whatever

to begin…
i don’t read books.
i am pretty sure i have ADD (seriously)
and i just can’t concentrate on books very well.
i read about 1 book every 2 years.
terrbile…i know.
but with having concentration issues…and 5 children….
books just don’t happen.
although it’s funny because at the moment
i am into 5 books at once.
see?
concentration issues!

this is my newest book to begin.

just a little light reading…you know
only about the hardest thing we’ve gone through so far as parents.
the very first paragraph describes our “teen” prefectly.
it’s going to be a good one.

i am in a bible study that is finishing this one.
(and now you know exactly how wide my hips are)

it’s the second in a series.
the first was called “the frazzled female”
they were good studies. this is a workbook technically…but it’s a book.
they were about finding balance, dealing with stress and being with God.
i would recommend it especially for mommies.

this is to be our next study.

do you see a theme here?
can you tell what i am struggling with?
i was not thrilled about this one
but my friends have assured me i will learn from it.
remember the facts of life show…Blair wrote this.

and then my friend gave me this one to look over.
and i am.

so give me about a month
and feel free to call me with any parenting questions you may have.
surely i will know it all by then.
ha ha ha ha ha

and then our sunday night small group is studying this book.
the white one in the middle.

knowing god.
oh my goodness.
this book is so right on…so convicting…so challenging…
but so hard to read.
the way it’s written is practically like reading a foreign language for me.
but when craig explains it in our study…it rocks.

so that’s what i am reading.
i would ask what good books you are into right now…
but i don’t really think i’d read it anyway.
magazines are so much easier.

what do think when you see this picture?
of course you think…
“wow annie has serious bed head”
and “what kind of crazy camera angle is that?” and
“why doesn’t megan just brush her hair with that brush sitting on the counter?”
and “where can i get a cow shaped butter dish like that?”
(it’s a one of a kind original made by lauren years ago…sorry)
these things are obvious.
but what do think of the play-doh?

does this make you feel stress?
are you thinking…you can’t mix play-doh!!
are you wishing that annie had kept them all seperate?
did you begin to sweat?
did you just go check to make sure no one mixed your play-doh?

or do you think…
“those colors are so beautiful all blended together”
“the pink swirling through the purple is so bright.”
“what color will be created next?”
“i wish i could play with annie”

i just think it’s so interesting to hear people say
“we don’t mix our play-doh.”

if we didn’t mix play-doh…
how could these dudes have rainbow hair?!!

over a week ago craig called uncle gary
and invited himself out to their farm to sled.
he wanted to use their new four wheeler to pull the kids.
thank you gary and janet for playing with our kids all afternoon.

tractor tires are way cooler than cheap plastic sleds!
the kids had such a good time.
and everyone loves the farm.
i wasn’t able to go with them but lauren had her new camera.
these are her photos from the day…

the biggest golden retreiver in the world.
and the friendliest.

she made this pig picture into black and white.
i thought that was cute.
i was hoping for some baby pig pictures…
this looks like a mama.

i guess they have cows…i didn’t know that.

and a great shot of craig from lauren’s view in the car.

annie is always a good model for classic photography.
timeless right?

overheard in the dark
on the drive home from a christmas celebration
sean says to his siblings…
“who would win in a slap fight – Harry Potter or the Hulk?”

it caught my attention.
they all laughed and then started in on their own.
they were each shouting
“who would win in a slap fight….”

Billy Ray Cyrus or Elvis?

the Eiffel Tower or the Statue of Liberty?

a clown or Dad?

Frodo or Luke Skywalker?

Jamie Lynn Spears or Brittney?

Chicago or Kansas?

Orlando Bloom or Johnny Depp?

Fred or Barney?

and my favorite…again from sean…

Salami or Ham?

where do they come up with stuff?
there were at least 20 more but these were my favorite.
silly silly children.

i am noticing color today.
here is some color from my kitchen.

this is what made me start thinking about color today…
the veggie backdrop of annie.
she almost always gets to pick a donut to eat while shop.
(do you think that’s why they put them at the front of the store?)

this isn’t about color.
look at these absolutely adorable little ice creams containers.
it’s like less a scoop.
i think they were .50 cents.
i love cute packaging.
they are 2.5″ tall.
that is a real spoon…not a giant novelty spoon.
(that would be funny though)
oh ben and jerry…
you know the way to a ladies’ heart don’t you?!

it’s been a wild weekend.
friday night scrabble.
lauren had nothing to do so she played with us.
i only play to be a part of the family…
making a moment…bonding and all that.
i don’t have a scrabble kind of brain.
they play for points.
(it takes forever)
i am lucky if i can make a word let alone put it somewhere worth points.

craig makes killer tapioca pudding.
he has made it for us since we first got married.
it’s one of his specialties.
pancakes is another.
he and i are the only ones who like it it.
which makes it an even better treat.

i taught annie how to play memory.
now we have to play it everyday.

she got a match!
this game was bright and early…
8:00 AM saturday morning i believe.
the sun was just coming up over our neighbor’s house.
she’s getting pretty good.

and even more wild…
we went swimming.

the hot tub was great.
other than everytime i went in it annie would scream and cry
until i’d get back in the pool with her.
i guess if we are going to go swimming close to bedtime on a day without a nap…
that’s what i get.

and wrapped up the weekend
making straw and bead necklaces with my kindergarten sunday school class.
oh yeah…there was also a 10 hour cleaning spree in between games & swimming.

this place is just too exciting.

happy birthday to you!

oh how i miss you.
i miss your sheer honesty…
with me…with yourself…
everyone needs a friend like you.

so i was thinking of you as i went through my pictures
trying to find one of you
and i pulled photos that i thought you’d like.
you like coffee…

unflavored (blech)
with the cream warmed up before you add your coffee.
you like this girl…

alot.
you like burn’s cafe.

who wouldn’t? mmmmm….pie.
you like kids doing this…

i knew it would make you laugh.
you like chocolate chip cookies…

burning hot right out of the oven.
that’s crazy.
you like reading all these…

even if i don’t…”Knowing God” is HARD lisa!!!
you like these guys…

and these guys…

i do too.
and you more than like this guy.

what a lucky guy he is.
and you like salad…

but you like butter more…

me too. especially with sugar.
you like kids showing their arm pits…

as much as the next person does.
you like uncle gary’s pigs…

did you ever think you’d like holding a pig?
you like this sweetie…

so handsome in that photo.
you like emily…

the laziest cat in history.
i wish so much i could celebrate with you today.
i hope your birthday is full of yummy cake….

and no treadmills.
or airplanes.
love you lisa.
happy birthday.