Pie-Ville

I am delighted to present to you

my very first pecan pie!

And now, a little snap shot from our kitchen this morning.

My sous chef, Jack, and I created some delicious pies. Of course, his main job was "tasting" everything that went into the bowls.

Here you can see we are whipping up a yummy pumpkin pie. Jack loved the taste of the pumpkin and sugar, but not the ginger, cloves or cinnamon.

An empty shell, begging to be filled.

A triple berry awaiting a top crust and a turn in the oven.

A second triple berry in the oven.

A second pumpkin on deck...

And Jack's new favorite...pie crust remnant cookies!

Cooling pies and those waiting to be baked...

Did you notice the triple berry? The filling sort of ate the crust... Yikes!

It has been a delicious day!

And here is the aftermath:

I was surprised that the dishes didn't take too long to do!

NEWS FLASH...

Mitch is so close to crawling...

I feel like crying. My baby is getting so big!!!

Putting on a Happy Heart...

Once in a while, when our hearts aren't quite right, we remind each other to put on a happy heart. This morning I had to remind Jack to put his back on. I asked him to go into the other room and come back when it was on.

He did just that.

He left, went to the front room, and came back a few minutes later with both fists clutched.

He said that he had found his happy heart and mine too.

He put a happy heart on each of us and went about the business of play with a changed demeanor.

This is a great reminder for Jack to be the little boy God wants him to be. And it is an even better reminder for me, especially when my son comes back with my very own happy heart to put on, that I need to be the mommy God wants me to be. That means remembering my priorities, attitude and actions.

Beyond the evidence of two changed hearts, I think the best part of this story is how Jack put on our hearts. Can you see it? He reaches his clutched fists and touches the area where our hearts are positioned...

NOPE!

He reaches those little fists right to our tummies.

Ever since Jack attended my regular prenatal check-ups from my pregnancy with Mitch he has believed that our heart is in our tummy region. Think about it. That is where the doctor would check for the baby's heart beat. I have tried to give him all the facts about where the heart is really located and why God put it there, but it doesn't click. He saw the doctor check for the heartbeat on my tummy and he even heard it with his own ears.

Isn't this even more of a reason to help our kiddos see the truth of God's word real and present in their small worlds? Deuteronomy 6:5-9 is more real to me everyday that passes.

UGGGG!

WARNING: Personal Opinion Ahead, and generalizations too.

Alright, I am not a political proficient by any means. But I am certainly not dumb either.

Here is what I fear: Health care that is mandated by the government.

Why?

As we all heard this week, there is a new study that recommends that women do not get regular mammograms until they reach age 50. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091116/ap_on_he_me/us_med_mammogram_advice

Well, I also read in the paper this morning that they are making new guidelines scaling back women's pap tests too. http://www.twincities.com/ci_13828568?source=most_viewed&nclick_check=1

So, why the concern? I am assuming a lot here, but I am guessing that what the government is only be willing to cover what is recommend by studies and recommendations such as the ones mentioned above.

What about a friend of mine, who at age 31, was diagnosed with breast cancer? The screening helped her find the problem, get the help she needed and beat the cancer. I am sure anyone who reads this could think of a million other examples of people who are ALIVE because the cancer was caught early.

What about the fact that the American Cancer Society completely disagrees with the screening scale back?

I don't know a ton about the current health care debate. I am certainly not against making sure that people have health care coverage, obviously. But I do want to make sure that people can and do get the help the screenings that will potentially save their lives.

Thanksgiving Countdown...

"From the mouths of babes," they say...

I asked Jack what he was thankful for and this is what he said:

Yes, that is right...his thankful tree says, "poop." He is thankful for it and it is his favorite word!

What can I say...He is all about poop right now.

For Mitch, well, I had to do a little guessing. This is what I think he is thankful for:

And me...I am thankful for my two sweet boys who keep me on my toes and my husband who sweeps me off my feet!

You know you are a mom to boys when...

...the backwards hat comes out when it is time to fix something!

Wasabi!!!

What is that you have?

Hot wasabi peas? Hummm...interesting choice.

And you are really eating them?

YES!!!

Tonight for dinner Jack was helping to set the table. He insisted that the hot wasabi peas be placed on the table as a side dish. Alright, why not? The peas were a gift for Jack from my father-in-law. You see, Jack liked snacking on them at his house so he bought this can especially for Jack. Anyhow...Jack did, in fact, eat them with his dinner tonight. It was sort of a funny mini-monologue/dialogue. Here is how it went:

J: Can I have some peas now?

M: Yes. Are you sure you want to have some?

J: YES!!!

(pops one in his mouth)

Ahhh. Ah, Ah, ah. Hot. Ah, ah.

Ok.

M: Do you want some water?

J: No. It's ok. I like them.

(eats another and the conversation repeats).

So far I have only been able to down one wasabi pea!