New Art

We have lived in our house for two years now, but are still just finding the right art pieces to hang on the walls. Our previous house was built in the 1950's and had much shorter ceilings. This house has just the opposite which makes hanging art sort of tricky. Paintings that fit perfectly at the old house look tiny on our walls here. So we've been slowly finding and hanging pieces that we like and that we think fit the space.

For about a year, Mike had been hunting on the internet for a series of skateboards designed by Evan Hecox (one of his favortie artists). It took a lot of patience and a lot of phone calls to skateshops all over the country, but he finally managed to collect them all. We recently hung them up together and they look great!

Two boards came from California, one from Germany, one from England one from Indiana.

In addition, Mike has been painting again recently-- something he has really missed. He's been out in the garage late each night working on a painting for our house and here's the final product. He was really pleased with the end result.

Mike said the guy in the painting is a Russian Cosmonaut. And Mike stil needs to sign it! I really like it here in our entryway.

This weekend we are hosting a party at our home for the entire film crew at Mike's work. We're really looking forward to it, and I'm glad we have some new things hanging on our walls!

Baby Room

We've finally finished getting our baby boy's room ready, so I thought I'd share a few pictures. It looks simple, bright, and cheery, which I'm happy about. Even though he'll be sleeping in our room for a few weeks, it feels good to have his room complete. It makes it seem so official. Like the room is just ready and waiting to have him in there-- to hear his cooing and crying and giggling, to smell that wonderful, sweet baby smell, and to keep him warm and comfortable while he sleeps. It's also neat to see all these decorations that we used with our girls getting a second life with our son.

A view from the hallway. I can't wait to sit and rock him in that chair!

The changing table. It will see lots of diaper action soon.

His crib. I wonder which one of his sisters slept in this one?

A few outfits my mom picked up at Target the other day. We can't seem to stop buying more of these snuggly sleepers.

Tundra keeping an eye on things. She and Ellie are very curious about the changes being made in this room. I'm sure she'll keep everything under control.

Baking Day

As a part of my nesting phase recently, I decided that I should start stocking up some food in my freezer for those post-baby weeks when I won't feel like cooking very much. I don't have a large freezer, so making several weeks worth of food just isn't possible. But my goal is to have 5 meals frozen, plus a few snacks or breakfast items available. I already had some taco soup and banana bread stashed away, but yesterday I decided to get busy on a few more things.

First, I decided to make lasagna. It's quick, easy, and freezes well. I made one pan to eat tonight with a few friends who are coming over and another pan to freeze.

My wonderful assistant, Hannah, posing with our two lasagnas.

Next I tackled the question of what to make with a large can of pureed pumpkin. I usually buy the smaller cans to make my favorite pumpkin bread, but the store I went to yesterday only had the large cans. So I looked online to see what else I could make with pumpkin and I found this recipe for chocolate chip pumpkin muffins. I was sort of doubtful about the combination of chocolate and pumpkin, but the muffins turned out really tastey.

I confess that I ate three of these right out of the oven. I did manage to put a dozen in the freezer though.

Finally I used the rest of the pumpkin to make two loaves of pumpkin bread. One for now and one for the freezer. I took the following picutre this morning before I cut a few slices of the non-freezer loaf for breakfast.

Yum! Overall I felt very productive and also very tired after standing in the kitchen for a few hours. I think I'm going to freeze some pizza dough (since homemade pizza is a weekly staple around here) as well as a pan of enchiladas. Not today though. I need a cooking break!

What are some other ideas of meals that freeze well?

Sunday at the Zoo

July 5, 2009

Perfect weather.

A cool, gentle breeze.

A blue sky with puffy, white clouds.

It's a family day at the zoo.

She spies the old fashioned carosel at the end of the path.

Her eyes light up as she runs full speed ahead.

Daddy buys a token and she hands it to the man at the booth.

"I want a zebra!" she says as she inspects the brightly painted wooden animals.

I sit beside her, my pregnant belly swollen, but comfortable.

The ride begins.

A Simon and Garfunkel song is sweetly playing on the speakers.

I look over at her, and she's laughing.

The wind is gently lifting her hair, her eyes are bright, her smile so innocent and pure.

And then something inside of me starts to hurt a little as I think, She's already four!

Where has the time gone?

Wasn't she just in diapers, toddling around, getting her first teeth?

It's as if someone is squeezing my heart, and a tear wells up in my eyes.

I love watching her. Please don't let this ride end. I try hard to capture this perfect moment in

my head. I want to remember it forever.

Then, as my heart is beating out of control, I suddenly take a deep breath.

And I remember that it's not that she's already four-- she's only four.

And for today, she is still all mine.

[ Hannah on the carosel. Picture taken August 2008]

The Day After

So it's the day after our Fourth of July celebration. Here's a short recap of our fun day:

Our festivities began at 6:00 when my parents, our friends Reed and Nikki and their kids, Eli and Parker, came over to eat. We had brats and hot dogs on the grill, grilled corn on the cob, cole slaw, baked beans, chips, fresh pineapples and strawberries, and red velvet cake for dessert. Before we stuffed ourselves silly we sat on the back porch and watched the kids play in the slip 'n slide. The weather had been alternating all day between a light, cloudy drizzle of rain to a few moments of sunshine. But around 6:45 we could tell a full blown thunderstorm was rolling in. The air turned cooler, the clouds changed from white to dark grey and we could see distant lightning flashes. Although it threatened our later firework-watching plans, it was so neat to see the storm as it approached.

The sky started its shift from light blue to angry grey.

My dad and my girls (in their wet bathing suits) watching the storm roll in.

The festive red velvet cake my mom made and Hannah decorated.

As we were eating dinner, the storm rolled through full speed ahead. Rain came down in sheets and we could hear claps of thunder. But thankfully, as quickly as it arrived, it blew off to the north and we were left with a muggy, wet, post-storm calmness. Earlier in the day, Mike and Leah had gone to a nearby fireworks stand to pick out a few to shoot off from home--sparklers, jump-n-jacks, pop-its, and some small rockets. Our cul-de-sac was the perfect platform for our mischief.

Reed running away after lighting a small rocket.

This picture doesn't quite do this poor firework justice. Imagine spinning, loud squealing, changing colors and sparks flying. Our kids were all impressed anyway. =)

And since the storm came and went, we could continue on with our plan to head to the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond and watch their fabulous fireworks display. It didn't start until 10:00, which is way past our girls' bedtime, but the Fourth of July only comes around once a year, ya know. =)

All four little ones ready to go watch the "big fireworks".

We sat a short distance away in a parking lot since last year the loud noises hurt my girls' ears.

Hannah still covered hers as a preaution. But overall, they loved them and ooohed and ahhhed as each one lit up the sky.
The grand finale.

And this final shot, taken at midnight-- not too long after we were finally home and had the girls tucked in, is of me and my enormous, nearly 36 week pregnant belly. I was pretending to hobble like an old lady (and trying not to laugh) when Mike snapped this shot.

I can't believe this little guy will be here with us next year when we celebrate!

What did you do for the Fourth?

Happy 4th!

I love the Fourth of July. I always have. I think it's the combination of patriotic spirit, family, friends, summer weather and food that does it for me. Today we are having a cookout at our house with my parents, our friends, and their kids. I've been busy cooking and baking to get ready for our feast! Then we're heading out to watch fireworks at a nearby university. That is if the rain doesn't ruin our plans. That's right-- it's RAINING today. It hasn't rained in weeks and then of course it starts sprinkling on the Fourth! Oh well-- I know we need the rain. But I do love me some fireworks, so maybe there can be a compromise: rain in the morning, sun in the afternoon?? I guess I'm not in control of the weather.

In addition to food and fireworks, the Fourth of July is always a day I remember all the people in my family who have served in the military. My mom grew up as an "army brat" living all over the United States as well as Germany and Okinawa. My grandfather was a Colonel and fought in both World War II and the Korean War. When I was little, he would tell me the story of how he earned a Purple Heart. During one battle, a sniper's bullet went in one side of his torso and exited the other side. He would then lift up his shirt and show me the entry scar on one side and the exit scar on the other. We have great black and white photograph of him in a hospital bed shaking hands with the General who stopped by to deliver my grandfather's medal. Both men have smiles on their faces. In addition, two of my mom's four younger brothers followed suit and served in the U.S. Military as well: my uncle Paul Gant (Army) and my uncle Jim Gant (Navy). Now, two of my uncle Jim's four kids are currently serving in the military: my cousin Steve Gant (Air Force) and my cousin Phil Gant (Army). I am so proud of that history in my family. And for all U.S. Military men and women who are currently serving or have served in the past. I am so grateful for our freedom.

Happy Fourth of July!!

RIP Little Bird

A few days ago the girls and I pulled into my parents' driveway only to discover a sad sight. A baby bird had fallen from its nest high atop a nearby pine tree and had died. The girls saw the little bird and were instantly concerned. The questions began to fly as well, "Why did this bird die? Where is his Mommy? Why did he fall out of his nest?"

We decided that we needed to do something to honor the little fellow. So my mom and dad and the girls and I had a simple burial for one of God's smallest creatures. We picked a shady spot under the pine tree to dig a hole. My dad wrapped the bird in a paper towel and we gently covered him up. Next my dad and the girls made a gravemarker to honor the baby bird. It read simply, "RIP Little Bird". The girls then searched for some flowers to place on top of the grave, finally deciding on some pretty pinkish-purple ones.

Later in the car, Leah asked if we could pray for the Mommy bird because she might be looking for her baby. So I did. I'm so glad God is nurturing a tenderhearted spirit inside these sweet girls of mine.