Itch

So I'm sitting here FINALLY adding comments to my most favorite blogs when I feel an itch. I'm a random scratcher. Mostly of my arms and upper back. I'll catch myself in church getting all twisty just trying to scratch. Not very classy, but then I'm not a very classy girl. Anyway, this itch was real and it was on my upper arm, so I scratch and feel a bump, that I thought was one of those pimply things that us humans sometimes get on our arms, so I scratch it off, just before I flick it to the ground I look at it, because, let's face it that's what we do, isn't it??? Anyway, it was NOT a pimply thing......it was a TICK! So of course now I'm itchy all over. I realize it's tick season, just picked one off a friend the other day, but seriously people, haven't even been outside yet today....does that mean they are inside???? Anyone wanna come for a stay at the tick motel????

Projects Around the House

If you're a blogger like I am, I'm wondering, do you go around your day and think in blog story mode? Where everything you do, goes through the 'would this be a good post' filter? That's what I do. I cannot help myself. But I need to start carrying a notebook with me or one of those handy dandy voice recorders....because I can never remember anything when I come to sit at my computer. So today I'll just give you an update of projects that we've done around the place lately. I know, quite exciting. :o)

First, this is what my sweetie's did for me for Mother's Day. We had to do something to keep the rain washing the rocks and debris into the lawn. Very professional looking, yes? They did this while I was out shopping with a friend one Saturday.




Also, this is what Sweetie hung for me this past weekend. After much frustration with my shortage of kitchen cabinets, we came up with this genius idea. And after getting 'go for it' advice from my bro-in-law and 'just wait' advice from my sister, I, of course, went with the former and bought the thing. We love it. I love it. I think it makes me look like a real chef and I've started talking and explaining while cooking. Next blog post just might be a video of me cooking meatloaf for dinner.



This is the other project. Yes, it's a magnifying mirror. I realize these are something that grandma's have in their bathrooms. I realize that it's suppose to be used for putting on your makeup. But I needed it because Sweetie was getting embarrassed of me in the car plucking my whiskers while waiting in traffic. I seriously think I'm part man with all the whiskers I've got going on. Taking up donations for my laser hair removal treatment, please send checks as the boys keep stealing my cash.





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On a completely different note. Calvin made it through his Jr. High Camp. And so did I. I sent him a card everyday. Took him cookies mid-way through the week. Didn't cry, but maybe just a little bit. Had to keep the Dave completely entertained and distracted. At one point we called Dad at work and gave him an ultimatum....either build us a pool or get us a membership at the local YMCA so we can cool off! So after that.....we are thoroughly enjoying our $20 Slip-N-Slide. Dad said it was that or start digging a hole he'd fill it up later with the hose.

Dave and I started each morning with reading in bed. He's totally addicted to the Hardy Boys books and is on book 8. So I started to read again. Christian fiction. I love to read, it's completely relaxing but I'd gotten out of the habit. So we'd lay in bed after Sweetie left for work and read away. Ah, summer vacation. The kid is very competitive. Every 5 minutes he'd ask me what page I was on. He's a pain.


This is his 'faux-hawk', he's channeling David Cook from American Idol


Calvin enjoyed camp. Got a little homesick, but overall had a great time. He made friends, spent all his money at the snack shack, lost his voice, brushed his teeth once, wore the same outfit for most of the week, got 48 bug bites, was grossed out by the bathroom and even took pictures for me of the filth, was named camp photographer and annoyed everyone with taking too many pictures, missed his mama, was nice to the girls, caught a fish, won the rowing contest in his own canoe, said he didn't learn anything new, was peer pressured into jumping off the high dive, slept in the girls cabin (for the record, it became a boys cabin for this camp, but in the past it's been a girls cabin), and sent his family ONE postcard that said, 'thanks for dumping me at this place'. He'll be dumped there again next year.


A self-portrait in front of his cabin at camp.

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We do year round school here, only because the teacher is a bit lazy, we take too many breaks and need to make it up at some point. So we're back into schooling this week. As you can imagine, with the rest of the world on summer vacation, and one of them just getting back from camp, it's going really well. Even giving them my berry cobbler for breakfast on Monday morning didn't change their sour faces. So I'm nazi mom this week, cracking the whip and trying to get the school back into shape. Please send money for private Christian school.

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I'm off to wash the dog. There is a strange foul odor that seems to be seeping from his pores. I don't even want to think about what it's from. I was thinking about staking him in the yard and taking the power washer to him, but with him weighing so little, I'm thinking it would blow him to the neighbor's yard. My bathtub will have to do.

Hope y'all are having a good week.

What We've Been Up To THIS Week

I know, my titles are getting pretty boring. But since this blog is mostly for our family members that want to be kept updated on our lives, it seems appropriate to just blog once a week and give a litte taste of what we've been busy doing.

This past week was Runner's Camp. We have a wonderful local church that does this camp every summer for the kids. It's their version of VBS. But they do track & field events for the kids, teaching them and playing with them. They learn verses along the way, compete as age group teams, do lots of water play inbetween and have a big track meet at the end of the week. It's the event of the year for most of these kids. We missed the track meet last year, due to a friend's daughter's wedding in Tennessee, but made it last night. First of all, Jay had the idea that we'd go at 4, be home around 6 and that he and I could still go on a date. Well, when we got there at 4 and then finally left at 10:30, I was in no mood to go on a date.

Calvin threw the discus, he got in third place. They both ran the 100 and Calvin got in fifth place, then passed out. Literally. He ran so hard that he re-injured his back. Apparently he injured his back this week, didn't tell us, was feeling better, ran with all his might and pulled some spasm pinched nerve thing and couldn't move after the finish line. By the time I got him to the side fence he was pale and couldn't hear and was seeing fuzzy colors and started going down. The kid weighs as much as I do (okay, maybe not quite as much) but still you try catching a guy that heavy when you're me and have no muscles. Uncle Don saved the day with some water and the boy came back to life. He was happy though, he got to get another ribbon and spend the rest of the night at home on the couch watching Indiana Jones movies. Dave conitnued to carry the torch. He place third in the hurdles and FIRST PLACE IN THE 800!!!! That's my boy! (Okay, he's more Dad's boy.)

Fun was had by all, except for the lightening storm that came while we were all sitting in the metal bleachers. You try collecting, herding and smelling 5 boys to a minivan for safety. Yes, the storm decided to hit, while I was in charge of 3 extra boys.

I, on the other hand, had a glorious week. Every morning off, quiet, nothing. Miss Kati (my hero for the week) picked up my boys and brought them home everday for Runner's Camp. I would wave goodbye to them from the driveway, jammies on, coffee in hand. Life was good. I could really get used to this life. Did you know that the school bus goes right by our house every school day??????????????????????????? The six boxes of new homeschool curriculum came this week. Don't really feel like unpacking it yet. Could send it back. Would save us a lot of money. Did I mention how quiet the house was this week? Did I mention the school bus goes by, seriously, right in front of the house. They've always wanted to ride on the school bus. {{sigh}}

We also had baseball this week. Lots of baseball. Have I mentioned before that I have a VERY competitive boy? We just left his game where he totally sacrificed his body three times. Took out the second baseman and the catcher twice. He played hard and wouldn't have made that last bad play if he had listened to his coach instead of his screaming mother on the sidelines. Sorry Dave. We were tied for first place and playing that team today. We lost. The boy was in tears (but don't tell him I told you). We are now out of band-aids and neosporin. And I've been lectured on the importance of not kissing my son while he's in the dugout with his friends. Whatever!

Anyway, more news. Calvin is going away to camp. It's Jr. High camp. For a week. Overnight. He doesn't know anyone that is going. It's our first time. I say 'our' because I'm very much a part of this. He's ecstatic. I'm nervous. He's thrilled. I'm scared. He's beside himself with glee. I'm in the fetal position. He can't wait. I'm trying to hug him. It's a really great Christian camp that all his friends go to. When it was sign up time, he had decided not to go. (very smart boy) But then a month later, he changed his mind. (whatever) We weren't able to get into the early camp, (you know, the one that all the 'nice homeschooled kids' go to), so he got bumped to the regular Jr. High camp. That's right, my son, is in Jr. High now. Jr. High boys are mean, they're scary, I didn't like Jr. High boys (well, maybe except that one cute guy with braces, he liked me, and he was a hottie). The camp is only 15 mins away from here. I've already sent him a letter so he'll get it his first night. (Will he get teased for that?) I'm also planning on taking him cookies half way through the week, won't that make all the other kids like him, if he's got yummy cookies? I promise I'll be cool, I won't try to kiss him in front of his friends. Anyway, if you've got room on your prayer list, please pray for me....uh, I mean Calvin.

We're resting today. Trying to recoop from our busy week, putting aloe on our sunburns, cortaid on our bug bites, and ice packs on our sore muscles. Tackling the mountain of laundry, writing the boy's name on all his underwear and packing a duffle bag. I get to take a meal to a new baby and his parents tonight, can't wait to hold him, I love babies. And maybe going on that date with my Sweetie.

Have a wonderful day my friends and family, love to you all.

What We've Been Up To

The boys got ahold of my camera one day and took this picture. I'm thinking it's Calvin. But not really sure. I think he looks like one of those dog photos that makes the nose of the dog look really big. Still a good lookin' kid, I think.



Dave's Crocs had to be retired this summer. The strap is completely busted and the tread on the bottom is completely gone.





He got new ones. We decided to get black. I'm thinking they can pass as church shoes. Yep, definately church shoes. Maybe not with those jeans. Yeah, maybe I need to retire the jeans too.

Took a family day the other day. Went to the park and played tag. I was base. I can't play tag. We found out the hard way that Mom pees her pants when she's being chased. It's not funny, people. But it's fun being base, especially because I can move and play favorites.





But then Dad pushed Dave off the play structure and Dave started to cry. That ended that game. And none of us were talking to Dad after that. (Dave actually fell off, but it really did look like Dad pushed him, so we went with it.)



Next we went miniture golfing. Yes, that's my Sweetie actually working while golfing. That's how confidant he is in his golf game.



Calvin LOVES to play. This is basically what he does the whole time, hits his ball in some wayward fashion and then perches on the posts.



Dave does an excellent victory dance.



I love this particular place because they play the BEST music and the boys love to see me dance. You'll notice the only picture of me is of my feet....the rest of me needs Weight Watchers.



Sweetie has started having the boys clean the kitchen for me after dinner. They do everything. Clear the table, put the food away, scrape the plates into the trash, rinse, load the dishwasher, wash by hand the big stuff, wipe down the counters and clean the sink.





They are my heroes! And they do SUCH a good job.



Mr. Deer visited our backyard, and now I know what's been happening to my hydrangea's. Can't wait till deer season. Three more months.

I've started making smoothies again. My favorite recipe is: 1 whole peeled orange, 1 c. frozen blueberries, 1 c. ice cubes, 1/2 c. soy milk, 1/2 c. pomegrante juice, 1 T. ground flax seed, 10 ozs. raw spinach, 3 dried dates...put it all in your vita-mix machine and whirl-away. Oh Yum! This is my family enjoying...what you don't hear is them asking what that just was that went through their straw...hee-hee....don't tell them.





We just started baseball season. This is Dave, hitting it out of the park. Okay, maybe it went to the pitcher. But the next game he got an in the park homer. That's right. He's a stud.



And by the way, this is Gigantor. He's now taller than me and loves it!

Unfortunately, There's No Going Back

October 1998, me and my boys


My dad just sent me this photo of the boys. It's one of my favorites. Please don't judge me in my side ponytail (which is actually a hair clip gone wild) and my overalls... we were on a hayride at a pumpkin patch. What you do need to notice is my cute boys. The mostest cutest. And yes, that's my natural hair color. Which is your favorite photo?

June 2007, me and my boys

10 MORE Random Things About Me

Okay, so I've been tagged by Lori, Crayola Lady, and Ginny. And I realize that I've already told you 10 random things about me, but, just in case you were bored today, or thought that you were the only goober in the world, here's my list. Join me and we'll be goobers together.

1.) I don't like working. In fact I only took classes in college that would allow me to do what I wanted to do for a job that really boiled down to playing with little kids all day. I was a pre-school teacher. Couldn't wait to get married and have kids, Sweetie and I always said I would be a stay at home mom. Couldn't wait to pop out those kids so I could stop working. Yeah, reality set in FAST!

2.) My dream car is a minivan. I mean, you can load up on those kids and all their gear. Everyone of them can have two drinks that are safely kept in cup holders. I secretly want flames painted on the sides with a license plate that says 'hot mama'.

3.) I still think of myself as 19 years old. I always thought that when you turn thirty you had to have it all together and know everything. I have now pushed that age to 40. In fact this last November I turned 36 and didn't handle it very well. I only have 4 more years to get my act together. It's not looking too good.

4.) Instead of a college fund, Sweetie and I have set up a Counseling Fund, because we KNOW we're messing up our kids! We're taking donations.

5.) I'm not too good at friendships, I pretty much walk around thinking people don't like me. (okay, so maybe I need to tap into the counseling fund)

6.) Sweetie and I actually got bored on our honeymoon, wanted to call our friends to come join us and ended up going home early.

7.) Secretly wish I could sing REALLY GREAT on stage and give everyone goose bumps.

8.) I'm not a good driver. Seriously, I'm thinking that people should form an intervention and take my license away. I once got into an accident in the Jack-in-th-Box drive thru, on my lunch break during traffic school, for a speeding ticket I got. Most friends of mine, want to take my car when we go somewhere together, but they want the keys so they can drive. Sara will say that I nearly killed her, don't believe her, we weren't that close to the tree.

9.) I'm crazy about organizing. Just when I think I've got one room/closet organized I decide I can do it better and re-do it. A few years ago I found Sweetie's label maker for work.....I'm in love. Did you know labels stick to almost any surface? Except maybe the dog. I've got 'toilet paper' labeled on a shelf in the utility room and rolls of toilet paper stacked on the shelf. Jay was amazed, he didn't know where the t.p. was until I put a label under it. I'm just here to help.

10.) I really love the color pink. And flowers. If it were up to me our house would be one giant pink flowery puff. But living with three guys, I kinda got out numbered. It's really the only reason I want a daughter, so that I can have some pink flowery stuff in the house. She'd have bows. Big bows. Lots of dresses. Lots of flowers. Lots of pink.

Now, if you're reading this, consider yourself tagged, list 10 random things about yourself.


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my peonies are blooming up a storm this year. coming home from our walk yesterday you could smell the aroma coming up the driveway to greet us. the best part of cutting and smelling these was the ant that went up my nose. nice.

Finding a Church Home

We moved here 21 months ago. We went to a church that our friends were a part of, but kinda knew it was not going to be 'for us' in the long haul. We finally decided to leave that little church and find our 'home'. When we walked into this one church a few weeks back, it was like coming home.

Let me do some background for you. I grew up in the church, been attending the same one since I was eight. (SO that was like 20 years ago, those that know me, no leaving my real age in the comments, you little stinkers). Anyway, being a part of the same church for most of your life is precious, but it comes with some struggles. Like never really knowing what it feels like to be a visitor. Or taking for granted all the people that are there, that love you, that have known you from the beginning, that you could call on at any time of day or night. I took all that for granted and never really appreciated it for the true gift that it was. So, in visiting churches and trying to find one that fits us, we felt so very alone and isolated.

Before we even moved, Jay and I felt like God was doing a work in us and preparing us for having our apron strings cut. Moving to a place 3000 miles away from all our family & friends was hard but God cradled us with having us move just down the street from some life-long good friends and going to their small church where we made some more good friends. I don't even know how we would have done it without this gift. But then leaving that church and realizing that it was time to find our own church and get plugged in, turned into a transition time that probably most people go through during the first couple of months of moving to a new area. It's a sad and lonely place. But we held firm to the fact that God had a plan and it will be far better than anything else we could force into our lives. His plan still unfolds, we still don't know what the future holds, but He has given us some nuggets of gold in the past couple of weeks and we are very thankful.

It started with us trying a different Sunday School class one Sunday. My hairdresser advised us to try her class. (Yes, my hairdresser that I have recently found, ended up she goes to this church we were trying out) We went to her class, we loved it. Then the teaching class splits into small groups. I was praying during the teaching that God would really show us which small group to go to. At the end of teaching and before we could think, there was my hairdresser, K, inviting us to her's. I acutally prayed...'sorry, God, we'll go to hers this week, and next week, we'll go to the one YOU want us to go to.' (too funny) But the small group was great, everyone was nice and welcomed me (Jay had an allergy attack and needed to go home). It felt most like our small group back home in CA. Fast forward to the end of the week when they had a ladies night out at the church. I went with a friend, Th. We walked in and didn't know where to sit as all the tables were labled with name tags. I asked the lady at the door that greeted us and she took us right over to her table. Turns out that was the table for the small group that I had visited. This was the lady that hadn't been there Sunday. This was the lady that I'd been praying for because my hairdresser had told me about their adoption story. Th and I had such a great night getting to know these ladies and even better, they understood my sense of humor and when I laughed too loud at all the wrong times, they thought it was great. :o) Then after the program we were just sitting and mingling when a lady came up to Th to say hi and low and behold I knew this lady, she's from my home town and had been Calvin's pre-school teacher! OH MY GOODNESS!!!!!!! Too funny!

The next Sunday we had an Sunday School class to go to, had a small group that welcomed us and remembered our names, even stayed for the new member's class. We're starting to feel that feeling of just 'being home'. Does anyone else know what I'm talking about? It's a feeling that we'd been craving for some time now and it's happening. The boys already love the church, the boys already have friends, the boys already beg to go to their classes on Sunday and the Wednesday night program. But Jay and I were needing to catch up with them. Jay and the boys went to the men's golfing retreat and made some friends. When we walk into the church foyer, the administrative pastor greets us by name. It's feeling like home. I cried through most of the service on Sunday and I'm so thankful for this precious nugget from God.


there is a small old fashioned church at the corner of our road, every week they change their sign, this was last week's, just loved it. Now they've changed it to advertise the 'pig-pickin' they're having this weekend. 'pig-pickin'...it's a southern thing.