00.000-07:00

By now, my daughter's princess obsession has me singing Disney songs in my sleep and endlessly picking up ball gowns and plastic high heels from the living room floor. I've gotten my fill of princesses, but Dina Goldstein's Fallen Princess project puts a new spin on the fairy tale princesses that we all know. Her photos put princesses in real life situations (like poor Snow White above). Check out the rest at http://www.jpgmag.com/stories/11918.

Nora Has Arrived!

2009-06-26T14:19:00.000-07:00

Eleanor Rose

12:51 pm 8 pounds 10 ounces 20 3/4 inches

Baby Sister

2009-06-24T18:44:00.000-07:00

We'll be welcoming Baby Sister into the world tomorrow! We're so excited that she'll finally be here! I'll update soon! Please keep us in your prayers!

Advice

2009-06-15T18:45:00.000-07:00

I just love the concept behind this blog! 500 Pieces of Prudent Advice for My Baby Daughter is written by a mother (obviously). The advice is great. It's inspiration to start a list for my girls.

Some examples:

#82 Anytime you are debating whether to shower or not, take the shower.

#81 Champagne is for sipping.

#80 Not everyone is going to like you, and that's just fine.

A Party

2009-06-05T08:47:00.000-07:00

My daughter won't turn 3 until next week, but we had her birthday party Memorial Day Weekend. Since Baby Sister is due to arrive soon, we wanted to avoid her crashing it - not a good introduction to your new little sister. Anyway, the party was wonderful, and I (finally) have lots of pictures to share.

The invitation:

The castle cake:

Decorations:
A treasure chest of party favors
The gifts:

The food:
Our family were all great sports about dressing up.

Aaaarrrrggghh!

The bouncy house:

Greeting the guests:

Grandma wore her Maleficent, the bad witch, costume but had to promise the birthday girl that she would "be good" at the party (No sleeping spells, please!).
Snow White and Ariel

Singing "Happy Birthday":

What a fun day! Thank you, family, for all of your help!

Freedom Rider

2009-05-13T12:18:00.001-07:00

We had quite an inspirational guest for our school assembly this week. It was Freedom Rider, Joan Trumpauer Mulholland. She participated in the 1963 sit-in at the Woolworth's lunch counter in downtown Jackson and was immortalized in the, now-famous, photograph below.

Joan is in the center and Anne Moody (Coming of Age in Mississippi - a book I highly recommend) is on the right.

The events recorded in that photo are hard for me to comprehend. I just can't imagine people treating other people so badly while spectators (some of them police) looked on. I'm so thankful for people like Joan Trumpauer Mulholland who are brave enough to stand up for what is right.

Read more about how she came to our school here.

Happy Mothers' Day!

2009-05-06T10:41:00.000-07:00

I had a great Mothers' Day, and I hope you did, too. I was able to spend time with all the mothers in life my mother-in-law, my mom, and both of my grandmothers. It was a nice and rare treat to see them all in one day. The longer I'm a mom, the more I appreciate moms.

Did any of you moms get any really bad gifts? I love this article on "Really Bad Ideas for Mothers' Day" at Parenting.com. For my Mothers' Day treat, I get to pick out a much-needed rug for our living room. It's a great gift, and I'm super excited!

Here's my pick for next year: These Custom Silhouette Pendants at Craftbury Kids are just precious! Seeing them has me ready to meet Baby Sister. Wonder what her silhouette will look like.

Old Friends Green Goods

2009-05-06T09:07:00.000-07:00

Our "Old Friends" booth at the Cotton District Arts Festival a few weeks ago was so much fun and pretty successful, too! We had such a great time that we're working on some designs for the Canton Flea Market in the fall!

All of our items were printed on reused materials. We found shirts and dresses at thrift shops and made bibs from remnants and tote bags out of t-shirts. Elizabeth's hat (below) is made out of a sleeve from turtleneck I'd make into a bag.

2009-05-01T06:41:00.000-07:00

I think The 3/50 Project is a great idea! This is something I can really get behind, especially since my sister, along with my mom and dad, are opening the MINT home store in on Friday. Why don't you check it out and support your local economy?

The Naming of a Child

2009-04-29T11:14:00.000-07:00

A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold. -Proverbs 22-1

Have you ever been responsible for the naming of a person? Naming a pet is hard enough because you know you'll spend a lot of time calling that name. Naming another human being, on the other hand, is a daunting task. In naming Baby Sister, we've taken many factors into account. Well, I have at least. I think Jason either likes, or doesn't like, the way a name sounds. Being a mom, and a worrier, I've taken much more than that into consideration.

1. Popularity. I steer clear of the most popular names simply because my name (Laura) was everywhere when I was growing up. In a high school graduating class of 47, I was one of four! And there were at least 7 variations (Laura, Lauren, Laurie, etc.) on my hall in the freshman dorm. So, to me, originality is important.

2. Originality. Okay, so I just said I wanted something original, but not too original. I don't want to burden my daughter with having to spell or correct the pronunciation of her name over and over again.

3. Family. I just love family names, so I've listed all of our known relatives and even looked at a few family trees. Big Sister, Anne Parks, is named after her great-grandparents, and I want Baby Sis to have a family name, too.

4. Sound. How does it sound with our last name? Does it sound like anything else that will result in an undesirable nickname? How will it sound when I yell it across the yard? How will it sound when her teacher calls the roll? These are the things that keep me up at night. Crazy, huh?

5. Writing. How does it look on paper? on a diploma? in lights? on the cover of a novel? (Mothers can dream.)

6. Initials. What will her monogram look like? Do the initials spell anything embarrassing?

7. Opinions. While I try to focus on what Jason and I like, others' opinions do factor in. In fact, my #1 choice was shot down by not only, Jason, but my mom, and my sister, among others. If only Jason had been against it, I probably would have fought for the name a little harder, but with that much opposition, sadly, it was immediately removed from the list.

8. Looks. The final factor in the naming of a child, for me, is her looks. We didn't reveal AP's name until after she was born because, in my mind, she had to look a certain way to be an AP. This was the cause of much consternation for family and friends aching to have something monogrammed.

This time around, we've done it early! With about 9 weeks until Baby Sister arrives, we have finally decided on a name. It's a family name that's not too popular and not too original. It looks good on paper, and I like the way it sounds.
Let's hope she looks like an Eleanor Rose or a Nora.

What's in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet.
- Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet

Some Rockin' Gowns

2009-04-28T05:54:00.000-07:00

How much do you love these gowns by "This Mama Makes Stuff" ? She's got a great tutorioal here.
I hope I can take some time to make a few of these before baby sister arrives.

Town Hall for Hope

2009-04-23T10:18:00.000-07:00

Tonight is Dave Ramsey's Town Hall for Hope. I've told you before about his Financial Peace University and how much we learned. Dave's latest endeavor is to encourage and give hope during these hard economic times. Town Hall will take place in locations across the country. You can go here to find a location near you.

Sadly, I can't attend because of other commitments, but I will tune in by radio or watch it on Fox Business. Let me know if you go!

Freezer Cooking

2009-04-16T19:38:00.000-07:00

Do you freezer cook? There are loads of resources online on once a month cooking (OAMC). Cooking just once a month would be great if I could only be that organized (and have the freezer space)! I haven't attempted any OAMC, but I do, occasionally, do what I call "freezer cooking". For example, if I'm making chicken casserole, I'll go ahead and double the recipe and freeze one for later. Lately, I've been inspired by Crystal, the author of the blog "Mom of Littles", to do some major freezer cooking before the baby gets here (She's also the inspiration behind the checklist) to make life a little simpler after sister's arrival.

I was off on Monday for the Easter holiday, and AP was with my husband's parents for a few days, so I seized the opportunity to spend some time in the kitchen. I decided I'd cook and freeze three chicken recipes that had similar ingredients but very different flavors. Then, I hit the grocery store. In addition to buying all the ingredients for my freezer cooking, I did my weekly shopping as well. My bill was higher than usual, but only by about a quarter. I can see how cooking once a month could really save on your grocery bill. Because I was cooking recipes with similar ingredients, I was able to buy things (like sour cream that usually go bad in my fridge before I use them) in bulk.

These are the ingredients that went into my three dishes...
plus a large bag of frozen chicken breasts, cooked and chopped. Boy, was I tired!
I doubled the recipes for chicken casserole, chicken tetrazini, and chicken enchiladas (recipes below). Since one of those recipes is too big for my family of three, I split most of them into 9 in square pans. Here are the fruits of my labor: 8 nights worths of freedom from the kitchen (not counting the inevitable left-overs)!
The whole ordeal took me about 3 hours. The hardest part was the Tetris game I had to play to get them all to fit in the freezer! I was totally worn out, but it was well worth it. I'll probably do one more round with a few beef dishes and maybe some muffins.

The Recipes
Warning: These are in no way diet dishes. They all include at least one or all of the ingredients essential to Southern cuisine: cream of mushroom soup, cream or chicken soup, sour cream, and butter.

*When I heat these from frozen, I double the baking time and bake covered with foil for 1/2 the time.

Mama's Chicken Casserole
When we were young, this is the dish my sister and I would always request on special occasions, like our birthdays. It's probably my number 1 comfort food still today.
You'll need:
- chicken (about 2 cups, , cooked and chopped)
- can of cream of mushroom soup
- can of cream of chicken soup
- sour cream (8 oz.)
- butter (1/2 stick, melted)
- two sleeves (at least) of crackers (My mom's always used Townhouse, but when I started making this mysef, I thought it was Ritz, so I ended up altering the recipe. I still use Ritz, but either will do.)

1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. Smash up crackers (I just squeeze them in the sleeve.) and pour them into a bowl.
3. Pour butter over crackers and stir until coated.
4. Put 1/2 of the crackers in the bottom of a casserole dish.
5. Mix the first 4 ingredients together and pour them in the casserole dish.
6. Top with the remaining crackers.
7. Bake for 30 minutes.

Chicken Enchiladas
At our house, we call them "fajita things". I think a more accuate term is "enchiladas". They're great the next day as left-overs - maybe even better than the first time around.
You'll need:
- chicken (about 2 cups, , cooked and chopped)
- sour cream (8 oz.)
- shredded cheese (I like sharp cheddar, but you can use whatever you want).
- butter (1/2 stick, melted, or spray butter)
- flour tortillas (burrito or fajita size will do)
- jar of salsa

1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. Lightly butter the tortillas, wrap in foil, and warm in the oven for about 5 mins.
3. Mix chicken, sour cream, and a handful of cheese. (At this stage you could also add in diced onion or any other veggie you'd like. My family likes 'em plain.)
4. Spoon some of the chicken mixture into the centers of the tortillas, roll them up, then place them width-wise in a casserole dish.
5. Spoon salsa over the top.
6. Bake for about 30 mins, or until the edges of the tortillas start to brown.
7. Top with cheese and bake a few more minutes until melted. (If you're freezing this one, don't add the cheese until you're ready to eat it.)

Chicken Tetrazini
I found this recipe in Bully's Best Bites. I believe it came from Beverly Hooks. I think I've added a few ingredients along the way. It super-easy and oh, so good!
You'll need:
- chicken (about 2 cups, cooked and chopped)
- thin spaghetti (12 oz., cooked and drained)
- small can of chopped mushrooms
- small can of peas
- butter (1 stick, cut into pieces)
- cream of chicken soup
- sour cream (8 oz.)
- cheddar cheese (1 cup)
- chicken broth (1 cup)

1. Mix all ingredients (leaving out 1/2 cup cheese) in a microwave-safe bowl.
2. Microwave for 12 mins., stirring occasionally.
3. Add the rest of the cheese.
4. If eating right away, mircrowave for two more minutes, then serve.
If freezing, spoon into freezer pans. When ready to eat, bake at 350 for about an hour.

Garage Sale Junkie

2009-03-11T18:21:00.003-07:00

I think I'm addicted.
Sister and I spent Saturday garage and estate sale hopping. We found some great deals and had so much fun. We arrived at the first sale at 5:00 am and hit about 5 garage sales; then, after stopping at home to unload our treasures, we went to at an estate auction where we spent the rest of the day.

Emily and her garage sale "finds": three pairs of shoes, blue sandals for Smith, Banana Republic jeans, a blue cardigan, two blue trays, a Radio Flyer push wagon, a green vineyard ladder, three frames, a mirror, a small planter, two topiaries, a shelf, and a mirrored tray.

This lemonade stand at one sale was just precious.

I spent a total of $130, and these are my all of my "treasures":

four of these antique dining chairs

2 full-sized bedspreads

a pink pillow for AP's new "big sister" room

a camera for my favorite photographer

a Melissa & Doug clock puzzle
an apron and oven mitts for AP

one of my very favorite Disney movies

a small painting

a framed print

CD's to put me in a good mood on the way to work

a box full of craft, art, and sewing books and magazines

a cookbook

a Shel Silverstein book

a birthday cake book

three books: Wild at Heart, The Millionaire Mind, and You: The Owner's Manual

We got all of this before 7:00 am! There's so much more to tell about our experience at the estate sale, but I'll save that for another post.
Right now, we're planning our next garage sale shopping spree!

A Budding Photographer?

2009-03-09T10:09:00.003-07:00

AP has developed an interest in photography. She loves to take pictures with my digital camera. I think these are some pretty interesting compositions. Don't you?

When taking my picture, she tells me where to put my hands and how to turn my head. It's hilarious. We had our family portrait made a couple of months ago for our church directory. I guess it made an impression!

Great Depression Cooking with Clara

2009-03-05T09:20:00.003-08:00

Have you heard about Clara?
She's a 93 year-old great-grandmother with a cooking show on You Tube. I just came across her show today on The Simple Dollar (one of the blogs I frequent). She is just precious! She cooks a simple, affordable meal while telling stories of her childhood during the depression.
Her videos make me wish that I'd filmed my Grandma in the kitchen. I can't tell you how many times I've tried (and failed) to make her honeydew candy, and I'm still trying to get her buttermilk biscuits just right!
These two episodes show Clara cooking peppers and eggs, and they look yummy. If you enjoy these, check out her channel here.

30

2009-03-02T11:28:00.003-08:00

I'm 30. I have been since last weekend. I don't feel any different, but it does give me pause. I remember when "30" sounded old! Being 30 doesn't change much. I've pretty much looked the same since 9th grade, and I'm still the same granny that I've always been, (sewing, doing crossword puzzles, and watching Murder, She Wrote in my spare time), but there's just something about that number!

I had a friend mention (according to a magazine article she'd read) that they say that we, being 30, should refrain from wearing mini-skirts. Let me make it clear that I cannot recall the last time I even tried on a mini-skirt, let alone left the house in one, but the idea that, because of one more birthday, my wardrobe is somehow limited flew all over me! It made me want run home and put on a mini-skirt, just to spite whoever they are.

I had a delightful birthday celebration that lasted the whole week, thanks to my wonderful friends and family: My sister and I had a relaxing spa weekend, friends took me to dinner, my parents surprised my at school with Chik-Fil-A biscuits and brownies* for my teacher friends, and my husband's family took me to dinner then to Mardi Gras! I was definitely spoiled! (Not to mention all the gifts, cards, and phone calls, and the sweet blog post I received.)

So, turning 30's not that bad. I just can't wait for Jason to join me at the end of this month. Just don't be surprised the next time you see me if I'm sporting a mini-skirt. (Only kidding. Don't forget I'm 6 months pregnant- could you imagine? Wait, you probably shouldn't!)

*The brownies (more like blondies/chess squares) my mom made and brought to school were probably the best I've ever eaten. I'm usually not big on sweets, but I couldn't stop eating these!

Here's the recipe:

Neiman Marcus Brownies

First Layer:

1 box of butter pecan cake mix

1 stick of melted butter

1 egg

1 cup chopped pecans

Mix butter and egg, stir into cake mix , add pecans and press into sprayed 9x13 pan.

Second Layer:

1 stick of butter

1 cream cheese ( 8 oz)

1 tablespoon vanilla

1 box powder sugar

1 cup chopped pecans

2 eggs

Beat butter, cream cheese, eggs and vanilla with a mixer, add powder sugar,add pecans and spread on top of fir

Publish Post

st layer.

Bake at 300 for 1 hour. If second layer still too gooey. Cook extra 5-10 min.

Let me know what you think!

Don't Eat Pete!

2009-01-28T18:52:00.003-08:00

When Cousins Maggie was visiting a few weekends ago, we played our new favorite game, Don't Eat Pete! It's so much fun for toddlers and a great way to get them to eat, too! I found the game and a download for the board on a cute blog called Sparkle Power I printed it out and laminated it, and we were ready to go!

The game board has 12 squares with a picture in each one. You put a small treat (We used Cheerios.) in each square. One player leaves the room or covers his or her eyes and the others decide which fellow on the board is "Pete." When the person returns, they start eating the Cheerios from the game board. As soon as the player tries to pick "Pete," everyone yells "Don't eat Pete!" That players turn is over. Refill the game board and play again with the next player.
You can keep score by counting how many Cheerios are left, but don't worry with that yet.

The game board:
Mags (who rarely eats anything) got into the game!
AP - trying not to "Eat Pete"

Do You Clip Coupons?

2009-01-17T20:48:00.003-08:00

I do. Well, I do now. I always thought that clipping coupons was too much trouble. Why take the time when you're only going to save a few cents? Now, I know it's totally worth it. Thanks to the following sites, I've saved over $25 each of my last three visits to the grocery store:

Money Saving Mom
Money Saving Methods
The Simple Dollar
Thrifty Jinxy
The Grocery Game

Here are the steps I've learned to take that have drastically reduced my grocery bill:
1. Clip coupons. I do this in 3 ways.
1.) The old fashion way - Clip them from the Sunday paper, magazines, or "junk
mail."
2.)Print them - There are tons of sites out there where you can print your own
coupons; just google "coupons," and you'll see.
3.)Electronically - this way has to be my favorite! On ShortCuts.com, you can click
on the coupons you want, they'll be loaded onto your Kroger card (or
whatever store you use), and then you can print out a list of the coupons and their
expiration dates. You can also do this through Kroger.com.

2. Make a plan. Using the sales flyer (found at the store or on your store's website) to see what's currently on sale and my coupons as a guide, I plan a week of meals. Then, I write out my shopping list.

3. Stick to the list. This is a biggie for me. It's hard not to drop extras into my cart, especially when I see something that I think Anne Parks would love or when I'm hungry (which, lately, has been pretty much all the time), but having a meal plan, a list, and the challenge of saving more than last week has made it much easier.

4. Have fun! It is such a great feeling when the cashier starts swiping those coupons, and the total begins to go down little by little. This has become a game for me, and the receipt showing my savings is my little trophy.

On my last trip, my total started out at $162, and after the coupons and my Kroger savings, it was $135. That's a savings of $27 or 20%! If I can save that much each week, that's a savings of $100 a month! A little bit of planning goes a long way!

So, give coupon-clipping a try, and let me know how it goes!

Dads

2008-12-19T20:25:00.000-08:00

I came across this video on a blog I like to read, Working Moms Against Guilt, and I thought it was just too cute not to share. There's nothing better than a daddy with his little girl!

Grandma's Hair-Braiding Chair

2008-12-12T18:45:00.003-08:00

When I was small, my mother would take me by my great-grandmother's house for her to braid my hair (or plat it, as Grandma would say). I would sit on the same chair each time. This summer, I mentioned the chair to my uncle, saying I wish that someone had saved it. He told me he thought it was in my great-grandpa's old barn. I went to check, and there it was! I cleaned it up, and my dad helped me recover it. I regret that I didn't take a "before" picture. I did take one after we'd started. I'm so proud of it, and I know Grandma would have loved it. I hope to be braiding AP's hair soon (if I can get her to sit still).

The back and the seat were in pretty bad shape.

The final product:

Interesting?

2008-11-26T21:37:00.003-08:00

My sister tagged me with the "Kreativ Blogger Award," and here's what she's insisting I do:
List 6 interesting things about myself and tag 6 others to do the same.

I'm not sure how interesting these things are, but here it goes:

1. Kreativ spellings get on my nerves. It's not just this "award," but anytime someone changes a "C" to a "K", an "S" to "Z", etc. just to look klever or kwik-wit'd, it bugz me!

2. This is probably the reason behind #1. I love words. I like learning new words, playing word games, and working crossword puzzles. Oftentimes, I'll remember where I was when I heard a word for the first time. Is that weird? Never mind, don't answer that!

3. Before my 29th birthday, I had lived in 29 different places (counting the dorm, sorority house, and college apartments). This lifestyle caused me, like my sister, to become bored with one place. I used to move furniture around too, but with a two year-old, who has the time or the energy?

4. I love murder mysteries. Sherlock Holmes is my all-time favorite detective, but I also love Sue Grafton's heroine, Kenzie Millhone. Most of my favorite tv shows are murder mysteries: Monk, Psych, Pushing Daisies, The Closer, CSI, Law & Order, Criminal Minds, and (my guilty pleasure) Murder, She Wrote.

5. I'm claustophobic.

6. I'm hand-making just about all of my Christmas gifts this year. It's been a lot of work, but I had so much fun planning what I wanted to do specifically for each person on my list. Having put more time and thought into each present this year is going to make the giving so much more gratifying. I'm getting excited just thinking about it!

Ganne's Birthday Wishes

2008-09-30T19:21:00.003-07:00

My grandmother, (Ganne, as she's known by her "grands") turned 75 this year, so we decided to do something extra special. My mom contacted friends, colleagues, and students who had been a part of her 75 years and ask them to send her birthday greetings. The results were beyond what we imagined. Ganne received over 170 cards and emails!
Today, she stopped by to see us and brought her "birthday book" with her, and I snapped a few pictures.
I've inherited many qualities from my Ganne, but I wish I'd gotten her knack for organization. The book contains all of the birthday cards and emails - alphabetized by sender.
This is the card that AP picked out and sent. She calls this "Hello Kitty-Cat."
In addition to the birthday greetings, my sister and I wrote this poem. If you know her, I think you'll agree with our assessment.

She Is…

She is a collector. Of Hummels and postcards and books. Of toothpick holders and L.V.’s folk art.

She is a teacher, and although retired, you are sure to learn something when in her presence.

She is a saver. She is a pack rat, an eater-of-leftovers, a coupon-clipper, and one who freely accepts (and often requests) the senior discount.

She knows how to create her own parking space.

She says things like, “Woo Ooh!” and, “I love you a bushel and a peck,” and, “Wonder who lives here.”

Her yard is colorful with its day lilies and yard art.

She cheers for the Whippets, the Bulldogs, and sometimes, to our dismay, even the Rebels.

She is proud to be an American and flies her flag with honor.

She is true Mississippian with her magnolia tree and syrupy sweet tea.

She has a sweet tooth. You won’t find her without chocolates or mints in her purse. Her candy dish is full of M&Ms or gumdrops and there’s Neapolitan ice cream in her freezer.

She is a member, and often a leader, of groups like DAR, Cameo Society, Attala County Historical Society, Twenty-first Century Club, Little Garden Club, and Colonial Dames.

She likes things from south of the border – from chalupas and chimichangas to her favorite game, Mexican Train.

She is a “cook who cares.” She makes special treats like cocoons and "goop". She leaves the cherries out of Emily’s fruit salad; Laura’s chicken spaghetti is topped with extra cheese; and Andrew knows he can have fresh blueberries or sweet potato casserole on request.

She is up-to-date with the latest technology (if you don’t include the cell phone). Our email in-boxes are always full of interesting forwards and “personal notes”.

Her hometown is "a place called Sallis." She is at home in Kosciusko and has great memories from Monticello and Indianola.

She is a preserver of history who has researched and written historical accounts of her hometown, her church, and her favorite organization.

She has a new room full of memories.

She has nimble fingers that quickly type, beautifully play piano, and sweetly tell “face stories.”

She is full of energy and her house is always fun. With wind-up tub toys, phone calls to the library for story time (“Hang up the phone now please.”), a yellow bicycle-built-for-two, a tree to climb, and a closet full of toys and books from decades passed.

Her sleepovers bring back sweet memories of the fold-out couch with feather pillows, stories about Duke told in a voice unsurpassed by the most famous storytellers, her silky pajamas, and cold cream good-night kisses.

She decorates for every holiday on the calendar.

She has two Christmas trees: one dedicated to family and one to the state she loves.

She wears brooches and pins, and her necklaces are works of art. She wears socks with a ball, clip-on earrings, and a ring shaped like a butter tray. (Actually, she hasn’t worn it in quite some time…it’s just sitting in her jewelry box…maybe she should let someone wear it…someone like her second-born granddaughter who has admired it since she was very small.)

She likes a good game. She is a Wheel of Fortune fan, follows high school and college sports on the radio and TV, and has a weakness for entering contests.

She is a traveler who prefers taking the scenic route (i.e., the Natchez Trace).

She has many opinions. Sometimes she doesn’t even have to state them aloud. You can tell what she’s thinking with one look at her face – the higher the eyebrows, the stronger the opinion.

She is a celebrity. She makes regular appearances in the Star Herald.

She believes in the power of prayer and prays for her friends and family by name each day.

Three generations share her name.

She is a friend, a mother, a grandmother and a great-grandmother.

She is our Ganne.

Fairies

2008-09-13T17:18:00.003-07:00

When we were young, if you'd ask my friend, Laura, what she wanted to be when she grew up, she'd say she wanted to be fairy. So, while planning her baby shower, I told my friend Jessi about a sweet fairy dress pattern that I'd found here at one of my favorite craft blogs, Craftzine.
Jessi's very talented mom offered to make one for Laura's baby-to-be and one for AP as well. Jes found all of the great fabric (mostly sheets) at thrift stores.

Here's Elizabeth's in pink...

And here's my sweet fairy in yellow.

The dress is great for twirling!

Rocks In My Dryer

2008-08-17T09:56:00.000-07:00

I have found a blog that I absolutely love and want to share. It's "Rocks In My Dryer". I found it while researching Corrie ten Boom for the 8th grade English class I teach. While I don't share her knack for writing, nor her wisdom, the author and I have many things in common. She blogs about motherhood, her love of books, and her Christian faith. I can totally relate to her posts and, from her site, always take away some sort of inspiration.

Here is a post that have inspired me lately, but for more, click here.

Why I Believe (from "Rocks In My Dryer")

There are times when I wish my faith in God was perfectly box-shaped, with the corners tucked in neatly, and the whole thing tied up with a big, red bow.

There are times I wish I had bite-sized answers for the hard questions. Answers that make easy sense within the framework of my humanity. Answers that don't stretch me too much.
But it doesn't work that way. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. And that can get messy. Young mothers get sick. Husbands leave. Terrorists fly planes into buildings. I follow a God who has promised me peace and comfort and joy, but on His terms, not mine.

And I know--I really do know--that this is a tough thing for some people to swallow. From the outside looking in, it looks like a blind faith, or a crutch. I've traveled that road of skepticism more times than I can count. I wrestled until my soul was bruised. There were times, when I was younger, that I didn't think I'd ever be able to believe again.
But I do believe now. I do, with all my heart. Even when it's messy. But how? How can I follow a God who doesn't always stop suffering?

I don't have a theologian's answer to that question, because I'm not a theologian. There was I time when I needed that kind of answer--the facts, the explanations, the persuasion. I've heard them all, and those answers are all an important part of my faith journey.
Now, all I really need to see is His track record in my life. I believe because I've seen what He's done, in my own life--my peace in the storms, my journeys out of the wildnerness. I don't doubt His goodness, simply because He's proven it to me so many times, through my own circumstances, through Scripture, and most of all, on the cross.

My daughter hates it when I make her hold my hand to cross a parking lot. She hates it when I have to tug a little to get the tangles out of her hair. She hates it when I say "no" to snacks right before dinner.
I do all this because I see the big picture. She doesn't.

Yet in all of this, she still loves me and prefers me. Why? Because she knows that the same momma who says "no" to snacks is the same momma who makes sure she's always well-fed. The same momma who grabs her hand in the parking lot is the same momma who kisses her scraped-up knee. I have a track record of proving my love for her. When I do something that makes her angry, she ultimately accepts it as coming from the hand of a mother who always acts with her best interests at heart.

Is that too simple an analogy? Maybe. But faith is simple. It's taking a leap and suspending disbelief just long enough to see if God is who He says He is. If He is, He can handle the tough questions. If He is, He'll meet us on our journey, taking a thousand steps toward us when we take just one toward Him.

From the bottom of my heart, I'll tell you--He's worth the risk.

We're So Proud of Our Friend!

2008-06-25T20:06:00.002-07:00

Click here to check out our friend Erika's interview on the "My Home Ideas" website. If you haven't already, I also suggest you check out her blog and read about her latest adventure...at the Daytime Emmys!
The above photo was taken by another friend from Florida, Marla Carter. You should check her out if you want to have beach portraits taken on your next vacation.

Operation Diaper Free

2008-06-13T15:02:00.003-07:00

For my birthday, my husband gave me the book Toilet Training in Less Than a Day. After reading it, I felt like it would be a good method for AP. Our day was Monday. The idea is to focus on the potty, and only the potty, until the child can go by his or herself. It seemed easy enough, and she did pretty well for a while, but after spending 4 hours sitting on the kitchen floor with all focus on her, I was pooped, (pardon the pun) and AP was ready to do something else. I thought I'd failed miserably and maybe even tried too soon. I was especially frustrated the next day when she refused to sit on the potty at all.

Then, something wonderful happened. That night, I heard her calling for me at 1:45 am. I ran and got her and took her to the potty! Since then, she's been doing great. I've just been so proud of her! I've also been pretty sad, though. Once the diapers are gone, you really don't have a baby anymore.

The book encourages you to praise dry pants instead of going to the potty. This illustration from the book cracks me up. It says, "Happiness is dry pants."

Anne Parks Is Two!

2008-06-11T21:06:00.003-07:00

I can't believe that it has been two years since AP joined our family! It seems like she should still be a little baby, but then, it seems like she's always been here. Each day, she's more and more fun for us. She's talking so much, definitely has a personality all her own, and always has the funniest things to say.

AP on her "birth" day - all 9 lbs. ll oz. of her.

Sandcastle Rice Krispy treats...I wasn't sure these would work, but I coated the sandcastle molds with lots of butter and they slipped right out! The big one in the middle was cut into thin individual serving-sized slices (for people to pick up), and then put back together like a puzzle.

Happy Birthday, Sweet Girl!

Let's Have a Ball!

2008-06-11T20:05:00.000-07:00

AP had a beach birthday party this weekend, and I'll share photos soon. For the invitations to other kids, I wrote the info on a beach ball and put it in an envelope with the instructions, "Blow me up!" But for everyone else, I wanted a picture of AP to put on a paper invitation. After filling up my memory card with trial pics, we finally got it right.

Pretty cute, huh?

Financial Peace

2008-06-07T10:21:00.000-07:00

My husband and I just completed Financial Peace University. I'd been a Dave Ramsey fan for a while and was thrilled when Jason signed us up for FPU for my birthday. I learned so much! Dave's philosophy (don't spend money you don't have) is easy enough to understand and is pretty common sense, but in addition to avoiding debt, I learned a lot about taxes, insurance, and investing. We had a great time and recommend the class to anyone. If you're interested, click here to see if there is a class in your area.

our graduation cake

a mosaic made from all of the credit cards that were cut up during the course of the class

A Sucker a Day?

2008-05-08T19:21:00.002-07:00

I took AP for her 4th trip to the doctor in 4 months with an ear infection. I was hoping losing the paci would mean getting rid of those nasty things. Hopefully, now that cold season is behind us, the ear infections will be too. These pictures are of our leaving the doctor's office. This happens every time. She will feel horrible and be pitifully lethargic and sad, and then we'll check out and get a sucker. Once the sucker is in her hand, she miraculously feels better. I think that next time I'll skip the doctor's office and just give her a sucker first.

No More Paci!

2008-04-16T07:20:00.003-07:00

I am happy to report that Operation Paci-Free has been a complete success! AP has been without her daytime paci since Friday and has been doing great at school and even takes her nap without any problem. We've experienced many benefits to this new paci-free lifestyle.

No more:

- keeping up with a paci and panicking if it gets lost.

- worrying about all those germs!

- earaches (at least I hope we'll have fewer than before). WebMD says that pacifier use may lead to ear infections!

- fighting at bedtime. A surprise bonus to getting rid of the daytime paci has been that once Anne Parks gets sleepy, she asks us to put her in the bed!

Operation Paci-Free

2008-04-13T18:50:00.001-07:00

When I first decided on the "Paci-Free Plan," I did it with the idea that I would have at least three really hard days ahead of me. I won't say it's been a piece of cake, but I have realized that most of the the paci-problem fell with my giving it to her every time she was upset. This weekend I realized just how much easier (for me) it has been to just stick a paci in her mouth to stop her crying or to help her go to sleep in the car, than to wait it out.
Here's an overview of our weekend:

Saturday, Day One:
The night before this endeavor, I made it a point to talk about how big girls don't have pacis. I went through the list of everyone we know and asked, "Does Daddy have a paci?" and "Is Drew a big boy?" She would answer "Nooooo" and "Daddy big boy!" Saturday morning, I told her the paci had to stay in the bed. She just threw it down! No argument! She was great all day...until nap time. Once she got tired, she got really sad. She asked for her paci, and I reminded her that it was in her bed. Then, she started calling out for anyone who might come and "save" her and give her a paci. She called for Daddy (who was out of town), her grandparents, and all of her aunts and uncles. I guess she thought they would be nicer than I was. It was pretty pitiful. Once she woke up from her nap, she was fine, and didn't ask for her paci until bedtime. I was impressed.

Sunday, Day Two:
When AP woke up, she immediately handed me her paci, and we left in her bed. We visited Christ United's Sunday school, and I was pretty nervous about taking her to a new place without her coping mechanism. I didn't go to the service but went to pick her up as soon as the class was over because I was so concerned. When I got there, she had a big smile and said, "Hey, Mama!" The teacher said she never even mentioned a paci!

I'd hate to jinx it, but I believe we've gotten over the hardest part (which really wasn't that hard). The real test will be seeing how she does without it all day at school tomorrow. I suspect nap time will be difficult.

I had expected her to turn to her blanket more after losing the comfort her paci provides, but it's funny. She's wanted her blanket less! I guess it's her new "big girl" attitude. I'll keep you updated.

The Paci Problem

2008-04-11T09:17:00.003-07:00

Does anybody else have the "paci problem"? It seems like every day AP grows more and more attached to her paci. I don't really mind the "blanket friend" that she takes everywhere. I read that the comfort it provides can mean that she'll learn more and be more confident in new situations.
Then, there's the paci. I'm sick of it! It keeps her from talking correctly, is a germ-magnet, and covers up her pretty face. In addition, at this age, a paci makes her look less intelligent than she really is. She can count to 10 and has a huge vocabulary, but you'd never know it with that "thing" in her mouth. It's horrible to say, but it really "dumbs-down" her looks.

Doesn't she look brighter without it? I'd love to hear from anyone who has successfully gotten rid of one of these things. I've decided to try this weekend for a "bedtime only" policy. (If she wants the paci, she'll have to get in the bed.) It's a little scary, and it will be hard, but I think we can do it. I'm just thankful she doesn't suck her thumb since we couldn't just leave that in the bed. I'll let you know how it goes...

Twos: Terrible or Terrific?

2008-04-09T08:14:00.002-07:00

As AP nears the two-year mark, we've started to notice a change in our sweet baby. She's not a baby anymore. She's getting taller and slimmer and her hair is getting longer and longer. Looking at her, I see a little girl instead of a baby. She's also realized that she can make her own decisions and have her own preferences which includes everything from deciding she no longer likes a certain pair of shoes to prefering Barney over anything we want to watch. I've learned that what I want and what Anne Parks wants are often two very different things.Like on this day when I got to Anne Parks' school to pick her up and she decided that she wasn't ready to go. I was able to snap a picture of her running away.
Doesn't she look proud of her escape?

The following essay just arrived in the weekly newsletter I get from Parents.com. Jennifer Bowman has a unique perspective, and so much of what she says here reminds me of a day in our house!

Why We Love 2-Year-Olds: An Essay
By Jennifer E. Bowman

Terrible Twos?
Having a 2-year-old isn't so bad.
"Surely you jest!" I can almost hear you say. For some parents, the occasion when their little baby turns 2 -- and begins to act her age -- is more terrifying than the thought of a McDonald's indoor playland being closed on a rainy Saturday afternoon.
But I'm serious. My older daughter has me awed as I watch her make her way into terrible two-dom. Although I've been through this stage before with my son, it's been a while. The event makes for an interesting case study as my child changes from a sweet, loving baby into, well, a 2-year-old.

Here's Why We Love Them
Despite having what I consider expertise in the area (and being prepared for the worst), I still marvel at the way toddlers are equipped, at such a young age, to develop a mind completely of their own. So I do the only thing I can do: Try to maintain my sense of humor -- and my sanity -- by seeing her behavior in a new light. For instance:

1. When she takes a running leap and lands on top of me, she is questioning whether she will always be able to lean on me. And because I always want her to know the answer is yes, I tolerate it.

2. When she yells "No!" and points her finger, returning the glare she undoubtedly learned from me, she is asserting herself. I couldn't be more relieved. I hope she will maintain that perseverance right into her teen years, when she can use it on any boy who dares to try to get fresh with her. And into her adult years, when her stubbornness will be called "determination."

3. When she attempts to stick a bobby pin she's found into the light socket, she is exploring her world and trying to discover how things work. Perhaps she'll be an engineer one day.

4. When she draws on the walls with a purple crayon, she is expressing her creativity. I try to think of her as an artist in training. And even more important, she is learning the value of leaving her mark on the world.

5. When she breaks my favorite lamp and flashes her award-winning smile just as I am coming toward her, she is practicing her people skills. Perhaps she'll be a great politician (though I hope she'd be the rare kind who maintains integrity).

6. When she tries to stuff the kitten into her brother's lunchbox, she is experimenting with spatial concepts.

7. When she wrestles with her brother over a toy, calling "Mine!" loud enough to be heard down the street, she is being bold and going for what she wants. I just hope that in the future, if she doesn't get her way, her solution won't be to bite in retaliation.

8. When she climbs our chain-link fence with bare feet, she is proving that no challenge is too difficult for her to meet. And when I discover her playing in the yard of the neighbors who live behind us, she is reaching beyond her own little world, refusing to be provincial.

9. When she lies on top of her 7-month-old sister, crushing the baby with enthusiastic hugs and kisses, she is unabashedly wearing her heart on her sleeve.

10. When she insists I read The Little Engine That Could to her again, for the seventh time in a row, she is teaching me patience.

11. When she dumps macaroni all over the kitchen floor, stops to acknowledge my "No!" by turning briefly to look at me, and then goes right back to what she was doing, she is showing her ability to follow through with a task.

12. When she gets tickled over something I take for granted -- the toast popping up from the toaster when it's browned, for instance -- she is blessing me unaware. How many times have I longed to see the world through the eyes of a child once again? Thanks to her, I can.

13. When I catch her trying to eat the cat's food, she is proving that she will not be a picky eater -- and that she has survival skills, which may come in handy later in life (especially if she ends up on some reality TV show).

14. When she gleefully rips off her dry diaper, throws it in the sink, and races for the toilet, then refuses to sit on it, she is exercising her prerogative to change her mind.

15. When I call her name and she immediately breaks into a sprint in the other direction, she is listening to her own inner voice and refusing to be a conformist.

16. When she suddenly decides to throw a tantrum in the middle of a restaurant, she is teaching me humility. And that leftovers reheated later at home usually taste just as good as food served fresh.

17. When she steps into my enormous shoes, which swallow her tiny feet, and clumsily tries to walk in them, she makes me reflect upon my great responsibility to provide a good role model for her to follow.

18. And when she stands on the kitchen table with no pants on, refusing to even put on a diaper, and dances... well, I can only think the worst about that. So I try not to read too much into it, because I am choosing to remain positive.

Through the Eyes of a Child...

2007-12-02T19:33:00.003-08:00

I have been totally stressed out lately. With housework and workwork and Christmas shopping and grocery shopping and everything else that goes with being a mom/grown-up, I've felt over-loaded. But, I was outside with AP yesterday, and she was doing her favorite thing - sitting on the front steps. She was pretty proud of herself because she was wearing her new Christmas outfit. The lastest phrase that she's been saying is "Oh, preeeety!" Well, she was sitting there and the wind picked up. Leaves started falling and blowing around everywhere. She was so excited and shouted, "Oh, preeeety!" What a wonderful reminder to me to take a deep breath and enjoy the changing of the season - even if it's a little late for "fall". Isn't it amazing what God can show us throught the eyes of a child?