December 21, 2017

So...we decided it was time to start looking for a house to buy. We contacted a realtor, looked at the two houses he initially suggested, and picked one. As of now, our offer has been accepted and we are moving merrily through the process of buying.

 Anyway, this is the house in question. And the ghostly image of a child in the front door is, in fact, a child. One of ours, I think.

December 18, 2017

What are these things anyway?

Everything must be ok though...

...big brother clearly has the situation under control.

December 2, 2017

Qorban was baptized Sunday, November 26th, at New City Fellowship, St. Louis.

It was a happy day.

November 30, 2017

Polka dot paper bag puppets!

November 27th, 2017

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

We're enjoying some beautiful fall colors, oddly juxtaposed with 70 degree temperatures (at least on some days.)

Zadok's creative interpretation of an autumn leaf, which is currently decorating our refrigerator...

...And my first foray into cooking turkey. Very exciting. It's not, of course, a whole turkey, but I think it counts.

We enjoyed a Thanksgiving meal with all the fixings a few days before the day, since Amos had a trip. Zadok displayed impressive turkey consuming skills.

The actual day of Thanksgiving, the boys and I attended a breakfast at our church and afterwards were invited to enjoy Thanksgiving dinner with a family we had never met before. It was a lot of fun.

November 25, 2017

 Qorban is...

...four months old!

November 19, 2017

I don't normally try to match my baby to the rug, or to any other piece of household furniture, for that matter...but some days everything just seems to come together...

November 15, 2017

If you don't believed that I've been redeemed
(The angels in Heaven done signed my name)
Then follow me down to that old Jordan stream
(The angels in heaven done signed my name)...

Nothing in my experience kills fear more effectively than seeing friends die well. And it's that time of year again, to remember those who have passed on and those who are left behind.

November 9, 2017

Zadok packed his first OCC shoebox this year. It was fun to be able to introduce this family Christmas tradition. Hopefully we can do one together every year...and in a couple of years, Qorban can get in on the action too.

I created a general list of the items that would go in the box, and Zadok helped pick them out.

November 6, 2017

Beautiful birthday plants...

An agave....

 And an intriguingly polka dotted Peperomia plant.

I'm a little late in posting this, but as of October 20, Qorban is three months old.

October 30, 2017

Zadok gets his first High and Tight. It's not perhaps as tight as it could be, but it works. Uncle Ian would be proud. 

For future reference...hairstyles on little black boys do not translate well into hairstyles for little white boys.

October 20, 2017

Amos periodically receives a bodybuilding magazine which contains, besides photos of alarmingly built men and women, some recipes and nutrition advice. Reading therein that cauliflower is one of the most nutrition-packed vegetables out there, I was inspired to create the following simple and tasty salad.

Cauliflower Salad:

1 head cauliflower, chopped, lightly steamed and chilled
1 bell pepper
1 firm, sweet/tartish apple
Grated carrot as desired
A handful or two of chopped walnuts
Italian salad dressing to taste

The amounts indicated and pictured above are enough for 2-3 people.

Even though the weather has cooled down considerably (I no longer feel I am living in the City of Dreadful Night) we still appreciate the occasional refreshing salad.

October 16, 2017

While it's technically fall, there are still days when I question the wisdom of my decision to put the fans away. Still, it must be fall because pumpkins proliferate and apples are on sale at ALDI.

 Zadok calls them "pucknins," and I find this so adorable that I can't resist mispronouncing it myself so he won't catch on that his version is wrong.

Qorban in his orage hoodie jacket is "The Pucknin Man."

October 11, 2017

I have often speculated as to why Qorban prefers to sleep and rest in such a torturous-looking position. I figured he must  be doing it for the shock value, but after going to the Zoo I learned the truth...

He's channeling his Inner Penguin.

October 8, 2017

On Friday, we took the boys to the zoo. St. Louis has one of the best zoos in the country, and admission is free.

Qorban enjoyed posing  with the giant beetle sculpture outside of the insect zoo.

We all found the giant Galapagos tortoises fascinating...worth watching for hours...but the flow of the zoo crowds doesn't really allow more than a few minutes at each exhibit.

Meatball sandwiches, fruit and cookies in the park adjacent to the zoo.

Zadok said he liked the elephants best of all the animals. He also enjoyed riding the (free before 10:00) carousel, which I didn't get photos of because I was helping him ride a leaping leopard.

We'd be delighted to treat anyone who comes to visit with a free trip to a great zoo! It's huge though, so think beforehand about what animals you'd like to see so we can plan your visit.