The First Slurpee In a Year

On Monday night I told the kids that we were taking them to swim with tropical fish and then took them to the local pool. Last night I told them that we were going white water rafting as a family. Even though I answered all of their questions (should we take our towels? Will they have life jackets for us there? Is it close to Bayport?), they still didn't guess that we were just going for another public swim.

The kids had another great time at the pool, but before heading home, we stopped at 7-11 for a special treat. Ella had just gotten her braces removed that day and we celebrated by letting the kids each get their own slurpee. Ella has been so patient this past year and really did a great job of looking after her braces. Heather didn't want to share a slurpee with me so I didn't get one. But maybe I'll wait for my own special celebration...

when I've made my last payment to the orthodontist.


(The pants in this picture were hand-made by Jewel for Mason when he was this age. Deacon loves them and we think they are so cute on him.)

- C

Deacon and the Egg

When Heather was making pancakes yesterday morning, Deacon picked up one of the eggs and started carrying it around. It looked cute to me, maybe because it is so fragile and not something that would normally be trusted with a three year-old.

I took him over to the front window snapped a few shots while he held it.















I'm really happy with how they turned out and have resolved to try using props again some time.

(Disclaimer - I don't mean to brag about my picture taking. I posted these pictures to brag about how my genetics have helped to produce such beautiful children).

- C

Happy St. Patrick's Day

I always associated this holiday with Shamrock shakes from McDonalds (Heather made some herself this year), but I had been missing out on some great Irish food.



Heather made a breakfast of scrambled eggs, deer sausage, and these green clover pancakes.





The kids and I worked outside raking leaves and tending to the raspberry beds. A hotdog roast may not be strictly orthodox, but it was fun and allowed us to burn up some branches from our pruned trees. Almost as soon as we finished lunch, Heather began preparing our St. Patty's supper.





I called our local butcher looking for brisket and was surprised to learn that he already had some made into corned beef. Heather boiled it for four hours and then cooked potatoes, onion, cabbage, carrots, and parsnips in the same pot.



We ate the meal with a fresh loaf of Irish soda bread and some of the apple juice we made last year. In summary it was a great day. I'm giving the blog another try precisely because I seem to forget these kinds of days if I don't write them down.

To be clear, Jewel does not get credit for our return to blogging.

- C