Survival 'Till Two?

You wouldn't believe the stuff I've pulled out of Charming's mouth this week.

Aside from the obvious things like dirt and grass, or even stale bread crusts and fossilized cheese from the couch, there have been some doozies. Take, for instance the night light light bulb. Or the Styrofoam ball (where did that come from?). How about the wadded up ball of saturated toilet paper? (He also used some saturated toilet paper for wall art. He's very creative.)

Will he eat watermelon? No.

The thing about having the fourth child is that it is simply impossible to baby proof your home. Diligence only goes so far and there are tiny toy pieces everywhere. Or rocks in the backyard. Whatever. I'm just continually praying for safety for this little one. He gets into stuff like no child before him.

And I'll leave it there for today because I'm having tiny panic attacks. I'm over committed and understaffed (there's only one of me after all) and shouldn't dally over a blog that, while therapeutic (and my excuse for not journaling my children's lives), isn't an obligation.

Say a prayer for me...and my baby. That we both survive this year.

Community Supported Agriculture

I just picked up my first shipment of the summer of "home-grown" produce. That's what us citified people with lots of trees have to do to get tomatoes that taste like a tomato. I'm still not sure it is worth the $$, but I'm going to give it a shot. I may find that I like zucchini again (nope, still gagged while typing...do you think that will ever wear off?), or grain fed beef. Or tofu (not counting on it).

I'll let you know. Probably more likely if I don't like it than if I do. If that isn't a testament to a reason to stop the negativity, I don't know what is.

(Hubs seems to be better. Cranky, but not feverish.)

12 Years of Marriage and What Do You Get?

A Flu-y husband and a single parenting stint at church.

Big fun.

The Garage Sale

I went to the garage sale last weekend.

Yes, that one.

The one that actually is a line item in my budget. I found out this year that I help her fund her vacation every year. And that she really did quit doing Pampered Chef (bummer for me--though it probably saved me $20-25).

It is awesome when you find someone you have so much in common with, size wise and fashion wise, who is willing to sell her life for pennies on the dollar.

I am also pleased to report that this year I drove directly to her sale (past numerous others), spent my entire budget, and drove past countless others again on my way home. Yes, I am learning. They will all pale in comparison anyway, why bother?

So what did I get for the grand total of $100? Let me tell you. It's a shame, an absolute shame, that I am still so unsavvy to not be able to post a photo of the pile. But a photo wouldn't do it justice anyway, because you can't see the tags.

For me:
4, count 'em four, pair of jeans from the Gap in a "long."
1 pair gap shorts
1 pair of Kenneth Cole jeans. (long)
1 Pair BCBG Maxima slacks in a nice cocoa brown. (long)
1 pair limited slacks in a cranberry. (long)
1 silk Banana Republic tank sweater
2 Ann Taylor tank sweaters
1 beaded tank, 1 rust droopy shirt of gorgeousness, 1 pair of pjs of unknown brandage.


For Princess
Actually, I don't know. I lost count. a couple skirt outfits, some school shirts, a couple skirts, a pair of crocs, and pair of tennis shoes, couple pair of jeans, a pair of capris, and a couple sweat suits. And one of those sweatery cape thingy's.

For Frodo
Again, as they immediately claimed them and put them in their closets (or I socked them away for next winter) I will go with the things that stand out. A pair of crocks, a pair of tennis shoes, a swimsuit, spidey pjs, superman t-shirt, some shorts and some jeans and some school clothes for next year. And since he was with me, 2 care bears and a power ranger guy.

For Eldest
Two new shirts for school, a couple pair of shorts, and a big pile of K'Nex with a pull along carrier.

And if that wasn't enough for you, I'm sure I left about 50% of it out. It literally filled the back of my van. With that, and the bar stool I bought so I can type at my kitchen counter.

What are the odds that one would find, in this huge city, someone with my taste, who wears my size, has a daughter one year older than Princess, a son that is one year older than Frodo, has kids that like the same kinds of toys my kids like, and used to sell Pampered Chef? And yet I found her. She has a sale the weekend of Mother's Day every year and she's stocked my closet since I bought out her maternity clothes five years ago.

As I told her, I used to be embarrassed to go to her sale and buy her out, but now I just think of it as my shopping spree of the year. (I'm still a little embarrassed, but it is so worth it.)

And So It Begins (again)

Warning: I admit there is a bit of parental pride in the words that follow. Read at your own risk.

Princess came to me this morning a bit downhearted. It seems her girlfriends were talking about what they were going to do after school. One was going to put on lip gloss. Another was going to do her hair. Another was going to ballet. You get the idea. When it came time for Princess to answer, she said, "I'm going to go home and read my Bible!" (She has a little devotional Bible that is really mostly devotion and a bit of Bible.)

Her best friend/worst enemy (isn't that how girls are?) replied, "What kind of a girl are you?!"

Unfortunately for Princess, she inherited the rough and tumble, bookworm gene from me. She will pretty herself up with the best of them when she's in the mood, but most of the time we are jeans-wearin'-book-totin'-fresh-faced-sunburned-skinned-knee kinda girls. And I like us that way. I only hope that my Princess will continue to be herself without worrying what her friends will think.

I know. Wishful thinking.

(And yes, I also see that being herself is a bit of being me. She is allowed to not be me if that is what she's after.)

Mrs. C. on Eldest

"He always needs to eat so that he has the energy to talk about what he is going to eat next."

You Know You're a Mom When

You think going to your annual physical is rather like a mini-vacation.

And you take great joy out of answering the nurse's question about the last time Aunt Flo visited with, "June....2006" just to see the shocked look on her face (before you let her in on the nursing baby that may never wean story).

I scheduled it for 7:40 AM so I could go alone. (I desperately missed the morning routine around home...NOT.) I was in the office and visiting with the Dr. by 7:35 (he's ahead of schedule in the AM, I guess) and prodded and scraped, out the door and on the highway rocking out to the radio by 8:06.

I got home feeling like I had DONE SOMETHING.

Yes, I do realize how very sad that is.

It's Here! It's Here!

The finale to Tricia Goyer's Chronicles of the Spanish Civil War (A Whisper of Freedom) is finally here!

Loved book one. Loved book two. Loved book three. And now is you chance. I know, I know, I hate to start trilogies when book three is seven years out, but I promise you, I just read the conclusion. All loose threads are tied up (quite nicely, I might add), you can now take the plunge. Go ahead and pick up all three. You won't be disappointed. And you won't have to wait in agony to know what Sophie is going to do. Or Ritter. Or Michael. Or Phillip. Or Deion. Am I missing anyone? Oh, Juan. And Ramona. And Edelberto. And WALT! How did I forget Walt? I tell ya, no simple plot lines for author Tricia Goyer, nuh-uh. She's got so many people doing so many things all over the country (and continent) that you won't figure it out until the end.

And this blog tour is a little different. We're doing a MEME.

1. List three things you would do with a chest full of gold (assuming you got to keep it!)

How big is the chest? Okay, lessee. Today I want a baby to match my Eldest: $15,000. New carpet/flooring: $6000. And a trip to Africa with my youth group for me, Hubs and my two eldest children: $12,000. And, oh, I'd PAY OFF MY HOUSE.

2. List three charities/missions/organizations you support (and why).

All Gods Children International because they seem to really have a heart for the kids and their fees are nearly reasonable as far as international adoptions go. And when Guatemala adoptions shut down, they didn't shut down their facilities there. They stayed to continue to help the kids.

World Vision because sponsoring a child reminds me daily that I have it sooooooo good.

And Focus on the Family because, well, who they are and what they do. And it doesn't hurt that they like my writing style.

3. List three ways you have volunteered your time/services.

I work nursery in church. I run our orphan's ministry (ONEchild Project). I used to work with the youth groups. Until one day I figured out that I was hiring sitters to raise my kids so that I could raise someone else's. Now I volunteer my time to change diapers, cook, clean, and wipe...faces!

4. List three things you keep "hidden" when company comes over.

I TRY to keep my underwear hidden, but as my sitter can attest, my daughter knows where to find it and likes to model. (Yes, that was years ago.)

Um, the fact that I really, really, really want to check my email because I heard it beep from the other room and I know their story is anguishing, but I'm now totally distracted. Is it me editor? Is it my writer's group? Is it spam?

My bedroom if it is in chaos. And it often is. Can't blame that one on the kids. Of course I usually can. But it doesn't seem like you can blame the kids for your unmade bed.

5. List the last three things you've lost.

My waistline. My marbles. My heart. Really? I have no idea. A bill that needs to be paid, probably.

6. List the last three things you've found.

My Silpada earrings. (In a pants pocket.) A tiny book that goes with Princess' tiny dollhouse (In a pants pocket). $0.98 (You guessed it!)

I've also found inner strength. I've almost learned that I don't have to wallow in my self-defeating attitude and can actually pull myself out of a death spiral. 32.5 years must be the magical number!

During the tour, you can enter to win one of FIVE signed copies of A Whisper of Freedom by signing up for Tricia's newsletter here!

Three brave "players" will be selected at random to win their own lost gold (Gourmet chocolate coins and all three books in the Chronicles of the Spanish Civil War series). To enter all you have to do is answer the MEME on your blog and then leave a comment on Tricia’s blog tour post here that you’ve posted your MEME. Easy.

After My Spiel

I thought I might just mention how very fortunate I felt today to be the mother of four great kids. AFTER I dropped the VERY! EXCITED! ones off at school and numbed some brain cells with caffeine.

I wish I wasn't so overwhelmed with the stuff, but that is partly my fault.

I wish they were better behaved, but that is also partly my fault.

But mostly I really enjoy them and I have moments where I can't believe I am so lucky to have hit the jackpot four times over. How did I get the four most awesome kids available? I wouldn't trade them for yours, or yours, or yours, or yours (and I know the feeling is mutual) no matter how wonderful they are.

Weird, huh? God really does know what He's doing when he blesses us with those trying little critters.

Yeah, what SHE said.

Jenni summed up my thoughts about being a mom, but much more poetically than I could have done.

Speaking of mommy-guilt, I had more today. Why is it that when our children are most excited and happy, we are the most annoyed? Two words: Zoo Trip.

Sigh.