My Little Life

Something hit me tonight. Weary, emotionally spent and physically exhausted after dealing with a strong-willed two year old and the rest of my gaggle, I was so ready for bedtime to come. I needed bedtime like a heroine addict needs their next hit. I could feel it in my bones...bedtime had to come. And it did. Just like it does every night...but something different happened tonight. Tonight, as I was getting my Baby Girl ready to tuck in, I asked if she wanted to rock-a-bye. To my surprise (and delight) she said yes. Baby Girl is NOT a snuggler...she's getting better, but she's not what I'd call a "warm fuzzy". As she lay against my chest and I rocked her by the light of the moon...I realized that this lap time is too short. I could hear The Pal bustling around after baseball and I thought about how truly short lived our time is to have our children on our laps. Developmentally, of course...but even more so, logistically. I look at my bigger kids and think how muc

Mornin ' friends! Shall we talk a little shop over our coffee this morning? I thought maybe I should touch on "what to bring to the hospital". Whaddya think? Well...I guess no matter what you think, you're stuck with this! ;) So...you think it's "time" ? Or, maybe your water broke ? Perhaps you're just checking in for your induction ? Regardless...you'll probably have packed a bag. Depending upon which baby this is for you, you will likely be either A. laden down with three large bags (one for each of you), a car seat, a cooler full of snacks, a radio, a camera, a video camera, the baby book, a diaper bag (in addition to the other large bag already packed for the baby), and the kitchen sink, OR, B. yourself, perhaps one small bag that includes what you, your husband and your baby will need while you stay at the hospital. Can you guess which scenario is the sweet young mother? Lemme give you a hint...*whispers* it's NOT "B"! Neve

I need help. I need a transfusion of braincells. Anyone willing to donate? I've always said that a woman loses 25% of her braincells with the conception, gestating, and birth of each child. So...let's do a little math equation... Me + 5 children - 25% of braincells x 5 = erm...ahh...well, I can't figger it out. I've got nuthin ' left up there! I downloaded the "fully functioning" trial version of Photoshop last night. I eagerly anticipated it's installation and watched that little blue bar get bigger and bigger and the time tick down. Then, I opened it. And, already I was stumped. I couldn't figure out how to open a photo!! Oh, fer Pete's sake!! (Um..."place"???? How 'bout "add" or "open" or "click here to upload a photo"??? No...it's "place". Dumb.) I tried three times. I failed miserably twice...and came up with this on the third: (can someone tell me why this photo look so wonky

Somedays , when I'm faced with this: I wonder when it will get easier. I wonder when my days won't be filled with needs, demands, requests and chaos. And then I realize... I realize it'll all be gone too soon. And I can wait forever to have "too soon" arrive. "Tho the days seem long, The years go fast." -Author Unknown

I hate it. I hate being judged. I hate being critiqued. I know it makes a person better, but I'm such a softy...sometimes I just can't bear to hear that I suck. It's why I kept my blog to myself for so long...it's why I still don't shout from the roof tops that I have this goofy little blog. And...it's what's been holding me back from showing you what I'm going to show you. I have recently re-fallen in love with photography. I have always loved photography...I would imagine the fabulous shots I would get of abandoned barns and rickety old buildings. I dreamed of capturing phenomenal shots of my children to decorate our walls with. It's what's driving me to become a better photographer...and not just a "picture taker". I was playing around on Picnik the other day (which is really just a catch 22...lets you do just enough with your photos to make them better...but not enough to make them fantabulous! Now I want Photoshop even more than I

I experienced something the other night that I can honestly say I've never ever experienced before. Interesting stuff... Let me tell you a little story. This, is BIL #1 (not 'cuz I rate my BIL's according to favorites...it's just that he's the oldest of my husbands brothers...well, all siblings, actually...). BIL #1 has a way with cows. BIL #2 (ha!! Fitting for him...#2!!) and my hubby raise Red Angus beef cattle as a hobby. Part of raising said cattle is...well... making more cattle. Phrases like, "I might be late...I hafta breed a cow" are entirely normal around here. Only thing is...is I'm a city girl. Well...a "recovering" city girl! When my hubby convinced me to move to the country, I had no idea what I was missing! But, never in my life have I been witness to a "cattle conception". And, I had my chance last week. (Warning...the following photos may be graphic to some viewers...and may invoke many questions by small children i

Notice anything new around here??? :)

Seems these Sunday dates get late, sometimes! I spent most of today at, probably, the most gorgeous home I've ever stepped foot into. Puts my dream house to shame, really. I didn't want to leave...I kicked and cried and clung to the door jamb as they shooed me out the door. I made my body limp and chanted "HELL NO, I WON'T GO!!!" Then, I sat on the front step until I got hungry and had to leave to eat something before my blood sugar plummeted and I got all crabby. Now, I'm picking the splinters from the door jamb out from under my fingernails. Ouch. But, anyway...enough about my woes...it's time for this week's date! I am pleased to announce our Date as: Andrea's Attic I'm Andrea, a southern newlywed married to my handsome handyman. I enjoy all things crafty and cheap, DIY , Southern favorites, cooking, and OK State football. Join me as I learn the ins & outs of married life, DIY , and eventually mommyhood . She is the MOST amazingly craf

Ahhhhhhh ...it's Friday!! I'm feeling a good weekend comin ' on...a massage with my bestie tomorrow, a grad party, some photography and nuthin ' but family...oh, and Five Question Friday to start it all off!! Welcome! If you've never participated before...jump on in!! You'll enjoy it, I promise! Scouts honor. *raises two fingers* I was thinking of vloggin ' it today...but there are just too many links/YouTube videos I want to include...and I'm quite certain you don't want to hear THAT much singing from me. (*whispers* Trust me! You don't!!) Let's get started, shall we?! Rules for 5 QF : Copy and paste the following questions to your blog post. Answer them, then c'mon back and link up! If you don't have a blog, but would like to play along, feel free to leave your answers in the comments of this post, or any post along the way! Questions for Friday, June 25 th (TWENTY-FIFTH???? When did that happen???): (Special thanks to Jill [who

WHOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOO !!! It is GORGEOUSNESS here in MinneSOOOta ...finally! I am so happy that it is the weekend. SOOOOOOO happy...I worked 5 days in a row last week, which I know is what the rest of America does, but this chick ain't used to that! Anywho ...it's Thursday, which means it's time for the Five Question Friday Sneak Peek!! Remember, this is just the sneak peek at the questions...a head start for you to answer them and get your post all ready for the linky tomorrow! (Which I'll have up bright and early...promise.) Rules for 5 QF : Copy and paste the following questions to your blog post. Answer them, then c'mon back and link up! If you don't have a blog, but would like to play along, feel free to leave your answers in the comments of this post, or any post along the way! Questions for Friday, June 25 th (TWENTY-FIFTH???? When did that happen???): (Special thanks to Jill [whose question I chose, ' cuz I know the Crayon Wrangler vlogs and pl

I'm not sure if I've mentioned it, but I recently acquired a 50mm lens for my camera. (I totally had to sell myself for it...but nonetheless, it is now mine!! I am, however, a photo slave to my husband's business because of it...) I'm in love. If I could marry it, I would. But I can't, I'm already married. Speaking of love...I *heart* Tootsie Rolls. They remind me of my Sam's Club angel . I totally LOVE the shots I'm getting...but, can someone explain to me what's up with this: You know, besides "orbs" and possibilities of "paranormal activity" that are coming out of my tree stump? And here...it's not: I'm cornfused. I don't get it.