The inevitable question comes from the two oldest kids each late afternoon...what are we having for dinner, Mommy??? And today was no exception.
Ryan: Mmm something smells good...is it Shepherd's Pie, Mommy?
Me: No it's not Shepherd's Pie sweetie
Ryan: I can smell it all the way upstairs...it's NOT Shepherd's Pie???
Me: No it's a Korean dish that Mommy decided to try
Ryan: (screams of delight for almost a minute)
Me: Are you excited?
Ryan: (jumping up and down) Yeah Yeah Yeah!!!!!!!!
What I made is Taktoritang and some rice. I didn't do the spiciness level that they wanted but used 1 tablespoon. All three kids LOVED it immensely...
And quite frankly so did I...
~Jen
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Giving of Ourselves to Others in Need
We donated food yesterday morning through the Boy Scouts to the local food pantries. The kids had picked out the food themselves to donate. The Boy Scouts came by our home to pick up the bag full of food. After that we went to the local mall on a playdate since they have a play area. We stayed there for an hour with the kids playing on one thing then rushing to play on another.
After the playdate, we were heading to the food court for lunch however on the way there and in the main part of the mall, we heard bell ringers and a brass band playing Christmas Carols. I immediately asked Jeff for three $1 bills...I knew the bell ringers' bell sound. I knew why they were there. I handed the money out to the kids.
Once we went around the Santa's Workshop building the mall employees were putting up we saw the Salvation Army band playing and saw two women bell ringers and the familiar red kettle. I read earlier this past week that the local Salvation Army needed bell ringers. They are desperate for them.
We walked up to where the band, bell ringers and kettle was and Ryan was the first one up to the kettle however he covered his ears because he didn't like the loud noise of the bells. The ringers noticed this and stopped their bellringing. Ryan placed his dollar into the kettle.
Bella was next and I picked her up to place her dollar bill into the kettle. Katie had helped her push the dollar into the kettle. Katie was next and she placed her dollar bill into the kettle. I stood behind the kids while they were doing this.
I noticed that a professional photographer was taking pictures of us...the kids putting the money into the kettle with me standing behind them. Afterwards, he introduced himself and took our names for one of the local papers (one of course we don't get). He said that he thinks that he thinks the "pictures will appear in tomorrow's (Sunday's) paper". He says that he hopes that Salvation Army will meet their goal of bellringers and of donations this holiday season. And so do we.
After the kids donating the money and our discussion with the photographer, I explained to the kids why we donated the money and put it into the kettle. In the food court, Ryan seem to catch on to everything that we did today...donating food this morning to people who don't have enough and donating money to people who don't have enough food, clothing or a place to sleep.
While waiting for Daddy to come back to the table with our food, he starts shouting out... "free food...free food". I had to explain to him that (1) he had to have food to give food away and (2) yelling free food in a food court wasn't a good thing to do.
While we are eating, we see the brass band walk past us. We caught them at exactly the right moment in time. They are done playing the Christmas carols for the day. They are done collecting money for now at this particular location but they will be back and if we hear the familiar sound of the bell ringing and see the familiar red kettle again, we will be donating money to them again. It's just something that I do each year that I see the red kettle and hear the bell ringers.
Today's newspaper has the article in it on page 3. We went out today to pick up copies of the paper for us. While we are out we are at the same mall again to buy winter boots for Jeff...okay not very interesting. However we were asked if we wanted to donate $2 to March of Dimes while we were checking out the boots. I look at my three kids and respond "yes".
We had a happy weekend this weekend helping others in need. And I'm glad to have helped my children to understand what it means to help another person. I just hope that they grow up helping others on a regular basis.
~Jen
After the playdate, we were heading to the food court for lunch however on the way there and in the main part of the mall, we heard bell ringers and a brass band playing Christmas Carols. I immediately asked Jeff for three $1 bills...I knew the bell ringers' bell sound. I knew why they were there. I handed the money out to the kids.
Once we went around the Santa's Workshop building the mall employees were putting up we saw the Salvation Army band playing and saw two women bell ringers and the familiar red kettle. I read earlier this past week that the local Salvation Army needed bell ringers. They are desperate for them.
We walked up to where the band, bell ringers and kettle was and Ryan was the first one up to the kettle however he covered his ears because he didn't like the loud noise of the bells. The ringers noticed this and stopped their bellringing. Ryan placed his dollar into the kettle.
Bella was next and I picked her up to place her dollar bill into the kettle. Katie had helped her push the dollar into the kettle. Katie was next and she placed her dollar bill into the kettle. I stood behind the kids while they were doing this.
I noticed that a professional photographer was taking pictures of us...the kids putting the money into the kettle with me standing behind them. Afterwards, he introduced himself and took our names for one of the local papers (one of course we don't get). He said that he thinks that he thinks the "pictures will appear in tomorrow's (Sunday's) paper". He says that he hopes that Salvation Army will meet their goal of bellringers and of donations this holiday season. And so do we.
After the kids donating the money and our discussion with the photographer, I explained to the kids why we donated the money and put it into the kettle. In the food court, Ryan seem to catch on to everything that we did today...donating food this morning to people who don't have enough and donating money to people who don't have enough food, clothing or a place to sleep.
While waiting for Daddy to come back to the table with our food, he starts shouting out... "free food...free food". I had to explain to him that (1) he had to have food to give food away and (2) yelling free food in a food court wasn't a good thing to do.
While we are eating, we see the brass band walk past us. We caught them at exactly the right moment in time. They are done playing the Christmas carols for the day. They are done collecting money for now at this particular location but they will be back and if we hear the familiar sound of the bell ringing and see the familiar red kettle again, we will be donating money to them again. It's just something that I do each year that I see the red kettle and hear the bell ringers.
Today's newspaper has the article in it on page 3. We went out today to pick up copies of the paper for us. While we are out we are at the same mall again to buy winter boots for Jeff...okay not very interesting. However we were asked if we wanted to donate $2 to March of Dimes while we were checking out the boots. I look at my three kids and respond "yes".
We had a happy weekend this weekend helping others in need. And I'm glad to have helped my children to understand what it means to help another person. I just hope that they grow up helping others on a regular basis.
~Jen
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Pumpkin Picking and Halloween Parade
Here's a few pictures from pumpkin picking and our Neighborhood parade!!
Pondering on how you decide on the perfect pumpkin.
"I found a pumpkin, Mommy!!!" Of course she found a better one after this.
Taking it easy while we're trying to pick out our 3 pumpkins!!!
Here's a few pictures from Halloween and our Neighborhood parade!!
Yes sir!! We're behaving for the state police officer.
Helping my Little Sister out with her candy!!
Checking on the candy in the bucket!! Yup it's still there!!!
Me having fun on the parade route still shaking the noisemaker that we got on the beginning.
Look who we found on the parade route!!! Now where is that R2D2 unit????
We dressed up to answer the door for the trick or treaters on Halloween night. Mommy dresses up every year to answer the door for the trick or treaters.
Pondering on how you decide on the perfect pumpkin.
"I found a pumpkin, Mommy!!!" Of course she found a better one after this.
Taking it easy while we're trying to pick out our 3 pumpkins!!!
Here's a few pictures from Halloween and our Neighborhood parade!!
Yes sir!! We're behaving for the state police officer.
Helping my Little Sister out with her candy!!
Checking on the candy in the bucket!! Yup it's still there!!!
Me having fun on the parade route still shaking the noisemaker that we got on the beginning.
Look who we found on the parade route!!! Now where is that R2D2 unit????
We dressed up to answer the door for the trick or treaters on Halloween night. Mommy dresses up every year to answer the door for the trick or treaters.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Bella's Song and Dance...Thanks PAPA!!!
Bella has a song and dance that she has been doing for a little while. It's called the Dupa (pronounced like doo pa) Dance and Song. The song has one word in it...and you probably already guessed it...DUPA!!!! For those of you that are Polish reading this, you might know the meaning of the word. For the rest of you just ask me privately and I'll let you know.
I do know that we can thank my dad (her Papa) for this one. He mentioned the word to her on several occasions.
One two three...THANKS DAD!!!!! THANKS PAPA!!!!
I'm crawling back into my hole now due to embarrassment...
~Jen
I do know that we can thank my dad (her Papa) for this one. He mentioned the word to her on several occasions.
One two three...THANKS DAD!!!!! THANKS PAPA!!!!
I'm crawling back into my hole now due to embarrassment...
~Jen
Conversations with Bella
Me: Are you a good girl today?
Bella: No
Me: Are you a bad girl today?
Bella: Yeah (then smiling and laughing from her)
Similar conversation 15 minutes later...
Me: Are you a good girl today?
Bella: No
Me: Are you a bad girl today?
Bella: No
Bella: (laughing over the puzzled look on my face)
Me: Okay Bella I'm not sure how to take that one
Bella: (still giggling)
Me: Bella please get off the computer
Bella: I workin (she is opening and closing the cd tray and "typing" furiously at the computer)
Me: You're working??
Bella: Yeah I workin
We'll chalk it up to a Wacky Wednesday...
~Jen
Bella: No
Me: Are you a bad girl today?
Bella: Yeah (then smiling and laughing from her)
Similar conversation 15 minutes later...
Me: Are you a good girl today?
Bella: No
Me: Are you a bad girl today?
Bella: No
Bella: (laughing over the puzzled look on my face)
Me: Okay Bella I'm not sure how to take that one
Bella: (still giggling)
Me: Bella please get off the computer
Bella: I workin (she is opening and closing the cd tray and "typing" furiously at the computer)
Me: You're working??
Bella: Yeah I workin
We'll chalk it up to a Wacky Wednesday...
~Jen
Annual Neighborhood Halloween Parade
One lady in our neighborhood each year organizes a fantastic Halloween parade for the little kids and some of the older kids in our neighborhood. Anybody who wants to dress up can.
At last year's parade, we were treated to 2 full sized R2D2 units (from Star Wars just in case you don't know) that danced to their own music. They were a huge hit with the kids.
This year's parade was no exception. We had adults dressed up as Darth Vader and 2 Stormtroopers and a teenager dressed up as Princess Leia (also from Star Wars).
We also had a real life State Police officer who was doing the parade route with his young son.
My parents came up to help out with the kids and take pictures of them trick or treating. We had the two oldest walking and Bella was in the stroller. By the half way mark, Katie was being carried, Ryan was dragging, and Bella was still in the stroller. About 2/3 of the way through the route, Katie was in the stroller, Ryan was being held and Bella was walking most of the rest of the parade route. By the 2/3rds mark, Bella knew the routine and how to do it. It took one hour from start to finish to do the parade.
When we got home they had to see their goodies. They each had a couple of pieces for snack and haven't asked for any more since.
Sorry I'm not showing any pictures just yet...I need to download them from my camera.
Now we just need to work on them saying "trick or treat" and then "thank you" (heck I'd take a Kamsahamnida as well).
~Jen
At last year's parade, we were treated to 2 full sized R2D2 units (from Star Wars just in case you don't know) that danced to their own music. They were a huge hit with the kids.
This year's parade was no exception. We had adults dressed up as Darth Vader and 2 Stormtroopers and a teenager dressed up as Princess Leia (also from Star Wars).
We also had a real life State Police officer who was doing the parade route with his young son.
My parents came up to help out with the kids and take pictures of them trick or treating. We had the two oldest walking and Bella was in the stroller. By the half way mark, Katie was being carried, Ryan was dragging, and Bella was still in the stroller. About 2/3 of the way through the route, Katie was in the stroller, Ryan was being held and Bella was walking most of the rest of the parade route. By the 2/3rds mark, Bella knew the routine and how to do it. It took one hour from start to finish to do the parade.
When we got home they had to see their goodies. They each had a couple of pieces for snack and haven't asked for any more since.
Sorry I'm not showing any pictures just yet...I need to download them from my camera.
Now we just need to work on them saying "trick or treat" and then "thank you" (heck I'd take a Kamsahamnida as well).
~Jen
Saturday, October 25, 2008
The Story of a Ladybug...
Today Ryan and I found a ladybug in the family room. Normally a bug in the house makes the kids upset that it is in their home and bugs live outside in their own homes however this was a different story today. Today the ladybug was more than welcomed into our home for a little while longer. We mourned the loss of the ladybug's life in our home for a little while.
The two oldest kids were sad to see the dead ladybug and Ryan didn't want it to go outside. He ended up giving me the dead little ladybug. So in the pouring rain with Ryan looking from inside the house, I said a prayer and buried the little ladybug in our front yard where he could see and right near some bushes that the ladybugs would frequent.
After the prayer and burial, I went back inside the house a little soaking wet and took off my shoes and coat. I gave my son a hug and after a small amount of time he went off to play with his cars a little sad that "his" ladybug was gone but better since Mommy took care of the ladybug by saying a little prayer over its grave.
We miss you little ladybug and hope that you are flying carefree in ladybug heaven.
~Jen
The two oldest kids were sad to see the dead ladybug and Ryan didn't want it to go outside. He ended up giving me the dead little ladybug. So in the pouring rain with Ryan looking from inside the house, I said a prayer and buried the little ladybug in our front yard where he could see and right near some bushes that the ladybugs would frequent.
After the prayer and burial, I went back inside the house a little soaking wet and took off my shoes and coat. I gave my son a hug and after a small amount of time he went off to play with his cars a little sad that "his" ladybug was gone but better since Mommy took care of the ladybug by saying a little prayer over its grave.
We miss you little ladybug and hope that you are flying carefree in ladybug heaven.
~Jen
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