our dads

I've been sorting through some picture files, 

finding photos to submit for a slideshow on Father's Day at church.  

My cup runneth over...

a June cluster of gf

Life is such a cluster these days.  I just came home from teaching Bible School and Ryan had straightened up the house.  And bathed the two littles.  And put away laundry.  I told him it was better than buying me diamonds, and I really it.  June is officially the clusteriest month of the year.  Officially.  And I do not appreciate it.  Not one little bit.  Well, I do appreciate all the time we're spending in the water.  But that's all.  Well, ok, and getting to grill nearly every day.  That's it.  Aaaand also getting to go barefoot everywhere.  But that is truly all.

We are going gluten-free with Eva.  This is no small thing.  In fact, this thing called gf has invaded nearly every corner of our day to dayness.  We don't have the test results yet to know if she is indeed gluten-sensitive or intolerant, but are acting like she is.  

So that I'm not exaggerating, I'll say that she has had stomach aches all but maaaaybe 10 days of her entire life.  She's been on a daily dose of mirelax for the last 3 years.  That can't be right.  I've had it in the corner of my mind for awhile now that maybe its the gluten.  But it is just SUCH an undertaking to go gluten-free.  But so far, she hasn't complained at all about what she's missing.  Even when she couldn't have a cupcake at library story hour.  That's how much she wants to feel better.

So thanks to some sound advice from people who go gf, we're making baby steps.  Did you know that even Rice Krispies have gluten?!!?  Because they have malt.  Even though its not listed on the ingredients.  Seriously, people?!

We grilled pizza.....Here was hers....

Not even one bit taken.  But not a single complaint.  

Those who know this lady know this is NO small thing.  

Ryan and I tasted it, and it wasn't great.  But it wasn't awful either.

It hasn't stopped the nightly dance parties.  As long as nothing gets in the way of those, we're all good.

  And this little lady dances on her feet instead of her knees now.  Look at those moves!

Happy June to one and all.  

May your days be wet, your grilling be tasty, and your feet be bare.

today is bliss

I sleepwalked through today until afternoon when I fell into the deepest nap I've had in ages.  One of those naps where you wake up with drool on the pillow, sand under your eyelids, creaky joints when you stand, and still very much in your dream despite your child screaming that naptime is indeed over.

I was up all night at the homeless shelter - taking the 10p to 8a shift.  (See disclaimers at the bottom.)  I think it was my foggy, less particular (read: less controlling, obnoxious, organized) self that allowed me to breathe more deeply in the bliss moments and mind-bending realizations of this day.  Here they are in no particular order...

* England is the oldest country in Europe.  I learned this from a 9 year old at the park.  He was quite sure of the date of the country's birth.  I was quite sure he'll be skipping 4th grade.

* At the pool, Sage kept touching my skin and saying "hot".  I was so extremely proud of her for applying such an abstract thought - Yes, my dear, your mama truly is a hottie.  She miiiiiiiight have been talking about the heat of my skin, but I'm pretty sure she was talking about my rockin bod.  With a little encouragement, she carried on for a few minutes about my hotness.  I'm good to go for a few weeks now in the compliment department.  You can save yours for a rainy day.

* The Buzz's new joke:
Knock-knock.
Who's there?
Skunk.
Skunk who?
Skunk spray you and you stink for days!

* Luke and Sara Roth-Mullet have officially moved back to good old H-town after 1 1/2 years spent finding themselves (come on guys, just own it) in Mexico, Spain, and Oregon.  We had lentils and rice (I love you, More with Less cookbook) and the kids ate it better than they ever eat pizza or mac n cheese or even s'mores.  (Yes, recipe to be posted soon.)  Its our stand-by recipe for We-need-to-get-groceries-I-want-a-good-meal-I'm-not-feeling-spendy Day.  And they brought over a $2.50 bottle of wine from Trader Joe's that is the ABSOLUTE BEST merlot I've ever had in my entire life.  We're stopping the next time through KC for a case.

* Chachi-Band earned no less than 5 stickers on her chart for her extreme patience with the entire family.

* Buzz told me in the car today...
"Two things are great.  God and macaroni.  They are the greatest ever.  Nothing is better or stronger than God and macaroni."

* And last but not least, "build something" continues...



Disclaimer #1....I sincerely apologize for the extreme use of quotation marks and parenthesis in this post.  Its obnoxious, I know.

Disclaimer #2...I'm not super-volunteer-at-the-homeless-shelter-mom-of-the-year.  I am a woman who forgot for a brief moment the power of "no." (sorry. again.)  That said, it was a good shift and I was again reminded of how stupid this world is to the beautiful people in it.

Now, for some sleep...