So Much Fun!

This week Blaine and I had the opportunity to be alone for 24 hours or so. I guess it's just that kind of summer. We had so much fun. We read. I read to him, and he read to me. A lot. We ate lunch at Burger King (King Burger as he likes to call it). We were hoping for a Transformer Happy Meal but were disappointed with G.I. Joe. He managed to fall in love with the G.I. Joe toy anyway. We went to HEB together and, sporting his BK crown, he walked around the cart while I shopped making all kinds of warrior type noises, making the G.I. Joe fight imaginary forces in the store. Many were on the shelves.

I traced his body on a sheet of butcher paper and we learned about the different parts of his body. Brain, heart, kidneys, pancreas, bladder, gall bladder, and liver. He colored them, cut them out; I taught him how to glue, and he pasted them on. At one point we were walking upstairs, he grabbed my hand and said, "It's fun just me and you." My heart could have burst in two.

Humph.

Blaine and I were talking today. He asked me, "So, Mom, Daddy had time off last week, right?"

"No, son. He went to work."

"That means you were all by yourself!" He says in complete utter disbelief as if, "whatever did you do?" :)

Filtered Light

I got to spend about an hour drawing yesterday and hoping for more of the same today. I've never realized how happy it makes me. I never want to take the time to sit down and do it because it takes so much time to accomplish anything. So I always talk myself out of doing it. But I realized as I was drawing that I couldn't stop smiling and I couldn't stop praying. I think smiling and praying are two good enough reasons for something to take so long.

I am surprisingly starting to miss the kids. Something about mom's post today. I just can't wait to hear their stories about BB guns and bow and arrows. I hope they don't forget one thing. But for now I'm enjoying the peace and quiet. It is so amazingly different without them here. So quiet. So peaceful. Did I already say that?

I did also manage to read yesterday for an hour. I am working on a homeschooling book called "The Language Wars" by Ruth Beechik. It's actually an education book as it could be used for any educational method. It is extremely encouraging and just what I need as we gear back up for school.

Micah and I went on another date last night. We hadn't had one in 3 months, so I guess we're making up for lost time. Afterwards we went to BBB and purchased some curtains for our bedroom. I was so excited! I couldn't believe it took us this stinkin' long. We really shouldn't wait for every 12 years when the kids leave the house. It's really okay to do these things when they're here. It's just so much easier when they're not! They look really pretty. We need to add two more panels and a scarf, but for now it's much improved from what it was---nothing. This morning I slept later (6:35) as the light came in filtered and just so lovely. We felt like we were in a hotel or something.

This morning I shampooed the carpet. Not an exciting thing to do, but it needed to be done. And it's easier when no one is here to step on it. Eventually the carpet will need to be replaced, but this is all I can do for now. Our next project...painting! That may have to wait until this weekend, but we'll see. I spent the rest of the morning at Wal-Mart picking up a few things for our guests on Thursday and some more organizational stuff for the house. Now it's time to rest.

My How the Day Flies By!

The kids have all gone off somewhere, and I am like a mad woman. Elizabeth is at McKenzie's house, her cousin, and Blaine and Rebecca are at Ge-ma's house for camp. I pictured myself lounging around while they were gone, reading a book, sleeping late, etc. But instead I am awake by 6:00 or 6:30 and have a list scrolling through my head of what needs to be done for the entire week. I cannot control myself while they are away. I have scrubbed, thrown out, given away, straightened, and vacuumed until I am worn out. I currently have 10 bags of stuff in the garage to go to The Salvation Army. I have thrown out about 3 bags of garbage from people's rooms. And the sad part is that most of the stuff has been mine, except for the garbage. I have completely cleaned everyone's rooms except Elizabeth's. She keeps hers spic and span. Must have gotten that from her dad. I have finally managed to force myself to sit down after a nice relaxing bath. I stayed in my pajamas until 2 o'clock! I just couldn't take the time to get dressed before I got started.

Yesterday was the mad shopping spree day. I have had a list of errands to run for 3 months now. 3 months! I got them all done and back home by 3pm. Unfortunately I already have another list brewing in my head. Oh well. Micah and I enjoyed a wonderful date at Chuy's complete with a dinner outside. It was such nice weather. Truly a beautiful time.

I have now worked on school stuff for a little while and now I think I will do some artwork. I am really thankful to have this time alone in my own home to do some things that have desperately needed to be done. Thanks, Christy and Mom!

Strollers

A friend GAVE me a jogging stroller. Can you believe that? It is such a splurge, yet such a thing I really, really wanted for so many babies. I have continued to jog a little through the pregnancy, nothing crazy, just a little. So, this was a very welcome and exciting gift. I still can't believe it! And then I found a really cool regular stroller at a garage sale this morning for only $40! It's the kind that can fit into the car and the stroller. I always wanted one of those, too, but I already had a good, working stroller for all the other kids. Now, I can get the fun things I never could before!

Oh, yeah, and Micah bought a laptop. Our life is now complete.

"Real, abiding happiness, in its full sense, can only be found in Him for whom the soul was created." ~ Elizabeth Prentiss

Some Good Things Are Going On

I visited my vein doctor last week, and he said my veins look really good. Which means, I don't have to wear the compression stockings at all this pregnancy! This is a complete miracle because I have worn them with all the other pregnancies, except Elizabeth. If you have never worn compression stockings, thank your lucky stars! You basically have to squeeze your entire leg in an opening the size of a golf ball. No joke. It's a lot of fun when you are 9 months pregnant. At any rate, this is the best news I have heard since the baby news.

We ordered Rebecca a new math curriculum. It is awesome! No more Abeka madness for us. I have her repeating the 4th grade this summer because she needs the practice. She can then start the 5th grade one in the fall while all the information is fresh. I don't have to help her at all!

Elizabeth only has 30 lessons or less of her math and she's done! Whew. We're almost there, and then she gets to start on the computer. I can't wait! She is currently going door to door with her dad selling cookies, fudge, and brownies to raise money for youth camp.

Blaine just cleaned up his entire room by himself. Do you know how big his room is?

We might actually get a family picture made next week.

So far, I have remembered to email or call everyone I need to...I think. It's difficult to know for sure when you can't remember everything.

Overall, I have felt pretty good the past 5 days. A little nauseous and queasy but not too bad overall. Unfortunately that did include a night of throwing up, but I made the mistake of trying to take my vitamin. Oh well. Not ready for that yet. The baby is officially 11 weeks old and has fingerprints!

Whiney Blog

I am so sick of feeling sick! I had such a wonderful time getting away for a few days in Mexia, Texas. It was really fun. It was great not to have to cook when you feel like barfing. But it was such a bummer that I just didn't feel like myself. I wanted to crawl in a hole and stay there for a while. I slept a lot, which is good. But I'd much rather be playing games: Mexican Train, cards, whatever. At least I did feel good enough to play one game of Spades. Somehow I suffered through a game of Kent and Settlers before dropping off into a dead sleep.



I'm at 10 weeks tomorrow. Only a few more filled with sickness to go? I hope so....We hear the baby's heartbeat Monday. Maybe that will give me some courage.



I was so appreciative last night when I had to go to the bathroom. The sudden realization struck me that all I had to do was hop right into my bathroom. I didn't have to stumble over rocks and a creepy forest, just a laundry basket and a fan. :)



The unwhiney part of my blog: I loved that the kids got to go fishing together. I loved that the boys wished they could catch as many fish as their nieces. Lakes and fishing make me feel so peaceful. My dad is a fisherman, so it all reminds me of good times growing up.



It was also great seeing the kids run off and play outside, kicking a ball around, shooting water guns, exploring cemeteries, catching bugs, and tossing stuffed animals around a cabin. They really had a great time. I really appreciate Papa Don and the many aunts and uncles who took care of them so they could fish, try out the swimming hole, and go for a hike. I cannot imagine if I had to do all of that. I would have cratered.