Reading

Lately, Max hasn't been able to get enough of books. It seems he would sit for as long as you would read to him. He points, he says something like "what's that?" at almost everything. Even when he knows what it is. He loves it. I love it, too. I didn't think he would be a kid that would like to read books considering he is SO busy all of the time. I never thought he would sit still long enough. He proves me wrong.

Here's Judd reading to Max before he left for work today. He was reading Max an Easter book while Max had on Christmas pajamas.

A Beautiful Afternoon

Sun.
A steady breeze.
A nature walk.
Snack time at the Yogurt Tap.
Swinging.
Sliding.
Laughing.
Finally all healthy.
Family time.
A beautiful afternoon

Brownie Baker

An Update

Where have we been?

I had the worst cold of my life - really - last week. I went up to PA for my grandmother's memorial. Which was so well done, but so very sad. I flew back on Saturday night so I could run the half marathon with Erin that I had trained 12 weeks for. I was up coughing most of the night on Saturday, but thought I could get through the half on Sunday morning. I picked Erin up, got all the way to the Start line and realized it just wasn't happening. So, I drove home very depressed. (Erin did great, though!). I was glad I didn't push myself because Sunday I still just wasn't feeling well. I called Judd's mom and she was up to our house that night to help me out on Monday.

Max started to run a fever on Monday. He was just not himself. On the playground after we picked Charlotte up from school, he came to me and wanted to be held. I picked him up and he just put his head on my shoulder - SO not Max. I was able to sleep on Monday afternoon and feel almost fully recovered. I'm not sure if this is a cold, or the flu, or what - but whatever it is - it totally wipes you out.

He has been running a fever pretty much ever since. It got to be between 103-105 most of the day yesterday and all of Tuesday night. Last night I spent the night on the couch with him - luckily he ended up sleeping some. He hasn't eaten hardly anything in a few days. He has been drinking some, and I was able to get some smoothie in him this morning. He seems to be doing better this morning, and I'm hoping he'll continue to improve throughout the day today. Fingers crossed.

I'm sorry that this is kind of a depressing post. But, it has just been kind of depressing around here. I'm surprised Judd even comes home to work when he has to face a couple of sickies. He has been awesome, by the way. He took last Friday off to take care of the kids so I could be with my family. Then, he has let me sleep through the night and dealt with Max. He has gotten up with him early in the mornings. He is so wonderful the way that he doesn't care if he comes home and the house is a wreck and dinner is yet to be determined. He just goes with the flow.

I'll leave you with a few pictures I found last weekend that I love. Someone was a photographer - I'm thinking it was my Grandpop. Every family needs one. Pictures mean so much when it's all you have left.

My mom and my Grammie - my mom is pregnant with me.


Why do grandparents find it so hilarious to give babies drinks they are not supposed to have?


My mom and my Grammie helping me learn to walk.


Grammie reading to me.

Grammie

My Grammie passed away on Monday, quietly in the afternoon. Some of my best childhood memories are the days spent visiting her - and my Grandpop's - house during the summers. Getting our nails painted, eating corn on the cob in the carport, having root beer floats every night, playing in the sandbox, picking strawberries - basically getting spoiled rotten.

When I think of my Grammie - there are many things I think of, but I always think of her "tea breaks". Each afternoon, at least when we visited her or she visited us, we would have a tea break. If she was visiting us, we would get home from school, sit around the table, eat cookies and drink tea. It seems like such a simple thing - but it was oh so special to us. One of the types of cookies we always requested were Welsh Cookies.

Charlotte and I had a baking therapy session today. Even though I've had the recipe since I got married, I have never attempted to make Welsh Cookies. Today, I dusted off the recipe. I found all of the ingredients, except currants - I used cranberries, and got to work. This recipe is actually great for little helpers because you use your hands to mix the dough rather than a mixer. Charlotte had a great time mixing and I had a great time telling her all about how her Great-Grammie was when I was little. I did have to get on the phone with Rachel to discuss the stickiness of my dough, but I added a bunch of flour and they turned out better than I thought they would - they are actually really good.

I hadn't had one of these cookies in forever. When I bit into one today I was immediately transported back to that carport. I can hear her humming. I can see her closed library book on the table. I can see her hands. I'll never forget her hands. Isn't it funny what some of your best memories are tied to?

If you want to make some cookies of your own, here's the recipe. Maybe slow down over the next couple of days and have a tea break with someone you love. If you southerners can't stand the thought of hot tea - I'm sure Grammie wouldn't mind if it were iced.



Welsh Griddle Cakes from Margaret "Peggy" Lutes

4 cups flour
1 cup sugar
3 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt

mix the above in a large bowl

Add: 1 cup butter - softened and cut in cubes. mix with hands until the butter is incorporated - small pebbles.
Add: 3/4 cup currants (I used chopped up dried cranberries today)
To Moisten: 3 beaten eggs beaten in one-cup measure; then add milk to make 1 cup

Toss with fork until evenly moistened. Roll out dough (I had to use A LOT of flour to do this) and cut into circles. (I used the top of a drinking glass to cut the circles - about 3" in diameter). Fry until brown in a lightly greased (with butter) electric fry skillet ( 325-350 degrees). 4 min. turn; 4 min. Sprinkle with conf. sugar.

Party Tails

Charlotte: "Mom, if you have your hair in pony tails and go to a party, are they called Party Tails?"

Baking

A little pre-school baking.

Protected

If only he'd wear this all day - my stress level would be much lower.

A Saturday of Birthdays

We spent Saturday down at the lake to celebrate Jan, Feb, and March birthdays with Judd's family. Baby Jack made an appearance. Charlotte couldn't stand it, she just had to feed baby Jack his bottle. When asked if she wanted another baby in her family, "Yes, but only a baby girl."



Charlotte: "You know, not every kid is lucky enough to have a Jen."

An Apology

Dear Charlotte & Maxwell,

I just wanted to write you a quick note to tell you that I'm sorry the past few months or so haven't been documented like you have been used to. I just haven't felt much like picking up the camera. I send a special apology to you, Max. I should be documenting these sweet months more when you are changing so very fast.

I'm going to start again. Even if it is just iPhone pictures, I'm going to start to document your lives. After all, this is for you. This blog, which becomes books - it's all for you.

Love, Mom