Saturday, January 30, 2010

what do you feed a picky eater?

As an infant, Ian was a terrific eater. He'd eat just about anything you'd put in his mouth. 



Like all little ones he often got just as much on the outside as he did on the inside. 



While on baby food, he especially liked sweet potatoes and carrots - so much so that he turned orange! I've learned since then that too much carotene   http://www.wholesomebabyfood.com/orangebaby.htm will cause this. Unfortunately I think it may have scarred the child mentally.


As he grew older and moved on to "real" food Ian became a lot more selective about the foods he would eat. Basically the staples for him became - cereal, waffles, chicken nuggets, cheese pizza, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and, most importantly, macaroni and cheese. 


If you gave him food he liked, he was a happy camper.  I learned early on not to try and force him to eat things he didn't like. Have you ever seen a kid gag on applesause or green beans? Not a pretty picture. 



Here he is chowing down on waffles. Note the Power Ranger action figure next to the plate. 


There were many years that the boys really thought they were Power Rangers!



Andrew liked waffles too but then he liked just about anything. 


Grilling out is something we've always enjoyed, especially in the summer. For awhile we had a table and chairs for dining outside. Most of us like hamburgers on the grill - yum! But of course, Ian was having none of that. 


He would insist on this: Macaroni & Cheese Dinner,Thick 'n Creamyand it had to be Kraft, generic would.not.do.


Yes, macaroni and cheese at the barbeque! 



Hmmm, looks like the dress attire for eating outside is little more casual than it should be.  Really, who lets their kids eat in their underwear and no shirt? 


Thank goodness for our little All-American eater. Though he did have a peculiar way of eating the burger. 

I guess it's sorta like eating corn on the cob, there are two methods... back and forth like a typewriter or around like a watch hand, which appears to be Andrew's preferred method. 


It should be noted that Ian comes by his pickiness honestly. His cousin Joel is listed in the dictionary next to the word. He LOVES mac and cheese too.  At all the family gatherings Pat would fix a huge bowl of mac-n-cheese for the boys. 


I guess Ian never suffered from his "restricted diet" because he's always looked healthy and content. 


And fortunately for us all, he has gradually expanded on what he will eat. He and Joel have seen the error of their ways and now savor the taste of homemade macaroni and cheese. 


However.....


I still have to keep a couple of blue boxes on hand.

A Five-head

April 12, 1994: Last night in the bathtub Ian said "I have a forehead. When you're five, you have a five head."


it's true what they say, kids say the darnest things!

If you go by his reasoning, I am now the proud owner of a "fifty-two head" and today it definitely feels like it! I have had a pounding headache since I woke up this morning. Neither Tylenol nor caffeine helped....

nor did the surprise phone call from my baby


I know what my loving husband would suggest for a cure.


If he utters those words I might have to him a headache.

A man after God's own heart



Dale's journal February 14, 1994: Ian had a "Queen of Hearts" program at school on Friday. They went around the room and asked the kids to tell the name of one person they loved. Ian said, "God."

February 22, 1994: One day last week, Ian said, "when you're quiet, your heart goes to God."

Even at this young age Ian had his head and heart in the right place. So profound for a four year old.


We are so proud of him and his decision to go to Bible College. We know God has many plans for him.

Proverbs 3

 1 My son, do not forget my teaching, 
       but keep my commands in your heart,
 2 for they will prolong your life many years 
       and bring you prosperity.

 3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you; 
       bind them around your neck,
 
       write them on the tablet of your heart.

 4 Then you will win favor and a good name 
       in the sight of God and man.

 5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart 
       and lean not on your own understanding;

 6 in all your ways acknowledge him, 
       and he will make your paths straight.
 



How can you not love this face?


February 7, 1994

At church yesterday Andrew's Sunday School teacher asked him who his parents were. He said he didn't have any parents and that he walked to church.

Fortunately the teacher didn't take him at his word.

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Brotherly Love

From day one my boys have had a love/hate relationship.

When we brought Andrew home from the hospital Ian wanted to know "when is 'it' going home?"

There were times when I truly wondered if one was going to kill the other, but there were also the times when they played nice. Today they don't fight like they used to and I really feel like they are best friends.

From Dale's notebook - June 7,1993:  Andrew would not leave Ian alone on the way to school today. He kept pinching and hitting. Exasperated, Ian finally said, "I'm not putting up with this today!"  That sounds pretty funny coming from a three-year-old!



The boys look like they're ready to have some fun here. I actually remember this - the water was icy cold but they insisted that it felt good.



I also remember them fighting over the water hose. It was fun pouring the water in the pool but it was even more fun to turn the hose on your brother and hear him scream.


When that happens it seems appropriate to "accidentally" push little brother out of the pool, and then try looking completely innocent.  I'm pretty sure he was once again thinking "I'm not putting up with this today!"

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Drat, it's true....

I've spent several days going through all of the family photos and dividing them up, a stack for each boy. Today I finished and here's the results of my hard work

They say that new parents take tons of photos of their firstborn.


When number two comes along life is hectic, money is tight(er), and consequently fewer photos are taken of the second child.


Any subsequent children that come along will find the photo albums hold fewer and fewer photos of them. And a great number of their photos are actually group shots.








There is no diabolical plan to slight children, its just one of those things that happen. Each are equally loved and adored. Just be glad we still took some photos.



And to us, you're both still the cutest boys around!

Another Bag

I finished another felt bag. This one was a special order for my friend Delores.



She got a Kindle for Christmas and wanted a bag for carrying it around.



She didn't really specify what to put on it other than to say it would be nice if it was "booky."


 


I guess this one says "booky."  There is, after all, a book. 


Many of us have to wear these     
to help us read, whether it be an actual book, or an electronic version. 


And of course, it's always nice to have a steaming cup of hot chocolate on hand while reading



On the back I added something different this time around - a tab for closure. I think it looks rather cute!



I hope she likes it.

Sunday, January 24, 2010

A Night to Remember

This is my mother....

give her a little of this    

and this is what you get  

yes, she drug her youngest grandson out on the dance floor  

who knows what she's saying to him, 

obviously it's funny    

I think he's actually enjoying himself  ...  I know she is. 

I'm not sure about his brother though   

ahhhh, he's having fun too     

I think she's fading though   

yep, that's enough for one night. 


Thank you boys. 


You gave your Nonnie a night to remember and cherish. 


You made Mom's night too. 






ting....ting....ting

I know that many people see and smell things that bring back memories. Recently I've realized that sounds can do that also. There is a commercial currently playing that brings back memories from my children's youth.

ting....ting....ting....


Do you know what it is?


ting....ting....ting....ah, the musical sound of a baseball hitting a metal bat. Springtime and baseball. Little League....I miss those days.


Our boys started playing T-ball and played up through Pony League. There were times when it was really hectic juggling practices and games for two boys. And how can we forget the early season games when we practically froze to death and then the latter games when the heat was stifling and sun-burned noses were an every weekend occurrence.  Of course there were the in-between weeks where the weather was perfect.


As the first-born, Ian played the game first. He played T-ball in the Lawrenceville Rec league. T-ball has got to be the most fun to watch. All those little boys running around, trying to act like the big guys and not really having a clue what they are doing. And of course, half the fun was goofing around in the dugout and snack time at the end of the game.

Ian's first team was the Yankees. They only lost one game during the season and went on to win the title of top-ranked team in the league.


It was another whole season before Andrew began playing and by that time we had moved on to the Dacula League. Andrew's first team was the Braves.

I don't have a clue how much gum he has in his mouth!


At the end of the season he was one of three players to be selected for the All-Star team.

It's pretty obvious they let the kids pick their own numbers - 
whoever heard of a baseball player with that high of a number?!


After that year we decided we'd had enough of the over-the-top competitive rec teams,  the out-of-control-over-involved parents, and the never-ending fund raising events so we opted to change leagues again. This time we signed up to play at Hebron. This was a church-run league that was a top-notch, well run organization. There were over 1100 boys and girls playing baseball and softball. The fees to play were minimal, there was no fund raising, the teams started and ended every game with pray, and there was absolutely no tolerance for argumentative or out-of-control parents and/or fans.


We spent many happy years playing at Hebron.



This particular year Ian was a Marlin




and Andrew was a Met.



Every year Grandma and Grandpa would travel down for a game.

Ian and Grandpa are posing for the photo while Mom and Dad are intently watching Andrew play.


After a while the boys tired of playing and moved on to other things. I really wish they'd played a little longer but, to be honest, as parents we were a little tired too. Today Andrew will tell you that he wishes he'd stuck with it and one regret we have about homeschooling was that he didn't have the opportunity to play in high school. He's a natural when it comes to sports and we'll always wonder "what if?"

Meanwhile we'll just re-live the moment through the dozens of videos we took at the old ball field. And feel nostalgic every time we hear the "ting" of the season.