A Photo Essay: Because they say a Picture is worth a Thousand Words

I started with a full bottle, same kind as usual.
I went to put it in the microwave but somehow I ended up with a milk shower. It totally flipped out of my hand and landed on the counter.

Wudya look at that!

Perhaps a closer view will make it just a bit more clear? The portion missing was over the floor, cupboards, counter and me, but really, it could have been whole lot worse. Didn't equate to much more than a few drips here and there. And it was perfectly sealed. A pretty fancy move that, like I said, could have been much worse. (So Steve took a piece of paper and slid it underneath to successfully return it to right side up.)

It reminded me of my pre-blogging days. Once in Mission a container of yogurt fell bottom down on the floor. I found blueberry yogurt spots on the ceiling and under the bottoms of the upper cabinets for weeks after that. Or at The Wave, a milk bottle once tipped over on the counter and poured down beside the stove. Thankfully the stove was very easy to move! I'm starting to sense a theme here. I hope it doesn't tell you something about me. :)

And that, my friends, is my photo essay with play by play action. Sorry, I couldn't keep my fingers still!

His & Hers

They'll play together very nicely. She'll join him for some car zooming.

He's willing to play babies. For a little while.

But he's happiest playing cars and trucks. Happy as in, can and will play for 2 hours at a time.

And it delights me. I think it is wonderful.

And she is delighted to take care of her babies. It thrills me that usually she has two. In her eyes twins is not something to be oohed and aahed over, it's just perfectly normal.
But me? I don't think I'll ever get over the awe of it. The giggles before falling asleep at nap time, the chatter upon waking up, the reaching through crib rails just to feel connected, the smiles for each other when they've been apart awhile, yes even the teasing and fighting; it's the most precious thing I've ever observed between two pint sized people.And while sometimes I wondered why I was given these two little ones at such a busy time in my life, I know with a certainty, God did not make a mistake, He did not give us a burden. He gave us a blessing. A double blessing. One we never have, nor can ever hope to have deserved.
I pray He will also give us all we need to raise them (along with their big sister and brothers). Oh that they all would live lives of service to Him!

Brave & Strong Con't

Last night after supper my dear (and possibly slightly frustrated) husband said to me, "I'm in charge of clean up here, and here (pointing out the entire upstairs). So once the kids are in bed, you should go too." I was in bed by 8:00 and asleep by probably 8:12. Leah came upstairs with an excuse about something before 8:12 and was quite surprised to see me in bed. Truth is, I beat all 3 of the oldest children to sleep.
That's me, brave and strong.

I was looking for the box for the last 24 hours. I couldn't find it anywhere. I was getting frustrated! Then this afternoon I was brave and strong. I skipped my nap so that I could fold the mountains of laundry. I even started to put the neat stacks away. And there, in the linen closet, the box! I mean, doesn't everyone store their box of photo albums in the linen closet? I'm not sure why I didn't think to look there sooner.

Anyway, the scanner isn't working so I had to take a picture of the picture. You know who that is right? Yep, me. And my Mom. Beautiful young lady, ain't? Still is. Beautiful that is. She's 50 today so I don't know if she still fits in the young category. By the way, did you gloss over that? She's 50 today! A few thoughts. First regarding the picture. While she was and still is beautiful, I can only say I was cute. Downright adorable in my opinion. Hey, just remember I go completely basket case over every baby. Anyway, I wish that was was a still... as in still cute. Don't you think it would be great to be a cute 30 year old? I would probably get to go first in every grocery line. Can't you hear that little old lady ahead of me say, " oh darling, you are so cute, why don't you go ahead of me."
Now that I've erased all doubt in your mind regarding my normality, let me go on with a few more thoughts. This wonderful woman holding me so lovingly has taken great care of me over the years. From 0 - 5... 6 - 10... 11 -18............. 19 - 29............................. alright, as crazy as it is I'm 30 and this lady is still helping me out! And that probably means she's actually still quite young. And I'm so thankful for her. So, Happy Birthday, Mom! I love you lots and lots.

And as an important side note... This sweet, cute, nearly edible little gupher showed up as a grand and wonderful surprise for the occasion - with him's ma and pa - and for the record, it was a grand and wonderful surprise!
pS. Good for him, Gramma's still in charge of the food. I don't think he'll suffer :)

PPs. Mom reads the comments on here so if you want to extend your greetings and well wishes, I don't mind if you use this as a spot to pass them on!

A walk in the park

Steve took the three big kids to work at Gramps and Gramma's house this afternoon so the twins and I went for a walk at the park.
The lighting was gorgeous. The darlings uncooperative. The photographer inferior. So I got a lot of these types of shots.

Back of heads.

Ears.

We did do some walking and they looked kinda cute trotting along together.

But Cara was a bit impatient with Cody as usually he stopped to watch us walk. I would point out we had left him behind and she would high tail it back to him and shove him on again.

Com'on Cody! (insert heavy sigh)

Then there was the people-watching. This lady admitted she had been doing her version of the funky monkey dance as she approached me, trying to induce their smiles. Cody didn't trust her at all after that! He stood there so serious, just watching her so long she was starting to get nervous.

Before they continued on their way they said, "we hope to do the same route tomorrow. We'll be sure to stop and say hello if you're still here." (I asked them to bring food along :) )

Are they finally going? I won't move until I'm sure.

Quit it, Cody, they're on their way. Com'on! Let's go! You're starting to get annoying!

There was the attention grabbing attempt, "Cody, where's the doggie?"

That always results in a, "you're not even funny" type of look.

Bench combing is a must.

How about the, "Cara, where's the airplane, do you see the airplane up there?" "No, mom, I don't see anything and now you can't see me either!"

And there she is, "comin' thru!"

But don't let me give her a total bad rap. She can be awfully sweet too.

And so ended my special, peaceful, wonderful afternoon at the park. I wish I had taken the camera to Dad & Mom's. I would have gotten some great pictures of the helpers, I'm sure. They came home in jammies from Gramma's emergency box. Their bottom halves were soaking wet and thoroughly muddie. A great afternoon for sure.

And then getting home and seeing this gorgeous mountain beaming at us... I am overwhelmed with my secure house, my cupboards of food, my beautiful surroundings, my healthy family, my free and oh so prosperous country and it almost seems too much. God has blessed us so richly. I pray I will not take it for granted or take rest and comfort in the blessings themselves.

Psalm 125:2 As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds His people from this time forth and forever.

Some more painting today. You see yesterday two fine ladies, Michelle and Steph, came over and spent some serious time helping me paint. It was wonderful as an incentive and there's just no way one person can cover the same amount of walls as three. Unfortunately, (or fortunately depending on which end of the camera you stand) I never did get anything better than the deer in the headlight look so ladies, no fear, you won't show up here! Thanks so much, though. Michelle, you'll have to pop in for a peek at the start of the white trim. 400% difference!

A few more of the cute little gapher and my cute guffers.
Me: Sam, I didn't ever get a picture of you holding Clayton. Did you ever hold him?
Sam: No, I don't want to.
Me: Why not?
Sam: You see, this is the way it is.
Me: What way?
Sam: There is a difference.
Me: What difference?
Sam: He's not big like Cara and I can't play with him!
Sam is also my book or video quoter: Some Sam quotes as of late, "thank you very much, sir, and have a gREAt day! or "catch you later, brother!" The pronouns change as per the addressee for example, the "sir" has been known to be switched to "Ma" after he was informed a sir is a man.

One more set of grins.

And this grin stands all by itself. Concert pianist, church organist? I'm not sure but no matter what the future here I hope she never loses the sparkle...

It should be said that this stool belongs in the bathroom. It was there before it was wrestled here. And the piano was probably off but the on button isn't hard to find, neither is the demo button or the volume control... Sparkle? It may need a bit of toning down yet from time to time!

Part 3

A very happy helper!

Wasn't very nice was it?

Think almost 16 inches square and you get a super cool frame that Martin and Wieska made me for Christmas. It looks wonderful against that yummy chocolate. Maybe someday I'll even get to putting something in it and hanging it up :)

Paint transforms the walls but not the household. There's just as much clutter and things to sort as before.
But I'm liking the quote. Really liking it.

From the living room. One long wall of yummy chocolate.

I was counting on a little visit from my sis before she headed out to the airport and she came but she needed to feed Clayton. I had told myself I would hang the quote with her and not try to do it by myself. So I roped Brody in instead. I now have a nicely hung, autographed quote :)

You would never guess this sweetie felt so awful. Anyway, this is about the light/dark difference in paint color from old to new.

This sweetie got the lucky job of squeezing behind the fridge and portable dishwasher. Only problem was neither appliance was very portable as the entire kitchen was stuffed with everything else.

This sweetie is just a sweetie. A yummy, delicious, now far away sweetie.

And our bedroom. Was a used to be creamy white, now yellowed color. One wall looking great in that same yummy chocolate while the remaining three walls look very refreshed in "beach party". The sweetie to the right was discovered to have amazing cutting in skills and did it all without taping. A right fantastic job of it too.

Well, I'll try to post some more finished looking pictures soon.

painting, the start

A little piece of wall above the kitchen sink, started as a very light tan color...

Ended up with a very yummy milk chocolate cover. Sorry for the bad picture colors, I do realize it's a little black looking.

I forgot to get total before pictures... but the living room was previously not quite so white ceilinged and the curved (I call it coved ceiling - and it works for me) was previously the same light washed out tan color as everything else. This cute girl with the attitude worked hard all day, despite feeling incredibly awful. The sweetheart!

We started to add some milk chocolate here.

another snuggle

edited to add: I'm sure my Mom is despairing over his dirty little face, and really, would it have taken that long to scrub? Oh well.

It took me 15 pictures but this one's a keeper!