A New Discovery

It happened this morning. Out of the blue, out of no where. How did this happen to me? Really, of all the nerve.

Alright, so this morning, I'm just about ready to do my hair. I wouldn't say I'm thrilled by what I see in the mirror at this point in my pregnancy, but only a couple more weeks to go, right? Anyhoo, minding my own business, it appeared. Oh, yes, I may sound calm, but my insides are quaking!

My first thought was, "What is that?" Oh, it must be glare from the lights. Hmmm, no that's not it. Wait...

Are you serious?! Surely, you're joking! That can't be what I think it is! Uh, yup. It is.

It was my first gray hair. Immediately, my mind jumps to this image:



Yes, I am the new bride of Frankenstein. Bolt your doors, protect your children and loved ones. Here I come.

A little dramatic? Maybe. But, in my defense, I'm not even thirty yet! Okay, okay, a couple of weeks doesn't make much of a difference, does it? Yes!

I'm not ready for this! I haven't even decided what I want to be when I grow up. And yet, it's fascinating in it's own horrifying way. I just looked and looked. I couldn't tear my eyes away. And then, I did the only thing I could. I pulled it out. Anything else would be non-sensical. I then frantically rummaged through the cupboard for a box of hair dye. No one must know about this! Maybe if I became a blonde, the gray wouldn't show. Yeah, but the almost black roots would. What to do, what to do?

I know what the Bible says about gray hair being a crown of wisdom, or is it glory? It was such a lovely image, yesterday. But now, not so much.

And now, a new thought keeps presenting itself at the front of my mind. Is this the only one? Oh. My. Goodness.

Our Latest Adventure

Here at our house, we do try to force ourselves to do something adventurous when the oppurtunity arises. Well, this last "oppurtunity" came up on Monday night when we invited to our cousin, "Princess Rose"'s birthday party. We went roller skating! When I say we, I mean all of the other member's of my immediate family. I stood back and cheered everytime one of my children made it around the rink. No one wants to see a pregnant lady on roller skates!

The birthday princess and Gi-Gi

For some of us, it was very frustrating to not be able to be as big as we think we are...

Ya-Ya is determined she's going skating, too!

For others, video games with cousins were way more exciting than sitting on our bums on a hard rink!

Bubba and cousin "Cinder-Ella"

And then, some of us are just plain spoiled!

Daddy pushes as Gi-Gi rests. What a good Daddy!

PS Who remembers the "Skateland smell"? Well, let me tell you, the smell hasn't changed! Thankfully, it was family night, so the music was good. But, every once in a while, I hear a song and think to myself, "That's a Skateland song!" Ah, memories.

Family Olympics

I know many of you thought the Olympics were over until next year, but they are alive and kicking here at Tumbleweed Park. Saturday was our homeschool group, EVCHE, Family Olympics. Once everyone managed to roll out of bed Saturday morning, we put on our best athletic clothes, aka Saturday grubbies, and drove speedily to the park. We were obviously late.
Our first medal-qualifying event was the gunny sack race. Now, all of our children are very competetive. (Ahem, I'm not sure where they got it from. Moving along...) Bubba competed first because he was one of the younger ones.

After much focus and determination, he won a...

GOLD MEDAL!!!

Gi-Gi and Daddy competed in the three-legged race next.

They didn't disappoint, bringing home...

two more GOLD MEDALS!

Ya-Ya even got into the act!

While she didn't get a medal, she definitely got her sibling rivalry groove on!

Not only did we get to "compete", the girls got to be "Be-yoo-ti-fied".

Gi-Gi loved her fancy-schmancy "cat's eye" glasses.

Ya-ya kept it simple, yet elegant, with her flower on one cheek and heart on the other.

Bubba preferred playing football with the big boys. Go figure!

All in all, we thought it was a pretty good day. However, now's the time to start intensive athletic training for the next Olympics! This training includes running up and down the stairs 50 times a day, chasing small children, pushing heavy strollers, and bending down to get the laundry out of the dryer. Wait a minute... Hey, I'm an Olympic athlete in training, too! Eat your heart out, Michael Phelps!

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY...Februaury 4, 2009
Outside My Window...a slight breeze, a warm sun.
I am thinking...that if I don't get a nap, I may cry.
I am thankful for...a husband who prays for me!
From the learning rooms...division in math, prepositions in grammar, Little House for lit.
From the kitchen...a mexican concoction by my dear husband with potatoes, pork roast, chili peppers, and fabulous spices, served with tortillas; and hopefully chocolate scones for Mama!
I am wearing...one of hubby's shirts, capri's and socks.
I am creating...still cooking that baby, and a cute bedskirt for Gi-Gi's bed.
I am going...to go to Wal-Mart, is that unusual?
I am reading...the newspaper, Sense and Sensibility.
I am hoping...to be consistent in working with my kids through their areas of weakness right now.
I am hearing...little children working on an American flag together.
Around the house...more baby laundry, painting projects, ironing, etc.
One of my favorite things...getting ready for the baby, snuggling with my kids for reassurance that I still love them, even if a new one is coming.
A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: packing hospital bag (yay!), order girl's flower girl dresses, paint boy's dresser.
Here is picture thought I am sharing...

Last Spring at Disneyland with just my Hubby. I love this picture because it reminds me one day I may be thin again!

Our Yearly Visitor

Let's just get it out there. I'm not a bird-lover. It's not that they're not wonderful examples of God's creativity, I just don't like them around me. I love to hear them singing outside my window in the morning. Really, I do. However, I don't want to be close enough to have physical contact with them.
One of the few exceptions to this rule is "Buttercup". For the past three years around this time, we have a mama hummingbird who comes and makes an amazing, intricate nest in our wind chime on our patio. We have been in awe that, not only does she keep coming back, but the patience and diligence of building a nest for her family every year.
The first year, we were so sad because both of her teeny eggs fell out of the nest. Last year, one egg fell, one egg hatched and we were allowed to watch the transformation of this tiny baby into a birdy so big he was pushing Mama out of the nest! This year, we'll have to see what happens.
We laugh because this mama has seemed to adopt our family. She follows us from the front to back yard while we're doing yard work and doesn't seemed at all perturbed when they're out in back acting like a bunch of wild things!
I love that our children are able to celebrate the gift of life in all forms! Now we'll see who wins the "Name the Baby Hummingbird" contest this year.

Handyman Hubby!

Okay, how many here have been waiting years for a particular home improvement to be done? Meeee!!! I have patiently (really, I have) been waiting since we moved into this house two years ago for my wonderful, loving, handsome hubby to install a sink in our laundry room. I have been promised this amazing tool of beautful cleanliness since we were at the design center picking out house stuff almost three years ago. Finally, with imminent pooped-on baby outfits and spit-up on blankets and sheets looming in the not so distant future, Mama finally yelled out, "No more waiting, please!"
My husband leapt to his feet and ran into the laundry room to immediately install the sink. Well, maybe not immediately, but it was within a couple of days. Now, everyone needs to know, originally, it was only supposed to take a couple of hours, the morning at most. How many here believe that? Yeah, I didn't either. So, four days later, after numerous trips to Home Depot and Lowe's, a couple of runs to neighbors fo various sundry items, and a leak, I now have a gorgeous, completely functional laundry room sink!
I have to say my husband did a wonderful job! Really, I'm not just saying that. Yes, it took longer than expected, doesn't that happen to everyone? (Please say yes!) But, I'm always impressed with his diligence in doing projects completely and thoroughly. I can now say it was worth the two years wait. Well, maybe not two years, but thankfully it won't be three or even two and a half.


My proud husband and the beautiful new addition to our household!

Happy Birthday, Hauntie!

Yup, another family birthday! This time it was for my beautiful younger (but not by that much!) sister, Hauntie. Okay, okay, that's not really her name, but it's used so much that it should be. Gi-Gi started calling her that when she was a wee little thing and the name stuck.
Hauntie chose The Cheesecake Factory (yum, yum) for her birthday dinner. Thanks for picking that, sis! Just because you have the metabolism of an Olympic athlete doesn't mean all of us do! After filling our tummies with their scrumptious food, she got her piece of cheesecake, drool, drool.

This would be when the vultures came out of the wood work!

Vulture #1


Vulture #2


Vulture #3

Cheeky little monkeys, aren't they? They even got Banana Split birthday cake at home!


Even though we weren't super close growing up, maybe because we have vastly different personalities, as adults we are so close. I am so thankful to have her as my sister and friend as well as an incredible Hauntie for my kids! They think the sun and moon revolve around her and are always excited when she walks through the door. She has a beautiful gift with children and my kids are some of the main recipients of that gift. We're all so blessed by her! I love you, sis!