what my husband thought i might like to look at

Good grief! I love my house and all, but I haven't been further than a few blocks from it in over 2 weeks, and I'm really getting tired of this place. This sick business is killing me! Yes. I'm still sick. Not as sick (note the font changing ability has returned), but not as better as I should be by this point. Doctor took more x-rays today and noticed my heart was enlarged. This could mean the nasty viral infection has spread to my heart (myro-cardial-something-or-other-fancy-word, he called it). That could mean anywhere from another 3 weeks to 3 months of bed rest. AAAAAAUGH!!!! How a homeschooling mother of 4 active boys who has never gone more than a day in the past 15 years without exercising can lay in that stupid bed any longer is a total mystery! I find this blog a safe and soothing place to vent a few of these feelings. Whether you want to be a kind listener or not--I kind of roped you into it!

ANYWAY,I sent my husband out in the gorgeous weather with his camera and told him to drive to the other side of town and just take some pictures of stuff I might want to look at. This is what he came back with:





He knew how much I love topiaries and water features and weeping trees (I call them Dr. Seuss trees), so he thought I'd like to look at this home for sale. If it was more cottage size than McMansion size--I think it would be perfect. Glad my husband knows my taste in homes so well!

He also took this photo:


Apparently he wandered across some graveyard out in the middle of nowhere. Most of these are soldiers and families who died at Fort Boise during the Indian Wars. A little creepy--and maybe not the best picture to show someone who feels on her death bed--but still appreciated :).

If you want a great decorating post to look at, go visit The Nester. She's been mistreating her windows again and I just love her for it! If you want some real-life action and excitement, go visit my buddy Elena. They've had police chases and hostages in their neighborhood! If you want to keep hearing a sick woman whining about when her trial will pass--then you're in the right place :O).

Best weekend wishes to you all!

something not having to do with me being sick

Just wanted something else besides my sick post to look at this morning to help all my thoughts stay focused on getting and staying well. Though I still can't thank you all enough for the kind words and well wishes. It's just one month of my life....I'll make it up somehow :o).

Lots I remember about this one photo above----

The barn in a wheatfield painting I did years ago. I'm not much of an artist, but I gave it a try--watercolors on an oil canvas! I love the juxtaposition of blue and gold in it. It's hanging in my hallway now--though I think I'll have to take it down when Summer comes around and put it back on my faux-mantle. It just looks summery.

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And that's my metal rooster named Chicky on the pedestal. Love that silly rooster! My husband got him for me when I was begging to have real chickens. Good substitute. Lots less poop.

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And those are my almost-look-real purple Alliums. I know they're just onion flowers, but they're soooo pretty!

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See the silver candlesticks? I like to tell people they're my grandmother's mercury glass--but I really just bought them at the dollar store. Sweet, sweet dollar store!

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Oh--also look at the table. See those square thingies? They were some "free art" I was making for a friend. She had a pair of unused frames that needed something done. I set her loose on the frame part with some leftover dark red spray paint I had laying around. Then I created these little ditties for her out of.......free paint chips. Does it get any better than free? Just used my paper cutter to slice the chips into equal squares, then cut a few smaller squares to use as overlaps here and there. **Enlarge the photo to see what I mean. ** I thought they turned out pretty cute. Maybe I'll have to make some more for MYSELF......hmmmmm, now where on earth can I get free paint chips?!

here's what's going on!--

Here I am again, back from the land of the dead. Thank you all soooo much for your care and concern. I'm not much more than words on a page to a lot of you, but I could really sense the care behind all your well wishes.

I know I said I was feeling better in my last post, but a few hours later, I was back down again. That's how it has been for the past week--better, worse, better, even worse, little bit better, lots worse. The only way I can describe to you how I felt was that it was like being a 90 year old arthritic woman who was made to run a marathon, and then beat by mean men with baseball bats at the end. You might laugh--but that's honestly how I felt. I just laid there feeling like a prisoner in my own body. I couldn't move--even a slight jerk of my leg or turn of my body was intense. I couldn't sleep. I couldn't eat. I couldn't hold a book or turn the pages when I was hurting. I even--and most frighteningly-- lost interest in my children because I couldn't do anything with them or for them. It was the scariest place I've ever been in my life. Every joint--every toe, every knuckle in every finger, my jaw, my knees, my back, elbows, arms, ankles--you name it, it hurt. I saw my mom through her last days not quite two years ago--I saw how she cried when we would barely touch her. And though I can't compare my ordeal with how she felt riddled with cancer--I think I gained a bit of understanding. And she kept smiling as long as she could. I stopped smiling days ago.

I was about a day away from not being able to stand up to even use the bathroom anymore. My knees would not bend, my feet couldn't support my weight, and if I happened to sit down in the bathtub--I couldn't get out without my husband's help. Have you gotten the idea yet? Not that I'm really writing this so people will say--"Poor Jennifer"--I just don't want to forget what I've been through, what I've learned, and what I can endure.

We finally went to a good doctor today. One that sat and listened to all my symptoms. One that understood that I was on the verge of giving up all hope of ever feeling better. Before I'd only been to one of those "Doc in a box" doctors who put me on a ton of medication. Next I visited "patch 'em up and send 'em out" ER doctors who gave me some pretty intense narcotics. This doctor told me that all those medications have actually set me back--and that the Percacet and Laudanum (I think I spelled those right) were the worst. They took the pain right away and let me rest for a few hours, but when they wore off--I hurt worse than ever. Last night, Percacet wouldn't even last 2 hours on me and I had to take it with a lot of anti-nausea medication too. This doctor told me I was going to have to be patient for a few more days. He could make me feel a little better with a non-addictive, non-narcotic kind of drug--and that fluids and sleep would do the rest. One more trip to the hospital for another IV of fluid, and a shot of anti-inflammatory--and I HAVE HOPE AGAIN! I cried on our drive home, because I could actually see the world around me again. I could actually imagine myself out of bed and in a store again. I wanted to see my boys so badly and hug them and tell them their mom would be alright!

I guess I saw a little mirroring with life. So many times I just want to do what is easiest--what will make me feel better right away. But in the end, I know that kind of thinking and behavior always leave me feeling worse, and over time--without hope. The right way is the way that will always take a little longer and take a little more effort and patience. But in the end you can smile because you know you've done it right. You know you've put your trust in the Right Person.

So I have to thank my dear, dear husband who has cared for me these past two weeks (minus two days!). I could not have seen him in the condition he's seen me and remain as strong as he has. My house may not be spotless--but it's picked up-- and the boys have been loved and entertained. Brad has taken maybe a total of 3 weeks off over the past 6 years--so for him to have been home every day since Thursday is the greatest gift he could have given me.

I'm so thankful to my children who were brave and who took such good care of one another, and who came in every night to tell me they knew I could beat this.

I'm thankful to Dr. Jacobsen for listening for so long, for understanding, and giving me back a little hope.

And I'm thankful to my Heavenly Father who never left me. Who understood my pain. And though He chose not to take it from me in the miraculous way I prayed for every minute of every day--He didn't leave me. And as always--He had a plan in mind. And He taught me.

and the flu goes on....

Just when you think you're over it. I have been sick with a cold and various other ailments since Feb. 3. On Feb. 13 I could feel it begin to morph into the flu. You've already read about how I crashed on Valentines night. I was pretty much bed ridden all through that Sunday. Was feeling better by Monday and saw my husband off on a trip. Stayed up through Tuesday (in time to do my last post), and then felt old Mr. Flu re-double his efforts and come at me for some more. This time, I took a trip to the doctor. Intense arthritis-like pain in all my joints. Got put on narcotics and various other medications. Thursday at 4 am, I call Brad home from his trip and have my sister take me to the ER. There they give me more and stronger narcotics to get between me and the pain. This morning, I begin throwing up all the narcotics and take myself another little trip to the ER for further x-rays and blood work and something to counteract all the narcotics. I tell ya, I'm the kind of girl who was up and working out within days of my babies being born. Nothing has ever knocked me down for more than 2-3 days. We're on day 10 of this, and I must be doing better because 1. I'm up and kind of sitting (kind of leaning...) 2. I am no longer begging for someone to please kill me now. and 3. I ate something that didn't taste like bile for the first time in days. I am not strong enough yet, however, to make all my text big and small--sorry.

Sooooo glad I got my flu shot this year......

a peek at our old house

We have moved 7 times in 13 years. I know there are many of you out there who would say that was a piece of cake--but 7 times sure seemed like a lot to me. The last house we lived in-- the one we were in for 7 years-- was probably my favorite (besides our home now, of course!). My family grew from 1 to 4 boys there. I started our homeschool journey there. We made some great friends and some great memories. It was a very well-loved 1,250 square feet.

We had the house built, and were therefore able to pick our colors, finishes, etc.. However, we thought we'd only live there a few years, and so we went overly neutral and safe with everything. After 3 years, and a career change, we knew we'd be staying put longer than expected, and decided to make the house look a little more like us (o.k.--a little more like ME, but my husband did a lot of the labor anyway :)!).

I took numerous pictures of that house. I'd style it all up when the kids were at grandma's and shoot photos fit for magazines. Except that I did it all with the non-digital SLR--because I thought it was silly to store pictures on the computer where they had the potential of crashing into oblivion. So, I need to get to the scanner at my husband's office to get them on here. However, I did find a few decent ones to show you NOW. They've got people and birthday parties and such going on in them--but you can still gleen some design inspiration I think.

Here was our kitchen. I loved this kitchen. The cupboards use to be that standard builder oak with brass handles. It took me 3 months, but I painted all of 'em! We also wrapped the island in beadboard and had the Napoleon Brown Marble counter and backsplash installed right over the old counters (after roughing them up with a belt sander!). I think this was Ethan's birthday....

These doors use to be solid. We cut out the middles, added the new knobs, and stapled in hardware cloth. It's only $5 a roll and gives it a great farmhouse look.
Here's Brad feeding Liam--but you can also see a close up of the counters and backsplash. We added the little beadboard cap that runs along the tile--it was a great way to not have to do so much trimwork with the paint between the tiles and cupboards.
Here was our dining room. I loved our floors so much(Mannington's Distressed Heart Pine) that I put the same ones in our current home. See the texture on the walls? I wanted it to look like a subtle stucco. That finish ran through here and the living room. It took me 26 hours of painting (off and on of course!) to give it that look. I was really channeling that Italian Country Farmhouse look--and this fit the bill perfectly. It involves a lot of blending paint, but if any of you are interested in how to do it--let me know and I'll give you directions.* I also think hanging a mantle shelf on your wall is a great way to make up for the fact that you don't have a fireplace to decorate up! *And just to brag a little bit--my hubby and I made that table!
And look at our room! The vinyl letter woman wasn't sure she could make the wording as big as I wanted, but was willing to give it a try--as long as I paid for it regardless of it turning out right or not. There was a lot of holding our breath as we applied it, then peeled off the backing--but it turned out EXACTLY how I wanted it too. I would have ordered them again for this house, but the vinyl letter lady had moved and I couldn't find another who could do them this big. At least I have my picture!

I think a home is always a work in progress and would be really boring if you ever really got "done". What do you think?!

look what you,too, can do while running a 100 degree temperature

I am still sick. I keep thinking I'm all better--pull myself out of bed--and do crazy things like drag 4 kids to Wal*Mart--and then my fever comes back, and down I go again. Not this time Joe. My head is spinning from all the meds, but no way am I getting back in that bed! ( By the way, have I mentioned how fond I am of flu season?!).



I decided to take on a little project that The Nester encouraged everyone to try--just to prove you can be sick enough to lose 12 pounds in 14 days and still decorate your house!



These are my cupboards before--the ones I've been meaning to paint the backs of for forever....:




And here they are with a little paper magic worked on them. Yea--that's just some sheets of scored 12X12 scrapbook paper taped down. I would really love to find a different pattern and do the entire back, but being as scrapbook-challenged as I am (it's one of my big, bad, dirty secrets) --this is what I had on hand. I think the polka-dots make the white dishes look happy :o).





I also like the way it adds a little orange glow when the doors are closed.




So--here's hoping you all stay healthier than me, and do this project too!

love is in the air....

Looks like I'm 4 days late on my Valentines post--you wanna make something of it :)?! It's been a very sickly few days here at the Peterson house, but at least I managed to crash AFTER Valentines Day!

The kids had their card exchange and party at our Commonwealth School (homeschool co-op) on the 8th. Guess who forgot her camera? I guess it got forgotten in all the bundles of backpacks, lunchbags, dioramas of Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh, chess sets, nursery supplies, kazoos (music class), Valentines, cookies, and Valentine-collecting-thingies we had to haul out with us!

We did not attempt homemade Valentines this year. Instead I found handy-dandy little ones that came with candy already built in. It provided at least a solid hour of quiet entertainment-- for everyone but James.

Their mailboxes turned out cute too. This photo of them was taken just this morning, so Liam has already carried his various Valentines all around and lost most of them. I think Ethan's box is still in the van somewhere. But you get the general idea!

Valentines Day morning I made everyone pink "hot vanilla". I wish I had white mugs so you could see that this was actually pink.....

Just milk, powdered sugar, vanilla extract, a little dash of almond extract, and red food coloring. Yum! These little Valentines for everyone too....

That night, Brad and I went on a date to a little bistro downtown that we like. We really just wanted something light, but it turns out they were only serving from their special 5 course Valentines menu that night. I ended up having a carmelized onion tart with balsamic syrup glaze; a spinach salad with spiced pecans and pomagranate vinegarette; a strawberry sorbet to cleanse my palette; then a roasted free range chicken with raspberry chutney, polenta and parmesan cake, and grilled asparagus; and chocolate cake for dessert. Did I eat it all? Holy cow NO!--we both came home with a couple boxes full of leftovers. It was delicious--just too much!

And so that was our Valentines Day!--and now on to the next holiday. Anyone else feel weird whenever we have to have Easter in March?

look at this!!!

The long awaited day has finally arrived--my new blog design is here! It was a rather bumpy journey--let's just say my first arrangement didn't work out as planned--but Shannon at Eight Crazy stepped in and saved the day (and my husband's perfect Christmas gift!). THANK YOU SHANNON!!!! She totally put up here just what I saw in my head--and that's no easy task. If any of you want an amazing transformation like this one, she'd be the one to contact.

I think this is all I'll do for today. I'm too busy smiling my Dick and Jane smile to type much else!

*can you guys let me know if this lined paper is too hard to read the words on? I like it, but I was worried someone might end up with eye strain!

useful, beautiful stuff you should have at your house

Happy Valentines Day everyone! I thought I'd do my red/ heart/ be mine kind of post tomorrow (since I'm typing this on Wednesday night). This is what I got for today:
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I think it was William Morris (the arts and crafts movement guy) who said "Have nothing around your house that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful". I have always taken that to heart when deciding what I'm going to drag in the front door.

This is stuff from around my house that is useful or beautiful (or both!!!) that I think everyone should have.

1. Something from when your spouse was a child. Actually I got boxes and boxes of stuff from when my husband was a child--but most of it was neither useful nor beautiful, however there were some gems. This is a quilt his older sisters (much, much older) embroidered for him. I love it!

It has hung in all my baby's rooms at one time, and is now folded for display on a shelf. I still pull it off there frequently just to look at it though. It's nice to remember that my husband was once a baby as loved as all our kids are. And to think that maybe one day my future daughter-in-laws will appreciate that I saved some useful, beautiful stuff from when their husbands were little guys (I'm about to cry now.....better move on!)

2. Stuff you like to look at on your wall. Please, please don't hang ugly stuff on your wall. If you don't like to look at it, take it down! And just because you liked it and hung it up at one time, doesn't mean you have to leave it up forever and ever.

I {heart} Dick and Jane!

These prints were from a calendar I had in 2005. I wanted to have them framed, but they wanted like $100 bucks each to do it. SO, I had Aaron Bros. do a custom cut of some mats for me (cost $30), then bought the frames seperately (cost $60. Total Cost: $90, savings of $210---and I did that without a calculator ;)!). Not only do I love to look at these, but their yummy, deep primary colors inspired the current color palette in my home... and they give my 3 year old something to practice reading (beautiful and useful!)

3. Buttermilk Powder. Disgusting, curtled, smelly milk is not something I generally have hanging around my house.... but I actually get a little panicky when I run out of this. It gives the perfect amount of tang to whatever you choose to use it in--and seriously makes the best pancakes in the world (follow the recipe on the back). Don't forget to store it in the fridge after it's opened. You should be able to find it in the baking aisle of your local grocery store--even Wal*Mart......if they're not all out.....because they're never out of anything.......ever.

4. Stress Candy. I know, I know you shouldn't use sugar to deal with stress, but a couple of these M&M's when I feel like I'm going to blow keep me from devouring the whole pint of Ben and Jerry's (useful). They also double as bribing candy for my little ones. (more useful!). Plus, they look so pretty in a jar (beautiful!) 5. Dinner Service for 12. Preferrably all white dishes because they're incredibly versatile and food just looks good on white. I think 12 is the perfect number of people to have over for a 'big' dinner--enough to keep things interesting-- but not so many as to overwhelm you.

You don't have to break the bank buying all the dishes though. My 12 dinner plates, 12 salad plates, and 12 bowls came to $36 (plus tax)-----I got them all at the dollar store. You heard me--THE DOLLAR STORE! It really is a wonderful place. When they're stacked up you can tell that some of them aren't perfectly flat-- I'm pretty sure that's the only reason they were cast aside. Other than that, they're genuine Italian ceramic (so says the printing on the back), and I don't have to cry if one gets broken (though it's been 6 years and I haven't lost one yet!). I didn't spend much on the glasses and water goblets either, but they weren't from the dollar store.....and I only have 8 of them.
See--they're not so bad! Once again---useful and beautiful! I'm just smiling all over :)! ***************************************************
I would love to see 5 useful, beautiful things you guys have hanging around that you think every home should have. Take the challenge if you want--but let me know if you do. I want to see!!!

putting the call out

So this one goes out to all my loyal blog readers, or ones who would like to be loyal (could that mean YOU lurker?). Since, sadly, or not so sadly, I know more about most of you than I do my own neighbor--I thought I'd like to collect a list of your birthdays. (I just found out I missed Trish's! Happy Belated B. day again!) I think that if I'm going to peek in on your life and have you peeking in on mine, maybe I could send a birthday card or a blog shout out on your special day. (or look up your criminal history on publicdata.com--ha! ha!) Just putting the call out there.....accept or decline as you wish!!!

******Of course it may seem strange to address an envelope to "Chatty Emily" or "Lee Ann Somebody" or "The Nester"or "The Crockpot Lady"--but I won't make you reveal your secret identities :)!*********

meet our neighborhood

Blue sky.
A whole tree full of Spring Robins.
Melting snow.

Looks like a day for a walk to me! Lucky you......I took my camera along.

We have a great neighborhood. There are lots of different directions to walk. It's full of cute mailboxes like this and this.

It has lots of friendly cats who let me take their picture.
It also has a lot of other homes we could always "move up" to if we wanted--- and not have to go further than around the corner. This one's for sale right now. Great view-- but lots of mauve and gray inside. I love the diagnol-paned storybook windows on this one--even if it is kind of purpley.

This one also has a great view--but something about all that brick makes it look awfully serious!
See it tucked behind all the big trees? This is the beauty we've got our eye on. And it's only about 6 houses from ours. Who wouldn't want to live at the end of your own private drive that you could name whatever you wanted? Seriously--I'm selling my kidneys if this one ever comes up for sale!

It got me thinking about why we chose this neighborhood in the first place. Guess you can consider this some real estate advice from me (though remember I'm an interior designer--not a realtor, so don't count it as a professional opinion :)--this is just the conclusion we came to ....) BUY A LOCATION!

The little house we moved from was great when we bought it--all brand spanking new in a new, small subdivision. Everyone around us was so proud of their "first home". Fast forward seven years when we left-- and our neighborhood was a mere shell of what it once was. Nearly everyone had sold their homes during the big real estate boom, and a lot of the second home owners weren't nearly as "proud". Scarier yet, a lot of them rented out--and all, it seemed, to about 100 teenagers living together-- driving those cars with the loud mufflers. Some yards went yellow. Some never got landscaped. Some got waaaaaay too landscaped. We just never saw it coming, and we didn't want to repeat the mistake.

SO, with the price range we were looking in, we could have got another brand spanking new house in a new subdivision. Of course there were a ton of smothering covenants dictating everything from what color you could paint your house (brown gray or gray brown), to how many shrubs you had to plant, to how often you had to mow your 2 feet of grass, and even to how long you were allowed to leave your garage door up. I know all those were put into place to preserve home value-- but they're only as good as the people who enforce them--and you just never know.

Knowing that, we started looking in older subdivsions. Our goal was to find the "ugly duckling" of the neighborhood--where everything around it looked good, but it needed a little makeover magic. We found our place right away. The subdivision was 20-30 years old, but the homes were all still in good shape, with people obviously still updating and caring for them. The lots were all at least 1/4 acre and up--and land will always hold its value (I hope!). There was a nice mix of young and old people. And there was no where that they could suddenly hook our road up to the highway or build a Wal Mart in our backyard or anything that city planners are known for doing. Plus our house was priced just right--smaller than all the others around it for its lack of second story or basement--but just enough room for us. A garden spot. Mature trees. Nice neighbors with kids the ages of ours. And a hot tub to boot. We took it. And we loved it all better. And I painted it this nice shade of yellow-green because there weren't any covenants to tell me I couldn't.

And now I look forward to walking in this front door every day and saying "I'M HOME!"

My yellow-green heaven ;)!

wii live dangerously around here

Guess where I was Saturday evening? At the movies? No. A fancy bistro? No. At the walk-in emergency clinic with Zane? Yes!

Thank you wii!!!
( See the eye? Looks ALL BOY to me! By the way, that weird green stuff on his cheek use to be a scorpion. We'd gone to the toy store on free face painting day earlier that afternoon. I think the tears washed it away....)

I know the wii gaming system has all kinds of warnings about strapping the controller onto your wrist, standing away from all objects and people, and all that jazz--and now we know why. Zane and his friend, Andrew, were having a good game of Mario and Sonic table tennis when, from the living room, I hear a *crack!* sound. Andrew then comes out looking terrified and proceeds to lock himself in our bathroom. Then Ethan comes out telling me that Zane got hit with the wii remote. And then Zane comes out trying to stop all the blood gushing from his face. I calmed him down, got him holding a tissue over the wound, then talked a crying Andrew out of the bathroom-- letting him know that we understood it was just an accident (poor kid!--he felt soooo bad, and it was his birthday too!), then I took a good look at the cut and knew it was going to need stitches. Upon telling Zane this, he immediatley started screaming "No! No! They ruined my life once already!"

He was referring to our ER stitches trip back in August. I had asked him to take out the garbage unaware of the bean can lid sticking out the bottom. The one that sliced right into the top of his foot. It was six weeks of no swimming, flip-flops only, constant bandage changing misery for the kid. He hasn't had to take out the garbage since, but who could blame him for not wanting to go through it all again? This is his foot 6 weeks after the injury--the day we let my sister-in-law take out the stitches. It still looked nasty and I think it split open and had to be butterflied close at least twice more after this picture.

Two words convinced him to at least let me take him in to have the cut looked at this time (and they weren't "facial scar!").........I promised him a GRASSHOPPER MILKSHAKE. My biggest kiddo will do just about anything for that minty Oreo goodness hand scooped by the hole-in-the-wall drive-thru down the road.

Good thing for us that the doctor agreed to glue rather than stitch. It was virtually painless and we were in and out in an hour. And bless Zane's heart---- he even insisted we get a second milkshake to take by to Andrew so he would know he was completely forgiven.

Thanks for being such a trooper Zane. You're fun to hang out with--even in hospitals!

xoxo-----Mom :)

happy things

I'm back, I'm back, I'm back!!! How many of you were sick of looking at that frowny face and hearing that Simple Minds song? Whoa-ho, that's a lot of hands--ha! ha!

Since I have done little to nothing of anything this week, I thought I'd at least group together the few tidbits and discoveries that brought a smile to my face in the midst of all the gloom.
First off, I got a few more Valentines Day decorations up. My flower tree was thrilled to have a little company. Not sure why I keep stringing holiday decorations across my front window--it just seems to work. (And yes, those snow swirl decorations are still up from Christmas--but it's been too stinking cold to go outside and wash my windows. Plus I decided they were wintery enough to stay up till the end of this month. Right? I need some backing up on this one so I don't feel too lazy! ) I actually painted the clothespins silver, but I don't know if you can tell in the picture or not. And I love ric-rac--that's what they're hanging on.

Look at these pretty flowers. It's so good to see Tulips again. They're some of my favorites. There are even a couple of purple Cala Lillies in there--more of my favorites. I'm not too great making arrangements, but I do love having fresh flowers around. And I love the hobnail glass vase that use to belong to my mom. I think it suits them!
IT'S THE YEAR OF THE RAT! Get out those traps......


Feb. 5 was Chinese New Year. Did anybody know that? The boys and I read all about traditions associated with the holiday online, including the very elaborate way you're suppose to sweep your house before, during, and after the New Year. Fancy sweeping.... that sounds fun. Then we baked a cake to celebrate. The red scribbling is actually the Chinese symbol for Luck--Zane put it on. And thanks for the fortune cookie recipe Emily--that's what those potato chip looking thingies all around the cake are. We made fun family fortunes like "You will win the Pinewood Derby" to put in them. I'll have to share my buttercream frosting recipe sometime. It uses marshmallow fluff and is practically the only frosting I'll eat. But right now I have more to show you.....

Look what I got in the mail today.. I'm sure hanging my nice gift off the drapery cleat was not the best prop modeling, but I was trying to capture the last bit of daylight!
These are just too cute for words! I got them from Beckie for helping her tackle painting vertical stripes on her playroom walls. The paper words are actually soldered (I think that's how you spell it--darn no spell check!!!) between two thin panes of glass--and she did it herself!!! How awesome is that? And they're hung on chainmail--be still my heart. I adore chain mail! **Thank you so much Beckie!** My favorite part was that they came in this cute little package that she hand decorated with crayon flowers. I'll probably keep that as long as I keep the necklaces :)!

Next, I don't know if any of you are aware that my birthday is coming up. Yes, in just 4 short months..... So, I'm putting in my order early. If any of you would like to get me one of these beauties, I won't protest. Don't these just look like something any self-respecting 21st century June Cleaver (that's me!) should have? I'd totally wear them over my jeans out in public. (I'm just kidding, by the way, I don't really solicite birthday gifts from people!--but I did want you guys to see them.)

And finally, this little guy always makes me happy...(except when he's infuriating me!---)
I realized it had been a while since I'd put a picture of James up, so I just wanted to throw this in. He is almost 21 months now and such a smart little stinker. The other day Liam and I were doing a dot-to-dot together and counting out loud as we went. We had paused at the 11 dot and were looking for 12, when from behind me I hear James pipe in "tweve, tur-teen, foh-teen". I'm sensing a full ride Harvard scholarship here.....

I hope I've managed to entertain ya'al a bit and to convince Lee Ann that I'm not dead! It's so good to be back.

don't you forget about me

I've been feeling pretty beat down since Sunday, and this morning I woke up feeling like I was about an inch away from my grave. Why I will hopefully have enough in me over the next few days to pop into your blogs-- I don't think I'm going to have enough creativity in me to do my own posts. Please bear with me and I hope to be back on my feet and blogging again soon.

upkeep

You know how you're advised to change your oil every 3 months or 3,000 miles? Put new batteries in your smoke detectors every daylight savings time? Replace your furnace filter every 8 weeks? All that stuff that occupies so much of our time and space on our to-do lists? You know....upkeep?! I noticed a lot of things around here today that needed some upkeep too....

For example, because I didn't keep up with cleaning at the same rate my children were un-cleaning, my house ended up looking like this:

Because I didn't keep up with the "monitoring" of Brad, Zane and Ethan in the hot tub, they ended up daring one another to do this:
brrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!

then this:
I don't get this whole "male bonding" thing!!!

Luckily, I did keep up with coloring my hair (I remember when I use to color my hair because it was fun to have a change, not because it was gray as a grandma!), whitening my teeth (hooray for Crest White Strips!), shrinking my pores (if you could walk on my face you might fall into one of them!), and bleaching my 'stache ( no one else seems to notice the thin gray mark above my lip--but I do, therefore it has to go!): I know I'm a very brave woman to put this picture of myself up, but if you can't laugh at yourself, who can you laugh at, right? Besides--you have to be impressed with my multi-tasking beauty skills!

So I wouldn't end up looking like this: Finally, because I didn't keep up with my cutie-pie niece Karli, she went and had a cutie-pie baby that I want to take home and call my own! {Alright, this one probably doesn't go along with the rest of the post, but I went to her baby shower today and wanted to make sure it got mentioned. Would you look at how yummy little Gray is?!}:



And I'm sure if I didn't keep up with this blog, you'd all be heartbroken,right?!