A Question for All you Bakers

I am trying to make a sourdough starter. The one I tried has been sitting for 6 days now and doesn't seem to be doing anything. Can anyone one help with advise or a new recipe? Also how do you know when it is ready?

VBS Finale

Well, VBS has now ended. We did our Family Night tonight which turned out good. The kids sang well and had fun performing for their parents. There was a side show at the end with some great pictures of the kids and workers. There were also several great pictures of Brenna. I am going to try and get them so that I can post them for you all to laugh with us. I am tired tonight and thought I would just go to bed. Here are a few pictures I took this week.

Busy Week

I can't believe it isn't Friday yet. I am so tired. Nathan and I have been leading the music for VBS at church this week. Those kids are wearing me out (with the help of my own too). The day started early to be very trying, but ended well. Brenna actually fell asleep well tonight. This is the first time it took less than an hour this week. I guess she is exhausted too.

Brenna has learned a few things this week too. She came home one night saying, "holy cow". I wish you could hear her little accent when she says it. She makes Nathan and I laugh every time. We also went to the library again to get a better selection of books. I didn't do a very good job picking books the last time we went. Mom, we found another book by the author of "Rumble in the Jungle". Brenna was pretty excited about that. She was actually very funny at the library today. She hopped into a chair next to the little table at the library and started saying, "how 'bout dis on?" She was so cute.

So, how will we end this week? Probably as busily as we started the week. We still have VBS tomorrow and Friday. Luckily Friday is a "Parents Night", but we will still be leading music then too. Tomorrow Brenna and I (and maybe Nathan) will be going to the pool in the morning. I am hoping that the pool will put Brenna in a better mood than she was today. I don't know what fun activity we will partake in on Friday. Read later to find the answer.

You know you're getting old when...

... the "must see TV" of your youth is now on TV Land.

... you make yourself stay up until 10:00 because anything else seems way too early.

... the newest fad (ex. heeleys) seem ridiculous and you don't understand why anyone would want to wear them, or you only complain when a child comes rolling up to you.

... you talk about how old a movie is by relating it to the age someone you know who is in high school.

... the kids around you have more energy than you can even remember having.

Nathan and I lead music at VBS tonight. We had fun doing it, but we are exhausted now. The kids were great. They followed directions and participated so well. Now we are both just ready for bed. I can't believe we are doing it again all week.

Brenna seemed to have a great time in her class too. It was basically a nursery, but I think the worker was going to try to do some sort of lesson. The director showed me a picture I hope to be able to post sometime soon. You will just have wait in anticipation. I expected her to fall asleep quickly when we got home, but I think she may have been drunk on Dimatap. She sang "Old McDonald" and "Jesus Loves Me" for at least an hour after we put her to bed. She was also rolling from side to side. Nathan and I just had to laugh. I think she is finally asleep now at 10:30. Hopefully we won't make the same mistake tomorrow too.

I'm sure I will be posting more about VBS as the week goes on.

I took this picture a few days ago and thought I would post what Brenna now uses to sleep. I have tried to keep the poor bears original name (McDougal) but Brenna insist on calling him Goober. "Where did she get that name," you may ask. Well, that is the name of Tanner's stuffed animal, of course. She has learned so much from her cousin. So now she has to have a "quadumvirate" instead of a triumvirate.

Our Future Musician

Today we came back from the pool to Daddy and one of his students practicing their bass trombones. Brenna was sitting on the couch listening to them play, so I went to take a shower. As I was leaving the room, the boys finished the song and I heard my little one say, "More, more". I giggled to myself and continued to the bathroom.

When I came out, I heard a strange noise and came to investigate. Brenna had one of Nathan's mouthpieces at her lips and was humming notes into it. All I could do was laugh. I guess she is turning into a girl after her daddy's heart.

Learning to Count

Scene: Brenna with a plastic cup of shells.

Brenna: Daddy pour out

Daddy: How do you ask nicely?

Brenna: Peas

Daddy: Can you count your shells?

Brenna: One, Two, Free, Pore, Pie, Tixsss, Sehmen, Eight, Nine, Ten (southern drawl included) Yea!!

Daddy: Yea!! How many do you have?

Brenna: (enthusiastically) Two!

Sea World Again...

...with Daddy this time, and Aunt Liz, Tanner, and Baby Avery. We went to see the Dolphins and the Beluga Whale show. Then we all played in the water park part of Sea World. Tanner and Brenna loved all the toys and playing with each other. I love to watch them interact.





Brenna and Tanner kept us all laughing with their antics. Before dinner they ran back and forth from the front door to the living room chasing each other and throwing the ball to each other. We laughed at my vertically challenged child who Nathan claims takes after her mother. I plead the fifth. She ran as fast as she could after Tanner with her arms and legs flying to both sides. I can't describe how funny it was to watch her running. We all laughed. Tanner and Brenna laughed at themselves for being the center of attention.

After dinner Liz, Nathan and I had a lovely toddler serenade. Tanner and Brenna sang "Pokey Hokey" (as Tanner called it tonight), each competing to see who could sing the loudest. Tanner won that competition. He must take after his Daddy. It was quite funny to hear the words they knew and the ones they didn't know. There were arms and legs just a shakin'.

All in all it was a good day. Tomorrow will be a huge let down. Even the pool is closed tomorrow. We will be pulling out all our entertainment.