Another number

Just another number. Dad reminded me this weekend that age is just a number and doesn't mean anything. Nonetheless, I chose to celebrate my third annual 29th birthday rather than my 31st. I don't know why it bugs me, it just does. We spend the weekend at my parents' and my brother and his family came, too. It was a fairly lazy weekend with the guys fishing most of the time, I napped and read, and we all ate way more than we meant to. I hadn't met my niece yet, and that was such a delight. She is such a pretty, happy, babbly baby with bright blue eyes. On Sunday afternoon, we tried taking photos of all the kids with the grandparents, and, well, that was an experience. Who was the most cooperative child? Baby Julianne, of course. I am sure if a 12 week old baby could roll her eyes and say, "What on earth IS this insanity?" she would be doing just that. It is crazy trying to get five small kids to look the same way. . .especially when there are six adults directing the show. Will had not had a nap and by the end, he was cranky and tired of posing. The triplets took turns trying to crawl away, and Julianne laid there looking at the fiasco. We did manage to get at least one that will probably hang on Gramma's fridge for awhile.

It was fun watching my children meet a cousin. The triplets haven't been around anyone smaller than them, and they were fascinated. When they first saw Julianne, the came over and looked, getting as close as possible, but they never touched her. Although they rushed to her side, they moved very slowly and quietly. The next day, when we took these pictures, they didn't have a problem climbing over her or sitting on her. She was just fine, and I am sure her cousins will toughen her up a bit.

Mom saved me a few clips of the For Better or For Worse comic strips that she thought I'd appreciate. She was right. It is strange to me that four blocks of sketches andword bubbles can so easily sum up my thoughts.

TGIF

I never realized that at-home moms look forward to Fridays, too, until I became one. For some reason, I figured that when I left the paycheck world I wouldn't care what day it was, but I was definitely wrong. Just like everyone else, Friday means the weekend is coming. And a weekend means, that I have one more on my team during the day than I did during the week. When Daddy is home, I get a few more moments for me. I think I need a few of those this weekend. And when Daddy is here, it evens out the teams of adults vs. kids a little more.

The week has been fairly normal. Wednesday was warm enough that I got a funny picture of Will. I looked on the patio and saw his shirt on the ground. . .then I saw the pants. . .then I got the camera. When I asked Will, who was sitting in a small bucket of water, what he was doing with his clothes off, he told me with a huge grin, "Mama, it is such a beautiful day for a swim!" A few minutes later he called for help . . .his little tush was stuck in the bucket and he couldn't get out. I decided to let him just BE outside (I was able to watch him through the window). A bit later, I peered out and saw his soaking wet Spidey underpants being used to scrub the rocking horse. I got the camera again, and took a shot out the door, but by then he figured out how to dip his underpants in the water, hold them on a stick and drip water everywhere. I am adjusting to having a little kid who likes to be a little kid -- I am sure I did similar things when I was young, but I don't remember being naked in my yard. Allen says that sounds like what he did, though, so I guess its normal. I was tickled by the situation, so I called Jennie to find out how cold it was in Kansas. Very cold. Here I was with a naked wet kiddo outside without any goose bumps -- February 20th. When the little ones were ready for a nap, he came in and I put him in the big tub in my bathroom and he bathed and played with his pirate ship for a long, long time. After he was clean and very pruney, he took a long nap.

Yesterday it rained hard all day. Rather gloomy, but a nice temperature made it bearable. I went to a Mommy Makeover seminar with my Mothers of Multiples group while Allen stayed with the kids for a long lunch break. Although I am not ready for it yet, I would love to have my tummy tucked. I am struggling with the entire thing though. I always heard that plastic surgery is addictive (like tattoos, but that is another story for another day). Once you've had something "corrected" it isn't such a stretch to do something else the next year. I don't want to fall into that. Allen says that recognizing that fact may keep me from actually falling into that trap, but I have my doubts. Although I've thought about a tuck since I saw my tummy stretch over those three precious babies, until I went to the seminar with my friends, I didn't really consider having anything else done. Since the surgeon made all the procedures seem so normal, I find myself considering other things too -- lipo out my double chin, lift the streched out milk jugs back to their original positions. And I hate that I have turned into to someone that would consider anything that might be on an episode of Nip Tuck. Can't I just be happy with the body God gave me? If I did change anything surgically, how would I be able to convince my daughter to be happy with her body when she gets to the age when she isn't -- wouldn't that make me a hypocrite? I am not ready for anything yet, but since I am always one to deeply investigate the water before I jump in, I am giving myself a head start. So there you have it. More information that I thought I'd ever share, but who cares? This blog is my journal, and someday, when I ask, "What was I thinking?" I will have it written down so I will know.

26 Things About ME (BWahahahahHAHAHAha?)

1. What is in the back seat of my car right now?
A tissue box, a Dr. Pepper can, and a body*.

2. Five people who made me smile today?
Sarah, Will, and "The Refinery." "The Refinery" counts as several people as I shake my head about the happenings here.

3. What was I doing at 8 am this morning?
Checking the e-mail.

4. What will I be doing 3 hours from now?
Most likely grocery shopping.

5. What is the last thing I said aloud?
"Bye" to Sarah on the phone.

6. What is the best ice cream flavor?
"More, please." Love that stuff.

7. What was the last thing I had to drink?
Agua media.

8. What am I wearing right now?
Jeans and a blue check buttonup shirt. COMFORTABLE SHOES.

9. What was the last thing I ate?
PB&J, black beans, sunflower seeds, apple, cheese. And ice cream.

10. Have I bought any new clothing items this week?
Not yet, but you gave my wife the idea.

11. When was the last time I ran?
Yesterday I did a little jog through the plant. No biggie.

12. What's the last sporting event I watched?
Kid-Bowl 3000 in the Playroom last night. That and Daytona.

13. Do I drink soda from a straw?
SOME THINGS ARE A LITTLE TOO PERSONAL FOR THE INTERNETS.

14. What am I doing tomorrow?
About the same. Outlook looks pretty clear.

15. What color is mywatch?
I have a very nice turqouise watch but don't wear it to work. Silver + H2S = bad.

16. What do I think of when I think of Australia?
The Philosopher's Sketch. AUSTRALIA AUSTRALIA AUSTRALIA WE LOVE YOU.


17. Would I consider plastic surgery?
I'd consider it for YOU. PHREOW.

18. What is my birthstone?
I looked it up on Google and it said granite. Or cheese.

19. Any plans today?
Yes, thank you. Also you're not my type.

20. How many states have I lived in?
Three - New Mexico (not the country), Oregon, Texas, Kansas. Wait that's four.

21. Ever go to college?
Twice.

22. Biggest annoyances in my life right now?
Significant lack of Spore and Rock Band.

23. Favorite pair of shoes I wear all the time?
I'd like to replace this woman question with the equivalent man version - my favorite pair of underwear are the set with the chili peppers that I wear when I a...

24. Do I use the word 'hello' daily?
Is that illegal now?

25. How old will I be turning on your next birthday?
Unless you have the same birthday I do, I won't turn anything.

26. How did I get some of my scars?
Opening a gate (barbed wire, WICKED scar), various sharp implements, falling on glass... the usual.


So there you go. Twenty-six things about me. That pretty much sum up my life. Yep. Right there. All there is to me.


*-it's an insect body. Freak.

My list

My day is full of list -- To do lists, grocery lists, phone lists, and my closest friends tease me about my lists. Its what I do when I can't think straight -- make a step by step list of what to do. I was surfing blogs this morning avoiding my lists and found one that I altered a little and answered. A list about me:

26 Things You Might Not Know About Me
1. What is in the back seat of my car right now? Hmmm. Several (no make that LOTS) of Will's preschool worksheets and paintings, a bunch of lonely baby socks where I can't reach them without taking the seats out, four car seats, the triplets' circus train wagon, an ice scraper for when I go to Kansas, a 1993 road atlas, baby wipes, lots of diapers and extra clothes for the kids.
2. Five people who made me smile today? Allen, Will, Ben, Jon & Maddie
3. What was I doing at 8 am this morning? Changing baby diapers
4. What will I be doing 3 hours from now? Picking Will up from preschool
5. What is the last thing I said aloud? Night-night
6. What is the best ice cream flavor? Daiqueri ice from Baskin Robbins
7. What was the last thing I had to drink? Coffee
8. What am I wearing right now?Levi's and a cute brown sweater with a pretty trim
9. What was the last thing I ate? A slim-fast strawberry cheesecake bar for breakfast
10. Have I bought any new clothing items this week? Not yet, but I like that idea.
11. When was the last time I ran? Define "ran". . . does chasing babies count? I ran an errand Saturday.
12. What's the last sporting event I watched? The Super Bowl.
13. Do I drink soda from a straw? I prefer to, but not always.
14. What am I doing tomorrow? Feeding kids, dressing kids, changing kids, repeat several times, laundry, cooking soup, laundry, email, maybe scrapping.
15. What color is mywatch? I have a green one, but I haven't worn it in at least 18 months.
16. What do I think of when I think of Australia? Scuba diving at the Great Barrier Reef sounds divine.
17. Would I consider plastic surgery? Absolutely, but I can't believe I'd say that. I am meeting a doctor this week to talk about tucking my triplet tummy.
18. What is my birthstone? Amethyst
19. Any plans today? Survive then go to bed early.
20. How many states have I lived in? Three - Pennsylvania, Texas, Kansas
21. Ever go to college? I graduated from Texas Tech.
22. Biggest annoyances in my life right now? Diaper pails, cat litter, and the dog tracking mud through the house.
23. Favorite pair of shoes I wear all the time? My brown leather Naturalizers that I wore everywhere everyday until Santa got me the pair of Crocs that I wear at home now.
24. Do I use the word 'hello' daily? Yes - I love saying it to the babies because then they hold a hand up to an ear like they are talking on the phone. I also answer the phone that way.
25. How old will I be turning on your next birthday? Yikes - 31 this weekend, but I prefer to call it my 3rd annual celebration of my 29th birthday.
26. How did I get some of my scars? Fell into a table corner as a baby (forehead), got hit with a car door (corner of my eye), chicken pox (nose -- although I can easily convince you my nose was pierced), appendectomy, c-section.

Blah blah blah

This is my BLAH day. For no good reason, I am lacking motivation to get anything done. I slept late, it poured rain and thundered all day, the babies cried a lot. I did get to the grocery store for a few things, and I got a package of class samples sent to the scrapbook store, but that is all I accomplished. Scrambled eggs were a lot of effort for dinner. Tomorrow should be better, but it is still supposed to be stormy.

Crush

This is the compilation of at least two conversations about girlfriends with Will. I remember some of my childhood sweeties being treated the same way. . .

Ella is my girlfriend.

How many girlfriends do you have?

Lots.

They are your friends that are girls, right?

Well, yeah, but a girl friend is a girl I like a LOT.

Oh really?

Yup.

Is Taylor or Lilly your girlfriend, too?

Nope. Just Ella.

What do you do with a girlfriend?

I don't know.

Do you talk to her?

No. I never talk to Ella.

Do you play?

Yeah. I guess I hit her on the head.

I thought you liked her.

Yeah. A LOT. (eyebrows high, very
serious face when he says "lot" in his deep voice)

Happy Valentine's Day!

Since Daddy always checks the blog, I thought I post this one for him here. Nope - not an easy picture to make, and now I need to go pick up all the torn pieces of red construction paper. Happy Valentines Day to the rest of you, too!