Cooking 101

Is it too early? Never too early. I am trying to plant seeds in to Makenna to be a good homemaker. She loves to cook so why not facilitate what she likes while she likes it instead of trying to teach her when she is older and not interested.

I was making a lasagna tonight and she begged to help. I told her to pull up a chair. She climbed up in the chair wearing the latest cooking attire, complements of Chloe her cousin, and was ready to offer a hand. I let her spread the meat in the bottom of the pan, though at first more landed on me and the wall than the pan. After a few refining techniques she succeeded in covering the bottom of the pan.

Makenna was also being a teacher as well. Can you see Maggie (Little People) watching her as she spread the meat mixture. Makenna gave her the play by play as she completed this delicate task. Maggie was a very good listener but we all agreed she was too young to help.

Next was the noodles but I did that part independently. Makenna tried but the noodles kept ripping them and eating them. So for fear that I would have to fix more I took over. She finished with the cheese. She was an expert cheese spreader. I was so proud of her attention to detail to make sure all the lasagna was covered evenly.

I hope I can teach her a love to cook, from scratch, for her family. But until then, for us now with help and on her own when she is older. I know it would be easier to do it on my own but then she will never learn and her poor husband may starve. Plus I love spending time with her and enjoying her company while completing tasks that have to be done. Here is to planting another seed.

"...that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed." Titus2:4-5 (emphasis added)

Snowberry Princess

It all started about a year ago when Makennas cousin Chloe had a princess doll that was dressed in a long white gown. Makenna was enamored by her beauty. Chloe said her name was Snow Fairy Princess. Makenna who tends to change words around renamed her Snowberry Princess. She played with that princess most of the time she was visiting Aunt Sherrie that day and for the next couple of weeks till the newness wore off. The story then picks up again when I took her to see The Nutcracker Ballet around Christmas time in 2009. When the snow fairy princesses came out she said, "Monnie look that is a snowberry princess. That is me." This was in turn followed by a friends wedding in December. We were in the church waiting for the bride to walk down the isle. The huge door flew open and there stood Ms. Ashley. YOu could hear Makenna gasp whe she saw her. She said, "Monnie she is a snowberry princess. I want to get married." Hold the phone little girl. The only men in your life till your at least 80 (LOL) is your daddy and God. Needless to say she has been perseverating on snowberry princess ever since Ms. Ashley's wedding and is about to drive us all nuts until.....

My gracious mother, whose heart is 10 times the size of her head, graciously offered to make Makenna a snowberry princess dress. I was overjoyed. She called about a week ago and said the dress was finished and that she would be sending in the mail. Makenna's anticipation was growing like a big green monster. Finally, it arrived today.

She opened the box from Nana and out poured "OOOO, AHHHH, Monnie it is beautiful." She immediately put on the dress and asked me to fix her hair so she could be a snowberry princess. She was beautiful, but reminded me of an Arabian Night horse rider with the way I fixed her hair. She pranced around the house happy as a lark, spinning and twirling. I had originally told her she may sleep in the dress but for the simple fact that I do not iron (only wrinkle free material is of God), I finally talked her into waiting till morning to put it back on.

Thank you mom for all you do. Even though you are miles away you are still so close to Makenna's heart. You touch our lives in such a special way that we could never repay no matter how hard we try. We love you soooooo much. Thank you Lord for a selfless Mom and Nana. And by the way Chris thinks you are the BEES KNEES!!

A great leader

So I woke up this morning with an extremely sore abdomen. I could not for the life of me figure out what was wrong. Then it hit me like a ton of bricks. On Monday at work I had to get re-certified in CPR on a computer dummy. I spent and hour and 40 minutes in there, thus the sore abs. All I can say is if you are an infant, I can save a life. If you are an adult, the compressions may be too fast, too slow, too deep, or too shallow so you might survive. Needless to say I know why my stomach is so sore.

Since my last update I had been on a hunt for a kids snuggie. Chris bought me one for Christmas and Makenna was beside herself to get one as well, "In pink monnie." I asked her where her money was and she said, " In my giraffe bank that I got from Nana at Christmas." Smart kid. So thus began the hunt. After many a Walgreens and a few Bed, Bath and Beyonds, the snuggie was found. Hers came with matching pink socks that are so big I can wear, but she did not seem to mind the growth hanging of the end of her foot. She was one happy and warm little girl. Now she and I wear our matching snuggies on the couch when we do quite time.





Maddax has been learning to walk but not with the intentional toy that promotes walking with wheels. No my little man is creative. He stands at either his leapfrog toy or the kitchen chair and proceeds to do a pelvic thrust to advance the object and himself forward. I know, he gets his weirdness from his father of course.





Kenna decided to play dress up yesterday and I found her preparing for the Nutcracker Ballet as she stated. I said where are your tights? She returned like this and I was left speechless.






Today during our family devotional Chris ended with a prayer for the people of Haiti. Makenna being her curious self asked about those people. We told her that there were a lot of hurt kids and mommies and daddies from an earthquake and that they needed our help. I asked her if she wanted to donate some money to those kids who were hurt and she said yes. She went and retrieved her Giraffe bank. Daddy told her whatever she decided to give he would match. She pulled out a $20.00. I was so proud of her. She gets her giving from her father. He is one of the most selfless givers I know always helping others in need. I am so lucky that he is the one God chose to lead our family.