Status report!

 This kid has never come across a fake mustache he didn't like. He had been wearing these goggles for a couple days. Without interruption. To school, stores, even fell asleep wearing them. When the weekend came, he added the gun and mustache. He's definitely ours. 

This is my aluminum anniversary gift. What is it, right? They hold up my bathroom mirror. Pretty sweet, right? 

Custom

But mostly,with these photos, I'm practicing with my camera. I'm determined to have nice, enjoyable pictures. 

It's a work in progress and one that I'm going to share with you. I will continue to post more and more pictures to show you how well I'm doing.

These are my beautiful flowers that Hubby had delivered to my office. I don't know what these white flowers are but, if you do let me know. I think they smell like cinnamon and enjoy them tremendously.

I didn't take any of these on auto setting. However, I cannot tell you what setting I did use. I know that I adjust the white balance setting. Which gave me this bright snow reflection white.

No, they are not giant monster roses.

Does this look like a rose to you?

Yeah, me either. If, for whatever reason, you don't know what this is, it's a stink bug,Halyomorpha halys. <----Fancy, huh? Anyway, these guys are creeping up the ladder of things I do not care for. On their way past mud, which I will elaborate shortly. They are harmless. They don't bite or sting. Apparently, they stink but, I will be honest, I have not smelled them. Not even after I opened the sliding glass doors a couple of months ago to find dozens and dozens of them smashed in the jam.
There was a bunch of news stories about them a couple of months ago, too. Again, I say, a couple of months ago. I really would have thought that they would have been gone by now. There were a few stragglers but now, they are more. They like to hang out on my kitchen window sill and in my bathroom. Again, not a problem but, they like to try and dive bomb me. Their favorite times are right in the middle of cooking supper and when I'm trying to do my makeup in the morning. They know when I'm not paying attention and can catch me off guard.
Not cool. They're despicable and they have my number. They know I won't kill them because I know that it will smell bad. 
Aside from the bugs, it won't stay cold here. It's the middle of January in southwest Pennsylvania. It's not supposed to be in record high temperatures in the 50's. It's not supposed to be thunder storming. It's not supposed to be making mud and puddles. The ground is supposed to be frozen and covered with white stuff. HELLOOOOO?? I'm almost over this negative nancy nonsense. I don't want to have to wipe the dogs feet every time they come in the door. Like the dive bombing stink bugs, the dogs have my number. If I don't wipe the mud off their feet when they come in, the very first thing the do is take a lap around, what we call "the race track", and make muddy paw prints the whole way around the house on the hardwood floor and ceramic tile. Also not cool. And the last thing that rubbed the whole thing in was the vehicle that had the bumper stinker that read......."Got Mud?" Really? That was my insult to injury.
OK, I'm done but thought that I should give a shout out to my namesake blog.

0112200201122012

I would like to say that the title is some secret binary code that only really nerdy smart people will be able to read. After googling binary code, I found out that there seems to be no 2's. Go figure. The title is my way of saying Hubby and I recently celebrated our 10 year anniversary. 
We are so very blessed to live near family that are willing to keep our kiddos for overnight visits. My Ma was gracious enough to keep the kids Friday night and Hubby's Mom and Dad took them Sunday night to the lake house. Needless to say it was on the quiet side at our house. It was very relaxing. I think that I find it more relaxing to stay home and be comfortable in my own home than travel somewhere unfamiliar for the weekend. Sure it would be nice but, I would rather be home.
I've been doing a lot of reflection and not a lot of shopping for an anniversary gift. The traditional gift for a ten year anniversary is aluminum. The possibilities are endless for someone like Hubby. I just could not come up with anything. I definitely was not putting much effort into either. I usually try to get something relatively thoughtful. I am really not sure what happened this year. He even gave me ideas and I didn't even order them. I think it was because they weren't my ideas. After this many years together, I'm really starting to run out of ideas.  
We went to our most favorite, fancy restaurant, Red Lobster for a nice meal together. The server was so sweet and asked us if we were celebrating our engagement. I guess we still look young. She commented on how nice it was to see two people so in love. When others can see it, I would say it's real. And that was about the extent of any excitement for our anniversary celebration. We came home and hibernated under a blanket on the couch and watched hockey the rest of the weekend. We really did that. Wow. Just thought about that. Hubby had the most beautiful flowers sent to my office. We almost went and bought a new garbage can for the kitchen but didn't want to get too crazy.
It was actually a very nice weekend enjoying one another. It's incredible how much better our communication has become. Not only better but, it exists. It's nice to not have to hold things in and bottle them up anymore. If there is something I think that may be a little sensitive, I pray about it and really think about how important it really is. Pet peeves are nothing to constantly fight about. Quirks, either. Talking to "The girlfriends" lets me know that it's not just him, as I have said before. I have my quirks too that I know bug Hubby. Even if it is something simple or not important, it seems that we can handle it better. We take it lighter and less to heart. I think we both realize what goes around comes around. 
Pastor had given us a marriage DVD. This speaker was so smart. He explains it in such simple terms that make so much sense. I will never hide the fact that I like everything and all things explained to me like I'm a seven year old. This DVD does that for me. It's about love and respect. It's a six disc series.  I think we watched the first one. We keep saying we need to watch the others. We're turning our Sunday food fests with our friends into DVD time since our Sunday school class has been changed to something that is not our marriage class that we all so enjoyed. This should help us get through the discs faster. Especially, if we feasting about every other week.   
Like I said, it's been mostly reflection. This time last year, I was thinking it's been nine years. Is it the same thing to wonder if we would make it to this year and not have any doubts that I would? Yeah, that doesn't make sense. I guess I just meant that I had strong feelings that I would but knew that there was a lot of work ahead of me to make it happen. It was a very unsettling feeling at the time. I don't like to feel like I don't know what's going on. (I'm not really sure who does, actually.) It was a constant feeling of not knowing exactly what lied ahead which was very difficult. Waiting on the Lord is hard. But it's the only way. 
This year is completely different than last year. I have the Lord to thank for that. If it weren't for Him, I don't know what I would be posting. I may not be and then what would you all be reading!?!? Geessshhh.  
I reflect on the fact that the Lord put me in my situation last year to bring me to today. It was not always easy and I'm glad about that. It can't all be easy. It's those trials in life that make us strong and who He wants us to be. Everything is a gift from God even if it's not always something cheerful and pretty. It's for our own good, if you will. There has been so much growth for Hubby and I. Especially, spiritually. I find it more and more exciting every day. Hubby and I are walking together spiritually which is something that I really wanted for a long time. We are having a wonderful time on our journey and cannot wait to spend the rest of our lives together on this walk. I'm so in love. Teehee. Sometimes I'm giddy about it. 

Things

I apologize for the lack of pictures, recently. Today, I will overwhelm you with blurry, random photos. I stole the Christmas Tree idea from MckMama. I don't think she minds. It was our center piece of our dining room table for the Christmas season.  It is now on it's way to the burn pile along with a ridiculous amount of card  board boxes and our old down comforter. Hooray for 2012! Getting to put the very old comforter into the burn pile meant replacing it.  The kids and I set out Saturday in search of one.  Much to my excitement, we found a quilt in the price range I wanted that I quickly pic messaged to Hubby. I was so relieved when he gave his approval.  And then, I got it home to wash it only to find it was, in fact, not the right size. No, I did not return it to the store. I proceeded to wash it and put the, too small quilt on my bed. Good enough. I'll post pictures of the pattern soon.

I have a photographer friend who was showing me how to use the manual settings on my camera.  She told me, if I'm not going to use them just go get a point and shoot.  Shaaaaaa......no way. So hopefully, as time goes on I will be able to give you better pictures. I am having a super fun time playing with the settings. I still don't really know what the heck I'm doing but I know that I like the way the pictures are turning out. Much better than before. I'm mean, come on, look at that face up there. Such loyal subjects. For the Lego game and for photography.

Take that as a warning that there are a lot more Lego pictures to come. This is one of many Lego games that Xzavier has. We play this game but, as you can see it is excellent for independent play, as well. Come to think about it, I should move it up to his room where he reach it better.
If you were to ask me what settings I used on the camera, I would stare at you blankly. I know it was a manual. Does that count for something?

Mmm.....bacon. Yes, I am very well aware that this picture is blurry. This was breakfast the other morning. Bacon bites is what I call it. Not to be confused with bacon bits. Should I feel guilty about feeding my children a bowl of bacon for breakfast? It's protein. And it was thin cut. They have been enjoying the thin cut. As long as I don't burn it, that is, which I have a tendency to do unless I hover over the pan. If I succeed in not burning it, it is perfection. mmm.....bacon. See the grease in the top left? I put it in a jar and put it in the fridge so I could use it later. Not sure for what. Perhaps I'll cook the bacon in it this weekend. Hahahaha but not really. mmm....bacon. No, I didn't get any.

I had this. Mmm.....supplements. Yes, I know this one is blurry, too. I'm working on it. It seems that the focus is on that crumb on my dirty counter. sigh. I'm only sighing a little bit because I know this is what is best for me.
I wanted to detox and purify after the holidays. My body is overwhelmed with all the goodness that I had over the holidays. That's a way to say that I've gained several pounds and need to make some lifestyle changes. The key words there are "lifestyle change." Not a diet. I don't need to diet. I just need to be more cautious of what and how much is going into my body.
Side note: My/The girlfriends, their husbands, and Hubby and I have been meeting Sunday evenings. Just to hangout and talk. Not every Sunday but we try about every other week. We were together this past Sunday and New Years and a couple weeks before Christmas as well. My point, when we gather, we feast. It takes me and the girlfriends the week before to prepare the menu. For example, this past Sunday, brisket, acorn squash, sauteed greens. New Years Eve, stuffed mushrooms, crostini with mozzarella and prosciutto, bacon wrapped shrimp (mmm...bacon). Forty cloves and a chicken was served at a previous week. This is serious food. And usually, a lot.
This is what I'm trying to detox and purify against. It doesn't happen. My witch doctor, who happens to be one of my girlfriends, knows this too. She gave me suggestions but knew I would struggle with it. 
I appreciate that because I don't want to waste her time. This helps me realize that it can't be some kinds of crash diet deal. It has to be a "lifestyle change." because I cannot do it any other way. I figure if I gradually make these changes that they will just become second nature and the lifestyle I need to lead. And hopefully, lose the ten pounds that I have gained in the last couple of months.
I'll keep you posted on how my pants fit. My next hurdle is getting back on the treadmill. I know that this will be what is really going to make the difference as far as my pants fitting. I tried to get on last week. It's located on the main living floor. I turned it on and ask the kids if the noise was going to bother them after they went to bed. "THAT SCARES US!!!" Of course it does.
I will get back on that treadmill. I'll let you know when. 

It's 2012

I desperately wanted to write this post last night on my little net book.  However,  since it is so JUNKIE!!!!, I have to shirk at work and do it here.  I could have waited for the JUNKIE thing to download Google Chrome but knew I would be asleep before the two hour download was complete.  JUNK! Although it is serving the purpose of Eden completing some assignments for school.  She kept barking about "Mom, we have to get on A.R.!"  As always, with my distracted ways, I said "uh huh, OK."  When the teacher sent the third paper home with her sign on and user name I realized we actually have to do something.  It didn't stop me from writing a letter to the teacher, on said third sheet, stating that we do not have a regular home computer with Internet access.  She called me the next day and I increased the data package on the net book so we could "get on A.R.!" It's not mandatory but, I don't want to deprive Eden because I'm too cheap to buy a regular home computer right now. 
Update:  A day later and the download only takes less than ten minutes.  So, all that trash talk above, I guess, does not apply.  I only got the above paragraph written at work which means there was no shirking. Here it is at 10 o'clock in the evening and I can finally do my post like I wanted.  
Patience. that's what Google Chrome was teaching me. It's something I continually pray for.  It seems selfish to me at times to ask the Lord for it but, really He doesn't mind.  I also have to send out texts to two of my favorite Godly woman who will send me prayers.  As I also do for them.  
Several months ago, while Hubby and I were having some time with our Pastor, he told us to surround ourselves with Godly people.  Surround myself with Godly women.  I'll tell ya.  At that time, I was not having it.  In the last very few months, I have found myself surrounded by the two most awesome women I could ask for.  That's not even right. I didn't ask for them.  God gave them to me.  
I am so very blessed with these women.   There have been several things about these women that have created these "awe" moments, as Hubby and I call them.  First thing, that all of us noticed, we all have Jeeps.  Which you don't know about because, I probably have not posted about the Jeep we bough last July or maybe I have. We bought a Jeep, it's orange.  Anyway, a sure sign that the Lord Almighty has brought us to be friends for a reason.  
The next thing, and this is from my perspective only, one is a lawyer and one is a doctor.  I'm all set, right. Whatever trouble I get into I have good friends that will, hopefully, offer me good advice. I have also considered the fact that I am in the insurance business which deals with...........law and doctors.  But, not really from my position.
Next, for Christmas, the boys were all given mini-marshmallow guns.   None of them are ten years old which would be a more suitable age for such a gift.  They are all in their mid thirties. That did not stop them from covering the floor with marshmallows to test the guns. On an important marshmallow gun note, that will not be forgotten by any. The first shot Hubby took was right at X's neck at, not so far away.  Poor kid.  I have to document this only because I can't say I wouldn't have done it myself. Really. How bad can a mini marshmallow hurt?  From close range and enough pressure built up?  A lot, especially to a five year old.  It did make an awful popping sound, as well, which did not help the situation.
Most recently, one of the boys, not Hubby, took a picture of what I can only describe as a hair/dirt/lint/animal hair ball with their cell phone.  He then showed it to Hubby who laughed his "Yes, that-is-awesome,-I-want-to-put-that-on-a-stick-and-chase-people-around-with-it" laugh. Yeah.
I kind of got side tracked with the fact that there are other men out there that act just like Hubby.  It's comforting and troubling all at the same time.
What I find comforting is that I can text and talk to my one friend, who has kids very, very close in age to ours.  It's like talking to myself but, better because 1. I'm not talking to myself because that would be crazy and 2. it's a relief to know that it's not just me.  She can be talking about her kids and it's almost a mirror image of what is going on in our house.  It's one of those awe moments that I am so very thankful for. 
They are considered my girlfriends.  Something I have never been too keen on. Women are hard. I know I can be less than pleasant more times than not. It's something I'm working on. But I am so thankful to have girlfriends and I've needed them.  You read article after article about women together. Having their "girl time." I couldn't figure it out. I suppose I was looking at it from a working mom point of view. Mom's that work don't have time for girlfriends. But we do. We find it and realize how important this time with one another is. It's an important outlet to have. It's so relaxing and refreshing to know that I am not alone.  
I'm never alone. I have the Lord and He has me. He brought these wonderful people into my life. He brought me to them, who bring me closer to Him. It's this awesome cycle that I get so excited about. It's such a great feeling to be able to surround myself with Godly people. Where I may have felt intimated to do so because I wasn't being the Christian that I should have been. Or because they knew more of the Bible than I did or whatever was going through my mind. It doesn't matter. The Lord brought me to these people because He knows that we are similar. He knows that we fit together and as a body will glorify His name. 

No pictures but....... a testimony

I was going to start this post out by saying that I wish that I could make my font bigger so it would look like I have more to say. Then, the "try new blogger interface" button was all up in my face and, low and behold bigger font. It's really not making that big of a difference but, I just don't like to read small letters sometimes. Coincidentally, it wasn't a font size issue, it was a font type issue I was having.  

I'm puzzled as to why I picked today to post since I am in a bratty mood. I'm aware of the reasons and I think that laying them all out there will help change my frequency and not be a brat. I keep telling myself that I have no reason being as I comfortably fit into my size 2 corduroys this morning after weeks and weeks of feeling chubby. Yes, I know, size 2 and chubby don't belong in the same sentence. Except in this case.

Hubby has been on midnight shift this week which is causing the mood.  Which seems a bit backwards since he is the one working it and not me.  Needless to say, if it were me working it, this would be way worse. I'm finding it troubling to wake up with a dose of bitter after having a good night with my girls from church, a whole night of sleep, and my Christmas shopping practically complete. I just have to keep reminding myself that the Lord is with me and teaching me something. Part of which was get my work done that has been sitting on my desk for too many days. Bury myself in my work and worry about your mood later. Well, that took all of 45 minutes. I still have more to do but would rather be doing this.  

I'm just going to go ahead and switch gears altogether. So, on Thanksgiving Eve Hubby and I were baptized. Pretty cool, right? Yeah, it is. We got a video of it and I would have put it on here but, I don't have it right now and after watching it, I have discovered my voice does not match my face and it's just weird to watch myself. The work the Lord has done in our life in the last year is absolutely incredible. It's simply amazing what He can do to a heart. 

I wrestled with the devil that day. I had had plenty of time to put my testimony into words. Weeks. However, I did it when most people would have. A couple of hours before hand but' not a couple minutes like Hubby did.  I sent out the prayer request text message to my girls and was finally able to pin it down after several taps of the backspace key. Pastor Jim had me all stressed out because he asked us to keep it fairly brief. I struggled with that.  I found it odd how I can think that I don't have a testimony and not be able to put it in so many words at he same time. I feared that I would just go on and on.  

It went a little something like this but not this long:  I grew up in a church home/family.  We went to a small church that I remember very clearly. We, meaning my siblings and I, went to Sunday school and Vacation Bible School.  My Sunday School teacher's name was Lucy.  She was a heavy set woman with a lazy eye and a passion for the Lord and for us children to know Him. The Pastor was a small man who, I believe, is still involved with the church in one way or another. Perhaps how Pastor Jim is involved at our church where he is supposed to be retired but the congregation won't let him. The Lord has certain plans for these men I suppose, and they know that.

I couldn't really pinpoint when we stopped going to that church. We had attended with my Nan, who is my mother's mother. I remember attending a different church with my father's parents for some time as well. This would have been when I was older. I was just "doing" church at this time. I couldn't even say who the Pastor was. I can tell you it was a massive church and the organ was exceptional. I love a good organ.  

Some years later my Nan had found a different church that we started to attend regularly. This would have been about, let's say 13 years ago.  I was working and in college. I would say that I was still just doing church at this point. I was no doubt a believer. I was even elected as a deacon. The Lord was speaking to me through the Pastor. Hubby was coming to church as well.  Pastor had a way of explaining the Word to me so that I completely understood. It was good. It was my church family at the time. Hubby and I were married there by the Pastor.

However, there was a scandal. I don't know the details nor do I want to. Or maybe I do but I suppose there is still some denial on my part that the whole thing happened. The end result was Pastor left the church and his wife and boys. My parents divorced. No, it's not a coincidence. I'll turn Forrest Gump on you and say "That's all I have to say about that." The new Pastor that came in was not getting through to me. I need enthusiasm and he was just too soft spoken. I couldn't hear the Lord through him. I suppose I stopped going there right before Eden was born which would be about seven years ago. 

I tried only a handful of different churches in the time I left there and the time I found my new church home. We had tried the Byzantine Catholic church that Hubby had attended growing up. I tried. I did. It just wasn't a fit. I constantly prayed for the Lord to lead us to our new church home. I felt that He was OK with me not attending, or maybe he wasn't, but I knew when the time was right, He would lead us in the right direction.

At the same time I was praying for Him to lead us to a new church home, I was praying for my marriage. I was having a heck of time. I wasn't happy. I read a couple books about what I should be doing to put the marriage where it should be. The Power of a Praying Wife.  Good book. My beloved sister-in-law referred it to me. It seemed to me that nothing was working. 

I have to back track.  Shortly after Eden was born, Hubby confessed to me that he had an addiction problem which we worked through. I will admit that I am extremely naive. I had no idea but, I knew that it was something that could be dealt with. However,  about two or three years ago, I started to recognize the pattern. I didn't confront him which resulted in a lot of resentment for a long time. Volatile fights. Words only but, they still hurt. After many months of this behavior the Lord presented a situation. In February of this year, in the middle of one of our snowiest days of the year. If not only snowiest day.  Hubby received a text and said that he was going out. This was common, although it was later in the evening and there was several inches of fresh snow on the ground. I questioned him before he left.  Key words there, "before he left." I was able to prove the next day that old habits had resurfaced. I waited until after Eden's birthday and I left and stayed with my mother.

There had been other times in the prior years that I thought that I would leave. I prayed about it. This was the right time. The Lord never left my side.
We sought counseling with Pastor. This is our main Pastor. I know, I refer to a lot of people as Pastor. Sorry. I never pictured Hubby and I in a counseling session. I knew that we should be, I just didn't think we would actually go. I was relieved when Pastor was able to enlighten Hubby of my feelings without me having to say a word. He was saying things that were so accurate about what I was feeling. It was such a relief to have him understand and be able to interpret to Hubby for me. It was so cool. What was not cool was my new thought process. I was thinking, "I have the Pastor on my side, I've been fighting with this guy for years, I've done all I could, and I was finally out." It was somewhat relieving. Here's why I say "somewhat." I knew what the Bible said about divorce and I knew that it couldn't be this easy. (Although the world sure makes it look like it is. Annoying.) I just knew that the Lord was not going to allow it but, I sure did act like it sometimes. I considered it and then I prayed about it. I repeatedly put my questions at the Lord's feet. 

I could see a lot of changes that Hubby was making. I just didn't know if it was genuine. Pastor would say the same thing to me but, he believed that he was. It was also awkward. There were times that Hubby was trying to get me to come back home and it was just too soon. I continued to pray and wait to know what to do.

I can't pinpoint the time but, the Lord got a hold my heart. He told me it was time to go home. After three months, I packed up everything I had moved to my mom's and went back home. I don't regret a second of it. I know that I made the right decision and the marriage is where it should be. Hubby and I are on our faith walk together just like it should be. I can't say it's perfect.  Especially, since I was crabby about his work shift earlier in this post. It is the best it's ever been. I can't say completely but, very, very different than before. I don't say completely because we're still the same knuckleheads we were before.

This church the Lord led us to is the reason that this turned out the way they did. If we had not been in that church with those people that care about us it would have turned out completely different. When I first started coming to church, I was probably still "just doing" church. Then, last fall when Pastor spoke on Matthew 12:25 "Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand." That opened my ears because I knew He was talking to me about my house. Instead of "just doing," I immediately got involved in numerous ministries. I immediately was welcome and felt comfortable. The difference between doing church and being a part of the church family is knowing our Lord and Savior and know how He died on the cross for us. It's an overwhelming feeling and I am so excited to celebrate His birth in eleven days. Thank you Jesus.

Goooooooooooo Team! ugh

GAAAAA!!!!!! This is taking me forever to get this post done. I will prevail today, thirteen days after starting it. No, I didn't. It's now another two days later. FOCUS WOMAN!!!! GEEZ!

This is what we woke to on Saturday 10/29. We haven't seen any since but, I've heard that there may be some in the forecast for tomorrow. It caused mixed emotions. Any other Saturday morning I would have been very excited to sit inside under the warm, cozy blue blanket with my coffee and just stare out the window at the falling flakes. However,.......

Eden had to cheer. At 9 am. Seriously? It was her last one and we all endured it. I give that girl mad props. The poor thing came home Friday and just laid around. Not her perky self. She got up Saturday morning and cheered and by Saturday night had a fever of 103.7. Missed church the next morning and school the day after that. And I picked her up early one other day. What kind of mother am I that I made her do that? One that was not paying attention to her symptoms Friday night. Oops.

All of that shortly after her experiencing her second earache in less than two weeks. Earaches make me nervous. I don't mess around with them and try to be prompt and call the doctor in order to get the antibiotics going. And I know that they make her miserable and extremely uncomfortable. So, when this second one surfaced, I called the doctor and got an appointment. Shortly after, it occurred to me that I absolutely, did not want her on any more antibiotics. So I called my witch doctor. He told me what to do....he said....oooo eeee ooo aa aaa ting tang walla walla bing bang....... Wait.... what? No. She said... Alright, that's enough shenanigans. I text my witch doctor who is really a chiropractor and kinesiologist. Yes, she knows I call her a witch doctor. She was able to fit her in and adjusted her and showed me some things to do in order to keep that fluid out of her sweet little head. I should have done it the first time so she would not have had to take any antibiotics.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not one of those crazy, all-natural, don't vaccinate or medicate my kids person. My kids have been vaccinated since the day they were born. But, if there is a more natural cure I will take it. It just makes sense. It want sometimes doesn't make sense but I think is really awesome is when I said to my witch doctor, "She(Eden) often complains of a stomach ache. Can you test her to see if there is anything else going on?" She proceeds with her testing, and discovers that I think the sickness is finally leaving our entire house. At least until next month.

Such a trooper. And this picture shows her most perfect nose. My mother has commented on her perfect nose since the day she was born. Hubby and I are so blessed with our beautiful children. Should we have more? Who knows. Not me. Xzavier had me laughing forever the other night with his incessant talking. It wasn't even rambling. He apparently had numerous things to tell Hubby and I, as we tried to watch the hockey game. I seriously giggled the whole time with his stories of "humpy dumpy." We were still laughing about that the next day and were sure to tell our friends at church. And with the comfort of a pillow and his blanket, he was silent. I said to Hubby after we had put them to bed, "it's so quiet, so quickly."

This guy was in our back yard. Actually, since starting this post, he was in the yard again. It's encouraging. I hope he makes it through hunting season. Eden finds the need to tell us every single time there is a deer in the back yard. I don't mind them and enjoy seeing them but, if you've seen one, you've seen them all. If only I could see them through her eyes then I would have a better appreciation for her screaming every time the come into view.

On an ending note, because it's now the 22nd of November and I still have not pushed the "publish post" button. I leave you with this random story from the car ride home last night. Eden has a loose tooth. It will be her first lost tooth which is very exciting. The dentist has been telling her for over a year that she should start to lose them. (Loose, lose gee whiz I hope I use the right words here.) So she keeps coming up to me and says, "My tooth came out." Kidding, of course. As we started down our road, in the dark, I asked her if she knew the story of the boy who cried wolf. She said no, so I proceeded to tell her the story and compare it to her continuing to tell me that her tooth came out. Her response was, "Don't tell me about wolves right now, Mom." Doh!! FAIL on my part. I know she doesn't like wolves. So, not only did she not get what I was telling her but, I scared her too. Some days my parenting card needs suspended. Luckily, there were no bad dreams. OK!!! On to the next post that will take me three weeks to post. I promise to do better.

Spoiled

Found this in my drafts. Original start was 7/28/2010. Additional comments in italics. (I tried to do a different color and it didn't work.)

Ya gotta take your heels off to go fishin'. We were fortunate enough to get to the lake again for the 4th of July weekend. It seems to get better every year. We got up there Saturday evening and had the whole day Sunday to lay in the lake. Hubby spent the weekend in trees, and Eden and I spent it in the lake. The girl can swim for hours on end. Xzavier did not swim Sunday. He did get in briefly Saturday. I think he was having a hard time the fact that he couldn't see the bottom. I can't blame him. I do not prefer to touch the bottom but, it just makes everything a lot easier if I just suck it up and not think about how yucky it feels. You saw that right, 2010. Not this past July. However, this is about the same as it was last year. Except I don't think those heals fit Eden anymore. Much to her dismay. I would also like to add the Hubby and I went and took the boat out of the water a couple of weeks ago. It was a date day. We spent the entire day cussing at the boat together. The boat posed a challenge. It was maybe six inches from being under water when we got there. It required towing straps and the jeep to pull that thing out of the water. Needless to say, my body hurt the next day from having to move the thing and get it flipped the right way in order to get the water drained so we could then carry it up the driveway. Good times. For real.

I am not doing a very good job finishing these posts, at all. I started this one six days ago. I'm just gonna go ahead and change the subject. But not really. I keep coming up with all these ideas for my posts, the trouble is, always at times I can't put them down. I'm gonna see if I can remember my thoughts for the last six days.

We could talk about this picture first. This hole is way older than six days. Yes, it's still there. This is to extract the child's gardening tool from the trap in the sewer line. That's all I can say about this, otherwise, I will go off on a frustrated tangent. I can talk about this again without getting upset. This project actually went very well. It may have taken a while but, it still went very well. And we got a truck load of pea gravel which, if it were up to me and we could afford, would fill all the flower beds. It's super fun to walk and play with. The flower bed idea is probably not such a good idea. It would all end up washed to the bottom of the driveway and the street. And then I would be sad. This hole was filled in and just recently there was another hole just Northeast of this one on the corner of the farm house. Hubby had to drill a hole into the foundation of the farm house for plumbing reasons. This particular hole was dug and I found him with a very frowny face one afternoon and his tools stuck in the foundation of the house. I slowly backed away and went back later to find him in a tree instead of in the hole. That sounds pretty funny but, it's true. He also likes to put the kids up in a tree too. He got them climbing harnesses and everything.

In other news, or no news really. I drag my kids to mom's pool every opportunity I get. Yes, I did this same thing this past summer too. It occurred to me yesterday that they may get bored with this activity. I could do nothing but sit and read a book or take a nap all day long. Eden and Xzavier need activities and accessories to keep them occupied. I was feeling a little guilty for constantly taking them swimming and then it occurred to me, if they didn't want to swim, they wouldn't be in the water for hours and hours at a time. I got over them possibly being bored and said to myself that it's better than playing at home in the hot. They are not bored. And they are excellent swimmers. I spent most of the summer trying to imagine them not being able to swim like some kids. It was weird to me.

This week is calling for some rain. Of course, that will change. I intend to stay home and try and clean the neglected house. I tell myself, if I do at lease one chore, then I don't have to feel so guilty about spending the entire weekend at the pool. It also occurred to me that if I'm constantly at the pool, then the house isn't getting that dirty. Especially, the dishes. I cannot tell you the last time I cooked a meal. Sure, I've pulled things out of the freezer and heated them up but, I don't consider that cooking. I try not to make any more heat in the house than is absolutely necessary. 90 degrees for many days in a row does not make our house comfortable. This was the same scenario this year too. This past weekend consisted of pulling a lot of things out the freezer and heating them up. I got frustrated with that and needed some fresh food. I wanted to cook something but time did not allow so I went to Sam's and bought a big bag of chopped lettuce and that seemed to suffice for a little while. Lame. I think I ended up making cookies. That's sort of fresh, right? I made them from scratch.

I find myself feeling spoiled. What do I do to deserve to be able to spend weekends at a house on the lake? Why do I deserve to sit by a pool while my kids play until they can barely keep their eyes open? I am so grateful to be able to do these things. I enjoy every minute of it. I take nothing for granted. I love spending time with family. This is especially true. I am so blessed. My blessings continue to accumulate. I'm feeling especially spoiled by my church family. I am so thankful to be able to say that I have a church family. I love being surrounded by those Godly people. I'll talk more about my blessings in other posts. Who knows. There might even be a hole in the yard to talk about too.