wednesday ramblings

sometimes when I ask seneca to do something, she answers me, "yes, master" and salutes. I don't know where she got it, but it's hilarious.

beckham did awesome watermelon rolls off the diving board today at swim lessons.

coop had a great first day of school. he didn't so much appreciate the writing practice I had him do at home, but if he doesn't get it at school, he'll have to do it at home! school gets out right in the middle of nap time... gotta find a solution to that. there is a bus option, but I don't like that he would spend an extra half hour on the bus when I can just bring him right home.

we have termites. joy, joy, joy.

last week we got a new water heater. we have a new a/c fan. we need tile in the bathroom, I have three toilet devices in my bathroom currently and there has been talk of getting rid of the stinky family room carpet. I'm pretty sure there will be a project around here until I die. if only all these trees had money on them...

school has begun, which should mean fall, but it doesn't. I still sweated through 105 degrees during swimming today. I don't mind the heat, but it seems weird that school is in and it doesn't smell crisp outside.

my kids think it's fun to put on socks and skate around. cheap entertainment.

speaking of entertainment, this afternoon beckham was playing the piano and seneca was up on the ladder with her microphone, belting out something dramatic.

several have asked if I cried today as I sent my little boy to school. no. I kind of thought I would, but I've been crying pretty solid for the last two weeks about other school issues and I guess I didn't have any left today. he was fine, so I was fine. his school experience is a sensitive topic. I hold it together if I don't think much about it.

I'm pretty sure there were more articles of clothing, bedding and towels in my laundry room than in the rest of the house combined earlier this week. I literally had to step over piles to get to my broom closet. it was all sorely neglected. I'm pleased to say that this afternoon the floor is clear and the bins are empty. and it's almost all put away. that's major. you may be proud of me. denten will think there was a laundry miracle.

I'm in a dinner rut. Am I always in a dinner rut? I need to print off ashlee's cookbook, I think it holds answers for me.

seven things.

**I've been cleaning my little pants off this morning. My children have been playing very well with each other for hours and I have gotten a lot done. The family room is a complete disaster zone, but the rest of the house has made tons of progress.

**This is the first time I have come home from vacation to this home and while I still love my home, it's a little lonely. I want great friends closer to me. My circle of friends has changed a little since we moved and they are not all within 3 minutes of me, which is ok, but sometimes I miss the closeness.

**Adoption paperwork is in the mail and out of our hands. Dent and I are both ok if nothing happens right away, but I figure this way Heavenly Father can orchestrate things the way he needs to without us stopping Him. I've got to get this household under control before another one joins the madness!

**Speaking of madness, school starts in less than a month and we don't know which of two schools Coop will be walking into on the first day. We're going to need a lightening bolt to hit here for a decision to be made. soon, please.

**McCall was fabulous, as usual. There are zillions of pictures and you'll see them eventually, but it takes to much time to sift through them right now.

**I think swim team is over. Maybe one more day Wednesday if we want to go, but mostly it's done. Weird. Normal dinner routine can resume... I better gear up! Although tonight it's salmon tacos and they sounds delish to me.

**Finished River Secrets, the last of the Bayern Books, on vacay. I'm into The Help and believe I will really like but suddenly the time to read all but vanished...

seneca's birthday party!

we didn't have any fun at all.

click on the pic and choose slideshow.

it really is a bummer more people don't love this little girl!

I have a new toilet. I love it. It is white, normal-sized and of this century rather than ivory, quite short and ancient. And it has a dual-flush option... this was denten's choice. He installed it all by himself last night. I have enjoyed it all day.

He is currently giving me a new kitchen faucet. It looks good in there, but I'm steering clear as there are grunts and expletives coming from under the sink.

Enjoyed a swim date today. It was a little windy, but the water was nice. It's nice to have amy close seeing as the rest of my friends are oh, so far away.

Our yard looks fantastic. Well, compared to what it looked like when we moved in. We had a couple of guys working out there all day today finishing what we started saturday. they hauled away A LOT of yard waste. and my old toilet. I could barely communicate with them, but they did a stellar job.

My room is finally unpacked. and my bathroom, which I was procrastinating. Perhaps now I'll take a picture for you. Then you will understand why I was dragging my feet in there. oh, it's a treat.

Joete's Playground is hosting it's Mother's Day auction next week. It is going to be fantastic! I'll post soon about the details and would be forever grateful if you would do the same!

progress is occurring. counter tops are being cleared, I can see a little more floor, furniture pieces are moving into their proper places. painting is done. servicemen are scheduled to come the rest of the week.


I was thinking today about my goal for the year of being more organized. this moving adventure was supposed to help that, and it will eventually, but when I was smack dab in the middle, order was hard to find. I spent time today on the tasks that help me feel that things are running a little more smoothly. Tasks that help me know exactly where my money is and how much of it still exists. Tasks that help me know what is scheduled and what still needs to be done. I feel much calmer when there is order.


Seneca painted again today. In the garage. the floor, the play car and the tricycle seat. the painters get a kick out of her, calling her the "little painter." they all sought her out to say good-bye before they left today.


I way overestimated what I could accomplish this morning. Went back to the old house to pick up a few last things and run some errands and completely ran out of time. had to be back to get coop to his first day of the new school. oh well, we did what we could and the rest will get done sometime. cooper likes his new preschool, or "club" as they call it. he's so anxious to meet friends, I hope this does it for him.


I'm still sleep deprived. I can tell especially when I'm driving and it's all I can do to keep my eyes focused. But this is feeling a little more comfortable and I think seneca finally is getting the fact that this is our new home.

two years old

first, she came in crying and rubbing her eyes. ok, crying is an understatement. freaking out is more like it. I went to see what the culprit was and found an entire bottle of dried red pepper emptied on the patio. she had rubbed her fingers in it and then touched her eyes. yeah, that was fun.

then, after pulling beckham away from the painter's lunch (they kept giving him french fries) I took him inside and rounded the corner to find seneca painting my wood floor using the paint and brush intended for my trim. I held firmly to two two-year-olds while hustling back outside to let my dear painters know that I had a major disaster. they laughed and cleaned it right up. whew.

I'm pretty sure the people working in my house think I'm in way over my head with these children... I can't keep track of them! Thankfully, I believe two are asleep. pray with me that it lasts a while.

my house was so cold last night it was like we were camping. neither of us wanted to get out of bed, it was too chilly. the kids, however, had no problem getting out of bed. at 2:30, 3:00 and 4:30. Beckham never went back to sleep after that and neither did I.

It was so cold, my rolls did not rise for breakfast cake. they were still small, sitting in the bunt pan this morning. tried to help them along in a warm oven, but it wasn't the same. we improvised. dinner wasn't any better. plan A smelled oh so good but note to self: this stove is hotter than the last. scorched the pasta sauce. plan B was also a flop. plan C worked, but it was no fancy easter dinner! we are currently without a microwave. I think that adds to the "camping" or "survival" feel we've had around here.

lots of boxes unpacked today. loved having conference on. it was nice to have something familiar sounding through the house as so much around me is not right now. after failed dinner and nap time disasters, I had my first official meltdown. I don't know why I fought it so much, I was much more productive after a good cry!

I need to put sunscreen by the back door. The kids will be outside every day and beckham has had rosy cheeks for four days. They are doing a great job at putting away their outside toys when it's time to come in, although they would prefer not to come in. just bring dinner outside!

I had on a long sleeve shirt, jacket, heavy lounge pants, socks and slippers all day. It was much cooler in our house than outside. it's a little bizarre, but again, if it stays this way through the summer, hallelujah.

pictures are coming, many have requested. I need to get joete's playground baskets photographed and posted and then you may have a peek at this cavern. thanks for your patience as well as your well-wishes. I had a heavy moment of loneliness come over me today, but I know keeping busy will help those pass quickly. Seneca asked today why I brought some kitchen stuff from home. I told her this is our home now. "no, this is our new house. our home is far away." she knows this is the new house and she knows we moved, but it's so hard to understand that this is permanent, not a vacation. I am grateful my littles are good playmates. cooper said today that we haven't had any friends come over to our new house yet. well, first, we've only been here a day and second, we don't have any friends here yet! school starts for him this week, we plan to remedy that right away.

sorry for the lack of flow. 4:30 wake-up calls, busy days and no naps are leaving me a little scattered. I just want to remember some of this transition. like how beckham would not, for the life of me, stay in his bed for a nap this afternoon, but crashed at 4:30 p.m. and just kept sleeping. like how cooper loves to "sneak" around, finding me, but not letting me see him. like how seneca could play outside all day as long as she gets her snacks every now and then. like how denten is a hard worker, a great dad and the perfect partner in this adventure. if only he didn't have to go to work, think of the things we could get done around here! I'm on the look out for a good handy man.

oh, and easter happened. not quite traditionally but it happened. appears the backyard is the ideal setting for a major easter egg hunt.

night.