The Dirt Baby

Another thing I love about Bean Dip's school is the projects they do. Every month has a theme, and they do projects that correspond. This month they are learning about plants/sprouts and baby animals.
When I picked him up from school on Mar. 10, he had made this dirt baby to bring home. However, for some reason, Bean Dip kept saying he didn't make it, and the "Other Lem" made it. (The Other Lem sometimes comes to visit -- an imaginary friend, perhaps?) BD didn't even want to bring it home. But we did. And it's been sitting on the window sill since.

Week One

Week Three

See? The dirt baby has hair. It got a little squashed when it leaped off the window sill, but now it just looks like Calvin hair. Also added to my window sill collection is a bouquet of flowers Bean Dip picked for me when he and Win went exploring this weekend. They survived Win's pocket and are happy in a shot glass of water. And this week, Bean Dip planted a flower at school and brought it home. We are going to plant it in our little garden.

Thunder Chicken

Win's first turkey, killed Mar. 27. It weighed 18 pounds. We smoked a breast on the grill for dinner, and it was fantastic.

Piney Woods Art Festival

On Saturday, I took the family to the Piney Woods Art Festival in Enterprise. This stems from the conversation Bean Dip and I had the day before. It's funny how each family member can have a completely different experience at the same event. Win was dragging his feet because he didn't get much sleep and didn't like the idea of a small town art festival. After a Boy Scout hot dog and seeing some vintage cars and trucks, he ran into some friends, and I think he at least didn't hate it. Bean Dip was all excited about finding a volcano or tornado painting, but didn't like the idea of stopping to look at each booth. Also, he was upset about his hair getting wet from the rain sprinkles. I think he might have been too hot, too -- he insisted on wearing his jeans and long-sleeved helicopter shirt (it was at least 80 and super humid from the storms). And Baby G, well, we went right at nap time, so I thought she would be a little grumpy. But five minutes' sleep in the car, and she was ready to go. She ran up and down the track (the booths were situated around the track at the community college), stopping to read the booth numbers (every one was a "two"), and waving to everyone. The art was interesting, the bluegrass music fantastic, and the food pretty yummy. I had fried green tomatoes for the first time. At a wood carver's booth, we bought a wooden helicopter for G and a kid's bow and arrows for Bean Dip.

Both kids fell asleep on the way home, and Win and I both got to take a little nap when we got home, too. I don't think that has ever happened before.

Friday Night at Dinner ...

... Bean Dip started drawing in his ketchup with his finger. Then we had this conversation:

BD: Mama, I'm an artist.

ME: Oh yeah? That is very cool. You know, there is an art festival tomorrow, would you like to go?

BD: What's an art festival?

ME: It's a festival where artists show off their work, and if you like it, you can buy it.

BD: Well, maybe if there is a painting of a volcano or a tornado, I would like to buy it.

ME: You know, Oma is an artist. And maybe you could ask her to paint you a painting of a volcano or tornado. Then you could pay her.

BD: I could pay her!

ME: How much would you pay her?

BD: Hmmm. Sixty-nine dollars!

ME: Do you have 69 dollars?

BD: No.

ME: Well, maybe you could trade her something for the painting. What could you trade for it?

BD: I could paint her a painting of spaceships and give it her! Let's call Oma right now.

We are currently working out the details for our commissioned work by Oma.

Happy Friday

Is it Me or Her?

I'm not sure who's behind this shoe obsession. This picture doesn't include her winter boots, which she was just wearing the other day. She definitely has a thing for shoes, though. We went to Target, and the minute we hit the baby girl shoe aisle, she started reaching for shoes and yelling, "Mine!" That's how we ended up with the pink Mary Janes.

Spring Break

Our attempt at a family photo.

The last day of their visit, we went down to Florida for a day at the beach. It is the middle of spring break, but we avoided Panama City and instead went to Destin. We attempted to go to the Eglin Air Force beach, but for some reason it is closed until April. I guess the Air Force doesn't support spring break. So we spent about an hour at the "alternate" Air Force beach, a strip of sand under the bridge. Not too bad, but not great. We went to lunch (fish tacos) and ended up at Henderson State Park Beach. It was beautiful. The kids just ran and ran and ran.

For dinner we met Alex and Venusja (and Shy Guy) in Seaside. We ate at Crush, a tapas/sushi type bar place. We sat outside, and I had the flat-iron steak with shallot jam. I had to fight the kids off, it was so delicious. They weren't fans of their hummus crostini, but milk and ice cream filled them up.

We drove home late, but the way was lit by the supermoon. We were all a little pink from the sun, except for G, who is just tan. We spent Sunday recovering from the busy weekend.

Mandatory Visitor Field Trip

On Friday, we took our visitors to the Aviation Museum. The aunts got to see the inside of the Chinook, and get an idea of how big it is. Of course, the kids ran around all over the place.

Bean Dip explaining why he wants to fly the Apache - it has sweet guns and missiles.

For dinner, we went to Miyori's Japanese restaurant in Enterprise. The only ready seats were at the hibachi table. We weren't planning on doing that, because of the kids, but we didn't want to wait. It worked out great, though. Bean Dip freaked out a bit at the flare-up of flames the chef starts with, but after that he really enjoyed it. He also ate a lot of food. It was pretty entertaining.

Enjoying the show

Parent Involvement

One of the many things I love about Bean Dip's school is its monthly "parent involvement" days. We have had field trips, parties, and on St. Patrick's Day, kite flying. The weather was beautiful and the wind was blowing, and everyone had a blast. What made it even more exciting for Bean Dip was that his three aunts (Jessica, Collins and Macon) and his cousin (Top), were visiting and got to come fly kites with him. And as an added surprise, Win was able to come too.

Bean Dip impatient for his Star Wars: Clone Wars kite to fly.

Top

Flying his kite

Macon in charge of Top's Toy Story kite.

Even Baby G got a chance to fly one.

Bubble, Bubble, Bubble Time

My other fashionable dresser. He started out with shorts and a T-shirt, then added the rest later because it was before 8 a.m. and not yet 50 degrees out. But he is a dedicated bubble puncher and had to get his practice in.

The Fashonista

In the course of a day,
she went from this,

To this.

Suri better watch out.

Happy Friday

Family Day

Yesterday was "Go to Work with Win Day." Also called "Family Day." The weather didn't cooperate, so we didn't get to see any flying or even a Fox model. But we went to the flight line and visited Win's classroom and met his classmates and teachers (Instructor Pilots). There are only six people in his class, down from the original eight. So it's a small group. We had pizza and soda, and then listened to the daily briefing. Then they did a slide show just for the families, explaining how cool the Fox is. They also showed us some really amazing videos. Bean Dip even asked a couple questions (he was the only one!). He asked, "What direction does a Fox model fly?" and "Can helicopters fly in thunderstorms?"

We waited around for a while, hoping the weather would clear so we could go outside to see a Fox. It kept thunder and lightning, so we ended up getting to see the inside of a Delta model that was in the bay for maintenance. We got to sit in the cockpit, which was really cool. Bean Dip was quite at home with all the buttons. I was pretty nervous with Baby G, though. She wanted to climb all over everything and grab the one red tag she wasn't supposed to. A helicopter isn't exactly toddler proof. And I felt like all the maintenance people were watching us. Well, actually, they were.

Hopefully, they'll have another family day later on in the course so we can see some actual flying. But it was very cool to see Win's workplace.

Trail Mix Cookies

So yesterday, I did not get around to making a King cake. Instead, I made Trail Mix cookies. I made them for the first time on Sunday. (Bean Dip said he could help, even with an injured finger. He said he was OK to pour stuff G helped by taste-testing all the ingredients.) They are amazing, and I think my new favorite cookie. Plus, because it is a vegan recipe, I can pretend that they are a health food and eat as many as I want.

Here is the recipe. I did not make it vegan, because I'm not a vegetable. I used real butter, skipped the raw sugar, used sweetened coconut (that was all I could find), and left out the flax seed (because I didn't want to buy a big bag just to use two tablespoons). The second time around, I left out the chocolate, and I think I like them better that way.

Try them, they are delicious!

Thanks, Samantha, for sharing the link!

Tickets to the Gun Show

On Saturday, Win and Bean Dip had a boys day out with Win's hunting buddy, Rocky. They went to the gun show. They didn't come home with any guns, but they did get one knife each. They are both really proud of them - they were handmade by a guy from South Carolina.

Anyway, BD was really excited to use his, and kept asking when he could help me cook. Sunday, I made venison stew, and I needed help with chopping all the vegetables.

Well, this is a real knife. Not a dull plastic one he is used to using when he cooks with me. We have tried a real knife before (also dull), and that ended when he nicked himself. So ... with a little apprehension, we started. There was a lot of "Be careful! That's a real knife!" from me, and a lot of "I know, Mama! I can do it!" from BD. I knew he could do it, because we have been practicing a lot with the plastic knife, and also because he is very good at fine motor things. But ... he's also three. So I knew it was coming.

While quartering mushrooms (I try to work in math whenever I can now, since it was such a hard subject for me), it happened. He sliced his little middle finger. It wasn't serious, but there was blood and tears. But he survived, and was happier after he got a Bandaid. A little life lesson. (I think we might stick to the plastic knife for a little while longer, unless he insists on using his real one. Gotta hone those chopping skills.)

And what did Baby G and I do while the boys were off drooling over guns? We had our own little girls only shopping day. Nothing fancy, just a trip to Target (without a list!), and then out to lunch. G came home with a new pair to shoes, and I got some new workout gear.

Buona Festa della Donna and Bon Mardi Gras

First, Happy Woman's Day! It's an international holiday, and in Italy, they celebrate by giving women bouquets of Mimosa flowers.

Also, happy Mardi Gras! We are not doing anything to celebrate. Except ... I am thinking about attempting to make a King's Cake. Even though we aren't in Louisiana, we are in the South, and I'm thinking it might be a nice tradition to start with our family. Plus, it looks delicious.

If I do make it, I will follow this recipe.

Picnic!

If You're Going To Ask

Of all the questions a non-military - civilian - person can ask a military spouse, this one takes the cake. I've been asked it many times, but to be asked by someone on post promoting family counseling for families (an Army service), is really, really irritating.

"Do you think he will be deployed?"

Don't ask this question. It's stupid. For so many reasons. First of all, I don't think he will be deployed, I KNOW he will be deployed. As long as we have troops overseas, there's an almost 100% chance he will be deployed at some point. Second, don't give me that "I pity you" look when you ask. It's insulting. If you asked me a few questions first, you'd realize that yes, deployments suck, but they are a part of our life. They aren't good or bad for us, just life. And we absolutely knew what we were getting into when he joined. (And another thing, if he is about to be deployed, I do know, but I'm not going to tell you. I don't know you.)

So, I give you my suggestions for appropriate questions to ask a military spouse you meet on the street. Ones that won't offend the spouse and won't make you look like an idiot.

1. "What does your spouse do?" (You'll find out something interesting, and probably learn something too. )

2. "How long has he been in?" (The other question people ask is "When will he get out?" What most people don't realize is that there are a lot of people who make a career out of this. So if the spouse says he's been in more than 4-6 years, that means he's most likely already re-enlisted. And he probably likes his job. AND it also means that most likely he's already been deployed at least once. )

3. "Has he been deployed?" (A much better question than the stupid one. Once again, you'll learn something.)

4. "Do you like the military lifestyle?" (Ask me this! I will tell you I like it! Yes, I will tell you it's hard, but it's also super cool. My husband flies giant helicopters, I get to stay home with my kids, and we get to live all over the world. It is an adventure.)

Here's the other thing, if you meet a spouse who does NOT like the military spouse lifestyle, I guarantee you will know almost immediately. They will complain. So ...

I hope this helps.