Archive for June, 2009
Shiloh and Carly
Posted by Bethany in Picturesque on June 20, 2009
Carly is not our dog. Anyone who knows me well knows that I really am not much of a pet person. I consented to two cats, that stay outside, that I never, ever have to take care of myself. 
Shiloh is my polar opposite, I sometimes believe. We are about as different at two people can be. That being said, she adores animals, has plans on being a zoologist, veterinarian, rancher, breeder, humane society volunteer and all other vocations that involve dealing with animals. She happily takes care of the pets and the idea of mucking a stable is intriguing to her (yucko!)
Carly is my mother-in-laws doggie.
Shiloh loves Carly.
A Princess: the Rearview
Posted by Bethany in Motherhood, Picturesque on June 19, 2009
On Thursday, Rebekah was invited to a birthday party for another little girl at our church. It was going to be a dress-up tea party. I was so excited.
I adore my oldest daughter, but I’ve missed out on quite a bit of the girlie parts of having a daughter since she’s absolutely horrified by the thought of painting her fingernails and wearing a tiara.
Bekah, however, has no problem with any of this. In fact, she quite enjoys it!
We got up early to get her ready. We painted nails and added little flower stickers. We tried on a few dress up outfits before deciding the tutu with a tank top was the coolest option. We even tore the house apart looking for her princess high heels. And miraculously, we found both of them. Not true for her tiara, we found that after the party. We did wear a nice girlie, pink, butterfly headband though. It worked in a pinch.
The party was adorable. There were four little two year old girls, running around in dress up shoes, tutus, and all sorts of fine dress up items. They had their own little table with a cake and sandwiches!
And I got to hang out with a group of mom’s for awhile as our kids destroyed someone else’s house. (Sorry Kim!) It was grand fun. I am really looking forward to more girlie days with my youngest!
Revisiting
Posted by Bethany in Bloggity Blog on June 19, 2009
When I started blogging about four years ago, I was a great blogging friend. I visited all my favorite blogs, every single day. I commented frequently. I read the archives of new blogs I found and enjoyed.
Now, four years later, I look at my blogroll. That’s it…look at it, wonder what those girls I used to know everything about are doing and then scamper off to do whatever it is that is filling my former blogging time. This summer, for the first time in about a year, I’ve been revisiting some of my old favorites! While I haven’t been much of a commenter (hey they may come back here and see this blog I’ve let the life dwindle out of…) I have been relishing some really great reading. I remember why I loved reading others blogs so much!
My blogroll still needs a bit of updating…there are bloggers listed who no longer blog, or have changed blog addresses. But some of my favorites are still doing their thing and doing it well.
So, if you enjoy great writers from real life mothers, who have a lovely knack for putting things into perspective, I highly recommend you read the following blogs! I have been enjoying revisiting these ladies this past week and wonder why I stopped visiting. They are fantastic!
Beck @ Frog and Toad are Friends
Mopsy @ Lifenut
Veronica @ Toddled Dredge
Kristen @ We are THAT Family
Hope you enjoy reading as much as I have!
Unbridled Joy
Posted by Bethany in Picturesque on June 18, 2009
Because, what’s more fun than having a cannon blast water into your chest?
The Goops
I received my new flip video today and I’ve had a blast playing with it! It is so easy to use! The kids loved “making movies” for me. Here’s Landon showing how cultured he is by reciting a lovely poem entitled, The Goops. He learned this in first grade from his very cultured teacher, my mother.
Enjoy!
open source video, online video platform, video streaming, video solutions
Menu Plan Monday
Posted by Bethany in Uncategorized on June 15, 2009
Last week’s menu plan really helped a lot. I didn’t stick to it perfectly, but it helped me not do the stare at the pantry/freezer trying what to decide to cook at 5:00 p.m. It worked out great with softball games going on this week…
So here’s the plan for this week. (I’m just posting dinners this week.)
Monday – BBQ ribs, fresh corn on the cob, cucumber slices
Tuesday – french toast, sausage
Wednesday – pizza
Thursday – lemon pepper chicken, Brussels sprouts, fruit
Friday – chili dogs
Lunches will mostly be sandwiches or soups, salads, crackers, and fruit. I may substitute a Mac-n-cheese one day!
And dessert for the week…blueberry pie!
I’m getting to the end of my meat stockpile, so I need to shop pretty badly. I’m hoping my menu will become more interesting after a grocery store trip. That won’t be until next week though!
For more Menu Plan Mondays check out I’m an Organizing Junkie.
Baseball Season…a Bit Late
Posted by Bethany in The Great Game of Basketball and Other Mediocre Sports on June 11, 2009
Well, now that school and baseball season are over, I actually have time to put up a baseball picture of Landon! Poor kid, his games were so intense, that I often forgot to take any pictures!!
Here’s my little slugger, who had a great season. I feel we’ve been very blessed as far as baseball goes for the last two years. My son has played for the team that received first place (tied with another team this year), which has certainly been fun. But what I’ve liked best is that both last year and this year we’ve managed to play on a team where the coaches and parents (pretty much) displayed good sportsmanship and seemed to concentrate more on what the kids were learning instead of winning all the time.
Which is what I think Little League baseball should really be about.
There are many, though, who are so competitive and obsessed with this sport that I’m amazed at how they can behave. This year, as well as last, there was always The Team.
The Team always seems to have a lot of talent, both with players and coaches. These guys know the game of baseball. The Team always expects to win. And somehow The Team seems to attract the kind of parents that yell at other kids or insult the umpire or threaten to fight people from the other team. I don’t know it The Team’s parents are suffering from the trickle down effect, where their bad sportsmanship comes from watching the coaches behavior and the behaviors the children are allowed to display.
I dunno. I know my husband and I have watched The Team, and prayed that our kid doesn’t get put on The Team. The Team seems to change every year but it always seems to be there. 
That’s why I suppose we feel we’ve been very blessed these last two year. Landon has played on very talented teams with fairly laid back coaches. I felt like he learned a lot both years and wasn’t pressured to be perfect, but pressured to work hard and do his best.
Landon, although he’s a decent ball player, is not going to be a super star player anytime soon. Our family really doesn’t want to eat, sleep, breath baseball and that’s pretty much what it takes to be that. I want my son to enjoy baseball. If he ends up being good enough for a college scholarship, I’ll be thrilled. If not, no biggie. I want him to learn sportsmanship, teamwork, and discipline…all things that can be taught in sports.
But is it worth playing if children aren’t learning these things? What if they are being taught the opposite? Is it worth having a kid that will get to play high school baseball in 8th grade, if he still stomps off the field in a fit when he strikes out?
I’m very competitive. I love sports, and love that my son shares that love. I love, love, love to win!
I love, love, love my son more though…and I hope we can stick with baseball and continue to have it be a benefit to him.
I hope he stays off The Team. I’d rather lose.
Communication
Posted by Bethany in Motherhood, Picturesque on June 10, 2009
Bekah is at that age. She has so much to say…and her vocabulary is increasing at amazing rates…but there’s so much we just aren’t getting.
All evening she’s been singing and singing and singing. Her song has all the same sounds and words, over and over…but we have no idea what it is!
She also has a tendency to run into a room talking at full speed, imparting all this wisdom to us, ninety miles an hour. No idea what that kid is talking about…but it’s pretty obvious she knows what’s going on.
Of course, she’s getting better at communicating. We are drifting into full sentences a little more each day. I’m pretty sure she’s been tattling all week. “Momma, Landon pushed here.” “Momma, Gabbie hit.”
And today, she came to me crying with her usual, “I fall down” except when I repeated it back she added a few details. “I fall, bed.”
“You fell?”
“No. I fall bed.”
“You fell off the bed?”
“Yes, I fall bed.”
Of course, most of our talk seems to be focused around injuries or how everyone in the house is mistreating her. You know, if I take her to the potty she screams for daddy. “Momma mean!” If he takes her, well, I’m the one she wants. And no, potty training isn’t going too well.
All this blabber turned talk is exciting…in a very bittersweet way. I love that we are sometimes communicating, yet it’s also frustrating when she’s annoyed that her ideas aren’t making it across to us. It’s also much louder in the house these days.
But mostly the bittersweet comes from one main idea… my baby is growing up.
I love it, and I don’t. I can’t decide.