I broke my own rule...

Typically, I'm a stickler for not doing the Christmas thing until Thanksgiving has been properly celebrated. This year, I decided to bend the rule a bit and we put the trees up this week. And guess what? I'm going to even go further and set up my tree downstairs before THANKSGIVING. That's right, call the presses! I can't help it, with a living room and furniture and a place to celebrate Christmas this year and open presents just like we have a house...I'm all a twitter with delight and holiday cheer!

The house is really starting to come together...I'll have to blog some before photos soon when I have some time to hunt them out and sort them. It's been a long road but finally I have somewhere to let people sit and visit.

Next on my list for Santa, new dining room table and chairs....good thing I know Santa so very well! :)

Some Semblance of Normality

We finally have furniture in our house. Granted it won't be staying in this room once the den is finished and granted there's no TV in this room to view as you sit on the furniture...but hey, I'm very happy!

Also we need some decor and curtains and stuff but for the most part I can tell you, I'm just thrilled after 2 years to have my furniture in my house and have a place to set up the tree that isn't surrounded by tools, multiple paint spots and bare woodwork, all is well and Christmas came early for me as far as I'm concerned. Rick ROCKS!

The Results Are In

I am thankful to God that I have a husband that can do all sorts of things. I'm proud of the work he puts into our home and has put into our other homes. But everyday I do pray that God will convince him that just because he can, doesn't mean we should anymore! :)

Rick put a lot of work into these two rooms this weekend. We sanded, vacuumed, sanded some more, primed, painted and well, there were a whole lot of other steps...but I don't want to bore you.

Way to go, Rick!

Wet Paint

If' it's possible for me to have a woman-crush, I do. I am absolutely falling in love with The Pioneer Woman, Ree Drummond. http://thepioneerwoman.com/

I love her blogs, her recipes and her personality most of all. She lives on a ranch, so jealous. She rides, travels, cooks, has children and pets of all sorts and is the funniest thing ever.

When I grow up I want to be Ree Drummond. That's all I can say.


Ethan's endless pursuit of lab ownership is about to drive me crazy yet, I understand. I think I was much this way about hamsters just prior to graduating to horse ownership. My campaign was long and hard if I recall and ended successfully. I suspect Ethan's will too. After all, every little boy needs a puppy.

Never mind the insisting that Santa doesn't carry live animals for fear they will urinate on the presents, fight or fall out of the sleigh. Never mind the explanations that we have 2 perfectly good dogs.

My first mistake was rescuing the lab we found wandering aimlessly in our yard one morning. My second mistake was letting him play with it for the 24 hours we had her. I did my best to explain the golden rule and how we would want someone to take care of our dog had she gotten loose and lost. But nonetheless, this was inevitable.

Caleb on the other hand is full of all kinds of spunk these days. The kind that makes me realize I never knew stubbornness and sass until I met him toe to toe over something. He reminds me of myself a bit but a little to the extreme. Probably because he's male.

I swear I don't know what to do with him and it's keeping me and God pretty tight these days. I don't know if I've got a James Dean on my hands or the next President of the US, but he's got his own thoughts on just about everything. One minute he's the sweetest and most thoughtful three year old you ever met and the next he's instantaneously inspiring grey hairs.


We are getting closer to paint in our front two rooms So close I can smell the paint. So close it's almost time to think about what to hang on the walls once the paint dries. So close I can almost envision the furniture I don't own but wish to own to put in these rooms. That's what happens when you double your square footage...you got room but no stuff. I don't even know if I want more stuff but I do want the room. Especially the closet space if you've read my blog on 'totes'.

Time

I just returned home from a weekend away with girlfriends. I feel blessed beyond measure to have these women in my life. Women I can pour my heart out to, laugh with, and be myself with.

It was nice to get away with no demands on me to do anything other than what I wanted to. I slept, I watched girl movies, I read and read and I even took a run too in total silence. We gabbed and snacked, shopped and discussed life...it was the best of times.

On the ride home, I started to think about my life and where I've been and what I've done. The choices I've made and the people that now surround me and I was overwhelmed with just how good God has been to me. Although Texas will always be where I wish to be, Oklahoma is a good fit for now. I have two sets of wonderful girlfriends up here that I know would do anything for me and I for them. I have a beautiful home (although still in process), a beautiful family with an amazing man, and a wonderful life.

Not everything is perfect. I wouldn't want it that way and not everything is smooth sailing but for the most part this is a very sweet season in my life. I'm looking forward to the holidays this year. This year has been relatively quiet and peaceful and Caleb is starting to really get excited about Christmas. When the light comes on for the little ones, it reminds you what it's all about!

We plan to go to Graham for Thanksgiving and see everyone for the first time in a long time. I cannot wait to soak that up and be with everyone. I miss my cousins and my Aunt and my Mimi. This is a precious time of year to me and I feel that since this year has been quiet and easy for the most part...this holiday season will be especially meaningful for us.

Life is good.

Fahrfegnugen

I'm feeling lost without a trip to look forward to. I know this sounds odd but I have to be going somewhere...somewhere else nearly at all times. This will make sense to those closest to me and certify to those that know me only somewhat that I am insane, completely.

Rick and I have been back at the traveling drawing board. There's lots on the board these days. A simple ski trip (haven't been in a decade which is so wrong), Disney World, India (always in my mind) with the church, Vancouver with the church to work the 2010 Olympics...ENGLAND...or smaller trips. Then there's Cambodia which for some reason I don't feel called to so much anymore...

Personally I want to do all and for very different reasons. But when you have 2 small children and one that is in school, you have to really think this through.

I know it's silly and a great problem to have...but nonetheless, I need to be planning something. Rick keeps leaning towards Skiing this year and possibly England the next...I need England again, I can't explain.