Last night on the way to Scouts and Heritage Girls a particular child made a little remark about my Southern accent (which is the pot calling the kettle black if there ever was one). Anyway, I told that particular child they could only laugh at me when I was trying to be funny.
Another particular child spoke up from the back and said,
"How are we supposed to know the difference????"
As I was repeating the story to their father he replied,
"If we have to wait until you are trying to be funny that is going to greatly reduce our chances to laugh at you."
See, no respect around here.
I think I'm going to have to add another dance/song routine to the repoitare just to get back at them. That will teach them, I'm sure.
Showing posts with label Musings. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Musings. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
A Couple of Crazy Days...
I cannot even begin to tell you all the crazy, but good things, that have happened over the past couple of days. A whole lot of life was lived this past week at my house and thats a good thing. Exhausting, but good.
Two fun things stick out-I got my new floors! It took Wednesday and Thursday for them to get it finished, but ya'll, the difference is amazing. I just sit and look at them. I don't know how they make me feel more peaceful, but they do. I guess because it was such a crazy roller coaster to actually get them down. I plan on finishing the baseboard and trim painting this weekend.
The other wonderful thing was that Mark, Abbie, my mother-in-law Betty, and I drove to Charlotte Friday and then back home again Sunday. It was a quick trip, but we had a good reason-to see my new grand-niece Ada Marie! I would put pictures up because she is beyond adorable, but I didn't think to ask her parents if they minded if I plastered her all over my blog. You can trust me that she is precious.
It was good to see Mark's sister Mollie, who met us there, all the way from Boston. She just missed the big snow. Mollie is now our old dog Sadie's human and she says Sadie LOVES the snow. I guess its a good thing.
It was nice to just spend some time with Abbie. She is growing and maturing, but still has such a little girl wonder about her. And I love that. Our hotel has an indoor pool and she felt like she had hit the jackpot.
Monday we were back at home for a good normal day of school and laundry catchup and then yesterday we went with my niece Jennifer to a homeschool fellowship. I came home, sat down on the couch, and promptly fell asleep. I guess socializing wears me out. Mark came home a little early with what appears to be a kidney stone. Yikes. He has had one before and he says it feels the same. We are in waiting mode to see how bad it might get. Hopefully it will be over with soon. I hate it that he hurts, but I know he hates it even more.
Two fun things stick out-I got my new floors! It took Wednesday and Thursday for them to get it finished, but ya'll, the difference is amazing. I just sit and look at them. I don't know how they make me feel more peaceful, but they do. I guess because it was such a crazy roller coaster to actually get them down. I plan on finishing the baseboard and trim painting this weekend.
The other wonderful thing was that Mark, Abbie, my mother-in-law Betty, and I drove to Charlotte Friday and then back home again Sunday. It was a quick trip, but we had a good reason-to see my new grand-niece Ada Marie! I would put pictures up because she is beyond adorable, but I didn't think to ask her parents if they minded if I plastered her all over my blog. You can trust me that she is precious.
It was good to see Mark's sister Mollie, who met us there, all the way from Boston. She just missed the big snow. Mollie is now our old dog Sadie's human and she says Sadie LOVES the snow. I guess its a good thing.
It was nice to just spend some time with Abbie. She is growing and maturing, but still has such a little girl wonder about her. And I love that. Our hotel has an indoor pool and she felt like she had hit the jackpot.
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| My Abbie growing up before my eyes. |
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| This picture if proof of how much Mark loves his daughter. She wanted to have a picture of herself with one foot in North Caroline and one in South. |
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| We missed the Georgia/South Carolina sign so the Georgia rest stop sign had to do. I don't think it is possible that I could love a girl more. |
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
This & That...
~This weekend I will be painting -again. I found out the hard way that there is a thing called TRIM Paint that I should have used on my TRIM and now I have to REDO it because the TRIM is already flaking and peeling and getting little marks all over it. I wish that SOMEONE would have told me there was such a thing as TRIM paint before I went to the paint store, but I promised to love this person through thick and thin 19 years ago and I promised in front of God and about 300 people so I am choosing to forgive and forget this-after I put it on my blog for everyone to see.
Really-I felt like such a doofus and couldn't figure out why my TRIM was not shiny like everyone else's. So, this weekend will be re-trimming and also finally finishing up my baseboards because I am supposed to get my new floor sometime in the next three weeks!!!!!!! Its so pretty ya'll. Its almost too pretty to walk on.
~I have a little book giveaway going on here if you want to check it out.
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
A Long Few Days....
What a couple of days it has been! It seems like we have had about two months crammed into the past five days. Saturday night it felt like two years worth.
We have had lots of family things, and mostly not too good, going on. Thursday afternoon James had some kind of allergic reaction to something and it was pretty severe. We were at the doctor three times in three days and now he is on "allergy watch" until we can get the allergy testing done. Mark and I had to learn how to use an Epi-Pen and that is scary to me. Hopefully we can get in with an allergist soon and get some things resolved. My mommy gut instinct is that something outside bit him (we know he already has a very low tolerance for ant bites-he runs a fever and swells up just from them), and that does not bode well as we live on seven acres all filled with all kinds of bugs. We'll see though. He also had walnuts and pistachios with his breakfast that morning and the doctor wants him tested for tree nut allergies.
There are other things, healthwise, with several people I am close to or work with my family, and I mentioned to a friend yesterday, "I would just like some good news. Just a little bit."
I am somewhat down about all this, but having four children in the house all day long, doesn't leave much time for mopiness (is that a word?). I am just trying to "do the next thing", but here lately I am not even sure what the next thing should be. School is taking up a lot of time, and that is the way it should be, but adding James as an official fourth, and really trying to concentrate on specific subjects with different children, is taxing. We used to be through with school by noon each day, but not anymore. And that's okay, its how it should be, but other things are getting pushed aside and my get-to-it-later list is way longer than my to-do list.
I am trying to preach to myself all that I would tell any other mom at this time-only do what is necessary. Don't start new projects. Concentrate on meals and school. Enlist the kiddos to help and knock out house-cleaning in a morning. Do easy meals. Pull those meals out of the freezer you have been putting up. Take some time each day to sit and be still. Play a silly game with your five year old.
Instead I have been still trying to keep up with all the other stuff too and it is wearing on me.
So, today I hope to calm down and do each thing I have to do intentionally and reasonably well. I have to do school today, I have to buy groceries, because freezer meals are great, but if you don't have any dishwashing detergent to wash the plates and forks with, well, the meals aren't going to do you much good.
So thankful I have a hubby who understands, a momma who runs to help, and friends who listen.
We have had lots of family things, and mostly not too good, going on. Thursday afternoon James had some kind of allergic reaction to something and it was pretty severe. We were at the doctor three times in three days and now he is on "allergy watch" until we can get the allergy testing done. Mark and I had to learn how to use an Epi-Pen and that is scary to me. Hopefully we can get in with an allergist soon and get some things resolved. My mommy gut instinct is that something outside bit him (we know he already has a very low tolerance for ant bites-he runs a fever and swells up just from them), and that does not bode well as we live on seven acres all filled with all kinds of bugs. We'll see though. He also had walnuts and pistachios with his breakfast that morning and the doctor wants him tested for tree nut allergies.
There are other things, healthwise, with several people I am close to or work with my family, and I mentioned to a friend yesterday, "I would just like some good news. Just a little bit."
I am somewhat down about all this, but having four children in the house all day long, doesn't leave much time for mopiness (is that a word?). I am just trying to "do the next thing", but here lately I am not even sure what the next thing should be. School is taking up a lot of time, and that is the way it should be, but adding James as an official fourth, and really trying to concentrate on specific subjects with different children, is taxing. We used to be through with school by noon each day, but not anymore. And that's okay, its how it should be, but other things are getting pushed aside and my get-to-it-later list is way longer than my to-do list.
I am trying to preach to myself all that I would tell any other mom at this time-only do what is necessary. Don't start new projects. Concentrate on meals and school. Enlist the kiddos to help and knock out house-cleaning in a morning. Do easy meals. Pull those meals out of the freezer you have been putting up. Take some time each day to sit and be still. Play a silly game with your five year old.
Instead I have been still trying to keep up with all the other stuff too and it is wearing on me.
So, today I hope to calm down and do each thing I have to do intentionally and reasonably well. I have to do school today, I have to buy groceries, because freezer meals are great, but if you don't have any dishwashing detergent to wash the plates and forks with, well, the meals aren't going to do you much good.
So thankful I have a hubby who understands, a momma who runs to help, and friends who listen.
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Things I Have Been Thinking About...
1. Christmas is 98 days away. How did that happen?
2. I am loving doing Kindergarten with James. I had forgotten how much I love doing all the K5 stuff. I am not feeling the same way about the 7th grade stuff. I mean, its hard to make cute little crafts about antecedents and pronouns with a 12 year old boy. They don't appreciate it one bit.
3. I think one of the hardest things about being a parent is watching your children make a poor choice and knowing they are going to have to deal with the consequences later. Nothing serious going on here, mind you. Just children acting like children. But they are children whom we are turning into adults-so we have consequences.
4. Cooler weather is here (for the time being anyway). In Alabama we know this is just a big weather tease and it will get hot again. But for now, I am enjoying the cool breezes.
5. The baby goats are getting Fat with a capital F and they are too cute. Seriously, I waste so much time up there just looking at them and patting their fat bellies.
6. Ladies, foundational undergarments are not an option. Once you hit a certain age you have to commit to the undergarments and they are an everyday thing. And they are undergarments-not over-garments. There. Whew, I feel better.
7. Abbie and I have been getting ready for my niece's baby shower on Saturday. We have been surrounded by pink and we love it!
8. Do you ever have those moments when you are overwhelmed by how much you love your children and it just seems like it is too much and the tears flow from thankfulness that they are yours? I had one of those Sunday morning at church. I love my family.
9. Sometimes my children just drive me plain bunkers. I just don't understand the bickering and the messy rooms. We are just a whole bunch of humans living in a little house and we are together all the time. And they won't keep their rooms clean. But I still love them.
10. You know those King Hawaiian Rolls? They are too good. It is taking all my willpower right now not to go over and eat all the leftovers from supper. Why do they make them so good?
Well, the randomness can't be beat here. Anyone else thinking this morning?
2. I am loving doing Kindergarten with James. I had forgotten how much I love doing all the K5 stuff. I am not feeling the same way about the 7th grade stuff. I mean, its hard to make cute little crafts about antecedents and pronouns with a 12 year old boy. They don't appreciate it one bit.
3. I think one of the hardest things about being a parent is watching your children make a poor choice and knowing they are going to have to deal with the consequences later. Nothing serious going on here, mind you. Just children acting like children. But they are children whom we are turning into adults-so we have consequences.
4. Cooler weather is here (for the time being anyway). In Alabama we know this is just a big weather tease and it will get hot again. But for now, I am enjoying the cool breezes.
5. The baby goats are getting Fat with a capital F and they are too cute. Seriously, I waste so much time up there just looking at them and patting their fat bellies.
6. Ladies, foundational undergarments are not an option. Once you hit a certain age you have to commit to the undergarments and they are an everyday thing. And they are undergarments-not over-garments. There. Whew, I feel better.
7. Abbie and I have been getting ready for my niece's baby shower on Saturday. We have been surrounded by pink and we love it!
8. Do you ever have those moments when you are overwhelmed by how much you love your children and it just seems like it is too much and the tears flow from thankfulness that they are yours? I had one of those Sunday morning at church. I love my family.
9. Sometimes my children just drive me plain bunkers. I just don't understand the bickering and the messy rooms. We are just a whole bunch of humans living in a little house and we are together all the time. And they won't keep their rooms clean. But I still love them.
10. You know those King Hawaiian Rolls? They are too good. It is taking all my willpower right now not to go over and eat all the leftovers from supper. Why do they make them so good?
Well, the randomness can't be beat here. Anyone else thinking this morning?
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
You can be sure...
You know that old saying,
"The only thing you can be sure of are death and taxes."
Well, I am here to disprove that saying. Because there are some more things I can be sure of.
Such as...
If I drop the gas cap at the gas station it will ALWAYS roll under the car. Never beside the car, but UNDER the car. All the way under. Right in the middle. And I will be wearing a skirt.
If I have a new book that I have been waiting forever to read and I get settled on my swing and in giddy anticipation open the cover--someone will automatically get sick or seriously injured.
If I get the house all cleaned at the same time--no one will show up at the front door. But, if it is all falling apart at once--several people will come knocking.
My four children will not even know I am on the planet until I get settled into a long phone discussion with Rebekah. And then, just as we are about to solve one of the big world problems, all four children will need me for something. I think the cell phone emits a sound wave or something that attracts children to me when it is put up to my ear.
And of course, the one that all moms know...
No one will need me until I go to the bathroom. And then everyone needs me. Right then.
So, what are some things you are sure of.....
"The only thing you can be sure of are death and taxes."
Well, I am here to disprove that saying. Because there are some more things I can be sure of.
Such as...
If I drop the gas cap at the gas station it will ALWAYS roll under the car. Never beside the car, but UNDER the car. All the way under. Right in the middle. And I will be wearing a skirt.
If I have a new book that I have been waiting forever to read and I get settled on my swing and in giddy anticipation open the cover--someone will automatically get sick or seriously injured.
If I get the house all cleaned at the same time--no one will show up at the front door. But, if it is all falling apart at once--several people will come knocking.
My four children will not even know I am on the planet until I get settled into a long phone discussion with Rebekah. And then, just as we are about to solve one of the big world problems, all four children will need me for something. I think the cell phone emits a sound wave or something that attracts children to me when it is put up to my ear.
And of course, the one that all moms know...
No one will need me until I go to the bathroom. And then everyone needs me. Right then.
So, what are some things you are sure of.....
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
It Happened...
Well, it happened.
My teeny-tiny newborn baby started Kindergarten yesterday.
I didn't cry, but I almost did when I prayed with him before we started school and I became aware once more of the awesome responsibility it is to raise these children in the fear and nurturing of the Lord. We have a long 13 years before us, but I know it will be worth it in the end.
And I know that at the end of those 13 years I will truly be able to say that the years were short indeed.
My teeny-tiny newborn baby started Kindergarten yesterday.
I didn't cry, but I almost did when I prayed with him before we started school and I became aware once more of the awesome responsibility it is to raise these children in the fear and nurturing of the Lord. We have a long 13 years before us, but I know it will be worth it in the end.
Monday, August 20, 2012
The Story of the Lost Bowls and Lost Dreams...
So... I have had this head-cold thing this weekend and can go between feeling fine and terrible in a two minute span. Back and forth, back and forth. With not knowing what day it is and all I don't know if I'm coming or going. Or if I even want to come and go. Anyways...
As I was feeling like death warmed over I decided to make some of my mom's Chicken Noodle Soup while everyone was at church. I even used some of my little teensy cutie bread packets to make bread (even though that was a big flop) and was anticipating a delicious lunch for the family.
I start gathering up all the dishes we will need for the meal and realize I only have four bowls. And since I know there are six people in the family I get an early start on K5 math and figure out I am two short. So I sent the kids to look in all the places where the other bowls might possibly be-their rooms, the van, the yard-don't laugh. I found my broom in the back yard this morning.
Everyone dispersed and no one returned with any bowls. I took a deep breath and then calmly said,
"Okay, we will just have to eat in shifts then."
Mark burst out laughing at the scenario.
And I thought to myself,
"When did this happen? When did I become the mom who calmly states things like, 'We will just eat in shifts.' What happened to bring me to this point? How did I become that mom? How did our family become that family? "
We still haven't found the bowls. Maybe they are out there in the expanse floating around like my dreams of an orderly home where all the bowls live in a cabinet designated just for bowls and plates. Where a bowl can be free to just be a soup bowl and not an ant habitat or magic potion holder. Where bowls can live in freedom to be happy serving up little bowls of oatmeal each morning?
Free MamaHen's bowls!
Someone please tell me I am not alone.
As I was feeling like death warmed over I decided to make some of my mom's Chicken Noodle Soup while everyone was at church. I even used some of my little teensy cutie bread packets to make bread (even though that was a big flop) and was anticipating a delicious lunch for the family.
I start gathering up all the dishes we will need for the meal and realize I only have four bowls. And since I know there are six people in the family I get an early start on K5 math and figure out I am two short. So I sent the kids to look in all the places where the other bowls might possibly be-their rooms, the van, the yard-don't laugh. I found my broom in the back yard this morning.
Everyone dispersed and no one returned with any bowls. I took a deep breath and then calmly said,
"Okay, we will just have to eat in shifts then."
Mark burst out laughing at the scenario.
And I thought to myself,
"When did this happen? When did I become the mom who calmly states things like, 'We will just eat in shifts.' What happened to bring me to this point? How did I become that mom? How did our family become that family? "
We still haven't found the bowls. Maybe they are out there in the expanse floating around like my dreams of an orderly home where all the bowls live in a cabinet designated just for bowls and plates. Where a bowl can be free to just be a soup bowl and not an ant habitat or magic potion holder. Where bowls can live in freedom to be happy serving up little bowls of oatmeal each morning?
Free MamaHen's bowls!
Someone please tell me I am not alone.
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Tuesday Thoughts (and none of them are deep)...
~I dreamed last night that everytime I turned around in my kitchen there was a box of Roma tomatoes. They just kept appearing and appearing. I will need to freeze tomatoes today and make more muscadine jelly. I only got four pints yesterday because I ran out of lids. I stocked up last night after taking the boys to Scouts so today will be jelly day. And tomato day. And the lima beans need picking. Well, those are good problems to have...
~I am determined to get back to walking today. Determined I tell you. Ya'll, it is hot and humid here in The Deep South and it rains almost every afternoon so my walking has been hit and miss. Mostly miss. I got a new Leslie Sasome walking DVD from the library so I now have no excuse. Except that after I tend to children and can and do laundry and tend to the children some more and cook the meals I really really don't want to walk for exercise. I want to take a nap and dream about something other than tomatoes. I will do it though. If anything so Jill won't get that disappointed look on her face when I give her another excuse.
~Today is my baby brother's birthday. Happy Birthday Del! It was discovered by me last week that my brother is an excellent writer and editor and would he mind coming and teaching my children writing and proofing for the next five or six years? I cannot pay him in cash money, but I can make a mean lemon pie which I hear he is partial to.
~Sunday morning I got my first little glimmer of excitement about starting K5 with James. Yea! It is starting. Now I just need to pull out all the supplies and little curriculums and buy the colors and glue and little scissors and then I will be ready to roll. I just hope he is.
Are you thinking any good thoughts today?
~I am determined to get back to walking today. Determined I tell you. Ya'll, it is hot and humid here in The Deep South and it rains almost every afternoon so my walking has been hit and miss. Mostly miss. I got a new Leslie Sasome walking DVD from the library so I now have no excuse. Except that after I tend to children and can and do laundry and tend to the children some more and cook the meals I really really don't want to walk for exercise. I want to take a nap and dream about something other than tomatoes. I will do it though. If anything so Jill won't get that disappointed look on her face when I give her another excuse.
~Today is my baby brother's birthday. Happy Birthday Del! It was discovered by me last week that my brother is an excellent writer and editor and would he mind coming and teaching my children writing and proofing for the next five or six years? I cannot pay him in cash money, but I can make a mean lemon pie which I hear he is partial to.
~Sunday morning I got my first little glimmer of excitement about starting K5 with James. Yea! It is starting. Now I just need to pull out all the supplies and little curriculums and buy the colors and glue and little scissors and then I will be ready to roll. I just hope he is.
Are you thinking any good thoughts today?
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Heard Around Here Lately....
"I have seen indications that the stink bug population is becoming extinct around here."
Me thinks someone may be watching a little too much Jeff Corwin lately.
In other news-
~The insurance man is coming today to look at our roof. I don't know why this makes me nervous and makes me want to clean house, but it does.
~I have a boatload of tomatoes to deal with today.
~My Abbie-girl is having a great time at summer camp this week, but I am missing her. And James is really missing her.
~Yesterday and Monday I was away from home all day keeping a friend's 17 month old little boy while she is at summer camp with Abbie. I came home exhausted from sitting and watching James and Levi play together all day. I guess I had forgotten the energy of a toddler and when you add a five year old to the mix - whew! We'll be home today though, which is good since, you know, all the tomatoes.
~I am thinking of school starting. Just thinking about it right now. I still think I am in denial about the whole 9th grade thing.
So, what's your plans for the day?
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Not to be overly-dramatic or anything, but....
The Heat~~
Its just too much to be borne by mere mortal men
Deep sigh...
Its just too much to be borne by mere mortal men
Deep sigh...
Monday, July 9, 2012
Monday Morning-Birthday Edition...
Apparently my brain cannot put together a real post with paragraphs and lead-in sentences and periods and commas and such so I'll just have to bullet point it again. Its just too hot to have to think right now.
1. Sweet Hubby Mark's birthday is today! We are about to wake him and partake of Blueberry Cobbler for breakfast. He would rather have that than cake. I would love to have some vanilla ice cream, but I didn't think that far ahead. Then we would have our fruit, bread, and dairy covered for breakfast!
2. Tomatoes, tomatoes, tomatoes. My life right now. Our chickens, after three years, have figured out how to get out of the coop. Guess what they love?-red ripe tomatoes. So I am trying to beat them each morning and evening to the ripe ones.
3. My Facebook page got hacked or unsecured or something or the other last week and I can't get on it. If weird things start popping up on my page please ignore them. You know, more weird than what I normally post.
4. Something I never thought I would be saying as a mom-
James apparently thought this would be a good way to cool off yesterday.
5. I did not walk at all last week. I could give you a list of excuses, and some are valid, and some aren't so, oh well. Today is a new day to start again. Its pretty wet in the pasture-I walk the outside of the pasture so I might have to do the Pilates tape on some days. Like today most likely. My slave-driver-aka, Coach Jill-is at the beach this week. I really think she should have swung by here and picked me up and took me with her. Then we could have walked on the beach each day. Think of all the exercise I could have gotten in Jill!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARK! I am so glad you are home!
1. Sweet Hubby Mark's birthday is today! We are about to wake him and partake of Blueberry Cobbler for breakfast. He would rather have that than cake. I would love to have some vanilla ice cream, but I didn't think that far ahead. Then we would have our fruit, bread, and dairy covered for breakfast!
2. Tomatoes, tomatoes, tomatoes. My life right now. Our chickens, after three years, have figured out how to get out of the coop. Guess what they love?-red ripe tomatoes. So I am trying to beat them each morning and evening to the ripe ones.
3. My Facebook page got hacked or unsecured or something or the other last week and I can't get on it. If weird things start popping up on my page please ignore them. You know, more weird than what I normally post.
4. Something I never thought I would be saying as a mom-
"Do not put any more ice cubes down your pants!"
James apparently thought this would be a good way to cool off yesterday.
5. I did not walk at all last week. I could give you a list of excuses, and some are valid, and some aren't so, oh well. Today is a new day to start again. Its pretty wet in the pasture-I walk the outside of the pasture so I might have to do the Pilates tape on some days. Like today most likely. My slave-driver-aka, Coach Jill-is at the beach this week. I really think she should have swung by here and picked me up and took me with her. Then we could have walked on the beach each day. Think of all the exercise I could have gotten in Jill!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARK! I am so glad you are home!
Saturday, July 7, 2012
This & That Saturday....
~It's raining at my house! We soooo needed the rain. By Monday the garden should be ready to pick again. A busy week ahead for me then, but so thankful for the rain. Our whole state needed it so bad.
~I got to go thrift store shopping with my mom yesterday afternoon. We found lots of vintage children's books and schoolbooks and I started to get a little flutter in my heart about starting school again. Other than that I've been, "Nahhhhh." Momma, I think we should go again!
~Abbie got her savings account statement in the mail yesterday and asked me to explain what interest was. I wish I had a picture of her eyes lighting up when she realized she could make money by doing absolutely nothing at all. A lightbulb moment for the girl!
~I heard from Mark last night and Matt caught a big snapper and he and Tyler caught lots of smaller fish. They had a big grill-out and had fresh fish for supper.
~I am cleaning out my camping closet today and trying to rearrange things to fit all the stuff that used to go into the now freezer closet. Wouldn't it nice if space would compound as interest does?
Hope you are having a lovely rainy day too!
~I got to go thrift store shopping with my mom yesterday afternoon. We found lots of vintage children's books and schoolbooks and I started to get a little flutter in my heart about starting school again. Other than that I've been, "Nahhhhh." Momma, I think we should go again!
~Abbie got her savings account statement in the mail yesterday and asked me to explain what interest was. I wish I had a picture of her eyes lighting up when she realized she could make money by doing absolutely nothing at all. A lightbulb moment for the girl!
~I heard from Mark last night and Matt caught a big snapper and he and Tyler caught lots of smaller fish. They had a big grill-out and had fresh fish for supper.
~I am cleaning out my camping closet today and trying to rearrange things to fit all the stuff that used to go into the now freezer closet. Wouldn't it nice if space would compound as interest does?
Hope you are having a lovely rainy day too!
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Hodge-Podge....
~I survived round two of Pilates and was much less sore last night than the night before. Today I am just going to walk though because my arm muscles are like soup right now. I had no idea I had so many muscles in my arms and fingers....
~Today is our errand day and music lessons day after a morning of school. Its like Wednesdays just don't exist here at Clark Acres. It is go go go all day long. Cramming it all in on Wednesdays works for us though because we are home all other days. The kids don't like it too much (especially Abbie who would go somewhere everyday if possible) but I LOVE it.
~I have been embroidering some more. Is that a word? Loving it and I am using it for my reward for getting my daily chores and exercise done. Love to sit on the swing in the afternoon and see how small I can make my stitches.
~Leila has some very wise words here. I will admit we are terrible about eating supper together as a family. Mostly because Mark is never home at a certain time each night and it is I have used supper time as a way for the kids to be quite and watch a show while I check blogs. Yikes, did I just admit that? Its true. I have a pattern in my life of starting things, failing once, and then jumping off the bandwagon and running and hiding. Sometimes I think the theme of my life is "Retreat! Retreat!" But, back to Leila and her wise words-she is right and what she says is spot on.
~Today is our errand day and music lessons day after a morning of school. Its like Wednesdays just don't exist here at Clark Acres. It is go go go all day long. Cramming it all in on Wednesdays works for us though because we are home all other days. The kids don't like it too much (especially Abbie who would go somewhere everyday if possible) but I LOVE it.
~I have been embroidering some more. Is that a word? Loving it and I am using it for my reward for getting my daily chores and exercise done. Love to sit on the swing in the afternoon and see how small I can make my stitches.
~Leila has some very wise words here. I will admit we are terrible about eating supper together as a family. Mostly because Mark is never home at a certain time each night and it is I have used supper time as a way for the kids to be quite and watch a show while I check blogs. Yikes, did I just admit that? Its true. I have a pattern in my life of starting things, failing once, and then jumping off the bandwagon and running and hiding. Sometimes I think the theme of my life is "Retreat! Retreat!" But, back to Leila and her wise words-she is right and what she says is spot on.
Friday, March 23, 2012
Friday Morning...
Source: stormclouds-and-raindrops.tumblr.com via Chris on Pinterest
Jill, when I saw this picture I thought of us. How awesome would it be to each curl up on a swing and just read the day away as it rained all around us? If we had one of grandmother's old soft quilts it would be even better. You think Momma would make us some chicken and dumplings?....
Okay, enough daydreaming.
Its a rainy morning here after a week of absolutely stunning beautiful weather. And it has been a very busy week for my little family. I told Mark I feel like the old clique of the rollercoaster that you can't get off of. Its just one thing after another. Decisions, hormones, emotions, discipline, laughter, sickness, math, allergies, history, taxes..... Its been one of those weeks
around here.
The whole family's weekend plans are up in the air because of the rain. But its really okay. We will just have to wait and see. I usually don't do wait and see so well and about noon I predict I will start getting anxious and grouchy. Will you pray for me that I won't? See, I can't even talk about the wait and see without worrying about the wait and see? I'm a mess friends.
Thankful this morning for rain to wash the pollen away, husbands who listen to the same ole stuff over and over, friends who encouraged me this week, and mommas who are always willing to help. And thankful for Jesus who called me and loved me and redeemed me in the very midst of my mess and continues to do so....
Friday, March 16, 2012
This and That Friday....
~Okay ya'll. I can see the ads and can see the ads on other people's blogs, but Mark says he can't see them when he logs in at work. Am I going crazy? Does anyone know why these ads are appearing on some people's blogs and not others? How can I get them off?
~We had Mark's parents 70th Anniversary Party last Sunday. We had lots of family here and it was nice. I was dog-gone tired when it was over though and laid down and slept for two hours. I think the time change had something to do with that too. I looked on Google and it said that only 6% of people IN THE WORLD are married for 70 years or more. Wow! What a testimony they have been to our whole family on the importance of marriage and family and being loyal and faithful through thick and thin.
~My dad had a birthday Tuesday and we celebrated by taking a blueberry cake to the office. My mom's is next week. We just want to get all our celebrating done in one month around here.
~School is just dragging on. Dragging..... Is anyone else feeling that way?
~The Scouts are camping and FavCousin is spending the night with us tomorrow night. I am anticipating giggles and squeals until about 10. And then they both get really grouchy. They will just have to be grouchy with each other though because I plan on being in bed with a good book. And probably James. He is a kicker and a squirmer which means I might be grouchy come morning.
Happy Weekend Everyone!
~We had Mark's parents 70th Anniversary Party last Sunday. We had lots of family here and it was nice. I was dog-gone tired when it was over though and laid down and slept for two hours. I think the time change had something to do with that too. I looked on Google and it said that only 6% of people IN THE WORLD are married for 70 years or more. Wow! What a testimony they have been to our whole family on the importance of marriage and family and being loyal and faithful through thick and thin.
~My dad had a birthday Tuesday and we celebrated by taking a blueberry cake to the office. My mom's is next week. We just want to get all our celebrating done in one month around here.
~School is just dragging on. Dragging..... Is anyone else feeling that way?
~The Scouts are camping and FavCousin is spending the night with us tomorrow night. I am anticipating giggles and squeals until about 10. And then they both get really grouchy. They will just have to be grouchy with each other though because I plan on being in bed with a good book. And probably James. He is a kicker and a squirmer which means I might be grouchy come morning.
Happy Weekend Everyone!
Friday, February 24, 2012
This and That...
Last night I tried doing the "sock bun" on Abbie's hair. It did not wave this morning like we were hoping, but I thought it looked pretty all put up. And it made her look so much older which I did not like one bit.
Brothers who love each other.
James built a Sadie-Protection Fort. She is in her teething stage and driving us all crazy.
You can see that Sadie lives a hard life here at Clark Acres. I don't know how she makes it through the day. Another week of school and life together down and it has been a pretty relaxing one except for going to Children's Hospital on Monday. Matt hurt his finger and even though it is not broken he is in a special splint thing for a couple of weeks. I called a Cleaning Day yesterday because I was going crazy and we spent the day getting the house in order. School started back today and things went so much smoother. Being able to find those school books helps with actual schooling quite a bit. This weekend looks to be pretty low-key, just the way ole MamaHen likes it. Of course now that I have said that something out-of-the-ordinary will happen. I'm about to go make hot dogs for lunch and then off to buy some groceries. Because my Pantry Challenge was a big fail. A big one. I did make up a recipe last night from things I already had and it was good, but I don't think I can pull it off again tonight.
Do you have any super-wonderful plans this weekend?
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
A Red Letter Day...
Friends,
Yesterday something happened that was unexpected and some might say extraordinary.
I drove downtown to Children's Hospital and DID not get lost one time.
The parking lot to the hospital was full and closed and I did not panic. I drove around to the other side and was able to get in. And find a good parking space.
And I did not cry. Or hyperventilate. Or even tear up.
I owe it all to Patti.
My GPS. A gift given to me by my father who no doubt was tired of hearing all the getting lost stories. And Patti is delightful. She tells me if I miss a turn. And then she re-evaluates the situation and directs me on the the right path. Literally. She KNOWS the right path. And she TELLS me!
Oh Patti-you have a special place in my van. And hopefully soon I can get your little holder replaced and I can prop you up in your special place of honor right on top of the radio. I'll even come up with a special song that can just be ours. And I'll sing really loud and embarrass the kids even more. They think its silly that I talk to you like you are a person. Won't they be surprised when we start singing together?
Yesterday something happened that was unexpected and some might say extraordinary.
I drove downtown to Children's Hospital and DID not get lost one time.
The parking lot to the hospital was full and closed and I did not panic. I drove around to the other side and was able to get in. And find a good parking space.
And I did not cry. Or hyperventilate. Or even tear up.
I owe it all to Patti.
My GPS. A gift given to me by my father who no doubt was tired of hearing all the getting lost stories. And Patti is delightful. She tells me if I miss a turn. And then she re-evaluates the situation and directs me on the the right path. Literally. She KNOWS the right path. And she TELLS me!
Oh Patti-you have a special place in my van. And hopefully soon I can get your little holder replaced and I can prop you up in your special place of honor right on top of the radio. I'll even come up with a special song that can just be ours. And I'll sing really loud and embarrass the kids even more. They think its silly that I talk to you like you are a person. Won't they be surprised when we start singing together?
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Thursday...
Source: fedty.cover.dk via Sille on Pinterest
Ever feel like the above picture?
I feel like I am walking in my sleep. Sort of half-asleep, half awake. Like Pooh Bear tapping his head going , "Think, think, think..." What do I do next?
I like routine, I like everyone to be well, I like things to be clean. Basically I like things to be easy. And even though we have had far more busy weeks and crazy things going on in the past, I am beat. I feel like I could crawl in the bed and sleep for two weeks.
Matt hurt his finger playing dodgeball at Scouts the other night. The xrays show no broken bones, but since it is angling off at about a 75 degree angle we are having to go to a hand doctor to get it looked at. The first appointment we could get was next Monday. So he is in finger brace thing which he says hurts worse than the actual finger injury. He also has a case of poison oak which would put all other cases to shame. And did I mention he is starting to reduce fractions in math? I personally think all fractions should just be left alone, don't you? Just let them take care of themselves. Or better yet, lets just get rid of fractions altogether and force everyone to use whole numbers only.
While chasing escaped rabbits Tuesday morning Abbie stepped on a nail, (old and rusty of course) and so we spent the morning at the doc with her yesterday. And then we had to go buy groceries and I almost had a panic attack walking through the store thinking about what to buy and not to buy. I could not make a decision to save my life. We picked up a few things and left. We had the kids in bed at 8:30 and Mark went on to bed. I stayed on the couch to read and have a little quiet time. I was successful and fell asleep until Sadie, the Giant Dog, woke me at 1:30 because apparently it is important for Giant Dogs to be awake from 1:30 to 4:30 am. And to want to play. And bark. And try to steal my blanket over and over. And then when you put her out she needs to kill a mouse, bring it to the back porch, and bark at said dead mouse over and over and over and over.
Sadie is no longer little cute puppy. She is Giant Cute Dog. Its a good thing she is a good dog although her favorite thing to do is still to stand in front of you and block wherever you want to go. I thought only children enjoyed this pasttime.
So, all that to say, if Mark can go off and slay his dragons with a head cold as he did this morning I guess I need to get up and slay those fractions. Well, Matt really needs to slay them. I need to slay the laundry dragon which set up camp at my house yesterday because I did not get one load done. Oh my goodness someone make me stop with the rambling.....
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Will wonders never cease?....
You may remember the other day I saw a cow in a farm trailer going down the interstate giving birth? It was memorable to say the least.
I thought it would hard to top that.
Well, well, well. I had a little surprise yesterday in my own home. And my eyes still aren't sure they saw what they saw and my brain is still processing. But, I have to believe it really happened. All the evidence is there.
As I was putting the groceries away I handed James the 12 pack of toilet paper and told him to go put it away. Later I went in to the bathroom fully expecting to see the pack of paper laying on the floor. Because to five year old James putting it away means taking it to the correct room and throwing it in as far and as hard as he can.
I walked in and looked around in disbelief. I rubbed my eyes and declared again I really needed new contacts.
He had:
1. Opened the package
2. Put all 12 rolls in the basket beside the toilet where the extra rolls go.
3. And wonder of wonders, PUT THE EMPTY PACKAGE INTO THE TRASHCAN, and did not leave it laying on the floor.
Tears welled in a brimming pool in my eyes as my heart sang with joy at the sight before me.
And in the still quiet background I thought I heard the Avett Brothers begin to sing "Just A Closer Walk With Thee."
Not that they, or this song, has anything to do with what happened, but lately the Avett Brothers and their music is in my head a lot.
(Did you know they are coming to Birmingham March 7? I would love to go but won't for two very important reasons~~ 1) It cost money to buy tickets and the three meals a day thing is pretty important to Mark and me right now and 2) I am pretty sure I would be oldest woman there and I wouldn't know how to act. You know the last concert I went to was Micheal Bolton in 1990, don't you?)
I thought it would hard to top that.
Well, well, well. I had a little surprise yesterday in my own home. And my eyes still aren't sure they saw what they saw and my brain is still processing. But, I have to believe it really happened. All the evidence is there.
As I was putting the groceries away I handed James the 12 pack of toilet paper and told him to go put it away. Later I went in to the bathroom fully expecting to see the pack of paper laying on the floor. Because to five year old James putting it away means taking it to the correct room and throwing it in as far and as hard as he can.
I walked in and looked around in disbelief. I rubbed my eyes and declared again I really needed new contacts.
He had:
1. Opened the package
2. Put all 12 rolls in the basket beside the toilet where the extra rolls go.
3. And wonder of wonders, PUT THE EMPTY PACKAGE INTO THE TRASHCAN, and did not leave it laying on the floor.
Tears welled in a brimming pool in my eyes as my heart sang with joy at the sight before me.
And in the still quiet background I thought I heard the Avett Brothers begin to sing "Just A Closer Walk With Thee."
Not that they, or this song, has anything to do with what happened, but lately the Avett Brothers and their music is in my head a lot.
(Did you know they are coming to Birmingham March 7? I would love to go but won't for two very important reasons~~ 1) It cost money to buy tickets and the three meals a day thing is pretty important to Mark and me right now and 2) I am pretty sure I would be oldest woman there and I wouldn't know how to act. You know the last concert I went to was Micheal Bolton in 1990, don't you?)
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