Maybe I should get some counselling after all

Everything has been driving me crazy lately. Not least of all, being three wonderful cherubs. Some days I think that I should send them off for a week or a month so that I could get my act together, and then I'd also appreciate them more again. Get my act together? Yes, my act. Like, my housecleaning act, my everything wife-ly and mother-ly and organizing-ly and renovation-ly and seamstress-ly, and all that-ly act.

My house has been especially annoying too. Ugly paint, and peeling walls is ok to live with when you know it's temporary. But it's been over a year now, and it's been feeling a little too untemporary by now. STILL waiting for the fabric to come in (hopefully this week if I'm not being ripped off completely). Maybe by this weekend. Once it's in we can have a better idea on exactly what shades of blue and yellow we want. And then MAYBE we can actually go nuts with the brushes, but until then...I decided to get some decorations to cheer up the atmosphere and to maintain what little left I have of my sanity.

I'm very pleased with my center piece. It looks great. But there are always too many books and papers stashed on the table beside it, which kinda puts a damper on its effect. Anyone have a gold colored magazine rack for me? And the candle lid can come off...but it is a scented candle. Why do all candles have to have girlie scents? I could use one that smells lie oil and gasoline exhaust. Like the chainsaw exhaust I enjoyed sniffing the other day.


I added this red ribbon myself, and designed it myself. So lovely. I am so talented--some days. Maybe one day I'll get around to making a whole bunch more smallish ones and add them to my two other decoration pieces

to sort of unify the look.
Maybe one day I'll get around to it.
Stay optimistic my shrink would keep saying. ;)

Here are the minimal amount of explanations required to accompany the culmination of my recurring photographs.

It's a potty party! But unfortunately, that doesn't mean things have been going well.
*deep sighs of frustration*


Stranded on a desert island! Yup, he got up there himself, but also didn't dare get off of it by himself. Silly kid!


Yes I do wear sweaters sometimes! Even if they make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

I'm desperate--I'll try ANYTHING!

Well, it sounded like a good idea at the time.





However, the long term effectiveness of the idea was not as good.
Alas.
Back to square one.
But aren't those ear coverings styling? I made them myself. :) :)

Accidents happen.

Potty training...I've found that Melanie is sloppy in pull-ups, but much better in underwear. But still, accidents happen. So how has my other project been going? Still waiting for the fabric to come in. *big sigh* Hopefully any day now!


Courageousness has been attained. Now he dares stands himself all the way up when he feels like it. Nathan and Melanie came running to show me that he'd accomplished this way far away from me in the barrens of the bedroom. So I admired, took a picture, and left him there. Stranded. With no one to help him down. My guilty conscience (caused by a great many tears and verbal complaints) made me return and offer assistance shortly thereafter.


Melanie is further explaining the accomplishment that her younger brother has attained. She really can get worked up when trying to formulate a lengthy story. It takes so long you can almost watch the brain process. ;) I try my best not to get impatient and to let her figure it out in her own time and way. But BOY is it hard to be patient. Even if she is cute.


We were visiting today, and during lunch she told a very impressive illogical story about
"Snow falling down down
down from the trees
down down on to the floor,
and down on to Nathan
and down down down
snow falling down down onto the chair
down down down
down on
to the table
down on
to you."
We were inside at the time.

I shiver at the thought of teaching her grammar.


Male chauvinism. THAT is something I dislike. Especially in someone who could only have learned it from his father.THAT is not good. Not good for me, but most importantly, not good for "greater good." I have distinctly feministic tendencies, so I am completely innocent, of that I am sure. I was especially concerned about the dreadful subject of polygamy. We just recently read of Jacob having two wives, so that's the only other instance in which I can think of where this young man is getting his horrible ideas from.
Anyways, here is the horror of horrors:
"Mommy, when I'm a man...
(always when I'm a MAN, not when I'm older, or "of age", or any other less chauvinistic statement)
"and I'm married to my(there is some of his chauvinism coming out) lady, I'm going to live far away by Evan's house, and you and Melanie and Matthew and Daddy and Mommy...
(Yes, he says you AND mommy when talking to me. After completing such a comprehensive list he slightly loses track of his train of thought.)
"then me and my lady are going to live far away."
"And what is her name?"
(saying "lady" all the time is SO chauvinistic, so I thought she ought to at least have some humanistic characteristics, starting with something like a simple name)
"Sarah and Melanie and Sh..."
"You can only marry one lady Nathan, AND you can't be married to Melanie."
"Sarah and Melanie and Sh...Why not?"
"Why not what?
"Why can't I have lots of ladies."
"The ladies would be sad and fight lots."
"No they won't."
He's just saying that to try and make me feel better. The truth of the matter is, he doesn't really care how "his ladies" will feel! *sobs*
I try! I try! Oh how hard I try! All for the greater good! But there is so much to do, and I feel weighed down by it all, just as Atlas was.

Thank you to all

for comments and tips and such. I always forget to say thanks...must be due to lack of manners. :o I did want to point out that in regards to my nose, I've always been especially proud of my slender nose holes. I've always thought that my noes and my toes were my two permanently pretty parts of me. Highlights of my beauty, I'd say. While the rest of me is great too, I always fall back on that dependable duo for support.

A family reunion! Well, sort of.

The complete collection of grandchildren from one side of the family. I definately can see family resemblances in three out of the four kids!


Only natural poses left--I guess one good one was the limit!


The coffee table was pretty cool, since it had a shelf to climb over. Once the breakables were removed from sight AND reach, this a baby sized jungle gym. At the nursery in church Matthew goes to find anything that he can climb. Over the rocking horse seat, over the push car, over the kids...well, hopefully he didn't try that one!


Now are the dolls and teddies for her guests, or for her? Only great-grandmother will know!

Grandma left us this morning--and for all who are hanging on with bated breathe for an update--has already arrived home safely. When she drove away on the "airport shuttle" Nathan said:
"Grandma shouldn't come here anymore."
"Why not?"
"Cause she only ever stays here for a little while and then leaves."
No shed tears this time, :o but I do think he's sad.


Now if only I had an attitude...I'd be so in. Mr. Cool here thinks he's pretty fab when he tucks his arms in and twirls around. He shows off with a great "I'm so wonderful" grin when he's done.


I believe that kitchen helpers should start early. As early as physically possible.
"Get to work kid!"
"Bah bah baaaah."
*crack!* (my whip)


They love reading together, but this is the first time I caught Melanie cuddling up to her big brother like that. It's good for Nathan to practice his reading skills with her. ;)

Philip usually reads the kids their bedtime story, brushes their teeth and tucks them in bed. The other night he'd done the first two, and was trying to coerce Melanie to get into bed as they are both standing right next to it.
"OK, crawl into bed now Melanie!"
"No, I might cry."
"No you won't. You're a good girl. Now crawl into bed Melanie!"
"OK."
She then drops onto her knees and embarks on the difficult experience of literally crawling into her bed.

I should be

sleeping instead of keeping these late hours I've been keeping.

Angles and perspectives

Little man's view on things:
Trauma is real. Being left behind the gate for one minute is crushing. The potential of falling down the stairs, is, apparently not so. Neither is opening all the drawers in the bathroom...I wonder how effective deodorant would be when eaten? Do you think his diapers would smell nice and fresh? I've been shutting the bathroom door whenever I *ahem* go in there by myself. He is heartbroken every time. After all, he used to be allowed. How can I explain to an eight month old that all he needs to do is "JUST LISTEN THE FIRST TIME I TELL YOU NOT TO TOUCH THAT!!"?


The other day someone said my face is looking less cute because it's getting longer and more narrow looking, and I appear older. I can't remember how it was said, but I take it to mean that I used to be fatish and cuteish, and now I'm looking more scrawnyish and uglyish. Heehee. I have this innate ability that I can't seem to suppress--all compliments must be turned backwards into un-compliments. But if you say something mean to me, I promise to take it the way you meant it. :p


Hmmm...does this angle make me look even more slendor?

Time for play.

The real deal!! He's actually crawling! No more dragging, he's getting up in the world!


Yeah, and getting into stuff. He likes to go up to his knees, but hasn't dared go further in a while. That's good, 'cause I've got two plants on the coffee table that he can't reach just yet. :)


Who needs toys, when a toy box will do? I popped on them unannounced, so this is very natural--Nathan doing the fun stuff, or bossy Melanie to do the dirty work. Melanie being an excellent slave...most of the time.


And guess who was hiding behind the toy box exploring! He's so thrilled to have adults come up and say hi, especially unexpected!


I think he was cutting the toy tox with a sea horse.

I just got back from whipping to the library. It closes in three minutes. Now I have the difficult job of picking out a good tub book. Ahhh. I'll save the profound thoughts that I always have for some other day.

Consisting of various kinds of stuff

Oh man there's so many pictures to sort through!


I bet you can't guess what one of my favorite activities is! I do always have to make sure she's actually laying down in bed, since she's the sneaky one in the family. She likes to stand up on the very edge of her bed's "headboard" so she can reach the light switch, and then she flicks it on and off until one of her clueless parents clue in. Or she smuggles toys in bed. :o


We have an affectionate girl in the family. Not sure where she learned that from--perhaps from one of our visitors.


Melanie has developed a very fake laugh. She can work herself up with this geeky laugh until everyone laughs at the geekiness of it, and then it's all the real deal.


Yup, it's about bedtime, I'd say! It's much to late to be blogging...but I'm addicted now! :o


It's been so long, and I'm sure there was an important story here about some miserable miserableness. But it wasn't today. I forget most crimes against me with a good nights sleep! So I'm giving you some advice--tick me off later in the day, then the grudge doesn't last so long. (There is the disadvantage that I may be so angry it keeps me awake for hours, and then I'll be cranky the next day anyways. :p )


My blog is just so lovely, that even people in my very own house feel they need to reread it, just to catch all the poignant phrases I have recorded for their pleasure.


More quality time with some "out of town" family. All our family is out of town, so that's pretty safe to say. ;)


I made playdough today. Got green food coloring all over my pants. I'll see tomorrow once they've dried if I managed to get it out. If only I could blame the kids...maybe I should! After all, I was demonstrating to them the science of blending food coloring into the playdough when I did it. Yah, I know I'm highly intelligent. :)


I wish I never taught them to say cheese in front of the camera. It causes more problems than it fixes. *sigh*


Warning! Never lift hand blender out of liquid you are blending while it is still blending! This is only a tiny section of the disaster--had to show you my WAY too much pumpkin puree too. Never again (hopefully) shall I buy a jumbo pumpkin and cook up the whole thing. Next time I'll make sure it gets wasted into a jack-o-lantern. After all, I don't even like pumpkin pie. *deep sigh* Dad, can you come over so I can make you another six pumpkin pies? I've got 12 cups left over! Oh wait--might even make 12 pies actually! Yikes! Any good non-pumpkin-pie pumpkin recipes?


Highly recommended "activity books" for little kids. My mother in law gave me a few of these when Nathan was two, and he loved them. Melanie has started too, and is just as enthralled. I'm
pretty impressed with how the books progress from simple and easy to much more difficult. Quite well done--and I consider myself hard to please when it comes to children's material. On the right picture, you can see Nathan's work on the top two (mazes and cutting), and Melanie's on the bottom two (coloring and sticker/pasteing). They are the easiest levels, and work they're way up. With Nathan, I remember occasionally he didn't have enough practice with a certain step before it progressed, so I imitated a few of handdrawn ones, and gave some extra time off to get a bit older, then he got it.

Confessions of a non-lady:


I broke down and bought a hair dryer the other day. Not sure if it helps me any. But it was fun spending the money. Heehee. ;) Fashion tips please! Anyone want to come over and give me some hairstyling tips. Warning--must be simple to follow, and take no longer than five minutes. I have a five minute attention span when it comes to self-beautification.

MEarly Midlife Crisis Causes Crazed Career Change in Mad Mother

I wish! Doesn't that job just totally appeal to me? Wielding a chainsaw and hanging from trees, hacking off tree parts! Not only is it destructive and physically invigorating, it also has a "rock climbing" aspect to it, caribiner and all!


And don't forget the big trucks and heavy machinery to go with it. Rah RAH!
Yes, I'm feeling a bit like a redneck right now. :) :)


We were an avid audience. I hope they didn't get too annoyed being stared at so much. Oh well, they're getting paid either way. The kids loved watching, although not everyone wanted to go out at first. Nathan is horking down raisins here. Yum!