How to keep track of your kids.

A few weeks ago we got our driveway paved.
It was a very. big. deal.




That first night we played on it together as a family.
The boys let things roll down the hill.
Owen played an imaginary game of basketball.
A few days later we finally put up the new goal.
A gift from his Aunt Robyn and Uncle Mike.



My favorite driveway quote:
Olivia - "Mom I feel like we're the rich kids on the block."


That night sticks out in my mind as one of the main memories from summer.
There was nothing special about it.
No money was involved.  We didn't even leave home.
We were just a family spending time together.
Enjoying a welcomed change.
Enjoying being together.
I wish every family could enjoy impromptu moments like this.
The simple moments in life.


What have you enjoyed doing with your family?

How to solve your laundry problems.



Model Not To Scale



Dear Laundry Pile,

     We need to talk.  Things just aren't working out for me.

Your needs are just too much.  If you don't receive daily attention

you're worse than weeds in a garden.  Even your pet name, Mt. Ray, no

longer seems to fit.  

     Why laundry pile?  Is it the detergent or the fabric softener? 

I've talked to the washing machine and the dryer, and they both agree

you are out of control!

      I just can't allow you to influence my daily activities any longer.

I've decided to put you to better use.

Best regards,

The Domestic Diva



Awesome photo found while using Stumbleupon.  If you know the source please share.



The arrival of fall, a family milestone, and a persimmon pudding recipe.

Fall is here.

If I haven't told you before,

it's my favorite time of the year.

The leaves are just beginning to change.

In a week or two the hillsides will be bursting with color.

The Persimmon Festival has come to town this week.

Our little town will swell to at least twice its size.

It's the next best thing to Christmas around here.

Which means I can get the kids to do their chores without 

too much of an argument.

Like last night.

The boys did the dishes without one argument.

Not one.  

One of my hot chocolate mugs got broken.

But no arguments.

Impressive indeed.

One of my favorite treats this time of year is Persimmon Pudding.

If you're fortunate enough to get yourself some persimmons

here's a recipe.

It's the best.

2 cups persimmon pulp

2 beaten eggs

1 1/2 cups buttermilk

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup whipping cream

1/2 stick butter, melted

2 cups sugar

1 teaspoon soda

1 1/2 cups flour

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Directions:

Add sugar and pulp.  Add beaten eggs and mix well.

Add soda to buttermilk and stir until foaming stops.

Then add to pulp mixture. 

Sift dry ingredients together and add gradually to pulp mixture.

Add cream and butter

(which has been melted in a 9X13 baking pan, leaving enough to grease the bottom)

Bake at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes.

You're welcome.

Political Statement.

This is a political statement.

Josh has been telling me for weeks that his

church shoes were too small.

I kept telling him I'd get him a new pair this week.

Then I found this in the yard the other day.

I guess he's decided to take matters into his own hands.

You do know what this means?

He'll probably be barefoot at church on Sunday.

9-11 Remembered.

Today, and every day I am proud to be an American.

The kids and I spent the afternoon watching the stories of those

whose loved ones were lost on this tragec day 10 years ago.
  I remember some of the pictures and vidoes of that
day and they seemed just as real today as they were back then.

My kids were so young when it happened.
One wasn't even born yet.
They listened intently to my account of that morning.

I  learned of the attacks from my sister in law.
I had just finished a night shift at the hospital and as was going to bed.
She had been watching the morning news.

Both towers had already been hit. 
There were talks of it being an act of war.
But surely, I thought, it was some sort of accident.
Who would purposely do something so terrible as that?

Now, I can hardly believe the innocence of that thought.

How much our lives have changed since that day.


May this country never again know the sorrow of 9-11.

WWE Smackdown.

If your house is anything like mine

then you know that if you leave the camera laying around

the kids will find it.
And heaven only knows what you'll find.

They're photograpy and videography skills are a-mazing!

Sometimes I delete the silliness.
Sometimes I just file it away.
And when I'm feeling nostalgic
I look through it all
and ooh and ahh over my babies
and how much they've grown.



And then every once in awhile I come across
a sweet little treasure like this.
I found this video the other day
and laughed until I cried.

I know right?  Funny.
CL-A-SS-IC.

Don't worry too much about Olivia
she is the instigator.
Do you have one those?