The Lumberjack's Wife

Alright!  Are you ready for some more questions and answers?

Sure you are!

From Katie B:

What is your favorite summer activity? Aside from the joys of camping and huckleberry picking.

Ha!  The JOYS of camping and huckleberry picking.   What-ev.

Fun Fact:  I just looked in my freezer and found 8 cups of precious huckleberries still waiting for my husband to approve them for wasteful, human consumption.

Aren’t they probably bad by now?

It’s just so scary to use those precious berries.  I mean, what is worthy of a huckleberry?

A milk shake?

A pie?

A pancake?

They all seem so trivial in the grand scheme of things . . .

Well.  I would LOVE to travel.  I don’t care where.  Just anywhere that isn’t here and doesn’t require our camp trailer, 4 wheeler, the lack of electrical appliances, and 15 gas cans.

But, I do like reading a good book during the summer and relaxing a bit.  I guess that’s it. 

Oh, and I LOVE me some moose tracks ice cream in a waffle cone.

And I love to eat one while wearing a swimsuit and wondering why I hate wearing a swimsuit.

Cause I’m brilliant like that.

From Kristy:

Question…I know not of where you live, but I am assuming it is someplece that people want to vacation? Do you have any problem finding renters for your rental property during the summer months? What kinds of fun might a renter expect to have while vacationing at your rental property? Are there touristy things to do? Or is it more of a relaxing place?

We don’t have any problems because our house is so close to the lake.  Yes, we do advertise and we are almost all booked up for the summer already!

What kinds of fun can the tourist expect?

Well.  They could . . . um . . . go to the lake.  Except right now it is freezing.  They could shop?  Eat?  Huckleberry pick?

Honestly, I have no idea why people want to come here.

But if them coming here means my house payment gets made, then who am I to judge?

And . . . it is beautiful in these here parts . . .

I better stop posting pictures.  You guys might find out I live in Hawaii.

And we wouldn’t want that.

From Sharyl and The Little Brown House:

Question: How are the Varicose Veins? Still gone? Do you ever pull out the white hose for fun?

Dear readers.  Did you know that I had a gnarly case of the varicose veins whilst pregnant with the boys?

I had to have a procedure to get them taken care of.  It was awful:

Sadly, they are still there.  I think the doctor just wanted my monies.  I’ve grown to like them.  I feel they add interest to the back of my legs.

Oh, I have a HILARIOUS story about the veins.  But in order to share it, I would need to make sure that no men were reading that day.  Nor my dad.  Nor anyone who goes to church with me.  Or basically anyone I would ever have to see again.

Just too many risks . . . but trust me.  You would have laughed.

Sharyl, you can have my tights and repurpose them into a table runner or something.

Question 2: Is there any painting plan in your summer agenda? We know you love peach walls….they may even be the instigator of the vomit…just sayin.

No plans to paint.  We are too tired and old.

Just you wait . . . peach is the new “it” color.

I’m bringing it back, baby!

From Erin:

I have always wanted to do a q&a post on my blog, but have been too afraid that no one would ask me any questions.
So my question to you– do you think anyone would ask me any questions?

Yes, Erin.  If I can coerce people to ask me questions, surely you can.  And if no one does, just delete the post and pretend it never happened!

Win-win!

Not that I would ever do such a thing.

From Lisa Bunchanan

What curriculum do you use and what do you do with your littlest while the other are schooling?

I read a book called The Well-Trained Mind and I fell in love with it.  So, I follow that for the most part.

This will be boring for non-homeschooling people, and maybe boring for even homeschooling people, but here is what I do:

Bible:  God’s Great Covenant

Grammar:  First Language Lessons

Spelling:  All about Spelling and Spelling Workout

Phonics:  Ordinary Parents Guide to Teaching Reading and Explode the Code

Writing:  Writing with Ease and 4 Square

History:  Story of the World

Science:  Apologia:  Human Anatomy with JR notebooks

Math:  We did Saxon, but it wasn’t for us.  We started doing Math U See and we loved it!  But it doesn’t follow our state standards very well.  So next year we are doing Math Connects (to meet standards) and supplementing with Math U See

Besides.

Who DOESN’T love doing two math programs?

Art:  Artistic Pursuits

Next year, we are adding Latin and using Prima Latina.

Look at us with our big homeschooling pants on!

The boys.

*sigh*

They usually just play trucks or trains and generally are disruptive and messy and, well, boys.

I am going to be more organized with them this next year and have a better plan for things for them to do.

I am open to suggestions!

In other words:  help!

Happy Wednesday!

David has been working late a lot these days.  Daisy Mae wrote him a little note:

“To Dad.  Love you so muck.  Wi do you have to wrk so lat.”

Uber cute.

Remind me to speak to her spelling teacher immediately.

***
Hold on to your pants, folks.  It’s time for some questions and answers.

From Micah:

The blurb about wearing the same underwear everyday for a week is priceless… does your husband ever read your blog and shriek “Holy cow, you told everyone that?!”

Yeah.  My husband doesn’t read this nonsense. 

He’s too busy scouring the farm and garden section of Craigslist and trying to find a part for his dozer.

Fun Fact:  The home and garden section of Craigslist is our home page.  Exciting stuff.

From Mindee:

Question: What are you going to do with all those baby bunnies? Will you have the mamas spayed now or are you going to add “rabbit breeder” to your list of job titles?

True story: When I was a child, we lived in the mountains in a very rural environment for three loooooong years. Our neighbors up the road bred rabbits – and then ate them. Given that you eat elk and deer, rabbit wouldn’t be too big of a stretch.

Dear Mindee,

I resent the fact that you think I would raise rabbits for to eat them.  I can barely eat chicken.

Nay.  The girls are trying to sell them as PETS to earn MONEY for a HORSE.

And just to ward off any more suspicions, no we are not eating “horse”.

Even if you think it sounds like something we would do.

I am normal, people!  I really am!  It’s that darn husband of mine.  He’s the hick-ish one.

From Holly:

Question: Who vomited?

On that day, it was Sweet Pea.  Today, Daisy Mae did.

From Heather (not the nurse and not living in ND)

Are you sure that’s not a store bought shed? It looks just like one of those sheds that sits outside of the Home Depot store that are for sale. Nice work Lumberjack, nice work indeed.

Oh yes, Heather who is not a nurse and does not reside in North Dakota, I am sure.  I helped him load the lumber.  I watched him lay out the trusses, or whatever in the heck the triangle shaped things are.  I saw him side it.  I saw him roof it.  I saw him build his own door.

I even saw his tool belt.

That’s right.  Tool belt.

Hands off, ladies.  He’s all mine.

From Beth

Your house looks great! Congratulations! So where do we go to rent this little bit of Heaven on Earth?

You go to the town I used to live in, of course.  It is quite a lovely town . . . I will have to ask Sir Lumberjack why it is he moved me so far, far away from it.

Our house is/was close to the lake.

Look at my dudes!  Back when they wore Baby Gap and not Carhartt for kids . . .

The house is even close to parks . . .

Where we used to run into good friends . . .

Holla, MindyLou!

It’s a lovely place.  I might need to move back.

Guess what!  Today marks one year since we moved to Ruralville.

I need ice cream.

From Aimee

My questions are: What do you wish that veteran homeschool Moms (like myself) would have told you before you started homeschooling? What did you think was the hardest part of this year? What did you think was the easiest? I think you truly need to be commended Way to go! How did your girls win that award?

Hmmm . . .

I wish they would have told me to relax a bit.  I think I stressed too much and over did some things.

For example:  I use two different curricula (ooh!  a fancy word!) for spelling, social studies, writing, and science.

Because I am strange.  And annoying.  And still trying to figure out what in the heck I am doing.

Hardest part of the year:  Dealing with the boys and worrying about whether or not I was doing things right.

Easiest part:  Actually teaching the girls.  We had a blast and we love most of our curriculum.  And the stuff we don’t love is getting the boot.

Win, win!

The award-I think they had to submit work that was at grade level or above all year long and test at proficient in the state testings.  Also, I think they looked at their portfolio work.

I’m pretty sure they give the award to every kid and his brother.

But let us commend me nonetheless.

***

Alright!  That’s all for now!  I shall answer more later.

(feel free to leave a question if you’d like)

But, first I must inform you that I just spoke with my husband on his cellular device and he is going to attempt to bring me a BLIZZARD from DAIRY QUEEN.

Do you think the Blizzard will make the 45 minute drive?

Do you?

My husband does have a spiffy lunch box cooler.

Yum.  I’m getting Oreo.

Jealous?

Do you ever have a hard time trying to figure out how to start a blog post?

Me neither.

So, this weekend was a super busy one.  There is this massive yard sale that happens once a year in the regions about which we live.  The entire town has their yard sales on one day.  It’s genius, I tell ya.  So, we loaded up the lumberjacklings at 6:30am and headed off to find our deals.

David bought nothing, because nothing tickled his fancy.  Mainly because there was nothing with large motors and oil and wires and drills and pans and saws and horns and camo and whatnot.  I purchased my usual items:  clothing for children and other junk I think the kids need, but they really don’t.

We joined up with some peeps for the yard sale.  David’s sister, Lisa, offered to take Little Dude with her to the bathroom at one point when she was taking her 2 year old.  I looked at her like she was an insane, crazy person and said:

“Yes, please!”

She was gone FOR-EV-ER.  I learned that she had to take them to an outhouse, which means I need to buy Lisa a Starbucks post haste.  When she returned, she looked a little frazzled, which was to be expected.  But then she informed me that she had accidentally dropped Little Dude’s shoe into the toilet, as in the outhouse toilet, as in DISGUSTING, OH MY GOODNESS, SO GROSS, NASTINESS.

She assured me to not worry because she was able to retrieve it.

*GASP*

She stuck her arm down an outhouse toilet to save my son’s shoe, of which he will probably grow out of next week anyways.

Let us all have a moment to commemorate the courageous and thrifty spirit of my sister in law, Lisa.

*Thank you*

Later that evening, we walked down yonder country road to the bison ranch.

Yes.

I live near a bison ranch.

Do you?

The Bison Rancher Peoples were having a BBQ and invited peoples from all around to feast at their ranch.

Do not worry, dear readers.  I did not try any meat, because I did not know what animal the meat came from.  And there were no labels.  And I’m not going to eat bison, I’ll tell you that right now.

The Bison Rancher Peoples are nice, friendly peoples and the kids had a blast.  They were able to take rides on the horse.

Sweet Pea

Little Dude and Daisy Mae.

Things to notice:

1)  Daisy Mae had just purchased that hat at the garage sales earlier that day.  Despite my instructions that she needed to launder it before wearing it, as you can see, she elected to not heed my advice and donned the grody garage sale hat and all the germs it may or may not have contained.

2)  I tried to prevent it, but I have four children and I no longer have time to care.

  I wash my hands of it.

3)  I put this picture on The Facebooks and my dearheart friend, who shall remain nameless, told me that my son looked like Lloyd from Dumb and Dumber.

source

I am shunning her.  Until I get tired of shunning her.

I shan’t tell you who it was, because I am above such pettiness and wouldn’t want you all to shun her as well.

In an effort to de-Lloyd-ify my son, I tried to make him look all snazzy this morning for church.

It’s obvious I’ve missed my calling in life.

Oh, look!  A random hanger lying on my floor!

That’s weird.

I’m usually the epitomy of togetherness.

After church today, we went to an appreciation BBQ for children’s ministry.

Because we serve in children’s ministry and we need to be appreciated.

Oh, yes.  We do.

David was talking with some other manly-men about boats and motors and other dreadfully boring matters.  I took the three eldest over to the water park feature thingie and he was in charge of Little Dude.

So, as I was happily chatting away with a friend, you can imagine my shock when I saw a pasty-white boy, who looked remarkably like Little Dude, in camo underwear strutting his stuff around the water park.

I hurried over and apologized to the group of ladies that he was obviously trying to impress.

Ladies:  It’s ok, honey.  We did help him put his underwear on, though.  We thought he shouldn’t be naked.

*oh, dear*

It’s a good thing David and I serve in children’s ministry at church.  Obviously the children at church are left in good, capable hands.

Oh, stop, readers!

I’m sure your kids have also stripped naked at the church BBQ.

Get off your high horses.

1.  I invited my sister and her friend over for dinner this week. 

 David was working late and I was feeling like a hostess with the mostess.  I texted my sister and invited her, sure that I would impress her with my ability to throw together a delicious meal on a whim with four children running amok.  After she agreed, I remembered that her friend is a vegetarian.  For a brief moment, I considered serving elk. 

 You know. 

For kicks and grins. 

Instead, I went with my original plan to make an easy chicken/potato/artichoke dish.  So, me being the aforementioned hostess with the mostess served my vegetarian guest potatoes and artichokes.

Yum.

And I undercooked the potatoes.  They were a tad crunchy.

Yum.

And I was almost out of artichokes, so basically I served her raw potatoes.

She ate a lot of salad.  A lot.

She was probably thinking that elk sounded mighty tasty.

2.  I have a cold sore.  And it’s gnarly.  The kids tell me all day long that I need to wipe my mouth because I have pizza sauce on it.

It is sad that they think I eat pizza round the clock, is it not?

3.  I lost 2 pounds while trying to keep up with my husband this weekend while working on the rental house.

That isn’t really a confession.  More of a boasting.  Just thought I would throw it in there to make you all green with envy.

4.  Don’t worry.  I am sure to gain it back within the hour.  I might make pizza for lunch.

5.  I looked outside yesterday and saw that our dog,  Lucy,  had gotten into the garbage.

LucyFur

I decided that this warranted a “warning sound.”  Yes.  We have a certain collar, with certain features that works shockingly well for our naughty pup.  Well, I never have to  actually use it, but if I push the warning sound button, she knows she is being naughty and stops her mischievousness immediately.

Imagine my shock(hardy-har-har) when I discover that Lucy has also ripped off her collar and chewed it up along with the garbage.

LucyFur.

6.  Is it normal to get weird facial hair when you get close to turning 30?  Like, all down the side of your face?  Almost as if you were growing a beard?  But you’re not?

I’m just asking.

For a friend.

7.  I think my husband is growing sideburns.  Everytime I ask him, he denies my allegations and assures me I am crazy.

Yet, every time he shaves, he doesn’t shave his sideburns.

Perhaps I am being duped?

He has threatened for years to grow handlebars.

(Source)

I can handle moving to Ruralville.  I will permit a deer or two to hang on my wall and stare creepily at me for all eternity.  I will camp.  I will huckleberry pick.  I will pretend to like the sideburns.  I will, and do, serve him up some tasty elk for his supper.

But the handlebars just might do me in.

(If you, or someone you love, enjoy the look of the handlebar mustache, I mean you no ill-will)

8.  I held a baby bunny for the first time last night. 

I will admit, I was a little scared to hold one at first.

You may exclaim: “Taylor!  Baby bunnies are so cute!  Why would you be scared?!”

Well, dear readers.

That is just further proof of why I am not fit to live out here in Ruralville.

Yet, here I am.

It is my lot in life, my burden to bear.

9.  If a gal who was nearing 30 was to, in fact, be growing odd facial hair, how should she remove it?

My friend was wondering.

10.  I was chatting with someone this morning and they mentioned that they had to go to the doctor.

Ok.  So, I wasn’t chatting, per se.  I was Facebook messaging.

Online communication takes the place of all factual relationships!  It’s true!

Join the revolution!

Anyways.

She was mentioning how she had to go in for her yearly exam.

Ladies!  You know this exam of which I speak.

The yearly.

Hmmm?

I happily wished her luck and then it hit me.

My baby turned 1!  Like 2 years ago.

I probably should go in for my yearly.

But I probably won’t.

Ok, I might.

But I don’t want to.

***

That is all I have for today.

Go check out Kira’s blog for a humorous Fess Up Friday post.

She talks about meeting someone named Stacy Julian.

?

It’s ok.  I don’t know who that is either.

***

Also:  I am doing a questions and answers post next week so if you would like to leave a question you may.

But you don’t have to.

It’s not like I’m running out of things to talk about over here . . .

We can play name the rabbits or something.

Happy Friday!

It’s 8:20am and the kids are still sleeping.

Why?

Because we are exhausted, that’s why.

This whole “running a vacation rental” idea was a peach, I tell ya.  A peach.

But I have news of great joy:

We did it.

And when I say “we”, of course I mean . . . . WE.  Yes, that’s right.  I was awesome, too.  Although not quite as Superman-ish as my husband.

Do you remember his stress with building a shed?

He got ‘er done.

You see that bark that is nicely spread all around it?  That would be courtesy of yours truly.

So, my camera is broken and I only had my phone.  So, there won’t be many pictures.  But he built the fence, planted sod, re-routed the sprinklers, and yada yada yada.

And he did it all in 5 days.

Plus he planted MY flower bed:

There is another “Roadie” (or Rhodie, if you obsess about such matters) somewhere over there, but my picture-taking skills are less than par. 

I was Chief of Deep Cleaning the Entire House and I shall scream if I have to wipe down another baseboard.

I think David and I work quite well together.

Quite.

I must inform you, though, in the interest of full disclosure, that David was offered help and he accepted it.

Two friends came by to help and David hired two boys to help him as well.

They were awesome, even if they called me “Mrs. M” the whole time.

*GASP!*

I’m a “Mrs. M.”

What has become of me?

And to further prove that I was a super awesome worker, I shall now brag and show you this note my husband left me on this very morn:

It says, and I quote, “Love You Thanks for All your hard work .  David.”

Before we get too swooned, I must tell you, in the interest of full disclosure, that the majority of that note is instructions for me to follow on emailing a guy about some parts for the dozer.

Yes.  I know.

Wife of the Year.

***

The girls are finished with school for the year.

(darn)

I received an email congratulating me on both girls receiving the “Presidential Award.”
I thought it sounded quite prestigious and I informed my husband of our accomplishments post haste.

His response?

“Sounds like its pretty easy to get.”

Exqueeze me?  Baking powder?

(Name that movie)

I would like to know how many presidential achievements he has earned in his lifetime.

Whatever.

The email said I was to be commended.

Whatever.

***

Kids are now up and I’ve been informed there has been vomit.

My mood has significantly tanked.

Therefore, I shall end this post.

But before I go, I thought we could do a Questions and Answers Post again.

Here is how it works:

You ask a question about whatever and I shall answer it.

Alright!

That’s all!

Leave a question!

Or don’t.

The choice is truly yours.

Happy Thursday!

1. Do you and your family enjoy camping? What do you enjoy most/like the least when it comes to family camping? When was the last time you camped?

Let me answer that question with a collage of fun-filled pictures that are sure to delight you:

Before we go any further, we must clarify a few things from yesterday’s post.

Oh, yes.  We must.

1.  Yes.  I know that if our landscaper friend said “Roadie” for “Rhododendron” it should be spelled “Rhodie.”  However, when he was saying “Rhodie” I was hearing “Roadie” like a person who follows a band.  So, I was merely trying to accurately portray my confusion.

2.  You Smartie-pantsies, you.

3.  We rent this house out from June-August as a vacation rental.  Hence, the flower bed and other general snazziness.

Ok?  10-4? 

Let’s proceed.

We have baby bunnies!

The astute reader may notice that Little Dude’s eyes look like he has been crying.

Yes.  Tis true. 

However, I had to save baby bunny from Little Dude loving him to death.  One loving hug from Little Dude would surely result in the crushing of baby bunny.

Which would be unfortunate, to say the least.

*sigh*

Handsome Dude.  I can sum Handsome Dude up in one word:  exhausting.

I think we have 7-ish bunnies that are 3 weeks old.  7-ish!  Ha!  Isn’t that awful?  I really, simply don’t care.

And I’m proud to admit it.

I mean, they are cute and all, but they are a THORN in my side.  Not the children, the bunnies.  But sometimes the children can be a little thorny, too.

We have another *litter* of bunnies that are too little to be held.

Fun Fact: *litter* is what cool, rabbit owners, such as myself, call a whole bunch of baby rabbits that were birthed at the same time from the same mama.

What is happening to me?

And what is happening to Little Dude?

I fear rural life has gotten the best of his fashion sense.

That boy needs some sun.

Here is some of the work David has been doing with the bull dozer . . .

And now that we are in the middle of this fun-filled Extreme Yard Makeover: Rental Edition, the dozer shall sit there for all eternity.

Plus, it might be broken. 

Shocking.

Here is a picture of what the land looked like before David obliterated it with the dozer.

He plans to attack all 20 acres.  Therefore, we shall never be finished.

David brought me home a hummingbird feeder the other day.  I told him he could wait for my birthday, but I think he feels badly for me, seeing as how he has been working numerous hours as of late.

Perhaps he feels that staring aimlessly at hummingbirds will entertain me while he is gone?

He didn’t really believe me that we have hummingbirds around.  Remember:  David is never here.  The kids and I are living his dream.

Anywho, he believes me now because the hummingbirds are now frequent visitors of my fantastic feeder.  They empty it in about 3 days.

Can you see it?  Can you see it?

That one is Bernice.

I’ve named all my hummingbirds.  They keep me company.

Ha!  Kidding!

Or 

Am

I?

Happy Tuesday!

(Please excuse the following post.  It may be a bit scattered.  This is because I am exhausted, have calloused hands, and Jell-O arms.  Thank you.)

You want to know what is super enjoyable in life?

Owning a rental.

Yes.  Yes it is.

Allow me to elaborate, if I may.  We had renters move out on June 1st.  We have new renters coming on June 10th.

Do you recall that my husband recently tore down the garage at our rental?

Sure you do.

Well, I don’t know if you are aware or not, but when you tear down a garage, there tends to be a huge hole-ish like area full of dirt and the like where the garage once stood.  

Who knew?!

So that was a kill-joy.  Anywho, my husband and I had a talk on Thursday night.  The talk consisted of making a plan of attack for just how we would get everything done that we needed to get done by June 10th. 

Things to get done:

Build a shed

Redo sprinkler system

Plant grass

Build fence

Weed whack

Rake

Deep clean the house

And so on and so forth.

 I informed my husband that I would like to create a new flower bed down the side of the house.

He looked at me as if I were an insane, crazy person.

I assured him that I had discussed the matter with a few peeps over Facebook and was sure I could handle the project myself.

He looked at me as if I were an insane, crazy person.

He told me that there was no way he had any time for any such landscaping.  I told him that he needn’t worry his pretty little head, that I could surely take care of the flower bed.

He looked at me as if I were an insane, crazy person.

On Friday, I had to load up the bambinos and drive into town for a homeschooling picnic (don’t be jealous).  Afterwards, I stopped by a nursery owned by a friend.  He helped me pick out the perfect plants for the flower bed that I would be creating all by myself.  He even tolerated my children who were being “spirited” and got them to sit down on a bench by bribing them with suckers.

I will admit, it was a trifle embarrassing to have someone else try to bribe my kids into behaving, but I was so perplexed by all the fancy words he was using! I wasn’t even paying attention to them. I was just trying to focus and figure out what a “Roadie” was.

Turns out a “roadie” is what he calls a rhododendron.

Keep up, Taylor!

On Saturday, all six of us went to the house.  Bringing children with you to work on a rental is a mistake of gigantic proportions. 

However, they are our children and care for them we must.

Mr. Roadie from the nursery stopped by to help us figure out the best way to lay out the plants he had told me to buy. 

What a guy!

One thing is for certain:  I know not the first thing about the wonderful world of landscaping. 

So, it’s a good thing I decided to create a flower bed when we have no time to create a flower bed.

My husband, the man who told me he had no time for any such bedding of flowers, had to dig up the sprinkler system and move it to accommodate MY flower bed.

Oops.

Then he had to dig a trench to put in edging for MY flower bed.

Oops.

Then he had to level out the ground with his giant muscles. (In fairness, I tried to do this, but he had to take over because I lack the manpower. And the desire to work hard and sweat and other ghastly things.)  And then he did all the planting.

Oops.

So, at 4:30 on Saturday, the day he was supposed to build a shed, he finally got to start the shed.

Oops.

Now, don’t get your panties in a knot, dear readers.  I was being helpful.  Do you know what a “yard” of bark is?

Neither do I.

But my husband purchased FOUR “yards” of bark and had it loaded in the back of the truck.  Would you like to know who shoveled out all FOUR yards of bark?

Me.

I don’t know if shoveling four yards of bark is impressive, but after receiving multiple splinters and callouses on my hands, I would like to think it is.

On Sunday, David went back to work on the shed and I took the kids to church.  I have good news:  Summer came this weekend!

I, yes, I, Taylor Maliblahblah, got all crazy and wore capris and sandals.

Handsome Dude wore shorts and flip flops for the first time this year.  As he was walking into his classroom, he proudly held his Bible and said:

“I’m going to tell my girl that I am wearing shorts and flip flops!”

Lest any of you are confused, “his girl” is what he lovingly calls his teacher.

After church, the girls had a piano recital.

David took a break from his mad, shed-building skills (or skillz, whichever you prefer) and met up with us at the recital.

The girls brought down the house . . . as much as two first-year piano students can bring down a house.

My parents then took all four children home with them and I went to the house so I could be my husband’s help meet.

While my husband was being Bob the Builder, I donned my headphones and began to deep clean the house.

I. Had. A. Blast. 

I kid you not.  Do you know how lovely it is to have to worry about no children for a few hours?

True, I was scrubbing baseboards and windows, but I didn’t have to worry about potty breaks, snacks, fighting, crying, whining, and other mundane, parenting tasks.

So, I was in a grand mood, what with my headphones and the like, and I went to ask my husband when he would be finished.

Oops.

Apparently asking one’s stressed out husband when he would be finished building a shed after he had to create an unnecessary flower bed is not the best of plans.

Live and learn.

Moments later, some friends stopped by.  I told them David was building a shed.  The second I said that, his chainsaw started up.

It’s never a good sign to hear a chainsaw when one is building a shed, is it, dear readers?

Alas.

The shed is not built.  The yard is not raked.  The weeds are not whacked.  The fence is not built.

The renters come Friday and my husband has a full, busy work week ahead of him.

How shall he accomplish all these things?

No one knows.

But I do know this: my husband is Superman and he always gets the job done.

So, this week shall be a bit busy.  And stressful.

Oh!  And his truck broke down.  Do you remember how I had to tow his truck to the mechanic last Thursday?  Well.  It’s still broken.

Thankfully, his brother Alex is letting him use his truck.

Holla, Alex!

And holla to my mom and dad for watching the kids.

And holla to my friend Amanda who is taking all the kids tonight so I can try to be Bob the Builder with David tonight.

And holla to our friend, Mr. Roadie, who knows all about the wonderful world of landscaping and showed us the light.

Ah, good times.

Did this post make any sense?

Is anyone even reading this?

Hello?

I am uber tired and I shall sign off now.

Happy Monday!

PS-Sorry for the lack of pictures.  However, I decided that me walking around snapping pictures would be ill-received by my stressed out husband in such a time as this.

PPS-Roadies are really pretty!

PPPS-Anyone want to buy our house?  It has a lovely new flower bed.