Love Wednesday

Today is my anniversary.  My hubby and I have been married 9 years.  NINE.  I know it’s not a huge number but it feels like it’s been so much longer.  (in a good way)  I look back at our honeymoon pictures and it’s like looking at a couple of kids.

We have been through so much in our nine years of marriage.  Some of it really, really sucked but it has made us the couple we are today.  Some of it has brought more joy and love than I ever thought possible.  That, too, has defined who we are today.  I married my best friend and that’s exactly who he is today. 

I thought about writing a tribute to him today.  But who am I kidding?  He doesn’t read my blog unless I sit him down and read it to him.  Besides, that’s my love language, not his.  Instead we’ll be spending some serious cuddle time together.     

Where’s my money?

My son lost his first tooth last night.  He’s had two wiggley teeth.  I meant to check them yesterday but I thought of it during dinner and I was not about to stick my finger in his mouth while it was full of food.  By the time I tucked him in bed I had forgotten.

Sometime during the night one of them fell out.  He woke up and found it in his mouth and he put it under his pillow.  But we all know that the tooth fairy doesn’t take teeth without parental permission ;)

Now he has this cute smile.

Love Thursday

Happy Love Thursday friends!

Love Sunday: he’s wonderful

We’re having another Love Sunday!!!

When we moved we went from a nice big walk-in closet to a tiny little closet.  I admit that I have a lot of clothes.  There was no way that all of our clothing was going to fit in that tiny closet.  Which meant that our bedroom has had a bag of clothes, a box of shoes and a few laundry baskets full of clothes cluttering up the room.  The space between our son’s room and our bedroom is all closet; half was our closet, half was his.  And the whole thing is made out of wood.

We decided to steal his closet.

Bwah, ha, ha, haaaaa!  No, we’re not evil.  He actually had two closets in his room.  He’s a small boy.  He doesn’t need two closets.  I do.

My wonderful hubby figured out that he could take off the wall on our side (the back of my son’s closet), trim it down, and nail it back on the other side.  Effectively stealing the closet.  Of course once he took the wall off he realized there was no getting it out of the bedroom because it was too big.  We made quite a sight (and a mess) cutting it inside my son’s room.  My hubby used the saw while I used the vacuum! 

We also realized there was wasted space behind our door.  There was enough scrap wood to build matching shelves.  Now we have two closets and three new shelves.  And the best part is… the only money we spent was for a pack of screws!

(you can click on the pictures to see them bigger)  The closet on the right is the original master bedroom closet.  (See how tiny it is?!)  The closet in the middle is the stolen closet.  The new shelves are on the left.  Eventually we’ll hang curtains to hide it all but for now - it’s wonderful!! 
And the rest of the room is now clutter free!

Love Sunday: Grumpus Maximus

We interupt “My Staff” to bring you an extra edition of “Love Sunday”: 

I woke up grumpy this morning.  It was a mix of things… staying up too late the night before, not sleeping soundly, dreams in which I was angry and finally, being woken up by not-so-quiet kids.  Whatever the cause… I was grumpy.  My hubby was already up and in the shower.  When he came back into the bedroom I must have given him the evil eye because he backed up a few paces. 

He did what he had to do to save his skin.  He fled the scene.

Actually, he rounded up the kids, packed up some water bottles and whisked them all off to the park.  He made it clear that I was to have some ME time while they were gone.  Bonus points!

I took the loooooongest, hottest shower.  All by myself.  No kids popping into the bathroom announcing they had to go poop or coming in to sling back the shower curtain and announce some atrocious misdeed done by a sibling that just couldn’t wait until I was out of the shower.  No, none of that.  ….  a nice long peaceful shower ….

It was exactly what I needed.  And I think it was exactly what the kids needed too.

And how did I repay him when he returned from the park as I was just getting out of the shower?  Why, I flashed him of course!

Love Thursday: my kids

I feel so much better after venting my frustrations to people that don’t actually have to live with my kids!  Now lest you think I lock my kids in a closet all day (which only happens when the moon is full) I will now share with you some of things that make me fall in love with them all over again.

Happy Love Thursday!

I love that my daughter shows her emotions.  She’s almost always smiling but I love her eyes when she’s serious.  They have such a depth to them.  I love that she’s willing to try new things - even if it scares her.  At the last Ren. Fair they had those trampolines with the elastic bands.  They strap them to you and then you can bounce and flip to amazing heights.  We stood and watched people jump.  After awhile my daughter announced that it looked scary but she wanted to try it.  About four bounces in she was ready to quit.  But she faced her fears and tried something new.  We recently went roller skating at a local rink.  (yes, I left the house!)  My daughter is anything but graceful.  Or coordinated.  Or patient.  Attempting wheels on her feet could have been disasterous.  She tackled the challenge with a smile on her face, laughing as she fell over and over again.  I love my daughter.

My son is growing up with two sisters.  He’s played with dolls, put on dresses and had his nails painted.  I’m okay with that.  He’s also played with cars, watched Monster Trucks and had a mohawk.  I’m okay with that, too.  When he learned to talk he stuttered fiercely.  He grew and the stuttering stopped.  He went through a phase where he was incredibly shy and wouldn’t talk to anybody for anything.  He grew and became outgoing.  I see him growing and changing so quickly now.  He’s accomplishing physical challenges like mastering his Heeley’s and nailing a home run with a bat.  His own sense of humor is emerging as he tells jokes.  I love watching him come into his own.  He’s becomming a little boy.  Yes, I know, he’s been a boy all along but he is less influenced by his sisters now.  In my heart he will remain my little stickboy.  Even if he suddenly sprouts muscles.  I love my son.

As often as I see my youngest struggling to keep up with her older siblings I just as often find her on her own.  She has an independent spirit.  She doesn’t wait to be invited to participate.  She either barges her way in or runs off to do her own thing.  I can look at her and see my older two reflected in her.  But only bits and pieces.  She has a fire in her that they don’t have.  She’s the one that can’t resist dancing to music.  I hear her singing to herself.  She’s content to paint for hours.  I watch her as she’s daydreaming outside.  The child has no fear.  If her brother and sister can do it so can she.  And if they can’t then she’ll try anyway.  The mothering side of me wants her to be cautious, to slow down, to wear only two pigtails and matching clothes.  But the other side of me is cheering her on; Go, litte girl, be yourself.  Go conquer the world.  Go!  I love my daughter.

 

Happy Love Thursday

I woke up this morning to find this on my kitchen table.
Happy Love Thursday everyone!