Thanks, Winnie

The first summer we were married, Ellis was sent to spend a month & 1/2 in Lenior, NC to complete his family medicine rotation for medical school. Since I was off from teaching for the summer, I was invited by his host, a 76-year-old lady named Winifred (or, Winnie, as we liked to call her) to come along too.

Winnie and I became fast friends as we quickly discovered we had many things in common.

For example, our love of cats. (We almost had Ellis convinced to let me keep a stray kitten until we found in a hole in its neck with a worm coming out of it...yeah, it was gross).

Winnie and I soon developed a daily routine that included working on the New York Times Crossword Puzzle during breakfast, heading down to the senior exercise center together in the mid-morning, and then looking up recipes together from magazines to make for lunch.  In the afternoons/evenings we would enjoy going into town or frequenting the local minor league baseball games for the "Hickory Crawdads." This is where I got to meet many of Winnie's other friends. I loved it all so much.

The other day, I came across one the recipes we made together that summer. Our favorite recipes to experiment with were those that used basil & tomatoes, and one such recipe was for "Tomato Pie."

I came across this recipe out of the blue early last week, and I have already made it twice (and eaten the whole thing myself both times!) It has been extra fun using the vegetables from our backyard garden, and I have found that adding any favorite vegetables to the pie makes it even better!

Ellis kept asking for some, and I really meant to save him some, but then I kept thinking, "well, I will just make another one!" So, guess what ingredients are on the grocery list for today?


"Winnie's Tomato Pie"

Ingredients:

1 frozen 9-inch pie crust
1/2 chopped onion (preferably sweet)
1 "fist full" of shredded cheddar cheese (preferably sharp), mozzarella, or monterey cheese
One large tomato or a few small ones
1/2 cup parmesan cheese
1/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1 cup (or more) ricotta cheese
about 2 Tbs minced basil

Let one frozen 9-inch pie crust thaw about 10 minutes, then prick well with a fork and back @ 400 degrees for 7-10 minutes (until brown). Then turn oven down to 350 degrees.

Sprinkle the bottom of the pie crust with about a first-full of cheddar, mozzarella or monterrey cheese. Place an overlapping layer of chopped onion over the cheese and then cover with a layer of overlapping tomato slices (and other vegetables if desired).

In a bowl, mix basil, parmesan, mozzarella, and ricotta cheeses. Spread this mixture over the pie and bake for about 20-30 minutes @ 350 degrees, or until the topping is browned. (I have found that adding more vegetables means adding more baking time). Serve warm or cold.

Is it just me...

Or are these little guys especially amazing? Living in apartments until recently has meant that we haven't had a lot of access to pools in the summers. (Well, the last place did boast a pool, which was one of the reasons why we picked it, but I took Mac in it one time and counted about 4 used bandaids floating in it...yeah, that was the end of that!)

Anyway, before this summer, the kids had only "waded" in whatever baby pools I could get them to when visiting friends (thanks Kelly!) But we recently were given access to a nearby pool, and I was really surprised to hear the kids begging for the "big pool."

I put water wings on both kids and expected them to stay on the steps and play. By the second time, both kids were venturing out in the 3 & 4 foot deep sections - on their own! Is that normal? I don't know, I am just amazed. By the third time (yesterday), Corrie had made herself completely comfortable swimming around the entire pool by herself like it was nothing. I still make sure to stay close them, but I can't believe how little involvement they require already.

Mac and Corrie, I just wanted to document this for you guys so you can see how incredible you are!
On a side note, is that what my voice really sounds like? I feel like this video is being narrated by a character on VeggieTales.

Haircuts

Why is it that haircuts are the hardest thing to get done around here? I finally got a haircut after about a year (thanks Grandma Belding!) and it feels awesome. Ellis' hair is kind of nice because I can just cut that outside in our yard (it's the Front Royal way!), and I figure that since Corrie is a girl, we can let those lovely little locks grow for a while (hopefully her natural mullet will transform as she gets older).

But then there's Mac. Why is his hair the hardest to get cut? I used to just buzz it, but the buzzer scares him to death (it's a little loud since one of the screws came permanently loose after it fell a couple of times), and besides, his red hair is so nice to have a little longer.

Well, after enough hints being dropped about him needing a haircut, and me trying to get him to the walmart hair salon for a few months, we finally made it! Goodbye beach bum hair and natural rat tail. You looked pretty cute on this little guy, but I guess it was time to go anyway.

The morning that we left to get his haircut was pretty funny. I told Mac he was going to get a haircut and he had all kinds of interesting reasons why he simply could not. For example,

"Mommy, I cannot get a haircut. The haircut is too big for my head! I think daddy would like one instead."

When I finally had him in the haircutting chair, he immediately started with the screaming and crying routine. I assured the young stylist that he was faking it and asked her to just start cutting. Things went better when I asked her to turn him around so he couldn't see himself in the mirror. Apparently it was very entertaining to see how dramatic he could make himself look.

Corrie, of course, sat in the shopping cart the whole time, sweetly taking in the scene.

At one point, Mac's face and hands were covered in his freshly cut hair. He said to the lady,

"You are making my hair get broken down!"

And then he sad in a sad, soft voice, "I cry when I see the pieces."

At one point he got some hair in his mouth, and he tried to get it out with his hair-covered hands. Pretty soon he had an entire mouth full of tiny haircut pieces. This scene was also dramatic. I asked the lady to give us a wet towel and I just kept having him lick it over and over again to try to get the hair off of his tongue.

Well, eventually we were done and Mac even got to pick out a special snack. He chose, in his words, "the Mr. Twisties," (actually Cheetos cheese curls). Once we got home and started playing outside and eating, he forgot about the whole haircut thing.

 

Hey Mac, we just want you to know that no matter what kind of hair style you have, you are a pretty special little guy to us!

"Baby Long"

Hello, little one!

A couple of days ago, your Mommy and Daddy got to see you again. You are doing so well! You seem to be nice and cozy in your temporary little home. :)

We loved getting to see your little heart and tummy and facial features. It's official: you are gonna be cute!

And probably one of the best parts of all is that you are going to be a special surprise for all of us on the day you are born. Mommy convinced the ultrasound lady to keep your gender a secret - even from Daddy! How fun it will be to welcome you into this world.

So, that means we won't be calling you by your name yet. Besides, we are praying for God to give us a special name for you, and it's nice to have some time to listen and wait to hear from Him. In the meantime, your Aunt Joy has been calling you "Baby Long," an affectionate reference to that wonderful winter clothing line, the "Long-Johns". (Believe it or not, it's starting to stick - Ha!)

Muddy Buddies

Ok, Seriously Mac: This is getting old! Our little "baby pool" (a muddy hole in the ground right next to our carport) was fun for a bit, but mommy has finally had enough. It's one thing to get a little dirty every once in a while, but you have brought the meaning of filth to a whole new level. When we are trying to get out the door for church on Sunday, I would like to find at least one pair of shoes that are not completely caked in mud!

And your sweet little sister does not need this either!

(I know, the runny nose and cheezy curl mouth add a nice touch to the look)

One thing that doesn't get old: hosing you guys down before we go back inside.

So, Mac, enjoy this little piece of your personal paradise while you can! Lord willing, there will be a beautiful stretch of green grass growing in our side yard soon. (Hey, a mom can dream!)

A Picture

Today has been another Johns' family dinner. I wasn't able to go today, but I got a great picture emailed to me. (Thanks Sue!)

I am looking forward to hearing what this picture is all about. What is Elllis telling those little guys that has them so intrigued? A memorable scene...a sweet one, for sure.

For Mac

Mac, this one is for you buddy. You really have made me laugh today :)

All week, you and Corrie have come along with me to help out with our church's soccer camp. You guys have been loving it!

The toughest part for me has been trying to keep you guys settled when I have been up talking to the campers. (Once, you came up and started dancing next to me with a big dinosaur. Later, you came up and hugged my leg while we were reviewing our memory verses). Wish I could have captured those moments because you were very cute!


But today was the funniest.

I decided to drop you and Corrie off at the nursery because I was going to be doing a lot more talking today. About half-way through the program, I saw you and the camp nurse coming toward me. You had an expression like you were in extreme pain, and you were limping pathetically toward me with a little whimper that seemed to grow louder the closer you got to me. I looked down and noticed a little bandaid on your big toe. I am so sorry Macky - but I could not help but laugh! The whole scene was so overdramatic and funny.

Apparently, someone pushed a truck into your toe. We sat together and prayed for your toe, and you were a very sweet little guy. You stayed with me the rest of the time, always limping everywhere you went!

 

Here you are, telling me all about the big injury!

I just could not help but document your little limpy walk. 

And the best part of all was that since it was the last day of camp, the campers got a special ice cream treat! That about cured the toe right there :-)

  

 

Something Special

There's just something really special about being able to sit around the dinner table together as a family. We haven't had too many opportunities over the past year to eat together, and we have begun to really treasure it when we can. In fact, today I had the option to cook or go to Chick-fil-a  for dinner instead. I am still in disbelief, but the idea of us getting to eat dinner at home together warmed my heart so much that the thought of cooking was actually really nice. 

Wait...what? Yes, it's true. If my mom is reading this, she is in shock. And you know what, I hadn't even thought about what to cook until about 5:15pm when I decided to scratch the Chick-fil-a idea. I haven't even really been to the store in almost two weeks and I had no idea what to make, but I can honestly say that the Lord just made dinner for us out of nothing. And Ellis kept commenting on how good the food was and how nice it was to "come from work to this." 

We don't deserve it at all, but this is the Lord making Himself real to us in our family. He really does love us! Oh, and Ellis: sorry to capture you in mid-bite. Hey, we take what we can get with the pictures these days.  

$5.99?!!!

It all started when Mommy had a craving for Pizza Hut Deep Dish Pizza, and nothing else was gonna hit the spot quite the same. That craving led to one of those rare, special finds...the kind that you can hardly believe and you just have to share. (Almost on the same level as finding a pineapple corer from Aldi). 

We happen to have a Pizza Hut about 30 seconds from our house, but I had pretty much vowed never to go there again. We went there once on the first night we moved here, and the place was completely packed and they only had one server. We waited forever just to order, and when I asked if they had a spoon so I could feed Corrie her baby food (she was about 6 months then), the lady told me I would have to feed my baby with a knife! I kid you not. My brother-in-law looked at me with a very serious expression and said, "This is where you live now."

Anyway, back to today. Something about a pregnancy craving will make you forget those minor details about customer service, and I thought, "you know, maybe we can just see how lunch would go there." 

Boy was I in for a surprise! They had the lunch buffet going on, which I assumed would be too expensive for all three of us, but I asked the server anyway. "$5.99 for all three of us?!!!" No way!

Would you believe we each had a salad, breadsticks (well, that was mostly me) and at least 2 pieces of pizza each for only $5.99? What a steal! And the place was pretty much empty (I tried to ignore the implications that could be drawn from that fact), which meant that we had immediate service, and there was zero wait time since we ate from the buffet. Could I ask for anything better with two toddlers? I think we were in and out of there in 30 minutes tops.

It was pretty much the best lunch ever. 

      

It's True.

Wish I could explain more, but for now all I can say is that it really is true.

I know it is true because it has happened to me.

I have often wondered, Could this really be true...for me? Deep down, I didn't dare hope that I could know the truth of this song so powerfully. But He came to me, and I have experienced what I didn't dare even hope. That is just how He is. And it really is true.

He Has Overcome

A Really Special Day

Lollypop Photo-op

If you have read any of the earlier posts on this blog, you may have gathered that potty training Mac has been a bit of an adventure. For a while there, we were in that "no mans land" kind of spot where I knew Mac needed to be in real underwear, but the accidents were starting to get the better of me. 

There was a month's worth of time where he was doing great with making "pee-pee" in the potty, but the "poopies" were just not happening. Well, let me rephrase that, they were happening all right, just anywhere but in the toilet. 

He would cry and beg me to please not make him sit on the toilet to go #2, and I found myself offering increasingly bigger and bigger rewards if he would just get those poopies in the potty. Anything to avoid another day of cleaning dirty underwear!

We got to the point where by the time Mac actually pooped in the toilet, I had promised him a $15 train from the toy store. I didn't care, I was just so happy not to be cleaning up a mess. But then he started to go in the potty more, and Ellis had to have a financial intervention with me. 

So, somehow I have been able to convince Mac that a lollypop is a really awesome reward...even as great as a new train! And we are actually making some progress. This morning Mac told me he wanted a lollypop and he sat on the potty for at least 20 minutes trying to earn one...and he did! Hooray! We decided to have a lollypop photo-op to celebrate.

In my mind, I pictured a nice photo of the two kids holding up their lollypops and smiling. In reality, this is about as good as it could get. Mac could not stand still, and Corrie would not look at the camera. So we just went with individual shots. 

And later, I saw this cute scene:

Whenever we visit Granpa and Grandma Belding, we always have to remind the kids to be nice to their dog, Jake. Here Mac is saying, "Thanks for giving me a nice pet Corrie!"

Johns' Family Dinner

So glad that we were able to capture a small part of one of our Family Dinners on video a little while ago. This one is a keeper for sure! 

Here we have Sue showing us the new pineapple cutter she got from Aldi. We love how she always expresses her joy and excitement with such genuine enthusiasm. No matter how much Kelly and I may love Aldi, I just don't think we can hold a candle to this!