out and about

my blogging honey

a serious crush

All my children are passed out in their beds upstairs. We just had another fun afternoon with the Urchins–eating, swimming in the pool (which is full, blue and cold) and watching our children obsess over the kittens.

hanging' with a little urchin in the "clubhouse"

I tell you, sometimes you feel kind of odd about the relationships you have with blogging friends. But when you get the privilege of meeting in person and you feel like you’re friends that go way back, it just confirms what an amazing community of people this is. I always feel so blessed to be a part of it. Jennifer, next time, the aquarium, right? And Emily will hopefully be joining us as well.

I think little Mary summed it up so well as we were walking back inside after waving goodbye:
“Mom, it’s sad to see our blogging friends leaving, isn’t it? Is she your blogging honey? She’s one of your ‘blogging honeys’?” Yes, Mary she is. My blogging honey.

***I’m closing the book swap. Thanks so much for the great response. It is nice to have an easy simple swap for the middle of summer. I’ll be getting back to you all soon with partners.******

Happy Weekend.

a serious crush

All my children are passed out in their beds upstairs. We just had another fun afternoon with the Urchins–eating, swimming in the pool (which is full, blue and cold) and watching our children obsess over the kittens.

hanging' with a little urchin in the "clubhouse"

I tell you, sometimes you feel kind of odd about the relationships you have with blogging friends. But when you get the privilege of meeting in person and you feel like you’re friends that go way back, it just confirms what an amazing community of people this is. I always feel so blessed to be a part of it. Jennifer, next time, the aquarium, right? And Emily will hopefully be joining us as well.

I think little Mary summed it up so well as we were walking back inside after waving goodbye:
“Mom, it’s sad to see our blogging friends leaving, isn’t it? Is she your blogging honey? She’s one of your ‘blogging honeys’?” Yes, Mary she is. My blogging honey.

***I’m closing the book swap. Thanks so much for the great response. It is nice to have an easy simple swap for the middle of summer. I’ll be getting back to you all soon with partners.******

Happy Weekend.

9 Comments
swaps

mini {book} swap

someone's been wronged
Apparently, Dan “wronged” Emma the other night. I think it was something to do with him canceling baths because of all the bickering between sisters.

Emma. She’s such a feeler. She feels everything with such gusto. I was upstairs when she brought the sign up to hang on her door and she showed it to me. I asked her if she thought it would hurt Dan and Mary’s feelings. She told me that they hurt her feelings and I gave her some typical mom advice about that not making it right to hurt their feelings. And then she told me, “that’s not how it works in my world!” And then collapsed into my arms. Poor baby. A full day of running around with cousins, swimming, meals away from home. Never touching back down for a bit of quiet and rest. So everything came storming out in emotions just before bed.

I do have to give the girl credit for taking the time to make the letters block letters. I mean, if you’re going to make a nasty sign to hang on your door, at least do it with some style.

So, on a different note. That swap….The other night we were all in bed reading this book. Not your classic book that everyone has in their home library collection. No Good Night Moon, or  Guess How Much I Love You, or The Giving Tree .  And I don’t even remember how I got this book. Maybe from a student when I was a classroom teacher. But dagnabbit (to quote the book) if it wasn’t really good!

As I was sitting there listening to Dan read, it gave me an idea for a simple, quick and easy swap. A mini swap of sorts because it is kid-driven, but simpler.

the sharing of family favorites

Let’s share a family favorite (children’s) book, with another family. Something that might not be on everyone’s shelf. Not necessarily the classics that are given out at every baby shower, but a discovered favorite. A book that surprised you.

And it’s simple. It is just the exchange of a book. Nothing more, nothing less. From one family to another. So if this simple swap interests you, drop me an email and I’ll mix everyone up and hand out partners. And seriously folks, I want to keep this simple. Just give a book, get a book. I have no plans to make pillowcase dresses for everyone in their family. Or embroidered floor cushions and handmade puzzles. Just a book–a gift that gives over and over.

So, if you’re in, I’m in. And if only one person signs up, then well, I’ve got a great book to send you–not the one above, something even better….

Drop me an email, let me know if you’re in. And if you are, here’s a smaller version button for you to use

Happy Reading. Happy Thursday.

**I’m closing the swap. Thanks, everyone!!***

someone's been wronged
Apparently, Dan “wronged” Emma the other night. I think it was something to do with him canceling baths because of all the bickering between sisters.

Emma. She’s such a feeler. She feels everything with such gusto. I was upstairs when she brought the sign up to hang on her door and she showed it to me. I asked her if she thought it would hurt Dan and Mary’s feelings. She told me that they hurt her feelings and I gave her some typical mom advice about that not making it right to hurt their feelings. And then she told me, “that’s not how it works in my world!” And then collapsed into my arms. Poor baby. A full day of running around with cousins, swimming, meals away from home. Never touching back down for a bit of quiet and rest. So everything came storming out in emotions just before bed.

I do have to give the girl credit for taking the time to make the letters block letters. I mean, if you’re going to make a nasty sign to hang on your door, at least do it with some style.

So, on a different note. That swap….The other night we were all in bed reading this book. Not your classic book that everyone has in their home library collection. No Good Night Moon, or  Guess How Much I Love You, or The Giving Tree .  And I don’t even remember how I got this book. Maybe from a student when I was a classroom teacher. But dagnabbit (to quote the book) if it wasn’t really good!

As I was sitting there listening to Dan read, it gave me an idea for a simple, quick and easy swap. A mini swap of sorts because it is kid-driven, but simpler.

the sharing of family favorites

Let’s share a family favorite (children’s) book, with another family. Something that might not be on everyone’s shelf. Not necessarily the classics that are given out at every baby shower, but a discovered favorite. A book that surprised you.

And it’s simple. It is just the exchange of a book. Nothing more, nothing less. From one family to another. So if this simple swap interests you, drop me an email and I’ll mix everyone up and hand out partners. And seriously folks, I want to keep this simple. Just give a book, get a book. I have no plans to make pillowcase dresses for everyone in their family. Or embroidered floor cushions and handmade puzzles. Just a book–a gift that gives over and over.

So, if you’re in, I’m in. And if only one person signs up, then well, I’ve got a great book to send you–not the one above, something even better….

Drop me an email, let me know if you’re in. And if you are, here’s a smaller version button for you to use

Happy Reading. Happy Thursday.

**I’m closing the swap. Thanks, everyone!!***

55 Comments
life on thomas run

Would you read a post whose only picture is of a whole in the ground?

I’ve been wandering around my house with a dead digital camera in my hands, wondering where I might find a set of batteries in the middle of all this mess. Because there’s this one picture that I want to take. I keep turning on my camera just to check that maybe, the batteries will miraculously revive themselves and give me one more open and shut of the shutter. No luck. And I realized this afternoon that I’ve been walking around looking for batteries for the last two days.

You’d think I’d just go to the grocery store and get me some, but that would require packing up the kids, finding my wallet and taking off these comfortable cotton cropped sweats. The other day my husband asked me, as we were getting ready for bed, “Did you mean to be in sweats all day?”

But she’s coming to visit at the end of the week, and she and I have a date for IKEA, so I will get my act together, tomorrow……..

Seriously, though. It’s not that bad. At least I don’t think so.

I feel like we brought our beds over to the new house, put sheets on, stuffed three shirts and a pair of underwear in the dresser, unpacked one box of plates and cereal bowls and then life got busy. The first week we were in the house my mother-in-law was here. A great help, but still not “normal” life. The second (and third?) week was marred by repairmen, electrical issues, opening up a farm account to get a propane tank to run my stove, and kicker of all kickers–septic issues.

would you read a post whose only picture is of a hole in the ground?

Some Sunday night since we moved in, which is now a blur, Dan and I woke to strange sounds coming from the downstairs toilet. Which turned out to be overflowing streams of water running into the dining room. So the next two days–no toilets, no washing machine, no doing dishes (THAT I can handle). My girls would whine, “But mom I neeed to go the bathroom!” And we’d all pile in the car in a flurry of full bladders and show up at my Dad’s house, running cross-legged to the restroom.

And then it was fixed.

And then it broke. Again.

When people ask me, “how’s life in the new house?” I have the feeling I’m giving them this glazed over smile and blabbering something about “a few hiccups, but we still love it.” Big smile.

So yes, there have been a few hiccups. But really, it’s like we’re waking up a sleeping house. Giving it new life. And there are a few sore muscles in the old girl. And I confess to a few meltdowns. A night of sitting on the edge of the tub, in a bathroom with no electricity, crying to my husband. But then laughing through those tears in the very same minute.

And I’m still laughing now. Now that I *think* we’re on the other side of some of these hiccups. (At least for this week.) Though I get a little weak in the knees when I see all the boxes and bags and stuff. I’m somehow finding a way to work very hard all day and yet it seems that not a single box has been emptied.

But my sister is here this week, with her kids. And it’s a nice relief. Even though I still haven’t unpacked a box. Or gone to the grocery store.

But we did go to IKEA this morning and I bought a little runner for the bottom of the steps. And that makes me happy.

And I swept my kitchen floor this morning and there’s a little pile in the corner big enough to well….clog a septic system. Not that I’d want to.

So bear with me as I get back in the swing of things and laugh with me, please, as I recount the early days in the new house. I will move on to other topics, I promise.

I have a bit of news to share. And, as if I didn’t have enough to do, I’m dreaming up a little swap. A very simple, easy swap. I’m not that crazy.

Stay tuned. More adventures are around the corner, I’m sure.

I’ve been wandering around my house with a dead digital camera in my hands, wondering where I might find a set of batteries in the middle of all this mess. Because there’s this one picture that I want to take. I keep turning on my camera just to check that maybe, the batteries will miraculously revive themselves and give me one more open and shut of the shutter. No luck. And I realized this afternoon that I’ve been walking around looking for batteries for the last two days.

You’d think I’d just go to the grocery store and get me some, but that would require packing up the kids, finding my wallet and taking off these comfortable cotton cropped sweats. The other day my husband asked me, as we were getting ready for bed, “Did you mean to be in sweats all day?”

But she’s coming to visit at the end of the week, and she and I have a date for IKEA, so I will get my act together, tomorrow……..

Seriously, though. It’s not that bad. At least I don’t think so.

I feel like we brought our beds over to the new house, put sheets on, stuffed three shirts and a pair of underwear in the dresser, unpacked one box of plates and cereal bowls and then life got busy. The first week we were in the house my mother-in-law was here. A great help, but still not “normal” life. The second (and third?) week was marred by repairmen, electrical issues, opening up a farm account to get a propane tank to run my stove, and kicker of all kickers–septic issues.

would you read a post whose only picture is of a hole in the ground?

Some Sunday night since we moved in, which is now a blur, Dan and I woke to strange sounds coming from the downstairs toilet. Which turned out to be overflowing streams of water running into the dining room. So the next two days–no toilets, no washing machine, no doing dishes (THAT I can handle). My girls would whine, “But mom I neeed to go the bathroom!” And we’d all pile in the car in a flurry of full bladders and show up at my Dad’s house, running cross-legged to the restroom.

And then it was fixed.

And then it broke. Again.

When people ask me, “how’s life in the new house?” I have the feeling I’m giving them this glazed over smile and blabbering something about “a few hiccups, but we still love it.” Big smile.

So yes, there have been a few hiccups. But really, it’s like we’re waking up a sleeping house. Giving it new life. And there are a few sore muscles in the old girl. And I confess to a few meltdowns. A night of sitting on the edge of the tub, in a bathroom with no electricity, crying to my husband. But then laughing through those tears in the very same minute.

And I’m still laughing now. Now that I *think* we’re on the other side of some of these hiccups. (At least for this week.) Though I get a little weak in the knees when I see all the boxes and bags and stuff. I’m somehow finding a way to work very hard all day and yet it seems that not a single box has been emptied.

But my sister is here this week, with her kids. And it’s a nice relief. Even though I still haven’t unpacked a box. Or gone to the grocery store.

But we did go to IKEA this morning and I bought a little runner for the bottom of the steps. And that makes me happy.

And I swept my kitchen floor this morning and there’s a little pile in the corner big enough to well….clog a septic system. Not that I’d want to.

So bear with me as I get back in the swing of things and laugh with me, please, as I recount the early days in the new house. I will move on to other topics, I promise.

I have a bit of news to share. And, as if I didn’t have enough to do, I’m dreaming up a little swap. A very simple, easy swap. I’m not that crazy.

Stay tuned. More adventures are around the corner, I’m sure.

25 Comments