Friday, July 13, 2012

Exodus


The garden has been mowed down and the chickens along with their camper have been shipped off to the country.  The time has come. Our parole has been approved and we are blowing this popsicle stand. We have been given our path to escape the city life. In less than three weeks I will be turning in my badge and gun, packing up the family and heading to the coast! Although it is not the country farm life I have longed for, it's the coast! And we'll take it. I am returning to life in ministry. Returning to old friends, deep conversations, peaceful existence, optimism and joy. No longer will I need to wear a bullet stopping vest and carry a variety of a death and pain inducing devices each day to work.  Words of bile and hate will be replaced with respect and genuine love. Fighting with friendship. Screaming with soft words. Anger with joy.  Oh city life, how I despise you, but oh how I miss you already.


P.S. Standby for new adventures!

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

His First


I turned off the television this morning to the moans and groans of my media saturated preschoolers in order to find some more brain stimulating activity. Somehow our children fell into a morning routine of about an hour and a half of flat screen induced zombiehood despite our great distaste for kids watching too much tv.  So, a great purge is about to begin. I'm talking Berenstein Bears Too Much TV style crackdown.

This morning's TV strike produced Nathan's very first non-scribble picture. It was pretty dang good. He went on to draw about 3 more pictures of people and his stuffed animals. Drawing is a pretty big thing here. So, this is good stuff!

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

What the Junk?!

I went out this morning to find this old school British tank in my neighbor's driveway with barrel aimed at my house!

Sunday, July 8, 2012

Saturday, July 7, 2012

Thursday, July 5, 2012

Chewy





Right after I finished talking smack about the plethora of loveys floating around this casa, I found this idea online and made it for Nate. It took about 20 minutes and $4.

Sunday, July 1, 2012

Monday, June 25, 2012

Glamorous

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15 Minute Friend


Sunday, June 24, 2012

Diet Pancakes



They failed to see the humor.

Thursday, June 21, 2012

Mellow Mushroom Princess

Nathan [To the cute Mellow Mushroom waitress]: "You are a princess!"

Izzy:  "Why did you call her a princess, Nathan?"

Nathan:  "Because she wants to get married."

Melissa [Our single friend]:  "Then I've been a princess for a loooong time."



Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Done and Done!

The mini graphic novel that was supposed to be done by Izzy's birthday, April 25th, is finally done  - only 2 months past deadline.  Eventually, I will try to get it professionally printed, but for now we will go with the home printed and bound version (note: trying to bind a 30 page book with a sewing machine is problematic, both with the machine and with the wife who catches you wrecking shop on her machine).





Monday, June 18, 2012

Happy Birthday Z!


Written and Narrated by Izzy
Directed by Dad



Written and Narrated by Nathan
Directed by Dad


Sunday, June 17, 2012

Dear Dad,

Thanks for wearing longer shorts now.


Love,

T


P.S. Even if you still wore these you would still be the coolest, smartest, most fantastic Pops ever.


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Saturday, June 16, 2012

Funky Tacos

I'm not real sure if it looks like a chicken coop, a vintage camper, or a place from which you really would not want to buy a taco.




Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Windows Open!

It's June...in Texas...and my windows are open!  What the heck is going on right now?!


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Monday, June 11, 2012

Chicken Camper Casa

Thanks to the North Texas tornadoes a couple of months ago there was an abundance of old fence wood panels placed on curbs.  The timing worked out pretty well for a guy with 16 baby chicks looking to build  a chicken casa on the cheap.  So, I gathered a truck load of wind-whipped wood, and slapped together the chickens' new vintage camper-style casa.  I'm not quit finished.  I still have to add some handles, wheels, window shuttlers and a few awesome camper details, but the chickens love it.  I will slap up some new pictures when it is fully complete. 




Saturday, June 9, 2012

Easy Drawing Books

Here is a faster and easier version of the "Cereal Box Books."  These drawing books took all of three minutes to make for my kids, and provided them with a morning of creativity (a.k.a. quiet relaxation for me).   Idea from Made.







Thursday, June 7, 2012

Signal 20

This morning the family rolled up hard in the minivan to pump some gas at the local Quick Trip.  Before stepping out to give my remaining checking account balance to the pump, I looked over and saw a QT window washer squeegeeing in a full Scottish getup, including an extra short kilt, black knee-high stockings and a 'coon skin hat! This freakin' city is busting at the seams with crazies.

Sunday, June 3, 2012

Zucchini Muffins


The zucchini invasion continues, and therefore the quest for new uses does as well.  This morning zucchini muffins courtesy of a slightly modified version of my mother's zucchini bread recipe.

Zucchini Muffins
1     Large Zucchini (Grated)
4     Eggs
2     Cups Sugar
1     Cup Oil
1     Teaspoon Vanilla
3     Cups Flour
1     Tablespoon Cinnamon
1     Teaspoon Salt
1     Teaspoon Baking Powder
1     Teaspoon Baking Soda

Preheat oven to 350 degrees; whisk together eggs, sugar, oil, vanilla in a large bowl; mix in zucchini; in a separate bowl sift together flour, salt, cinnamon, baking powder, and baking soda; stir flour mixture into wet mixture until well mixed.  Heat in muffin tins for 18-20 minutes. Boom. Muffins.

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Zucchini Waffles


Our garden has had a zucchini explosion!  We have desperately been looking for ways to cook it before it goes bad, but the pile on the kitchen counter keeps growing despite eating it in about two out of three meals a day.  So, now, it is experiment time.  I made Zucchini Waffles this morning and they were pretty dang good. Here is what I did:

Zucchini Waffles
2       Eggs
1 3/4 Cup Milk (We use Almond Milk)
1/2    Cup Oil
1       Cup Grated Zucchini
2       Cups Flour
4       Tablespoons Baking Powder
1       Tablespoon Sugar
1/2    Teaspoon Salt
1       Teaspoon Cinnamon

Heat the waffle iron, whisk eggs until slightly fluffy, then whisk in remaining ingredients (wet then dry).




Monday, May 28, 2012

Yep, We Watch It.

*Don't tell everybody but its kind of awesome.


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Saturday, May 26, 2012

2 Days Haul

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Friday, May 25, 2012

Thursday, May 24, 2012

10 Years

Tomorrow these two little love birds will celebrate 10 years of marriage and 17 years since the first date!

Monday, May 21, 2012

Star Wars

Did I sit behind a desk and have a Star Wars marathon at work yesterday? YES I DID!


Sunday, May 20, 2012

Friday, May 18, 2012