Winter Living in Pictures

Your Snowy Backyard Winter Wonderland
Jan. 2011

  

You at Worship
Jan. 2011





You at Worship
Jan. 2011





Awww... just how I like you both to be!
Benny, Me and Ricky
Dec. 2010



You have a Slinky

Tangled Slinky

We found you a Slinky - a real, old fashion Slinky. The kind that we grew up with - not these cheap plastic ones from another country.

You both liked the Slinky so much, that we bought another one.

There. You each have your own.

Shouldn't be any problems. Especially since they are identical.

How could I possibly think that there wouldn't be any problems?!  Of course there was a problem. One of you totally enjoys tormenting the other. That means, one of you played with a Slinky that was not yours.  So that means that one of the Slinkys became tangled.  That of course led to an argument and the poor tangled Slinky was rudely thrown... no, make that SLAMMED into the recycle bin.

So now there is only one Slinky.  Guess who will get to keep that one?

New clothes...

You needed clothes - BADLY!!! I just bought you a bunch of clothes about 3 1/2 to 4 months ago, but you've outgrown them. I didn't even get that bill paid off yet. Wow. You grew almost 4" - I can hardly believe it!!

Poor Benny! You were down to next to nothing. You never really complain about that kind of stuff. Oh sure, you'll complain about the bugs and nats flying around your face. You'll complain about mowing the lawn in the heat of summer.... this summer was really hot and humid too! But, shoes too tight, pants getting short, underwear pinching you?????? You never say a word. You are just like your Dad that way.

Your brother on the other hand --- a clothes hound!!! He's just like me! I found 13 short-sleeved t-shirts; 17 long-sleeved t-shirts; 7 jackets and at least 12 hooded sweatshirts. But he has only one pair of jeans! Go figure! How'd that imbalance happen?

So, today, I got to go shopping with you! Just you and me. It was fun and we did it all for under $90.00. Kohls is awesome!

Thanks for a wonderful morning!

Opportunities

We found... stumbled into, an opportunity for one of you today. An opportunity to spend time with Mission Aviators. Since you are interested in becoming a pilot, we thought this would be a great opportunity for you.

We can only open doors. We cannot force you to walk through. With the right mentors in place, we can only pray that you will find an interest that will create a spark for you. Prayerfully, that spark will grow into a lifetime of enjoyment, fullfillment and financial gain and prosperity.

We can no longer take you by the hand, we can only guide and counsel. I pray that we are up to the task. I pray that we can help you prosper and be the men that God created you to be.

Baking

I'm glad you guys learned to bake bread -- and so are our friends!!! Your bread is fantastic! You make a yummy garlic and cheese bread.

Ben makes a banana bread that is out-of-this-world! He says it's his secret recipe, but I have it too!!

We got started making bread when friends of ours - the people we bought this house from - gave us a loaf of home-made bread when one of us was sick. They eventually showed us how to further our bread making skills by grinding our own wheat berries. We loved this so much - and I loved the cost effectiveness - that we used a tax refund one year and bought a ginding mill machine.

I hope that you take this talent into your own homes and families, further spreading the joy and love of baking to your dear ones.

School's out.... sort of...

Ugh!! Getting you two to finish up your schoolwork is a daunting task!!! I can't bribe you with a long summer. You don't care about money enough to make it worth while. Taking away your "toys" doesn't even work for very long!!!

I keep singing Alice Cooper's song, School's Out, in my head!

So, this year, you are ALMOST done. After several curriculum requirement changes, you are BOTH still grumping about feeling sorry for yourself. It doesn't help that I've given you enough time and now nag you like mad!!!

Oh well! I can't do the work for you and I'm not very lenient with you. Actually, I've been told by your public school counterparts that I'm very hard on you academically. That's RIGHT!!! Get that school work done! Don't meet a deadline? Too bad!!! You may get one more chance or you might receive an 'F'. Your employer won't like it if you don't get the required work done, so consider schooling employment practice!!

You're both very good students and your grades are fine, but I do like to tease you so!! (You still have to get this year's required work done.... SOON!!)

Hugs,
Mom

Your Love Languages

You each have your own love language. They are as different as you two are!

I read a book: The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman. Actually, I read The Five Love Languages of Children, The Five Love Languages of Teenagers, The Five Love Languages of Apology and the original - The Five Love Languages. He has several more and variations of the original. They're very good. I've purchased several over the years and have given most of them away - only to have purchase more in the hopes of keeping one for myself! It will definately be a must read for each of you the closer you get to an engagement.

My oldest, your love language is "Time Spent", then a tie for second is "Touch" and "Gifts"

My youngest, your love language is "Touch", then "Words of Affirmation".

Your Father is "Touch" and "Time Spent" both equally.

I'm "Acts of Service" then "Time Spent"

I hope you remember this and never lose your copy of the book that I will make sure ends up on a bookshelf in your next home away from ours.