WHY paybacks are H E double hockey sticks

I have a not so fabulous memory from my childhood of my sisters attacking me in the back of our blue Chevrolet to snag the tooth I refused to pull myself. I remember screaming and rolling around the back, while they tried to sit on me and pry my mouth open(seat belts an option back then). I had let that tooth sway in the breeze and I didn't have an ounce of courage to yank it. They were so sick and tired of me, watching that thing dangle around probably made them nearly ill.

Flash forward 30 years and I'm getting paid back with a glorious 6 year old who's so wimpy about physical pain it is almost comedy to watch. I didn't always realize I had a special case on my hands. I thought all kids were this irrational about pain but have recently come to grips with the fact that no-it's just my kid.

It started with a trip to the hospital when he was one for a mild ear infection that you would have thought from the screams had burst both his ear drums. The ice packs and bandages for invisible scrapes. I can't even put into words the noise that comes out of him at the sight of his own blood(neighbor kids in Cincinnati are probably still having nightmares). The juice from an orange in a hang nail. The bubbly gas pain that has me thinking it is his appendix, but is just a toot that needs to come out. The tooth that is soo loose a strong wind could set it free, but instead we spend weeks agonizing over it.

Holden lost his first tooth at school. He swallowed it at lunch-just as I told him he would. I begged him(my first mistake) on the way out the door that morning to let me wiggle it out. Being forced to look at it much longer was practically making me ill. Hmmm...my sisters might understand what I'm talking about :)

I love this crusty little morning face. Wimpy just makes him that much more mine.

WHY leaving Des Moines makes me sad

I was going to write all sorts of things with this post. Lists probably. But this picture pretty much says it all. Holding your best friends new little girl doesn't get to happen when you live far away.

WHY I buy my own gifts

necklace from http://www.onelifejewelry.etsy.com/

Many years ago I went to a jewelry store with my then boyfriend, pointed to a ring, left the store and patiently awaited a proposal. Several weeks later then boyfriend took me for a walk through the rose garden of my favorite park, got down on one knee, said something to the effect of "Will you be mine forever", pulled out a box, opened it up, proceeded to slip a ring on my finger. A ring that in no way shape or form resembled the one I picked out. Now let me stop for a moment and say this. We had no money, the ring I wanted cost nearly nothing. I was NOT one of those girls-you know-like the diamond wasn't big enough or something-I was just a girl who liked a certain style.

I said Yes. Fiance marched back to the jewelry store and exchanged rings. We have lived happily ever after since. And from that moment on I have purchased my own gifts, wrapped them up, torn into them with hopeful abandoned, done the happy dance when I magically got exactly what I wanted and given my husband a hundred kisses for being so thoughtful. It works. And I am writing this post because although I do hope you have a husband who listens and plans and shops and gets you exactly what you have always wanted, chances are good you may have a husband like mine.

I once asked him what happened in the jewelry store. Was the ring gone? Was it too overwhelming? Were you drunk? He said he went in ready to get my ring and then something else caught his eye. THIS is where it goes wrong. He listened, he planned, he shopped, and then he took matters into his own hands. He thought I would like something better. He was mistaken. Do you see the break down here people.

When you have lots of money maybe being "surprised" by gifts is fine. But when you don't being "surprised" means you have to wait another year to get what you wanted. That's why I let my husband off the hook. He no longer has to carve out time in his busy day(see my angle)to wander around the mall frustrated and upset. I am the perfect personal shopper for myself and he is generous enough to give me exactly what I like. It works. You may not agree, but you might want to try it.

I just got my birthday/valentines gift in the mail. How on earth did I know to get it for me :) I'm good. It is from Arlyne at One Life Jewelry. The necklace is called "Seeds of Light" and she was more than willing to tweak her original design to hand stamp our initials in the disks. Now it is my family necklace and I adore it. I love the name too because I think of my children of seeds of God's light and I felt destined to have it after shopping nearly every website for the past six months. Go to her Etsy shop because she has beautiful creations you will love.

WHY. A Series: I don't have to buy jeans for the next ten years

My sister Kit is the queen of handing down and luckily she is the queen of shopping too. I am the lucky recipient of a lot of her outcasts and I couldn't be more thankful. This year she gave me nine pairs of jeans. That's more than I have owned combined in over a decade people. And lucky for me these aren't just ordinary jeans, these are brands I only read about when they are plastered on the buns of Jessica Simpson and I don't know-other trendy celebs. Hooray for me and my pocket book! A big THANK YOU to Kit. We haven't lived in the same house for 23 years and it's still like I'm raiding your closet :)

cute project alert

Burlap is all the rage in blog land. Or it was a couple of months ago, but as I am always the last to know(bananies and such)I am finally getting around to using it. I think this wreath is adorable and more importantly-easy. I've decided to give it a try after Todd leaves for Knoxville as I will need something to occupy myself. I'll post my version soon. Burlap wreath from Tater Tots and Jello

I think I might have to sit down for this

I have been walking around my house lately just sighing. Big awful sighs, the ones that indicate a sense of overwhelment(maybe not a word). Ones that last like 15 seconds and just roll into another one. I walk from room to room. sighing.

We are moving. To Tennessee. Knoxville to be exact. It's been 2.5 years. House for sale. Lots of snow. Three kids. Crazy dog. Love house. Love school. Love neighborhood. Love family. BIG FAT SIGH.So there it is. Tucked into the rolling hills of Eastern Tennessee is our future home. Are you surprised? I am, or was. I've had lots of time to "wrap" my mind around it. I'm ok. promise.

Most of you reading this know what it's like to move. A lot. I won't go into the exhausting parts because it will take you back to your most recent experience and that wouldn't be very nice of me.

I'm just going to focus on the positive, and luckily there's a lot of it so that is good. Todd is excited about his new job(after being very sad, for a very long time, about his previous one) so that is good. Holden can't wait to move to the Smokey Mountains because there are bears so that is good(?) Asher still wants to be part of this family and is willing to make the move so that is good. Sloan will probably be a big fan of cowboy boots so that is good. I secretly love country music and Paula Dean so that is good. Ok well...that is all the positive I have today. Good night(sigh).

I'm so predictable

I have a few creative addictions, which certainly, probably, more than likely make me very uncreative. I can't get away from them. One is twine, another is cardboard, and a third is quote stickers from 7 gypsies. I'm pretty lucky I don't scrapbook because these stickers would be on every page and they don't make that many themes so I would just be repeating myself over and over again. Luckily, I am not organized enough to scrapbook and instead I make the occasional set of stationary, tags and cards. And luckily my kids have different teachers every year or they would quickly figure out I am not an amazingly creative mommy, but just a one trick chick.

I guess I think these are cute or I would stop making them. Uhhh...I need to move myself back to Cincinnati to where those little crafty friends are so I can steal some fresh ideas :) Did I just mention moving? More on that subject a little later....

life is a little more complete with bananies

I'll admit I am a bit of a blog junkie. I'm not out of control or anything. I limit my time and surf with intention, but why not when you come across things that make life better.

There is nothing like two feet of snow and frigid temps for three months straight to make a stay at home mom desperate. I understand Wisteria Lanes need for drama, because if I could create some I would. Instead life has gotten more exciting with Bananies(thanks Jamie at Our Journey).

Slice your bananas, put a smidge of peanut butter and if it's been one of those days(or mornings in this case) add a dab of Nutella(is your sweet tooth hurting a little Bec?).
Make a little sandwich and roll them in graham cracker crumbs

Enjoy! Good morning lucky boys. I was pretty sure I was going to get cheers and wet kisses over serving these for breakfast. Little did I know bananies are old news to these two. Apparently they have made them in preschool-oh bugger- I'm always the last to know. Todd missed out on these treats, I'm pretty sure he'll give me wet kisses when he tastes them.

I'm not the last to know that this baby is too much! Look at what he mastered this morning.

baby update

Bec and Chris had their little girl. She is a super cutie and I love her! Go here to see her adorable picture.

R.I.P.

My snow boots had the nerve to "pass on" before I was done using them. It could have something to do with wearing them every day since November 1st.

I feel abandoned

Here's a little something I wouldn't mind replacing them with. Ahhhh. Like sunshine on your feet, and a mere 45 days away.

I was so in love with my L. Herbert eggs this fall that I had to order her birds as well. They arrived just in time to lift my spirits a little.

I have talked about how much I love Pottery Barn down pillow inserts, but let me tell you about one more thing I view as "worth it" from PB. Frames. It creates a uniform look that I love and creates less distraction and more appreciation for what is actually being framed.

blog fun

I am so super excited about my new and improved blog header.  It was fun to create and I want you to do one too :)  I'm not trying to re-invent the wheel, so head over to Between Here and Home to learn how to make a cool header.  Her photos are beautiful(mine are taken with a broken, old, pathetic camera).  I had trouble shrinking my pixels, so I had to use the Shrink to Fit option when downloading my picture onto Blogger. It doesn't make the banner as big as hers, but I'm satisfied with how it looks. She also gives some information on how to update your settings on Blogger.  You can do neato cool things like this!

It's just that time of year. The time in which I start taking pictures of all things that remind me of warmth.

My sisters came to visit this past weekend(fresh flowers are a rule when someone comes to visits) and we had a wonderful time, no pictures to prove it(typical), but really wonderful. I am a very lucky girl to have two very different, very fun, very loving sisters. I remember when I brought Asher home from the hospital I felt like I was giving Holden one of the most precious gifts of his life-a brother to share his experiences with. No one has a prospective on you like your siblings, and sometimes they just know how to bring you down to earth.

I was sad to see them leave on Monday. Hopefully it won't be too long before we see each other again. For now I am trying to fight my winter depression with all things that remind me of spring. flowers, cleaning, clothes and even a new baby. Bec is having her little girl on Friday and I can't wait to hold her!