Schizophrenic spending...

Why do I do this? Lately I've been running around like a chicken with my head cut off (wonder where that saying came from??) just doing the "normal" things I call life. When it dawns on me that it's almost time for the tax refund!!! Woohoo! How can I spend it? My mind starts reeling (I think about this off and on starting the minute the previous year's is spent) and I come up with many ways:
1. Redo Jared's room (which he's perfectly happy with)-new furniture and all
2. Redo our master bathroom (totally gut it and start over)
3. Finish redoing the hall bath (replace the toilet) and while I'm at it I prob'ly should learn how to "skim" walls (ie: make the texture go away and "re-drywall" it) which I've never in my life attempted...Oh, and I'm tired of the deco in there...must redo that too.
4. Don't forget the homeschool materials for next year (never mind that my real estate taxes pay about $800-900 to the local school system to buy books for other kids) which will cost at least $400 and I prob'ly won't like half of what I get
5. Pool pass for the summer so that I'll know what to do with these kids while we're not doing school.
6. Vacation money...
7. A shed to make into a school room

Now, lest you think we get back $20k...we don't. Sigh So, I will have to prioritize. Oh yeah, where was I?
This weekend we decided (ok, I decided and hubby got mad and then took on "if you can't beat her join her" attitude) to completely empty out Jared's room and start painting (well, priming since I have no idea what color I want to paint the room or even what the "theme" will be). I get everyone in there and we strip off his wallpaper (well, border). All this was decided because we picked up his new bed. You can't have a new bed w/o a new room (in case you didn't know this). Now, we have no idea what to do past the primer coat and all of his stuff is in the garage (clothing and all since he has no dresser). Now, if this post seems scatterbrained that's because it is about this project I've taken on. And it is definitely scatterbrained. We decided to go to Target and find something to put in his room (bedding). All this time I'm fighting the urge to start purchasing things for the hall bathroom and start stripping the border in that room. I know without a doubt that my dear dear husband will have a fit if I start on that room in the middle of the first room. So, I don't voice this idea.
Oh, and last week I bought a scrap book! I've never tried that before and had some extra money (ha-not) and thought I could not live w/o this particular scrap book (and surely I'll never find one like it again). And I have all this extra time on my hands so I need a hobby! (Ha again) And scrapbooking is a cheap hobby, right? (can you hear the ha coming??)
Ok, so to recap...I am homeschooling my children by day, taking care of the baby by day and night, supposed to be keeping the house clean and the family in clean clothing, preparing nutritious meals that everyone enjoys, and soccer starts again soon. Now, I am scrapbooking, finishing Jared's room, redoing both bathrooms, looking for homeschooling materials and finding out about permits and city codes for the building we want to put said materials in...
When I get all of this done I will post pictures of the happy family in the happy new rooms!!!

What is Victoria's Secret?

Ok, first off, let me start with a warning...some of this may contain TMI for some people.

Now, onto the real story. The other day I innocently went out to get my mail and there, among my homeschool catalogs and BabyTalk magazines, and bills, is a catalog that does not fit-something like that old song they used to play on Sesame Street about "one of these things doesn't belong here..." and you had to figure out which one. Well, that one thing was glaringly obvious to me, it was Victoria's Secret's swimsuit issue.

Ok, so I admit that 10 years ago this catalog would've been of more interest to me than the other articles were. But not so much anymore. You see, sometime while I was sleeping my body parts have been replaced by someone else's. The new boobs are about 3 inches lower and not in the greatest condition. I wonder if it was Victoria that stole my original ones (maybe to use on her models). The old ones looked perker and firmer (hmmm, like those in the catalog) and the new ones look...well, used. I feel like the show Extreme Makeover shown in reverse.

Now, my biggest complaint is the tummy I was left with. I don't know who stole my somewhat flat smooth skinned belly and put in it's place this one that hangs in funny drape-like position with all these stripey marks in it, but that person was not a nice person. It hangs over any bathing suit I would wear, save for that Grandma one I saw with cone shaped "cups" and material that promises to shape you and form you into something resembling a figure. There is one benefit to this new tummy though. In the absence of any pets I now have something warm and soft that lays next to me when I lay on my side.

But the person or persons who did this dastardly deed did leave behind a few things that weren't there before. They left these pads on top of my hip bones. And that crease in my forehead that makes it look like I've been scowling for years on end?? (Do I???) and the gray hairs that keep sprouting out so boldly!?

Now, this catalog shows us what we are "supposed" to look like. We are supposed to have the shape of a young boy with perfectly tanned skin and balloons tucked neatly inside the skin on our chest. Our hair should look perfectly "mussed"-like we just rolled out of bed. Our lips are supposed to look bee stung and our eyes sleepily sultry sexy. My eyes look sleepy alright, but it's the dark circles under them that give me this look.

And what were the deisgners of these bathing suits (I use this term loosely as they could be called bathing "bits") thinking when they scooped the bottoms down sooooooo low in the front that nothing (and I mean nothing) would be left to the imagination? Now, maybe (maybe I said) if you just had to lay on the beach (or poolside) in the perfect pose (never bending over or slouching...) these would work. You could neatly arrange all your parts and pieces to be alluringly exposed (rather than disgustingly exposed)

And the real kicker...some of the same people that sell and market these articles of **ahem** clothing would have me to nurse my baby in the bathroom to avoid anyone seeing something they shouldn't see!?

For the record, I would not trade any of these new body parts for my old childless body. Those stripey marks on my tummy? Those are badges of courage! They show that I was brave enough to have my heart walk around outside of my body, lose sleep for the rest of my life and love someone more than I love my own life. The fact that it drapes reminds me that I have carried a 7 lb 12 oz baby girl, an 8 lb 14 oz boy, and an 8 lb 8 oz girl in there. The boobs that are so much lower? They have nourished my babies' bodies, nursed babies' hurts and served as pillows and handholds. All of these new imperfections remind me that I am blessed beyond belief!

I didn't figure anyone wanted pictures to go with this one...Pictures next time! ;)

Car Seat Shopping!

Remember the "good old days" when our parents used to throw us in the back seat (or **gasp** the front seat) and take off for wherever they were going without a care in the world?? Well, now that is not the case! You must agonize over your carseat purchase and feel guilty if you buy less than the Mac Daddy of Carseats. So, as Haley had outgrown her baby seat

it was time to go shopping!

Well, obviously she has grown since that picture was taken :)
In case you don't believe me, here is proof:


then (above)


now!!

See? Now do you believe me? So, we had to start the search for the new seat! One that would make her happy (yeah right) but more importantly, safe! You see, even when Lindsay and Jared were babies there were only a few to choose from (or so it seemed) and no one had pink ones and such, so you just picked one that met the safety requirements. Now there is a brand (Britax) that costs $300!! Yeah, they are cool, but do you know that babies can be really gross? They get this thing called "Rotavirus" (which is dr. for "diarrhea and puking for 5-7 days straight") and other nasty things that involve bodily functions. So, if there were ever to be a time when the carseat was "uncleanable" I didn't want to be stuck with it since I paid $300 for it! (Not that we have that kind of money to spend on something anyways-but I was tempted for just a minute **blushing**) So, after agonizing (and driving everyone I talk to nuts I'm sure) I decided to get one at Big Lots that was sooo cool! Had all this fancy stuff on it and looked so comfy! Then I found out it did not rate well on safety tests!? What the heck? (If not for safety what for??) So, back to the store it goes. So, here is the one that we ended up with-cute and "they" say it's safe-whoever they are.

Jared and Linds

We went on a really neat fieldtrip this week to the Pickle factory! The person in the picture is called a "Picklesmith" he is the head honcho at the pickling factory and was wonderful at explaining to the kids what they do. He inspired us and next year (spring) we are going to try to grow some pickling cucumbers and play around with the process! How cool is that? :)


At American Heritage Girls this week Lindsay got to be part of the colorguard! She got to carry the American Flag and put it in it's stand. This was her first time as you have to be in full uniform to get to do this. She looked so cute! I was proud of her!


For Halloween the kids dressed up as a cowboy and a 50's girl. They were very good about not asking for expensive costumes. And it was their first time trick-or-treating. The most fun though was that we went to some friends' house and there were lots of kids and lots of good grown-up company! We had fun-and I'm usually a "Halloween scrooge".


We also got to go on a field trip to see a "tall ship" (that's what they called it) named "USS Elissa". This was a cargo ship from long ago that has been completely redone. It was a neat field trip and the kids really enjoyed it. Here is Jared steering the ship. What fun they had with that!


And here is Linds steering on her turn. See, who says we stay home and the kids get no social interaction or variety?? We have lots of fun!!! (We've prob'ly been on 7 or 8 field trips this year!)

What is a...

I would like to know what a STAY AT HOME MOM is and when do I get to be one?? I thought I was, but no, not so much. I'm never at home! And sometimes home is where I'd like to be!

Being Haley!

Ever since she's had any choice of where to be Haley has loved playing around the dishwasher...yesterday I turned my back for just a second-and this is what she did! She is standing on the door to the dishwasher playing with a spatula!!


I don't know if Haley loves necklaces or if Lindsay loves to put them on her, but she doesn't seem to mind. (We do take them off before she lays down ;) )


Awwwww, baby going night night-yeah right!


Here she is standing up on her own! This isn't necessarily a new thing, just thought it was a cute picture!

I will do a blog of Jared and Lindsay pics next-when I get a chance!!!

I pray...

I find myself constantly wishing days away and I feel really sad about it when I catch myself. I am always counting the hours until bedtime (or even rest time). But by doing this I am wasting the "stuff that life is made of" and missing out on the blessing of time with my children. I chose to be a SAHM (stay-at-home-mom) and I want to be here and can't imagine being anywhere else-would miss my kids terribly and wonder all day what they are doing and if they are hurt (physically or emotionally) but that's not to say that it's not hard work-and so draining. Everyone tells you you should take time for yourself, but where do you get it? I have found some time lately to run-which is nice to get out by myself.

I pray that God will help me to remember the days when I longed for toys strewn about my house-because there were almost 4 1/2 years when I wanted that more than life itself-literally. I also pray that He will help me to remember what a privelege it is to get the chance to raise 3 children for Him-after all they are not MINE. He has entrusted them to me! I pray that I will not do anything that will scar them for life (or at least nothing that's worthy of being on Oprah in 20 years-or worse, Jerry Springer!) I pray that they will have happy memories mostly-and have amnesia over the tough times-and that I will have that same amnesia! I pray that they all call me because they want to when they are grown and have lives and families of their own. But most of all I pray that they will be happy, well adjusted people one day who love God first and their family second. This is what I want for my children-not to flounder about for years like most of us do trying to find the right way. I want them to know that loving God and serving Him is about a relationship, not a list of rules that they must follow to a "T" or be doomed.

Sorry for the heavy post...I know that usually I try to keep it silly or lighthearted, but this is a big deal to me. My biggest fear in life is to fail as a mother. No other failure affects other lives the way failing as a mother does. I have 3 little people that depend on me to be what they need. Can I???

Pictures coming soon!! I have some, I'm just too lazy (or maybe it's too late ;) ) to get them onto the computer tonight!