Can I Have a Standing Ovation?

I finished the school albums. Oh, joy! Remember, I just finally finished the pages for last year a few weeks back. This thrills my heart like you would not believe. Now, on to the ten billion other things I need to get done.

Lost Track of Days

This week has flown by and I can't remember what I did so far. Not much. Did some stocking up at the store. Today, someone mentioned we were out of cereal--I almost cried. Then someone suggested I could make homemade granola. He got a LOOK. I really could use a cook right now. That is the area I just don't seem to have any energy to cover.

After the kids pictures, I gave the younger three summer buzz cuts. I love to rub their heads now. Alec doesn't want those anymore. I find that annoying but I suppose he is old enough to make those decisions.

Evan and I went to eight different stores yesterday looking for bedding for my bedroom. All the department stores at the mall and the other home stores in the area--nothing. I didn't think I was that picky. I asked the lady at Ethan Allen is I should pick the bedding first and then match paint to it or pick the paint first. She said definitely the paint. OK, so I picked the paint but all the blue bedding right now is leaning towards aqua and my walls don't match that. We came home, worn out, and I started looking online. Then the computer kept jamming. Why is everything so hard? This morning I found a set that looked OK at Overstock so I just ordered it and am hoping it works out.

I got all our school supplies ordered for next year. I think I will be seeing the UPS guy a lot in the next weeks. There is a homeschool cartoon about the UPS guy knowing all your kids by name if you homeschool.

The plan for today is to finish their school albums for this year. If I get that accomplished, I think I will be done for school this year and done with planning for next year. And Alec isn't even done with school yet! He is finishing English today and still has a little writing and some science. Writing is easy for me and Dan does science, so I am more or less done.

I need to sit down with a calendar and plan out the next ten weeks before the babe gets here. There is a LOT to be done. Our grass is about a foot high in some areas. We really are too busy.

Alec's turn

Well, I have posted about me losing my marbles and then Ian's day, yesterday. Today, it was Alec's turn. We had our pictures taken and then went to look for sandals for some of the boys (Beulah chewed up one of Evan's yesterday while he was on the tramp!).

We bought the shoes and then went to lunch. As we were just about to leave the mall, I noticed nobody was carrying any bags of shoes. Al had been carrying it all for me. I mentioned it to him. Back he bolted to the food court, but no bags were there. The poor kid felt so bad--he really flipped out on me. I asked a worker and he said they already took them down to lost and found. So, no biggie, but it was sad to see he is losing it, also. Just like mother.

Now that pictures are done, I can finally shave some heads for the summer.

My Little Beasts

More Oops

My second child is having a lot of oops moments. This morning he couldn't fit the OJ pitcher where he wanted to so he thought to put it on its SIDE! Yes--there was an OJ mess to be cleaned-- and of course it happened when I was on the pot!

We were, later, coming home from buying some honey (the first time in almost a decade I have had to purchase honey). We bought it in glass quart jars. The little man dropped one right at the door. Fortunately on the outside part and not inside. So I had sticky, broken glass. It took me a minute to even figure out how to clean it up.

At lunch, he was holding the glass gallon jug of cider and I made it clear I wasn't up for another spill. He, and the cider, survived.

My garden looks terrible. I planted some spinach in January that was growing very, very slowly--I just realized yesterday it had already bolted! Good grief. Peas and beans are up, a little bit of corn is up, but the tomatoes and peppers look terrible. I have started those plants from seed several times--it ain't rocket science. These ones never looked really vigorous. I had them outside in peat pots for probably a month before they went in the ground, but you can hardly even find them, they are such pathetic little things. It is probably a good thing because I don't really see myself doing a ton of canning this July or August, but failing feels yucky. I have to laugh at how big a garden I had planned to harvest right about the time I was due to have a baby. We need to get the soil tested. I suppose some people do that before they start a garden, but that would make too much sense for me to do so.

I should say, though, that the berries we planted are doing well, I think the artichoke is going to make it and the asparagus is up. Haven't been a total failure.

My baby was going between kick boxing and Riverdancing yesterday. She bopped around in there all day. Maybe have gained a pound or so, blood pressure is good--all the other junk is fine. Still am frustrated over the hormone-induced emotional roller coaster. This morning I felt so overwhelmed and was in tears over absolutely nothing at one point. I soooo hate being a woman at those moments.

OOPS

He was a good sport about it--we all had a good chuckle over his mishap.

If Anything Happens to Me, Tell the Police...

The cardinal did it. There has been a cardinal stalking me all day. He beats and beats on my kitchen window and then sits in the fig tree and yells at me. I am frightened.

I almost ran to the library today to upload a picture of Ian--you will just die when you see it. He was helping Dan paint. He was standing on a 5 gallon bucket, which tipped. He dumped his bowl of paint directly on his head! I kid you not--worst painting accident we've ever had. What a hoot!!

I think the ceiling and trim will be done tonight in our room. We were discussing that we need to get the lower level all finished in May to have a chance of having the house done before the baby arrives. For the first time, being late doesn't sound bad.

Friday Wrap-Up

The party at Dan's boss' house was nice. Tons of appetisers and countless cakes. Talked to several nice folks--most are from Minnesota, so I felt better. A few southerners and one guy was from Nigeria. He and Dan laughed when I asked if he was a local--it as loud, ok? I couldn't hear him well. It was nice to meet so many of his coworkers.

The kittens are opening their eyes. Beulah is home and slow. I feel bad for her--she just turned one and she has been through an awful lot lately. Toph's owners are coming to visit her this afternoon. Nellie was digging a hole to get into the turkeys, yesterday. The funny thing about that is that in a few months the turkeys will be bigger than Nellie. That is all the animal news.

I think we are heading over to Bob Jones book store to see if they have a good English program for Alec next year. We are hoping to be painting in our bedroom this weekend. Hope. Hope.

www.somebodyhelpme.com

Good gosh, I am losing my mind. Did I tell you about putting my cell phone through the wash? Just a few weeks back. Well, last night, I did it again. I had popcorn on my clothes so I decided to toss them in with some rags and, dag nabit, I didn't take my phone out of my pocket. It was the same thing last time--I took off what I was wearing and threw it right in the wash. Last time, I thought phone insurance was a dumb idea, but this time it seems genius.

I posted this story because I thought it would give you all a good chuckle and I love a good chuckle, but for me, it is scary to realize that between the pregnancy and all the stuff we have going on, my brain is falling apart. I don't mean to make light of Alzheimer's, but I bet it feels like this in the beginning.

I dropped Beulah off this morning. She fought us so hard against getting in and out of the van, I look forward to her being a little drugged tonight. I have never seem her that aggressive.

Today, I am planning on filling out the little report sheets I have to send in to my accountability group to comply with the South Carolina homeschool law. At this time of year I normally have all my books for next year. I am still dorking around trying to figure out what to use for Alec's English next year and have purchased nothing for the other kids.

It is hard being me right now.

I am No Temple Grandin

Have you seen her? She autistic gal who understands animal behavior very well because of her condition. I, on the other hand, do not get animal behavior. That kitten died overnight. I remembered with this cat's last litter a kitten, who had seemed healthy, died after a few days--maybe her limit is three babies. And she keeps insisting on trying to move them. Evan just caught her bringing a kitten into his closet. Goodness.

We emptied out our closet and I got the popcorn off the ceiling. Dan has sanded the walls and ceiling and put more mud in spots. We are hoping to get it ready so Saturday we can paint the ceiling and trim and the Sunday we can paint the walls. Again, we will see how that plays out.

Tomorrow, I have to take Beulah in for her spaying first thing in the morning. Dan is in a class until 4:30 and somehow we have to get Beulah picked up and be to his boss's house for dinner at 5:30. Can't imagine that actually happening. The boss is a single guy and the party seems like one a single guy would plan. Who starts a party at 5:30 on a Thursday?

Ian and I picked out bathroom hardware for the boys' two bathrooms today. That was kind of fun. I also need to find a new ceiling fan for our room and a new light for over my vanity. Hopefully, that will be fun, too.

My Weird Life

The puppies and Lenny are gone. Enough about that. Toph is in the original goat pen, with a little carrier for a bed. The turkeys are out in the dog kennel (with Beulah constantly circling around it). One turkey looks like the hunchback of Notre Dame and one has one eye. Not sure what happened with it. I used to be able to open the lid and see the eye but it has grown shut. I find a one-eyed turkey kind of funny. That one might be a keeper. Waiting to figure out who are the boys and who are the girls.

Not feeling great--just slow and pregnant and weird. Bought some herbal iron supplement--is supposed to be much gentler than iron pills. I am not even sure if I need it, but I thought maybe that is why I feel so tired.

Did I mention everything from our bedroom is in the living room, including the bed? Weird life.

I also have a litter of kittens in my bathtub. Again, weird. One kitten will not nurse and mama keeps pushing it away. I assumed it would die and I was actually not going to intervene for once. Tonight, one of the kids said there were only three kittens in the tub. Oh great. I sent the older boys to look everywhere for it, worried she might have shoved it in a closet, or something, to die.

Are you with me so far? They told me they could not find it, but later I found mama WITH that kitten in my closet. Then I found her later with two in there. So she wants to move to my closet. Normally, that'd be fine, but we are going to be tearing it apart soon, so it won't work. Now she and I are fighting over where she is going to stay with the kittens. And my children got a talking to for not finding them in such an obvious place. I told them to look in all the closets, but they figured I meant look in some of the closets. Weird life.

I Used to Like Popcorn

My goal for the weekend was to finish getting the popcorn off my bedroom ceiling. Done. Dan is starting to repair the flaws on the ceiling and walls. Everything in our bedroom is out in the living room. Including the bed. I assume it will be that way for a couple of weeks. Joy.

We have to empty out the closet, also, which totally overwhelms me. Not sure when I will have it on me to do that. I have no idea where our clothes will be going while we redo the closet. Hate to think about it.

Alec has an orthodontist appointment tomorrow afternoon and then I am taking the puppies to the shelter. Still not quite sure where I am putting little Toph for the next two weeks. The turkeys are going into the dog kennel. I still have to keep Toph away from Beulah so she doesn't nurse, as Beulah is going in Thursday to be spayed. Trust me, it confuses me, too.

The guys put up a nice big chicken run yesterday, so the birds have a big, safe place to scratch outside. The dogs mostly hang out around there. Not sure if they are guarding or waiting for lunch.

Pics

Evan and pup

Rose



Alec the snake warrior

Survived

I was just telling Dan tonight that it seems like the more I dread a situation, the better it seems to go. Our day in Atlanta went well. Never got lost (LOVE the GPS), the kids liked the exhibits and made it home in one piece. I am soooooo done with field trips for a long time, all the same.

The boys let the dogs out in the yard this morning. At breakfast someone shouted, "Nellie! Chickens!" The kids went out running ( I can't imagine what would make me run in my state) and I realized Nellie was actually IN the coop. Not sure if a certain child didn't close the door or she jumped up and got it open. Nobody seemed hurt and got a chicken back in who got out.

Then, when Dan came home, he found a chicken in the alcove, which is on the front of the house--a long way and a fence from the coop. Next, he found Brody with a dead Aracauna. I am trying to convince him Brody didn't do the deed (I think Nellie is more likely the one). Anyway, he was mad. I think this weekend, we have to work on a new chicken run. Goodness.

Mama Kitty finally delivered four kittens while we were gone. I was sure I closed the boys' bedrooms but she delivered in Evan's Ikea tunnel. We have her in my never-gets-used tub. Two are all black and two and black and splotchy, like mama. That makes me happy.

Off to Atlanta

We have seen billboards for a Tut exhibition and for the Terra Cotta Army exhibit (both in Atlanta) almost since we've been here. Finally got around to getting the very expensive tickets. Was planning on going on two different days, weeks apart, but got an email that they goofed up and we needed to see the Army one sooner. OK--this is how is turned out. Tomorrow, we are driving two hours to Atlanta and finding parking downtown and then going to see the Tut exhibit at 1:00. Then we are going to drive or walk to the other exhibit, also downtown, and see the TC Army at 4:00. Then we will drive two hours to get home. I am dreading this so much. I will pay any one's plane ticket to fly down here today and take my kids so I don't have to go. I think that would be a lot normally, but in my delicate state, this is gonna be a challenge. The kids are so excited about it, but I am dreading it.

My plan was to really take it easy today so I am up for it tomorrow. I am trying to take off another section of ceiling popcorn ever day, so I need to do that. Also need to do laundry. Also want to get back to Lowe's to try to pick other paint colors, because I can't seem to decide on the bedroom color. But, I think that is it. Oh, I need to stop at walmart, too. That's all--not like I am gardening or something really hard. This is the day the fence should be complete. They are all breaking out in rashes from something. I think there are weeds affecting them, but the wood also smells weird--very chlorinated smell. Freaky. We will probably looks like blotchy freaks in Atlanta.

The woman is coming back to retag Toph the puppy this weekend. I posted ads on craigslist again and on a home school loop. Two of the three that are gone went to homeschoolers. Next Monday, I will take the to the county shelter. Mama kitty still has not had babies. I am amazed I was so far off. The plan for them is to get everyone altered and keep them all. There is a shelter here that will neuter a cat for $25 and a spay isn't much more.

Cancelled my guinea fowl order. I realized I needed to stop trying to move ahead so quickly. Also pulled back on some things I had planned to plant. The garden is all planted now and what comes up, comes up. Only planted one variety each of melon, watermelon and pumpkin.

Ian and Ev are done with school. Ad is close behind. Alec still has a fair bit. I finally finished the school albums from last year and the goal is to complete this year's pages Saturday when I go to scrap. That would just thrill my heart.

Pup Confusion, Paint, a Really Clean House and a Snake

Oh, where to start? Took a meal to a mom from the church, last night, who just had a baby. She has five kids under eight and lives in a two bedroom apartment off the back of a big garage. The place was SPOTLESS. And sparse. Oh, Margie, you would have loved it. There was hardly any stuff and it was all new and clean. Fabulous.

She has had all her kids at home. This one came so quick, the midwife didn't make it. She said it was great--dad caught. The cord was around the neck, but he just told her to stop pushing a minute and fixed it and that was that. Baby was beautiful. They are those Finnish Apostolic Lutherans from up north. She asked me about church so we talked about the handling of the pervert a little. They are thinking of leaving because of it, also.

Ian came in this morning to tell me the pup whose has been chosen lost her collar. The problem is we now have no idea which one she is. Emailed the gal and asked she send one of the pictures she took so we could figure it out. This would just be funny, but I was going to take the other ones to the shelter today, as they think they can place them. I have had no other interest in them. Now I have to wait to confirm I am not giving away Toph, as she has been named.

I started taking the popcorn off my bedroom ceiling. That makes a grand mess. As soon as the fence is done (He is taking off tomorrow and should finish it), all focus is going into our bedroom so it is ready when the furniture arrives. I am painting it a really light, airy blue. Got a sample of the color I thought I was going with but now I am not sure. I think I picked the kitchen color. I am not sure why I am having such a hard time picking colors lately.

I am at 27 weeks. Next Monday I officially start the third trimester. That means I officially felt terrible through the whole second trimester.

Sunday, I was out with the goats when I heard this deep roar come out of Alec. I saw him hitting the ground with a big stick and then I saw this BIG snake flopping around. He is the only one who has ever seen this snake and he has been trying to get it for a week or so. When he saw it, all he had was stick so he just beat the life out of it. I will post a picture next time we go to the library. I was so proud. I would have, personally, run away screaming.

More Pup Talk and Weird People

The young gal who came to look at pups today was a ditsy thing. She asked if I would hold one for her, but brought no money. Craigslist suggests you charge a little for dogs so weird people won't pick up a bunch to use for weird stuff. I charged $25. Told her I'd hold it if she paid me (like the other gal we are holding one for). Doubt I will hear back--I am writing her off all together, which means I still have five puppies to re-home. I am making Beulah's spay appointment Monday--old Rena has learned her lesson. I am going to look into taking them to a shelter--only if they aren't full and think they can get them adopted. Otherwise, I am not sure what to do.

Talked to the kids' former piano teacher. She is getting married around the time the baby is due--she didn't even know we were having a girl. She flipped out and is excited. Told her I'd try to have the baby on her wedding day. "Is that possible????" She asked. Funny girl.

Talked to an old friend whose husband is a pastor of the Apostolic church in Menomonie. They are selling their house and churhc and spending the summer in a travel trailer with their seven kids, looking for a new area to move to. Then, they are coming back and everyone in their church (maybe five families and a couple of single guys) is moving with them!! Is that not wild? We have been to their church and, as nice a guy as he is, we can't figure out how he got this cult following. I really do know weird people, don't I?

Dan has to go to work Monday, but my fence is not going to be done. This makes me quite sad. He is going into a period at work where he will be there a lot and working funny hours, so this is not good to not have the fence complete. You really can't have a fence almost done. It has to be done or it doesn't really work.

Mama Kitty is still pregnant. I can't believe how far off I was with her. Kitties are sooooooo much easier than pups.

Pup Adoptions and Vegetables

It is rainy here, which is not helping with the fencing.

We gave Rose away yesterday. Very nice family. Mom, Dan, three kids, Grandma, Grandpa AND 94 year old Great-Grandma all share land and came to pick a puppy. I was sure Grandma was taking a second one, but she controlled herself (drat).

I was so proud of Adam. He loved Rose, but was very gracious to these folks and was happy to see her go to her new home.

Then, a second family came to pick their pup. They stayed for hamburgers--nice bunch. As they were finally picking their pup, we noticed some had bumps on their bellies. Turned out to be puppy impetigo, which is no big deal, but it sure got me worried. What if I had a bunch of sick pups?? Now, today, a couple just came and picked their puppy. We will keep her until the first of May for them. I have someone coming tomorrow. If that works out, I will be down to four. Phew.

Got peppers in the garden yesterday and tomatoes today.

The Week is Whizzing By

Thursday, already. Dan has the wood posts in for the wood fence and is going to get the horizontal supports on today. Then, he has three days to get the pickets on. No idea when or how we will stain/paint it. That is a worry for another day.

Rose, the brown pup, is being picked up later this afternoon and then the family that came over a couple of weeks ago is coming back to pick out and take home their pup tonight. Invited them over for dinner--the first people to actually be over at our house!! I have invited two other families, but they have both been too busy. Just having burgers.

If I can get the house picked up before I collapse, I am going to try to get a few things planted.

Had an issue at church. There is a guy who has been coming alone for about a month. He used to come with his family, but I was told the wife was on bedrest with #7. At the men's meeting last week, he admits to being a porn freak who molested his oldest daughter and has also been accused of messing with another daughter, which he denies. Admits to the other one because he got caught. Is terribly remorseful--duh. Well, the idiot elders are taking this creep at his word and saying we have no business judging him. They decided families didn't need to know they were fellowshipping with a child molester. I am not talking just church, but also our times of fellowship--having lunches and dinner together. They have done next to nothing for the wife, but have embraced this freak. He is probably going to jail and isn't even allowed to live at home. They want to pressure the wife into reconciling. Dan talked to the head elder and he just has no idea why this would bother us. Obviously, we are not going to this church any more. Feel sick over it all. I am going to become a home baptist like Aunt Marie.

Fence and Beds and Poopies

We put wire fence around the back parts of the house and are putting wood up around the parts you see when you are looking at the house from the street. Can you say saved-a-bajillion-dollars? The wire fence was much cheaper, although I hear wood has gone down in price considerably. Today, Dan has the post hole digger and is digging holes for the wood fence. I am going to be over the moon when this is done. I love fences. If I could have a twelve foot high stone fence around my land with a big gate in front, I would be tickled.

Yesterday the little boys and I looked at furniture for the better part of the day. Stopped at Ethan Allen first to see their TV stands I saw advertised--the TV sinks down into the furniture when you are not using it. Yikes, about $4000--too rich for my blood. I did find a nickel bed--I have looked and looked, but when I saw it, I thought, yup, that is my new bed. I bought night stands and a dresser also. Now, I have a month to get my bedroom ready for it. You get interior design services included when you buy furniture there. Nice gal, but I had to keep telling her she was overwhelming me. I go back and forth a lot about whether to buy cheap furniture because the kids are going to ruin it, or really good quality stuff so it came be in the family for generations.

Last bowling today. Thought it was last week. Not sure how I messed that up. Am supposed to bring a little gift for the gal who coordinates it. Am going back and forth between one of those paper stationary boxes and a necklace. Seriously trying to decide which is easier to make because I am a slug.

Thursday, two puppies (or poopies, as I call them) are going to their new homes. Friday another gal is coming to look at them.

Sunday Catch Up

Dan is out working on the fence. He has posts in along three borders and is getting the fencing on them. We will use a fancier fencing for other parts, which will take a lot longer.

There is always so much to do. We need to put up better chicken runs for the chickies. We need a milking stand. And then there is all that indoor stuff.

There is a frost advisory for Monday and Tuesday nights and then I am putting out the rest of my plants.

The goat (Mabel) is milking ok. She doesn't want to be caught so we had to tether her for awhile until she will come at milking time. The little boys and I could not catch her yesterday morning.

The bees are here and Dan already has two stings. Either tonight or tomorrow we need to do some work on the goats. We are slowly chopping off horns and they are all due for another clip. Mable's hooves are horrendous. They need to be trimmed. We also need to trim the hair on her belly so it doesn't fall in her milk. Willow need some attention, as she has some kind of skin issue. I am still formulating my plan for her.

STILL no kittens. Come on, mama kitty. I want kittens.

Can You Have Too Many Animals?

We bought three more goats today. One is an alpine/Nubian cross who is in milk and the others are eight month old Nubian girls. The guy we bought them from was from Belarus and his wife was from Ukraine. I love the word Belarus. Try saying it--its fun. They were discussing my offer in some eastern language. I actually made an offer, which is so unlike me. I hate haggling. I got the three for the same price someone on Craigslist was asking for one purebred alpine who was in milk. The grown one is determined to get out of our fence--if she does, I'm not chasing her. We left our milk stand in Wisconsin, so we will have to wing it for awhile.

That makes four girls and two boys (and the whether). I figured that should keep us well stocked with meat. We would also have enough milk to share with all the animals. Chickens and dogs do well on goat milk.

There were some rabbits on Craigslist yesterday. I told Alec but he wants to wait to get started with them again. I read rabbits are good to feed to dogs, so I was interested in them for that use. I'm sure it was wise of him to wait. Wiser than his old mom.

Bees come tomorrow. Got the three younger boys rooms all in good order yesterday and am determined to not go to bed tonight until mine looks good.

Pup Pic

They are eating hard food and should be ready to go soon.

Gobble, Gobble

Got a call at 5:15 this morning that the turkeys were at the post office. I was amazingly awake, so I went to get them before Dan went to work. They were all healthy and perky. They are starting out in a plastic kiddy pool in the garage. Then they will move to the dog kennel, when it is free and finally, I think they are going to move in with the goats. I think they will pick on the chickens, so they need their own home.

The boys enjoyed their day in Columbia. They tour the capitol and the governor's house. Evan asked me how long he has to wait before he can go--it is a yearly event. Told him about five more years. Dan got me a neat mug with the SC flag on it at the gift shop.

We got a ton of work done in the house yesterday. Got the wind knocked out of my sails, though, because the guests we were expecting Friday had to cancel. The threat of someone else actually seeing my house was what was keeping me going. I still managed to get everything accomplished I had planned, somehow. Today is supposed to be cleaning the upstairs bedrooms--we'll see how far we get. When the whole house is clean at the same time, we will have a moment of silence.

I was sure mama kitty was going to go sooner than this--I saw her having a contraction the other day. Ian told me my original guess was for tomorrow, so I might still get to claim I guessed it.

Are You a Nerd, Too?

Dan has been doing this daily SAT test and has me doing it now.

Evan came in my room roaring this morning, trying to scare me for April Fool's Day. Will have to explain it to him better.

No turkey call this morning and no kittens.

Alec bowled 154 yesterday. Had three strikes in a row.

Dan and the big boys took off early to get to Columbia. The little boys and I are much more relaxed but have cleaning to do, so we will stay out of trouble today.

Forgot to mention our dumb moments--Dan hit a deer the other day (his FOURTH) and I put my cell phone through the washing machine. For the record, Dan has also hit a skunk. I think he aims for them.