No More Stop Light Room

For over a month I've been working on re-decorating my master bedroom. If you'll remember that room was called the stop-light room. It got that name because the walls were yellow and green and had red curtains of all things at the window. I wanted something calm and sophisticated. I also wanted something on the masculine side. It is a pet peeve of mine when Master Bedrooms are decorated cutsey. How is a man supposed to sleep amidst pink flowers? So I chose what I thought was slate gray color for the walls but actually turned out more blue. And I upholstered a headboard. The headboard was so much work. Whenever I start these projects I always grossly under-estimate how much time they will take. I thought it would take like a day. Oh, no. More like 45 days. Whatever! It's done and I must say it feels so peaceful. I do need a pop of color and some stuff on the walls. See me about 45 more days and maybe that will done. At least it doesn't remotely resemble a stop light anymore!

Tufting this headboard took me hours and gave me blisters. Thanks to Tim's sister though I got a new technique half way through that made it go by much faster.

I sorta feel like I'm in a nice hotel when I look at my bed. Nothing is better than propping myself up in bed now for TV and reading.

Luke's First Swimming Lesson

Luke completed his first set of swimming lessons this week. He was really afraid of the water so I was worried about how they would go. But, like is almost always the case, kids are willing to do things for other adults that they aren't willing to do for their parents. Is that just my kids? He didn't put up a fuss or anything. Just did what they told him to. By the third day he was super excited to go and loved feeling like a big boy with "teachers." Luke is so funny. He never stops talking and one topic just flows to another. If you come in during the middle it is impossible to know what the heck he is talking about. His teachers found him very funny. One day we were a few minutes late and they had started the lesson and Luke came up and said, "Guys! You started without me?" Complete with foot out and hand on his hip. After that they held the lesson for him and would say, "Luke, we didn't start because we are waiting for you!" Smart teachers. Both Gage and Luke went off the diving board the last day and poor Luke was scared to death but he did it.

Luke bravely waiting for his turn on the diving board

My Girl Turned 1

Claire turned one year old on Tuesday. The boys were as excited for her birthday as they are for their own. Claire just has that effect on people. She can be enchanting. She is coy and adorable and we all love her. Tim and I agree that she gets cuter with each day that passes.

We had a small party to mark the occasion with Tim's Parents as well as mine and my sister. I think she liked her toys when she got a chance to play with them. Ahem, Gage. The boys helped me make and decorate her cake and we had a ton of fun together. I'm not really a cake person but this cake I made from scratch and it is Wright family favorite, Banana Cake. It was yummy. Claire didn't think too much of the cake but she loved the homemade cream cheese frosting!

While we were waiting for people to arrive Tim and I were getting Claire dressed and Tim stood her up and she was balancing on her own for a really long time and she kept looking back at Tim and then to me and then she just walked to me. Not your, I'm a drunk 1 year old walk, but an honest to goodness I know what I'm doing walk. We got some video of it later.





I am sitting here thinking about the day she was born and I just feel so blessed to have this little girl in my life. She is so special to us and completes our family. I always feel like the 1 year birthday marks that time when I feel like I'm going to survive having a child. I love babies. Really I do, but they can be trying. It is nice to have a year behind me and only remember all the wonderful things and think about all the wonderful things to come.

Claire's Thoughts in Pictures:

I want to go downstairs, why did you move me you horrible monster!

I am, I'm mad now.

Will you take me back if I look my cutest and cock my head to the side. Pleeeeeease!

No? I'm okay now. I'm looking cool hanging onto this chair. (She fell down the stairs the next day.)

Sincerely, Fuming in Sandy

Dear Blog Advice Giver,

I need advice. I don't have the time to write some advice column especially when I have all of you to give me advice. I love dogs. Correction: I loved my dogs. I love other people's dogs when they are on their leash or behind their fence. Once a dog comes into my yard unattended they become an enemy combatant. Once a dog does his duty in my yard, growls at my kids, or comes into my garage whilst in my yard unattended they become something I want to kill on sight.

There are several neighbors in my new hood who let their dogs run free. And to say it tees me off is putting it lightly. The dog across the street does all of the above things frequently. What should I do? Need I remind my dear readers of the plunder we made when we called the police on our neighbors who we thought were smoking pot? I don't want a repeat of that episode. The absolute breaking point is when the dumb dog came and barked at a solicitor that was knocking on my door. Now normally I wouldn't mind if the dog was barking at the solicitor but he did it while he stood on my NEWLY PLANTED AND JUST BEGINNING TO SPROUT GRASS SEED!!!!!! Get the HE double out of my yard. But I didn't go out because then I would have to see the solicitor. What should I do?

Option A : Poison
Option B: Catch and Release Dog...in another neighborhood miles and miles away
Option C: Be an adult and go confront neighbor who knows full well that the dog is in my yard barking and does nothing

Personally I like option B.

Oh, Oh, what about Option D. Animal Control. Is that a good one?

Things I Want...

and they all seem to be for my hair. I hate to out Tim in this way, but I have not received a gift in over a year that was not a gift certificate bought at the local grocery store. That is a sad but true fact. I have wants too you know. Here they are.

First, I'm intrigued by these new pins. Do you think they actually work?

I need a new flat iron in the worst way. Any suggestions? I want one that is wide like this one.

I want a curling iron so I can do this with my hair.

I am in love, with these headbands. I'm sure they would be easy to make but I've not gotten around to attempting to do so. Such is life.

This Tingler Head Massager feels so dang good. They are weird as all get out but feel great.

I want to cut my hair like this but I'm a little chicken. Bangs didn't go well last time.

Lastly, I seriously need to color my hair like this to cover up my greys. This is maybe a tad dark but what a great color.

Random Bits of Information That May or May Not Interest You

I had no idea that the last weeks of school could be so busy. Between testing days and performances and volunteering I think I've been at the school 4 days out of 5. It is fun but has kept me from blogging. My blog posts might go down in volume anyway because I've decided to try and keep a daily journal. That is right! Write with a pen in a daily paper journal. I was inspired by my Great Great Grandfather Bleak who was the only member of the Willie Handcart Company to keep a daily journal. Some days he would just write their ration of flour but I thought it would be interesting to see in one year, even if it is just small, the things that I think and feel.

There is a lot to report on Gage. First, he ended up having two bottom teeth extracted to make room for his adult tooth. I can always count on Gage to take it like a man and he didn't disappoint me this time. He doesn't cry or even make a sound. Just lets the doctor do his work and declared that it wasn't so bad at the end. Love that kid. Even the dentist was impressed. The person the dentist was worried about was me. The amount of force it took to remove one of his teeth was shocking and nothing makes me queasy like the sight of one of my children's blood. I must have looked pretty pale because the doctor offered me a seat. Which I declined!!! I knew I had to cowboy-up.

That rat, the Tooth-Fairy did NOT come that night. What is her problem do you think? I mean the kid gets his tooth pulled out by a 10 inch root and she doesn't have the decency to even bring one quarter. That was when Gage cried and said mournfully, "It worked last time." I made excuses for the Fairy all the while thinking she must be a horrible person. She did come the next night and left a nice note complete with fairy dust and 10 dollars to make up for her tardiness.

Gage's kindergarten career ended yesterday and I thought what a ninny I am to cry at the beginning AND the end. I just can't believe it is over! And next school year will bring Luke going into pre-school and Gage gone all day long. A sad day for me to be sure. Claire will likely love all the attention though.

Gage's school participates in The Ken Garff reading program. If the school can read 2 million minutes in a school year then they get an assembly and Ken Garff gives away 6 bikes. Each time a student reads 100 minutes their name gets entered into a drawing. I have kept track of the minutes for Gage's class and filled out all the slips and let me tell you it was a full time job. His school met the goal and on Tuesday I got a call that Gage's name had been chosen for a chance to win a bike and that I needed to be at the assembly in like an hour. With two sleeps kids my neighbor was nice enough to come over with dripping wet hair so I could run to the school. I was so glad I made it because he won!!! It was so fun to watch. Ken Garff has this mascot guy they call the Chief who was seriously some college guy on drugs. He pestered the kids to no end and Gage put a stop to that, on his turn to try his key in the lock, by putting up his hand and yelling, "STOP!" It was truly a sight. After he won he was taking the bike over to the side and was so excited to see me and said, "Where did you come from?" It gave me the warm fuzzies.

The bike is a little big for him so Gage challened Tim to a bike race with Gage on his regular bike and Tim riding his new bike. It was quite the sight to be seen. I didn't know that Tim was that flexible. His knees were seriously under his chin. Gage won.

Did you know people gave teachers year end gifts? I wasn't aware of this precedence. Although I certainly thought Gage's teacher deserved one. I layered M & M's in a clear jar by color and wrote a poem to go along with it. Gage's teacher said she thought it was the best gift she received and that she will keep the poem forever. Gage was very pleased with himself. I think she especially liked the reference to the one naughty kid who ran her ragged all year.

Green is for the funny dances you did each day,
Blue is for your patience in showing Jonathan the way.
Orange is for your caring and no-nonsense style,
Yellow is for the way the Tottie Ta could always make me smile.
Red is for my life that you touched this year,
You’re a very special teacher, like this jar that’s clear!

I think the older Luke gets the less sense he is making. His imagination is in high gear and he talks a mile a minute and one thought flows to the next. I was in the car the other day and between him calling, "AND MOM" followed by ten minutes of non-sense that I'm supposed to respond to and Claire tickling herself and saying, "tickle tickle" in the back seat I questioned whether instead of a the new texting law they should pass a law against kid chatter because I am positive I could have sent 10 text messages with less distraction.

Who knew yard work could be so rewarding? Probably lots of people, but it has been a revelation for me. Our yard needs a full time gardener. The people before us over-planted to the point of idiocy. I have spent much of this month pulling out double planted bushes and pulling weeds. I love looking over a freshly weeded bed, feeling the burn in my quads from squatting, and the burn on my arms from my farmer tan. When it starts to look good I will post pictures. I wouldn't hold my breath for said pictures.