New Toy, New Do

Well, another birthday has come and gone.
Amazing how quickly they roll around anymore.
When you're a kid you can't wait for them.
When you're rapidly approaching 40, they can stay away.
But they come regardless.

So...
I am posting this from my new iPad!
Eeeeek!

I'm trying out the blogger app.
It's different.
And a little difficult.
But it was free.
So I'm giving it a shot.

I'm not even sure where exactly my picture will show up on this post.
I took it with the iPad.

I chopped my hair.
I'm not sure the last time it was this short.
Still deciding if I like it.
I've had this cut for 3 days.
And it's looked different each of those days.
Wonder how it will look tomorrow...

Jake doesn't like it.
I think the others are ok with it.
Either that or they have more tact.

I have to end this.
I'm anxious to see what this post looks like.
That and I'm feeling guilty.
Nothing has gotten done today.

So I'm really going to stop playing on this thing.
And get to work.

It's noon already.
So it's lunch time.
Then I'll get to work.

I'm going now.
For real.

Just Chattin'

I'm going through the little boys closets.
They have a ridiculous amount of clothes.
Really.
It's embarrassing.
So many hand me downs when you're the littlest boys.
There were at least 20 pair of holey jeans.

You know why I kept them?
Because I just knew for sure
there was something I could make with them.
That makes me laugh just typing it.
Me?
Make something?
Hahaha!
Reality sunk in...finally.
And I threw them all away.
(Sorry to those of you who could have made amazing things with them.)

I found 3 shirts for Jobie.
On a shelf.
In his closet.
Neatly folded.
Just like I would fold them.
Really cute winter shirts.
No idea where they came from.
Maybe a consignment sale?
They are not brand new.
How do I forget these things?

I am so sick of hot weather and watering plants.
I could scream.
So I've been making my kids water.
They need chores.
I need a break.
Sounds like a win-win to me.

Last night as I was leaving the little boys room:
Jobie: I love you, Mommy.
Ezzie: I love you lots and lots.
You're the best momma ever.
How much longer do you think I can fool him?

Ezra has now lost 5 of his original fish.
Saturday we bought him 4 more.
(They were 13 cents each.
We really go all out for our kids.)
One of those 4 died yesterday.
Poor guy.
He always holds each one in his little hand.
And looks at it for a while.
Before he dumps it in the toilet.
And flushes it.

We got "new" dining room chairs.
I found them at a garage sale for $5 each.
4 matching chairs.

We were using 1 wood school chair.
Bought at an antique store.
1 off-white really cute chair.
Bought at an antique store.
1 chair from a pair of chairs that we had.
Once upon a time.
And a folding chair.
(I've said before we are classy people.
I wasn't joking.)

I texted Ryan and said:
For the first time in our marriage we have
4 chairs that match.
His reply: It's almost like we're adults.
Ha!
He's a funny guy.I like the white.
But I might paint them.
The white might not be quite right for our house.
What would you do?

I Walk Funny

It's true.
Look.My toes point WAY out.
Never thought about it too much.
Until the little boys started taking pictures from behind.
All those pics are not flattering.
For many reasons.

Anyway, I waddle.
There's no other word for it.
When I was pregnant my waddle was worse.

Pregnancy and I were not friends.
I hated nearly every moment of it.
Not because I was sick.
Sure there was a little nausea.
And all that fun stuff.
It just wasn't enjoyable to me.
I gained 50-60 pounds with each pregnancy.
That is ridiculous.

You know those husbands that say:
My wife was never more beautiful
than when she was pregnant.
Ha!
Ummm...
Yah...
That was NOT my husband.

I did not "glow".
But I definitely waddled.

Most women do look so cute when they're pregnant.
I was not one of them.
(Your gonna have to trust me on this one.
There will be no pictures here.)

Can we say: off track?

So, I'm working on walking properly.
When it crosses my mind.
Which doesn't really happen all that often.

Not sure why walking properly is important.
Not going to be on a catwalk or anything.
A model I am not.
It's just been bothering me.
But it's hard to break a habit.
That I've had for my whole life.
Likely, I'll still be walking this way 30 years from now.

An old granny.
Who walks funny.
It will give my grandkids something to talk about.

Just Stuff

1. I had the theme to Gilligan's Island running thru my head yesterday.
Weird.
Haven't seen the show for years.
And I don't really like it.

2. I have two pairs of jeans that have ripped.
On my inner thigh.
In the last couple of months.
Weird.
Clearly there's some extra weight hanging around there.
I've been wanting to get the 30 Day Shred.
But just haven't gotten up the nerve yet.
I always think it sounds nice to excersice.
But when it comes right down to it...
I've also been having dreams.
That I've been wearing these jeans.
Out in public.
And I'm all self-conscious.
And wondering why I decided to wear them.
I rarely remember my dreams.
So it's odd that I've had this a few times.
And remembered it.
Is there some meaning or lesson I'm missing?

3. Although Stalker Cat is dead.
And I know he is.
There is another orange cat haunting our house now.
Creepy.
Not quite as stalkerish as the previous.
But still.
Creepy.

4. I bought a coat for Jobe at Target.
For next winter.
Got it on clearance a couple months ago.
Now I'm beginning to wonder if it is a girl' coat.
Oops.
In my defense.
It's brown.
A very neutral color, right?
And Target's clearance is all mixed together in the toddler section.
Also, I'm not even sure why I needed to buy a coat for him.
Didn't my other two boys have coats when they were 4?
Apparently I chose to let them freeze.
*
5. Our bug man came yesterday.
Jobie followed him all over the house.
Jabbering the whole time.
At one point I heard him ask the man if he wanted to play trains.
So cute.
And odd.
He's usually so shy.

6. Jake is working on a solar system project.
I hate school projects.
I'm terrible at helping with them.
Then I just feel like Loser Mom.
For hating it.
For not being helpful.
For not being creative.
So, I just defer it to his dad.

That's all.
Said in my best Miranda Priestly impersonation.

Boys and Clothes

When I was pregnant with Jobe,
I was sure he was a girl.
(We always keep our baby's gender a surprise.)
I was looking forward to girl clothes.
I had even bought a couple of adorable sundresses.
Just so sure.

I'm not the fancy, frilly kind of girl.
I can probably count on one hand
the times Brookelynn wore bows in her hair.
Sorry if that offends you girly, girl moms.
In my defense, the girl didn't have any hair
until she was over two.

She has never been the lacy type.
If I would let her, she would wear
Nike shorts and a t-shirt.
E.V.E.R.Y. day.
To church even.
(I wish I was joking.)
Although she is starting to break out of that.
A little.
Thank you, Justice!

I thought it would be fun to have another girl.
Put her in cute little sundresses.
Sandals or flip-flops.
Capris.
On and on and on.
There are A LOT more girl clothes than boy clothes.

But God knew we needed another boy.
And I've learned that
even little boys can be fun to dress.

It's fun to put outfits together for them.
It's rare that I buy a matching outfit.
I save that for Easter and Christmas.
The rest of the time:
I see pair of shorts I like.
I buy them.
Then hope we have a shirt at home to wear with them.
Both boys are wearing shorts from Macy's.
Sadly, the closest Macy's is nearly 3 hours away.
But last summer I was there with a friend.
Who had an additional 20% off coupon.
Friends like that rock.
These shorts were on clearance.
End of summer.
$4 each.
Oh, how I love bargains.
When I pulled them out of the bag this spring,
it was exciting all over again.
Jobie's brown t-shirt was $5 from Carter's.
(Cost more than the shorts!)
And Ezzie's is recycled Old Navy from his cousin.
(Free!)
Their sandals are also recycled.
(I hate the words hand-me-downs.)
Cheap and cute outfits.
The best.
Jobe's shirt and shorts were worn by both Jake and Ezra.
I bought the shorts at my good friend's garage sale.
Her son is one year older than Jake.
She has great taste in clothes.
Well, in everything actually.
Probably 75% of Jake's summer clothes are from her.
And nearly all of his KU shirts.
They love it when I come home
from helping her get ready for her sales.
She has sales twice a year.
I always help her organize a few days before.
And I shop too, of course.
Even Brookie gets some of the warm-up pants.
Or Nike shorts.
Or t-shirts.
Or indoor soccer shoes.
Another friend that rocks.

Anyway, back to the boys' outfits.
I have no idea how that shirt and those shorts
have made it thru three boys with no stains.
I think I only let them wear them sparingly.
Never when we are going out to eat.
Or to the park.
Or on a wet muddy day.
The shirt was a b-day present for Jake from my parents.
The fake Crocs are from Target last year.
He is barely squeezing in to them now.

Ezzie is again wearing a shirt from his cousin.
The shorts were $4 from that same Macy's trip.
His shoes were under $20 from Nike outlet in Branson.
Not as great of a bargain.
But not bad either.
He loves those shoes.

Wow!
This is much longer than I intended it to be.
I'm wordy today.

See how much fun boys are to dress?
I want to go shopping now.