Summer Library Reading Kick-Off

Today, we went in separate directions for the summer reading program.  It was bound to happen, especially when you have middle school kids and one going into kindergarten.

Michael and I dropped Tera and Daniel off at chess.  They even signed themselves up for the teen reading program...sniff sniff.  

Michael and I headed to sign up for the children's department program and to do their kick-off activities--face painting, little games and a children's program.  

It was a bittersweet experience, but a natural one.

Museum of Appalachia---Take 2

Carving of Mark Twain-His father's cabin is also located on the grounds.  

The "museum" is out of this world.  There were probably hundreds of thousands of items in this space.  The Display Barn houses tools of all kinds (two stories).  We spent the majority of our time in the Hall of Fame.  You could wander around in here for literally a whole day and still not see/read everything.  

Just a couple of the unique instruments!

JP and I actually saw Bill Monroe in the Nashville Airport a couple of weeks before he died.  I recognized him immediately, but he looked so tired that we didn't approach him.  I'm not sorry that I didn't. 

I think this little kitty wanted to go home with us, he/she actually tired to climb in the car at one point. 

Museum of Appalachia--Take 1

We were looking for an outing over Memorial Day weekend and decided on the Museum of Appalachia in Norris, TN (north of Knoxville)  We were so impressed that we upgraded to a year's membership for only $18 more than our admission.  You would definitely need to spend at least 4-6 hours just looking at all the things on display.  We skipped two whole buildings that we plan on starting with next time.  

 
"Renda", my mom's unique name!

Daniel trying to get as close as he can to the animals!

 When you gotta go...you gotta go! 

There's room for two!

Worship leaders..."What a fellowship...what a joy divine..."

"Let me outta here!"  (While his sister plays the jailhouse blues on her air harmonica.)

New Favorite Recipes

Creamy Cabbage and Potato Soup

I substituted some half and half that I needed to use up for the milk which yielded a very rich and creamy soup.  It was a hit with everyone!

Fried Ice Cream Dessert 

Not only is this an awesomely-delicious-great-for-summer recipe, but it's a great way to introduce younger children to cooking.  Michael helped with crushing the cornflake topping and cutting the butter.  He was so happy to wear his apron.  

Easy Baked Taquitos

Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joe

The key to this recipe is to broil the buttered tops of the buns until toasty and the cheese melts over the cheesesteak mixture.  It's awesome!

Pepperoni Pizza Pull-Apart Bread

Easy and yummy!

Do you have any new favorite recipes?  Please share in the comments below!

Peacocks

Funny kid stuff....

I found this list of funny kid stuff in my drafts folder and thought it would be wrong not to share.  Some old...some new...in no particular order. 

What started out as teaching Michael to say: "My compliments to the chef" turned into this: 

"My compli-pants"  "no, no com-PLA-ments" -  and ended with "My com-PLA-ments to the pants"  and raucous laughter over breakfast!

Michael calls dandelions, "Daniel-lions".

LarryBoy has "super uction ears"

Tera drew an Easter picture and told Michael, "Jesus died for you, so you don't have to die". Michael said: "Yay, I'm free!" I think that sums it up on this Good Friday

I reminded my son not to take things from his sister...I mentioned the word stealing. He said "I looked it up earlier in the dictionary and it said stealing was taking something with the intention of keeping it. I wasn't planning on keeping it." And I thought the kid didn't know how to use a dictionary. ;)

On vacation, I looked at Michael and said:  "Someone needs a nap!"  He replied, "You!"  Not quite what I had in mind, but he was right---I did need one, too! 

Michael says, "I love my stuffed animals. Not like 'hubba-hubba' love, but like friendship love."  

4 actual walks in one week! As we were huffing/puffing up a hill at the trail near the library, Michael said, "I'm glad we don't smoke!" Me too, buddy...me too!

Watching the road being paved is a big deal today...dog barking, floor shaking, kids entertained watching all the machines. Michael commenting on how smoking isn't good for the workers' lungs. Such excitement!

  

Tera made dinner and breakfast for tomorrow. So thankful for a child that takes up my slack on days when I'm not quite up to the whole she-bang. She totally rocks!!!

It's so nice when your kids make fun of you getting all choked up while watching Little House on the Prairie. I can get my own tissues, thank you very much!

Tera looks at me all confused when I'm telling her to hit "return" while she is typing something. She's like "Return? Where is that?" Oh yeah, return was back in the olden days. Return=Enter, young whippersnappers

Some of Michael's mispronunciations and funny sayings:

Lasagna--"Basagna"
Tetrazzini --  "tetrazany"
Practice-- "prabtice"  
Feliz Navidad--"police dabida"

He saw a picture of an egg and said..."Is that the egg the goose pooped out it's butt?"  (Oh my!) 

I asked if Michael was scared while he was watching a movie...He said "I'm not scared cause I'm not in the movie...Woody's scared cause he's in the movie"

  

A Little Water