Working my butt off

On my day of rest, after a particularly tiring week, I pondered my use of a common phrase. I am always "working my butt off", but I noticed it odd that it is-- still there-- In a big way. I must reassess (no pun intended) my use of such phrases, as I find it strangely frustrating when I look in the mirror after such a day.



No this is not my backside. I am woman enough to say I've learned to accept my ghetto booty, but still not woman enough to plaster it all over the internet. Props to this lady who not only posted the picture, but did so in a public image library! You go girl.

Funny Expectations

You know, for 9 long months you carry a child inside you and dream and imagine what they'll be like. Unfortunately, most of my imaginings are worries about the kid. Will they be ugly? Will they be too short or too tall? Will they be bald? Will they be ugly? I said that twice didn't I?-- It is a worry I always have! By the end of the pregnancy I'm pretty confident I know what kind of baby I'll be getting. The boys were like that for me. Everything I expected without all the things I had worried about-- well except for Andrew's conehead-- it was a sight to behold, but fortunately it didn't last long!
Ava, on the other hand, was nothing I expected. I was reminded of that when I went to get her dressed today. (I shared this with a couple of you- so please forgive the repeat of my thoughts). I pulled out an outfit I bought for her "coming home outfit." You see, I had Ava figured for a 9lb. baby so I bought her a 0-3month outfit to come home in. As I dressed her in it and pinned up the back so it wouldn't fall off her shoulders, I had a funny thought. Wow- it's so strange to have this child I couldn't imagine any different, but never would have thought before she came that she would be like she is.
Now I've spent the rest of the day looking at my boys and Ava wondering what surprises they have up their sleeve. Who are these spirits that were sent to live in my home? Will Andrew be a politician or a garbage man? Will Ethan be a stalky 5'6" like I suspect, or will he surprise me and outgrow Andrew altogether? Will Ava marry young and have children like me, or will she choose a different path in life?
I could go on and on with my deeper thoughts about their futures, but it just made me realize how little control I have over who these little ones are, and who they are to become.
I'm sure many mothers have had similar experiences and then, looking back years later, have said, "who would have thought." For now I'll enjoy looking forward with anticipation that one day, when I look back, they'll have become a little of what I expected, and lot more than I could have hoped for.


Ava's "coming home" (6 months later) outfit!

What Byron and I do fo fun

We practice making cute babies!


Oooohhhh. I'm sorry. That was entirely inappropriate, but I had to post this picture of Ava, and since we were on the subject of Byron's hobbies..(Ahem!)

So back to the OTHER things we like to do for fun.

We love to haul 28 truck loads of dirt and and twice as many truckloads of bark mulch by ourselves- because it was free. We love to redo a bathroom (when it's the only one we have) and pee behind the tree in our own backyard until we can use the toilet again. We love to frantically lay saltillo tile on our back porch in 95 degree heat because it isn't going to get any cooler for 3 months and by then we'll have a baby. We love to haul 200 wheelbarrows full of landscape rock when Kristin is 8 months pregnant and watch the neighbors drive by shaking their heads at us. We like to sheetrock a basement (including the ceiling) when Kristin is 9 months pregnant. (fact: hard labor is sure to prevent childbirth labor from EVER happening- I have lots of experience in this area)

Basically, we just like to do anything that needs to be done-- because we can-- and because we're too cheap to hire someone to do something we can do ourselves! (That would explain the scar on Byron's leg from me dropping the washing machine on him. - That's right we move ourselves too- sometimes an inch at a time- literally.)

The current "we've got to be out of our minds" project is finishing the basement. 1200 square feet (a small house worth), start to finish, framing to finish work, yep you guessed it-- by ourselves. It's so fun I scream with excitement every night! (or screaming because I almost fell of the ladder again.)

So I'm posting these pictures to remind me of how much I would love (HATE) to do this again (NEVER!). I promise, promise, promise it is worth hiring someone!


Don't we look like we're having so much fun?!


Now, can we get back to that cute baby hobby instead honey?!?

Shoe Fetish

I've never been a super girly-girl. (Does that even make sense?) I like nail polish and make-up and dresses-- just not enough to get excited about. Shoes were never really my thing either.
All that changed however when I heard three little words. No, not I love you, what do you think this is? some romance novel? I mean-- "It's a girl!" After I cried with excitement, I headed out to the nearest store to buy dresses and shoes.
I needed to try out a feature on my new camera (I am the world's worst picture taker), so I photographed Ava's growing collection of shoes. I had her feet sized the other day--still size zero, so most still have tags and stuff attached waiting for her to grow into.
For those of you who are wondering how much I spent?- I only paid regular price for the black ones- my most favorite! If I bought all the ones I really wanted, I might be signing divorce papers instead of writing this blog!

Ethan sleeps...

Anywhere and Everywhere
In the stroller...

On a giant bear...

watching a movie...

my favorite... on the kitchen floor

I have done this too, but in my defense, I was very pregnant, very sick, and very...unhinged. (Good thing no one got a picture of that!)

Pray for thine Enemy

Remember that Wii I talked about? Well, I was dumb and we got one for Christmas. I've developed a love hate relationship with it. My children are already addicted to it, but in a way that's nice. We now how some leverage for behavior in our house.

Andrew got grounded from the Wii the other day (again), and apparently Ethan was happy about it. For the last three nights he's prayed--"Thank you for Andrew gets grounded from the Wii." You can just imagine how well this goes over with a 5 year old. "Mom he can't pray for that. He's happy that I got grounded....wah, wah wah, etc., etc.," And the fit commences. I didn't want to make a big deal of it because then Ethan would think it was cool and keep praying for it the next two months, so I ignored it and tried to tell Andrew to do the same. He cannot.

So last night, Ethan was in the same boat (grounded from the Wii), but once again, gave Andrew a sly little look and prayed his thanks at Andrew's misfortune. To my surprise, no balking from Andrew. He just grinned and started praying--- "Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for this day, Thank you that Ethan is grounded from the Wii..."

"She's more than that"

Andrew came home from school today and the conversation went as follows:

Andrew: Mom, someone at school just loves me.
Me: Is that so?
A: Yes, and she just gave me like 20 hugs today. Her name is Victoria. She says she's going to marry me.
M: Did you tell her you're only 5?
A: She already knows that.
M: So.....you think she's your girlfriend?
A: No she's more than that- I'm going to be her husband.


Well then.............The first time I've been truly at a loss of words with my child. I didn't know if I should die laughing or what?!?!

So sorry all you heartbroken kindergartners-- I guess Andrew is taken!



Do you blame the girl? She could be missin' all this!