How Sweet

Yesterday, as Max and I were working on pizza, Doug walked in the door with a flat full of strawberry plants. We don't usually get birthday gifts for each other, but he often likes to surprise me with something nice, yet practical.

He knows me well.

He knows I wouldn't have bought those plants.

I'm so grateful. I love him so.

Just an ordinary day

As I snuggled into bed last night I leaned over to Doug for the usual kiss goodnight and said, "This is your last kiss from a young woman." *

I turned 36 today.

36.

That seems so old. 35 didn't seem so bad. It's right smack-dab in between 30 and 40. But 36 bumps me into another realm. It's not that I feel old, in fact I feel quite spry, but I just don't like to think that I'm just that much closer to 40. It feels like the next stage of life is being forced upon me. Time is kind of like that, I guess.

Maybe it's that whole biological clock thing. Back in grade school when we had to take a several week course on the human body, along with every other health class thereafter, I was always given the impression that once a woman was past 35 she was pretty much an old-hag in the motherhood arena. You know, they even have a term for a pregnant mom (for the first time) over 35: elderly primagravida (or primigravida, if you prefer). ELDERLY! I mean, how incredibly insulting. As a mom, I must admit, I kind of identify being pregnant (or the ability to do so) with my youth. So when someone says or insinuates that having a baby after age 35 makes you an old pregnant lady, I'm going to assume that being over age 35, not pregnant, means I'm just an old lady.

It's just weird to think that I could be @ the half way point of my life. Then again, if I have the longevity of my paternal grandmother, I've got a good ten years or so before I hit that mark. Whew!

I know, I know, there are those of you who are saying, "She's got to be kidding. 36 old? She's just a baby." It's all about perspective. Today I feel old. Tomorrow everything will be back to normal. I'm just in a funk. That's all.

*You may have thought, "What if you die and Doug decides to marry some hot little number half his age." It ain't happening. We've had this discussion. If I were to die and he marries again I've said he has to marry a fat, ugly girl. She has to be really mean and have no sense of humor whatsoever. He always says, "Then why would I want to marry her?" Exactly.

Or, if he decides to go against my wishes, I could just haunt him 'til the end of his life.

That sounds like fun.

Boyhood

It's certain...I'm officially out of the running for Mother of the Year.

Just in case you were wondering, that's not the shadow from Gabe's double chin.

How on earth did this happen?

Two words: Stroller and Gravity

Awful combination.

I tell you, this cross that we mothers bear is a heavy one. I didn't even have anything to do with this accident (okay, I DID give birth to him and I DID purchase the stroller), yet somehow I feel responsible. Any recommendations on where I can purchase a giant bubble for this boy?

.

Unfortunately, I think this just might be a foreshadowing of the years to come. This kid is a climber, unlike all the others. I've never had one that enjoys climbing on the kitchen table so much. Perhaps this is his way of trying to be big like everyone else. Whatever it is, it sure keeps this mama hopping.

8 is GREAT!!!!

GARRETT'S TO-DO LIST

4/20/2010

Start out birthday early...5:15 to be exact.

(I guess it's hard to sleep when you're anxious about those

birthday gifts sitting on the kitchen table.)

Spend the majority of the day building with new logo set.

Go to neighbors and play in the creek.

Eat mini pizzas and decorate cupcakes.

Beg to "just go to bed" at 6:30.

Oh, to be a kid again!

Back in the Saddle...I think

With the new addition to our family I am hoping to get back to blogging on a regular basis. Glad to be back.

(I know, lame post. You'd think I'd have something a little more exciting to write! Be patient with me...I'm a busy mother of 6.)








post script: the new addition is a new/used computer. Sad to say that the other one could not be resuscitated. RIP On a positive note...the Idaho Knightons happen to have the same computer so we will be able to retrieve all of our files. I should be on a commercial for Carbonite (you know, one of those online backup companies).

The Good. The Bad. The Ugly

(This pic has absolutely nothing to do with this post...I just like it) July 2007

Do you ever have those moments where you think, "Why me?!?!"

Well, I had one of those today.

After going to the library and running a few errands I decided to make one last stop @ the new market about 2 miles from the house. They had a really good deal on canned goods that I just couldn't pass up. So I took a few of the kids into the store with me while the other 3 stayed in the car to read books.

Thrilled with my savings, I loaded everything into the back of the suburban anticipating getting home to feed the kids lunch and get started on some yard work. I hopped into the drivers seat, start ol' Bertha and put her into Drive.

No movement.

I double checked to make sure she was in gear...it appeared that she was.

Still no movement.

As I put her into Park the most awful noise began. I immediately turned off the ignition. I think the woman walking in front of us nearly had a heart attack...I know I did.

So here I am with a rig full of kids and a back end full of groceries. Home is a 2 mile walk, uphill. There's no way I was going to do that. I could've used the exercise, but I know that would've gotten really ugly.

Luckily a family from church live just across the street, so I took Gabe and ran over to call Doug about my predicament. My first thought was that something was wrong with the transmission. That just made me nauseous. I tried to look on the bright side: Summer is coming. I can just ride my bike everywhere!

When I finally got a hold of Doug, after 3 calls, he said he was right in the middle of something and would call back in 5 minutes. He was actually ignoring the first 2 calls. I guess the 3rd time IS a charm. If only I could have used mental telepathy to let him know that this was an emergency (or so I thought) When he called back, he ever so patiently asked about the problem and came to the conclusion that someone had probably bumped the 4 wheel drive shifter thingy.

Yep, that's exactly what it was. (BIG sigh of relief)

Now, why didn't I think of that? I really should get to know the anatomy of my ride a little better, I suppose.



I'll take looking like a complete idiot over a $2000+ repair bill any day!

PS The afternoon was not a complete loss...I did get to work out in the yard :)