The Tree House

My.... uh.... the kids tree house is almost finished!

Tom is working late tonight... and since I miss him I will mentally relive the weekend.

Tom's little brother came to help this weekend... well younger anyway :) 

I think he's almost bigger than Tom now.

This is the view from my kitchen window..... now you know why I like to cook! 

I can see the whole yard from the kitchen so no matter where he is working I have an excuse to watch!

Not that I need one... 

he's mine.

The kids were all very content to be outside all weekend. Even the littlest.

Still unable to look at the camera....

Tommy watching the boys work... in about ten years this will be how he spends his summers 

with his Dad and Uncles... 

and probably his Grandpa too... he's in better shape than all of them!

I love that he will get to learn how to do it all for himself, like his Dad and both of his Grandfathers.

There is so much value in knowing how to work with your hands.

It's only by God's grace that we make it on one income, 

and it doesn't hurt that when something is broken I know that Tom can fix it or it can't be fixed.

The tree house is actually much farther along than this, I have more pictures tomorrow!

 I will leave you with deep thoughts...

~ When you live for a strong purpose, then hard work isn’t an option. It’s a necessity. ~

Steve Pavlina

 

~Early to bed and early to rise probably indicates unskilled labor.~

John Ciardi

Fat Friday..., sucess is sweet.

I almost forgot it was Friday...

Ready?

My Stats:

Starting Weight: 265.6

Lost this Week: -5.2

Lost Total: 34.4

Current Weight: 231.2

Yay!!! I'm not where I was but I'm back in the right direction...

I thought I might have a big loss this week since I had a big gain and was basically totally off the plan for over a month... but five pounds was bigger than I dared to dream!

And you know what... I didn't feel deprived.

I went out to eat.

I had some kind of Chocolate or treat EVERY DAY!

I had Ice cream cake, and birthday cake.

I even had a 17 point meal at Houlihan's 

Delicious!

And I worked out too. 

four times!

I really want this again...

Really really really want it.

And I'm going to do it... 

I almost can't wait to weigh in next week.. I'm not expecting another big loss.

But I know that I can and will do this again for the first time in a long time, 

And that feels better than words can say.

The Boys are Back in Town

Today we had a play date with Aunt "B" and the boys!

I like saying "Aunt B".... it sounds so Mayberry :)

 

 AJ and Tommy are three months apart, 

The twins and Isabella are 36 hours apart.

It was a busy two days, especially for my mother in law.

I didn't get a picture of just the three of them today, but here they are just at over a year old.

Just imagine them taller and thinner... the boys have less hair now.... Bella has more, finally.

People always think they are triplets.

 Can't imagine why.

 This was the time out chair... although I don't think this one was in trouble at this particular time.

 parts of the tree house were everywhere.

So we gave them sidewalk chalk, 

made sure all the rusty nails were hammered down, and let them go to town.

"say cheese guys.... TS... quit making that face...."

 

 "Bella.... look at the camera.... TS! quit making that face!"

 "JACK... Move!!! don't stick out your tongues!!! TS.... Quit making that face!!"

 

 "oh forget it"

 

 "I can't get the chalk"

 Notice the forehead.

 Bella is not a climber... but her "boys" are.... TS to the rescue.

 about every five minutes one of them would bring us a "flower"

 

 She is nearly incapable of looking at the camera.... if you see a shot where she is?

It was most likely an accident. 

 

 And here is how we did lunch... because we are lazy hard-working mommies who deserve a break!

 twenty-five or so chicken nuggets on a large plate... every man for himself

 

 lovely sweetheart, very ladylike.

 Oh.... AJ.... no no no.... see his brother? That look is for his mom, he is delighted...

See Tommy? He is shocked.

The twins and AJ, are rough and tumble Boys with a capital B.

Tommy is all boy also... but he is a boy being raised by a big sister.

Hence he is a little neater.

And yes I'm helping raise him but you can give Bella all the credit for his love of dresses and high heels.

Someday he'll be in therapy because of this picture.....

Anyway....

 

 AJ looks bored doesn't he? His face is cracking me up.

 Here is the aftermath.... we learned something important today, 

they eat much better when there is only one plate.

I'm sure a psychologist could explain it better, but basically I think they were afraid of starvation.

They unconsciously did the math...  

one plate, five of us... I better eat!!!

It was all very discovery channel.

Like when five lions are eating one gazelle.

Yes they have all seen the Lion King.

Oh.... Daniel was here too... eating, sleeping... you know the usual.

 Tickle Tickle!

And since it was a warm one... Popsicle all around!

 ALL around...

on the their legs, 

on the chair, 

on the floor,

Later I found out Jacks hair was dyed pink in spots....

I didn't look to close... it could be chalk... either way.

It was a good day...

we need more days like this one...

Now if you'll excuse me I'm going to go pass out on my bed.... until Monday....

Hope.

I have tried and tried to write what I'm feeling today and this is it. 

I didn't write it but it is what I'm trying to say....

it's what I'm screaming in my head.

it's what I'm clinging to for dear life.

Its what I'm praying for everyone I know to grasp and cling too.

"Hope Now"

If everything comes down to love,

Then just what am I afraid of?

When I call out Your name, something awakes in my soul

How quickly i forget I'm Yours.

I am not my own, I've been carried by You... all my life.

Everything rides on hope now.

Everything rides on faith somehow.

When the world has broken me down, 

This Love sets me Free.

When my life is like a storm, 

Rising waters, 

All I want is the shore.

Say I'll be Ok, 

make it through the rain, 

You are my shelter from the storm.

And everything rides on hope now, 

and everything rides on faith somehow, 

when the world has broken me down 

this Love sets me Free.

You've become my hearts desire, 

I will sing Your praises higher.

cause Your Love sets me Free.

I'm not my own... I've been carried by You

all my life.

~Addison Road

Romans 5:3-4 

we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.

Psalm 62:5-6

 Find rest, O my soul, in God alone;
my hope comes from him.

 He alone is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.

The Obligatory... "Why I Blog" Post

Why am I blogging? I think every blog I read has this post.

So here is my answer to that.

I like the sense of community, I like when people relate to me.

It makes me feel normal... I didn't claim to be normal, but its nice to fool myself sometimes.

I want people to understand me better. I want to understand myself better.

I love to speak my mind and sometimes I talk before I think.... 

and its harder to type before I think... 

I just can't type that fast..

so at least this way I have to press "enter" before my verbal vomit becomes public.

 

I think maybe I might have something worthwhile to say...and if I don't??

I know that Jesus does so I will just point you to Him every so often.

 

I want a record of these days and moments with my family, I am told they go by quickly.

I love to write but I don't have the energy to do it for myself alone, 

knowing you are reading this keeps me going.

I want to be famous.... seriously.... 

and rich of course!

I don't think this will ever lead to that but a girl can dream right?

Men at Work, Dogs in Therapy....

I have no wisdom to spout here today, no funny stories, no energy for anything really.

I am having a weird and fairly unproductive day.

I can't seem to get ahead of the housework anymore, 

This has been the norm practically since Daniel was born. He is a sweet "easy" baby... but he is a baby.

So we have more to do... less time to do it in... and I am tired.

Bone weary.

And if I'm tired then Tom must be near death.

The man never stops working! He always has something he needs to be doing lately and so tonight I'm on my own with the little ones, probably until Letterman comes on.

I'm glad he is a hard worker though... I'm even more glad when he is hard at work right outside my kitchen window where I can stare at him like a thirteen year old who is in love for the first time...

 I'm so glad he doesn't wear a suit to work everyday... this is a way better look in my opinion.

 When I took this picture I told him it was the "money shot"... I love to make him blush by telling him I"m going to blog about him!

So the tree house is progressing slowly, it has been unseasonably cold the last few days, and Tom has been busy, but this weekend looks promising.

When i say "promising" I mean warm enough to sit outside and watch him work all day...
after he lets me sleep in on Saturday.... 

Are you reading this baby??? 

Plleeaaasseee??? Just till ten thirty?

Anyway..

We have been enjoying the great indoors too. Camping out between the boys cribs.

And I am brightening up the cold cloudy weather with my happy toes.

They make me disproportionately happy.....

Here are some more pictures of the kids "campin" without my freakishly long toes in the way.

 

Ahhh poor Jack...
I think he need to get outside more than the average pup. I read that boxers get destructive if they don't get enough attention....
remember the snow white massacre?

Well in the last few days he has eaten  her friend sleeping beauty, 

the back legs of a large plastic grasshopper, 

a toy frog,

a stuffed elephants trunk,

an earring,

a barbie hairbrush,

an Easter egg filled with bubble stuff...

and a partridge in a pear tree.....

See!? ... this is why I blog... now that I wrote it out like that I'm not nearly as angry...

But still this has to stop!

I bought those toys for my children to destroy... not my dog.

Also I'm afraid if he continues down this path of destruction and crime
I will have to hide Isabella's favorite Snow White dress...
Does anyone else think he is looking at her like she is dinner?

Does anyone know the number of a good Doggy therapist?

And I guess I lied... I did have a funny story after all.

Brought to you by The Letter G and the Number 3!

I was having a bit of a rough time on Sunday.

I am overwhelmed by all the things we have going on lately, 

seems like every free moment gets taken up with something... even when it's not work,

parties, picnics, birthday's, weddings, showers.

 

 I love social things... I just love sitting at home watching my kids play while I'm talking to my husband too.

Also I can never find anything to wear when we have to go out.

So after nap and dinner on Sunday evening Tom sent me to the store alone.

The man knows me (Thank you God for such a husband) ... 

retail therapy is my thing, even if it was just for some milk and bread.

But he wisely told me to look through the clothes as well, get a new top or something.

I have a slight fear of shopping by myself as much as I enjoy it, I always go overboard.

He gives me a twenty and I use the debit card for ten more.

 You know.... there is always just one more thing that will complete me, 

and make everything right with the world.

A few months ago I bought a couple things to add to some other outfits.

In particular I found an awesome purple cardigan that was on clearance... 

I know it wasn't more than eight bucks.

I really wanted it in green more but that color was still full price at twenty and even I... 

the queen of wasting money... couldn't do it

Now every time I try to get dressed I think of that green cardigan and how it would be perfect with this or that or the next thing, and I regret not buying it.

Last night.... looking through a rack of three dollar stuff, nothing looks too promising.

not just on the rack but in the week ahead...

the weather stinks (no outdoor projects getting done), 

the other car needs fixed (I mean like ten things need fixed all at once),

the kids need to get to the dentist (and my goodness they Hate the dentist),

the dog needs to go to the vet,

the list goes on... and gets deeper and more personal than I can share.

and I get sucked down further into worry and self pity.

God don't you care!? 

I am so tired.... I miss my husband.

Ok... I know you care... but could I get a break please?

My break came right then.... 

One green sweater left, wedged in there where no one could see it.

The green sweater I had to pass up before, now three dollars.

Or twelve quarters...

Or less than a happy meal...

(with none of the irritation of the drive-thru!)

Or THREE DOLLARS

This may seem silly too you, 

It sure seems silly to me.

But for that moment I  knew that God cared and he had shown me in a way only He and I could understand.

I love it when Gods love for me is immediate and personal and silly.

And I love my green sweater too.