Just call me “Ty”
Somehow my father passed on his "home improvement/fix it" gene. I get totally revved up at the idea of projects.
But this is my most ambitious project to date. Luckily said father is a very willing volunteer helper/teacher (and retired w/ time).
When we moved we did not bring the big playset with us. I thought the kids would have more fun with a playhouse.
I bought some plans at Lowes and loaded up a pickup with lumber.
This is where the project stands at the end of 3 days. Not quite done, but close. When finished it will have a little porch with a railing and roof. But it’s playable and the kids are already having a blast in it. I plan to give it a really cute paint job when it’s all done.
So that’s why I haven’t been blogging or posting comments much the last 3 days. I hope you understand.
(Please ignore the rest of the yard that you can see. We haven’t landscaped yet – waiting to finish these 2 projects. And yes, my son is still in his pajamas at 2 p.m. on a Saturday :-0
Next up, a pergola. What is a pergola you might ask? It’s this…
Thursday Thirteen
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1. People who drive UNDER the speeed limit. 2. People who leave their grocery cart in the middle of the aisle so no one can get around it. 3. Strangers in the store who touch my children (even if they’re saying something nice) 4. Christians who do hateful things in the "name of Christ" and give us all a bad name. 5. Walking into the kitchen and seeing a bunch of cabinet doors flung open. 6. Dirty clothes on the floor in front of the laundry basket. 7. When my husband decides to cut his hair the day after I’ve cleaned the bathroom (we’ve learned to coordinate schedules 🙂 8. United Airlines – long story but I refuse to fly them anymore. 9. Getting all the way to the grocery check out lane and realizing I forgot something at the back of the store. This is why I love Shannon’s Works For Me Wed idea this week. 10. Ignorance and intolerance. 11. People walking in a group going slowly and not letting anyone be able to pass by them. 12. Being treated like I have no idea what I’m talking about. 13. Being annoyed at little things like #2, 5, 6, 7, 11 – because then I’m just exhibiting #10 aren’t I 🙂 I’m working on it. Links to other Thursday Thirteens! |
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
Works for Me Wednesday
Well Shannon started a cool new column called "Works-For-Me-Wednesday".
So here’s a couple of my laundry tips. First, I keep a bottle of OxyClean laundry spotter in several locations – the laundry room, my closet and one in the kids bathroom. That way when the clothes come off they get sprayed right away, I don’t have to try and remember to do it on laundry day.
Second, I have 3 hampers in my room so the clothes get sorted during the week (whites, lites, darks). (They have those divided ones too but those aren’t big enough for our room as I only do laundry once a week). Plus it’s super easy to just carry down one hamper as I need it.
Then, if you’re in a two story house I have found it EXTREMELY helpful to put a laundry basket somewhere downstairs – find a nice one w/ a lid. But it’s great for throwing dish towels in, the socks that get stripped off, the kids clothes that get changed downstairs, etc.
Identity Crisis
My 3yo daughter is apparently having a bit of an identity crisis. The other morning she said to me "Mommy, I want hair right here…" as she stroked her chin. (Daddy has a goatee.)
ME-"Well sweetie, only grown up boys get hair there." (I know there are exceptions but I wasn’t going THERE.)
HER-"But I’m a boy-girl."
A boy-girl. Interesting concept….
Today on the way to Wal-Mart she said "Mommy, I want to be a daddy." (She worships Daddy)
ME-"Well sweetie, boys become daddys. If you grow up and have a baby then you’ll be a mommy."
HER-"But I want to be a daddy. I’m a BOY-GIRL!!" (said most emphatically).
I’m not sure what the fascination is. I think perhaps I am going to have a tomboy. This is supported by the fact that she never lets me put ponytails or barrettes or anything in her hair and that she would rather watch "Shark Boy & Lava Girl" then "Cinderella". Oh well.
Thursday Thirteen
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1. See my daughter accept Christ. 2. Finish my master’s degree in communications (1/3 of the way there before kid #2) 3. Visit Italy. 4. Teach a college level course – maybe at JBU, my alma mater. 5. Write a book. 6. Publish a magazine article. 7. Take Mark on a golfing vacation in Scotland. 8. Become completely debt free (almost there). 9. Learn to speak a foreign language. 10. Visit Paris. 11. Learn to play an instrument – maybe violin or cello. 12. Flip a house (hopefully this fall). 13. Retire at age 55. Links to other Thursday Thirteens! |
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
Works for Me Wednesday
Well Shannon started a cool new column called "Works-For-Me-Wednesday" and besides the fact that I love hearing other mom tips, I’m all for anything that helps me come up with blog content.
The idea is just to post little shortcuts and tips you use around your house.
So here’s mine. In our new house we have a no shoes rule to try and make the carpet stay nice. So for awhile we had a basket in the laundry room (you have to go through it from the garage) but it’s not that wide of a passage way and it was always in the way and spilling over with shoes.
So I went to Wal-Mart and got one of those over the door shoe bag things – a pretty nice tan one – and screwed it into the wall. The kids have the rows at the bottom so they can reach.
What you can’t see in the picture is hubbies shoes – on the floor – I’m working on him. Occassionally I have to clean it out and take extra shoes upstairs but I love it.
If you post a tip let me and Shannon know and we’ll link to you.
Super Freaky
Okay, so I actually did this meme not quite a year ago but Stacey tagged me again. And since I’m lazy, I’m just reposting the original list. Besides, there are REALLY only 6 weird things about me (NOT!)
THE RULES: Each person tagged must state 6 weird things about
themselves. Next, those who are tagged are to write a blog of their own
6 weird things as well as state this rule clearly. In the end, you need
to choose 6 more people to be tagged and list their names. Don’t forget
to leave a comment that says you are tagged in their comments and tell
them to read your blog.
1) Like Addie I cannot stand to have feet touching my legs. It’s not necessarily that feet gross me out I just don’t like stuff touching me all the time.
2) I CANNOT stand to be really close to someone’s face – has to do with the hot air on my face I guess. This also applies to not being able to have anything over my own face for very long because I can feel my breath. So hiding under the blankets with my kids doesn’t last very long. This is the exact opposite of my husband who sleeps with the sheet pulled over and tucked under his head.
3) I refuse to touch fish. All of my fishing trips as a child – someone else had to take the fish off the hook. My uncle tried to make me touch a fish once when I was about 10 and had me in tears.
4)I am semi-afraid of the water. It took me 3 different sessions of beginning swim lessons to pass. I would never be the one to dive down to the bottom of the DEEP end on the last day. Now, of course, I can swim and I love going in the pool but I do not like swimming out in the ocean or in a lake. Part of it is not knowing what is underneath me (see #3). I freak out if someone dunks me under water (tons of fun for my brothers growing up). All of this is probably rooted in two near drowning experiences as a child. My worst fear is driving off a bridge into a lake or something and being trapped in the car.
5) I cannot close just my left eye. I didn’t know this until attempting to shoot a shotgun when I was 16 (target practice). It’s impossible to line up a site w/o closing your left eye. The solution that time – drape a sock over my head that covered my eye 🙂 Last time I just tied a bandana over my eye. Despite this I’m a pretty good shot and love to go target shooting w/ hubby.
6) Ever since having kids I cannot dye my own hair w/ a box – it always turns orange – no matter what I try – hormonal changes I guess. After doing this 3 times and then paying to have it fixed I decided to leave it to professionals.
7) I can crack my toes – all of them. I just kind of do this weird wiggle thing and they crack. The sound totally creeps husband out.
And I tagged 6 people last time, and I really only know the same 6 bloggers, at leas well enough to tag, isn’t that sad.
Stealing Time
Okay, I admit it, I’m a TV junkie. It’s not my fault. Who invented the DVR? It’s that guys fault. The ability to record any program, any time w/o having to remember to insert a blank tapes has changed my life…and not for the better. I now record shows that I don’t even like that much just to have something to watch on the nights when I don’t feel like doing anything but veg in front of the TV.
And yet I complain about not having enough time (See my Thursday 13). I just started reading Beth Moore’s book “Breaking Free” and am really loving it. I find myself going to the book rather than the TV. I’ve been really convicted that I could free up a lot of time to spend studying God’s word if I would curb the TV.
Am I going cold turkey? Well no. I don’t think I could. Plus there are times when I can’t do anything but sit on a couch. But I did go in and delete the timers for a bunch of shows. I left the ones I REALLY enjoy – West Wing, Alias (2 that will be gone after this season), Grey’s Anatomy, American Idol. Think how much time I’ll save by reading the Apprentice recap online the next morning?
Hopefully I can steal back some time and give it back to God.
Thursday Thirteen
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1. My crooked teeth – well on my way with braces put on 6 weeks ago. Cost $6,000. 2. Boob job – I know…horribly vain but I’d just like to fill out the shirts a little better – a small C maybe 🙂 3. I wish I was more disciplined about a exercise plan. I just can’t do it. I’m too lazy, too many other things to do when I do have time. 4. I wish I was more patient with my kids (what mom doesn’t). 5. I wish I could see my brothers more often – and Mark’s siblings – and my 5 (soon to be 6) nieces and nephews. 6. I wish I was better about spending quiet time with God. See #3 – no discipline. 7. I wish that clutter and chaos in my house did not stress me out as much as it does. 8. I have this weird little bump in my right ear. It’s not that noticeable but it bugs me. But of course it’s cosmetic so insurance doesn’t pay for it. 9. I wish I could survive on 5-6 hours of sleep a night but I can’t. I need at least 7, preferably 8. 10. I wish I hadn’t spent the first 3 years of my son’s life working. It was a necessity at the time but I’ll never get those years back. 11. Back on the vanity track – I went awesome abs. But again, see #3. 12. I wish I didn’t suffer from depression. It’s genetic unfortunately but under control. 13. I wish I could see my friend Kristen every day. You need to move to Phx. girl! Links to other Thursday Thirteens! |
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
In Loving Memory
September 6, 1908 – April 6, 2006
Grandma Tuttle is my husbands great-grandmother. She lived a very full 97 years and while we miss her here on this earth we know she is rejoicing in heaven and reunited with loved ones that have gone before her. She has influenced many lives and many more will be in heaven because of her testimony over the years.
One Mom's Lifesong 