How is your 3 legged stool setting?

 It all started at the church when we took a questionnaire about how balanced our 3 legged stool is setting:

Leg #1- work

Leg #2- home

Leg #3- house of the Lord

For leg #1: work, I answered the questions with my boys and schooling them in mind.

Fast forward a few.

I'm frazzled. The days are escaping me. I'm doing this and that, getting things done, enjoying my boys, but just the bare minimum. Not excelling. Not thriving. Not feeling like I'm doing the best of my ability and focusing on the task at hand.

Enter this week.

I started the day normal. Got up. Showered. Fed S. Checked emails. And then I felt the need to turn the computer off. It was 8am. Just turn it off and focus on the job at hand.

I'll be honest. It was hard to do. It's my escape. My means of being with the outside world. If a thought hits me, I can go and immediately find it, buy it, get lost in it. Hence, the frazzled, lost day.

But you know what? It was very freeing. I'm calmer. My kids are a blessing instead of interrupters. I'm able to focus instead of being and doing whatever pops in my head. 

I've had jobs of all different hours: morning shifts, evening shifts, overnight shifts. And jobs of all different descriptions: baker, stocker, customer service, secretary. For each one, a different thing was required of me. In this season of my life, I have a bare minimum 8am- 5pm job. It's a non-stop run, run, run kind of job. And it requires full focus and my all. I need to balance my 3 legged stool.

So. With that said, with the computer now officially off every week day from 8am to 5pm, this is what happened this week :)

I had the privilege of playing 3 games of Hi Ho Cherry-O with my gentlemen. These weren't just any games, though. This was the first time they did it like "big kids". Focused. Counted their own berries. Did what the arrow said to do. 3 games. This is a mile stone. My boys are growing up (*tear*).

 S has been taking some steps off and on for about a month now. But this week he decided to get serious and is now walking about 1/2 the time.

 We've had these swings for a long time now. But this week, Z figured out how to pump! He is so excited and I have to admit I'm proud and relieved- one less to push :)

 The yard is still under construction, but I have to post a few sneak peeks :) Z going off some sweet jumps:

 J enjoying the first sit on nice green grass:

 and S helping me throw crab grass away :)

el lavanderia

We were so far behind on laundry (can anyone say "potty training"?) that desperate times called for desperate measures. With the dryer put away until the kitchen's done, I knew I'd never catch up hanging clothes outside. So we went to the laundromat... which had I think one english sign in it so it's more appropriately named el lavanderia. The boys did great until the last 20 minutes or so... but can you blame them?

monday, monday

While growing up with my brothers, one of the most embarrassing things (one was the operative word!) was every time we went to a store, they had to check every single machine for change. I may be wrong, but I think Brandon ended up lucky most of the time which is probably why he had to do it every time...

And then it happened. Exiting Vons this weekend, Zeke randomly pops his hand into the change slot & finds none other than money. Not just one penny, but he got so excited, he sidled up to the machine with his pocket flared & started shoving them in.

And of course, the little guy had to get in on the action as well. I'm not sure how many pennies they got for as soon as we got home they emptied their pockets into the coin jar. Oddly enough, it wasn't embarrassing this time around- it was fun seeing them so excited =]

Today. Today was a never-ending day. A day that started rough & just coasted with it. And if you happened to be at Walmart around 9:30am, yes, that was my son screaming & crying the whole. way. through. But! After the oh-so-relaxing (yes, that was sarcastic) nap, we discovered puddles in the back alley- big, fun, muddy ones that gave us about 10 minutes of the first enjoyable time all day... until J landed smack on his face in the middle of one and then we cried all the way home. Oh well. It was fun while it lasted.

And now? They are tucked snuggly in their beds, the house is quiet & peaceful, & I have a bath calling my name... and a cup of hot chocolate =] Good night!

J's missing nail

Last night, after I won a wonderful game of Battleship (hehe!), J (who was supposed to be asleep long before) was unfortunately the victim of his bedroom door.

Among shrill screams (the ones that hit in the pit of your stomach), we realized part of his fingertip & all of his nail was brutally ripped off his left middle finger.

While I was driving him to the ER, I kept praying that the usual "sit in the waiting room for an hour before I can even look at you" gig wouldn't be but that they'd be able to help him right off... & thankfully that's what happened. I had also been continuously praying for God's peace to be on J as I can only imagine how painful it must be. God is absolutely faithful. In between each visit (check & numbing shots, xrays, cleaning & bandaging), J would snuggle on my chest & sleep a peaceful sleep. I call that an answer to prayer! The xrays came out clean- no broken bones. They weren't able to resew his tip back on but were told his finger should eventually look normal again. And, to be honest, the tylenol with codiene makes J giddy- he's had a smile on his face today & has been down-right goofier than normal... so much that Charles has cut down on his doses a little =]

Z was sooooo excited to wake up to us at home & J being all right. As soon as breakfast was done, he wanted to paint... and J was happy to join him =]

brotherly companionship

Jeremiah came down with the flu Sunday night & the poor guy just wants to sleep. By last night, Zeke was missing his bro so much that when Miah was set on my bed for a rest of the arms & he curled up and went to sleep, Zeke grabbed a few books & joined him.

may 17 & 18 {mainly disappointing}

{part 18 of BW fun!}

Charles took 2 days off from work to make progress on our home... day 1 he worked & he worked on the boys' floor (after we move them over, we'll move into the one they have now). Sanding, 2 coats of paint, & a slathering of urethane later, the floor looks awful. The urethane brought up the original brown paint through our beautiful gray paint making it look miserable.

Here's our bright spot: what a cutie! =]

And then day 2. Char's Dad made us a beautiful door. Absolutely stunning. Char excitedly started putting it in... but after hours of this and that, came to the conclusion it wasn't going to work. The door had bowed during construction & there was no way we could get the bottom closed.

So Char was able to teach the boys how to install new door knobs- unfortunately, just not on a new door :(

third of may- {tackling the mountain: front porch boxes}

today started out good

We started today with playdoh creations right after breakfast

(these are snakes in case you're wondering...)

(and these are glasses =])

and had a great time creating. Unfortunately, it wasn't all peaches when we got down from the table. Jeremiah's going through a horrible clingy stage & throws a giant fit if he's not being held. And Zeke can't make up his mind. Seriously worse than a girl. He'll say no and then 5 minutes later throw a fit because he really did want it. After naps it was better... and hopefully this weekend will be peaceful...