A Baby in the House

A couple days ago I babysat my neighbor's 11 month old baby girl. She is the sweetest little thing who never cries and always goes right to sleep when I lay her down in her crib. While babysitting her, I thought about a little booklet of poems I have in my room entitled Rhymes of Childhood. It's by Edgar A. Guest and I love every poem. They're all so sweet and I go through and reread them every now and then.

A Baby in the House
Something to talk about, something to do,
Something to laugh at the whole day through,
Something to look at with pride and with glee,
Something for friends to come in just to see;
Oh, you can't sum up all the wonderful things
Of joy and delight which a new baby brings

There's a smile that is brighter than sunbeams of May,
A wave of farewell as you're starting away,
A glad time of frolic which no one can steal,
A thrill inexpressible, lovely to feel.
There's something to boast of and something to tell
When a baby has come to the lace where you dwell.

There's never an hour that is lonely and drear;
The days are filled up to the top with good cheer.
You have someone to play with and someone to sing to,
Someone to romp with and someone to cling to;
And always you're finding some pleasure that's new
When God has sent down a glad baby to you.
                                                           - Edgar A. Guest

Joshua's Drawings

Drawing fever has hit Joshua and Havalah and hardly a day goes by without them drawing at least three pictures. Every now and then I look at Joshua's sketchbook while he explains the pictures to me. These are some of my favorites.

Joshua drew this specifically for me today.

All Dressed Up

Several years ago, our good friends Aram and Debbie got married. For some reason, our family wasn't able to make it to the ceremony, but we were able to attend the reception. I had a lot of fun playing with my friends all evening long and making frequent trips to the snack table, for some much needed sustenance. After the reception was over, our family stayed to help clean up, and Debbie, the bride, took off her wedding dress. It was satiny with some lace, had a long train, and what seemed to me a thousand satin buttons. What's more, it was poufy and I thought it was beautiful. Debbie offered to let us try it on (that is, I think she offered, but we may have begged her on our knees until she relented. That portion of the evening is a little fuzzy in my memory). We all took turns trying on the wedding dress, and I remember feeling like a queen when I wore it. In these pictures, I am on the right (I'm about 7), and Esther is on the left. I love looking at these pictures!

P.S. I got our scanner to work! I'm so happy!

An Agreeable Alternative

I was going to scan some old pictures onto the computer, so I could put them on this blog (and write down the stories that go with them!) but unfortunately, my printer is not cooperating with me. I was feeling a little down because I couldn't post the old pictures, but I came up with an alternative; write a list (you know I love lists!).
These are a few things I did during the past week;

• Went to Ashley's birthday party and had a blast! 
• Watched Seth and Joshua's basketball games (quite entertaining!)
• Made some yummy vegetable potstickers
• Went with Mara to the Saraga International Market and had fun looking at all the unique food
• I thoroughly enjoyed looking at these pictures.
• I also wished I could go hiking in JeJu (doesn't it look beautiful?)

 Have a greet week!

Apples

I like apples. Crispy apples. I also like summer. I really like warm weather. The high this weekend was 14 degrees Farenheight. That's cold. And so, when I read this poem, it really struck a chord with me;

The apples are seasoned
And ripe and sound.
Gently they fall
On the yellow ground.

The apples are stored
In the dusky bin
Where hardly a glimmer
Of light creeps in.

In the firelit, winter
Nights, they'll be
The clear sweet taste
Of a summer tree!
                      - Frances Frost

Snow Ice Cream

Mom has been making snow ice cream ever since I can remember. She says she got her recipe from her grandma, although it has never been written down. . . till today! Since it snowed today (again) Mom made some snow ice cream and I convinced her to give me the recipe (of course I told her it'd go on my blog!). We call it snow ice cream, but it would probably be more accurate to call it a Banana Smoothie. Anyway, here's the recipe;
3 cups vanilla soy milk
1 package vanilla pudding
18 cups fresh snow (make sure it's not yellow!)
1 egg
1 frozen banana
Blend soy milk and vanilla pudding together until moderately thick. Slowly add snow while stirring. Beat until all mixed in. In a separate bowl beat egg, then slowly add 1/2 cup snow/pudding mixture. Make sure it is well combined. In a third bowl, blend banana with 1/2 cup snow/pudding mixture. Dump banana into snow/pudding mixture and stir well. Add egg mix to snow/pudding mixture while stirring. Make sure it is well combined. Put in freezer and stir every 15 minutes for 1 hour. When it is ready to serve, stir one last time, then serve (warning; it melts fast!).

Note; if you want to use cow milk, feel free to do so, but add in about 1 tsp. vanilla extract.



 

Reading Know Why You Believe, I came across this quote of Mark Mittleberg's which I really like;
"Religion is spelled 'Do,' because it consists of the things people do to try to somehow gain God's forgiveness and favor. . . . Thankfully Christianity is spelled differently. It's spelled 'D-O-N-E.'"

A Sledding Song

Sing a song of winter,
  Of frosty clouds in air!
Sing a song of snowflakes
  Falling everywhere.


Sing a song of winter!
  Sing a song of sleds!
Sing a song of tumbling 
  Over heels and heads.


Up and down a hillside
  When the moon is bright,
Sledding is a tiptop
  Wintertime delight.
                                - Norman C. Schlichter

Joshua and Havalah

Esther snapped these pictures of Joshua and Havalah right after the new year had begun;

Hiking in the Snow

Over winter break, Dad took us to Pine Hill where we hiked around (on trail and off :D).

Catching Up

My! The holidays were such a whirlwind of fun! I hope yours was enjoyable as well. I can hardly believe a new year has begun! 2010 went by so fast (don't we say that every year? it's true, though) These next few posts will be some pictures of what we did during winter break. I intend to blog on a regular basis now. :D