Persistence

As any casual reader of this blog has noted by now that we have a boy in our family who is thoroughly obsessed with lizards, especially chameleons.  During church last Sunday I drew a simple picture of a Jackson chameleon for William to color.  He was really impressed and praised my drawing skills (what a rewarding boy he is sometimes!).  When we came home he promptly taped it to his door.  Then he tried to draw one.  Weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth is the best way to describe Will's frustration, and he claimed he was an idiot (refer to the quote above).  I explained that the way people get good at things is by practicing a lot and not giving up even when they feel like screaming.  With a hopeful giggle through tears he said he would give it a try.  He took a pad of paper and a pen to a quiet corner and began drawing. 

Most of them he wadded up and dramatically threw in the garbage.  He made it through about 40 post-its.

Monday he finished the pad and started on another.  He taped some of his favorites to the cupboard so he could "compare them."

By Tuesday he had gone through most of the second pad and was starting to be pleased with his improvement.  It is now Wednesday, and he has drawn about 150 chameleons.  More comparisons taped to his bedroom door.

If it is true that persistence increases our capacities ("not that the nature of the thing has changed"), then William is on his way to greatness...

Losin' Teef

William:  "Let me see, Meg.  Oh you look so beautiful like that!"

Jacob: "Clara's new smile is so great, that huge space with the little drip of flesh in the middle."

I, for one, am a little sad to see that signature gap vanish, to be replaced with gigantic grown-up teeth.  The days go by too quickly with this girl...

Your Movie Library Is Not Complete

Just some recommendations from the akmallen vaults:

When I was growing up one of my very favorite movies has become one of my kids' favorites.  What is this magical production, you ask?

To watch the preview of this 1974 classic go HERE.  No home library is complete without it.

And for you adults out there, a movie your kids will hate, but you will love...

For the preview, go HERE.  It is a refreshing polar opposite from the likes of James Bond--rather than killing, it's about living.  Instead of merely ending a broken relationship, it's about repairing and repenting.  A wonderful story.

The Goop

I had taught the kids a poem for Family Home Evening a few months ago (which we recite occasionally when a manners offense has been committed).  The other day I was headed downstairs, and as I neared the kitchen I heard a wee voice chanting it:

"The Goops, they lick their fingers.
The Goops, they lick their knives.
They spill their broth on the table cloth,
Oh, they lead disgusting lives.

The Goops, they talk while eating,
And loud and fast they chew.
And that is why I'm glad that I
Am not a Goop, are you?"

I felt a small swell of pride as I rounded the corner, my little one applying the lesson he had learned so well... until I spotted the singing kitchen gnome.

Face buried deep in the yogurt container, raspberry glop everywhere, suspicious puddle under his chair, bulging little belly, which I like to rub like a lucky rabbit's foot, and a smile to melt his momma's heart, all while singing about the Goops.

Chef Mikey Robideaux Does It Again!

Today, Chef Mikey Robideaux delights us with a traditional Arabian appetizer:  Hummus.  Now, some of you may be thinking, I hate garbanzos!  My momma use to force feed them to me in salad!  or other such nonsense.  But Chef Mikey will save poor chickpea's reputation with this delicious recipe, guaranteed to delight grandchild and grandparent, friend and foe (though nary a foe will come around again if you add strychnine to their batch!).  "Keep in mind, this in not like traditional Indian hummus, which has a sweet quality about it.  If you prefer that flavor simply double the amount of chickpeas.  I've also found that my lady gets weak in the knees when I call her my little chickpea (especially 'cause I'm from the south).  Works WAY better than calling her a garbanzo."

Hummus

1 can garbanzo beans
1/3 c juice drained off the chickies

1/4 c lemon juice

3-4 T tahini, to taste (now this is sesame seed butter found in the peanut butter aisle at your local grocery store.  It's rather like fish sauce: don't try it by itself, but no authentic recipe is right without it!)

1/2 t salt

1 1/2 t cumin

1 clove minced garlic (you can be increase this if you're like Larry King and enjoy a little garlique)

3 hefty dashes cayenne pepper, to taste

Put all ingredients into a mean blender and blend to desired consistency.  I recommend you garnish this healthy treat with some paprika splinkled liberally on top.  Also good with finely chopped tomatoes or sun dried tomatoes, olives or olive oil, fresh parsley, a little feta or sesame seeds on top, etc.  Use the Palestinian part of your imagination!  Enjoy, with Chef Mikey Robideaux's compliments.

Ode to Elk

Titus, O Titus!

First friend and then foe,

Tell us the truth now,

Deep down did you know?

That when you went psycho

Your fate you would seal—

And shortly you’d feel

The edge of cold steel?

Titus, O Titus,

How sad was your lot!

Titus, O Titus:

The Elk who was not.

Then we have Snowball

Who crowed far too much.

His Little Man’s Syndrome

Got him out of touch.

Before you could see

Two flicks of her wand,

Mom turned him to Elk,

No chance to abscond!

Snowball, O Snowball

Prince of the Unthought!

Snowball, O Snowball:

The Elk who was not.

Posthumously teach us

The lessons you learned

In order to keep from

Our lives being adjourned.

Phoenix, be weary,

And Henwyn alert!

Spooky, you watch it,

And Sphynx, don’t be pert—

For one thing is certain,

And this is that:

If Mom calls you “Elk”

You had better scat!

Or before you know it

You’ll roast in the pot,

Your epitaph reading:

“The Elk who was not."

Chickie Cakes

"Hey kiddos, what are you doing out there with all that flour?"

"Oh, we're making the chickens a treat."

"What kind of treat is it?"

"Oh, it's going to be a chicken cake, with bugs and weeds and flour, and just stuff like that."

"You realize that's about 10 pounds of flour don't you?"

"Yeah.  It's a lot.  We have a lot of chickens though, and they each get their own."

"You're very thoughtful.  Now clean it ALL up, please."

(Famous last words...)

Our little Kitchen Gnome popped his head in the window for a dinner preview.

Since sweeping proved a dismal failure, they tried hosing off the mess, which, as we all know, turned it into a porch full of gluey gooey.  I gave them each a scrub brush and by the time they were finished it was way past dark.

Then they were sent to the tub.

"How did your cake turn out?"

Clara:  "Pretty well.  I'd eat it..."