Recent happenings

So, we moved two weeks ago, and we have felt the delightful chaos of moving and unpacking and searching for missing things and trying to figure out where things go and routines and schedules being out of whack and shopping for all those silly things like shower rods and felt chair protectors.

I know, I know, I need to be patient. It's not going to be "done" for a long time.

I don't like being patient.

But just this morning I told Michael that I felt like things were getting better, and I am feeling more in control of my life. I am determined to go to bed early.

In direct contradiction to my last statement, I thought I'd share a few pics of things going on around these parts.

Robbie playing in the sun while I'm trying to clean up the old place. Don't you love the fun of cleaning up a rental? {How clean is clean enough? We'll find out in a couple of weeks when we get our deposit check in the mail.}

 Horsey rides are always available, especially on a little boy's birthday.

 Robbie was a great stool assembler helper.

 I was really pleased at how this Cumulus Cotton paint turned out on the ceiling. While I'm not a true Southern gal, I did live in Georgia most of my life. So, I figure I am allowed to take what I learned from my Southern life and apply it anywhere--like painting my porch ceiling pale blue.

 Here on the front porch, too.

Robbie turns one

I'm not sure how it happened, but apparently 365 days passed and this fun little boy turned a year old. We invited our former neighbor, Hazel, over to celebrate with us.

 What is that glowing thing? The testosterone within me urges me to touch the flame.

 Great. My family blew the pretty fire out before I even had a chance and gave me this brown sticky square instead.

 I'm not thinking I like it. In fact, I am just going to smash it and throw it mostly overboard before I even try it.

 I guess I'll sample it. Hey, this is actually pretty good.

 I suddenly want to cram every last morsel into my mouth. I will have to remember that in the future: brown sticky things are tasty . . . as long as they're on my plate and not coming from somewhere else.

 Paper that I am encouraged to rip? Sweet.

I don't know what all that fuss was about, but I am ready for bed.

Last date

Before Hyrum left, we used his fabulous babysitting skills to enjoy an early Father's Day gift for Michael: a golf date. I scheduled a tee time for us and walked the nine holes with him.

 The weather was perfect and we were practically alone on the course.

 Love him.

I wish I could play golf, but I am also glad to just be a caddy. Actually I didn't even carry his clubs, so I was more like his groupie.

I used to have real issues with golf, I have to say. Growing up, I thought golf and tennis were snooty sports for rich people. Now, I realize that lots of people like to play golf from all walks of life, and it's a sport that you can play even in your old age, which can't be said for most sports.

It was so nice to have this last date before Hyrum left--we sure were grateful for his sitting for us when he could--sad to say we haven't had a date since he left. We need to remedy that soon.

Clara Quotes

Clara says so many funny and off-the-wall things sometimes. I wish I could write them all down, but here is a smattering from the last few months.

(After a big snow in March)
Clara: It's like, totally, a white world! It's like Frosted Mini Wheats!
Michael: It sure is.
Clara: Awesome.

(After examining a new dinner dish of quinoa, black beans, and corn in a taco shell)
Clara: What is this throw-up? (and she wasn't trying to be rude)

(During her nightly prayers, a month or two after watching the movie, Dolphin Tale)
Clara: And please bless all the dolphins, that they can swim better, and thank thee for blessing Winter that she's all better.

(A few days after we had been talking about reaching out to people and being kind to them)
Clara: I reached out to someone today.
Me: Really?! That's great, Clara! Who did you reach out to?
Clara: I told Iman I was sorry.
Me: Oh, why did you need to say you were sorry?
Clara: Because I said something really really mean to her on the playground.
Me: Um, what did you say to her?
Clara: I can't tell you. It's personal.
(And no, I could never get her to tell me what she said.)

(An email from her teacher, Mrs. Miller): "So this morning during morning announcements, Mr Boyers was using the word "genius" and referred to Albert Einstein as being who people think of when they hear the word "genius." Clara turned to me with a big smile on her face and said, "Well, my mom and dad are double-genius!" (We have trained her well.)

(During prayers)
Clara: I thank thee that I don't have autism. (We just finished watching this video. . . . Not thinking we'll break the news to her anytime soon.)

(After sorting through toys (with my forcing encouraging her to give away ones that she no longer uses) as we prepared to move)
Clara: Too many stuffed animals are welcome.

(My friend Jenny took these pics for the activity day girls at church, and I just had to put them on here.)

Farm table

Several weeks ago, I drove up to Front Royal, Virginia to visit a woodshop that makes furniture from reclaimed wood. There are lots of old rundown barns here in the Shenandoah Valley, and unless an individual or company comes in and purchases the unwanted building, it is demolished and all of that beautiful old wood is destroyed. We thought it would be neat to have a kitchen table with some history, so I traveled to the Strong Oaks Woodshop to order one.

 The woodshop itself is housed in a very old building with lots of history. I loved this door. (The sound of the company is very cool, but the place was a bit sketchy. I was fortunate that the woodworker guy was reputable because I was alone with two kids in the middle of nowhere and felt a little nervous. But all's well that end's well, right?)

 The inside. Lots and lots of wood.

 This is a table made of tulip wood. The wood we will be using is old oak beams from a dairy barn built in the early 1800s. The barn was burnt down during the Civil War and then rebuilt in 1872 by Quakers using wood from the original. I am excited to see the table in person--the table above is a similar style.

Anyway, just a fun little story that I thought I'd share.