Saturday, what a day!

We had one heck of a busy Saturday!  We went to "The Breakfast Stop".

Jacob ate 2 pancakes!

We walked 3 blocks to the Sheriff's Department.

Crossed the street to the Library.

Where Jacob checked out 6 books (2 on tigers, 1 about sharks that he picked himself!)

Around the courthouse.

Down another 3 blocks to walk through downtown.

And back home to finish a few jobs. 

Those of you who know me, know that my house is generally really, really clean.  I hate clutter.  I'm terrified of becoming a packrat - of being over run by stuff..  I like everything neat and organized, a place for everything and everything in its place, but...once in awhile...it does get a little out of hand and every flat surface of my house becomes a dumping ground.  Saturday, I had planned to go from this:

To this:

And from here:

To here:

As well as from this:

Back to this:
(as you can see, I also managed to pour a few bars of soap.)

I was able to accomplish so much as Jacob took a nap and Jeremy was outside making this:

Into this:
(our old one was a wedding gift and after 9 years, it wasn't going to make it another summer)

After his nap, Jacob did some of this:

And Kelsey, she...

Ate some of these:

And thankfully, we had Sunday to recover, in the rain, and the thunder, and the lightning - a PERFECT day for napping, watching movies, and just plain old loafing on the couch (and a baby shower)!

Off the grid?

Do you ever just want to cancel everything and disconnect from all of the technology?  Away from the pressure to update, speaking of updates - all the ones from Suzie LookatME on her latest expensive vacation where she bought a bazillion dollar car and ate caviar for her last 10 meals - which is the only time she ever updates, and you cringe every time her name pops up.  Everyon has one of those along with the hand full of others pretending to be someone that they're really not - when you can't help but wonder. And not to be excluded. the so-and-so sent you an hug today, this one bought a cow and that one's horoscope, it's National Father, Son, Daughter, Christian, Disease and WHATEVER else week, and this laundry detergent that you like can save your soul.  (I know I can make those go away)  I just want to say "ENOUGH!"

I'm really fighting this urge to just turn it all off. 

Some days, all of it serves me a reminder that I'm really all alone here.  I'm the wife of a restaurant manager and he is never home.  I tried a soap business that hasn't generated a single reorder (it's okay - it'll be what it'll be - I'm not trying for pressure sales).  I have a few friends left from back home that never call or plan or have never even been to my house in the past 10 years that I've lived here!  At this point, are they really friends anymore? 

Make new friends, you say?

It's difficult to find people with common interests.  But, the biggest kicker is KIDS!  It's strange how much your kids or having kids changes the process of making friends.  People with kids older than yours don't quite remember what it's like at this age/stage.  People with a lot of family around don't know how difficult it is to find a sitter that you CAN trust.  People with kids younger than yours have schedules to keep and diapers to change and more crap to haul - and you're the one who forgets what that stage is like.  It's hard to go somewhere together with a bunch of car seats.  There are bedtimes, and feeding times, and find a potty times.  UGH!  It's so hard!

And the method in which you choose to raise your kids is a topic all in its own and I'm not going to touch it with a ten word sentence!

Single friends don't understand that you have a husband or need a sitter or don't have a sitter so you either have to bring your kid or take him/her along.  Married friends with empty nests forget that you do need or like to see your kids before they go to bed or that you do actually enjoy your husband's company.  Yet none of them understand the 'my husband is home for the first or only evening this week and I'd really just like to have a conversation or sit and watch a TV program in his company because I won't see him again for the next 3 days! I'm sorry I have to miss your candle/housewares/food/cooking/wine that-I-can't-even-drink-party.  But, I'd really like to see my husband for once.

And then one day, the phone stops ringing, there's no more email, no comments, not even any 'likes' and you realize that all of these things got in the way for so long that you're now alone (and you can't even say anything interesting either!).

Yet - there are the benefits too.  A friend who found you after 20 years and you're so excited to have him/her back that brings you to tears.  The news that my uncle had passed away and now that his wife is in the hospital having surgery after she took spill.  The updates from cousins that I've never met.  A post that my niece passed her college course.  Without this technology, I would miss these great things.

Jeremy is home the next 9 nights - meaning he doesn't close and he'll be home before 10PM on all but 3 of those nights.  :)

So, I'll do what I always do.  I'll take my tissue and wipe my tears and wait for tonight when I pick up the handsomest 5 year old boy I've ever met to tell me, "Mommy?  I missed you today!"  And none of this other crap will matter.

Remembering Uncle Art

Another of my father's brothers passed away this morning.  My Uncle Art, #3 of the 9.  He was 87 and had a tumor in his brain.  He decided that he didn't want to treat it, that he'd had a good life and he'd go when the Lord came to call him home.  I hope when it's my time, I am able to say the same.  I do believe that death is a little easier to take when we know the decedent had lived a good life, had family to love, to love them.

Uncle Art was a great man, who most always wore a smile and carried a laugh everywhere he went.  He kept all of the family stats, was the leader of the 'Up North Clan' and the eldest living brother.

As my sister said, "there was a great group of guys waiting for him to join them".  I'm sure they already had dealt him in on the next hand...the fifth brother to join the game. 

I took the news a little harder than I thought I would.  It seems as I'm getting older my emotions are closer to the surface (I'm crying at TV shows, commercials, etc.).  Yet, I tend to take things attached to my dad a little more to heart, and Uncle Art's passing is another broken link to my dad.  I guess it's kind of a realization that one day, everyone who knew my dad will be gone, and their memories of him will be gone with them.  It just stings a little.

My thoughts today are with my Auntie Mae, my cousins, and their families as they make the arrangements to celebrate Uncle Art's life.  They are certainly in my prayers.

Rest peacefully, Uncle Art for you loved and were loved by many.

Chick Days

Chick Days are back at our Family Farm and Home store.  Jacob loved visiting last year so when I saw "Chick Days" on the sign, I planned to take him in again to see those fluffy chicks.

And they had a bunny (complete with a "caution I may bite" sign).

(I forgot to mention that last year, Jacob couldn't see into the little pens - we had to pick him up!)

I couldn't resist!  They're so cute and fluffy. And Jacob was too scared to pet it.

And this is Jacob's photography debut!  I let him use my Nikon (can you believe it!?!).  Not bad, not bad!