Stories from our chaotic world.

Last night, I made the mistake of warning my kids that I would vacuum today.
It's not usually an event when I vacuum but J. just could not get to sleep for thinking about all the things I might accidentally suck up in the vacuum.
After 'lights out,' he came out to remind me of the Lincoln Log between his bed and the wall.
I assured him I would not allow it to meets its end tomorrow...
About 20 minutes later, he returned with furled brow, "My mind just will not let me quit thinking about that Lincoln Log."
How terrifying for those little ones who have wild moms with vacuum cleaners...
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My daughter has some interesting words I'd like to share:
Salads have cartoons on them. (croutons)
Last year during the holidays, Merry Christmas was really 'Mermaid Princess.'
Nightgowns are night downs.
Whenever she talks about something being 'little bity' her voice chirps a full octave above her normal pitch.
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Today, as I stepped from the shower, I found that she had been discovering things underneath my bathroom sink.
She actually unravelled the mystery of baby powder. In the form of an explosion. Covering a 3 foot radius. It was everywhere.
I have learned that there is at least one substance on this earth that has the ability to get in more places than sand. Yup, baby powder.
When I asked her 'What happened?'
She looked up at me with a powder-white face and said, "I don't know."
I lifted her up so she could see her face in the mirror, she chuckled.
Then I set her back down and pointed to the mess. I said, "Did you do this?"
Her: "No, I didn't"
The 8th great wonder of the world.
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In a moment of inexplicable clarity tonight came words of wisdom.
Here's some background: I was outside in our front yard pulling weeds. My two most favorite-ests were right there with me.
Pulling weeds is so monotonous that I usually find myself drifting off into la-la land. I came back to earth when I heard my son say, "I just LOVE throwing dirt clumps at our house!"
I immediately returned to my post as drill Sergeant mom, and started in on all the reasons it was not a great idea. About first on the list was, 'because it makes MORE WORK for me...'

He looked at me and said, (I'm quoting here) "You know momma, when you think about how much you love me, bein' upset over dirt clumps on the house is really silly willy..."
Now there is some perspective from a 4-year old. I am raising a world-changer.
Thank you Jesus! Sometimes I wonder if I am up to the challenge, but most of the time I feel so completely honored to be chosen for the job!

Horrifying.

It is horrifying to me that these gurus of Blogville feel that they have the power to remove our privilege to blog at their every whim. I just read that today at 4PM, they will cause the system to shut down for 10 whole minutes for scheduled maintenance.
Who are they to dictate to me when I shall get my 'fix?'
They must not realized what an epidemic is on the loose...

Dimples.

Is there anything as genuinely intoxicating as looking at a child with dimples smile?
I just cannot get over how adorable those dimples are! I was blessed with not one, but two, dimple-faced sweeties!

On the other hand, I'd gladly contribute my extra dimples. I was saving them, you know, hiding them somewhere I wouldn't forget them, for future cute kids' faces.
After two absolutely perfect starts out the gate, I decided to quit on making babies.
But I still have all these extra dimples leftover...
Any takers??

Kids.

My kids are a ticket to Crazy Town.
The boy child, specifically, has been making me feel like each word I speak bounces off him and into some other dimension. I know it's a phase, but when your sanity is so intricately attached... I feel like I am going crazy!

Me: Did I not just tell you that jumping on your bed was not an option?
Him: This is your bed.

At the restaurant today, I asked him for a kiss. He proceeded to bend me back and lay one on me that would make a kiss from Gone With the Wind look unromantic... I don't even want to think about what everyone else thought...

My daughter, on the other hand, cried for literally nearly an hour last night because her nightgown "wasn't beautiful." Who tells a 2-year old about what's beautiful?

Then there are those moments that come in perfect timing, when momma has just about lost her ever-lovin' mind, they come to you tenderly, petting you, and saying those words that have never sounded as beautiful, "Momma, I'm thirsty..."

And off you go, for another round of the best job you've ever had.

Somethin' you might not have known about me...

I've got goosebumps!
Oh it's bad. I cannot wait for the season to begin! The Dallas Cowboys have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I am hoping to organize some football parties this season, to watch the Cowboys, and get everybody together! But if you ladies think for a minute that I will be hanging out in the kitchen, you have another thing comin'...
I am crazy for some Cowboys!
Check your calendars. I'll be mysteriously leaving Sunday services early when they kickoff at noon...

Navel gazing.

Hi, This is me.
I have a crick in my neck.
The reason I have a crick in my neck is because I have been craning it so that I could gaze directly into my own belly button.
I have spent too much time worshipping my problems.
They are not unique. They are not even interesting.
So this is me, coming up for air.

I would love to tell you that tomorrow, I will be freed from the chains of selfishness, of self-interest to the exclusion of others.
Navel gazing.
But this ugly habit has attached itself to me and it's grip is strong. I have been so blinded to what has been going on elsewhere, the world outside my own 4 walls - to the point that I have become unavailable to the people I care about most. Even my own children.

I never wanted to become so self-involved. I think it's just the kind of thing that happens over time. You go to war with whatever you're warring with. You suit up. Engage yourself, and after a while you've forgotten what the fight is for... Your eyes have long since become glazed. You're just fighting, but why?

Something pretty cool has happened in my life, I started letting God fight my battles for me.
It's nice to think that because God said He'd fight the battle for me I have acquired some free-time.
So here's to the new me, the self-effacing one. The one who genuinely wants to know how she can help you. How she can resist the urge to focus her gaze inwardly, and be available to someone else for a change...

I love those girls!

I just got to spend some time with some 'older women.'
Well, they're not "women," they're little grils. Yes, I meant to type grils.
They are so sweet, and lovey, and helpful, and fun, and well-spoken, well-loved, well, just wonderful...
They are just a few years older than my kids. I really enjoy the age that my kids are right now.
It's pure sweetness. And it can feel so good to be needed.
But I just love the ages that those little ladies are too...
So much fun. My little friend, the fashionista, who had advice for those people who were dressing the mannekins at JCPenney...
And her little sister, who is, hands down THE BEST little mommy I have ever seen...
They were delightful, k, just delightful!!
I look forward to each and every opportunity to steal them from you!
What a HOOT!

What a day!

A lot happened today. Mostly good. Some not as good.

Here's the run-down:

GOOD
I got a guitar. I needed a guitar for work. Yes, I do play. Only a little.
I got to spend a little time with La, not planned time, but time (I'll get to the story in a moment)
I had lunch at Red Lobster. Also not planned, but it was yummy...
My dad and his friend helped me pick out the guitar (got a great deal) and my dad bought me a strap for it along with other various items. They also strung it and tuned it for me, and lowered the bridge. Whew! I was gonna have to do all THAT? Thanks fellas!

Not-so good:
I discovered a pretty sizeable dent in the hood of my van. No idea from whence it came...
I was trapped outside my house for ALMOST the whole day...
I did not shower before I left because I would only be gone 'for a little bit' - hmmm, that's ironic.
I went to a pawn shop this morning to look for aforementioned guitar and when I returned home around 11:30ish, the garage door would not open. It was jammed.
The other doors to the house were locked from the inside where you can only open them from the inside. NO Possible entry through anywhere but the garage...
I went to Red Lobster to hatch a plan.
Left with full tummies, but No plan. I went back to the house to try to break in with a credit card. Dumb. It was so very hot and I needed a potty.
I drove to La's house to crash her pad, *at naptime* I might add. We used her phone and her potty and played for a few minutes... I was stinky and greasy by now...
By the time I made it home, my husband had gotten away from work for a few minutes and like an expert, had broken in for me. Thanks!
The spring was snapped on the garage door.
I spent the rest of the afternoon trying to catch up on laundry and house work.
I played my guitar for too long and now my fingers hurt and typing is a chore.
It's off to bed for this tired lady!

That's the run-down.

Oh and one more thing, I skipped church because of a KILLA headache, that belongs under the 'Not-so good" category...

Ok so I hated the greyish blue...

Still looking for the perfect color combo for my bedroom.
Looks like some brown scheme will win... Shocker...

His dream.

J. had a dream last night.
He usually tells me he had a dream about choo-choo trains and candy canes, but last night he dreamed about marshmallows and mud food. Mmmmmm.....