opening a can of worms

I went to a young women presidency meeting last night. It began with me asking a simple question,

"What do you think I could do better?"

President: You are doing a great job!

Counselor: I can't think of anything.

Me: oh thanks but let me know if.....

President: Actually you could hold more meetings with your advisers, Sister Doe could really use it since she would like to be more involved.

Me: Oh of course I..

Counselor: You know I hold waffle breakfasts in my home often and just surround myself with the girls.

Me: Yes I probably should do...

Counselor: I mean I just involve them in my life and have them in my home.

President to counselor: Oh yes you are very good at that.

President: Set on the calendar dates of class presidency meetings. Also are you coming to camp?

Me: Well, I, with my baby I..

President (that just had a baby): Oh I am just having my husband and (6) kids camp nearby and he can bring him to me to nurse as needed.

Me: Oh that sounds like..(death) fun!

fixer-upper

?

What is one level below fixer -upper?. I mean, I really don't think I am doing this house justice to call it a fixer upper. It is to mild of a label. It implies reversibility- and that is something I am just not sure this house has. Sure this paint is hideous, I am not sure what possesses someone to commit such atrocities- but I can handle that with hours and hours of labor. But this toilet? Really. Can this truly be redeemed? I really have my doubts.

new home

Sorry- I know no one wants reality in a blog- so let me start over. I need to quit blogging while I upgrade my system for a few months. We are buying a new home! We are trying to decide between a few different homes, how do I chose- which one do you vote for?

Dose of reality

Here's some reality for you- big mama has to quit bloggin'. Big mama has to cancel Internet service to be able to afford a new house. (The word new is used very loosely here. New really means old dive that no amount of TLC can touch.) Big Mama's gonna cry. Mama says, come visit now while she is still in nice, clean, sweet smelling rental.

This is my little boy- as you can see- we are all a little terrified at the prospect of our new dwelling.




This makes you want you want to hop in the shower right!

Bathtub in the middle of the master bath- romantic in any other setting maybe.

Don't let the picturesque sunset in the background blind you to the homes atrocious spaceship like appearance.

sisters

I had the opportunity to have my two sisters come recently. This is why my blogging has been so sporadic. It was so fantastic. First my sister June came. She is a runner so we went on a five mile run every morning at 5:00. Then we would drink wheat grass smoothies and talked until the kids arose. She is an incredible mother to eight children so I love to drink from her overflowing spring of knowledge. We then spent the morning playing with the children and having paddle boat races in the pond. When my sisters and I get together we love to create things. We wanted to focus on our kids in the daytime but at night we would sew to our hearts content. June is a master and we created darling Easter outfits for all my nieces and my boys. I've posted a few of them.

She would make delicious Chinese food for my family and I would entertain the children by helping them do macrame at the table while reciting nursery rhymes.

Then Keri came. She is a Pilate's instructor so she helped me perfect my routine and we had a ball. We worked on this charming table and chairs for our two little boys Damon and Zane to play puzzles on. We laughed as we made little mistakes here and there but it turned out okay. We also had the idea to make a pie safe for my grandmother whose 99th birthday was on Saturday. We tried to replicate the one she had in her home growing up. As we punched the tin which can be rather tedious, we reminisced about this and that. We talked about husbands, children and womanhood. I learn so much from my wise sisters.

spun with love

My dear friend Sarah reminded me in her comment that I carried my baby in an organic cotton sling while nursing when we did the hike. I omitted this because I really don't want to sound pretentious. I only mention it now because I feel so badly because Sarah knit the sling for me out of cotton that her husband spun. It is so great because it can be used as a shawl, wrap or sling. I want to just say thank you Sarah. Oh it is amazing to have such talented friends.

the path of life

Today my kids and I decided to go hiking. I have been helping them carve one of a kind walking sticks so that as we enter the summer they can take their stick on their adventures and have it to remind them of all the places they have been. Today we only went two miles but it was rocky terrain. I was really proud of Zane. As I watched him with his stick, conquer each steep or uneven path, I thought of how I am also teaching them life lessons. That no matter how difficult the path might seem, they can overcome it. We rested near a pond to feast on sprout and tofu sandwiched in between the delicious bread they helped bake this morning. I couldn't help but think as I breathed in the fresh air surrounded by these spry little ones, this is what motherhood is all about.