Hello....Hello

Just in case anyone is out there still...I think it is safe to say that I've been on a blogging hiatus.  So much has happened in the last 2 years, I don't even know where to begin.

Doug and I just celebrated our 17th anniversary.  We went out last the evening with strict orders from Miranda to not return until 10 pm.  She assured us that she would get the younger boys in bed.  Of course, she did as promised and even got them to bed early.

As we were out and about, we laughed at all the crazy looks I received.  You'd think that pregnant women are an endangered species around here.  Perhaps they were afraid that I would deliver right then and there.  I took a trip to the ladies room, where there was a full length mirror and realized that I do indeed look HUGE!
No wonder people were staring.

We have been keeping ourselves very busy for the past month with a kitchen redo.  We ripped out the original 60's era cabinets along with the soffits so that we could put in taller cabinets.  What a mess!  The soffits had served as a highway to a thriving community of small rodents over the years.  Demolition is always an exciting chore.  The project is not completely finished, but we're getting there.  I'm just glad to have a sink and countertop again.  Hauling hot water to my outside sink wasn't my favorite chore.  Indoor plumbing is a blessed thing.  Thank goodness I didn't live a 100 years ago.

Pictures to be posted later.  I might have to take a refresher course on how to download pics.

Checklist and random thoughts

The following is a post that I started ages ago.  I thought it was a funny snippet my life.

 Started with a run

Washed laundry

Picked up basement

Miranda organized the bookshelves

Made white grape juice

Sent Tanner off to campout

Picked more grapes

Threw together a casserole to take to dinner

Found a new favorite blog

I hope Tanner stays warm tonight

...no coat no pillow

Another past post

All the dirt is driving me to insanity.

My children love, love, LOVE the dirt.

Tomorrow it won't bother me.

It keeps them busy.

It keeps them happy.

(Nothing has changed in 2 years...they still love dirt)

Recharge

I'm at the end of a lazy Sunday. I woke up to wetness @ the foot of my bed. Gabe had a hard night. I think he's getting sick again. He crawled into bed with us and at some point ended up between our legs, apparently with a very full bladder. The bed was soaked through, so first thing this morning I broke the Sabbath Day and did a load of laundry. Was it my punishment when the drain sink got plugged up with a hair scrunchy (yes, I have a few of those still floating around) and overflowed all over the laundry room and into the family room? Perhaps. I contend that my ox was the the mire.

I cleaned up the watery mess while I listened to General Conference. I like having conference twice a year. I feel like I can sit back and enjoy the messages without worrying about the usual tasks of Sunday.

The Mister treated us to a wonderful breakfast of whole wheat waffles, eggs and hash browned potatoes. I scored points by bringing out the frozen blueberries. If I'd been thinking ahead I would've snagged some whipped cream at the store yesterday. I'll have to save that one for next time.

We were lazy and it was nice. I accidentally fell asleep with the baby when I laid him down for a nap. It felt good. I guess I needed it. I don't feel guilty.

After getting #4 and #5 in bed, Max, Miranda, the Mister and I played a mean game of Slide the Checker down on the school table... a Gaven Knighton classic.

It was a good day. I feel refreshed. I hope it will be a good week. I hope everyone will be healthy soon.

6 children later

We're not the "go-out-to-eat" types. The Mister and I are lucky if we go out more that 3 times a year. Being the tight wad that I am, I don't usually get much satisfaction from a restaurant meal because I know that I could make that money stretch much further at the grocery store. This anniversary I resolved to savor the moment and not worry about the pocket book.

It was liberating. We even ordered an appetizer.

While we were in the mode of doing things that are out of character,

we decided to take a stroll through the mall.

Let me be clear: We are not mall zombies.

I avoid going to the mall at all costs, especially around Christmas,

but when you've got some time to kill and no children in tow, it doesn't seem so bad.

As we made our way through the mall we took in all of the weirdness that a mall has to offer. Honestly, I think I could just sit on a bench and people watch for hours on end.

Truth is better that fiction any day.

So we come upon a shop that is decked out in pink polka dots. Doug makes some smart comment about it, knowing that it is Victoria's Secret. Before I know it, he has talked me into going in to check out a new bra. Several years ago I had a VS bra and absolutely loved it. I hated that Doug had spent so much on it, but tried to enjoy being spoiled.

You can imagine my disgust when one of the dogs (who has since ran away)
stole it off the clothesline and chewed it to pieces. As hard as it was, I did forgive him.

Back to my story.

I'm convinced that my beloved talked me into going in there just so he could laugh at me being so squeamish about underwear being EVERYWHERE! I looked through the store, couldn't find what I wanted (I belong to the whites-only club), so I was ready to just bolt. But alas, I was cornered by a sales girl young enough to be my daughter. She was so sweet and nice, I didn't have the heart to tell her I was just leaving.

Instead I bluntly asked, "Do you have ANY bras that aren't padded with that foamy stuff?"

She says that they have one...and guess what it's called...the naked or was it the nude? Either way, nice name. Then she asks me what size I am. I explain that I a nursing mom, so it varies from hour to hour. Next she asked me if I'd ever had a custom sizing done.

Hesitantly I say, "No?"

(Yes, I phrased it as a question, unsure if this was the right answer.)

"Do you want to get one?"

What exactly does a custom bra sizing entail? Now I really want to leave.

She must have seen the concern in my face because she quickly said, "I can measure you right now, just over your shirt."

A humongous sigh of relief.

Good news. I've been wearing the right size all along.

So she asks me if I'd like to try on something.

I decide to give it a go. Afterall, I've got some time on my hands.

She sets up this fancy dressing room for me and tells me to just ring the

service bell if I need assistance. Assistance with what?

If I can't figure this stuff out at my age I'm hopeless.

I shut the door and notice across the top of the mirror the word STRIP. Nice.

She has picked out 3 bras for me to try: 2 padded push ups and the naked, all in black.

Did I say I wanted a push up?

Maybe she thought I needed a little spice in my life.

I'll stick to the push ups at the gym, thank you.

I'm glad I was tired, that way I could appreciated the humor of the situation.

Everything is funnier when I'm tired.

This Day in History

On this day, 15 years ago, I was single. It was the eve of my marriage. I wonder what my 21 year old self would say if she could see me now.

Perhaps a simple, "Wow."

As we brushed our teeth together last night (I know, so romantic) Doug and I were musing at the fact that we even ended up together. There have been so many seemingly small choices along the way that would've tweaked our paths just enough that we wouldn't have ended up together. And really, we wouldn't have even known any different or even cared for that matter.

We're a good fit. I'm glad we chose this path.

Today was a good day.

Some of my crew is still sick (that's not the good part). We've got everything from sore throats and runny noses to headaches and earaches. I will be glad when everyone is well again.

I went to the dentist at 8:00 am (that's not the good part either).
My dentist is a very soft spoken man. I bet he is nice to work for. I took a delivery to Denny (not Vinny) right after going to the dentist. I tried my best not to talk too much. It's hard to talk when you can't feel half of your mouth.

I cleaned my kitchen and living room. I vacuumed twice. I moved the couch. It's red. I've wanted a red couch for ages and finally found one for cheap on Craigslist a month ago. I brought it home in Bertha. Doug thought I was crazy. I am.

I started on a chair project this afternoon. I have 3 projects to finish in the next 3 weeks. If they aren't done, to the junk heap they go. I'd better get crackin'!!!

New Neighbor

Unfamiliar animal sounds are the first clue that a neighbor has gotten a new pet.

I'm wondering how many people in town are hearing the latest

addition to our neighborhood.

Exactly how far does the braying of a donkey travel?

I'm sure it will go lovely with the shrill of the exotic bird around the corner

and the chorus of sheep dogs (8 to be exact) owned by Mr. Brady, our backyard neighbor.

bathroom break along the freeway...good reminder, no?

I think we managed to survive the latest round of sickness in this house, but being sick last week left me with lots of chores to do today. The bathrooms were at the top of my list. I will be so happy in my next life when I have a "hose-down" bathroom. Just give me a power washer and a floor drain and I'd have it clean in no time.

.

Come to think of it, how 'bout a "hose-down" house?

.

I might have to put some serious thought into that one.

*Just a thought: I like to use Borax to clean. The box recommends using it to clean your toilet bowl and make it "fresh." The toilet is about the last thing I think of when I hear the word fresh.

It Strikes Again.

Boy, oh boy. I will be so happy when the sickies decide to leave our house.

It sure reminds me how grateful I am for good health.

Gabe and Miranda are sick now.

Goodbye camping.

We're going to have to reschedule this one.

I don't think I can wait 'til next summer for a tin-foil-dinner.

I hope the weather cooperates so we can squeeze in one last outing

before the cold nights arrive.