New chairs. Again.

 I love these Ikea chairs.

 So much so, that I bought four

(a year and two months ago)

and moved our house around and around.

 We moved this table back into here 

and put these chairs with this table

because the white chairs were too big for this table.

 We moved them into this room with this table.

I liked it all

but my husband cursed those white chairs

every single time he stubbed his toes.

And he stubbed them often on those 

funky white chairs.

These are the new funky industrial chic chairs in our home.

Thinking only of my husbands well being

(wink. wink.)

I told him that there may be some new chairs

that I'd like to order and replace 

those funky white chairs

in the kitchen with the new ones 

and put back the original chairs with the vintage table

and get rid of the white funky chairs

(Really it all makes sense in my head).

He immediately paid for those new chairs

via pay pal

not long ago

and today they were delivered!

These are pretty cool chairs.

You can look for them here.

I love the mix of country table 

with funky industrial chic

(I've seen them so many different places

but this was the best price. On sale).

I think they will be kinder on my husbands toes.

Here are a few (of many) 

amazing and cool places 

you can see them.

Here, here, here, here or here.

I'll have to wait to post pictures
of the other table.
We have a mattress and tv
in the main room
(temporarily)
because of the wheelchair
and recovery stage.
And most everything is a big mess
but he's able to get around quite well
and has most things at his fingertips.
It just doesn't make for great photos.

More flowers.

35 weeks old.

I was in a rush

and she wasn't cooperating
with picture taking
(really
I'm just not quick enough
she had plenty of smiles).

I had things to do 

and she just wanted to play 

with everything
(she crawled after the dogs
and they ran away.
Oh she was soooo cute).

I was babysitting

and she didn't realize it

and was happy anyway
(she laughs at most of my jokes
well most of my funny faces and goofy sounds).

I was trying to get out the door
(I was going to meet Britni somewhere)

and she didn't know it

and didn't care
(she was so much fun).

 We finally got out the door

and she was happy

or asleep the whole time.

Really!

First time in ages

 I took a baby any where.
We both had fun!
That little girl makes me so happy!

Out and about and snapping photos (with my phone).

Last week I went on a school field trip with Davis.

I saw this and squealed!

This made me so happy.

I had a 1974 tan Super Beetle
(which I loved)
when I was a cute young thing.

I thought it made me cooler than I actually was

but since I have always thought of myself as a big gigantic dork

it only raised my cool factor a little.

But this car really would have made me one cool chick

(although I don't think I ever said chick

back then).

I went to a Floral shop today

and saw this adorable thing.

Too bad it's nearly $200!

My heart sank.

Yikes!

They were asking $1000

for this beautiful piece.

I have just the place to put it.

Of course, I didn't get either one.
Sometimes, it's fun just to look.

Trip to the zoo.

On Saturday we went to the zoo.

I love the zoo!

Davis was the happiest when he spotted this

old rusted bike

(it was used as a decoration).

He had to check it out nice and close.

This is him smiling and happy.

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day, Dad!

Jeff, you have been an amazing dad to our children.

Thank you for all you do!

Almost 8 months old.

This was from Sunday.

Rian was so happy!

She was having fun with Aunt Sheyla.

So cute!

Thrifted.

Vintage Wood Shelf $1.50.

Metal Sorter $2.00.

Carved Wood Jewelery Box $1.50

We went to DI (a thrift store) the other day.

The wheelchair can easily traverse the aisles.

Davis needed something to store some of his hot wheels.

He is obsessed with hot wheels.

The amazing newspaper cylinder container 

Davis made in school.

All the other stuff was from around the house.

Doing something fun that Davis enjoys

AND getting out of the house.

Priceless.

Lovely Peonies.

Flowers really do intoxicate me.

~Vita Sackville-West

Flowers seem intended for the solace of ordinary humanity.

~John Ruskin

This one cracks me up:

Why do people give each other flowers?

To celebrate various important occasions,

they're killing living creatures?

Why restrict it to plants?

"Sweetheart, let's make up.

Have this deceased squirrel"

~The Washington Post

Almost 34 weeks old.

She used Davis's wheelchair wheel to stand up.

She loves being a big girl and standing up.

Oh, so cute!

It looks as if she has a ginormous foot but it's mine. She was climbing on me.

Love her so much!

Rian LOVES Bananas, Part 2.

Rian LOVES Bananas, Part 1.

While out walking...

taken by me via my cell phone

Today.

I went for a 55 minute walk in a different part of the town.

There was a house that had these beautiful flowers 

everywhere.

It was magical.

I went to the library today and paid for a card.

We don't have a library in the town where we live

so I have gotten library cards at different libraries through the years.

It made me happy.

 Davis made it through the whole day in Summer School today.

What a big and tough job that was. 

 

Someone signed his cast like this:

You are truely

a "gold nugget".

He really is.

Pizza, again...

Remember this post?

Well, I still love it.

I made pizza tonight.

All those vegetables looked so yummy to me.

And they were.

Today, I took Davis to Summer School.

It takes much longer to get a kid, all his school stuff

and a wheelchair 

into a car

than I thought.

Not unlike getting a baby,

car seat and all the rest of the baby stuff

into a car.

After getting him into the class

(after pushing him,

lifting the chair

and pushing him some more),
getting him settled

and talking with the teacher,

I left and got a drink of water

with a large cup of ice.

If I can't have a diet Pepsi,

I might as well get the ice to crunch.

I then went to the city center

and parked and walked for nearly an hour.

I listened to my i-pod

and almost thought to fist pump into the air

to some rousing music.

I thought better of it,

imagining me looking like some crazy or homeless lady
which made me smile and nearly giggle.

I then went to the library

and sat and tried to read

but I was distracted by all the EMT's that were tending

to one of the librarians.

She apparently tripped and fell 

into the sink.

My phone rang.

I was summoned by one of the teacher's aides.

 Davis was hurting and wanted me to come to the school.

Which is exactly why I hung out so close to the school.

It was only 10:15 am.

I remember being physically and emotionally drained

taking care of Davis after his bike accident.

It's very much like that.

(It's not as bad as all that.
I'm just trying to keep it real).

We've been busy...summer is going to have to wait...but not for long.

Happy Birthday Britni!

10 Things about Britni:

1.  Britni is an amazing photographer.

She has started taking engagement, wedding and reception 

(and family)

photos and she is so good at it all.

2. Britni makes her own patterns for fabric wallets.

They are darling and

people love them.

3. Britni has always been very determined.

Some school work in her life

hasn't been easy.

But she works hard at everything in her life.

She amazes me.

4. I love to hear Britni sing.

Britni has always wanted to sing.

She even took voice lessons and sang in school.

She sings like an angel.

5. Britni can even play some songs on the piano

with sheer determination.

She's never taken lessons

(she took dance and singing lessons

and had other interest)

but there are some songs 

that she can play really well.

6. She was chosen to play Juliet 

for her 10th grade year

(her first year of high school).

She is amazing.

She is such a talented actress 

and can memorize 

lines like I've never seen.

7.  Britni is loving and thoughtful.

Not that long ago,

there was a woman that she knew

that broke both of her arms

(or was it both of her legs?)

but had a baby 

which made it difficult to care for her.

Britni went over to help her change the baby's diaper

and help care for her for awhile.

She has always been very thoughtful

when she gives me gifts.

It warms my heart.

8.  Britni didn't plan on getting married young

but she did and she chose well.

They are one of the cutest

married couples you've ever seen.

9.  She worked hard last year

at a very difficult job

so her husband could finish 

his bachelors degree.

She is now so happy 

to once again go to college.

10.  She deserves to be happy!

I waited as long as I could but I finally did it...(insert Rocky music here).

I walked tonight and these were a few snapshots...with my phone.

This weeks challenge has to be the hardest of all 12 weeks.

No caffeine/carbonated drinks.

Yes. 

That's right.

None.

It's been a full week since my last drink.

My last diet Pepsi, that is.

At least for the next 8 weeks.

I know it's a good and healthy challenge.

Just a very difficult one.

Yeah for me!

Here is the challenge so far:

Week 1: 30 minutes of aerobic exercise--3 times per week.

Week 2: Eat/drink 3 servings of fruits/vegetables per day.

Week 3: Increase Exercise to 45 minutes of aerobic exercise--3 times per week.

Week 4: No caffeine/carbonated beverages

Next week is,

Week 5: 10 minutes of stretching/meditation
and increase exercise to 45 minutes
of aerobic exercise--
4 times per week.

Remember that we have to continue each challenge 

unless it's been changed into a new challenge.

100% so far!
Yippee!

That was a fast 10 weeks...

He was the lucky one to survive 

a traumatic birth.

We were the lucky ones

to have him steal our hearts.

Goodbye Pippin...

He's been such a sweet and playful puppy.

So it is with some sadness that we give him away today.

Luckily, he is going to my parents

and we can see him almost anytime we want.

We will miss that little guy.

Serious MomSense: Joplin tornado stories lend perspective, redefine priorities - ksl.com

Serious MomSense: Joplin tornado stories lend perspective, redefine priorities - ksl.com

I was really touched by this article.
All I can add is:  Amen! 

Thumbs up for Rock and Roll! Adorable!

Fighting flat feet.

This poor kid.

This is the biggest reason there was such urgency 

in going to the Henry Mountains

for this kid to be able to gold pan.

He has such bad flat feet

that we finally agreed for him to have 

the surgery

after much debate,

prayer and breath holding.

We've been putting it off for years.

We had a sports medicine doctor

recently say that if he didn't

have the surgery it would be

a matter of him not being able 

to walk in 10 years.

Sobering.

He was so brave.

He is petrified of needles.

It will be a long eight week recovery.

He hopes to go gold panning

as soon as possible.

He asked if it were possible

if he could be a gold panning prodigy.

If he wants to be.