Some things just aren't right.

I'm putting this out for a vote, mostly because Andi is at work and not looking over my shoulder as I type this (how would YOU like that?)

Lately, Andi has been cooking "creatively". Now, for those of you who know Andi this is nothing new. She has been leaving ingredients out or substituting ingredients for years. One time she substitued 2 sticks of butter for 1 in double delicious bars. First time I've seen cookies float. One time she substitued flank steak for cubed steak when making chicken-fried steak. It was........chewy. Sometimes she just leaves ingredients out all together.

Recently she aquired a book that is all about sneaking healthy foods into things you cook, so that your family unwillingly digests things that are good for them. Oh goody.

We've had chicken nuggets that used sweet potato puree in the batter. Fine. I ate that. We've also had macaroni and cheese that had squash puree in it. Okay......they're both yellow. I gave it a shot. We've even had a soup-of-sorts that was made with carrot puree. Now see, I don't think I'm being picky here when I say that carrots are best they are cleaned, finely chopped and then buried in a yard miles away from my house. Don't like 'em.

Yesterday, we had banana nut bread. I agreed to try it without knowing what the secret ingredient was. I took two bites. Not bad. No weird after-taste. No weird coloration. Tasted like banana nut bread. So I ask for the secret ingredient to be unveiled. "If I tell you what's in it will you still eat it?" says she. "Why wouldn't I? It tastes normal to me", says I.

"Cauliflower."

So I return my fork to my plate.

"You're not going to eat the rest of it!?"
"No."
"WHY?!"
"There's cauliflower in there."
"BUT YOU CAN'T EVEN TASTE IT!!!"
"But I know it's in there."
"You're serious?"
"Yep."

So, I ask our fine blog-reading community- Should there, or should there not be cauliflower in banana-nut bread? And ladies- to be fair- don't just weigh in yourself. Ask your husband as well.

For myself, I choose to remain firmly in the "no cauliflower ever of any kind in any food hidden or not" camp.

Words of Wisdom

Carson: My head hurts.

Uncle JD: Why?

Carson: Because my brain is so big it makes my head hurt.

Gotta love the honesty and lack of humility in kids.

Thursdays Thoughts

The trouble with this world is too many blessings and too little appreciation.

Artist: Don Henley
Song: My Thanksgiving

Second Post for 2008 - Just for you, Celeste :-)

Calleigh performing Oxygen by Colbie Caillat. Lyrics are creatively interpreted by her four-year-old mind. Just turn your head to watch :-)





Now for the actual lyrics to Oxygen by Colbie Caillat:

I came apart inside a world made of angry people
i found a boy who had a dream
making everyone smile
He was sunshine
I fell over my feet
like bricks underwater

how am i supposed to tell you how i feel
i need oxygen
oh baby let me be your lady
i will make you happy
never gonna leave, never gonna leave
oh baby can i be your lady
i am going crazy for you

you dont wanna keep me waiting
staring at my fingers feeling like a fool

Top 10 Observations from last nights Van Halen Concert-

#1. I can't remember how many times I've seen VH.
#2. I wore a 22 year old concert t-shirt.
#3. I went with my 22 year old friend.
#4. My friend does not know any VH songs.
#5. The Mullet was out in full force.
#6. David Lee Roth looks........wrinkled.
#7. Eddie Van Halen has a son named "Wolfgang". Dang. Why didn't I think of that?
#8. The song "Hot For Teacher" doesn't really make sense. But who cares?
#9. There is such a thing as too much guitar.

and Number 10-

If the saying is true- "If it's too loud, you're too old".........I'm too old.

Do these jeans make my butt look big?

Did you ever wonder what the world looks like through the eyes of a 4-year old? Well, wonder no more. This is it. This is what happens when you go to Disney World and buy your 4-year old a "High School Musical Digital Camera." Out of 47 pictures, half of them are of people's...posteriors. A good many more are of Carson and a number of them are blurry and distorted. Visually, that's her world right there. Bottoms, Carson and crap she has no clue what it is. Made me laugh. And also thankful that I was pushing the stroller.

Sunny Florida?

Back in January of this year, Michael told me that this was going to be the year of change for us. He was not sure what that change might entail, but he had a feeling that our world would turn upside down and inside out. Looking back on this year I can see the changes, however small or big they may be. These changes are all little detours that God has put along our path in life. Even my little Pollyanna outlook on life has been tested through each detour, but I remain confident in my God who has a plan and desires my heart.

I really believe that God is preparing us for some major life changes, and He has slowly taken me through some baby step changes this past year. Watching two of my most beloved friends move away, seeing some of my kiddos best playmates from school and church move to different states, experiencing changes with a long-stable employment for Michael, are all some of the baby steps.

Most recently Michael and I were invited to travel to Fort Lauderdale to scope out the area and begin discussions for a possible job transfer. I had the rare and wonderful privilege of sitting on the beach (in my swimsuit in 80 degree weather in December!) and quietly reflecting for 6 hours straight. I am always closest to my Savior when I am around nature, especially the ocean and the mountains. I listened to some sermons and prayed and just sat. I never get to just sit. What I have come to realize is that no matter where God takes us, I will go. Like Jeff said today in his sermon, worship requires sacrifice. Worship is not just singing and playing music. Worship is living and living for God in all aspects of my life. The safety and the security and familiarity of my life here in Texas might require a sacrifice as we seek God's plan for our family, and I know that in committing to that sacrifice I will worship my Lord. Who knows where God will send us - whether it be sunny Florida (please, no!) or sunny California (could definitely do that) or excessively hot Texas (always a good thing). Wherever we end up, I will worship.