…though a dump truck works in a pinch!
I think this kid needs a scooter
Jan 30th, 2009 by ECM
In His Natural Habitat
Jan 29th, 2009 by ECM
Tommy doing what he likes best…
For Derek, who only got to see Tommy for about 2 minutes today…and may I add that Tommy picked out this ensemble himself:
Screwtape on prayer
Jan 27th, 2009 by ECM
Saturday night Derek arranged for us to have a date night–which we actually could do with our new babysitter handy!–and took me out to dinner and to see The Screwtape Letters. As usual when I’m re-encountering Screwtape, I came away entertained and convicted on many points. The senior temptor’s advice on hindering prayer is quite applicable to my own life:
When the patient is an adult recently re-converted to the Enemy’s party, like your man, this is best done by encouraging him to remember, or to think he remembers, the parrot-like nature of his prayers in childhood. In reaction against that, he may be persuaded to aim at something entirely spontaneous, inward, informal, and unregularised; and what this will actually mean to a beginner will be an effort to produce in himself a vaguely devotional mood in which real concentration of will and intelligence have no part. One of their poets, Coleridge, has recorded that he did not pray “with moving lips and bended knees” but merely “composed his spirit to love” and indulged “a sense of supplication”. That is exactly the sort of prayer we want; and since it bears a superficial resemblance to the prayer of silence as practised by those who are very far advanced in the Enemy’s service, clever and lazy patients can be taken in by it for quite a long time.
I’m afraid I often fall for the “vaguely devotional mood” trap myself. I’m so tired in the mornings, I’m ready for a break by naptime, and once Tommy’s in bed, I’m distracted by all the evening chores I need to get done. Taking the time to concentrate on a thoughtful prayer is something that I let slip far too often at the end of my devotions. I always think I’ll keep praying through my list throughout the day, but more often than not, I just feel vaguely devotional for a few minutes before mommy distractions overtake me. With Screwtape fresh in my mind, I’ll be trying this week to take more time for concentrated prayer in my quiet times AND at quiet moments throughout the day. With that, I’m off to pray right now while Tommy naps!
Crockpot chocolate chip cookie!
Jan 26th, 2009 by ECM
Leslie made this for our girls’ night last weekend, and I decided Derek and I needed a treat this weekend after a hard week…this reminds me of my favorite pizza cookie at Oregano’s Pizza out in Scottsdale…contented sigh…
Crockpot Chocolate Chip Cookie
2 c. flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking powder
1 c. butter at room temperature
1 c. packed brown sugar
3/4 c. granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla (I always add a little extra, it makes the cookie really yummy)
1 1/2 c. chocolate chips (one 12 oz. package)
1.) Sift together flour, salt, and baking powder.
2.) Combine butter and sugars; beat until creamy.
3.) Slowly add eggs and vanilla; mix to incorporate.
4.) Slowly add flour mixture; mix well until incorporated.
5.) Stir in chocolate chips with a spoon.
6.) Grease crock pot with cooking spray. Pour batter in and smooth in pot. Cover and cook on low 3 hrs.Top with ice cream and enjoy!
Friday Doldrums
Jan 23rd, 2009 by ECM
Well, this has just been a tough week all around, from being sick to having two dear friends lose loved ones, to having Derek work late.=( But there are two things I’m trying to be thankful for as we get through the Friday doldrums–first of all, when I went to PT today, the therapist said my hips were even! (They’ve alternately been popping out of socket over the past couple weeks, so this is definite improvement!) Also, my little dude still smiles like this, even when he’s having a rough, sick week:
Pizza Crust and Breadsticks
Jan 21st, 2009 by ECM
We do homemade pizza fairly often in the Muller home, and I’ve been having great luck of late with this pizza crust recipe. It makes enough for three crusts, so last night I made up one big one on my pizza stone and then rolled the other 2/3 of the dough into breadsticks. My Shepherdsfield friends make amazing breadsticks by forming pizza dough into logs, drizzling them with olive oil (or spraying with canola cooking spray), and sprinkling with finely grated parmesan cheese (or pecorino romano, which we prefer) and sea salt. Bake with the pizza at 425. My breadsticks were done in 15 minutes; the pizza took 20. Yum! Now I have something interesting to pack in Derek’s lunch for a couple days…
Visit to South Bend
Jan 20th, 2009 by ECM
This weekend Tommy and I took a quick visit to South Bend to see some old friends.
Tommy loved staying with his buddy Aidan. The boys were so cute together, and since they’re just two weeks apart, it was fun to see how they’re both into the same things–cars, puzzles, learning to count and say the alphabet! Leslie and Rachelle and I had a girls’ night after the boys went to bed…stayed up ’til midnight watching a chick flick, talking, having tea, eating this amazing cookie dessert concoction by Leslie, and pretending we’re not responsible married women who have to get up early.=) In the morning, the boys treated us to a little piano concert. I wish I’d taken more good pictures, but it’s hard to capture two 23 month olds looking at the camera.
Here’s a great example of how terribly Tommy can ruin a potentially cute picture! We met Katie and Lauren and Jonah for lunch at the South Bend Chocolate Company’s Play Cafe. Tommy was not a big fan of stopping playing and having a photo shoot. Of course, we had the problem of getting all of us in a picture at once, so we divided and conquered. I think Jonah Rich might be the cutest little boy in the history of the world…
And doesn’t that play place look fun? It’s pretty much the perfect set-up–the world’s best hot chocolate, a huge play area for kids to run around in, and comfy seats for parents!
That rummy fourth molar has finally come through the skin. After pretending to grow for the past two months, it cut through with a vengeance last night/this morning. We’re extremely hopeful that Tommy will go back to sleeping through without a 4 am wake-up-and-scream now that tooth #12 is here! (And it’s really hard to take pictures of molars, but believe me, this one is gigantic!)
Fun With a Laundry Basket
Jan 16th, 2009 by ECM
