He Noticed

It seems like Gio notices everything that's new to his environment like this rocking chair that belonged to my Grandmother that I set out for him last night. But this morning he was exploring the hallway like he usually does and kept looking at the wall and saying "Hha Hha" which he has never done. It wasn't until he pointed to it on the wallpaper that I figured out he was saying house. When I confirmed it for him, "Yes, house." Then he came out with "Tree." The boy never ceases to amaze me. He doesn't miss a trick. (Wallpaper mentioned above in background.)

When We Got Home

Woke up this morning and the heat was on as it has been for the past couple days. Can you believe it heating in June?? When we got home from the park I grabbed the mail from the mail box and almost got stung by a persistent bee who keeps trying to make a nest there. We were hot, thirsty and hungry. I wanted something fast and I didn't want to cook. Ahhh a fruit smoothie. This one had 1 nectarine, 1 mango, several strawberries, grape juice, sugar, water, a pinch of dried seaweed and some flax seed meal. Gio enjoyed his in a bowl. It just needed something so I sprinkled toasted coconut on top. Good. Then I added some whole wheat cereal (chex type). Very good. I ended up eating mine out of a cup with a spoon. Sorry no pic before I knew it we had finished it.

Purple Haze

I went out at sunset to hang up laundry and noticed the sky had a purple cast to it. "The camera" I thought. Then decided to finish the laundry first. I ended up running in for the camera because I reasoned if I didn't I would probably miss it. Well of course when I got back outside the purple was gone but the sunset was still beautiful. I got lost in the moment taking pics then all of a sudden I heard our resident robin, who's nesting above the porch door, scolding me for being to close to her nest so late in the day. The above is a pic of her. When I finally got back to hanging up laundry there was another bird (pictured below) on a nearby tree branch chirping away, when I went to get the camera of the porch to photograph her she flew away only to land on this wire a few moments later. I just wish the camera did a better job capturing the beautiful colors I had the pleasure of enjoying tonight.

Kefir Nose

It all started because Gio always gets a combo drink usually baby water and milk. Today it was grape juice and kefir which is a lot like yogurt only thinner. Well I left the room for a moment and when I came back he had the cutest purple spot of it on his nose but nowhere else. I got to thinking that kefir and grape juice sounded good so I whipped up a shake in the blender with the pictured ingredients. I offered some to Gio but he had already finished his drink and wanted no part of mine. When we finished lunch I did not wash his face and let him play while I tried to snap a pic of him. In the above pic. he's sporting his manager pants. There was once a comedian who said most grocery store managers have pants with the whites of the pockets showing. He's quite upset because I didn't pick him up.

A Simple Celebration

Well it was very warm for several days and now finally it has cooled down. I decided to celebrate with a cup of organic jasmine green tea and a couple almond crunch cookies both of which I bought at Oak Hill, a Mennonite store that we visit everytime we buy chicken feed. The tea reminds me of dim sum and my girlfriend Roossy. Roossy introduced me to jasmine tea one afternoon when I visited her and her husband. The taste is so unique. She made it with loose leaves. I bought a tin of loose jasmine tea but when I make it it just doesn't taste like I remember. They sometimes serve it when we go to dim sum and it is delicious. I tried organic jasmine green tea recently at a local coffee shop. The brand was Numi. When we were at Oak Hill I saw the above pictured box and thought I need that :). I've been waiting not only for the right time but also to have time to enjoy a cup and a cool evening before bed turned out to be perfect.

Quotes And Sayings

I will often hear someone say something or quote someone and think "Wow. I really like the sound of that." Then time goes by and I forget them. So from now on when I hear them I will try to post them. Here are a few that have been rattling around in my head lately.


The best thing you can do for your children is to love their Mother. -Unknown


People who wear what's "IN" are bandwagon jumpers. -Author Me

This thought just came to me recently. When I was in school it was oh so important to wear what was "IN". I used to look at people and judge them on this criteria. I look back now and think, "What was I thinking?!?!?!" It's not a person's possessions that make them a great person. Who decides what's "IN"?? Marketing people that's who. Have you ever noticed that what's in is never in for very long?


Days seem to drag while years seem to fly by.

I heard this on The Bob Lonsberry Show the above quote is not word for word and I do not know if it is his original thought. I do know it is true. I have had people tell me the older you get the faster the years seem to fly by.

A Visit From Grandma

Gio had a blast when Grandma visited recently. As you can see he has become quite the wiggle worm. His new thing is that he loves to run around things, like Grandma for instance. Peek-a-boo is still a favorite game and he will ask to play over and over by saying "again". Grandma bought him some sesame sticks. Here's a picture of him trying to open the closed bag of them he swiped off the counter and brought her.