Twenty-four Hours

That's all it took for my tupperware cupboards to go from this:



To this:



The ring leader:



"It wasn't me, Momma!"



Yes, she did do that to her shirt by herself. No, I did not fix it.

Me: "Your gonna get stuck!"

Her: "No I not."



Me: "I told you so."



Her: "Help, Momma!"

Me: "First admit that you were wrong and that I am always right."



Just kidding. I didn't say that. Kind of.

Leg massage:



Facial massage:

The Best Smell

It just started raining for the first time in about a week. I know that doesn't sound like a long time to most people. But those people don't live in Oregon. And their summer weather probably didn't just start one week ago.

As much as I would love for the clouds to roll away and the blue sky to reappear, I want to take this moment to appreciate one of my favorite smells. Rain. After it's been dry for awhile and then it rains it smells so good.

I could just stand outside for awhile and enjoy the smell. But my kids would tear up the house and that would ruin my rain smell vibe.

Does anyone else remember when Target carried a line of perfumes made from natural scents like fresh cut grass and rain? I loved those. I was going to purchase one of the rain perfumes but I kept forgetting.

I'm good with follow through like that.

If you remember those perfumes, and/or if you ever purchased one, was it everything I dreamed it would be?

Nathan's Enemy

My husband has been on a rampage the last few weeks. Gophers have taken over our yard and made it into a sink pit. Seriously. They've dug so many burrows and holes that when you walk on it you sink into it a little.

So Nathan did what any hunter would. He fought back. With his bb gun. (Is that how you spell it? I have no idea.)













His kill total is now 6. And we think there are more. When Nathan gets home from work he asks me if I've seen any gophers in the yard. My response is usually something serious like, "Right. Because I have so much time during the day to sit and stare out the window watching the yard."

I'm helpful like that.

Wordless Wednesday: Curls

One Year Down, Eleven More To Go

(This post was written in May and I forgot about it. It's important to me so I thought I'd share it anyways.)

For this kid anyways.

Yesterday Abiah took his first state assessment test. He scored in the 95%! And then I fainted from relief.

This year has been so trying scholastically, emotionally, and physically. I'm not going to get into all the details. I'm over it. Or I'm in denial. Whatever.

These last few weeks I feel like a veil has been lifted and I'm seeing more clearly. The crazy of having a newborn and a 15 month old while trying to homeschool a 6 year old is wearing off. Abiah is reading, which makes homeschooling so much easier.And Hazel is mostly potty trained, which makes life much easier.

I think what gives me the most relief is the feeling of being settled into this life that I'm leading. Through whatever message I've been soaking up, I've bought into the idea that this job of a SAHHM is less than, simplistic, and invaluable. Maybe even pathetic. Oh how sad! Especially because it's what I WANT!

Since I used to be the Testing Manager in the office where Abiah took his test yesterday it was also a trip down memory lane. As I watched the ladies in the office answering phones, managing and directing I felt a tug of jealousy to return to that time in my life. Oh, to feel like my life had an impact, to know that I am accomplishing something!

And then we came home. And Abiah read a book. Hazel went potty in the toilet. Amelia toddled around singing and laughing. And Nathan was happy.

Making A Come Back

Wow! It's been a long time since I've been here. We've been busy around here the last few months and blogging became just one more thing to do. I am more than ready to get back on here and share our lives with you all. For now I'll just catch you up.

At the end of May we finished our first year of homeschooling! Abiah took his first state test and scored in the 95%. He's a little smarty pants. He is reading more and more and I love hearing him. I have some new ideas for curriculum for next year (I'll share more later) and I am excited to begin our second year in September.

Nathan is now a foreman! He is still unsure of the shift he will be on but he is a foreman. We are praying for a day shift. He has been working swing for the past 2-3 years, leaving at noon and getting home around 10:30 pm. On the day shift schedule he will leave at 4 am and get home between 2 &3 pm. It is so nice to have him home for dinner. And even better to have him home for bedtime! Although I still help get the girls ready for bed, he has taken over putting them to bed. And dealing with the "I need to go potty, I need a drink, I want my blanket on, I don't want my blanket on, I'm hot, I want my blanket on with the flowers on me" drama.

Nathan and I are doing Dave Ramsey's Total Money Make-Over. We should be debt free in the next year an a half. To free up more money so we can pay off our debt faster I started going to a local food bank. For a donation fee of about $5 a week I am getting at least $100 in food. I get frozen veggies and meat, canned goods, fresh veggies, dairy products, lentils and rice, and unlimited bread. I highly recommend that you check out your local food bank. It is such a great deal!



The last two weekends we had a yard sale here with some friends. The first weekend went pretty but all the men who stopped by were wondering where all the guy stuff was. So for weekend two we had our hubbies bring all the "stuff" they could find and it sold really well. I have never done a yard sale with guys before and was amazed at some of the differences. I wish I would have thought to take pictures of week one but I only have pictures from this last weekend.

This is the view looking out my front door:



Looking towards the house:



And this is what guys use to hold gigantic canopies down:



And these:



Yes. That is a table saw. Or something like it.

I had things like this in my yard:



And this:



At first I thought it was some kind of water pump contraption. Now I'm not sure.

The guys sold lots and lots of "stuff" and made lots of money. Which was the point. And they took the left over "stuff" with them when they left. So I'm happy.

And finely, summer has decided to show up in Oregon. One of my favorite things of summer is that my kids start dressing like this:





And that makes me all kinds of happy.

Confessions of a SAHHM

I love my kids. They make my heart sing and dance. I love my front row seat watching them grow and change. Being a part of that is an amazing experience.

But I know that a vital reason my kids are enjoyable is due to the day-in, day-out training they receive in the 24 hour/7days a week care they are given. Though I know I fail them repeatedly, if I'm honest with myself there are times when I'm maybe a little too consistent. (Is that possible?)

It's this consistent need to get up off my keester or drop what I'm doing every three to five minutes to follow through with correction that I desire refuge from. It wears me down until I find myself at the end of the day yearning for bedtime, a glass of wine, and a box of chocolates. Most days I wonder if I'm not living a Groundhog Day.

I say the same things, and correct the same behaviors. I make the three meals, hand out the snacks, read the same books, and play the same movies. I wash the same dishes, fold the same clothes, and clean up the same messes.

Though this post may seem like a You're the World's Greatest Mom, Happy Mother's Day To Me, it's not. I have a confession to make and a question to ask.

I'll just get straight to the point.

Confession: Though I always want my children to be obedient and respectful, when I am gone and they are with Nathan I secretly hope that they are as demanding in the area of training as they are for me.

This never applies to others who watch them. When my kids are with anyone else I find myself more worried for the babysitter than about the babysitter.

But when they are with their daddy I want to walk in the door and have him run to meet me with an exclamation of, "Baby, now I know how you feel. What I don't know is how you do it! Honey, you're my hero!"

Clarification: My kids are good kids. They are just kids. And it takes a lot of work to grow up kids who are obedient and respectful.

Now, my question: Am I the only mom who harbors this deranged desire? Be honest. Leave your answers below.

And don't judge me.