Things That Really Chap My Hide

This won't be the most positive post I've ever written, as you  might have guessed from the title; but I have noticed that there are some things that regularly bother the living daylights out of me.  Whatever that means.  Anyway, I thought I might just turn it into a Top Ten Thursday post!  So here goes...

10. When my boys put stickers on random objects that they know they are not supposed to add stickers to.  Of course, they never really come off well, either.

9. When bananas go bad long before they can be eaten.  This didn't bother me when I could just whip up some banana bread with them, but the no wheat/rotate egg/rotate banana thing kicked in, that just wasn't much of an option anymore.

8. The airline's new(ish), rediculous weight restrictions on suitcases that make it impossible to actually fill a suitcase all the way without it going over the weight limit.

7.  Stainless steel.  If anyone had told me just how hard it is to keep stainless steel polished and free from water marks and finger prints, I never would have filled my kitchen with it!

6.  The way boys keep their dresser drawers.  No matter how many times I show these kids how to keep the clothes neatly folded in piles, their drawers look like this in a matter of hours.

5.  Getting beat in Scrabble, especially by someone who looks this happy about it after the fact!

4.  Ants.  Enough said.  (And yes, that ant is on my kitchen counter.  He was there with about 18 of his buddies the other morning.  I killed all his friends before taking his picture.  Then it was off with his head as well.  Bwaahaaahaaahhaaa!)

3.  When dishes pile up immediately after I wash them.  Why does no one else in this house wash dishes???

2.  Saying goodbye to people I love.  Joanna doesn't look any happier about this one than me...

1.  Kids who continue to grow up no matter how many times you tell them to stop!

Sorry I haven't been here in a while...

...I've been busy. Wanna see what I've been doing? You do! Okay. I'll give you a glimpse. I've been...

feeding goats and sheep with my children...

taking pictures of my family with beautiful Mt. Hood in the background...

taking pictures of myself with beautiful Mt. Hood in the background...

discovering steamy, lost lakes...

hiking to waterfalls...

climbing to new heights...

having a little cheesy fun...

watching my children see the Pacific for the first time...

picking raspberries and marionberries....

and posing for family pictures at Multnomah Falls.

It's a rough life, but somebody has to do it.

My Life Right Now

Well, since you bemoaned the lack of activity here lately - which is slightly funny since I had been the last one to post - I thought I'd give you a glimpse into my life right now. It will help explain why there has been a lack of posts, as well.


So here goes. Here it is. My life. Almost in its entirety. Are you sure you're ready, because it is gripping - extremely exciting.

Don't I look excited? What is that look on my face, anyway? The couch and I are becoming very close friends. As my uterus continues to betray me, I am learning how to "slow down." I am thankful that I am still able to do a lot of things. Total bed rest would drive me insane! I have found that water aerobics does not cause contractions. Which is funny to me, since dancing with my three year old does. It must be something about the weightlessness of the water. Whatever it is, I am super thankful because I need some sort of an outlet for my energy.

A couple weeks ago, when I was not permanently bonded to my sofa, my grandmother was here visiting from Germany. We spent as much time with her as possible. Aaron absolutely LOVES his great-grandma. She indulges his insatiable desire for games. I cannot tell you how many times she played Sorry with him in one week! I thought you might enjoy some pictures of us with her. Note the game she is playing with Aaron - that's right, Sorry.

My Life Right Now

garden...

family...

joy...

hope...

paperwork...

crave...

fold...

recover.

Happy

on his fifth birthday - cookie for breakfast...

at his party, five candles to blow out...

mother's day, my two boys...

the baby's first, smallest appearance - 13 weeks.

Happy

Signs of Spring at My House...

red flowers...

blackberry blossom...

strawberries...

bugs everywhere...

baseball...

pink flowers...

outdoor fun...

and fresh mangoes!

Through My Eyes

I thought that since my last post was information overload, I would give your eyes a workout while letting your brain take a rest. I decided to do this before reading that you're not feeling well...I'm so sorry. Hope this is refreshing!

Six Sights at My House Right Now -

boys...

rise...

love...

work...

nap...

finished.