Ho hum. . .

Ho hum. That is how I felt when I woke up Monday morning. Well, ho hum with a dollop of guilt for feeling ho hum. I looked around at my family and my home and the joy I desired wasn't resonating with me at all. I was planning to meet my good friends for a day at the pool. This gave me something to look forward to, I knew I'd put on my smile on when they arrived. But, still feeling ho hum. Around 1:30 pm the world changed.

My friends and I were enjoying a very hot sunny afternoon with the kids at a local, unpopulated swimming pool. What went from a perfectly wonderful afternoon turned into a mother's living hell within one minute. My friend's 5 year old son was laying lifeless at the bottom of the pool.

Praise to God that he was resuscitated quickly and is doing fine. My dear friend, on the other hand is tormented by the images of what she experienced. We are praying fervently for her healing and that she would know deep in her soul that this was not her fault. And, like I've heard for years, it happened so quickly, so quietly . . .

My intention in posting this entry is simply to relate how quickly we are called to action, and I mean that on many levels - physical, emotional and spiritual. This day was another reminder for me that life is so incredibly fragile and fleeting. I don't have time for ho hum. I refuse to indulge in it. And again, I can not praise God enough for the women in my life. To see every one handle this emergency with such grace and love - is beyond words.

Ratatouille - My Own Tiny Chefs

I have my own tiny chefs (ok, maybe 'little' would be a more apt description, as my children are not rodents) in the kitchen. Bremma loves to peel garlic and pulled up the stool to sit and do so. Turin wants to cut! So, pushing my 'gotta get it done fast and clean' mentality aside, we made dinner together. We had Pasta a la Priola - that is lots of vegetables from the garden saute'd with olive oil, garlic and onions. Next came the tomatoes, squash, basil and parmesan cheese. I am proud to say that my six year old son know knows the difference between fresh basil, mint and rosemary - I sent him a pickin! They even invented a dessert, without my input or help - grapes and cherries on a toothpick. Now that's fine dining. Hey, they're eating lots of fruits and veges!!

E-stumbling into a new world of beauty!

Yesterday, my mom an avid seamstress and beginning quilter suggested that I check out the Valori Wells blog/website. Wow! From there I e-stumbled into a few other sites and I'm blown away and inspired by the beauty and smarts of these gals! Beauty, homemaking, motherhood, and business . . . I'm feeling quite energized by the prospects! Go check out Valori Wells, which I have added under my "shopping" bar and then bounce around to How About Orange, and the others!

Simple Woman's Daybook

A week has flown by! Wow!

Here's my picture thought: Sweet peas, growing on a fence in Hiawatha, Kansas.
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Outside My Window... the clouds are forming and it looks like there might be rain tonight.
I am thinking... about compiling a book list for Turin.
I am thankful for... a safe trip home.
From the kitchen... fresh carrots and onions are sitting by the sink, waiting to be rinsed off.
I am wearing... jeans capri pants and my favorite green shirt.
I am creating... a home, a life, a path.
I am going... to finish the bachelorette party invitations and send them out this week.
I am reading... Three Cups of Tea - a must read, get your hands on it!
I am hoping... I will be feeling more patient tomorrow.
I am hearing... Bremma singing her own little tune.
Around the house... are golf bags! Turin and Kevin went golfing this morning together for the first time. They've played around on the putting green and driving range, but this was Turin's first round (of 9 holes!)
One of my favorite things... hot, fresh coffee in the morning, especially when I have someone to share it with. I really treasured the mornings waking up surrounded by my relatives while we were in Kansas.
A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: Catch up!

Simple Woman's Day Book

Outside my window . . . the pampas grass outside the office window is greening up.
I am thinking . . . I would like to find a better way to manage my kids' rooms (toys and clothes!)
I am thankful for . . . a long awaited trip that starts tomorrow morning.
From the kitchen . . . berry smoothies are for breakfast.
I am wearing . . . sunscreen, a messy bun and work out clothes with sneakers. I walked this a.m.
I am creating . . . Turin's scrapbook and working on ideas for a business with my mother.
I am going . . . to go to Costco and pack for our trip to Kansas.
I am reading . . . White Fang
I am hoping . . . my kids will get to go swimming next door.
I am hearing . . . the hum of the air conditioner!
Around the house . . . I'm getting caught up on those projects!
One of my favorite things . . . clean sheets on the bed.
A Few Plans for the Rest of the Week . . . to go visit my Grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and 2nd cousins!

This Sucks!

Bremma is learning NOT to suck her thumb. Last night she slept ALL NIGHT with out sucking her thumb or sleeping with her special blankets (her pink "my" and her blue "my"). I am utterly amazed! My sister is being trained in Oral Facial Myology and came home from her class on fire to help Bremma stop her bad habit. When Bremma was asked if she wanted to stop sucking her thumb she said "Yes!" and added that "I wanna be a big girl." So Nicki did pulled out all the stops. She put a "dot" on the top of Bremma's palate and then put some yucky gel on her thumb, the last step was putting a sock on her hand.

Here is a snippet of our bedtime conversation, keep in mind she is 2 and 1/2 years old:

Me: "Night, night sweet girl."

Bremma: As her thumb is being subconciously willed to her mouth and she suddenly realizes that she can't put it there, "I can't sleep now!" She rolls over with an exaspperated breath.

Me: "You CAN sleep, you just can't sleep and SUCK your thumb."

Bremma: Wimpering "Ok." She grabs my hand with her chubby hand and places it on her head. Then an idea occurs to her! She grabs my thumb and pulls it desperately toward her mouth. "I'll do yours!"

Me: (Laughing) "Nice Try!"

Daily Routines

I'm working on adjusting to a summer schedule . . . and it's already July 11! I think I need to revamp my morning routine to add these things since it is nice and cool out, and I don't usually shower until after I've worked out anyways.

Check Ralphie for Food and Water
Weed the Garden 15 minutes
Weed the Yard 15 minutes
Read the newspaper (hubby asked me to scan for articles pertaining to state issues. . . ) a new assignment.

Oh, and put on sunscreen!

Patio Pals

Last night I enjoyed a balmy evening in the company of some very good friends. We sat around the table on the patio, amidst the tiki torches and candles. Sans children. Sans husbands. We chatted and giggled and had a nice, relaxing evening.

The Simple Woman's Daybook

I'm going to start this reflection every Monday. Today, however is a Thursday . . . but it's been on my mind since Monday, does that count?

Outside my window . . . mango tinged day lillies are blooming as they stand 3 feet tall.

I am thinking . . . I need to spend some time hoeing the garden and harvesting some produce.

I am thankful for . . . my dad.

From the kitchen . . . wafts the fragrance of zucchini enveloped in cinnamon.

I am wearing . . . shorts and a pink t-shirt with a pony-tail and sunscreen.

I am creating . . . campaign literature and volunteer guidelines for hubby's campaign.

I am going . . . to spend the evening with dear girl friends on the porch drinking cocktails.

I am reading . . . Three Cups of Tea, which is one of the reasons I was up too late ;)

I am hoping . . . that my body will heal quickly and we can try for another baby this fall.

I am hearing . . . so many people are concerned about the "state of the nation" as I've been walking precincts with my husband.

Around the house . . . there are projects on almost every flat surface.

One of my favorite things . . . is painting. It has been too long, and I want to start doing it again.

A Few Plans for the Rest of the Week . . . to consolidate our travel plans for next week. To get my dad where he needs to go.

Lillies

My dear neice Hanna was commissioned by me to create a piece of art work using my day lillies as the inspiration. Check out her great work!

She has been such a tremendous help! We washed the floor together, she picked mint leaves and washed them for mojitos. We made her a virjito or a mohirgin (however you like to say it) of her own. She kept up with Brempadoodles - a busy 2 1/2 year old that just discovered she can climb! (Dryers, cabinets, tables . . .) This is my girl who loves goo - lotion, shampoo, soap, and nail polish. She will find it. She will use it.

Gimpy, Limpy and Wimpy

My family is seemingly afflicted with health problems at the time being.

Meet Gimpy -
My father was in an automobile accident on the Fourth of July in which a drunk drive attempted suicide by aiming at my father's semi-truck for a head on collision. He averted major disaster, but did end up with a torn spleen and an inoperable truck. No one was killed. I pray for the confused soul who was so hopeless as to attempt this stunt. God bless my sister, who drove to Albuquerque, New Mexico to get him. They are on their way back to Denver as we speak. He'll be spending the week here to recover as his wife is in Alaska.

Meet Limpy -
My mother, who lives in New Castle, Colorado spent yesterday getting shots in her feet - OUCH! She's been suffering with plantar fascitis for a prolonged time and now is off of work and feeling pretty limpy.

Meet Wimpy -
I had a nice little go around with a hemorraghic corpus luteum on Sunday and after not being able to sit or walk without agonizing pain, ended up in bed with a Percoset while my kids climbed all over me and tried to watch movies. Dear hubby tried to keep them occupied, but mom is a magnet no one can resist (ha ha). The diagnosis is rest and time, with lots of ibuprofen and if needed, something a little stronger. I was concerned it was some complication miscarriage related, but other than wacky hormones - the doctor's believe I'm on the right track to getting well.

So this may explain why I've been a little blog blocked lately. I do have some amazing 4th of July holiday tales - like Turin shouting across the grass "Hey mom, I need another cigarette!" I'll post about that one soon . . . And my fun and ornery family being here on Saturday night to make pizza for the family dinner party for Turin's 6th birthday. Life is good.

Fourth of July

Happy 4th! God Bless America!