Darn pigs!

Jon had a great surprise this week for Em and Ray: he was taking them to Chicago with him on a business trip, leaving tomorrow and coming back Tuesday. They'd get to play with G&G and cousins while he went to boring meetings. We told them Tuesday night. They were excited! I was excited--I had started dreaming about all the things I was going to do over a 5 day weekend with just 2 kids!!!

I got the call from Jon Wednesday morning. The business trip was being canceled due to swine flu. Disappointment all around! The girls took it well. They're easy to please, thankfully. They seemed just as excited about doing some local things with the whole family instead of a big trip to Chicago. Good for them! Too bad their Mom's not as flexible.

Thanks to my good friend Jackie who sent this picture to warn us all to hold off on kissing pigs for awhile.

Seriously?

I went to my least favorite place to visit on a Saturday--the grocery store. Jon had been asking for a week if I was going to go, even offering to go. I didn't think things were looked that desperate in our kitchen, but I guess some people feel that being out of chips, milk and yogurt is desperate.
Of course, the lines were long by the time I was done, and of course, I had a very full grocery cart. I stood in line for what seemed forever waiting for my turn. When I started taking my things out of my cart I heard some comments behind me like, "That is so rude!" and "I can't believe some people." Hmmm, I wondered what they were talking about. I kept taking things out of my cart and finally caught on that the couple (they were in their late 40s) behind me was talking about me! I quickly put it together--the couple had only a few things and were upset because I didn't offer for them to go in front of me!!! The comments continued, but thankfully I didn't hear all of them. But as I was packing my groceries I did hear the wife's one final word to me as she walked by--said loud enough for me to hear. Thankfully, it's a word I don't hear too often.
At what point did they think I even knew to offer for them to go in front of me--they were BEHIND me! No eye contact was EVER made. At no time did they ask if it would be all right for them to go in front of me. I could make a lot of assumptions about them, but it doesn't matter. I love being able to help others and spread kindness when I see an opportunity, but wow did I find it hard to feel any kindness and love towards them after hearing their comments!

Yard Projects

We moved into a house that had recently been updated--nothing needed to be done to the house (except a coat of pink paint in one bedroom). One person who lives in this house would say that nothing on the inside or outside of the house needed to be done. Another person who lives in the house is very happy that she married someone who loves her very much and feels pretty spoiled right now with a frontyard and a backyard that are going to be as lovely as the house. The sod is on hold due to a heat wave, but pictures of the beautiful new yards will be posted in a few days.

Easter Sunday

You can't tell by this picture, but the girls are all in matching dresses for Easter. I wish we would have taken more pictures, because even Lizzie was into the whole matching thing, bringing her dress to me when she saw her sisters all dressed up and getting their hair done. The dresses are adorable--they were made by my neighbor. I have a really, really nice and talented neighbor who has great memories of growing up with her 4 sisters and just loves watching my girls play and seeing their different personalities. We showed off the girls to her before church. I didn't know who was more pleased--my neighbor, me or the girls!

Congrats, Em!

Emily was spotlighted as student of the month a few weeks ago. Thankfully, the program is quick--it has to be--it's done 20 times a year. I had Hannah and Lizzie with me and it felt like church--everyone turning around to see who the loud child was, then everyone turning around to see the mom chase and entertain the child in attempts to keep her quiet. Liz was frustrated she couldn't go sit by Emily, who is always so proud to show off her sisters.

Good Reads

Not too often do I blog about books I've read. But every once in awhile I find a book that is blog worthy.
I like to read books like I watch most movies--in fast forward. If it's a good book I read it quickly, usually in one night. Last week I read Austenland by Shannon Hale. It was entertaining, it made me laugh, it was fun to think about, so I gobbled it up in a couple of hours. I also quickly read through a couple of other books last week. Fun, fun, fun!
But, rarely does a book come along that I read slowly! At first it almost annoyed me that I felt I had absorbed so much only to find that I was only a few chapters in. Is my reading pace slowing in my old age? I wondered. No, it's just a different kind of read. Animal, Vegetable, Mineral is my latest project to help me ignore the laundry, the sweeping, the dishes and all those other things that have not yet made it to my list of hobbies. The book is about a family who devotes a year to eating foods that are found within a hundred miles of their home. It's inspiring and a bit romantic to read about their garden (it's huge), the amount of tomatoes canned (over 300 lbs.) and the good lives their animals (or their neighbors' animals) lived before being 'harvested'. When I read the book I feel a sense of reverence towards plants and animals. It makes me feel even more excited about my garden and ways I can better my family's eating habits. Books are a great source of entertainment for me, but books that help me to change my life for the better get to be placed on a pedestal for awhile.

Hobbies

I had a great chat with a friend a few weeks ago that reminded me once again how overly blessed I am in the friend department. This wise friend was talking about how she has shifted her thinking of hobbies since becoming a mom. Now she gets excited about finding great deals when shopping, trying out new hairstyles on her oldest daughter and cooking for her family. Not a bad list, but it made me laugh. Certainly my hobbies have transformed as well and have broadened to include things like yardwork and organizing preschool curriculum. I also like to refinish furniture and paint walls. I get satisfaction out of big projects and feel empowered when I see things change in a drastic way (which is why I like cutting down trees). I also like simpler hobbies--making things for the girls, baking and reading.
I don't know that I have a favorite because the way I do projects (throwing my whole self into it) burns me out and so I just move onto something else.
Currently my free time is invested in yardwork and reading. At night I dream about 2 dressers I want to make over for the girls. During the day the girls and I bake whenever we can. Emily has even started to take over some of the baking, which is very exciting.
What are your current hobbies? Maybe I can add a new one to my list of things to try!