thursday

today has been a whipped cream kind of day.

a cup filled entirely with whipped cream.

a cup filled entirely with whipped cream topped with raw sugar.

thursdays are dangerous.

can you hear me now?

We just got home from a wonderful camping trip. A camping trip with cousins and uncles and aunts and grandparents. Food. Fun. Family. Good times.

But a funny thing happened while we were away. I don't know if swimming caused excess water to fill the ears of my big kids, resulting in selective hearing loss....or if the campfire smoke caused me to begin speaking in inaudible tones. What ever the cause, poor (BAD!) listening has been the result.

Cue The Dad.

The.

Dad.

D

A

D

!

He had a little conference with them this morning in the playhouse.

I don't know what he told them. Or why they are "fast listeners" again. Maybe he cleaned out their ears? Maybe they played a game of tag? Maybe he gave them a big lecture? Who knows?

All I know is that when I asked them to clean up their rooms, they both hopped to it.

I could get really used to this.

The moral of this story is:

The MVP is on my team. Bring it on, children.

Bring it on.

all good

My car is in the shop.

My baby isn't sleeping at night.

I'm running on fumes.

But, I'm running.

And it's all good.

Because I've got paint in my hair and under my fingernails.



The best therapy, to be sure.

the ant and the grasshopper

I'm thinking things would be a better if we could all take personal responsibility.

But how do you help people achieve that?

In Aesop's fables, there's the one about the hard working ant and the carefree grasshopper. The ant works and works and works all through Spring, Summer and Fall. In the winter, she has enough food to last her family through the Winter.

The grasshopper spends his time playing and relaxing and enjoying himself all through Spring, Summer and Fall. So, when Winter rolls in, he has nothing.

He goes to the ant to beg for food. She tells him, "If you don't work in the Summer, you can't expect to eat in the Winter." (Maybe she's a Republican?)

Cold?

I would say, "YES!" if the grasshopper showed up in a wheelchair, or with 15 children. But an able bodied grasshopper? I don't think so. He was lazy. It would be a different story if he spent all summer looking for work, but found none. Or if he lived in a country with famine....or had a mental illness....or worked in the finance industry.

How do you teach a grasshopper the value of personal responsibility?

today...

...I am in a slump.

I am in a funk.

I do not like being in a slump.

I do not like being in a funk.

I do not like green eggs and ham.

I do not like them, Sam I am.

crazy delicious

I found a new love. Dried mangoes.

They feel healthy....but don't look at the nutrition information. Carbs are good for us. Especially 39 grams.

And look! You can even use them for self portraiture:

fresh

See that tomato? When I chopped it, it was still warm from the sun shining on it in my back yard, where it had been growing .

The rest of the stuff is from our CSA. Kohlrabi, cabbage, broccoli, garlic, Swiss chard, squash, zucchini and onion.

I served it topped with cheese and crackers, to my husband and my girl.

My boy couldn't even bring himself to try......so he had the sandwich that he didn't want to eat at lunch, for supper. For breakfast tomorrow? Soup, with cheese and crackers.

one summer in july

Last week I got a call from a girlfriend. Her husband was taking her kids on a two week camping trip, and she was home alone. Home. Alone. All by herself. Without kids. Or her husband.

She wondered if I would be interested in helping her jazzify the homestead while the cats were away. YES I WOULD BE INTERESTED. When my husband came home from work, he watched all of our children (none of whom are on a two week camping trip leaving me home alone all by myself) so I could go over to Girlfriend's house and brain storm.

And were there ever storms-a-braining!

Over the course of the next five days, we tore down wallpaper and repainted one girl's room. Cleaned out a room in the basement and turned it into another girl's bedroom. We downsized accessories. There were rugs purchased and curtains sewn. Pillows. Lamps. Blankets. Throws.

My husband has been a real trooper. He's always great about sharing the childcare load, but the load is especially heavy when the baby is cutting his first teeth. (Two. At a time.) The project is drawing to a close now. There are only three rooms left in need of love, and we've got just over a week to finish. I can't wait to hear how her family reacts to the changes. They don't even know what we've been up to.

Oh, the fun we've had! Initially, I was having visions of my life and career once my kids are all in school. Visions of me, doing my thing. Re-entering the work force. Coming out of hiatus. And then thoughts about starting before they're all in school. We could make that work, right?

Sure!

Yes!

But..
....
.....then I would come home from Girlfriend's house, and I would behold my house. My house looks a whole lot different when I've been gone. The kids are all happy. And fed. And relatively clean.

But, everything we own is on display across the living room floor.

And my husband is a little twitchy.

He says he's fine. He's happy that I'm having a blast, and even happier that I'm bringing in a little money in the process. But this isn't working....wouldn't work....not in the long haul. It's fine for a few days one summer. But it wouldn't be fine every day all the time. Not for us.

Everyone is feeling the interruption in our rhythm. The baby's sleep is seriously messed up. I'm sure his teeth have a lot to do with that, but I know he senses the change. My big kids are squirrellier, and my girl keeps asking me where I'm going. Even when I'm not going anywhere.

So, it's been real. It's been fun. And it's been real fun. But when it's done, it will be done. For a little while longer.

I can wait. I know that when the time is right, it will all be right.

A l r i g h t.

and, lo, there was tiredness

We had a lovely, full, 4th of July weekend.

On Sunday, I took a nap with my wee babe. I fell HARD into a deep sleep. For about 7 minutes. And when I was forced out of that precious slumber, I could barely move.

I put the baby in his walker and slithered to the floor so my body would block his path--keeping him confined to a safe zone. My arms felt like they weighed 500 lbs. What's wrong with me? (And because I'm a special kind of crazy) Could I have cancer? (It's always cancer.) Mono? Acute liver failure?

I tried to will myself to get up off the floor. My body was having nothing of it. My baby rammed his walker into my legs. Over. And over. And over. And again. My husband happened upon us.

He took mercy upon my pathetic plight. All three children were gathered together for a long walk/bike ride. But not before he asked me if I would rather move to the couch. If only it were that simple!

*cough*

He laid a blanket on top of my lifeless legs and filed everyone out the door. What a hero, what a guy!

I lay on the floor contemplating my next move. I closed my eyes. I should really take this opportunity to sleep. But think of the laundry I could get done! And that bible study I will need to have done by Wednesday....now would be the PERFECT time. Oh! OR! I could sew! Ah!! I could water the garden. As my mind raced with possibilities, my limbs became lighter. 'It's a 5th of July Miracle! I can move once again!' I thought to myself.

And I became an object in motion tending to stay in motion.

Until my husband and kids came home. And the tired came right back.

I'm thinking the tiredness could have a whole lot to do with the fact that I haven't had a good night of sleep since August 2001. That, or anemia.

remembering

One day, years ago, my girl and I were talking. It was a sweet moment...I was so keenly aware of time marching on. I was looking into her eyes. She was looking into mine. I focused on burning the moment into my memory.

We sat that way for a long time. I thought about her. Her beauty. Her kindness. I wondered who she would become. What she would be like in a few years. I wondered what she was thinking about. Was she thinking about me? Wondering what I was like as a girl? What was holding her interest for so long?

"Mommy?"

"Yes, Peanut?"

"Know what?"

"What?"

"I can see myself. Your eyes are like mirrors."

.........................................

be kind to dragons

My husband is in the market for a new vehicle. He found one that was 'for sale by owner' a few towns over. (He has always been able to sniff out the best deals in automotive transport.)

This one had potential. The owner said it had some electrical issues, he had no idea how to fix them, didn't want to deal with it...and just wanted it gone. Ever willing to tackle minor-to-medium-ish-major auto repairs, my man wanted to take a look.

After talking at length on the phone with the current owner, he made arrangements to go and take a look. We loaded up our crew. Grabbed lunch. And rode off into the sunset.

When we arrived at our destination, we took beheld the vehicle in question. It had a very large fairy wizard wheel cover on the back spare tire. And bumper stickers. LOTS of bumper stickers. One said, "Be kind to dragons."

!

Strike one.

And two.

The owners came out of their house and began pleasant small talk. They popped the hood, and then my husband got down on the ground to have a look underneath. When he resurfaced, he had a huge oil drip on the side of his cheek.

He hopped behind the wheel and turned the key in the ignition. Grrrr..rrr..rrr..rrr. Grrrrr.rrrr.rr...rrrr. No start. Again. RRRrrrrrrr..rrrr...rrrrrr....running-only-when-he-kept-his-foot-on-the-gas. Sputter.


While he was behind the wheel, the owners began whispering to each other. I could only speculate what they were saying, but I think it was, "I hope this guy is a sucker and takes this lemon off our hands!! Bwahahahahaha!!!"

He got out of the car, thanked them for their time and we went on our way. Leaving them with their wizard lemon.

On our way home we stopped at Starbucks. AND Target. And Target's Starbucks.

It was a great day.

true confessions

I was so desperate for chocolate today, I ate these:




Please.

Send help.

(Or
better
chocolate.)

he climbed a mountain...

...and brought me back some edelweiss.

Blossom of snow may you bloom and grow. Bloom and grow, forever.

Nothing comes from nothing. Nothing ever could. So somewhere in my youth or childhood I must have done something good.

advice for the newbies

I was trimming my gigantic baby's fingerclaws today. They grow so quickly, that I have to trim them back every 45 minutes, nearly, or risk being scratched to death every time I hold him. (Which is all the time.)

While I was trimming them, I was transported in time to a baby class my husband and I took before our first bundle of miraculousness was born. Our teacher was a nurse, not married, and without children. Not that it matters, but it did. Our class was chock full of first time parents. This particular class was towards the end of the once-a-week-for-six-week sessions. We were learning about the proper care and keeping of newborns. How to bathe, change, feed etc our soon-to-be born babies.

I'll never forget her words of caution about trimming a baby's fingernails. "You MUST use a clipper that is designed specifically for babies. OR ELSE, you might cut off the tip of the baby's finger!"

Oh. My. Goodness.

Be careful when bathing---DROWNING! And feeding---CHOKING! And napping---SIDS!

Watch for fevers.

And Jaundice.

I remember leaving that day feeling a bit panicked. How in the world could we manage?

When she was born and we brought her home, we took turns staying up holding her those first few nights...too afraid to lay her in her crib.

I wish that nurse would have said, "Relax. You'll do just fine."

Because we did. Eventually.

If I could give advice to new parents, it would be this:

• Your baby is fragile, but you won't break his arms or legs when you dress him for the first time.
• If you need to put your baby in his car seat while you shower, that's okay.
• If you need to put your baby in his car seat while you eat a tub of ice cream, that's okay, too.
• You can't keep your baby away from every germ.
• A held baby lacks motivation....so hold him every single moment that you can.
• You will give your first born the worst sleep habits. It's all your fault. But it's okay. When they are 10 months old, you will read the book "Sleeping Through the Night" and will be wiser with all the babies that come next. It does eventually get better.
• Sometimes it isn't any fun. But that doesn't mean you don't love your baby.
• Sometimes your baby will cry for no good reason.
• Sometimes you will cry for no good reason.
• Sometimes you will cry for good reason.
• Sometimes you will understand how the crazy people feel.
• Nursing is a good thing.
• Nursing is not a beautiful thing right away.
• Nursing - even with a correct latch - can be PAINFUL LIKE YOU WANT TO DIE for the first six weeks. But! IT GETS BETTER!! Press on!!
• No one knows your baby like you do. Even right away.
• Relax. You'll do just fine.

happy father's day

I wanted to do something nice for the father of my children. He was mowing. I grabbed a cookbook and made up a basic yellow cake.

I took it out of the oven and tried to rush the cooling process so I could get it frosted before the baby woke from his nap.

I wouldn't recommend rushing the cooling process:


Happy father's day. I made it all by myself.

Becky P.

The signature line from her email makes me laugh everytime:

Thought of the day:

SOME PEOPLE ARE LIKE SLINKIES. NOT REALLY GOOD FOR ANYTHING BUT THEY BRING A SMILE TO YOUR FACE WHEN PUSHED DOWN THE STAIRS.

a book by its cover

So I have this new planner. It will last me until December 2010. Which is slick.

But, I'm not jazzed about how it looks. So I covered it in fabric. It was completely complicated. I use only the most sophisticated of methods.

See that circle of tape down there? That's the double stick tape we had left over from a window winterizing kit.......extra classy, I know. And the fabric is left over from my bedding. Matchy, matchy, matchy, matchy. (I'm sorry. It's 10:30 pm and I've been up since 4:00 am.)

Anyhow, I cut the fabric allowing several inches of overlap all around. Folded it here and there and everywhere and then ironed the folds. Then I took that double stick tape, and went to town. There's tape all over beneath that fabric.

Then, I put some tape all over some ribbons, and taped them on.

Voila.

I don't think that stupid tape is going to hold. Tune in next week, for more adventures in double stick taping. Just kidding. There is no such thing as adventures in double stick taping.

Goodnight.

parenting 531

"I don't like that."

"That looks gross."

"That makes me want to spit up."

"This smells funny."

"I'm not actually really all that hungry."

"Can I have a peanut butter sandwich instead?"

These are phrases I hear at least 89 times a week. And tonight, I took a stand.

I made a Mexican dish for dinner this evening. It was good. Really good. Chicken. Cheese. Cream. Red sauce. Tortilla chips. While 99.99997% of children would be thrilled to eat chips for their main course, my boy decides he doesn't like it before he's even tasted it. (Which is when my girl decides to pour it on EXTRA thick about how wonderful it is, and how much she enjoys everything I make.)

At any rate, we made him muddle through so that he could get to dessert.

Dessert that was ice cream with strawberry sauce.

I was about to hand him his bowl when he said, "I doooooon't liiiiiike thaaaaaat kiiiiiiiind."

And a very heavy straw fell onto a very weak camel, and I said, "I'm sorry to hear that." And walked to the garbage and dumped in the contents of his bowl.

A horrified look swept over his face. Tears began to fall. Oh the tears!

An important lesson was learned this night.

(Hopefully the lesson isn't ~your mom is crazy and you need to be careful what you say to her~)

the tree

The maple tree in our yard is perfect for climbing.


The kids love to climb. My girl has been able to monkey herself into it for years. Not so, my boy.


Last year, he was certain that this summer he'd be able to get up into it himself. On the first nice day of the year, my girl climbed up to her favorite perch. My boy, excited at the prospect of FINALLY being able to climb up himself, tried his hand at it. And couldn't do it. Was he discouraged? Yes. He was. (He tends to be a little glass-half-spilled-onto-the-floor.)

We've been giving him lots of encouragement. Advice. Tips. Tricks. Pointers.

Nothing.

He would try and fail and say he'd never try again. He would never ever ever never be able to it. *slumped shoulders, frowny face*

Today was a nice day. We were outside. He tried again. He failed again.

But today, he kept trying.

And today, he did it. He pulled himself up and called for his daddy to come and see.

"How do you think of this?" He boasted. *head shaking side to side*

"Way to go! We knew you could do it!" We all told him.

"You know what I did?" He said, "I prayed to God. I said, 'Please let me do it this time.' And you know what? I didn't do it that time. But I kept on, and He let me do it a few times after that time."

. . . . . . . . . . . . .

Wow. That is my life. I pray, PLEASE let it happen right now in my own way and in my own time. And you know what? Things (almost) never happen in my own way, in my own time. Should that discourage me? No way. Because sometimes He lets them happen a few times after...and every time it happens for the best.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:28 (New International Version)

he ain't heavy, he's my elephant

a self portrait:

Sometimes the weight of my mothering responsibilities feels like a big fat elephant. An elephant with balloons. An elephant with balloons but no party.

It's been a long day.