Random stuff

Just because I'm feeling the need to keep blogging, so I don't get out of the habit, I'll update you on a few things around here.

First off, Mighty Man lost his fourth tooth. That's right. He's 4 years old and has already lost 4 teeth. He's just fast like that. And he rides a two wheeler...no training wheels (he started that last November). You know how some kids are "a really young 5" or "a really old 5" when they start Kindergarten? Well, MM is on the old side of that scale. He has a passion for learning things and learning them well and early. Or works on his teeth until they fall out. Ironically, of the four children, he's the only one who doesn't believe in the Tooth Fairy. He's certain that the Lizard is the Tooth Fairy. Or I am. Don't ask why, because I cannot answer that question for you! He's a smart little cookie.

Second, last weekend (yes, it was a busy weekend!), Little Miss and Monkey Boy had a piano recital. Once I figure out how to post those videos, I'll do it. This was MB's first, and boy howdy, was he ever proud of himself! LM played "Fur Elise" and the "Star Wars" Theme and MB played "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" and "My Invention." It was great to see them playing on a grand piano!

And last but not least, I've been puttering around in our front yard lately. First, I weeded the entire parkway and remulched that. Did I mention that I'm so glad the kids will weed large expanses of flower beds for 50 cents apiece? Because I really am! They do a great job! And they're cheap too. Did I mention they're cheap? :o)

With all of their help, I was able to move on to the flower beds in the front yard. I now have 5 new rose bushes and a full complement of petunias out front. Some of the petunias are left over from last year, and are just prolific! I love how they bloom for me all year round. I think that's one reason why I like living here...I have roses year round, petunias year round, and never any snow! In any case, here are a few pictures from my front yard. These are all "before" pictures, so you won't get the full effect of the mulching and beautification that has taken place in the last two weeks, but they'll do for now!

This is my Disneyland Rose (my favorite):

Opening Night:

Voodoo:

Disneyland (again):

Mr. Lincoln:

Fragrant Wave:

Locks of Love

If you've never heard of Locks of Love, be sure to check out their website. A couple of years ago, I whacked my hair from mid back length to super short (and super easy to care for). Apparently, this made an impression upon our daughter. She tried to grow it out then, but finally begged me to cut it for the summer. That was two years ago. This time, she stuck with it, and grew it until she had more than enough. So this weekend, we went to get her hair cut for Locks of Love.

Here she is before. I think she looks a bit like Cousin It. She really hated brushing all that hair every day. Because I'm a mean mom and make her do it.

Then she sat down, got her hair braided and whacked off!

And here she is, sporting her new 'do:

Oh, and then there was one other thing we did on Saturday...she got her ears pierced!

Our Little Miss is growing up right before our eyes. And I'm ok with that. It seems each stage brings a new excitement to our lives.

There comes a time...

There comes a time in life, when you feel the need to slow down. To take a break and catch your breath. This is one of those times. I think I deserve a break! I did eight or nine laundries today. I taught Little Miss about the industrial revolution and then how to solve for x. She's 8 and we're already moving on to algebraic equations...which I find to be so cool! I also spent some time excavating what used to be our school table, before I had 4 kids who all wanted to do school at once.

I've still got a million things I feel like I should do. I need to plant the poor tomato plant that is slowly wilting on my back patio. I need to finish up the front yard...my roses are flourishing and my petunias are planted, but alas, the bags of mulch are still waiting to be spread. I have window planters ready for radishes to be started. I have rose cuttings that are budding on my kitchen counter. Those need to hit the dirt very soon. I also have grape bushes running amok in the back yard that need to be trimmed back. And I have seeds for a little herb garden...good thing we are currently studying plants and whatnot!

I have the Himalayas of laundry beat back (for the moment...see above note about laundry), and two of the 5 beds have been changed for the week. All the laundry has been folded and put away, and the dishes are all done (although not by my hand today...thank you my hubby in shining armor!). And the cat has been fed...even though she's still meowing about starving. Little Miss has recently gained some new responsibilities.

Which reminds me. This weekend our very own little girl decided to donate her hair to Locks of Love. It was so amazing to see her eager desire to help someone else. She has such a pure heart. I'll try to get to some before and after pictures later. For now, that's it...I'm taking a break now. I'm trying to break myself in easy you know. :o)

I'll be back, I promise!

It has been awhile since my last post. I've all manner of excuses, but honestly, I'm up to my eyeballs in things to do and too little time. Most notably, I've taken a lot of time to, um, heal. The day after my last post, I took a not-so-graceful step off the tailgate of our truck and have then spent the last two weeks on some very pleasant mind altering drugs to mask the horrific pain. The last two days have been pretty good, but today I might have over done things a bit, trying to catch up. I haven't touched my house in two weeks, haven't lifted a finger to cook, clean or even do the basics of feeding the kids. Thankfully, Little Miss does a bang up job at feeding her brothers breakfast and lunch.

So, with all that in mind, I'll try to get back to work, but I can't promise anything. This time of year is when I start planning our next academic year in earnest, including ordering books and writing lesson plans. So if I'm scarce, know I am well and the kids are thriving. And that you are loved for checking in on us!

More best laid plans...

I have approximately 1300 (ok, so 1308) pictures from our most recent nearly two week jaunt out into the desert. We went to Joshua Tree National Park and had ourselves a ball. However, unless you're privy to (or savvy enough to find) my flickr account, you'll just have to hold your horses! Life in the fast lane of school and Marriage Encounter is grand!

Oh, and I'll also add that Little Dude has discovered the direct connection between going pee and poop in the potty, and getting a car. Cruisin' Ramone, Piggy, Pit Crew Doc, Pit Crew Filmore, Woody, etc. He's got quite the collection, and I'm a happy mama! And for those who are counting, 7 pees or poops earns a car. So it's definitely not a one for one exchange, unless you count the one for one exchange for stickers. Little Dude loves stickers!

Best laid plans...

I intended to grace you with another post or ten of pictures and whatnot that I've been saving up. Or, maybe I'll just go to sleep. I'm tired! Little Dude has been making a habit of visiting multiple times per night. *yawn* Good night!

Don't worry!

If you have a kid or more than one kid, I'm sure at one time or another, you've sat and listened in on a conversation, or monologue from your child. I still enjoy each and every snippet I catch. Here's an example from our little Mighty Man, talking about and to a Western Fence Lizard he had caught. He had the terrarium out, and was prepared to keep the poor unsuspecting reptile for all time. At one point, the lizard warmed up sufficiently to run away, but not far enough...

An announcement to anyone within earshot: "Don't worry, I'll capture him again!"

After some time and considerable effort to catch the poor guy: "Wewl, apparently he doesn't want to be captured again. Oh, but don't worry, I'wl get him in there again, even though he doesn't want to be captured again."

And then after the lizard was safely secured within the terrarium: "Don't worry, widdle wizard, you can poke your head out waiter (later)."

The poor lizard! He needed just a few more minutes in the sun to get his runnin' away legs warm enough, lol!