~Tid Bits of Recent Life~

Sunday, July 18, 2010

~Tid Bits of Recent Life~ I think I did it. I pushed him over the edge. He reached his breaking point. It was bound to happen.  I am notorious for having really great ideas. They all just happen to be great ideas that require a WHOLE lot of work. Lucky for me, I married a man that can switch a gear and become a real work horse. I have named it "Tasmanian Devil Mode". I beg him to morph into that man when I need a whole lot done in a short amount of time.  This line that was crossed this weekend, however, was his own fault. He declared a "project weekend". It wasn't my idea but I won't lie.....I was THRILLED. He knew that I had started (and messed up) the job of painting all my interior doors a nice dark black/brown color named Stout.  (It's name is perfect and it is heaven on a door or mantle.) Anyway, the three doors I had done, I had neglected to sand before painting. The paint was practically jumping off the door. Any little hand that grazed it just right, peeled back another glimpse of the shiny white wood underneath my lovely chocolaty color.  After two FULL days, 8 doors almost done, four still to go, one trip to Lowe's, many sheets of sandpaper, countless screws and hinges, a few choice words, a whole bunch of sweat, and only a little bit of laughing, I think it's safe to say this just might be our last home improvement project we ever do ourselves.  I'm so not kidding.  There were some bright spots, like.....uhm....I dunno....Oh! When I laughed so hard I almost....well you know. He was in the garage, sweating like a mad man and I asked him if I could bring him anything. He quickly, dryly responded, "YEAH, a GUN so I can shoot myself!!! This was the worst idea EVER!!!!"  that was funny. oh  my goodness it was funny. you just have to know brad....... I think, while it was a productive weekend, we're both okay with a new week beginning and have learned some valuable lessons.#1 GET AN ESTIMATE. there's no shame in that. just take a quick gander at the going rate for all those "little" projects you want done. #2 IT REALLY IS COOLER TO WORK IN A SHIRT WITH THE SLEEVES CUT OUT. it ain't pretty but the man is NOT okay with being hot..  What a fun summer we're having. Not ready to see it end.      Discovering Her Hands   Excuse the corner of my window I didn't edit out. And never mind that I was driving 70 mph when I took it. It sounds worse than it was. I was looking at the road and just pointed my camera that direction. Promise.   Flying   Can't get enough of her one of my favorite notes ever.  She lost a tooth. Her first one. (of natural causes anyway)   I was just cleaning out my closet. Not ordinarily a time for emotion. Then I saw this box from our move last year. There it is. Proof that up until a year ago, to my children, I was "Honey". Never "Mom" or "Mama" but "Honey". I never once told them what to call me. Jake just always said it and the others followed suit. I often forgot it was unusual until someone would overhear and ask, "What did they just call you?" My sweet babies are growing up too fast for my liking. Their children will definitely have to call me Honey. ~stacey

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~Our Week~

Thursday, July 08, 2010

Our Week We left for our usual get away spot in the mountains to celebrate July 4th. It's become quite a habit actually. The kids absolutely can NOT wait to get there. I've thought a lot about what makes it so much fun for them. It's in the middle of the woods so it's definitely not the exciting entertainment factor.    They have room to stretch their legs.  To run in the grass, fly on the tree swing, throw a fishing pole in the pond, get in the creek to check their home made dam, and ride the "mountain goat" with Grandpa.    There are a couple  COUNtry cooking restaurants we always visit that they love.  Shucking and eating corn is always going to happen if we're there when it's warm.    We sit on the porch making smores while being serenaded by bull frogs.  Cell phones don't work there. It's great.  Things are quiet. Simple.  In the car, the kids and I talked about what it means to stand alone. Doing what you know to be right, no matter what people around you do.  I sounded like my Dad that day. Talking, talking.  I hope it gets in somehow.  I hope their little brains are filing it away, soaking it up. I can't force their hearts but I can live before them in honesty, humility, and truth.    This little one was all about the fireworks. If I could have gotten my camera and captured her sweet face as she stared in wonder at the exploding sky, I would have. It was priceless.    Possibly the cutest celebratory high stepping I've ever seen in my life. Look at his eyes. He was slightly embarrassed but he knew it was funny.  My brave one. She'll do just about anything. And loves it.  I've got a million more pictures I would love to post and things I want to say but it's after midnight. The kids and I got home just a few hours ago from a visit with my Mom. My den is full of suitcases and bags that haven't yet made it to their appropriate bedrooms. Imagine it. They don't walk.....I have to take them. *sigh* I felt like a little mouse, scurrying in to the kitchen after everyone else was tucked in tight to get to my very old laptop. I can hardly wait to transfer my little memories from camera to computer after a week like this. It's a little like Christmas to me. As for my morning that's almost here, it will look a little something like this: Then this: Then I'll get busy. ~stacey

~Then and Now~

Thursday, July 01, 2010

Then And Now We used to actually pop popcorn on the stove. Add our own salt, melt a little butter, and drizzle. A phone was a rather bulky thing that hung on a wall with a really long curly cord. I have images of my Mom at the stove, phone on one ear, with that long cord stretched all the way across the kitchen. I used to swing it like a jump rope.  My memories of a computer consists mostly of  learning "boot" and "DOS".  Wanted to watch The A-Team? You had to be IN your den, ready to watch  AT 8:00 Friday night. There was no pausing or rewinding live television. Christmas lists were a result of hours spent thumbing through the Sears catalog. Now, between infomercials of Pillow Pets, or toysrus.com, who needs a catalog? We had to roll down the car window. Not "push a button it down" but manually crank the roller! ( I do remember once having a big sedan with electric windows. It felt fancy.) In the summer, we slept with our windows open.  Kids had their birthday parties at home. We played games like balloon toss or tug of war and ate cake.  That was it. And it was so much fun.  We fought over who got to sit on the "hump". (aka: the armrest in the front seat in the Buick) Seat belts?? Nah. ~What a difference some years make~