Category Archives: Around Town

Blessed busyness

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“Blessed is the person who is too busy to worry in the daytime & too sleepy to worry at night.” ― Unknown

That pretty much sums up my life since the last post. Here are some of things that have been keeping the clan busily blessed lately.

An excited Houston poses with brothers in front Pilot Mountain, one of the grand views from Mountain Top Youth Camp, where Houston recently spent five days & four nights.

“Old age is no place for sissies.” ― Bette Davis

The brunt of our packed schedule has to do with my going to a chiropractor. This has been a treatment I’ve wanted to try ever since my attempts at physical therapy back in 2012 didn’t bring about the desired results. Sure, I’m not Methuselah old, but it does seem as though my body has aged well beyond its years.

If you recall, I have a bum left hip, a labor-and-delivery injury which has only become exacerbated since Houston’s birth way back in ’07. And because the left side of my body is now shorter than the right, the pain and lacking mobility has just spread in and around that area.

Then earlier this year, I experienced two short episodes of frozen shoulder in my right shoulder, so the manifestations of the original impairment even go beyond my left side, interestingly. This sudden pain was so intense the first time that I nearly fainted … totally freaked out Stephen.

With eye on the ball, & lucky socks & “sliding pants” on, Houston swings his heart out @ his final baseball game for the A’s!

Then a couple months ago, a new, not-so-fun pain seized both sides of my entire lower back. This wasn’t the normal tight, sore, rigid discomfort I was used to; rather, it felt more internal and much more disabling.

In fact, the pain kept me from sleeping in the near-comatose state to which I’m accustomed. I munched on ibuprofen and used a heat pad at night till the mystery pain abated a couple days later.

So, once CC wrapped up in April, I immediately began visiting a chiropractor twice a week for the first three weeks, currently once a week until late June, and then eventually once every 4-6 weeks. Needless to say, this can get fairly complicated when you stay home with three boys.

Luckily, Dr. Darcy doesn’t mind if clients bring their kids to her office. So I’ve been juggling my visits between this option and lunchtime appointments on the one day a week when Stephen works from home (so that I can arrive on time at the pregnancy care center for my volunteer work).

Zeke starts into his trademark home-plate dive. Go, Z!

Now that things are slowing down a bit with Darcy, I’m also going to a PT for dry needling. Sounds scary, I know, but it’s simply the insertion of a thin filament needle (the same kind used in acupuncture) into the “trigger point” of muscle to reduce tension and pain, as well as facilitate and accelerate rehabilitation.

Sure, my calendar is crazy, but the care I’m receiving is such a blessing. Plus, my diagnosis is that my varied physical problems are simply side effects of the original injury. So, treating the source will (eventually) aid in healing all the related maladies. Thank you, Lord!

“The education of a man is never completed until he dies.” ― Robert E. Lee

Just because CC’s done doesn’t mean that we’re still not schooling. In classic Dillingham style, we’re still playing catch up a bit. Only a few more lessons left to fully complete the twins’ kindergarten and Houston’s first-grade curriculums.

Good buddies Gabriel & Jackson chill beside Badin Lake during our camping adventure in the Uwharrie Mountains in late April. Such sweet, big-hearted boys!

But we’re also trying to get ahead, as well. In fact, Miss Christie and I are co-teaching a spelling program. We get together on Mondays for one of us to lead the new lesson, and then our kids do the twice-a-day daily practice at home over the course of the week.

This particular spelling method is pretty time consuming, so I’m pleased that we’ll be getting some of this under our belts this summer. As usual, my crew started out painfully slow (myself included) and a bit hesitantly, but we’ve now gotten into the swing of things.

But more importantly, it’s working. I even heard the 3 Amigos playing a spelling-bee game at bedtime the other night and nailing the words! Imagine the pride felt when a young child masters the spelling of Arkansas or Connecticut or Illinois. Very cool indeed.

Gabriel, Piper & Zeke take a break from pelting huge rocks into Badin Lake … must bust some funky Jagger moves!

“There will come a time when you believe everything is finished. Yet that will be the beginning.” ― Louis L’Amour

The boys finished up baseball a couple weeks ago. The schedule was quite hectic, with two practices and two games every week, but it was well worth the effort.

The 3 Amigos’ skills improved drastically over the course of season. Daddy says Houston got better all-around, but especially at catching consistently. The twins progressed in their throwing abilities, and Zeke improved at stopping grounders and Gabriel at hitting. The season might be over, but the b-ball seed has been firmly planted.

So thanks, Daddy, for taking the boys to every practice and game; for coaching them at home; and for watching MLB games with them to impart knowledge about pop-fly balls, fouls, how to read a strike count, the myriad of ways to get out, and other “inside baseball” stuff!

Despite the chilly water & reported sightings of water moccasins, Daddy, Gabriel & Houston take advantage of Mr. Logan’s kickin’ kayak during our weekend in the Uwharrie Mountains.

The kids also recently finished up Awana, their weekly Bible study which began last August. Gabriel and Zeke memorized about 65 verses of Scripture over the course of the program, and Houston learned 75-plus!

I love that I have my Wednesday evenings back … that is, for a while. Awana was (and is) such an incredible blessing that I will be certain to carve out time on my calendar for the next round. Nothing is more important than the boys continuing to build a solid foundation for knowing Christ.

“To serve is beautiful, but only if it is done with joy & a whole heart & a free mind.” ― Pearl S. Buck

Another thing that is easy to commit to, but sometimes difficult to execute, is my volunteerism at the pregnancy care center. It’s truly a hassle for Stephen to work remotely once a week, so that I can be on-time for the abortion-recovery Bible study. But he does it willingly and lovingly, and I am grateful for that.

Houston proudly displays his hard-earned Awana ribbon w/ his leader, Mr. Jeff, & best friend, Asher. Way to go, big bro!

Twice now I was supposed to be the lead facilitator of the class, and the client was a no-show. I know the study is about her growth, her relationship with God, and her ultimate forgiveness and peace. But honestly, that does bum me out a little.

That’s life, though. I know it will all play out in God’s good time. And when I am fortunate enough to eventually be the facilitator of this incredible Bible study, I know, too, that He will equip me for the task. Jesus keeps me strong and focused, and for that I am so thankful.

“Fun is good.” ― Dr. Seuss

Of course, loving and learning isn’t all about practices, classes, and school. We’ve also had a healthy dose of get-dirty, skinned-knee, gapped-tooth fun lately.

  • Mountain Top Youth Camp: Houston just returned from his first-ever camp experience. The first thing he said when I picked him up was, “I want to live here, Mommy.” ‘Nuff said.
  • Biking with the big boys: Back in mid-April, Houston finally mastered the art of biking sans training wheels. And surprise, surprise, Gabriel quickly followed suit by riding without his training wheels, in the grass last weekend and then on pavement yesterday!
  • Just a swangin’: Zeke, who is always more cautious than his twin, just decided to embrace swinging by himself. And until Zeke decides he is good and darn ready to take the next step with his biking skills, he’ll be content as can be with training wheels. Easy does it, Z.

Zeke’s newfound love of independent swinging also includes jaw-dropping dismounts. Way to go, 3 Amigos, w/ all your new physical skills!

  • Badin Lake: We camped with the J-Crew the last weekend of April. Other than a brief rain during tent set-up, the weather was perfect, there were no bugs, the kids were well-behaved and made lots of campground friends, and the adults got to enjoy some kid-free chill time around the fire.
  • Nearby outings: We’ve recently been to the park with Miss Jessie; to the Science Center with the boys’ CC pals, Grey and John Hunter; to the park with Houston’s CC class and their siblings; and to the home of Alex and Olivia, who are neighbors and CC friends, so that I could make an appointment. Thanks, Rissa!
  • More time with the J-Crew: To pay Miss Christie back for our kid-less trek to see Tom Woods, Stephen and I hosted Asher, Jackson, and Piper for a sleepover last weekend. It actually went amazingly well … other than the boys waking up at 4:30 a.m. Uggh.
  • Lost teeth: Gabriel lost his first tooth on 4/19, and has since lost another. Zeke has a few loose ones, but no visit from the tooth fairy yet.
  • Mother’s Day: Stephen and the kids treated me to a homemade breakfast and subsequent kitchen cleaned-up. Then they took me out to dinner for a feast of Korean cuisine.

Houston & a few dudes from his cabin crew (Parker, Isaiah & Schaffer) devour the last of the pop tarts before leaving MTYC.

Funny Mother’s Day story … I sent Zeke to the bathroom at the restaurant all by himself. First time ever, but I figured it was a small establishment, and we were virtually the only patrons there.

Turns out, the restaurant shares a far-away bathroom with many other businesses in the shopping center. Luckily, Zeke had the smarts to turn around at some point on his journey of long hallways, confusing intersections, and dead-ends, and come back to ask for help. Poor baby.

Funny related story … a couple weeks ago, I was dreaming that somebody was beating a drum. Or knocking on a door. “Hey, maybe I’m not dreaming and there’s someone at my front door,” I thought sleepily.

Turns out, that Zeke, who is always the first to rise, locked himself out of the house in the early morning. It was a nice day, so he said he just quietly sat out front for a few minutes.

Zeke & Gabriel don their achievement ribbons at Awana awards night. Great job, boys!

But once he realized no one was coming to open the door, he didn’t cry or scream or freak out. He just steadily rapped on the door till I awoke. That child might not be a dare devil, but thank God he has some common sense!

Random funny conversation … “When I get to heaven, I want to play chess with Jesus,” Zeke announced. “I bet Jesus will win,” Gabriel quickly responded. “No doubt,” Houston said.

Stephen asked the dudes, how do you say “hello” in Spanish? “Hoo-day!” Zeke answered confidently. Hmmm, we might need to work on the Español a bit more, ya think?! In the meantime, hoo-day is now working well as our replacement for butt and all of its derivatives, as they have been banned due to obnoxious excess and pointless overuse.

Carpe diem

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I’m finally seizing the day regarding a couple longtime goals of mine.

ARBS volunteering

First, I began volunteering at our local pregnancy care center in February. Sure, I’m just in the shadowing phase, but I’m so excited that the ball is finally rolling on this worthy work.

I actually took part in training more than a year ago and even shadowed once in early 2013, but then something happened, or didn’t happen. I’m not really sure of the details. But the miscommunication and/or mishandling last winter was just enough for me to get wrapped up in all my other to dos and tasks.

Looking back now, I firmly believe it was the devil trying to deceive me into giving up on this purposeful plan. After all, he is the great liar who relishes in our culture of death and brokenness, and whispers excuses into the ears of all who care about life. Well, I won’t get fooled again!

The mass amounts of snow Carolina got in February let the kids to do all sorts of extreme physical feats, like Zeke’s death-defying pipe jump!

As opposed to being an advocate for women experiencing crisis pregnancies, which was my original objective, the Lord has since called me to the abortion-recovery Bible study (ARBS), a 10-week class for women who are trying to cope with the trauma of taking the life of their own child or children.

Whether the abortion was recent or long ago, women are created with a maternal instinct. And when that bond is broken — voluntarily through abortion or involuntarily through miscarriage — the woman can feel the emotional repercussions of that loss for a lifetime.

Choosing to end your child’s existence is not a simple matter, despite what the mega-million-dollar abortion industry and the mainstream media would have us believe. It belies the nature of women’s physical bodies, it wounds their hearts, and forever tears at their psyches.

Check out Houston’s makeshift snowboarding skills. Sure, he’d never attempted it before, but no better time to try than when there’s a whiteout going down in the South!

It’s interesting that those who are the most vehement supporters of abortion are the very ones harmed most by the grand conspiracy (minus the unborn, of course). Such is the cunning nature of the evil one. Tricky SOB.

It’s a Stockholm-Syndrome mentality in which these social hostages (post-abortive women) exhibit an ardent and passionate defense of their captors (the abortion racket), despite the physical and mental abuse they’ve endured. It’s irrational. It’s emotional. It’s sad.

But it’s how some humans handle such suffering and stress. It’s a dejected survival skill that has created an army of willful victims, martyrs for the movement, and collateral damage for the cause, as well as a brigade of proponent apologists and foot-soilder equivocators too numerous to mention.

Gabriel knows that blizzards are also a great time to hang w/ a snowman, make snow angels, & eat snow cream & drink hot chocolate w/ friends!

Thus, my aim is to facilitate in the healing of those who have come to understand the magnitude of lost life and the subsequent struggles of living with that monumental decision. It’s an enormous task, but with God’s grace, it can be done.

I know people who have participated in abortion-recovery and they are proof positive of the redemptive love of God’s healing. The ARBS experience helps to open their minds to the truth and their hearts to God’s love and forgiveness, thus, washing away grief and anxiety.

Through repentance and ultimate acceptance of dark past deeds, these women have not only been freed from the shackles of suffering, but they’ve also gained a strength to want to aid others in their own spiritual restoration. And true peace can only be found through the life-sustaining power of the Gospel, which is at the core of the class.

I am so blessed to even have a chance to serve in such a role, and I look forward to every challenge, every revelation, and meeting every unique woman. If you would, please pray for the pregnancy care center and the incredible life-affirming work they do joyfully in spite of the cultural jeers, political hurdles, and social derision.

On a recent toasty, spring-like afternoon, Houston & Gabriel hike around Liberty Loop w/ Jackson the day after his first-ever sleepover; what a treat to be able to host our sweet friend for such a monumental occasion!

Mercy Hill community group

Second, I’m finally involved in a weekly Bible study, which our church calls a “community group.” It’s a co-ed thing that both Stephen and I can attend.

Do you remember the Wednesday morning women’s group I went to a few times late last year? Well, that ended up not working out.

See, that’s the same day as the kids’ Awana, and trekking into twice in a day (with rushed homeschooling sandwiched in between) was just killing me. Then it seemed like every other group I looked into also met on Wednesdays nights, right during Awana.

I was further frustrated because one of the main reasons we left our former church was because Stephen and I felt like we never really “fit” into the two groups we tried out there. And we gave it quite the noble effort, considering we attended that church for two years.

Zeke (Batman) thoroughly enjoys dress-up during our greatly anticipated playdate w/ his best CC pal, Matthew (Optimus Prime).

So, attending a group has been another longtime goal of both mine because I know being in community is a necessary step in becoming a maturing follower of Christ and an integral part of being in relationship with Him.

Plus, it’s a great way to fellowship with other church members, make friends, provide and get support, and just have fun. Really, Bible study is fun: thought-provoking, soul-cleansing, spiritual-strengthening fun. So, yeah, I’m so psyched to be plugged into a warm and welcoming group filled with genuine folks!

Some additional coolness is that our church reimburses us for childcare to attend Bible study. And we’ve secured Callie, an amazing gal we know from CC, for the weekly babysitting gig. So nice to have all those details are worked out, too.

Gabriel hangs w/ Eli, a buddy from both CC & Awana, during a birthday party for another CC friend @ Build-A-Bear!

Learning & loving

I ditched using the iPod timer during Houston’s independent lessons soon after trying out the time-management technique. The mere presence of the tech tool was simply too much of a distraction, not to a tad stressful for him, as well.

What I do now is casually time him myself. I don’t let him know the exact amount of time; that way, he won’t obsess about the clock. Instead, I set an amount that I think would be efficient for him and then usually tack on an extra five minutes or so.

I do sometimes have to gently remind him to stay on track and/or encourage him to avoid dilly-dallying. But so far, this mellower method has proven pretty successful — a welcome tweak since Houston can sometimes be the “Slow Poke Rodriguez” of homeschooling when left to his own devices.

One thing that does bother Houston on occasion is Gabriel and Zeke’s volume. Even when they are behaving, they’re just some loud little dudes. And because of the doorless set-up of our living room and kitchen, I felt I had to get creative, instead of cracking the whip. Being a drill sergeant gets old really fast.

I almost forgot this Rebeeler self-portrait snapped down @ the bottom of Liberty Loop during the first day of the big southeast snowstorm on February 12. Brrrrrrrr!

So, I bought some children’s headphones and now let Houston listen to classic music on my iPod when he does solo work. This has been so effective with big bro that Gabriel and Zeke like to take part in the symphonic solution to our often noisy “two-room schoolhouse,” as well.

Homeschooling is oftentimes difficult and thankless, but there is surely a pay off when you see your kids making a discovery, embracing a newly learned concept, or retaining some nugget of information you were sure they hadn’t even heard you discuss.

Then every now and again, they’ll say something that just makes it all worthwhile. Houston recently told me, “I want to homeschool my kids, Mommy.” So, unless he just considers home-education a good way to torture his future offspring, I think I must be doing something right.

Houston loves tickling the ivories! Miss Julie even told me how impressed she is of his comprehension of notes & their various key positions on the piano — something that’s quite evident on his newfound improvisations.

Other February notables

  • We hosted a Boycott-the-Bowl Party with the J-Crew. No NFL, politically tinged sports commentary, commercial mania, or half-time show around here … just eating chili and chilling out with friends.
  • The boys and I saw the play “Hans Christian Andersen Tales” at the High Point Community Theater with CC.
  • Daddy took the boys to see “The Lego Movie,” with which the dudes have been obsessed ever since. Everything is awesome!
  • The clan drove to Danville to have dinner with Lisa, who was semi-nearby for work. Great seeing you, sis!
  • Houston attended Miss Julie’s Valentine’s piano party. He performed two songs, including one he had just learned the previous day. Way to go, Houston!

Meet the Slow-Schoolers!

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First of all, let me wish everyone a happy early School Choice Week. And speaking of alternative education, you know there’s homeschooling, un-schooling, after-schooling and many other innovative options for a diverse population.

But I think the 3 Amigos and I have invented a new mode of learning. It’s call slow-schooling. See, most of the homeschoolers I know who have kids around the same ages as mine usually tie up their schooling by lunch.

Houston, Zeke & I hang w/ two of my oldest & dearest friends, Shelley & Ashley, during a chill Sunday afternoon get-together @ Gramsey & Papa’s.

Sure, many of those moms are morning people, which I am admittedly NOT, so we normally get a late start by comparison. If we get rolling with school by 9 a.m. (which is my goal), that is a momentous occasion for us.

First of all, the dudes are just some dawdling diners. Even when there’s excellent behavior, meals rarely take less than an hour. Now, the kids are usually hardily eating most of whatever I put in front of them, which I know is a huge blessing. No picky eaters around here!

Sometimes we even manage to incorporate learning into a meal, like listening to memory-work songs, reviewing Bible verses for Awana, reading CC history cards, or watching cool videos that relate to our current studies. That, of course, leads to talking. And more talking.

While in Richmond, Kara entertained the 3 Amigos with many creative & wild diversions, like this game of playing indigenous backyard tribesmen … and tribe-gal.

And questions. And more questions. And then further discussing the new learned info mixed with a healthy dose of inquisitive and creative “What would happen if?” queries.

There’s never a dull moment at the table. And I know I should appreciate our mealtimes since that’s actually the way eating is supposed to be: lengthy and engaging affairs, not hurried and quiet tasks.

And it’s at the kitchen table that we do about half of our schooling, while the other half takes place at desks in the living room — a house setup that includes no door between rooms. So even when teaching is going smoothly and the kids are working diligently, the mere volume of our school day is often be booming!

Needless to say, the dudes aren’t always as focused as I would like. Yes, that’s to be expected per the ages and gender (and human nature) of my kids, but their drifting ways can be an irritating time thief nonetheless.

Another dear pal, Angela, & my sweet cuz, Matt, strike a pose w/ Shelley, Ashley & Stephen during our hang time over the holidays.

To deal with Houston’s dilly-dallying, we make a list of his daily lessons on a white board. As he crosses off the completed tasks, the hope is that this visual tool will aid in motivating increased efficiency.

Houston also recently began using a timer for his independent work. I have to tread lightly on this one, though, since I certainly don’t want him to make mistakes or do poor-quality work because he feels rushed.

I haven’t seen a dramatic change in performance yet, but these efforts are still in the early stages. My hope is that these visual tools will simply lead to better time management as Houston matures as a student.

In his defense, Gabriel and Zeke’s loudness can surely be an impediment to concentrating. I mean, I’ve never been known for being soft and quiet, so I suppose much of this is in the genes. Then multiply is times 2, and school is quite often an ear-splitting affair.

To counter this, I’m now have Houston listen to classical music on the iPod during his solo studies. This genre shouldn’t be too distracting; plus, classical’s mathematical, so that’s a win-win.

Gabriel uses the walkie-talkies Santa brought to communicate w/ brothers during a chilly Liberty Loop adventure on Christmas Day.

Furthermore, Houston loves symphonic and orchestral music. He often requests Afternoon Classics when we’re riding around in the van. See, subsidized public radio does have some perks for the taxpayer.

And Houston and his bros are way into the compositions of John Williams and Klaus Badelt. Sure, it’s music from their respective movie soundtracks, Star Wars and Pirates of the Caribbean, but that’s still pretty cool.

In fact, these notable film scores have recently been the backdrop to most of the 3 Amigos’ dramatic interpretations of warfare spanning history, cultures, and even galaxies. It’s quite an intense thing to behold!

But even with some of these hopeful fixes, I’ve finally come to accept our plodding style. It’s just who we are: a first-grader, who is only 16 months older than the two pre-school students (who are actually being taught kindergarten material), and one organized-yet-“organic” home educator.

Embracing our uniqueness has been a gift. It not only refocuses my attention to the fact that doing things my own way and in a manner that meets the needs of each of my kids as individuals and me is one of the wonders of homeschooling, but it also helps me maintain a level of confidence that is essential as a homeschooling parent.

Christmas afternoon, Houston enjoys two of his favorite pastimes: assembling Legos & picking his nose. Boys will be boys!

Additionally, it allows me not to be so obsessed with the clock, thus, unlocking even more doors to those voluminous, but fleeting moments of bearing witness to my kids discovering, exploring and learning. It’s a beautiful thing.

Our slow-schooling style gives me greater opportunity to take part in the kids’ off-the-cuff discussions and debates, help foster their amazing realizations, and appreciate those seemingly little lessons that somehow morph into monumental ah-ha moments.

I thank God for calling me to take my family on the incredible journey of homeschooling and for ALWAYS equipping me for the intermittently bumpy, but always adventurous ride. Our school may be poky, but it’s never boring, and that’s just the way we roll around here!

The holidays in review

On 12/22, Granny came to visit for Christmas, kicking off the countdown to our yuletide celebration. That afternoon, we all attended Houston’s first piano recital. He played Jolly Old St. Nicholas confidently and without error. And considering that Houston was the first student perform makes his presentation all the more impressive!

Houston sits proudly w/ his amazing piano teacher, Miss Julie, after his very first piano recital in December.

This day also marked Houston losing another tooth … literally! This front, lower tooth came out during sleep the night before or at breakfast, but was never recovered. So even though Houston got dissed by the tooth fairy, Santa made up for it a few days later.

The dudes never wavered in their fervent belief in Mr. Claus. Before attending the J-Crew’s Polar Express Party on 12/21, Houston announced that Asher wouldn’t be able to “hear the bell,” thus, signifying his disbelief in in the jolly old elf, according to the movie for which the annual bash is named.

And the 3 Amigos continued unabated in their Santa convictions throughout out the holidays. Houston even said, “He can read my mind, Mommy.” Wow, not that’s dedication! It’ll be interesting to see what revelations Christmas 2014 will bring.

But Christmas 2013 was low-key and love-filled. The kids seemed to have a much greater appreciation of their few, but quality gifts than in years past, and we just had a wonderful time being with Granny, relaxing, and sharing in the joy that is the birth of our Savior!

This photo (taken by Houston) was the best pic we got of Granny during her visit. This shot was taken moments after she & I shagged to Christmas music, which just so happened to correlate w/ our Bloody Mary cocktails kicking in.

Granny left on 12/26 and we headed to Richmond the following day. It was our first time to stay at Gramsey and Papa’s new house, which is within a few-minutes drive of many close family members.

Meredith and Jacob, who live the farthest away, crashed at the new pad during most of our visit. And since Rick lives there, we got to hang with all those wild youngins a ton. Kara spent a few nights, which is always a delight for the 3 Amigos.

Casey and her fiancé, Garret, were in town when we arrived, so we were lucky to get to see them for one night. Dina, Lisa and Albert stopped by here and there, which is always a treat.

Then my folks let me invite over a few choice pals for a get-together one afternoon. It was so lovely getting to see Shelley, Angela, Ashley, and my cousin, Matt. Doing oyster shooters with family and old friends was a nice way to tie up our holiday travels.

Albert & Stephen get silly during our visit to Virginia. Hmmm, I wonder what’s in that cup Albert’s so gleefully drinking?!

My most audacious New Year’s resolution is to get something of substance published in 2014. Whether it’s news, opinion, advocacy or activism, it doesn’t matter to this journalist in need of a byline fix! (Please remind me of this goal next time you see me slacking.)

The next most challenging is to have a family music day at least once a month. Stephen and I haven’t played guitar consistently in years, so this will take some major motivation on our parts. But I think we’re ready to dust off his Martin and my Alvarez and get the jam on. And I know the boys ready to rock!

The easiest resolution is for Stephen and me to get more creative and bold in our home-cooking à la David Chang. Stephen is at the helm of this endeavor, of course, but I do serve an important role as shopper, sous chef, and occasional non-fancy cook.

This resolution came to fruition this past weekend when Lisa and Albert visited. My sister and brother in-law share a penchant for spicy, exotic, ethnic food. So, the centerpiece of their stay was a trek to an incredible international market in town and then preparing the sumptuous foods for an eating extravaganza Saturday night.

Stephen taught the 3 Amigos how to play chess during his Christmas vacation & the competition has been raging between the dudes ever since.

The Saturday-night meal included taro and peanut mochi, tamarinds, guava, sesame porridge, roasted duck with bing pancakes and Hoisin sauce, stir-fried pork bellies and rice … and Old-Bay-seasoned Carolina shrimp just for good Southern measure. Thanks for helping us out on this one, Lisa and Albert!

Other notable outings & festivities 

  • 12/23: Granny took the 3 Amigos to a bounce house called Monkey Joe’s;
  • 12/27: Daddy took Houston to his orthopedic specialist for the 6-month-post-elbow-break appointment, which turns out to be the final visit our well-healed boy!
  • 1/4: We attended Miss Jessie’s wedding to her handsome longtime beau, Mr. Joseph;
  • 1/6: The boys and I had playdate with our neighbors, Miss Shawn and Dixie, who we haven’t hung out with in ages;
  • 1/11: I accompanied Houston to his pal Corban’s birthday party, while Daddy took the twins to the Science Center;
  • 1/12: I had a well-deserved and fun girls-night out with Miss Christie;
  • 1/14: The boys and I celebrated our first day of CC 2014 doing pizza with the J-Crew and some of our other fave homeschoolers, Miss Kristin, and her boys, Eli and Briggs;
  • 1/15: Zeke had his first sleepover with friends (the J-Crew, of course) and all went well. They sure do grow up fast!