Twin Tales.....

* I asked Jalen the other day how many eggs he wanted for breakfast. His response? "Um....just 5."

* I asked the twins what they wanted for their upcoming birthday, and they replied, "Cake, French fries, candy, cheeseburgers and chicken nuggets." Can you tell what one of their favorite activities is?

* Jalen: "Mom, I have chicken legs and you have elephant legs." Thanks, buddy! I think it's time to get back on the diet....

* Jordan's prayer one day: "Please Jesus, to help me get better and not to cry and please shoot the tiger. Amen!" Not sure what that was about since he was perfectly happy all day.....

* Jalen scolded his eggs one day at breakfast: "Stop making a mess, eggies!"

* One morning, the twins decided to give me a back rub. Jalen started to get a little rough, and Jordan said, "Jalen, do you remember how Jesus died on the cross? Do you want mommy to die on the cross? Then don't be rough!" I assured them that I would most likely not die on a cross. However, I let them continue massaging me, and after I remained still for awhile with my eyes closed, they assumed I was dead and went merrily off to play. It's nice to know that they would get along fine without me! :-)

* While Jordan was making the bed, he yelled at Jalen for getting it all "sperkly." I think he meant "wrinkly."

* Sometimes when I'm getting ready in the mornings, especially if I'm dressing for church, Jalen will look at me and say, "Mommy, you're prettyful!" I think that's a mix of pretty and beautiful, and I think he needs his eyes checked, but hey! I'll take the compliment!

* We were driving down the highway one day when Jordan said, "Mommy, I really want to hit a deer!" Ummm.......no thank you!!!

* We were driving through a city when Jordan noticed a peculiar smell. "What is that smell?" he asked. "It smells like a stinky stoplight!" When I asked what a stinky stoplight smells like, he replied, "Chicken nuggets." Oh, really? I'll take your word for it.

Praise the Lord!

"From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the Lord's name is to be praised." Psalm 113:3.

"It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High: To show forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night..." Psalm 92:1-2.

"Blessed be the Lord God...from everlasting to everlasting: and let all the people say, Amen. Praise ye the Lord." Psalm 106:48.

 

"Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!" Psalm 107:15.

Have a great weekend!

Will Someone Please Explain?

Adrian and Malia were sitting at the table, having a conversation in low, shaky, unnatural voices. I listened in:

A: "I'm old.

M: "So am I."

A: "I'm 6000 years old."

M: "So am I. We're twins."

A: "Do you know your name?"

M: "Yes. I'm Martha. What's our last name?"

A: "I can't remember."

M: "Neither can I."

A: "I have to go to the bathroom." (Gets up and starts hobbling slowly toward the bathroom.)

M: "Me, too." (Does the same.) "I'm surprised you can still walk."

A: "Me, too.

When they finished, they shuffled slowly back to the table.

M: "I'm slower than you."

A: "Well, I used to be a star, you know."

M: "A rock star?"

A: "No, a track star."

M: "Well, I used to be a rock star." (Starts singing, "I sing a noun in a 4-time, baby......" - all in her low, slow, shaky voice.)

WHAT IS WRONG WITH THESE CHILDREN????? And please don't say something like, "Well, just look at the mother they have....." Everyone knows that I was a proper and well-balanced child..... Right, Mom? :-)

All Things Fall (Plus 2 Great Autumn Recipes!)

And now, 2 of my favorite Fall recipes:

Pumpkin Bars w/ Cream Cheese Frosting:

4 eggs                                                                                

1 C. oil

1 (16 oz.) can pumpkin

1 2/3 C. sugar

2 C. flour

2 tsp. baking powder

2 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

Cream eggs, oil, pumpkin and sugar together. Stir together remaining ingredients and add to the creamed mixture. Bake in 15x10x1 inch pan for 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes. Frost with following recipe.

Frosting:

4 oz. cream cheese

1/2 stick butter, softened

1 1/2 tsp. vanilla

1 lb. powdered sugar

1 tsp. milk (plus maybe a little more)

Mix together and spread over pumpkin bars. Put bars in the fridge 15 minutes before cutting. Yum!

Caramel Dip for Apples:

1/2 C. butter

1 C. brown sugar

dash of salt

1/2 C. light corn syrup

1/2 C. sweetened condensed milk

1/2 tsp. vanilla

Mix all ingredients together and bring to a boil. Dip with fresh, crisp apple slices. SO much better than store-bought caramel!!

Have a happy Fall, everyone!

Hannah's Hope Reunion!

My friend, Ginny, and her little boy, Stone, flew up from Texas to visit us for the weekend. Stone lived at Hannah's Hope, our adoption agency's transition home in Ethiopia, with Jalen and Jordan. All 3 boys came home at the same time last November, and they were thrilled to be able to meet again! Ginny got in on all of our family's craziness for the weekend, too, and my sister, her husband, and their two little Hannah's Hope alumni met us on Saturday for a fun day at the zoo. Here are some photos from our weekend together:

Stone and Jalen

 Yikealo

 We watched this elephant dancing to "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot."

 Malia and Stone were good buddies all weekend.

Yikealo and Ashton, wearing the Africa shirts I made for them.

 5 little Ethiopians! Jordan, Jalen, Sintayehu, Stone and Yikealo.

 And this is what it's like tryng to get 9 kids to smile for the camera. Whew!

Thanks so much for coming, Ginny and Stone! It was so great to see you again!!!

Just Doing Some Hauling.....