I’m really sad because I lost this great picture of Noah when he was about a week old of him laying next to this doll, and he was the same size! It was a really cute. I thought it would be fun to take a picture of him laying next to the doll now, as big and grown up as he is now. But, alas, the picture has completely disappeared off of my computer. Anyways, here’s yesterday picture:
Noah: “Arggg, I see you staring at me with your wee squinchy eye, and I don’t like it.”
Noah: “I told you to quit lookin’ at me like that. Now we’re gonna fight, BeeYatch. Hi-YA! Take that!”
Anyways… How ’bout some more visuals? Guess what!? Jeremy built our deck last weekend! Yeah, Baby!
It’s beautiful! I can’t wait until it is warm enough to actually enjoy it– it has been Brrrrr, brrr cold. Maybe next week, this week is full of rain and wind.
No deck is complete without some shade. Our yard gets sooooo hot in the summer and there is no shade trees in the back yard, so we bought this gazebo to give us some coverage. And the patio set, of course. I mean, we couldn’t just sit on the wood. I just can’t wait to fill the yard and gazebo with flowers and friends!
And summer just wouldn’t be the same without a grill. This happens to be our first grill worth mentioning in the 10.5 years we’ve been together. We had a tiny (12″ x 12″) camping charcoal grill for years and years. Now we have a “real grill”. Yayyy! I’ve cooked on it every single day for the last week. I even made hotdogs on it in the pouring rain yesterday, because the microwave just isn’t as much fun now.
So, now that we’re all ready for summer, when are you coming for Kabobs and Margs? I make a mean Mojito too!
I thought it would be fun to show you some of the “things” that are special to me in my home. You already know the people I love, here are some of the material goodies I dig…
My First Antique
We first fell in love with antique shopping in 2003. Jeremy bought me our first antique– a 1930’s vanity. I spent my lunch break looking through an antique mall one afternoon. I came home that evening and briefly mentioned during dinner this pretty little vanity I had seen from the 30’s. That next day I got home and Jeremy had this funny smile on his face. I asked him why he looked so full of mischief. He said, “I can’t keep secrets from you,” and took me out to the shed while he hid my eyes under his hands. He told me to open my eyes and there was my beautiful little vanity! I was sooooo happy! Bella and I have spent every morning since then fixing our morning mane. One day I may be passing this down to her! I think it is not only so special to me because Jeremy surprised me with it, but because there are always sweet little hand prints on the mirrors. I love that. I actually feel sad when it’s time to clean the mirrors and wipe away the week’s little nose and finger prints.
The Saloon Dresser
The next “thing” I really like in my home is my early 1900’s dresser. It is beat up pretty bad but I really love it. It was in a local Saloon, and knowing that it once stored a real life saloon girl’s garters and perfumes is so neat! Not to mention it is over 100 years old! It’s so sturdy and well made.
The Bed
Jeremy made our bed in 2003 using his wood laithe. He spun each post and it took months of diligent work. It’s so special to me not only because it is beautiful, but because he made it with his own two hands. I couldn’t get the whole bed in the pic, but there is also a beautiful footboard with it. He’s so creative and talented. I love him and the beautiful things he’s made for our home! Here’s a cute picture of him putting all the completed pieces together for the first time back in 2003. It’s fun to look back on this picture because he had hair on his head then! Of course, it was 4 years ago and, boy, do things change in 4 years!? He had hair, I had a flat little belly. He had hair, I had boobs sitting nicely on my chest. Now I think the boobalahs are trying to hide my belly! Funny 
Hazel’s Little Painting
When I was a kid, there was a sweet little old lady named Hazel who lived next to my grandma. I used to love visiting with her because she always had treats, and she made me feel so special. She dipped tobacco and I thought it was strange and interesting to watch her shoot spit into her spitoon. It made a neat sound when it would hit the pot. She was an old school Southern Belle. She painted this photo for my mom in 1979 for Mom’s 23rd birthday. I don’t really know how I ended up with this painting, as there are only a handful of mom’s belongings left. I think that is why it is so special to me. I have something to love that my mom loved too.
That’s it for now! More later. I have something to show off to you, but it isn’t quite ready. Maybe tomorrow!
I don’t mean for this post to be doom and gloom. I mean for it to be thought provoking, and create a bit of discussion…
Recently I have become more and more concerned with global warming. Am one of those late bloomers, I guess. It was sparked by watching Gore’s Inconvenient Truth. It followed up with listening to the news, watching gas prices rise, the prospect of getting a more Earth loving President in the nearing future. I read about how in Sydney, Australia they have been practicing “Earth Hour“. What a wonderful idea! Every bit helps…
Now I drive a gas guzzling, environment bruising SUV and I don’t feel good about that. At this point, I just don’t have the money to do anything about changing that. I think that it is discouraging that Americans use some 40% of the world’s resources. We have so many brothers and sisters. What are we thinking? How is it going to change? In my opinion, it is our government’s job to lead us in the right direction. That’s why we call our Leaders “Leaders”. I find is disheartening that they aren’t representing MY concerns. Right now my concerns lie in getting troops home FIRST. Then let’s use what money we have left after that disastrous brain fart of an idea to heal our own country, restore some faith in the system, and get cracking on whatever needs to happen to help the Earth. I’m voting for who puts the environment at the top of their priorities, regardless of whether that person is Democrat, Republican, Black, White, Muslim, Christian, Man, or Woman. It really is that simple.
So, my question to you is this: Where do you see the world in 30 years? Do you think that things will change in time? Is it too late? Are we going to wait until the caps melt and the famine is so severe that our children can’t feed their children? Great Nations have fallen over greed and bad choices. What exempts us from that possibility, not just as a Nation, but as a Planet? Time is seriously running out, and anyone who denies that is simply not wanting to deal with their own responsibility and roll in it.
I will finish by sharing a story… I once worked as a Recreation Director for a Nursing Home. One day, the elderly women got together for tea and chat. The conversation came up about how the world is getting so bad off– global warming, famine, disease, storms, earthquakes, tsunamis, etc. One lady said something like, “I know the world is ending soon. I know that it is going to be ugly and horrible. But I’m just glad that it won’t happen until after I’m gone.”
Hmmm. Unfortunately maybe most of us have been living like we subconsciously feel that way too. I mean, we can say that we aren’t that selfish and uncaring. But if we LIVE in a way that doesn’t take responsibility, aren’t we pretty much living what she so heartlessly said? Just some food for thought…
I owe it to the little ones I love to help where I can. I DO care about all of the future generations. I want my children’s children’s children to live as beautifully and for as long as possible. I would LOVE to implement an Earth Hour here in my home, once a week. Could it be all bad to put the babes to bed and sit by candlelight with my favorite hunk in the world? Care to join me in an Earth Hour? We’re starting here on Saturday night. I’ll post how it goes…
“I’m not afraid of the dark. I’m scared of what might happen if my parents are in the dark too long. Another sister? Please, noooooo! I’m the Baby!”
Last week was a bit wild. I forgot to mention the neighbor’s teenaged boy talking to Austin about how cool drugs are and how they help you to “see better.” Ugg. What is wrong with kids these days? I don’t think he was talking about Lazik surgery! Also, I gained 4 pounds for no apparent reason, other than the apple pie and ice cream I gorged on for 2 days. And, Noah is trying to wean himself from nursing and my heart isn’t ready for that. Lastly, the dish washer and the sliding glass window broke. That was $850 we weren’t counting on spending.
But the funk is gone, because my family cures me. They melt my blues.
With the funky week that it was, who could be depressed or bummed when you have this much to be grateful for? My heart is so full of love for these children, it could burst. Yep, we have moments that are a bit chaotic and crazy, but, I’m utterly in love. It’s the little things like the sound of Bella’s dress up heels clanking through the house. The pride I feel when Austin represents his opinions on drugs to the 17 year old next door, because he listens to me when I talk to him about these things. The way Noah tucks his head into the crook of my neck to hide when someone tries to flirt with him in the store. Being at home with them is absolutely the best choice I have ever made, besides making this beautiful family. I’m already planning to homeschool the little ones! I can’t imagine not spending my days with them. Where I once planned for retirement and timeshare, now I’m consumed completely with filling my world with just being their mommy. I say “just“, but, if being a good mommy is all I do in this lifetime… That is just enough for me.
Sooo, alas, I’m done whining about the little hiccups. I have noses to wipe and diapers to change and babies to love. Life is good!
Mmmmm. Cookies are yummy. So are the slobbery baby kisses that follow.
Jumping is good for the soul. When did you last jump? Go ahead, try it!
Could the men in my life be any more gorgeous?
Shining, beautiful eyes. Even the drool dripping off his chin is cute.
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