In Praise of the Egg

Consider the humble egg.

One of the cheapest sources of protein available. Ideal nourishment for anyone on a budget.

The egg is, in essence, a self-contained, nutritious environment for a potential embryo. Therefore, it is no surprise that it is second only to mother’s milk as the ideal food for people. Full of amino acids, protein, and varying amounts of 13 different vitamins, eggs are also moderately lean, containing about 5 grams of fat apiece.

There are probably hundreds of ways to prepare an egg. Poached, boiled, shirred, fried, pickled, whipped, and swallowed quickly, in one gulp, raw. And, like any fine actor, it plays supporting roles as deftly as leading ones. The egg is essential to most baked goods and desserts, to mayonnaise, custard, souffle and quiche; it enriches, binds, gives levity and fluffs, softens, smoothes and fortifies.

Versatile.
Compact.
Smooth.
Strong, yet fragile.
Genesis of life.
Mysterious.


Alluring.



Irresistible.



Just ask my twins.


Sunday morning after church, as I sat absorbed in my blogging, those egg-loving twins struck again. When will I learn?

I am not quite sure what they were trying to make...











But here is the primary perpetrator, doing her best not to be seen... (apologies to those who are not Python fans)

The Thanksgiving Puppy

On a cold Thanksgiving day, a puppy wandered, lost and
lonely, through the streets of town. As he turned a corner, there in front of him was a busy parking lot, bustling with cars and people doing last-minute shopping before Thanksgiving dinner. "Aha! Here is a place where I will find someone to love me!" the puppy thought. But not one person had time to stop for the poor, lost puppy. People walked right past him, ignored him, and chased him away. He had to dodge shopping carts, cars, and skateboards. Sometimes somebody would stop to pet the puppy or talk to him. But nobody wanted to take the puppy home.

Then a nice lady noticed him. "Maybe she will take me home!" the puppy hoped. But the lady left him outside as she walked into the store. Sadly, the puppy kept sniffing and searching the parking lot for someone to love him. When the nice lady returned to her car with her groceries, she saw some mean kids teasing the puppy. She walked over, chased the kids away, and said, "You poor puppy...have you been here all day? I don't want you to get hurt by a car. Do you want to come home with me?" The puppy wagged his tail happily and hopped into her car. Her children were so surprised and happy when she brought the puppy home, and they all lived happily ever after.

That's pretty much how it happened.

Except for the Big Mean Daddy who wouldn't let them keep the puppy. After two days they found a nice man (we hope) who took the puppy, and the children cried and cried. One of them even locked herself, sobbing, in the bathroom, and walks around clutching a framed picture of the puppy who lived with them for 48 hours.

Sheesh. So much for a good deed.

Moments to Remember

I asked Clare (7) to keep an eye on the twins for me while I went out to the garage. When I returned a few minutes later, this is what I found...

How sweet is that?



Although they've dragged their beanbag babies around sporadically for several months, and diapered them once or twice, the twins really don't play with their dolls much.
But tonight during "story time," Natalie (pink) put her baby on her lap, showed her the book, and used the baby doll's hand to point to things in the story. They also both kissed the doll's head when she "pointed" at something in the book! Then Natalie had me wrap the baby tightly in a blanket, and "fed" her an empty bottle. By then Noelle couldn't stand it, so I had to locate the matching baby doll and do the same routine. They both cuddled their swaddled dolls, and then flopped around to get comfy before falling to sleep themselves.

I wish somebody else could have witnessed it too. I will cherish this memory - I wished with all my heart I could have had a video camera handy, but once they spy the camera, it's all over but the shouting.



And finally, this was tonight's daily dose of twinsanity... I got caught up in the dining room, teaching Clare how to draw snowflakes. This is where I found Natalie when we were done. I didn't think she could get up from that little red chair onto the countertop.

No wonder she was so quiet. And her twin was quiet, too, because Natalie was throwing down goodies.

Why does this stuff only happen when Daddy is at work?

For Christmas I was going to find shirts that read "Which One Am I?" but I think I'm going to look instead for shirts that say "Silent" and "Deadly." Or maybe "Search" & "Destroy?" "Divide/Conquer?" They may not be cutesy, but the truth hurts, man. I have observed lately that Natalie seems to be the evil mastermind, while Noelle is her minion. Natalie doesn't communicate verbally as well as Noelle, but watch out! - those wheels are turning behind those droopy bangs!

Thanksgiving pictures

A rare group shot with every one of the cousins!
Standing: Kaitlyn, Megan, Scott, Brian
Seated: Conor, Clare, Noelle, Michael, Anna, Theresa, Bella, Milo, Adele, Sarah, Natalie






...and the men responsible for it all!

Vince, Michael, John, Andy

My Sons / Video: Brian's Obstacle Course Spectacular

My firstborn son,
now a high school sophomore

Boys........