Do Ants Have Noses?

Today Max asked me if ants have noses. I think he's asked me this before, but today he insisted that I “look it up.” So I did-- ants smell with their antennae. “What about crabs?” (I looked it up.) Crabs smell with their antennules. “What about beetles?” According to Wikipedia, beetles smell with their antennae too. Over lunch he thought of some more-- “What about flies, I forgot to ask about them. Oh, and do they have eyes?”

Remember before the Internet, when parents could just say, “I don't know?”

Proposition 8 in Plain English

This YouTube video acknowledges the respect we feel for those who choose alternative lifestyles, and simply explains the important issues surrounding California Proposition 8. Help protect our schools, our families, and our society.

Proposition 8 in Plain English

Pumpkin Waffles with Buttermilk Syrup

We had these for dinner last night. My sister-in-law, Laura, will forever be one of my favorite people for sharing this recipe:). My suggestion: double the syrup. It's that good.

Served them with this (which Jeff made by the way):

And this:

Recipes below (except for the orange juice. It was Minute Maid. Original. Low pulp. With calcium.)

Pumpkin Waffles and Buttermilk Syrup Batter: 2 c. flour 2 Tbsp. baking powder 2 Tbsp. cinnamon 1 Tbsp. sugar ½ tsp. nutmeg ¼ tsp. salt Mix ingredients together, then add: 4 egg yolks (save whites) 1 c. pumpkin 1 Tbsp. vanilla 1 ½ c. milk ¾ c. melted margarine Then beat 4 egg whites until stiff peaks form and fold them into the batter. Cook in waffle iron. Buttermilk Syrup: 1/4 cup butter (NOT margarine) ½ c. buttermilk (or substitute 1 Tbsp. lemon juice + ½ c. milk) 1 c. sugar 1 tsp. light corn syrup Bring to a boil and take off heat. Add 1 tsp baking soda and 1 tsp vanilla. It will bubble up quite a bit, so make sure your pan is large enough. Stir until it settles. Serve warm over pumpkin waffles. Yummy!

Easy Breakfast Casserole

2 cups dry chicken stove top stuffing mix (from the canister)
2 cups milk
1 1/2 cups cubed ham (or use Bob Evans Sausage, cooked, drained well, and crumbled)
6 eggs, beaten
1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded

1. Preheat oven to 350F and lightly grease a 9 x 12 baking dish.
   
2. Mix all the ingredients together.
   
3. Pour into prepared baking dish.
   
4. Bake for about 45-50 minutes or until set.
   

Fine.

Today, Max and Micah were eating lunch when the phone rang. While I was the on the phone, Micah kept screaming over and over (not an uncommon occurrence and nothing to be alarmed about.) When I hung up, I went to the table and said, “Micah, what do you need?”

He said, “More quesedilla.”

“Okay,” I said in an exasperated tone (think long, drawn-out "a" sound.)

He responded, “Fine.” (think long, drawn-own "i" sound.)

Funny. That's exactly what my tone said, not “okay,” but “fine.”

Protecting Marriage

Here is a news clip from Tony Perkins-- President of the Family Research Council in Washington D.C. He talks with parents of a five year old, and parents of a seven year old in Massachusetts about the changes in public school since same-sex marriage became legal. We need to do all we can to protect our families by protecting traditional marriage.

Pyramid for Parenting Problems (say that 10 times fast!)

Today, I came across a great article from the Arbinger Institute about the Parenting Pyramid. It teaches parents how to focus on the fundamental aspects of their relationships in their families first when they see troubling behavioral signs in their children. I thought it was a great constructive guide to help us direct our efforts when trying to "fix" problems in our families. Here is a diagram of the pyramid, and a quote below it from the article.


"Another important discovery for me was this: The solution to a problem in one part of the pyramid generally lies below that part of the pyramid. For example, if my correction of my children isn't working--if I've studiously tried many things and my children just aren't responding--the solution is not to try still more methods of correction. The solution is to do a better job of teaching. In the absence of more effective teaching, my attempts to discipline will always be disappointing because "discipline" is not the problem; nor are the kids the problem. A lack of teaching is the problem. Similarly, if my teaching is consistently falling flat, the answer is not to teach more. That's often the temptation, but it's a mistake. When my teaching is failing, the solution is to build better relationships. And finally, if my relationships aren't what they should be, what does that reveal about my own heart? What repenting and softening do I need to do? How could I be more meek and lowly in heart and more submissive to the Lord? So when we seem to locate a problem at one level of the pyramid, we should look below it for the solution."

Amber: "What does a kitty cat say?"

Micah: (in a melancholy voice) "Meow."

Amber: (repeats) "Meow."

Micah: "It's okay."

He thinks cats are always sad.