Father's Day PSF

Last week we went to my mom and dad's to celebrate Father's Day. We ended up spending the whole day outside by the pool. Poor Mark, his job was to blow up all the rafts--good thing Grandma and Grandpa have a pump.

Zippy's job was to run around and around and around. She did it well.

Rebekah sat in a raft and pretended to get wet.

Then she just gave up and sat around looking glamorous.

Jacob was silly as usual. He loved jumping in in this raft.

Of course, being Jacob, he also spent a fair amount of time just talking. :-)

He's like his Mama, he likes the pool, but give him the hot tub and he's really happy. (Grandma and Grandpa are nice enough to turn it down to a safe temp. when we're there.

Julianna's favorite thing to do? Go off the diving board.

over and over again!

She also likes doing hand stands in the water.

It was a perfect summer day.

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

Dad

This week's You Capture theme, hosted by Beth at You Should Be Folding Laundry, was summer. Perfect. One of the memories I want to hold on to is my dad standing at his grill, cooking some wonderful something or other. Thanks Beth for giving me the impetus to capture this memory.

She did it!!!

Rebekah just got her ACT scores. She got a 33. What that means is she qualified for the Gateway Award Program at Ohio University. It rewards students with her GPA and test scores with full in-state tuition. It's truly the answer to a prayer. It will be life changing for her. I don't know where she'll go or what she'll ultimately end up doing, but I do know that now she has options. I can't tell you what a tremendous load off my shoulders that is.

It's the same scholarship Jason received. He absolutely loved it there. He's hoping someday to end up back there teaching. Actually, he'd like to be there teaching year after next...just in time for his baby sister to be a Freshman. Rebekah used to visit Jason for little sibs weekend and she always liked it there. I wish she had more options, and we'll explore them, but it's wonderful to have one solid option in the bag.

I'm so proud of my girl.

Summertime

I found this meme over at Our Aussie Half-dozen. I enjoyed reading Mum-me's answers and thought it would be fun to play along.

What's your favorite day of summer(June 1-Sept 1)?
My favorite day of summer is always the day after we've arrived at wherever we're going for vacation. The first day is always zooey with checking in, getting groceries, etc. But the second day? Heaven. We're relaxed, the week seems filled with infinite possibilities, and the end of the week seems far, far away.

What's your favorite indoor activity during summer?
My favorite indoor activity is probably curled up with my kidlets on a rainy summer day watching a movie that we all enjoy.

Favorite outdoor activity?
My favorite outdoor activities...mmm, this is hard. This summer I'm enjoying bike riding with Jacob and Julianna. I also like taking them to the pool.

The pool or the beach?
I like swimming in a pool better, but I'd much rather be at the beach.

Have you ever camped in a tent during the summer heat?
When Rebekah and Jason were little, we went to Washington DC for the Fourth of July. We camped so that it wouldn't be as expensive. Well, that was an extremely hot summer. We went to Gettysburg the same week, and the temperature on our car thermometer was 116! I'm sure this particular night, in DC at the campground, it was over 100 degrees. None of us could sleep. We finally all got up at 12:30 in the morning and went and took cold showers. At least after that we could sleep. It was brutal heat, but my kids loved that trip.

Popsicles or ice cream?
Ice Cream

What flavor?
Pralines and Cream or Chocolate with Peanut Butter

Do you help in your church's VBS?
This is one of those depends on when in my career of being a mommy you mean. For many, many years, when Jason was little, I was a VBS teacher. For several years I even directed VBS. Then, when Rebekah got older our church stopped doing VBS. It was one of those things where things only happen if someone steps forward to do it, and I was done doing it. Our current church has a wonderful VBS program that Rebekah always helps with and Jacob and Julianna love to attend, but I've only taught one summer. I am embarrassed about that and will probably teach again next summer.

Do you get bored during summer?
Never. I love having my kids home in the summer time.

Are you going anywhere this summer?
We're going to Lakeside, Ohio. We absolutely love it. If we ever win the lottery, highly doubtful since we don't play, we'd buy a summer place there.

Is summer your favorite season?
I am definitely a seasons girl. There's something that I love about all of them. Weather-wise, summer is probably my least favorite season, but there's nothing like having my kids home from school and the relaxed pace of summer vacation.

Like Mum-me, I'm not tagging anyone in particular. If you want to play along, tell me in the comments so I can be sure and check out your summertime feelings.

Harry--the final chapter

Well, I'm going to tell this story through the eyes of an eight year old boy, because, in the end, those are the only eyes who matter, aren't they? If you read my blog regularly, you'll already know that it's been quite an emotional, tragic week around here. Harry, my eight year old's beloved stuffed rhino, disappeared on a trip to the zoo. Watching your little boy grieve is not a good thing to ever have to do, ever. It was horrible feeling so helpless to comfort him while he was so upset. Here's the conclusion to the story:

On Thursday, while everyone was at Vacation Bible School, someone left a bag on our door. In the bag was a stuffed rhino and a note. At first, when the rhino was pulled out of the bag, Julianna got very excited exclaiming, "it's Harry", over and over. Jacob kept insisting it wasn't, it didn't look exactly like Harry. Thank heaven someone had left a note explaining that they had washed the rhino. Oh, Jacob realized, no wonder he looks different. The note explained they had called the zoo to find out who he belonged to and dropped him off.

Jacob's so very, very happy again. His first words were actually, "Now I can have fun again". Yup, you sure can buddy. Miracles do happen and through someone's extraordinary kindness, my little guy's heart was healed and his life is happy again. Seeing that emotion on his face is one of the best feelings ever. :-)

Mysterious? Maybe. Maybe not. Does it really matter? The important thing is all is right in my little guy's world again.

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

People are trying. :-)

We may never find Harry, but it is definitely heart-warming to know that people care. Joe Blundo is an amazing features writer at the Columbus Dispatch. He has a blog and he posted today about Harry. Thank you. I know it will mean a lot to Jacob that people care enough to try.

Harry

When will it not hurt to look at pictures like this? For backstory, read my post from yesterday. If you're in Central Ohio, I'm offering a reward for the stuffed animal pictured here, he was left behind at the Columbus Zoo, Sunday, June 14, between 12:45 and 1:15 PM. I would really appreciate any forwarding this story, tweets, etc.

It's very sad around here

You've probably notices in pictures that I post about Jacob he often has his friend Harry in the picture. Harry's everywhere with Jacob. He doesn't go to school or the pool with him, but outside of that, pretty much everywhere. Ever since Jacob received him as a birthday gift two years ago, Harry's been his constant companion. Sunday we took a family trip to the zoo. As we were leaving the zoo we stopped to get the kids a treat--Dippin Dots. Somewhere after that, either as Jacob was sitting on the bench eating the Dippin Dots, or in the gift shop we looked in as we left, Harry got left behind. We've been back to the zoo, I've called so often they're tired of hearing from me, I've put a notice on Craig's List. He's gone. I don't know what to do. I can't believe how much it hurts. I cannnot believe that someone would take him, but the reality is that must be what happened. How could someone do that?

Our last picture of Harry.

Jacob is struggling big time. It hurts so much. I feel so helpless to help him. It's definitely one of the top five worst experiences in my parenthood journey. I am so angry that someone would take something that doesn't belong to them. Shortly after Jacob got Harry, when it became apparent that he was so special to him, I had bought another one. I thought someday he might enjoy giving his baby the new one. I have that one, but of course it wouldn't be the same. Jacob wouldn't be Jacob if he could transfer his emotions so easily. He's an incredibly sensitive little guy. I'm hoping eventually, even though it wouldn't be the same, he might want the other stuffed Rhino, but I know it's not what he wants right now. He wants Harry back. He's hurting so badly. Yesterday he went outside and just sat by himself for the longest time. When I went out to comfort him he sat on my lap and cried and cried. This is so hard. I'm not proud of saying this, but prior to what we're going through, I never would have understood someone else going through it. I never would have "gotten" how bad it can actually be. How much it hurts. I've never had a child who had some "thing" that they loved so much, that had such power in their lives.

Believe me, I know there are much worse things we could be dealing with. I know there are much worse things that others are struggling with. I do get that, but it sure doesn't help an eight year old boy. I think one of the reasons I'm hurting so much is that I know this is an ending. Nothing will ever mean the same thing to Jacob again. Nothing will ever replace Harry. That little piece of his childhood is over. A little piece of his innocence lost.

Good-bye Harry. We're really going to miss you.

Meal Plan

Yeah!!! School's out. Summertime is here. Finally. I am really, really looking forward to spending the summer with my kids.

By the way, the Grilled Spice Rubbed Chicken Tacos from last week were outstanding. Very easy and very delicious. The night we had them Rebekah had two friends over for dinner. All five kids ate them up as well. Definitely a sign of a successful recipe. I left out the zucchini and added a sweet onion to the grill, so ours seemed more fajita-ish than taco, but either way they were wonderful. I've also struggled repeatedly with how to successfully heat up corn tortillas, mine usually just tear and fall apart. The method of very lightly buttering them, wrapping them in foil and heating them on the grill worked perfectly. I will be making these again and again.

Sunday lunch--Zoo?? lunch will be on the go I think.
Sunday dinner--Noble Pig's Plum Chicken, leftover fried rice or steamed rice, baby broccoli (Seriously, have you made this chicken? Delicious, cheap, easy, fast...does it get any better?)

Monday--Cashew Chicken, rice, sugar snap peas, egg rolls--I have no idea why, but I am really craving asian food lately. It's kind of funny because there were years where I couldn't stand to even think about eating anything asian.

Tuesday--Mark's out at a work outing, I think the kids and I will hang at the pool. Oops, they're predicting rain, hodge podge as a back-up.

Wednesday--Making dinner for a friend. I'm going to do a grilled chicken salad bar of sorts. Grilled chicken, shredded cheese, salad mix, chopped tomatoes, chopped cucumbers, sunflower seeds, peas, garbanzo beans, salad dressings; whole wheat baguette. I'm going to make Ice Cream cone cupcakes for dessert. I think her three little ones and my three at home will all enjoy those. :-) I haven't made them in years.

Thursday--Giffy's Famous BBQ chicken (didn't get to this one last week), new potatoes, glazed carrots

I'll also be making baked mini corndogs, Lazarus' chicken salad, homemade creamsicles, and blueberry muffins. Yummy week.

How does your cooking change when your kids are out of school? What kinds of things do you make them for lunch? Anyone have any good homemade popsicle recipes? That's what I'm pondering right now. Have a wonderful week.

You Capture--Nature

When I first heard the theme for this week's You Capture, I immediately thought of the typical nature shots--birds, bees, flowers, etc.

As the days passed however, another sort of nature began to speak to me--Jacob's nature. Shortly put, it's messy. I think he is truly one of those people who finds comfort in having his stuff all over the place.

Left unchecked, Jacob leaves little piles everywhere. Lately, I've tried very hard to overcome this natural instinct of his. I make a conscious effort to, several times a day, 'remind' him to clean up. Gather up all the little lego pieces, the playmobil, the everything that he happily leaves everywhere, all the time. :-) He's a good sport about it. He'll cheerfully clean them up, until he gets distracted by something bright and shiny anyway. In light of the fact that he's doing such a good job cleaning up the family room, dining room, living room, I couldn't get the shot I really wanted--the little piles of stuff everywhere. Then, I walked into his room. We gave his room a really good cleaning just a few weeks ago. Since then I've been after him to keep things cleaned up and put away so that it doesn't get so out of control again. Lately, I think his 'nature' is winning.

Maybe I Should Play the Lottery

I really stink at economizing. Really.

Jacob's birthday is next month. I've been telling the kids that if they want birthday parties this year that's fine, but they need to be simple and inexpensive and that they will influence the gifts that we're able to give them. Jacob understood that. Spend money on party, less money for gifts, no problem, he wanted a party. All righty then, no problem. Our pool is showing a floating flick Friday night, Journey to the Center of the Earth. Jacob saw the poster and after a little discussion decided he wanted to do that for his party. All right, some of his friends are pool members, this will be cheap and easy. I have a coupon to rent the pool shelter for free, this is working out great.

Well...the coupon's fine print indicated it's only good in August. $25 for shelter rental, check.

Guests are $4 each...not as many kids are members as I thought. Oh well. Jacob wanted to invite almost all of the kids in his Cub Scout Den, ummm, not a good idea. Let's invite all the kids to avoid hurt feelings. Jacob was very happy about that, he wasn't excluding anyone because he didn't like them, just to help cut costs. Then there's the kids of the moms I go out with once a month. Even though the kids don't see each other very much, they've gone to each others parties for years now. Okay, this party is 'cheap', we'll invite them too. Well, one thing led to another and before I knew it, 20 kids are coming to this party. $48.00 in gate fees, check.

Fun noodles would be a great party favor, Wal-Mart had them for $2 each, at that time 16 kids were coming, $32 check. Oh wow! The dollar store has fun noodles for $1 each, sure you can invite more kids. 22 total guests, no problem. Oh, the dollar store noodles are small and pieces of c_ _ _. Not going to work. Back to Wal-Mart for more fun noodles, $44.00 for fun noodles, check.

The kids will need snacks for during the movie, popcorn buckets will be *fun*. $10 check. Giant pixie sticks, oh aren't those neat...$13.00 check. Oh, twizzlers, can we have those too? $8.00 check. Glow necklaces? Those would be perfect for a movie in the dark (this was Mark), $13.00 check. Capri Suns, Water Bottles, popcorn, cupcake supplies, ice cream cups, simple Happy Birthday banner, tablecloths, plates, napkins, thank you notes, candy for decorating cupcakes...on and on and on.

This "cheap" birthday party? Yeah, I'm over $200.00. Okay, full disclosure, I'm well over $200.00. I swear I still can't quite figure out how that happened. I completely stink at being frugal, or evidently even sensible with money. Think Jacob will mind when he owes us money for his birthday? ;-)

Does this happen to anyone else? Are you really good with money or do things constantly cost more than you were planning too? Any ideas on something we might be missing that might make the party fun? Yeah, forget I asked.

The Wicked of Oz

It was a pretty perfect day. Julianna had her dance recital, The Wicked of Oz. Her dance studio wrote their own show, a combination of The Wizard of Oz, Wicked and the Wiz. It was absolutely wonderful.

The day started off great, my parents came up to see her show. It made her feel so special and important that they would be there for her. All year long she's talked of wanting to go to Olive Garden on her show day. It's not a restaurant we go to very often, we actually don't go out terribly often anywhere, and she was very excited. We were concerned about it because Rebekah had to play in the band for Commencement after the recital, so we knew it wasn't going to be possible to go for dinner. Fortunately, Grandma and Grandpa came up early and we went for an early lunch. Perfect. Grandma and Grandpa were even nice enough to treat, which was a wonderful surprise.

The show went off perfectly--without a hitch--well, a teeny one, we had to grab Julianna early and Rebekah still missed her report time, the show ran three hours. That's really, really long, in case you're wondering. Poor Jacob, I didn't think he was going to make it. :-) Anyway, we got permission for Rebekah to meet the band at Commencement, and we were back on track again.

It truly was a lovely day. The above pictures are from dress rehearsal, there are no flash photos allowed during the actual show and I haven't learned how to take pictures without flash yet (advice anyone?), but still, you get the general idea. My baby loves to dance.

Meal Plan

It's going to be a hectic weekend, Rebekah takes the SAT again (she's within 130 points of a full-tuition scholarship, we're praying, crossing fingers, throwing salt...). Julianna has her dance recital on Sunday, and we're a week away from payday. It will help me keep it together to have meals planned out and shopped for. (Side rant: I cannot believe how expensive recitals are. I can live with the $65 for a costume, but $80 for tickets, extra for flowers, $45 for a DVD, $25 for pictures--it's insane. We're skipping the DVD and pictures--way too much money.)

Hope you have a good week. Only one more week of school. Yippee!

Friday: Salmon, Long Grain & Wild Roasted Vegetable Rice, Grilled Asparagus

Saturday: "Shape" pancakes for breakfast
Lunch: Spice Rubbed Grilled Chicken Tacos
Dinner: ?? If Rebekah's up to sitting, Mark and I might sneak out for dinner, we've got a gift certificate.

Sunday lunch: Olive Garden--Dancing Queen's request. She's waited a year for this. :-)
Sunday dinner: Spicy Orange Chicken Lo Mein

Monday: Country BBQ Ribs, Potato Planks, Cole Slaw, Watermelon

Tuesday: Salad Bar Buffet--I think this is my kids favorite meal

Wednesday: Giffy's Famous Chicken BBQ (from the Regis & Kelly Show) copied down below because I'm afraid it will disappear from the website and it looks really, really good. New Potato Kabobs, glazed baby carrots

Thursday: Salmon patties, whole wheat noodles, creamed peas



Giffy's Famous Chicken BBQ

INGREDIENTS:

Giffy's Bar-B-Q

1-3lbs chicken, cut into 8 sections
2 cups 50 grain Apple Cider Vinegar
1 cup 90/10 Oil, 90% Vegetable oil and 10% Olive oil
1.5 tablespoons of Poultry Seasoning
3 tablespoons of Salt
1 teaspoon of Pepper
2 whole eggs

DIRECTIONS:

In a large mixing bowl add apple cider vinegar, oil, poultry seasonings, salt, pepper and eggs. Quickly whisk all ingredients together so that they are blended. Place a ½ cup of sauce in a separate bowl, cover and refrigerate.

Add chicken pieces and let marinade for 24-48 hours in the refrigerator.

After marinating, pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Place chicken in a 13x9 baking pan and bake for 30 mins uncovered on the middle rack.

Warm up Grill to a med heat. After baking, place chicken bone side down on the grill. Keep moving the chicken away from flames. Cook wings and drumstick for 15 mins then place to side of grill continue breasts and thighs for 10-15 more mins. Make sure chicken is cooked to thoroughly.

When chicken is done put on a serving plate and drizzle the sauce that was put aside on it.

Cub Scouts PSF

Last night was our Cub Scout Pack's annual cake decorating competition. Here's Jacob's cake:

I think it turned out fantastically. The theme was "A camping we will go".

As you can tell, he was pretty proud of it.

I love this smile. :-)

Then, it was time for crossing over. Jacob crossed over from Wolf to Bear.

Then it was time to hand out achievements.

Warning: Obnoxious, proud mommy venting here: He earned 4 arrow heads, a belt loop, and a camping patch. Very cool.

It was a wonderful night. I would like to have taken some pictures of them creating that wonderful cake, but I was having dinner with friends for our monthly night out. This one was extra special. Please pray for my friend again. Friday she's having a masectomy. Hopefully this one will be easier emotionally, she's having it to prevent cancer in this breast. So much to go through, but that's my friend. She's fighting cancer with everything she has. Taking every chance she can to beat it and live to a ripe old age. Unfortunately, her dad's prognosis is not as good. He's been given 6-12 months to live. Such a horrible thing to go through, and I think it's doubly hard to watch a parent die of cancer knowing you're fighting it too. Hopefully friends will rally, and we'll giver her as much support as we can. Still, so much to go through. I know her summer is going to be very different from the summer she was hoping to have. She has the masectomy tomorrow, then weeks of recovery, followed by reconstruction. I'm definitely praying that she kicks cancer to the curve and never has to deal with it again.

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek