Long Time, No Blog, Part XXIV

I know you haven't seen me around these parts in (looks at date of last blog post) six months, so this is what we look like circa May 2014. None of the females in the picture are wearing heels of any sort so, yes, the girls and I are pretty much the same height. In addition to my make up and hair products they are now stealing my shoes. My clothes are safe for the time being. 

Also, look at my time-share bebeh boys. They are too presh for words. Their mama is kindly giving birth to another bebeh sometime around the beginning of December. This makes me happy for several reasons, but mainly because I will get the enjoyment of a baby part of the day without the pesky task of raising and paying for it! After three boys, we would all be happy if NEW BEBEH were a girl, but what are the odds?? ( I know, 50/50.) 

Life in south Georgia continues to be predictably unpredictable. We've been in Albany nine years. NINE YEARS. That is the longest I've lived continually in one place my entire life. Come August, we will have lived in this house for eight years. Sometimes I look around at all the stuff we have aquired in that time and panic slightly at the thought of having to pack it all up and move. That was one good thing about moving on a semi-regular basis- it forced you to travel light and constantly re-evaluate the necessaties of life. Now, we just stick it in a closet or under the bed or in a shed and resolve to think about what to do with all that 'stuff' later.

One shed has become my office/creative space. Dad and James electrified it last year, and James spent Spring Break this year insulating it, putting up walls and giving it a lovely coat of paint. The office has two loft areas where we store decorations, camping stuff, seasonal items, etc. Just the bottom part of the office (i.e. the space that holds my stuff) filled up an entire trailer and then some. So yeah, moving it not something I want to ever do ever again.

But look how LOVELY my space is now!! Sometimes I just go out there and sit and enjoy how quiet it is. 

Three years ago we had no dogs. Now we have three. Allie is a Chocolate Lab who joined the family in April. She's so incredibly sweet and laid back, so I can forgive the loud snoring, awful gas and huge dog poo I have to scoop out of the back yard daily. 

After we discovered a termite infestation in the house back in February, we decided that this year we needed to put some serious $$$ into some much needed home repairs. We've been throwing money all around town as a result, but when everything is finally finished, we will have brand new windows, a new French door on the back of the house, new trim and siding, fresh looking brick exterior/sidewalk,/curb/driveway due to an intense pressure washing and all the rotted wood replaced. If we could just get some new carpeting inside, it really would be like living in an all-new house.

 I have two, TWO children in high school. Next summer will be twenty years since I graduated myself. I can't decide which fact is more unbelievable. The children both delight and infuriate me on a daily basis. 

  

If anyone would like to help teach Madeline how to drive I will gladly give you gas money.

That's about it for now. We still miss Jed dreadfully, but he's almost down one year! At some point I may update this blog again. We'll see. ;) 

HELLO 2014!

I'll give it to you, 2013. You were a hell of a year.

In my life, it's been fairly true to form (with a few outliers just to keep things fun e.g. 2013) that the even number years are AMAZEBALLS and the odd number years are JUST PLAIN AWFUL.

This was not the case for 2013. 2013 was pretty darn good all around. And I'm not just saying that because we had not one, not two but THREE awesome vacations to Disney World and Universal Studios. (As I said to Jaws, it's really saying something the number of big vacations taken in our first 17 years of marriage is equal to the number of big vacations taken in 2013 alone!) The vacations certainly helped, but overall it was a good, good year- two occurences of government sequestration/furlough/shut down resulting in a 40% reduction in pay during said sequestration/furlough/shut down notwithstanding.

No joke, I went to go find something on Pinterest to share on this post and I ended up spending 30 minutes there just looking around, and now I can't remember what I was going to add here.

So, 2013.

Does anyone even read my blog anymore? Can you leave a comment if you do? My self-esteem could really use the lift.

Also, Jed's visa for Brazil finally came through and he leaves January 21st.

I did a lot of crafting this year and it was therapeutically awesome. My reading took a hit though, because one cannot craft and read at the same time. This was my favorite piece.

Also, here's a recent picture of all of us.

  

  

     

       

           

     

What I've Been Doing

Did you know we went to Disney World back in February? We did, and it was awesome. I didn't talk about it here because I didn't want to make you super jealous. Cousin Sarah is officially the Numero Uno Maker of the Disney Magic.

As you can tell by our attire, we had a day of chilliness. But anyone who has ever almost sweated (swat?) to death in the Orlando heat and humidity will tell you that a bit of chilliness is infinitely preferable. As per our vacationing preferences, it was all about the food. We ate our way through the Magic Kingdom, EPCOT and Hollywood Studios and it was GLORIOUS. Cousin Sarah advised purchasing the prepaid meal plan, which was a wonderful suggestion. We could order what we wanted without regard to the price. It was simply delightful to get a check for $130+ and say the magic words, "We're on the meal plan" and POOF!! The check disappeared. Bliss....

Earlier in the month of February, Frodo received this in the mail:

I've pretty much been trying to come to terms with the fact that he will be gone for TWO WHOLE YEARS ever since then. I will probably be okay with it about a month before he gets home. IN JUNE 2015!!! By which time Madeline will almost be 17 and Isabella will be 15. MY LIFE IS FLASHING BEFORE MY EYES. At least I won't be 40 yet. When he gets home, I mean. 

I also started a new job. In addition to my old job of teaching preschool, I'm watching three little bros in the afternoon after school. Which basically means I'm working almost full-time. It's a good thing I love teaching and that I ADORE the boys I'm watching. Their ages are 5, 2 and 10 weeks. Yes, WEEKS. I am going to watch them over the summer as well, with the help of the girls. I figure it will be better with 3 VS 3 defense. 

The girls are in love with the boys, too. On the first afternoon, I got this text from Madeline:

The smell of a bebeh's head is a powerful thing, no? Speaking of the bebeh:

I'm spoiling him rotten and loving every minute of it. 

School is over in two and a half weeks. Not that I'm counting down or anything. You can probably expect another update from 'round mid July. 

Keeping It Real

Ahhh....Sping Break. I've been waiting for you too long and now you're finally here! We tentively had some plans as a family, but Madeline got a better offer from a friend and she abandoned us. Bella decided she would head over to Tifton since Madeline was gone, because Tifton is always more fun that Albany! I thought we had at least another year or so before we became obsolete, but the time is here, I guess. *sad face*

I decided to take advantage of having two less people in the house and do some deep-ish cleaning. James cleaned the carpet and I attacked the kitchen. However, in the interest of KEEPING IT REAL, I took pictures of things I haven't done (and to be perfectly honest, probabaly won't any time soon).

I hate dusting. It's a waste of time. It just comes back and this time of year it brings pollen with it(especially if you like to keep your windows open, which I do). DOWN WITH DUSTING!!!




The food side of the laundry room is pretty organized, but the laundry/storage side? Not so much.


I despair of the craft closet. In spite of my best efforts, it's always messy. Darn kids, it's their fault!


Preschool books in the playroom I need to put away. These are the books I've ordered and/or used since December. I'll probably clean it up in June. There are probably two hundread books in those stacks. I have plans of cataloging them all, but probably won't complete that task until sometime in 2015.




It took me ten minutes to find a pair of matching flip-flops the other day. Pitiful.


I seriously have no idea why all this STUFF is piled up on this shelf. It has no business being there. But Have I done anything about it? No.


Other things I haven't done but should? Windexing the front windows where the cats and dog press their noses, mopping the kitchen floor (the red clay blends in with the tile quite nicely) and cleaning the shelves in the top of my closet.

Just keepin' it real.

Lora is on a roll these days, posting all the time! I feel bad for my poor, neglected blog.

In other news, we got a dog the week after Christmas. An 11 week old mini schnauzer/beagle mix who we promptly named "Tulip" (in keeping with our tradition of naming our pets after flowers). But we call her Lulu. (But in my mind, I always call her Lulubelle Roman. I don't know why. I guess you have to be of a certain age and from a certain part of the country to get the Lulu Roman reference.)

I am the first to admit that while I like dogs, I am not a "dog person". Give me a cat anyday. But the other three people in the house seem to believe that *they* are "dog people" and since my vote is only one out of four (although I do have super veto override priviledges). We started talking about getting a dog about six months ago. We knew we wanted something small-ish and something that wasn't overly hairy. (Don't want to add to the cat hair, after all.) We kept an ear out, and our patience was rewarded when I heard someone was giving away free puppies.

I'm still not really a "dog person". However, what I am finding out is that I'm a "Lulu person". She has such a cute personality. And her face, OH THE FACE!! And the way she cocks her head to the side when she lisening intently?? OH FOR CUTE!!! I find myself using the most ridiculous voice with her sometimes. But I can't resist the face.



I mean, COME ON!!

The cats were not happy. Tigerlily showed her disapproval by leaving a dead bird on the floor in my bedroom. She then killed another bird and hid it BEHIND THE COUCH, which we had no idea about until we went hunting for a "weird small". But for now, Lulu and the cats have kinda-sorta reached a truce (Tigerlily and Lulu occasionally will share the bed in the evenings, with the cat on one side of me and the dog on the other). Poppy just takes refuge on the top bunk in the girls' bedroom, and occasionally I will find her leaning over the rail, looking down at Lulu as if to mock. It's kind of a passive-aggressive relationship, really.

So if you happen to be in the neighborhood, stop by and meet the world's cutest doggy-woggy pumpkin face.

I wish it was raining today so I could title this post "November Rain"

Sadly, that awesome title will have to wait for another (non sunny) day.

I think our Indian Summer might have finally left south Georgia this weekend. There were days last week when it was in the mid-90's with crazy high humidity. How insane is *that*?? It about killed me. Today the high is only 81, and the low tonight will be in the mid-50's. This weather is bearable, but I'd prefer some high in the low 70's, maybe high 60's?? Is that too much to ask, Mother Nature??

I don't like to brag, but the girls looked pretty awesome for Halloween this year. You don't believe me?









A friend of mine gave me some clothes her daughters had outgrown. When I saw these dresses (which I knew the girls would never really be able to wear anywhere else) I immediatly thought of Halloween.

Madeline decided to be a 'Snow Queen' and Isabella decided to be an 'Undead Beauty Queen'. She wanted me to attach knife to her dress so it would look like she had been stabbed, but I thought that might be going a little too far. James took the girls around while I stayed home and handed out candy with Gertrude.



We have enough leftover candy to feed a third world country. It's not that I bought too much, it's that we were light on Trick-or-Treaters this year. James' crew at work will appreciate some of the leftovers, I'm sure.

So it's on to November. Three weeks until Thanksgiving holidays. Oh crap, I just remembered we have to pay our car registration this month. Why is your birthday so close to the holidays Jaws, why??

Speaking of Jaws, we've been asked to team teach the CTR 7 class at church. HAH! Can you believe that?? These are the kiddos getting ready for baptism! We're responsibe for making sure they know what they are getting into. ;) Who thought it was a good idea to let us teach that class??

Also speaking of Jaws, he just walked in the door, so it's time to eat some dinner.

First Day of School 2010

School started for the girlies on August 13th. I'll come right out and say it- I'd been dreading the since the first day of school LAST year. Madeline started middle school this year, which also meant getting a new bus. In Lee Co, Pre-K through 5th grade students ride one bus and the middle school and high school kids ride a different bus. Talk about nerve wracking for *me*! Of course, Madeline has handled it fine, and Isabella is thrilled to finally be the oldest on her bus. I won't lie- I'll be so happy when they are back together next year.

We've settled into the school year nicely after a bit of a rocky start (adjusting to randomly wierd middle school rules and schedules), but of course the real test begins next Monday, when preschool starts for me.

Q and Eh?

Hey man! What's up?

Hey yourself. Not much. Just livin' life, ya know?

No, that's not what I mean. What's up with you? Why aren't you blogging this summer? Did I do something to offend you?

Of course not! It's not you, it's me.

That's what they all say.
No, really. It *is* me. You know how it is in the summertime. The days are lazy and soothingly repetitive. How many time do you really want to read about my taking the girls to the pool and how dark my tan is getting?

Well...

And think about it- if you have to get up for a job/small child/weak bladder, do you really want to hear about how I regularly sleep in past 10:00 9:00 am while my children happily entertain themselves??

I guess you have a point.

Sure I do. My not blogging has been for *your* benefit, see?

That's really thoughtful of you.

I know. I'm a giver.

But honestly, I've missed you and your witty insight into the minutiae of everyday life!

Sorry about that. I've tried to make a conscientious effort not to be in front of the computer so much this summer. It's been hard, seeing as how most of my closest friends live in my computer, but it's been good for my mental health.

What? Your mental health? What do you mean??

Never mind.

The least you can do is throw me a bone here. Haven't you done ANYTHING blog-worthy in the past two months? What about the chickens and the playhouse? What's going on with Jaws and the girls?

Okay, okay. Jaws went to Scout Camp at the end of June. We missed him a lot. He took my camera and came back with pictures like this:











A few days after James got home from camp, the girlies and I took of to Florida for a few days. We visited some old high school friends of mine, went to the beach, did some back to school shopping in the "big city" and generally had a great time.

The chickens are doing great! We almost double the flock to 15 after getting 7 more chickens from my brother. They are all getting big, and we should start seeing some eggs in the next month or so.

James finished their coop and run before he left for camp.



















Impressive, no? The playhouse still needs a real roof, some insulation and electricity, and James still has to build out the storage area under the playhouse (not to mention the whole structure needs to be painted). But the girls are happy, the chickens are happy, and I'm pretty sure we've become the crazy family in the neighborhood, as at least five different people have stopped and asked what the heck we were doing back there.

Jaws is busy with work. Madeline is excited to start middle school next month. Bella is excited to start 5th grade. I'm excited to start my third year of teaching Pre-K (and my 8th year of teaching preschool altogether). I am not excited that we will have to get up before the crack of dawn again. But that's still three weeks away, and I'm not going to think about it yet.

Good for you.

I know, right? See how much better my mental health is??

Uhh...

Trust me. It is.

I'll take your word for it. So what else??

Nope! You're not going to catch me monologing! That's enough news for now. If you want to know what I'm reading, check my Goodreads box on the side of my blog. For more day to day action, you'll find me on Facebook. If you really, really want me to post something (or something in particular) feel free to leave a blog comment. Now, I think I hear the UPS man delivering my latest order of books from Amazon, so adios amigos!

Chickie Baby

Waaaaaaaaaay back in 2003, when we were still living on the Compound in Tifton, James asked me what I wanted for a Valentine's Day present. I told him "chickens". So he agreed to build a chicken coop in preparation for little, tiny baby chicks that would be available that spring. He drew up the plans and got as far as getting some 4x4s in place that would be the corners of the coop.

The Valentine's present turned into a Mother's Day present, which then turned into a birthday present, then James started schoool and before we knew it it was May 2005 and we were moving to Albany for his new job and I had never, ever got my chickens.

Last spring, James brought home a bunch of wood and made me a compost bin out of some wood he brought home from the base. I alluded to our next project in that post, and finally SEVEN YEARS after his initial promise, WE HAVE CHICKENS.

My brother David ordered 60 chickens from a mail order company, and they arrived the week of the family reunion. Dave set aside 10 chicks for us, and James (after checking out and reading every book on raising chickens from the library that he could get his hands on) set about building a Biddy Box that we figured they'd stay in for at least a month.

James built the box and set it up on some sawhorses over our garden box (which I had never got around to planting anything in this year, although the rosemary and thyme I planted *last* year are still thriving!)


The idea was that each day when we cleaned out thebox, we'd let the chicks run around in the garden.






I don't know if it's our tender loving care or what, but these chicks are SUPER CHICKS. Less than two weeks after the reunion we had to upgrade their "area" because they are getting HUGE!

James decided to mount the biddy box on the end of the (now) enclosed garden bed, giving the chicks a run. I think it's pretty smart myself.






So for the time being, the chicks have plenty of room, and they are happy and thriving. We still have 8 chicks (we lost two of them to a neighborhood cat who found away into the pen. James has sworn to have his revenge. Our ultimate plan has always been to build a bigger, permanent coop in the back of the yard, with laying boxes and plenty of room.

With it being the Memorial Day weekend and having time off of work, James decided to get to work building the permanent coop last Saturday. He had been outside for about two hours when he came into the house and uttered these immortal words....

"Hey, come see this. I have an idea...."

TO BE CONTINUED