tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72839489067259996682012-01-17T18:34:04.925-06:00Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02396762384011446122noreply@blogger.comBlogger2901100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283948906725999668.post-17588142483313850152012-01-11T06:53:00.002-06:002012-01-11T07:04:26.682-06:00

Elias asked for a snack..."Mom, why are these shaped like a dead man?"Here are the "dead man" snacks

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02396762384011446122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283948906725999668.post-39187055614290945122012-01-02T11:27:00.015-06:002012-01-02T13:45:06.946-06:00

I got this idea from my friend and blogger, Elaine. The following is our year in pictures. We have had many changes, ups and downs, just like everyone...hope you enjoy!JANUARYThe year started off with our new dog, Kisatchie. He has been a great first dog!Forest turned 3 (or "flee" as he calls it) with a pirate party.and he potty-trained!FEBRUARYI ran in the New Orleans Rock-n-Roll half

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02396762384011446122noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283948906725999668.post-29475454398153129462011-12-29T07:35:00.002-06:002011-12-29T07:43:21.490-06:00

One thing we did the week before Christmas was make our own play-doh.This is a self-sculpture by Forest (love his curls)!I helped them sort all of their legos by color...took most of a Saturday!Silly Deacon

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02396762384011446122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283948906725999668.post-46097632784719728232011-11-28T11:15:00.004-06:002011-11-28T11:57:12.437-06:00

We spontaneously decided to drive 1 1/2 hours and take a day hike in Kisatchie Forest last weekend. It ended up being a great day!Love this picture...they each picked a walking stick.Coolest fungus ever growing across a fallen tree.So so sweet...be still my heart.They even walked along a stream even though the water was quite chilly.Dallas set the camera up on a tree stump, we all climbed up,

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02396762384011446122noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283948906725999668.post-51168876546725463542011-11-16T09:54:00.004-06:002011-11-16T10:59:13.644-06:00

I have always wanted to have an advent calendar for the boys but none of the store bought ones inspired me much...most that I have seen have little openings or drawers to put little candies in. More of a countdown to Christmas than stories leading up to Jesus' birth. Last year, our friend Kim, whom we met in China, posted about an advent calendar that she made. She copied it from one her

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02396762384011446122noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283948906725999668.post-48862302812680300762011-10-18T07:31:00.002-05:002011-10-18T07:39:42.847-05:00

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02396762384011446122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283948906725999668.post-10742997477192508542011-10-18T07:10:00.003-05:002011-10-18T07:31:32.471-05:00

Cleaning out the bedsReady for bok choy, broccoli rabe and poppies!The last fruits of the summer...watermelon and black-eyed peas.

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02396762384011446122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283948906725999668.post-40533096167134462472011-08-02T06:26:00.001-05:002011-08-02T06:31:36.999-05:00

The video doesn't really need any explanation...

Dallashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06164516326077262892noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283948906725999668.post-40129364474245581052011-06-11T07:28:00.003-05:002011-06-11T07:40:36.412-05:00

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02396762384011446122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283948906725999668.post-39411829570038789062011-06-06T18:50:00.000-05:002011-06-06T18:50:10.768-05:00

It's a nice time of year in the garden. The early harvest of Bush Beans is behind us and the squash vines have already been killed by some mysterious illness but our Moon & Stars watermelon is doing great despite the near-record drought we're experiencing.Our Morning Glory vines have trained up the fence post between our beds and are putting on quite a show for us when we are watering in the

Dallashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06164516326077262892noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283948906725999668.post-65117633436411135442011-04-26T06:22:00.006-05:002011-04-26T06:43:38.471-05:00

Ready for the nature walk!Us too!Walking on the trail...looking for tracks.The nature guide pointing something out.Nature guide explaining how to weave palmetto leavesWhat's a campout without s'mores??Blowing out candlesYay! I'm five!

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02396762384011446122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283948906725999668.post-79031542820858051862011-04-19T05:16:00.007-05:002011-04-19T05:22:45.882-05:00

I've been getting a lot of “when am I going to see a new post on TheBegnauds?” lately. Well, there's a reason you haven't been seeing them. If you look at the link bar up there, below the picture, you'll see that the first link is The Inner Kingdom... “the Innah Whah?” you say?Last Fall, the last morning of Carrie and my church's Couples Retreat, it was the morning that we as a people

Dallashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06164516326077262892noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283948906725999668.post-37521825759268466732011-02-18T06:49:00.002-06:002011-02-18T07:17:20.910-06:00

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02396762384011446122noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283948906725999668.post-16984643009456241632011-02-02T16:27:00.004-06:002011-02-02T16:52:37.510-06:00

This is what our birthday boy wanted for breakfast.Pirate cakeEating only the icingMaking pirate hooksPlaying "pass the parrot"Walking the plankThe kids finally found the treasure chest after guessing at several clues.What is next for our little 3 year old, potty training of course!

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02396762384011446122noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283948906725999668.post-39750668506248185982011-01-17T06:40:00.000-06:002011-01-17T06:42:45.972-06:00

This never ceases to amaze me: Elias can read Chinese characters (hanzi for those of you inside the loop) and translate what he's reading!

Dallashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06164516326077262892noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283948906725999668.post-76505387211731945012010-12-19T08:47:00.004-06:002010-12-19T09:07:37.144-06:00

This is what our sofa looks like every morning...3 snuggily little boysO, Christmas TreeWe celebrated my dad's birthdayWe made lots of treatsI finally finished re-finishing an armoir for our bedroom...before it was honey colored.My mom and I got to go to a wedding together.Poogie trying on some bootsReflecting on adventListening about Jesus' birth...Merry Christmas everyone!

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02396762384011446122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283948906725999668.post-75994495766819885582010-12-11T07:40:00.009-06:002010-12-17T06:06:49.494-06:00

If any of you know Deacon, you know that he gets "hairtime". About a year after finding his thumb (4 months old), Deacon started only sucking his thumb while playing with someone else's hair...mostly my hair, but occasionally with others when Mom wasn't handy. Right now, he gets it for a bit right after he wakes up in the morning and a little before bedtime. We have set a date to end hairtime

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02396762384011446122noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283948906725999668.post-15341822814032157452010-12-07T07:15:00.001-06:002010-12-07T07:16:47.856-06:00

A man has made at least a start on discovering the meaning of human life when he plants shade trees under which he knows full well he will never sit.- D. Elton Trueblood

Dallashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06164516326077262892noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283948906725999668.post-47238762247037956892010-12-03T06:12:00.002-06:002010-12-03T06:22:07.938-06:00

Thanks Dominique for these awesome shirts!("Proud to be a Begnaud")Picture taken by Elias that he wanted me to post.And, well, just another picture of Forest climbing into something.

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02396762384011446122noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283948906725999668.post-33420335784017738912010-11-10T05:10:00.004-06:002010-11-10T05:20:43.525-06:00

The church is an institution of sinners. -words of a wise monkI don't remember where I read that quote but it's true. That truth makes me sad and comforts me at the same time. It makes me sad because I will always be disappointed by the people I meet in church but it comforts me because I don't have to walk on eggshells when my flaws are on display.When I left Vox (the church I helped start) I

Dallashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06164516326077262892noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283948906725999668.post-1548198165197881132010-11-03T12:52:00.003-05:002010-11-03T13:13:22.660-05:00

I took the boys to the pumpkin patch, not in matching outfits, as you can clearly see, but just for some fun. Now notice how I could not get ONE picture of them all looking at the camera.Another try, not even one looking at me.And one last ditch effort...nope, not a one. Oh well, that wasn't really the goal of going to the pumpkin patch...we got some pretty cool pumpkins, including a swan gourd

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02396762384011446122noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283948906725999668.post-32860670690686250632010-10-19T08:32:00.004-05:002010-10-19T08:46:27.344-05:00

Sunchokes, AKA Jerusalem Artichokes, are a North American tuber (potatoes are originally from South America and yams are from Africa) which makes growing them here almost effortless: you drop a harvested Sunchoke (I bought some at the Farmer's Market last Winter) in the ground and forget about it. The only root vegetable we've ever done in the garden is Carrots which are simple to harvest... you

Dallashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06164516326077262892noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283948906725999668.post-37391791746185577722010-10-03T15:49:00.002-05:002010-10-03T16:04:30.963-05:00

This whole time I thought I was the one who taught Elias how to swing... credit apparently goes to The Invisible Man. By the way, the wrestling match the other two have going is better than anything WWE can put together.

Dallashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06164516326077262892noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283948906725999668.post-74583642925730265142010-09-27T07:39:00.005-05:002010-09-27T07:43:44.739-05:00

...there's never been a single century in two thousand years when we have had positive teaching on our sexuality, or on our emotional and bodily selves. Despite the Song of Songs and a few enlightened saints, there's never been general positive teaching on how to integrate our bodies, minds and feelings. So a lot of us, even the clergy, are emotional babies. Were reacting and

Dallashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06164516326077262892noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283948906725999668.post-23309905426189427322010-09-18T08:11:00.004-05:002010-09-18T08:36:15.222-05:00

Forest LOVES Maw-Maw's walker.Just love this pic of Cameron and Poogie. They could pass for brother and sister!Dallas taking down the crib...I have pictures of him putting it together before Elias was born.Our little lefty paintingOur little Poogie getting messyOur little abstract artist doing his thingThis only happens about 4 times a year:)The obligatory first day of school pic. Elias first

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02396762384011446122noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283948906725999668.post-17100446604016506572010-08-14T07:43:00.003-05:002010-08-14T08:11:17.968-05:00

We went to Waxahachie twice and hung out with our cousins.We fished...and actually caught some fish.And played with the worms.Ate lots of ice cream and popsiclesWent skating for the first time...with our cousins.And even made it to the beach (Lake Charles, but nonetheless, water and sand).

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02396762384011446122noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283948906725999668.post-52405645593035543952010-07-26T10:18:00.004-05:002010-07-26T10:38:54.756-05:00

Carrie bought Elias a butterfly kit for his birthday and, while we waited for his caterpillars to arrive in the mail, I found something outside on our parsley...I was excited because I thought they were Monarch Butterfly caterpillars. After a quick Google image search I learned otherwise. They were Black Swallowtail caterpillars and I had to make a choice: save my parsley or save my boys'

Dallashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06164516326077262892noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283948906725999668.post-60428610001263912532010-06-22T08:19:00.001-05:002010-06-22T08:29:18.866-05:00

Fun party at the Jump ZoneWith Mrs. Isaac (English teacher)Good-bye Zhang Yi (Chinese teacher)

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02396762384011446122noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283948906725999668.post-55017647012920105992010-06-07T07:26:00.002-05:002010-06-07T07:28:49.083-05:00

This is a video clip that's been out for years now. It's still as poignant today as it was the day that they finished editing it. The whole series with Brian McLaren is great.

Dallashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06164516326077262892noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283948906725999668.post-11698340024239489092010-06-06T08:07:00.005-05:002010-06-06T08:27:48.131-05:00

Two Christmases (Christmass? Christmas's? Christmaseses? Christmi?) ago Carrie and I gave her parents a catered meal as their gift. They finally cashed it in last night.Thanks to Great Harvest for the aprons.We can't take credit for the table... that's all Carrie's Mom.Unrelated, it's Carrie and I's 12th anniversary. I love you, boo.

Dallashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06164516326077262892noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283948906725999668.post-80260063828931414642010-06-04T10:17:00.003-05:002010-06-04T10:30:54.402-05:00

Elias graduating.Dallas and Deacon watching a band at Festival.Forest doing his favorite thing...putting something on his head.Deacon turned 4 in March!Nighty-night!

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02396762384011446122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283948906725999668.post-86966385514570125822010-05-27T05:01:00.001-05:002010-05-27T05:04:58.932-05:00

As a people, we are afraid of silence. That's our major barrier to prayer. I believe silence and words are related. Words that don't come out of silence probably don't say much. They probably are more an unloading than a communicating. Yet words feed silence, and that's why we have the word of God- the read word, the proclaimed word, the written word. But that written and proclaimed

Dallashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06164516326077262892noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283948906725999668.post-77117975417475374952010-05-21T08:33:00.002-05:002010-05-21T08:47:33.027-05:00

Watch Elias on the right.

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02396762384011446122noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283948906725999668.post-42105360087957724032010-05-02T20:40:00.002-05:002010-05-06T04:53:43.745-05:00

Most of my time in the woods without the kids is spent in meditation & prayer. I hike a short distance, set up camp, and don't move from there. On one of those trips, my brother-in-law and I were sitting around a fire with a couple of guys near Lamott Creek on the Wild Azalea Trail. We'd hiked a mile in to our campsite from the parking space and were all dreaming about hiking the whole thing.

Dallashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06164516326077262892noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283948906725999668.post-15473472038860875222010-02-25T15:58:00.013-06:002010-02-25T16:51:49.832-06:00

I'll be the first person to admit that slaughtering chickens in the middle of suburbia is a strange thing. I did if for a few reasons- I love eating chicken but have only had it once in the last nine months (thanks for nothing Michael Pollan), my coworker needed to get rid of some old, egg-laying hens that were past their prime (and therefore cheap), and I wanted to experience what it is like to

Dallashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06164516326077262892noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283948906725999668.post-21848281206371124432010-01-30T10:36:00.004-06:002010-01-30T11:02:28.416-06:00

January 30, 2008January 2010!

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02396762384011446122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283948906725999668.post-65125316024761691252010-01-09T08:15:00.004-06:002010-01-09T08:37:45.871-06:00

This was our first year decorating a gingerbread house.Ready for Christmas!Deacon and Anakin's starship.Forest and his beloved microwave.Elias and Obi-Wan's starfighter.Our sweet boys.Forest, not really understanding what is going on but liking the candy!The favorite gift of the day.Forest with the big boys underwear.

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02396762384011446122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283948906725999668.post-43560387646630232532010-01-06T04:52:00.001-06:002010-01-06T04:54:04.370-06:00

Take away money, sex and power, and most men on this earth do not know how to motivate themselves. They don't know how to make decisions about what they want to do with life, where they want to go, who they want to be. This is why we don't have a lot of male spirituality or spiritual men: because most Western men don't know how to draw their life from within. They need something outside to

Dallashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06164516326077262892noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283948906725999668.post-1857869741700141132009-12-07T19:37:00.002-06:002009-12-07T19:45:01.671-06:00

Like most moms, Carrie can get a little obsessive about capturing The Precious Moment. While we were visiting my parents and sister's family in Waxahatchie over Thanksgiving, Forest was having fun on a slide at a park. He kept riding it over and over again with Mommy catching him at the bottom.Carrie pulled out the camera to make sure the moment was immortalized. Here it is in all its glory

Dallashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06164516326077262892noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283948906725999668.post-85635465548409591152009-11-20T05:45:00.002-06:002009-11-20T06:39:21.925-06:00

Here is a close-up of Elias' performance. They performed it again in his class for some parents/staff/Cirque Shanghai girls.

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02396762384011446122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283948906725999668.post-65878689691598172712009-11-07T16:32:00.003-06:002009-11-07T17:59:02.773-06:00

Elias' Chinese Immersion class has been working on a Gong Fu (kung fu for you non-pinyin readers) routine over the last month and they finally got to perform it today at the Lafayette Parish Schools of Choice Fall Frenzy.

Dallashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06164516326077262892noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283948906725999668.post-73233087236823360682009-10-23T06:01:00.002-05:002009-10-23T06:13:00.839-05:00

Since Facebook has come around, we are not posting as much. Here are a few pictures from the Pumpkin Patch.

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02396762384011446122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283948906725999668.post-37715718568475872382009-10-07T14:15:00.002-05:002009-10-07T14:39:40.792-05:00

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02396762384011446122noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283948906725999668.post-43207358372885627572009-09-23T09:47:00.003-05:002009-09-23T13:26:38.145-05:00

Our gigantic basil plantBasil, garlic, toasted walnuts...After puree, with olive oil, parmesan, and salt and cracked pepper.Voila: Shrimp Pesto

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02396762384011446122noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283948906725999668.post-19041115210015745372009-08-27T16:51:00.002-05:002009-08-27T17:03:18.393-05:00

Before...aka...Willy Wonka.During...Christy Klenert doing a fine job...no tears:)After...doesn't even know what happened.One more after...at home...is it so hard to ask for a picture where he is looking at the camera??

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02396762384011446122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283948906725999668.post-45690672154191233102009-08-14T19:50:00.004-05:002009-08-14T20:05:49.094-05:00

All of his supplies...and I only have ONE child to buy supplies for!Oh so ready!The gang leaving for school.Already talking and making friends.Elias and Zhang Laoshi (Teacher Zhang)The class roster

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02396762384011446122noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283948906725999668.post-33000046235708293962009-08-03T12:17:00.003-05:002009-08-03T12:35:28.431-05:00

Ranch goatee faceEarly morning smile faceCow faceTurbin faceBanana faceNot really a face picture...a climbing butt picture.

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02396762384011446122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283948906725999668.post-4235962361079508862009-07-14T08:29:00.002-05:002009-07-14T08:40:05.288-05:00

The boys were ready to go, helping me pick, until....2 minutes later when Elias exclaimed, "It's too hot, I'm exhausted!" So they drank juice boxes and sat in the shade while I picked.Forest cooling off with a popsicle.The fruits of MY labor:)

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02396762384011446122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283948906725999668.post-26635846672091836762009-06-26T10:33:00.004-05:002009-06-26T10:53:25.266-05:00

One of their last days of schoolJust graduatedElias and his beloved Ms.PamAnd one more of the boys

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02396762384011446122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283948906725999668.post-20051015192909447242009-06-21T09:40:00.001-05:002009-06-21T09:43:29.977-05:00

We don't know how to take joy in simple things anymore because, frankly, we are sated. You and I have had so much thrown at us! Unless we choose to deliberately under-stimulate ourselves, I don't think we can reasonably talk about spirituality. We don't really taste, suffer, enjoy, feel the images that come our way.Westerners have a mania for experience. Descartes said, I think, therefore I am.

Dallashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06164516326077262892noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283948906725999668.post-11360938567992367302009-06-15T08:45:00.000-05:002009-06-15T08:45:01.187-05:00

Picking the snap beans. We planted two varieties this year- Royal Burgundy and Roc D'Or.Snapping the ends off of the beans.Frying the beans (1 part wheat flour, 1 part cornmeal, Tony's for seasoning.)Voila. Fried Snap Beans alongside an organic, free-range, grass-finished, Gotreaux Farms Longhorn beef burger.

Dallashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06164516326077262892noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283948906725999668.post-19495412264423437032009-06-09T08:47:00.003-05:002009-06-09T09:10:38.408-05:00

Clone Wars cakeFive you are.Will gave light saber lessons and the kids jumped on fun-jump.We played pin the light saber on Yoda.Darth Vader pinata ("What's a party without a pinata?"...Elias)The unwelcome guestRyan served up sno-cones for all those sweaty kids and adults!

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02396762384011446122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283948906725999668.post-68580597323961457182009-06-04T20:55:00.001-05:002009-06-04T20:57:46.539-05:00

Stevie Ray Vaughn, I am not.

Dallashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06164516326077262892noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283948906725999668.post-58877260087406124352009-06-01T10:15:00.008-05:002009-06-01T10:40:30.326-05:00

Those of you that have only followed this blog probably don't realize that I had a blog from 2003 - 2006. It was on the coolest domain ever- Wimpkiller.com. I loved talking blog specs with other bloggers, "'Hey what are you on? Blogspot? Wordpress? Typepad?' No, I'm on Wimpkiller!" I wrote about pretty much anything and thoroughly enjoyed blogging until I read a quote by AW Tozer- The

Dallashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06164516326077262892noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283948906725999668.post-913006845108536412009-05-21T09:01:00.002-05:002009-05-21T09:05:57.259-05:00

Happy Birthday Elias Luc! I still remember the day you were born like it was yesterday. We were so excited to meet our little man and I just can't believe you are now 5 and such a big boy! I love you a zillion, kazillion, a trillion!Love, Mommy

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02396762384011446122noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283948906725999668.post-32180057766424705772009-05-16T10:06:00.005-05:002009-05-16T10:31:42.024-05:00

I couldn't stop taking pictures of the mountains, but I will spare you and only post one.Ahhhh, the sampler at Breckinridge Brewery=A very happy DallasLame tourist stopGreat hikeThe cute mountain coupleNot a sign we see down the bayou...not the fire truck sign, the big horn sheep!

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02396762384011446122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283948906725999668.post-78247837137675438592009-05-15T09:47:00.003-05:002009-05-15T10:02:07.798-05:00

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02396762384011446122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283948906725999668.post-21921779470956874792009-05-12T21:39:00.002-05:002009-05-12T21:56:17.482-05:00

We "hiked" down to this partially frozen lake (in the background) and had fun throwing rocks on the ice.The cabin we stayed in.On our hike at Boreas Pass...this is when we decided we'd better turn around.Starting off on the hike...I'm sure glad J.P. and Michelle had snow boots...we needed them! (I stand just like my mom, right Dana?!)A view of Breckenridge ski runs

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02396762384011446122noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283948906725999668.post-7318949853775637082009-05-05T21:20:00.001-05:002009-05-05T21:21:24.829-05:00

"When someone drives up to the farm in a BMW and asks me why our eggs cost more,... well, first I try not to get mad. Frankly, any city person who doesn't think I deserve a white-collar salary as a farmer doesn't deserve my special food. Let them eat E.coli. But I don't say that. Instead, I take him outside and point at his car. 'Sir, you clearly understand quality and are willing to pay for

Dallashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06164516326077262892noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283948906725999668.post-61438720173433279052009-04-28T07:30:00.003-05:002009-04-28T07:57:09.594-05:00

Now the fun begins!

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02396762384011446122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283948906725999668.post-39532918866827311812009-04-25T10:32:00.002-05:002009-04-25T10:42:36.666-05:00

Happily munchin' on some M&M's.They actually got to use their umbrellas that day.Those are some cute boys!

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02396762384011446122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283948906725999668.post-77446850178397782932009-04-02T16:20:00.001-05:002009-04-02T16:20:00.760-05:00

It is not unrealistic to expect that we as a nation could convert millions of acres of ravaged industrial grain fields (plus millions of acres of land in federal conservation programs that cannot currently be used for grazing) to permanent pastures and see no decline in beef and dairy production in the bargain.Doing so would have many benefits. It would give us a more humane livestock system, a

Dallashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06164516326077262892noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283948906725999668.post-43331142854627832182009-03-27T09:41:00.002-05:002009-04-02T16:20:06.258-05:00

Deacon and his outer space glasses.Buzz Lightyear defeating Zurg cake

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02396762384011446122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283948906725999668.post-86689522447904790922009-03-20T09:26:00.003-05:002009-03-20T09:56:33.990-05:00

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02396762384011446122noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283948906725999668.post-77456619128352396902009-03-19T14:22:00.003-05:002009-03-19T14:26:48.484-05:00

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02396762384011446122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283948906725999668.post-78902466405752337672009-03-07T08:31:00.004-06:002009-03-07T08:38:45.952-06:00

It's hard to believe he was this little and still makes the saddest cry face ever!

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02396762384011446122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283948906725999668.post-50609134533044128212009-03-06T09:19:00.003-06:002009-03-07T08:37:59.340-06:00

I forgot to post his sofa pic and the last one for Forest!(Doesn't it look like he is about to sprout horns on his forehead? Just bruises from falling a lot while trying to learn how to walk.)He didn't really like the hat...can you tell?Why do babies love crawling in stuff? The kitchen cabinets are by far his favorite digging spot.Forest's scrunchy nose face.

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02396762384011446122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283948906725999668.post-31161689026034796942009-02-23T09:07:00.002-06:002009-02-23T09:22:41.587-06:00

This edition of Garden To Table comes with help from Carrie's parents... specifically Carrie's parent's chickens.Gathering eggs from the chicken coop.Cracking the eggs and scrambling.Cook dat.Eat dat.

Dallashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06164516326077262892noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283948906725999668.post-42495711914029994002009-02-18T16:09:00.002-06:002009-02-19T15:04:57.833-06:00

I refuse to sacrifice my family time upon the altar of weekend sports. I will not drag my children to soccer, baseball, and/or football practice three nights a week and live at Moore Park all weekend long. Yes, I want my sons to know what a sacrifice fly is. Yes, I want them to know how to execute a two-touch pass. Yes, I want them to understand that anyone who roots for Chelsea, the Atlanta

Dallashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06164516326077262892noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283948906725999668.post-1842498287142637892009-02-17T06:11:00.004-06:002009-02-17T06:19:27.654-06:00

My latest batch of seeds have come in which brings the total amount of plants we're doing this year way too high. Tomato and Basil seeds are already sprouting. Now it's time for Marigold, Morning Glory, Artichoke, and Bellpepper seeds to go into pots.Sorry for the mess on the counter top (no, not the seed packets)... any of you that think Carrie and I are perfect (not sure who that would be)

Dallashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06164516326077262892noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283948906725999668.post-23972035198564685942009-02-08T21:01:00.004-06:002009-02-08T21:08:52.226-06:00

[Aside: I don't know what happened. I only stopped blogging for a couple of months and then I look up and all there are on the front page are cute pics of my kids. Carrie is evil and sneaky... the kind of woman who would dress a dog in a sweater or, worse, dress me in sweater with a picture of a dog in a sweater embroidered into it.] We've hit the major milestone for Curls, AKA Poohgee, AKA

Dallashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06164516326077262892noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283948906725999668.post-75798260803687576342009-02-07T09:30:00.003-06:002009-02-18T15:52:51.151-06:00

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02396762384011446122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283948906725999668.post-47922777924376248812009-02-04T11:08:00.002-06:002009-02-18T15:52:51.152-06:00

Looking a little freaked out...Oh yeah, that is good.The older kids DID play pin the woodland animal on the tree :)Bear cupcakesAnd a forest cake for my little Forest.A video is coming soon of him digging into his cake.

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02396762384011446122noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283948906725999668.post-7986064532754075722009-01-20T08:32:00.004-06:002009-01-20T08:45:53.486-06:00

Roly PolyDrinking water from the bottom of the dishwasher. He has also been seen lapping up water from the floor in our bathroom after I have gotten out of the shower.Oh so sweet...how is it possible he is almost a year old?

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02396762384011446122noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283948906725999668.post-16027924704728747732009-01-10T15:32:00.003-06:002009-01-10T15:40:29.730-06:00

'Nuff said.

Dallashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06164516326077262892noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283948906725999668.post-81812949639572482292008-12-18T08:51:00.001-06:002009-02-18T15:52:51.152-06:00

For those of you who are not on Facebook, here are some pictures that didn't quite make the cut for our Christmas card.

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02396762384011446122noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283948906725999668.post-75507593257873082572008-12-15T15:15:00.004-06:002008-12-15T15:24:26.496-06:00

Okay, so technically 10 1/2 months now. Forest is a pretty quick crawler, pulls up on anything and walks with anything that will move...like the little piano above or my all time favorite, an empty diaper box...I call it his ghetto walker. He loves playing in his brothers room...all those cars, Star Wars guys, and puzzle pieces...he can't get enough. Is he really going to be a year next month?

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02396762384011446122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283948906725999668.post-15590318492098133182008-12-10T08:54:00.002-06:002009-02-18T15:52:51.152-06:00

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02396762384011446122noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283948906725999668.post-30218053350927937852008-12-04T09:06:00.001-06:002009-02-18T15:52:51.153-06:00

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02396762384011446122noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283948906725999668.post-77284202317170401102008-12-01T10:50:00.000-06:002008-12-01T11:18:38.702-06:00

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02396762384011446122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283948906725999668.post-82886697417035966052008-11-25T07:01:00.003-06:002008-11-25T07:14:31.110-06:00

Anyone who knows Elias knows that he is very inquisitive and talks a lot and asks lots of questions. But the best questions are saved for us right after he gets up in the morning. We wonder what he must have been dreaming about or thinking about right before he went to bed. I started writing them down and here are the first 10:1)Why do our eyes open and close all the time?2)Are we afraid of

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02396762384011446122noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283948906725999668.post-33492365054116697112008-11-22T06:44:00.002-06:002008-11-22T06:53:22.143-06:00

It took lots of tries from crazy mom running and jumping in the backyard but we finally got it up there...lots of screams and laughing when we finally did. If you haven't flown a kite recently, do it...very fun!

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02396762384011446122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283948906725999668.post-22835918808257996942008-11-18T06:14:00.003-06:002008-11-18T06:23:14.107-06:00

Harvesting the Broccoli RaabCutting it into 1 1/2 inch sections.Voila: Broccoli Raab, Italian sausage, and Bow tie pasta.In case you're wondering where we get our recipes, it's from The Best International Recipe cookbook. There isn't a bad recipe in there... I mean it, there isn't one bad recipe.

Dallashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06164516326077262892noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283948906725999668.post-19029396074247230282008-11-17T10:48:00.000-06:002008-11-17T10:49:35.243-06:00

One of the things I think Jesus is doing is setting us free from the heavy yoke of an oppressive way of life. I know plenty of people, both rich and poor, who are suffocating from the weight of the American dream, who find themselves heavily burdened by the lifeless toil and consumption we put upon ourselves. This is the yoke we are being set free from. The new yoke is still not easy (it’s a

Dallashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06164516326077262892noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283948906725999668.post-67137512422942498982008-11-14T05:14:00.003-06:002008-11-14T05:18:18.535-06:00

I saw my first Christmas ad on TV so here we go again.

Dallashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06164516326077262892noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283948906725999668.post-25721183304141549752008-11-08T07:05:00.002-06:002008-11-16T15:20:09.632-06:00

I see it!I'm gonna get it!Hey, how did that happen?Gotta put it in my curls again.Forest is "real" crawling, pulling up to standing, eating only table food, and getting into everything! He is SO much fun right now and so cute I could just eat his cheeks.

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02396762384011446122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283948906725999668.post-14493470244753746122008-11-05T21:03:00.002-06:002008-11-16T15:20:09.633-06:00

Pirate Deacon looking lots like Daddy!Yar Pirates!! (Elias wiped his goatee off and the earrings hurt them, so one is on the monkey, one is on Elias' hat and his parrot was "sleeping" the whole time.)Hey Spidey baby, your older brothers kept that hat on when it was their first Halloween! We had to snap fast before you took it off.

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02396762384011446122noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283948906725999668.post-88529964577222005292008-10-31T15:26:00.003-05:002008-10-31T15:29:11.427-05:00

Let us suppose that a remedy is possible. If so, perhaps the best beginning would be in understanding the falseness and silliness of the economic ideal of competition, which is destructive both of nature and of human nature because it is untrue to both. The ideal of competition always implies, and in fact requires, that any community must be divided into a class of winners and a class of losers.

Dallashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06164516326077262892noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283948906725999668.post-50515441474054909742008-10-28T15:54:00.001-05:002008-10-28T15:55:50.549-05:00

Ross from Friends ain't got nothin' on Elias.

Dallashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06164516326077262892noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283948906725999668.post-74061153581163139052008-10-21T21:01:00.003-05:002008-10-21T21:03:10.968-05:00

Carrie said I could tell more about Forest starting to crawl. Here's the video from the first day. Since then, he's vomited some weed he ate on the back patio, I've had to do a sweep and grab of some fireplace gravel, and he's gotten to some old food that was under the table.

Dallashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06164516326077262892noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283948906725999668.post-79055840752879636302008-10-20T14:22:00.007-05:002008-10-20T14:53:36.410-05:00

We're starting a new feature at the ole' family blog: Garden to Table. It's exactly what it sounds like- you'll get to follow the preparation of a meal from the garden to the table.Selecting the most mature head of Bok Choi...The fruit of our labor...Cutting scallions from our herbs pots...Mincing the bok choi...Making pork, egg, and cabbage jiaozi...Frying/Steaming the jiaozi...Served with

Dallashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06164516326077262892noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283948906725999668.post-17437804846819718782008-10-14T15:10:00.002-05:002008-10-20T14:20:44.166-05:00

I've always thought that David Alan Grier is hilarious... I mean absolutely hilarious. His Maya Angelou impersonation on SNL is timeless. Everything he did on In Living Color was great. Somehow, he's never made it out of sketch comedy into something bigger. Well, he might have finally found something that works:

Dallashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06164516326077262892noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283948906725999668.post-73704331649385357762008-10-13T09:28:00.002-05:002008-10-13T09:44:02.166-05:00

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02396762384011446122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283948906725999668.post-12996632646018139562008-10-10T10:13:00.002-05:002008-10-20T14:20:00.589-05:00

The boys are just finishing their first week at Mother's Day Out. On Wednesday, Elias got to ride on a school bus to the downtown fire station! He has always wanted to ride on one and he got to the 2nd day of school! He is in heaven...his teacher said he just fits right in like he has always been there. He is our very social kid who invites himself over to anyone's house. Deacon is my sweet

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02396762384011446122noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283948906725999668.post-61365388039645053612008-10-10T10:04:00.002-05:002008-10-20T14:20:00.590-05:00

So hard to get monthly picture now! I will post a video of him grabbing the sign over and over again! He started scooting! Dallas will have to post about it since he saw him do it first and got video of it. He is so much fun...such a happy fun age for a baby. He is definitely going to be our active boy. He is constantly moving...even if I am holding him, his leg is kickin'.

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02396762384011446122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283948906725999668.post-78362342067412296472008-09-22T15:04:00.005-05:002008-09-22T15:14:56.126-05:00

People sometimes ask why our kids are so tiny. It helps that Elias is a moral vegetarian but for Forest and Deacon, we have employed an early, strict exercise regiment.

Dallashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06164516326077262892noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283948906725999668.post-8138872444000664672008-09-21T15:15:00.001-05:002008-09-21T15:15:48.153-05:00

The professions and trades of those who are going to be accepted into the community [of christians] must be examined. The nature and type of each must be established... brothel, sculptors of idols, charioteer, athlete, gladiator... give it up or be rejected. A military constable must be forbidden to kill, neither may he swear; if he is not willing to follow these instructions, he must be rejected

Dallashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06164516326077262892noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283948906725999668.post-65891787982426115542008-09-15T12:07:00.004-05:002008-09-15T12:18:06.803-05:00

This first cool front has ridden Hurricane Ike's wake into South Louisiana. As I write I can see a cool breeze tickling to top of our Ficus tree. In a few weeks time I will have to relocate that tree into our living room, where it will long for warmer days when it can soak up rays of the sun without the window and heater mediating their life-creating exchange.To the uninitiated eye, my garden

Dallashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06164516326077262892noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283948906725999668.post-7356198296140612172008-09-12T08:33:00.002-05:002008-10-20T14:20:00.590-05:00

"Curls" is doing great! I think he is about to pop 2 bottom teeth out...as a result of that there has been lots of drooling and slightly more fussy. He now notices if I leave the room and can scoot on his belly in a complete circle, just not forward. He babbles "mamamama, bababababa, dadadadada". Hopefully, I can start feeding him pieces of food soon because he still is not crazy about pureed

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02396762384011446122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7283948906725999668.post-8093598703433088182008-09-10T08:00:00.003-05:002008-10-20T14:20:00.591-05:00

We have been doing "school" since November...but I got a lesson plan book and am trying to be more organized about Elias' Preschool. Since we are homeschooling, I don't have to file anything with the state until he is 6. Don't you love our old desks we got from Dallas' grandparents??? And how about doing school in jammies and underwear??? Pretty cool, huh? Mom still had her p.j.'s on too!

Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02396762384011446122noreply@blogger.com1