my anchor

Ryan goes back to work on Monday. He's been off since Noah was born. I don't think he knows how much I will miss him in the mornings. The girls will miss him, too. Mia will miss her morning snuggles while watching PAW Patrol with him, and Laci will miss her coloring partner. 

He's an incredible father and husband and has made my life easier in about a thousand ways. I'm sure I have driven him crazy more than a few times during his time off, so I appreciate his patience most of all. We don't have a perfect relationship, but it's perfect for us.  

Ryan, if it's already Monday and you're reading this on your lunch break, please know we love you and miss you. And probably need you to pick up milk in your way home.

titles are dumb sometimes, alternately titled "life, edition 532"

A week ago, a quiet voice in the back of my head said, "I'll post more this month, maybe even everyday." Good thing I didn't say it out loud because, ya know, Fail. So, I find myself an entire week into March wanting to remember what we've been doing.

Ryan had a birthday. I lit his cake with 32 individual candles and was a little disappointed that it didn't burn brighter. Side note, when you have to light that many candles, it is important to do so quickly, before wax starts dripping onto the cake.

I did not get a picture of the cake's awesomeness because I relieved myself of picture taking duty for the evening, but I did get a picture of the man and his catch of the day.  I guess this means those bass in our pond are not only surviving, but thriving.

Let's see...what else. Well, just life really. Mia found old pictures of herself on my phone. She loves looking at herself, what kid doesn't?  And don't you just love all the fingerprints and goo on the my phone screen. Well, actually, the whole counter too.

I took some pictures of our little oak tree. Not as spectacular as say this one, but maybe it will be some day.

(Note to self:  Retake this shot from a lower angle next time.  And, what the heck did Picasa do to my picture?  I doesn't look this dark on my editing screen?)


Laci asked to have her picture taken. This is the face she gave me.  She started running a fever shortly after this, so I suppose it makes sense that something looks off here.

And we have been visiting Grammy and Papa pretty often. This is their new couch that the girls think is their personal jungle gym.

Clothing optional.

See?  It's a pretty simple life we lead.  Really.

Other events not pictured include dinner with Ryan's family, a little bit of time spent with the horses, and lots of family time playing and eating and snuggling on the couch. Oh, and quite a bit of crocheting but I'm saving that for another post.

Someday.

Well, maybe never.

Here's to lofty goals that are never attained. I don't know what my life would look like without them.

being thankful

I have quite a bit in my life to be grateful for. My "want" list far exceeds my "need" list which translates to "I live a pretty comfortable life." To list all I am grateful for would probably take days, so I'll just hit the highlights.

I am thankful for Ryan, who provides for us and takes care of us and is a perfect balance to my sometimes erratic emotions and personality.

I am thankful for Laci who challenges me, but who also gives the best hugs and entertains me with the things that come out of her mouth lately.

 I am thankful for a healthy Mia. Sometimes I look at her and wonder what our life would look like without her, if she had not survived. And I think to myself, "Well, that would just suck," knowing that there is probably a more creative word to use, but not a better word.

I am thankful for all the other family and friends I have in my life. I have fewer friends than in my younger years, but my life is fuller with those who are still around. And also, I have the best family, but I've already said that a billion times before.

I am thankful for a house that is warm and energy efficient and a hundred times better than a trailer in a shop. I am thankful that I don't have to think about how I am going to feed my family or if we will stay warm this winter. And that I have the luxury of pursuing things I enjoy, like photography and creating things.

I am thankful for the quiet life we lead right now. We don't have to worry about school schedules and homework and after school activities yet. We just do what we want when want. Sometimes we go out and do things, sometimes we sit in our pajamas until it's time to take a bath and put on a new set of pajamas. It doesn't really matter because I'm just soaking in this time where my babies are little and they appreciate an afternoon chalking up the patio or playing in the dirt. Occasionally, I wish it would stay this way forever.

  

I'm sure there are things I missed, this list isn't even close to everything I am or could be thankful for. But now I have a little one who needs a nap and another one asking for milk, so I'll end with one last thankful: I am thankful for being needed.

when daddy is home

It was another Family Day Sunday, and it was THRILLING.  And by "thrilling," I mean pretty boring and quiet with a little bit of fun.  Hold onto your seat, it is about to get really exciting here.

Laci took full advantage of having her Daddy home.  The first thrilling event:  putting on her riding pants and helmet and trying out her new motorcycle.

Even when the helmet is too big, it still manages to squish her face.

Mia had to watch from the sidelines.  She was tired and needed a nap, but wasn't exactly cooperative.  She never wants to nap.  She wasn't too happy about being strapped into her stroller.  She also never wants to be strapped into anything, strollers included.

Laci doesn't look happy either, but she was.  She didn't want to stop even though it was super hot and Ryan's backside was sore from riding.

Manly looking on that pink bike, isn't he?

Laci managed to rub both her thumbs raw on the handlebars, so I think it qualifies as a fantastic first motorcycle ride.  It isn't fun without a little pain, right?

Oh, hello random picture of Lunati, whose nose is almost finally healed, by the way.  And yes, Mia got out of her stroller.

To play with the world's most awesome toy, which also happens to be one of the most annoying.  That's why this particular toy lives outside at our house.

Thrilling event number two:  Happy dogs chasing tennis balls.  The picture doesn't show it, but Laci was jumping as much as the dogs were.  It is very exciting to throw tennis balls.  I wouldn't know because I stopped throwing tennis balls for the dogs years ago.  When people come by to visit, we always tell them, "Don't throw things for the dogs."  There are a number of reasons, two of which are the incessant, AND LOUD, barking that accompanies the chasing of tennis balls, and because our dogs are old and will run until they are unable to walk.  They are real smart like that.  Also, people never listen to us.  Our dogs are not only smart, but very persuasive with their big brown eyes and wiggly butts.

Thrilling event number three:  JEEP driving.  It's a shame, but the Barbie Jeep sits in the shop most of the time.  It was after dinner and we needed something to do until bath time.  Enter my great idea to bring out the Jeep.  After quite a bit of whiplash, Laci got the hang of pushing, and continuing to push, the gas pedal.  That is, until they discovered the radio.  In typical girl fashion, she was more concerned with the radio than with looking where she was driving.  Mia also was very concerned with the radio, but you know what scares me more?

The thought that, someday, THIS girl will be behind the wheel.  That is NOT the face of a responsible driver.

The fourth, and final, thrilling event:  Rattle snake in the shop.  Yes, IN THE SHOP.  I did not take pictures. I don't know why.  Maybe because there was a freaking rattle snake in the shop.  He was curled up in the exact location where the Jeep had been parked.  We only knew he was there because the cat had him cornered and he was hissing and rattling like crazy.  He was about 12-18 inches long, and had about five or six buttons.  I'm no expert in rattlesnake aging, but I would say he's been around a little while.  I also don't know how far their mouths open when they strike, so I have no idea if it was the same snake that bit Lunati.  He met his fate with the flat side of a shovel and I've been keeping my eyes peeled more than usual.

That pretty much sums up our Sunday.  We also threw in a little cousin play time, some Chinese food for dinner, and early bedtimes for all.  I don't think it gets any more thrilling than that.

a father's day picture

In honor of the hard working daddy in our house, I wanted to take a picture.  In my head, I saw daddy and his girls...so sweet.  In reality?  One child insisted on sitting in a laundry basket, the other decided to pull her sister's hair.  I'll just let the pictures tell the story today.

Good thing I didn't bother dressing them up for this special occasion.  On the other hand, if I had put a little more preparation and forethought into the whole situation, I might have ended up with a good picture.

I guess I'll never know.

Besides, I just love Mia's face in the last one.  "What?"