My new, old, Favorite Project!

I absolutely adore silhouettes. I always have. You can make your own too! I'm going to walk you through how easy it is, and I'd even promise to hold your hand, but that might prove awkward... You'll need your hands free to work with scissors here.
I just made these updated versions because the set hanging on my wall were from when they were really little.
I painted these with oil paints when J.J. was three, and Ava was one. You can't really see it here, but she had those adorable little baby curls at the nape of her neck and I painted them in! Is there really anything sweeter than those precious little baby curls? Silhouettes are pretty generic, but you can always add things that personalize them. More on that, in a second.
Here's what you're going to need. A couple of frames, some card stock- I chose classic black and white- a sharp pair of fine point scissors, glue stick, and side shots of your subjects in front of a dark background. Bribe 'em with leftover Halloween candy, get them to sit still, (of course, you may need to hold the candy until AFTER) and then snap a photo. The hardest thing about this craft is getting the photos the right sizes for your frame etc. You may need to work with them a bit.
I printed these out on regular printer paper. Then, carefully cut them out. You want the profiles to be as exact as possible, for obvious reasons. Not so obvious? Well, you don't want people coming over and wondering if your silhouettes are of the Egyptian Sphinx because you accidentally snipped off the end of junior's nose. Savvy?You can actually find generic silhouette shapes all over the Internet, or just eyeball them. Then slide your precious little one's face into the front, and trace what you've so carefully cut out like I did here. Okay, back to personalizing it. I added eyelashes to Ava's because I think that's adorable on a feminine silhouette, and I added a cowlick to J.J.'s head because that's so very J.J... Keep in mind that the head is more like an elongated oval shape that exaggerates the actual outline of their head. (And it doesn't need to be perfect to still be sweet.) Once they are traced, cut them out very carefully! I think I held my breath the whole time I was cutting. Now, you're ready to center and glue them down. Be sure to glue the side with pencil markings down. After I took this photo, I also added their names and the year just under the neck area. Now, simply frame and hang them up to treasure for years to come. I re-hung the old versions in my kitchen. Then I can look at them all day...
Aren't they precious, hanging over there on the wall? This took me a total of 45 minutes from start to finish, and I spent $11.47. (I got the frames 50% off at the craft store, and you know how affordable card stock is, right?)

Stupid easy. Don't we just love that?

What's in a name...

I've had a few people ask me how about the name of my blog lately. I always figure if more than a few people are curious about something, I may as well just post on it for all the world to see, because then I don't have to think up a post for that day. Because I'm intrinsically lazy. Please don't spread that around. Thanks.

I was having one of those days. You know the ones when you're just glad you have a backyard to send the kids out to play in, because you're getting nothing done and you've had to wipe every single surface free of crumbs and debris all stinkin' day long? Dinner is probably going to be cold cereal, milk optional, and your man is running late. You've been in your workout clothes (gasp!) all day, (but never got a workout) and you're tired of breaking up sibling fights. Your patience isn't running thin, it's gone, and you're just not yourself.

Usually, I'm an amazingly (some say annoyingly) organized person. On this particular day I just wasn't. Late in the afternoon, the doorbell rang and it was the UPS man, unloading four big boxes of my children's curriculum. I looked around in my chaos and lost my mind. I opened up all four of those boxes, and began unloading books, supplies, papers, and packing paper all over the house. Then I stood around and wondered why I wanted to cry.

I said I was organized, I didn't say I was intelligent.

It was then, like a sun break in the clouds, that my friend Maria called me to see how I was doing. You know the kind of friend who calls you when you feel like crying, but after talking for about three minutes, you suddenly find yourself laughing hysterically at the chaos flying around your head, and going, "What on earth was I thinking???" Then once you get off the phone, life just doesn't seem quite as severe? Yeah... Maria is that friend.

I was trying to describe my mental state to her, and it came out something like this. "Life is handing me lemons today, Maria! You know, some people take those lemons and they make lemonade... Well, I take those lemons and organize them first... and my lemons are NOT organized!" She laughed and said, "Oh Sash... that' is soooo you!"

It's amazing to me how life unfolds, and even in the midst of unusual personal chaos, inspiration can somehow strike. And that's how the name, Lemonade Makin' Mama, happened.

I'm nothing, if not a shameless copycat!

I know I've mentioned this before, but I've got a problem. (And no it doesn't involve my should-I-get-a-dog decision. I'm still half resisting/working on that one...) I'm talking about the problem where I can't spend money on something when I know I can make a shameless knock-off for a lot less. I see it this way- if Pottery Barn and Ballard Designs got together and had a crafty, yet constricted-by-a-budget child, it would have been me. (You can also call me cheap. I don't mind.)I found Christmas stockings at Ballard Designs and fell madly in love. I rushed to my man's side and pointed out the darling personalized stockings, knowing he would be as enraptured as I was and would find the closest phone to immediately place an order! He, being my ever practical (and crazy handsome) provider, looked at the $35.00 price tag per stocking, calculated that times four, added shipping and handling (darn, I always forget about that one) and uttered the following with a charming grin, "Not a chance babe."

I sighed in dismay and went to sit in the corner to collect my thoughts. But I didn't give up, because my mama didn't raise a quitter ya'll. Plus, there is more than one way to skin a cat. (heh, heh.)
I rummaged around in my craft closet, and then took my DIY personality to the fabric store. I ended up spending a total of $10.00 on materials and trim. Ten, people. Ten. Then I got to work...
And sewed them myself!
And I love them... I really, really love them!!

Don't worry Ballard Designs, I still love you madly, too...

Oh! And I totally forgot to tell you that my friend Amanda (Thank you so much Amanda!) just started up a new site called Blabbing about Blogs and she featured me yesterday! Go check out her blog, it's going to be a really fun site!

Company Dinner

Everyone has a no-fail meal that they serve whenever they have company. I like to try new things, but every girl needs a backup meal that serves a crowd, and this is it baby. So, put on your company manners (you know you have them) and make this company meal, and I promise everyone will love you. I typically make this with Ground Italian Sausage. I mean, the recipe is called Italian Sausage Pasta... This time, however, I was using sliced London Broil. (I have my reasons.) It was good, though I prefer it with the Italian Sausage. So can we just pretend this is Italian Sausage and not sliced London Broil? Thanks.
You begin with a little olive oil, garlic, and onion. Saute. Add your (ahem) Italian Sausage (or meat that your husband brought home because it was on sale when he went to pick up a gallon of milk on the way home.) Salt and pepper to taste. (and if you aren't using Italian Sausage, just add a handful of Italian Seasoning.) Then, after that's had a chance to brown a bit, dump in 2/3 c red wine. Let that dance in a pan for about seven minutes until it's all thickened. (At this point, you could always go find a use for the leftover red wine.) Then, add a can of diced tomatoes, and a cup of whipping cream. Let it simmer for a few minutes until it thickens up again.
While you're doing that, you can cook up your pasta. I prefer penne, but there are no rules here. Why? Because rules and I don't get along well. You knew that right?
Dump that saucy meat mixture over your hot pasta. Don't you just want to say "saucy meat mixture" over and over, and toss your hair around while you're saying it? Or is that just me? Saucy! (And no, I wasn't drinking the wine... that's just all me right there.)
Then cover it with a shower of freshly grated Parmesan cheese. If Parmesan cheese was a man, I'd marry him.
Now, just add 3-4 tbsp. of parsley flakes on top...
And give the whole thing a nice toss. A saucy toss if you want. (giggle)

At this point, people will be standing around you in a cluster, plates in hand, so pre-plan your escape exit.

This truly makes a ton of food. We have to make this when we have company because if we didn't, we'd be eating Italian Sausage Pasta for a couple of weeks.

Italian Sausage Pasta:
1 onion, diced
4-5 cloves crushed garlic
Ground Italian Sausage, or 3 links Italian Sausage
2/3 c red wine
1 can diced tomatoes
1/2 pt. whipping cream
3-4 tbsp parsley flakes
Parmesan cheese
Cooked Penne pasta

*Saute onion and garlic. Add Italian Sausage and cook until browned. Add wine and simmer approx 7 min. Add can of tomatoes and simmer. Add 1/2 pt. whipping cream, simmer until thicker. Pour over hot cooked pasta, and add Parmesan cheese and parsley flakes.

Bon Apetit!

A picture worth a thousand words...

I celebrate 14 years of driving this man o' mine crazy wedded bliss this month. I recently thought I'd lost all of my wedding photos. Which wouldn't have been difficult, considering that all I have is a stack of 4x6 photos, tied with a ribbon as pictorial proof of this blessed event. I really need to get these into a permanent album!

I just about tore the house apart searching for these. You don't come between a girl and her wedding photos, even if they are only a stack of pictures tied with a ribbon. That's a good way to get yourself hurt. I finally found them and sank down at the table in relief. Then I applied myself to careful study of these photos for about the 800th time in the past decade. I quickly found myself laughing hysterically at the ridiculous way I chose to wear my hair (done by my own self) on this day, and the fact that I was sporting red lipstick. I think I stopped wearing red lipstick in the year 2000 and I will never look back. We should have eloped to Maui where I could have worn a simple dress, walked in bare feet, managed minimal family and guests, and taken a honeymoon. We weren't thinking. (We were 19 and 20.)

I'm just so thrilled that I had at least enough sense to forgo the butt-bow (You know what I'm talking about right?) that so many brides were wearing on the rear of their gowns in the 90's. (Oh help me... I was a 90's bride!)

So my point. Look very closely at this photo. It's my all time favorite photo of our wedding. It encapsulates our marriage perfectly. If you know us in real life, you know exactly what I'm talking about, and if you have read my blog for a few months, you've got a pretty good idea.

There's me, laughing and socializing with friends on the way down the aisle and being generally sidetracked into party mode on the way to the reception. And then you see my Adrain. Strong and steady, leading me, looking straight ahead to the future and protectively covering my hand on his arm. He was probably thinking, "Come on Sasha... sweetheart, let's just focus for a minute here, and make it out of the church in one piece."

He had no idea what he was in for...

Pumpkin Prayer

"Pumpkin Prayer"

{cut off top of pumpkin}
Lord, open my mind so I can learn new things about you.

{remove innards}
Remove the things in my life that don’t please you.
Forgive the wrong things I do and help me to forgive others.

{cut open eyes}
Open my eyes to see the beauty you’ve made in the world around me.

{cut out nose}
I’m sorry for the times I’ve turned my nose at the good food you provide.

{cut out mouth}
Let everything I say please You.

{light the candle}
Lord, help me show your light to others through the things I do. Amen

By: Liz Curtis Higgs

Twas the night before... the night before Halloween

Pumpkin carving night at our house. It's kind of an excuse to let our children get really messy while we eat candy.
I love pumpkin carving night.
I also love watching Adrain's biceps cut into pumpkins. I stand around and take pictures. I don't do pumpkin goo. I roast the seeds, take pictures, and admire every one's work. That's my contribution to the entire night. It's good to be the Mama.
This is JJ's costume. He made it himself. And in case you weren't clear yet... I home school. Last year, he went as Abe Lincoln. This year, he was originally going as an eagle, but changed his mind at the last minute after reading a book called, "Mr. Tucket." He is now going as Mr. Tucket. (I'm sure everyone will know exactly who he is.) His vest is made from a shopping bag, but it's supposed to be an animal skin vest. Not sure if I mentioned that I home school my children... (snicker)
JJ took this photo of Ava and I, and then told me that "I needed to be careful asking a boy wearing "animal skins" to take photographs." I have no explanation for you on this. And I don't really want to get into the mind of an eight-year old boy pretending to be a fictional character in animal skins, for Halloween.
I also have no desire to get into these pumpkins and scrape seeds. This is Ava's ball of goo. And it's just disturbing. There was talk of having a pumpkin goo fight, but JJ decided it wouldn't be a wise idea. His exact words on that were, "It wouldn't be pleasing to the lady of the house." That said, he may be a home schooled, make-your-own costume kind of kid, but I'd say he's exceptionally bright.



P.S. One pumpkin is carved like a dog (surprise, surprise!) and the other is a mustang. I think Mr. Tucket rode a mustang...

I'm going to share a little secret with you...

If you ask me who makes my favorite sugar cookies, I will tell you. Me. (I know, I'm shameless, but I can't help it.) I have tried countless recipes and this is by far my absolute favorite! I'm sharing it with you because nobody likes a person who doesn't share her best recipes. Besides, I share everything. (In case you hadn't picked that up yet.) I even got to use some of my new cookie cutters from the prize I won recently!
On the top of my recipe card, I wrote, "The best sugar cookies ever." Proof positive, right there.
I love rolling out cookie dough. It's a weakness I have.
And the secret ingredient that makes these cookies the best- Almond extract. In fact, I was at a Dance studio waiting for Ava several years ago, and I got to chatting with a woman near me. She started talking about her "famous sugar cookies" and we got to comparing ingredients, only to discover that we were discussing the exact same recipe!

Then we just poured our hearts out to each other for the next 45 minutes about everything in our lives. I'd never met her before that day, and even now, when I bump into her at random places, like the grocery store, we act like long lost friends. (Though I can't actually recall her name.) We've been known to clasp hands and do a little dance. I like to call it the cookie dance, but don't tell anyone. I wouldn't want them to think I was weird. These cookies bond people. It's a fact.The Best Sugar Cookies Ever:
1 1/2 c. powdered sugar
1 c butter, room temp.
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp almond extract
2 1/2 c flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cream of tartar

Cream the butter and sugar together. Add the egg and extracts. Blend well. Add dry ingredients and blend. Wrap tightly and chill 2-3 hours or overnight. Roll out dough and cut as desired. Bake 375 for 7-8 minutes. Frost cookies with Royal Icing. Bring a plate of these over to your neighbors. I promise they will love you for it.

Royal Icing Recipe:
3 tpsp. meringue powder (I find mine at the craft store in the cake decorating section)
4 c. powdered sugar
6 tbsp warm water
tsp almond extract
*Beat until icing forms peaks- about 10 minutes. (Add more water for flow consistency and beat longer for piping consistency. )

Wild Thing, I think I love ya...

I've just got to be honest here. As a mom, I never really understood the love that so many people have for "Where the Wild Things Are." I mean, the story is cute, and I suppose the pictures are fun if you're a little boy, but they are pictures of monsters and make-believe, and frankly, I'm not a boy. So, I'm just saying, I didn't really get it.

That said, I have one of the most precious memories concerning this story book. We owned the book when JJ was just a little guy. It was a present from someone at some point in our life. And let me just tell you that my JJ loved this book. But he didn't love it when I would read it. Oh no... he only loved this book when his grandpa would read it.
My dad would nestle little JJ on his lap, and the most outrageous, and crazy tale would soon begin. Only instead of monsters, they became Russian "Comrades." They each had a special name too -There was Anatoly, Dimitry, Nikolai, Vasili, Sergei, and of course, Vladimir, who incidentally caused a lot of trouble at the Wild Rumpus. The funny thing was, my Dad knew every single Wild Thing by name, and at the time, so did JJ. One day, I made my dad write the names under each Wild Thing so I wouldn't forget.

A short time after my Dad wrote down each of the Comrades names, the book was irreparably ruined. I always meant to get another one, but as time passed it was simply forgotten.

Until now. The movie being released has kind of jogged my memory. I think I'm going to have to get another copy just for old time's sake and pencil in the names as best I can.

And for the record, I still don't really get what all the rumpus is about. (snicker) "Rumpus." Get it?

Why homeschooling makes me laugh...

I know I'm a couple of weeks late bringing this up, being that Columbus day is long since over and gone, and you're all done with your big celebrations.

Personally, I don't really care to celebrate Columbus day. I'll just be honest here, it's kind of an irritating holiday for me. Typically, I spend a small portion of the day walking down to the the mailbox. Then I get there and realize that I just wasted five whole minutes of my life that I'll never get back, walking to a god-forsaken mailbox, on a supposed holiday that no one actually celebrates. Except for bankers and mailmen. I usually allow myself just a little slice of bitterness as I trudge forlornly back to my driveway. It's easy to forget that I used to really whoop it up on Columbus day back when I was in banking. In fact, I really loved having a paid day off that no one else got. Serves me right I suppose.

Okay. So the reason for this post, (and there is always a reason, lest you doubt me for even a second) is that my son recently finished a report on Mr. Columbus. Not such a good guy really. Did you know that? He was kind of slimy sort. Liar. Slave driver. Swindler... you know, really "quality character" things that you'd want to celebrate by giving the world no mail for an entire day. (I promise to drop this now.)

But the point is, that JJ drew the cutest picture for his report and I laughed for three whole minutes as I read it. (Almost makes up for the five I lost when..... Oh yeah. I said I'd stop.)

If you can't read it, allow me to decipher it for you. The first picture is of Columbus's three ships. Presumably, Columbus is shouting at someone on the shore, "Earth is round." And that ignorant naysayer on land is shouting, "No it's not!" And if you look very closely at the picture, it appears that the land-loving unbeliever is cupping his hands around his mouth so as to carry his shout further. Hence, my three minutes of laughter.
Admittedly, it takes very little to make me laugh for three whole minutes these days.

I blame homeschooling.

And mailmen who take days off.

Exploring the "D" word

Dog.

I can NOT believe I'm even writing this. I've been fairly adamant about my feelings about owning a dog for the past eight years, going so far as to say, "I will never get a dog." I just love saying things like "always" and "never." It really sets you up for the big, "I told you so," from everyone you know, years down the road. I'm not saying that I am getting a dog, but I'm not saying that I'm not either. Oh see? It's already slipping- that whole adamant, "NEVER."

See this little black dog? Kind of reminds me of the dog I had growing up. His name was "Amos." Oh, I sure loved having a dog with a name that sounded a lot like a certain body part. (Ahem.) A lot of people felt the need to point that little fact out to me as I was yelling his name across the playground after school...
We had a tree house in our back yard, and my brother and I could get Amos to run and climb up and into our tree house. Of course, we had to catch him or he'd go straight through, and out the backside. Good times.
Our Saturday mornings were spent spraying the hose at dog poop, or shovelling it into a bag. More good times. I think every kid should experience that kind of Saturday bonding with their sibling, don't you? This dog looks like he'd be way too hairy for me... And I'm not sure I can handle that... I'm never getting a dog.

The problem, is that I have these two children who seem to think their world will never be complete until we make a dog part of our little family unit. Children don't fight fair either. They pray the cutest bedtime prayers about, "God please send us a dog for Christmas..." and they talk of saving a portion of their allowance for a dog. And they draw pictures of dogs on everything and leave you notes about dogs on your pillow.
This dog would be way too small.... I'm not really a dog-in-a-purse kind of gal, though I certainly don't judge those who are. In fact, I think you look quite adorable... (cue Wizard of Oz music) and your little dogs, too. (giggle) But seriously, I think I need a dog with a bark that scares away the bad guys... And a dog that can run three miles with out having to be given oxygen, followed by a hit of espresso. But hey, that's just me.
This dog is reminds me of someone... can't quite put my finger on it... It's like I hear a voice, saying something like, "Show you a dog, I will. Trust in the force..." Either that, or it wants to sell me a taco, and I'm not sure I'm game, either way.
You following me? Or maybe I should say, "Follow me, you will." I'm so sorry. I'm not really a Star Wars fan at all, but I couldn't resist. Of course, I have to admit to being a fan during those impressionable years around the second grade when I thought I was Princess Leia and wore my hair in circular braids on the sides of my head for class photos... I just needed to clarify, because I feel like I'm giving you the wrong impression of me with all the Star Wars references lately...
I get distracted so easily. How can I ever keep a dog alive? Y'all saw how great we did with a rabbit. And houseplants. Somehow my children are thriving, but I'm not sure I can guarantee the same for a dog!

I'm thinking about slobber. I'm thinking about food and water, and wet paws on the floor. I'm thinking about that nasty little hiney-dragging-thing they do across the carpet. I'm thinking about sweeping up hair every day. I'm thinking about long, rainy, winter days. I'm thinking about vet bills.

And then I'm also thinking about those precious little faces of my hoodlums. And my fun memories of a dog with a nasty name. And my husband's memories of dogs. And a tail thumping the floor when you walk by. And a tough sounding bark in the night when you're man's out of town.
Oh what's a girl to do??

Do you have a dog? Do you recommend a dog? Do you have tips? Do you think I'm crazy? No, don't answer that.

Talk to me.

I have to stay here...

I was supposed to be gone right now for a road trip with my book club. I was leaving... but Swine flu attacked my household.

Leaving.

Let's just have a moment of silence right now since I'm not actually leaving anymore. I'll try to ignore the sounds of my hoodlums singing about pecan pie at the top of their lungs in the kitchen, as I type this...

Funny, somehow "moment of silence" loses it's significance when it's not actually a silent moment.

Children are such gems, aren't they?

My biggest problem this time last week, (before the swine) was the age old road trip quandary. What to pack. (Of course, we also know that it's not so much an issue of what to pack, as it is getting it to fit into your suitcase.)

I'm a girl who needs to bring things. You just never know when you'll need a pair of heels right? Which means you need a certain pair of jeans for that, and of course you need a handbag and accessories to go along with it. Pretty soon, you've forgotten that you were supposed to pack light, because there are four other women, and you can't hog all the trunk space or they will kick you out, and then you'll be stuck at home eating pecan pie out of the pan, with a house that looks like Swine Flu hit while mommy checked out, two very loud children, and no place to wear your heels and long jeans. You follow?

Gee, I'm so glad I don't need to worry about that now. It's like a weight has lifted. Who needs fun, and road trips, and girlfriends and time away?

Also, I no longer need to worry about the fact that we were supposed to be leaving at 5:30am. Truly the butt-crack of dawn. Do you realize what time I would have had to get up and get ready? While the butt-crack was still in bed, that's when. Oh, and for those of you darling things who actually think I get up early and post at 4:00am- Bless your hearts. It's a little thing I like to call "Posting Options."

Leaving.

Not.

I will be well. I will. I will, and with God as my witness... (fist raised) I will never get Swine Flu again!

I'm no Doctor... but....

Are you wondering how to diagnose yourself in case you are experiencing flu-like symptoms and your local doctor won't see you? I've got a fool-proof list. Well, mostly. It works a lot like a fortune cookie, really. If you can answer yes to some of these questions, you may or may not have the swine flu. (Simple, right?) So just in case, go get yourself some good medicine. (Please be advised that a medical professionals opinion should always be consulted before any home diagnosis is made, or any home treatment is administered. Unless you are a doctor yourself, in which case I doubt you're reading this list because you're probably in bed sleeping since that's what sick people should do.)
1) Do you think this swine is cute? If you answered yes... Swine flu is very possibly in your future. (giggle... I can't help it, I'm sick!)

2) Have you recently read the story "The Pioneer Woman Throws a Party" in People magazine exactly seventeen times, because you only have three magazines, and you have them all memorized because you feel tired and have been laying on the couch in your pajamas for two days? If you answered yes to this... you're just like me, and I was sick... so you might be also.

3) Did you specifically go out of your way to purchase this magazine in order to read about Ree? If you answered yes, you have problems, but they are my kind of problems, and they may or may not indicate Swine Flu symptoms. Please have your Tylenol and thermometer handy just in case.
4) Does it look like your medicine cabinet threw up onto a tray? If you answered yes, you are most likely severely medicated and you can't trust your own self diagnosis, so for heaven's sake call your doctor!

5) Has NyQuil begun to actually taste good to you? You're in deep, and you probably need a pillow to lay on right about now.

7) Does it take you five minutes to read the dosage label because your head aches and your eyes won't focus? Well, I'm no doctor, but let's just say, "Yes you do have it," for the sake of argument. Get your nearest friend, relative, or significant other to read the label and measure it out for you.

8) Are you setting your timer every few hours for vitamin C tablets? Yup. Could be Swine, all right.
9) Do you see the picture above? Do you understand what it is? Your health hangs in the balance, so answer carefully. (It is GERMS.) Do you think the colors are pretty? If yes, why are you still reading this? You should be in bed, germs are ugly! Germs are not your friend, nor are they pretty artwork.

10) Did you notice there was no number 6? If you noticed, I'm betting your fine. But I can't make any promises.

I warned you I wasn't a doctor...

What a sick joke...

Today's post was supposed to be about the fact that I've got a really fun road trip planned in a few days. I was going to share my joy, because after all, joy is contagious. However...
Swine flu, or H1N1, or whatever it's now being called, has crashed into my peaceful (Ha!) home and taken over with a vengeance- and stolen my joy. It needs to go back from whence it came and take back its coughing, aching, feverish joy-stealing-presence!! Because I've got plans, dangit! Add to that, the fact that I've not been by most of your blogs in a week and I'm just over this! (It's difficult to blog when children are draped across your lap, demanding your every attention like it's owed to them or something. Clearly they and the Swine Flu have conspired against me.)

Doesn't it just look like a joy stealer to you?

But then... just when I didn't think I could take one more sweaty, cranky, needy child squirming around on me, my man dropped by the house. He came in the middle of the day, bearing a gigantic cheeseburger, waffle fries, vanilla milkshake, and this package (A delightful prize I won) from fellow blogger, and darling, Dawn from Spontaneous Clapping. (See? I'm not a loser anymore!)

And I believe my joy is now returning along with my strength. Could be the cheeseburger, (Starve a cold, feed that swine flu.) but my bets are on the package, because nothing brings back joy like a package in the mail.

Since I'm not using it anyway...

I don't know about y'all, but in our house, we have a little bit of bad behavior from time to time. (And I'm not talking about mine.) I recently posted on laying down burdens, and Paige commented on that post, about how hard it is to love on others when we're carrying something heavy around. That later inspired me to try something with my misbehaving hoodlums.

I dug out my core workout ball, to use in a hands-on lesson. (I'm not a professional parent, so don't think my advice is infallible. In fact, just this morning, I was up early polishing the silver on my "Lousy Mama Moment of the Year" award, which I recently earned in a face-off where I proudly displayed my lack of skill.) It's just nice to be recognized.
In spite of my many failings, I found that this exercise (pardon the pun, giggle) really hit home with my kids. I slapped a bunch of notes all over the ball that bore the labels of the bad behaviors being exhibited... and there were many... let me tell you...
And then I made my son carry it around while trying to get his sister a glass of water, sit at the table, do homework, read a book, etc. Then I tried to hug him while he held that "ball of bad behavior" in between us.

It was a fantastic reminder that we can't really love on each other, or serve each other while we're carrying around a big bunch of not-so-pretty actions. And it's awfully hard to accept the love of others when you're holding them out at arms length because you can't let go of those things too.

As for me, I'm just so happy that I have finally found a good use for this ball! Especially since we haven't been on speaking terms for years...