Page 83

Scrap That

Posted on April 12, 2012 by Mrs Gray / 5 Comments

Using correct grammar and punctuation is kind of a big deal to me. When I write things, even my typo-ridden tweets, I take grammar and punctuation rules into account. I usually won’t write it if I don’t have a rule to back it up (even the wrong rule, apparently). This week’s debate?

Couple’s Shower

Couples’ Shower

Couples Shower

I have been against couple’s shower all along. I knew it wasn’t a shower belonging to one couple, despite the choices invitation websites are full of. However, I would have laid my life down (or probably not) backing couples’ shower as correct; I have an email account full of planning correspondence to prove it. Thought process? It is a shower that belongs to the couples (plural) being invited.

The better answer? It’s a couples shower. Couples is being used as a descriptor, rather than a possessive. Couples is describing the type of shower. It’s a shower for couples to attend.

If you need me, I’ll be rethinking my apostrophe usage–and emailing my invitation designer.

2012/Baby Gray/food/garden

How Sweet it Is

Posted on April 11, 2012 by Mrs Gray / 0 Comment

We had our first harvest feast Friday!

I pulled this little guy off off before the birds got him (our last bright berry fell victim to a predator).

It was the tiniest strawberry I’d ever seen, but based on Baby Gray’s reaction, it was good. He took it and gobbled it up–stem and all! Then he signed for more!

Unfortunately, our little berry plant didn’t get the more memo. We have another berry on its way, but it’s not ready yet. It’s a tad late for strawberries, but maybe we’ll get a few more before it gives out on us. Everything else is growing steady; I hope we’ll be feasting again soon.

Baby Gray/sign/talking

Help Me, Rhonda!

Posted on April 10, 2012 by Mrs Gray / 0 Comment

Aunt Cookie came to visit the first weekend of March. We met her at The Jumpy Place for Baby Gray to play, and while we were there, we saw a need for Baby Gray to sign help. I looked it up on my phone, and we started working on it.

Last week, he started using it consistently with the sign and his voice. It took me a few days to get it on video, but it was so funny, I didn’t want to miss it.

He found a “ball” in the crack of the deck and wanted it out.

I had to get a drill bit to get down in there, but I was able to help.

Baby Gray/blessings/Easter/egg

Goin’ on an Egg Hunt

Posted on April 9, 2012 by Mrs Gray / 0 Comment

Baby Gray hunted a few eggs last weekend, but he wasn’t really interested in it.

This week, though, he figured out the eggs had candy in them–before the Egg Grab (Rev‘s version of an egg hunt–over 18,000 eggs plus prizes) even started!

Once they turned them loose to “hunt,” Baby Gray walked through the eggs, opening them to see what was inside before deciding whether or not to put them in his bucket. Picky, picky!

We headed to lunch with Pops, Nonna, Uncle R, Miss B, RDG, Annie, and T-Paw. (Looking for some delicious food in New Braunfels? Head to Buttermilk Cafe!) Baby Gray entertained everyone while we ate, and then it was time to say goodbye.

After a week with Annie, Baby Gray was sad to see her go.

He listened to his new bunny sing Jesus Loves Me most of the way home; he didn’t put it down until he decided he needed a new hat.

Silly boy!

As always, you can listen to yesterday’s message online or watch the video.

2012/running

Put Your Mind to It

Posted on April 6, 2012 by Mrs Gray / 0 Comment

It’s been over a month since my half, but I haven’t been able to get it off my mind. I also haven’t been able to get back out to run regularly. My brain is against it. The half was a huge milestone for me. I’m not naturally athletic. I’ve always had to work to be mediocre. I’ve never really set out to accomplish something in the athletic world and surpassed my expectations, much less by as much as I did with the half. God absolutely sent my runnin’ buddy Nicole to see that half through to fruition.

I’m proud of what I accomplished, and I think I have a fear that I’ll somehow smudge it or erase it if I try again. I still don’t really enjoy running, and I know if I’m not training, I probably won’t be out running regularly. The likelihood becomes even less the warmer it gets.

So, for now, I’ll wear my little charm to remind me I did it once and be encouraged to work hard to try again.

Source: etsy.com via Mrs. on Pinterest

Annie/Baby Gray/friends/museum

First Time For Everything

Posted on April 4, 2012 by Mrs Gray / 0 Comment

My son doesn’t miss a meal–or a snack, for that matter. Yesterday, though, a strange thing happened.

Baby Gray, Annie, and I met Mal and Ella Bella for a playdate at McKenna Children’s Museum. He’s been before, and he liked it, but nothing like yesterday. He played and played. I kept checking my watch (well, my iPhone clock) to see what time it was. His usual lunchtime passed. Ella Bella was fading. Annie was starving. I was getting there. Mal was a trooper and didn’t complain. He wouldn’t even stop to play outside–outside!

About the time I thought he would for sure give it up, he asked to go outside.

There was no leaving then. He loves wa-wa in any capacity, and the water table definitely had his attention. Not to mention the ducks–he loves ducks! I’m pretty sure he thought the place was tailor-made for him.

Luckily, without harm to the little boy who “was going to take Baby Gray to the ground,” (ahem, Annie) we finally headed to eat around 1:00 or a little after. My poor baby realized as we made our way to the car how hungry he was. He cried or asked to eat most of the way, which unfortunately included a detour. We made it, though, and he was happy as a clam with his lunch. Ella Bella? Not so much. She slept though her lunch.

Annie/Baby Gray/food/Fort Worth/Mr. Gray

Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind?

Posted on April 3, 2012 by Mrs Gray / 2 Comments

Because the best photos are certainly taken without a flash on an iPhone camera in dimly lit restaurants, I wanted to share our weekend. Mr. Gray and Pops needed to be in Fort Worth for work, so Nonna and I loaded up and went with them. We ate lots of good food and had a great time.

We did a little of this:

Oh, Lonesome Dove, how I love thee. So delicious.

Then we learned this:

Movie Tavern does not live up to Alamo.

Meanwhile, Baby Gray did that:

Then, we did this:

Mmmm… Del Frisco’s.

And Baby Gray did that:

We finished up with this:

It was the perfect ending to a fun trip!

We got home in time to meet Baby Gray at the annual Easter party we go to. He was one worn out little boy after time with his Annie and time with Jax, Cookie, and Cook in addition to partying the afternoon away.

blueberries/pancakes/Recipes

Hot Off the Griddle!

Posted on March 30, 2012 by Mrs Gray / 0 Comment

Mr. Gray loves blueberry pancakes. I do not. I do like to make them for him, though. One of his biggest restaurant pet peeves is that they don’t always put the blueberries inside the pancakes. Maybe they don’t know this little trick for great-looking blueberry pancakes.

Prepare the pancake batter (I use whole wheat mix, egg, applesauce in lieu of oil, milk, and vanilla) as usual. Adjust the consistency by adding more milk or mix to make it a tiny bit thicker than normal. Pour the batter onto the griddle in the size and shape desired.

Once the batter stops running, drop the blueberries into the pancake.

Continue to cook as usual, paying careful attention to the center of the pancakes; sometimes the height of the blueberries keeps them from setting all the way through as quickly.

These pancakes turn out perfect! They are circles, sans lumps, with blueberries throughout. The aesthetic success rate is much higher than with the mix-the-blueberries-in-and-pour-straight-onto-the-griddle method.

garden

Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary

Posted on March 29, 2012 by Mrs Gray / 1 Comment

Last year’s garden didn’t fare too well (uh, and upon reading, neither did the garden the year before that). Based on our 25 percent success rate, though, we’re giving it another shot this year. We just can’t quit.

We did three containers, and we added an in-ground section this year. No, surprisingly, that was not my idea.

We have tomatoes, strawberries, squash, zucchini, and spinach in the containers and corn in the ground. More importantly, we have rocks in the bottom of the containers this year! I think that was the missing link in the failed years. Hopefully this is the year our green thumbs turn edible!

Aggies/Baby Gray/doctor/football/vaccinations

No Pea Brain Here

Posted on March 28, 2012 by Mrs Gray / 2 Comments

To celebrate Baby Gray’s 18 month milestone, we headed to see Dr. Miller for a well check. He played with the nurse’s thermometer most of the appointment; it has an Elmo sticker on it. We did finally get him to participate in a few of the developmental screenings sans Elmo. He earned another book; this one is filled with all his favorite animals. He read it to me while we waited for Dr. Miller (then he stacked the blocks he wouldn’t stack for the nurse).

She was equally as pleased and sent us on our way with one flu shot to boot. He took it like a champ!

He weighs 28 pounds, 12 ounces, which is in the 83rd percentile. He’s 33 inches long, which is the 71st percentile. His big ol’ brain is housed in a 19.5 inch head–the 90th percentile!

We a few errands and headed home to play before nap time–which almost took place in his swing!

Oh, and this morning when I put this shirt on him, he said, “Aggie. Touchdown!” I cracked up. At least someone has some hope for the Ags in their first SEC season. But I digress…