SEVEN!

I married the perfect guy for me. I didn't marry the Perfect Guy, he doesn't exist. But I married the perfect guy *for me* which is pretty much as good as anybody can do. (It was a tall order. Literally and figuratively. Remind me to explain my 6-6-6 Theorem on Husband Finding later.)

"Seven" is our little exclamation that we say whenever one of us reads the other's mind. It comes from an old Powers Family tale, where his mother asked him what number she was thinking of, and he said seven. She said they were so connected, they could read each other's thoughts. She's freaking weird. If she could read his thoughts, she'd be really pissed at what he thinks of her...anyhow... whenever either of us finishes the other's sentence, or says exactly what the other was thinking, we say "Seven!" or my version is "Quit sevening me!"

We've switched the dogs to a raw diet now. Which is SO EASY to do since we're vegetarians! Har har. It totally grosses me out, but the girls love it and they are doing really well on it. I have never seen brighter eyes, shinier coats, whiter teeth or more energy out of them. They yummy down on their meat like it is the most awesome thing ever. They were introduced to raw by eating chicken. Once they figured out how it went and were okay with the chicken, I get to introduce other varieties of meats. So today we introduced fish and the girls each got a whole tilapia. And when I say "whole", I mean "WHOLE". Eyeballs and all. Fins. Tail. Gaping mouth. Full body sushi. As I passed out the fishies, I sang the first two lines of "Fish Heads" by Barnes & Barnes. And wouldn't you know it, my darling husband knows all of the lyrics. By heart. He finished the tune in his robust baritone while I laughed my ass off.

When you meet the right guy, 6+6+6=7. It's the New Math.

Fish heads, Fish heads
Rolly polly Fish heads
Fish heads, Fish heads
Eat them up, Yummm

Fish heads, Fish heads
Rolly polly Fish heads
Fish heads, Fish heads
Eat them up, Yummm

In the morning
Laughing, happy
Fish Heads
In the evening
Floating in the soup

Fish heads, Fish heads
Rolly polly Fish heads
Fish heads, Fish heads
Eat them up, Yummm

Ask a Fish head
Anything you want to
They won't answer
They can't talk

Fish heads, Fish heads
Rolly polly Fish heads
Fish heads, Fish heads
Eat them up, Yummm

I took a Fish head
Out to see a movie
Didn't have to pay
To get it in

Fish heads, Fish heads
Rolly polly Fish heads
Fish heads, Fish heads
Eat them up, Yummm
They can't play baseball
They don't wear sweaters
They're not good dancers
They don't play drums

Fish heads, Fish heads
Rolly polly Fish heads
Fish heads, Fish heads
Eat them up, Yummm

Rolly polly Fish heads
Are never seen drinking
Cappacino in Italian restaurants
With Oriental women...Yeah

Fish heads, Fish heads
Rolly polly Fish heads
Fish heads, Fish heads
Eat them up, Yummm

Fish heads, Fish heads
Rolly polly Fish heads
Fish heads, Fish heads
Eat them up, Yummm...
(Yummm)

Fish heads, Fish heads
Rolly polly Fish heads
Fish heads, Fish heads
Eat them up, Yummm

Fish heads, Fish heads
Rolly polly Fish heads
Fish heads, Fish heads
Eat them up, Yummm
YEAH!!!!!!!!!

Tongues?

We're still finding a home church, we haven't found one that suits us yet. We found one that I really like, with one exception. They practice praying in tongues. It wouldn't be such a big deal, except that I have in the back of my head that I don't believe in that.

Which then forces me to ask myself WHY I don't believe in speaking in tongues, and to be honest I don't have a reason as to why I don't believe it. I was raised in a very sterile Baptist church, where we sang old fashioned hymns, said a hearty "Amen" and sat very quietly during the service. I enjoy a more spirited style of worship though. So many times in the Old Testament there are accounts of believers dancing and singing in worship of God, and I identify with that. When you are focused on how amazing God is, and how good He is in your life it is hard to NOT become physically energized and exuberant and to want to express your joy through raised hands or a little bounce (which is about as Charismatic as I get).

So why do I not believe in speaking in Tongues? I have a vague recollection of something about dispensations, but since I can't actually refer back to any Biblical evidence that this particular gift of the Spirit is no longer to be practiced, I feel like my "not believing in it" has no grounds.

So instead of actually getting something out of the service last night, I was focused on figuring out why I believe what I believe (do I even believe it?). So I guess in that way, church was a blessing because while everything they said floated somewhere up above my head, my faith was challenged. I think I'm going to have to study this more and pray on it. I'm beyond that phase of my faith where I blindly accept that which I'm told. I MUST search it out on my own and find my own truth. I don't want a pastor to feed me like a baby birdie. I need to get my own teeth into the Word, and have it speak to me so I can apply it to my life. I spent way too many years wearing skirts and not listening to the radio or watching movies because I was told to. I'm beyond bending to a minister's "because I said so". The only "because I said so" that matters to me now is God's - so I have to figure out what He says about this.

My experience with observing the practice of praying in tongues wasn't at all the mental image I had before witnessing it. There were no crazies rolling down the aisles like they were having a seizure. The people who prayed in tongues were quietly murmuring to themselves (so as not to make a show of it) in jibberish (I couldn't make out any of it) during prayer. So the prayer sounds like the pastor leading the prayer, with a background cacophony of everyone else doing their thing. The one thing I couldn't help but think is that this is what prayer must sound like to God anyway. Millions of people, around the world, each talking to God about what is important to them. And isn't it amazing that while I couldn't focus on what any one person was saying, God hears each person clearly and answers each prayer perfectly?

I'll be studying this and praying on it further. I'll let you know once I figure out what *I* believe - and why.

The Moose With The Sweetest Caboose

His Mooseness after Blueberry Pancakepalooza this past Sunday morning - hence the no shirt. No shirt = No blueberry stains!




Hard to believe he will be 9 months old this week!


His darling curls - I call it his "Grandma Perm"


I need to find some baby-safe "product" I can use to hold his curls. They are the cutest curls ever to grace a baby head. I want to eat them up!

Poop Talk

I hesitate to post details regarding my physical cleanse here, since who really wants to read about that?

If you do want to, I am logging my logs (bwah!) here: Master Cleanse Journal

Cleanse

Tomorrow begins my great adventure into The Master Cleanse. I will be kicking off my adventure this evening with a cup of Traditional Medicinals Smooth Move Tea (yes, as in "smooth move, ex-lax").

In the morning I am to glug down my Saline Wash, which consists of 32 oz. of warm water with 2 tsp. of sea salt. This is supposed to help wash all the crap (literally) out of me. Then for the next 10 days minimum, I will consume 60 oz. of the Master Cleanse "lemonade" which is 2 T freshly squeezed lemon juice, 2 T of maple syrup in 10 oz. water with cayenne pepper to taste.

During the detox, you do the tea at night and/or the saline wash in the morning if you feel you need the extra elimination assistance. Coming off the fast, you do a day of juice then a day of broth then a day of fruits and veggies before going back to real food. I want to see how much toxic detox I can get out of my body, I think I would benefit more from our vegetarian diet if I started with a clean slate.

And while I work on cleaning out my guts, I'm going to try to really focus on cleansing in other ways. I'll probably do a TCA peel to work out some of this hyperpigmentation junk I've got going on. I would like to not "need" foundation. I also want to focus on getting our home organized. We have too many boxes lying around half packed. We had to dig through them to find something, but then never got around to unpacking them fully. I need to work on that. And lastly, I'm going to work on some heart cleansing. I still need to work on surrounding myself with more love and peace and less temper and anger.

So, that's what I love today. I love love, and I'm going to work on surrounding myself with more of it.

I really should get those wrappers and empty cups out of the car...

But I can't. My ride has been officially Mom'd.

Baby I cannot wait until 2008...

I got a crush on Obama....

He named names!

In addition to Dada and Mama, tonight Jackson whipped out a stunner: "Kaykay". While petting our golden retriever, Katie. He had previously made mention of "Ella" (our yellow lab, Bella).

So this is how it works, then? One day they just babble nonsense, then the next day they start talking and they never shut up?

Does this mean that we can't change Katie's name? After getting to know her better, we've decided she's more of a Phoebe than a Katie. Like Phoebe from "Friends": very sweet, very devoted, very loving, very DUMB. In a very, very cute way.

Lovin' Every Minute Of It

Today I heart:

• Dos Perros. They're crazy, they're fun. They make messes and eat all the food Moose throws off his high chair tray. They shed, they chase bunnies in the yard and they bark their heads off at the mailman. But for all their nutty hijinks, they really are great dogs. They have endless patience with their baby, and their affection is unconditional and everlasting.
• My custom made microfiber swiffer cloths. I found a lady that makes them as a home based business, and I ordered 2 wet cloths and 2 dry cloths. I love the fact that they are washable and reusable. They do a fantastic job on the Pergo, and I don't fill a landfill with disposable fluff. Kim is awesome, and you should totally email her (KimmyJoyLing@aol.com) about getting some yourself.
• Moose's fascination with sitting around telling everyone about "Mama Mama Mama Mama Mama!" He's been babbling about Dada for months now - so it's about damn time!
• The local co-op I've found. Oh yes, now I shall order all my 100% recycled, 80% PCW TP at WHOLESALE, baby. And organic baby wash, and my toothpaste, and...well, you get it. All the products I would otherwise pay retail for at Whole Paycheck, I shall now get at wholesale. I get to save the planet WHILE stickin' it to The Man and there are few things on earth than make me happier than either of those two things. Combine them and I'm on cloud 10! (Higher than cloud 9).

Time to give my Moose a bath - peace out!

Flaxen locks

The much awaited new hairs pic:




I am still not satisfied with this much change though - I think I will be doing some shearing next week when I trek out to see Lisa My Hair Sherpa.

FIRST SENTENCE! and recipe - Tofu Enchiladas con Mole'

Jackson really doesn't "talk" he just kind of babbles. But he has clearly determined that Tim is Dada and I am Mama. (Why Dada comes first for virtually all babies confounds me. Completely NOT fair!) Anyways, this afternoon Jackson looked up at me and said, "Mama, baba!" I pulled a bottle out of his insulated cooler bag, he grabbed it and sucked it down. He actually told me what he wanted with words. Unbelievable! The kid can't crawl, but he can ask for his dinner by name. :)

Speaking of dinner, today dinner was Tofu Enchiladas con Mole'. I LOVE a good mole'. The best homemade mole' I've ever made is Rick Bayless' recipe. It is so labor intensive, I call it Two Day Mole'. Anyways, I didn't make my own mole' for this, I bought it in a jar. For jarred mole', Trader Joe's is the bomb-diggity. I actually think on the jar they call it Trader Jose. :)

1 jar red mole'
1 pkg soft tofu
8 tortillas
16 oz shredded cheese

Boil the block of tofu for 5 minutes to push the water out of it, then lift it out of the boiling water with a slotted spoon. Set it on a stack of towels and push down slightly on the top to drain. Crumble the block in a medium mixing bowl. Add 1/2 the jar of mole' and then 1/2 the package of shredded cheese. Blend thoroughly. Spoon a row of filling in the center of a tortilla, roll up and then place in a baking pan. Continue with remaining tortillas until all filling is used. Pour remainder of jar of mole' on top of enchiladas and then sprinkle with the remaining cheese. Cover pan with foil, then bake in a 350 degree oven for 20 minutes. Serve with a side of beans and rice for a protein-packed meal. I like to top my enchiladas with either plain yogurt or sour cream to cut the heat from the chilies in the mole'.

This meal is more "assembling" than cooking. You can put it together in advance and then bake it just before serving, too. You can serve a family of 4 adults for about $8, all inclusive and it tastes AMAZING. I use whole wheat flour tortillas for the fiber. YUM! This is also a great way to introduce tofu to your finicky husband, they would never guess that's what it is.

Baby just kicked...YOUR ASS!

In case you have missed Jenna Elfman's Mama Jams, peep this:

Love Thursday

Today I <3:

My Moose. He is just the best thing ever. He's delicious. Love love love love love love love My Moose!

Air Conditioning. Nope, it's not "green" but it became necessary today. Ahhh...sweet relief.

The Bark Park. Taking the girls out for a quick romp with some doggie friends makes for very pooped out puppies - which means a very quiet, tranquil evening! Hoorah!

Like, I don't know *bounces head from shoulder to shoulder*

I'm blonde again. Photos to follow. Tim's request. Hair is dry, but no "chemical haircut", thank God.

I'm not sure if I like it yet. It's VERY different.