An Update

Yes we are still around... just not much to say I guess.

Isaiah and Huston are beginning their school year - we are easing into it. My goal is to have a couple of solid hours to work on assignments each day - we'll see if we can make that goal. For instance here is a little snap shot of this morning... I'm reading the history chapter to the boys and Lillie is yelling at us, snuggling into Huston, making noises with her lips and throwing toys... not sure how much history the guys heard. But again, we will attempt to do better next time.

I'm still unpacking boxes. I'm sure it will be a never-ending process to some degree, but this phase is tackling the rightly labeled "school room" - it's the part of the house that will be devoted to all things that home schoolers need. (a fountain coke machine, please?? that's what a home school teacher needs...) Anyway, thanks to the thrift store I have two big cabinets to use as storage so I am in the middle of unpacking and organizing all that stuff.

I am also writing my own preschool curriculum for church. Yeah, I'm asking for trouble. But really I re-write almost every week no matter what publish curriculum I use so I figure that I might as well put together something that I think is workable and use it as a framework. I'm still figuring out the framework. It will be better once I get it in place, but a lot of work up until then for sure.

And in the middle of all this I have this question... just how many layers of dirt can my children acquire before I have to wash them? (so far my answer is 5 - I'll let you know if it changes.)

See ya! and next time I'll post pictures, I promise.

10 Years Ago Today....

This is what I was doing....

Marriage advice? I don't have much, I mean I won't kid ya, our marriage is not perfect... but here are a few things that I've learned over the years and that I continually need to review...

1. Serve one another - because in doing so you are actually back-handedly serving yourself.
2. Forgive quickly - everyone has bad days and bad moments, cut them some slack.
3. Ok, this one goes against the traditional viewpoint, but go to bed angry sometimes.... now, let me clarify - for me things seem so much bigger when I'm tired. I blow things out of proportion. We could end up arguing all. night. long. about something if I choose to deal with it at the wrong time. Sleep on it and see if your perspective has changed first.
4. Don't expect them to fulfill your every need - there is only One who can do that... your husband is not God.
5. Work, work, work and don't rely on your emotions... use your head to make decisions not your feelings.

I can truthfully tell you that's how Steven and I are still together today - the road has not been an easy one for either of us - we are two different people. But God put us together because we compliment each other, I believe. And after 10 years, we are still learning things together.

Stealing a Few Moments

Oh. my. goodness. This is one of those days that I seriously think to myself that I don't get paid enough to do this job. But I went to Sonic for happy hour and I have left over chocolate cake and scooted the three boys out the door to play - so I think I might survive. (great coping skills, huh?)

So just to let you know just how much I really am in need of a pick-me-up, I will relay this story...

Our house at this point has no mirrors. The main bathroom has no accessories... no toilet paper roller, no towel rack, no mirror. We do own one wall mirror, but it is still hanging on the wall at the other house (you know, the house that just won't sell??) and I keep forgetting to go get it. The only mirror we have is in the far corner of the house - in the master bathroom.

I do, of course, go in and use it on occasion - but in the morning hubbub of things and the fact that Steven needs to get in there to prepare for work, etc. there are mornings that I use the main bathroom and therefore never look at myself.

Today was one of those days.

So I went to Sonic this afternoon. The kids are just depressing me. I know that I shouldn't take their actions and disobedience personally, but durnnit they just neither listen or obey and it's getting pretty stinky. So I thought we just had better get out of dodge before I just spontaneously combusted. So headed to happy hour we did (and no those little munchkins didn't get a thing.... yes, I'm that mean of a mommy today).

So I placed my order and soon the young little car hop came out to present me my drug of choice (pusher.) I thanked her and paid and she seemed rather distracted.... hmmm... oh well, didn't give much more of a thought... until I got home.

As I was unloading the car of kids I slid the van door closed and caught the reflection of myself in the van's tinted window... my hair was sticking straight up. No wonder that poor gal was so distracted - I looked like I had just gotten out of bed (I wish!)

Oh well, I'm home now - the kids are away from me, I have Coke, I have chocolate and I don't care about my hair. I have a moment to myself. Oops, nix that last statement, the kids are back.

Dress Up Time