Things I Would Eat a Worm For.

So Jared graduated and started a business.

No more student loan money rolling in.

Money isn't Ramen Noodles kind of tight.

But it isn't lying around the house in piles either.

We buy what we need, don't buy all that we want, eat well, and are currently content with that.

So, in short, we're happy...

But here are a few things I would eat a worm for:
(Because there is no way I'm spending that kind of cash on them)

I love them. Not cheap.

And for Hannah.

She would flip out. They are completely beaded. Also not cheap.

And...

If these hung in my kitchen, I would smile at them.





















With matching cups of course.



And...

Seasoning with these would be more fun than my cheap throw away McCormick ones.

Square plates make so much more sense than round ones...

They fit better in the cabinet. And saving an inch goes a long way in my cabinets. 

And if I found a few hundred dollars on the ground I may buy a new bike trailer.

I don't care what kind or color. Just one that isn't falling apart and covered in mold. 

(We got ours for free, I shouldn't whine)

And maybe a little laser eye surgery, new camera, organic milk, bigger crockpot...

Oh, and these curtains for my kitchen. (With Jared's approval)

But really... I'm okay. 

Thanks for letting me get it out of my system.

What are you not buying?

The Girly Tomboy.

Every morning Hannah puts on a dress. 

She only wears dresses.

She has many shirts, shorts, and pants. 

But she has three dresses that she rotates through. She owns more than that. But she refuses to wear anything but those three.

Every morning she gets out the chair and sets up the brush, bows, and clips. Then she commands me to do her hair. It's a morning ritual.

She tells me what to do with her hair. And I do it. 

The limit on how many pony tail braids she can have is 5. But she keeps trying for more.

We live around many girls who usually have their hair in cornrow braids. 

Hannah loves them. I refuse. 

It takes those moms 2 hours to do it while their kid is sleeping. Two minutes is my preferred allotment. 

I have to admit, I'm having fun doing her hair. I didn't think I would. 

Hannah comes up with some fun ideas.

Changing the subject...

Yesterday, we all went to the dentist. 

I straight up lied to the dentist about how long it had been since my last checkup. 

He was shocked at the made up number I gave him. He may have yelled insults if I'd said the truth. 

I have a fear of doctors being disappointed with my life choices.

But I'm proud to say that our teeth are all fine without the recommended semiannual cleaning.

But we are recommitted to going every 6 months now. 

He was convincing in a scary, yet informative way. 

It's hard to tell in the picture, but Hannah was so excited to go to the dentist. She couldn't wait. She looks in pain in the picture.

Hannah is pretty fun to be around. Everything is exciting. Everything is a party. 

She invents parties everyday in her room. We are usually invited.

She is still into bugs. 

We read bug books at night. 

We catch bugs during the day. 

We talk about bugs. 

Draw about bugs. 

Watch movies about bugs.

Bugs, bugs, bugs.

She often has her purse on one arm and her bug jar on the other.

The other two dresses...

Jared and I think she's a rather pretty girl.

We love her.

Most of the time.

Hot Milk and Such.

It's just mean really.

Asher is so deprived and he doesn't even know it.

What he thinks is milk, isn't milk.

It's water with a milky afterthought.

I've tried it. Gross. He loves it.

Since he asks for "Hot Milk" about a billion times a day, we have to water down his milk so badly so he doesn't get too backed up in the bum.

The recipe for hot milk is about a 5:1 ratio of hot water to 1% milk.

Cruel. I know.

We were recently at a friends house for dinner and they gave him a cup of skim milk.
He was in heaven.
He demanded more.

On to other things...

Trains have taken over our lives. 

The first and last thing Asher does in a day is play with his new, yet old train set.

I got 2lb weights for the kids. 

My kids like to copy me when I exercise...

and I guess the 3 pounders were just too heavy. 

I firmly believe the greatest, most satisfied, contented feeling I've ever had or will have in my life is when I quietly hold my babies while they are still little.

I call it Mommy Money. 

He only draws balloons.

Modern day technology potty training.

Asher's newest tricks...

And this is why it's takes twenty minutes to get to the store that we live next door to.

And a video only his mother would love.

We love him.

He's like the family mascot.

I'm thinking... No.

Floss everyday.
Take your multivitamin.
Drink 64 oz. of water.
Say your prayers.
5 servings of vegetables and fruits.
30 minutes of exercise.
Scripture study.
Read to your kids.
Shower, shave, brush your teeth.
3 square meals.
Keep a clean house.
Family Home Evening.
Remember birthdays.
Get 8 hours of sleep et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.


Ahhhhhh!


I'm overwhelmed.


I can't do it all.


I feel like my house is always wrecked.
I can't remember the last time I had a vitamin.
Floss? Are you kidding me? Who has 5 minutes for that?
I don't even want to describe our toilet to you. You would judge me and rightfully so.


There are too many things that I feel like I have to do or else there will be bad consequences.


How does one stop feeling guilty about not being perfect?


I've talked to people about this predicament and I've come to the conclusion that it's takes a life time to come close to doing it all. But that doesn't help me feel better for some reason. Maybe the guilt is just part of life. Wah.


From talking to people of many ages, I've gathered that it's easy to be perfect at things in different stages of your life.


Right now, it's soooo hard to keep a clean house with toddlers. But that's less of a problem when your kids are grown up and gone.


Right now, it's easy for me to get 30 minutes of exercise in just by doing my everyday activities. But that's harder when you are older and retired.


I'm in the middle of trying to let go of getting it all in. It's not going well.


Is it possible to be perfect?


I'm thinking... no.


But at the same time, I have plenty of time to watch 2 hours of T.V every night. But not enough time for a vitamin or a flossing?

I need be like Hannah. 

Enjoying life moment to moment.

I don't think she even knows how to worry.

I'm a little jealous.

What is something you feel like you have to do or else?

My current top guilt is scripture study. 

What's yours?

Picture of The Month - August

Banana Phone.

My poor bananas.

After one round with him, they are liquified in the middle.

He usually gives me a banana so we can properly talk.

Our best conversations have been banana style.

Deep life stuff.

Ya know...

Hopes, dreams, career, and Dora the Explorer.