LITTLE BOY LINGO...

Every day there is something funny, sweet or just downright memorable my boys say or do and I always say I'm going to write that down. Most of the time I don't and find myself trying to remember. So here I go with my list of "little boy lingo" that I just have to document to remember these days filled with sweetness.

ANDREW: While fighting the bad guys as the Princess character on his Star Wars Lego game on his DS, "Don't be so rough with a ladaaaay" He said it in such a funny way, it was the cutest. I guess he has heard me tell him such things when we play around and wrestle. I always tell them I'm a lover not a fighter ;-)

Before we moved into the house and I was still spending the weekends painting, painting, and painting. It got quite tedious for me and especially so for Andrew. He would bring toys and play in the new game room but a little guy gets bored after hours and hours. During these long days Andrew would pop his head in the room I was painting to tell me something or ask a random question. I just had to document what some of the random thoughts go through the mind of this little 6 year old cutie.

What was your favorite toy when you were a little girl?

I built a new floor (out of leftover hardwood pieces) in my house (a large cardboard box).

What is an eyeball made of? Is it squishy?

______ is my favorite girl at school because she laughs at all my jokes.

What is 125 plus 9?

Sometimes I would just laugh out loud at the randomness of these things!

MASON: He is growing up and the conversations with him are getting so much more grown up. Mark has been reading Proverbs with him so he is learning a lot. One day as they were reading the subject was wicked women. The next day Mason told me that the bible says to run from bad girls. I said, "what is a bad girl?" He said, you know, the kind that want to kiss on boys a lot. I just nodded my head and said, "yeah, run fast!" I got so tickled but I am glad he is learning about God's word on subjects that will quickly be part of his life.

He has always had quite the insight on women. One day years ago when he was only 2 or 3 years old we had hired one of they boys from our church youth department, Hayden, to help Mark work to clean up an area we were about to build an addition onto our old house (yes, there is a pattern to our home remodel sickness) so we were having lunch together before they went back out to work. I asked Mark if he wanted me to come out and rake leaves to help them get finished before dark. Mason interrupted and said, "Girls don't rake leaves". I was a little indignant and said, "Oh, really? Why not?" He said that boys do that work and girls cook dinner. I was taken aback by his already accepted gender roles that he had seen in our home. Mark & Hayden thought it was funny and asked what else girls did. Mason said, "They wash dishes." Mark was just laughing and asked again, "what else". He quickly said, "They put band-aids in their underwear." It took me a minute but once I realized what he was referring to my jaw dropped & Mark was speechless (that says a lot since that almost never happens...he always has a witty comeback). Hayden either didn't understand Mason's baby talk enough to know what he said or was polite enough to pretend he didn't. Needless to say, privacy in the bathroom became a bigger priority after that conversation but how can you avoid taking your toddler in the bathroom stall with you at Wal-mart? This story will make us laugh for years!

Settling into Home...

Well we are working to settle into the new house but I have decided it will take a while. I couldn't really describe my decor style...old world with a splash of whimsy and contemporary. Is that really a style? All I know is I know what I like when I see it. Also, I only want something if the price is more than right. Mark and I went to an antique auction a few weeks ago and had a blast. We picked up so many things for a song! I don't really care if things are in perfect condition. In fact, I prefer something that has lived a life and shows it. In the picture of the living room below you can see a bit of the 9' by 12' very worn wool rug we purchased at the auction for $30! The old rug looks right at home on my old wood floors. I still need to find the right piece of artwork for above the mantle. I tried a big mirror and I didn't like it at all. Suggestions...?Here are a few more of my bargain finds that I have or will scatter throughout the house.

These old pickle jars with lids painted black make great containers for my little baking station! I think I paid $5 for all three of them.
This matted great black and white photo: $1.99 at Goodwill
I scattered my fiesta in with these ADORABLE hand painted dishes I found on clearance at Target for a SONG!
More of my fiesta dishes I have collected over the years.
This is the best find BY FAR...this old SPECTACULAR desk chair for $15 at that little country Flea Market. Just gotta clean off that white paint splatter and hit the wheels with a little WD40 and it is PERFECT for our office.
My last find that I will share is probably my favorite simply because my Hubby and boys LOVED IT. My Steeler fans in Cowboy country loved my $5 Goodwill find. Who would have ever dreamed I would find such a thing? I will paint the frame black and hang it in Mason's room or the game room.

I still have a ton of stuff to do but I like doing it slowly and layering the house with great finds with character at a bargain. And just think...it is spring and neither of my boys wanted to play baseball this year. I can spend my Saturday mornings hunting Garage sales ;-)

My little knight in shining armour...

Andrew and I had appointments with the dental hygienist today so we did a little shopping while we were out. We went into a furniture store to look at the selection of U-shaped sectionals. While we were there, the boys saw a king size bed and were commenting on how big it was. I explained to Andrew that it was bigger than our bed because it was a king size bed. He asked what size our (mom and dad's) bed was and I told him ours was a queen size. He thought for a while and said, "Is mine a knight size?". It took me a minute but I finally understood his logic. We recently watched the movie Dragon Heart so kings, queens and knights were fresh on his mind. I didn't bother to tell him his was twin size, I told him his was just the right size for my brave little knight.

YEAH SPRING BREAK!

I am taking the week off...with a few project to work on from home while the boys veg out. Just like last year, we are staying home and enjoying some down time. Mason and I spent this past weekend at home while Mark and Andrew went up to see Grandma and Grandpa in Kansas. Mason spent Sunday afternoon playing at a friend's house so I had the house to myself for a few hours. I really didn't know what to do with myself! I worked on bank statements and retirement accounts. I know I am a NERD! When I went to pick Mason up he said he felt lightheaded. He has a fever but no other symptoms. I hope a day of rest and jello will make everything better.

The weather here is beautiful and makes me ready to get to work in the yard! It looks awful since it is still dirt & ruts from construction. Mark will probably start next weekend with equipment to level out the yard and work on the fence in the backyard.These bulbs blooming in all the mess give me hope!

I will see if I can recruit Andrew to help me wash my car today. The weather is too nice to stay indoors but with Mason not feeling well we better stay home. Happy Spring everyone!

Here's the scoop.

OK, here is an update on our crazy life. Not long after we moved into the new house, Mark's grandpa became very ill so we went to Kansas to visit for a few days. He is doing better but we do covet your prayers for his strength and comfort. He is 94 and the Lord may call him home at any time. We love him so and want every moment we can have with him but we also know that he is ready to go Home to Heaven. Even as he recovered from pneumonia in his hospital bed he reached out to tickle little Andrew. Grandpa is always the tickler and teaser. One night he tried to get out of bed and Mark told him, "Grandpa, the doctor does not want you out of bed." He responded, "The doctor isn't here right now is he?" And I wonder where my husband gets his tenacity!

Mason had his regional Destination Imagination competition and his team PLACED FIRST in their event!! They move on to the state level competition and we are so happy for them. These kids worked so hard and I love to see them enjoy the fruit of all their hard work.

I am in St. Louis as I type this and it has been one crazy day getting here! My printer wouldn't print my boarding pass, my GPS was missing, printer wouldn't print map quest directions, left my jacket at home and had to turn around and get it 30 minutes into my commute to the airport...and finally make my flight to St. Louis and meet my group for a dinner meeting. I come back to my hotel room and my key will not work, the hotel master key will not work...finally the maintenance guy fixes my room door lock after I "relax" in another room for 30 minutes. I think I should go to bed now...as Scarlett O'Hara says, "tomorrow is another day."I may have had a look on my face similar to this one most of the day...especially when the poor hotel desk clerk couldn't get my room opened. I promise to smile more tomorrow.

Look Who Has A Hole in His Smile!

I love how he had to roll down that bottom lip so we could get

a good look at that hole where his tooth used to be!

Andrew has had his first wobbly tooth for a few weeks and it finally gave way. He was so excited to finally lose a tooth. He couldn't wait to leave it for the tooth fairy. Losing teeth is when I feel like they officially become big kids...bittersweet.

One Word Wednesday

WONDER

Life is just a bowl of cherries

We are settling in to our new house and it is so relaxing. We still have lots of little things to finish up but just being in is such a relief. I can see Mark relaxing too and that just makes my heart happy. He has been so stressed with all of this that it has been hard for him to enjoy anything. Well that is changing. Saturday night he cooked Jambalaya for dinner and it was great! For dessert he made cherry cobbler...another big hit. We saved the leftover dessert to have after church on Sunday. When Sunday lunch was over Andrew was quick to remember what was waiting. "I'm ready for my clobber", he said. Mark and I looked at one another across the table and smiled. Of course we had to ask him to repeat himself multiple times before we told him the correct way to pronounce his dessert. It is nice to have Mark sitting at the table again when these cute moments occur instead of me telling him about them when he was too exhausted to even giggle.

Check out more silly things kids say at Mary's blog. Go ahead and link up yourself. You know your kiddos are little crack ups too ;-)

Partial Home Reveal...

Notice the TV was the first thing to be installed. I need to have a cushion made for the window seat. Any of you local gals have a good seamstress to recommend? Also, I have never been a fan of curtains. I've always just done wood blinds. I hate to cover all of this great woodwork! I could do roman shades but Mark thinks they will be a dirty mess. Do they get dirty and dusty and you are unable to wash them? Help me out here!
This tub has been calling my name! The first soak in it was just wonderful. I am looking for some prints of pressed ferns to hang above the tub. I may have to make my own. I found a great tutorial that I will share if I get brave.
I love these pedestal sinks. I put an old nightstand between them to store our "beauty essentials" and it looks MADE FOR THE SPACE. I'll post new pics soon.
This shower is so simple with the subway tile all around. Still waiting for the shower doors to arrive so I decided to spare you the sad temporary dollar store shower curtain.
This is the old sink from the kitchen that we salvaged and used in the laundry room. I love it with my old style pull chain light fixture above it.
This is the old back door to the house complete with skeleton key to lock it. I love that the old wavy glass is still in it. That little face on the other side adds extra cuteness ;-)
Just shots of the kitchen with appliances installed, tile back splash complete and plumbing fixtures in


The front bath with the great claw foot tub and old style black and white tile. It is really white, good thing it isn't the boys bathroom!
I'll post more pics of the other rooms once whe have the furniture set up and the boxes out of the way. It will take me months to find all of the artwork and accessories so I will be asking for tips along the way. Thanks for keeping me company along this LONG journey. Your encouragement has helped in more ways than you know.

MOVED IN!

Sorry for the LONG DELAY in posting. We have been busy! WE HAVE MOVED INTO THE NEW HOUSE!!! Oh, the happy dance we are doing. It will still be a while before we are settled but it is so nice to be in the new space. I have some pics I will post of a few of the rooms just before we started moving. My little camera is on the fritz so I am returning it for repair and I don't have a wide angle lens on the big camera to give the full effect. I will post pics as I get rooms settled. I feel like I have a big blank canvas in front of me...the decorating will be fun.

Here are a few things I have learned with this move.

1. When moving to a new house and your husband says we have a few small details to finish, make sure one of those details isn't install toilet seats in all but the upstairs bath (thank goodness it has a seat!). For some reason, this is not a big issue for men. Maybe I will get a good butt workout going upstairs to use the bathroom until the others come in.

2. The intercom system in the new house is nice. I don't have to scream up the stairs to the boys when I need one of them. With this nice feature comes tattling IN STEREO! The boys know how to use the intercom so they use it to "inform" me of the other's wrongdoings. But Andrew did use the intercom to tell me he loves me yesterday so that makes it a keeper ;-)

3. You really can throw away at least 20% of everything you own and not miss it...if the rest of your family isn't looking.

4. The new front load washing machine was like introducing television to a primitive tribe. Everyone had to stand in front and watch it at some point to see how it worked. Yes, we are easily entertained...obviously.

5. That old house had good bones and Mark really made it beautiful, but putting the people I love inside makes it our home. Now I really adore it!