Sir James

Life would be so boring without my deep-voiced, super curious, three year old Jimmy. He is always into something and asking lots of questions. Last week I made a bunch of strawberry jam. (Don't be too impressed, it's not that hard. I use the easy recipe.) Jimmy, as you can see, was a big help. He LOVES to cook in the kitchen. His future wife will love me for allowing his creative juices to flow in the culinary arts.

I could just squeeze and kiss Jimmy all day because he is so cute! He is always coming up with the greatest questions. Yesterday he asked me what color toots are. "Poop is brown or black, so maybe toots are gray or white or something." I don't know. I've never thought about that. What do you think?

So even though I am about to walk into the wall from a looong night thanks to Sir James, I am glad he is in my life. He, and all my other kids, help make my job fun. I wouldn't want to spend my days with anyone else!

First Roach of the Season

Summer is approaching. How do I know this? Not from the weather warming, light lasting later, or greenery in full bloom, but rather my spotting of the first cockroach of the season yesterday. As I was sweeping up after dinner by the open back door, a little "friend" came scurrying in. Time to call the bug guy because summer is coming!

I remember the first time I spotted my first cockroach here in sunny St. George. Ah, fond memories. You see, I grew up back East where seeing a cockroach means one has serious cleaning issues. So when I saw a cockroach around my home, I immediately thought that I was failing in my efforts to keep our home clean. I mean, I thought I was pretty good at keeping things nice, but maybe I wasn't.

I then found out, after talking to me mother-in-law and husband, that cockroaches are a normal occurrence in St. George. Huh? I mean, they knew this all along and yet opted to live here out of their own free will? What? Why didn't someone tell me this before?! Ants, spiders, and flies are normal bugs to see around your house. Not cockroaches! (Not to mention the first summer in our home when I found a little scorpion on the ceiling. Yeah, I wasn't too keen on St. George that year.)

Since that first memorable summer here, I've come to terms with my new bug friends. Whenever the "bug man" comes to spray, the kids have fun finding dead roaches for me to sweep up. But I still don't like them and never will get used to seeing them. Just another reason for me to dislike Dixie in the summer. But it still beats dealing with humidity so it is a price I am willing to pay, for now. (I do plan on asking God why cockroaches were created. I just can't think of a reason why aside from tormenting me.)

Movin' On Up

I've moved up in the world. No, it's not owning a home, having two cars or four children, enjoying a newly re-tiled bathroom, or being married to an attorney, but rather it's my newly acquired magazine holder. You see, I've always wanted to get one to put our magazines into.

Today I discovered my new favorite store, "Sell It Again, Sam", a delightfully fun used furniture store. Oh, I could have gone on a shopping spree in there. I grew up on yard sales and love a good find and there were a lot of very nice pieces in there! In my perusing I found a nice wooden magazine holder that I immediately snatch up for our "formal" living room. To be honest, there is nothing formal about my living room, thanks to the kids and toys that are usually scattered about it. We keep our magazines on top of the ottoman just so they can get tossed off periodically throughout the day by children who pass by or need to jump off it. (Why this urge to spew magazines all over my floor exists in my children is beyond me. Perhaps we should do a study on their behavior.) I find it very annoying to have said magazines scattered about, especially when I may actually find a spare moment to read one.(Ha! I'm so funny!) Plus, I've always thought magazine holders look classy. "Look at me, I am intelligent and sophisticated because I have a special place to put my reading material, therefore, making me all the more wise and awe-inspiring." Okay, maybe a magazine holder doesn't show that, but I think they are dang cool! I like having things in their proper places and now my magazines can have a home, one that perhaps will keep them safe from busy hands.

So I've stepped up in life. What can I say? Little by little I am getting the living room I want. Just watch out because one day I may purchase an end table and then I will be too good for you all.

Happy Easter!