Let there be light

Our anniversary is really on Monday but we are going out tonight. When you are married as long as we have been and since we have stopped eating out, the actual date on the calendar doesn't matter. Any ole night will work. One of the benefits of not eating out is that going out to eat is now special.

So we are heading out for an evening on the town. Gluten free, of course. I have my menu printed out and we are set! I think that God has been preparing me for a time such as this because I have always been one to want to know what I would order before arriving at the restaurant. For those times that I did not know before hand - it was a disaster. (Christmas shopping trip!)

It's funny how Randy never comes to me and says "How about us getting a new cordless drill for our anniversary," but I have no problem saying, "How about us getting a new lamp for our anniversary."

Of course, being the best husband in the entire world, he thinks the lamp is a perfect gift to each other!

I happened upon the lamp by accident earlier in the week and fell in love with it. What better reason to splurge than 24 years of marriage. And even to the same person! And every single time I see this beautiful, hand painted, Fair Trade, masterpiece - I will remember all the blood, sweat, and tears of each and every single year.

This little lamp of mine - We're gonna let it shine!

Chirp Chirp

I think my dad would love eating gluten free all the time - and not just when he's with me - because the crackers taste and look just like bird seed.

And he loves birds. And then we can sing "I'll Fly Away" together. In harmony. With his guitar. Except I'll be terribly off key because I can't really sing. But it will be great. Me and my dad. Two birds of a feather. Eating birdseed crackers together. I can just about guarantee you neither of his sons would eat birdseed with him.

There isn't a dad alive that would wish for a son if they had a daughter like me.

Splish Splash - I see a bird bath!

Issues

Just the other night the subject of "issues" came up. Which has had me analyzing my own "issues" ever since. Why do we have them? When do they start? How on earth do we overcome them?

I have terrible buyer’s remorse. It does not matter if I buy a car, a house, a new pair of shoes or get a haircut (yes. I’m struggling with my hair-is anybody really that surprised?) I think I need some new clothes to go better with short hair.

My family has lots of goofy food issues. One time Annie decided to smell the Kraft Mac & Cheese and hasn’t touched them since. I can count on one hand the things that Abby will eat.

And then there are The Brothers. One Celiac and the other one we will never know. What are the odds that all of us siblings would have it? And that other brother would starve to death on a gluten free diet. When we were in elementary school we had to clean our plates to go out to recess. Forget recess. We couldn't even LEAVE the lunchroom until our plates were clean. Once we had Tuna Fish sandwiches for lunch and he snuck that sandwich out of that lunchroom and stuck it inside his desk so he wouldn’t have to be the lone kid sitting alone in the gym. Staring at his lunch tray. All alone with the janitor. Lifting up his feet while the floor was being mopped beneath him. Listening to the echo of the clock tick tock second by second. Having the other kids come in and play basketball around his table. Snickering at the little boy in brown socks who wouldn't finish his lunch.

Smuggling that sandwich out of that gym was a feat in and of itself. There were Nazi lunch ladies- the same ladies who were our teachers. The same teachers who had bars of soap on their desks in case somebody would say "butt" or "fart." This little lunch crime wouldn't have been so bad except that it was the day before Christmas break! ICK!

I have been the official taste tester and food reviewer of gluten free products for my Celiac brother. I made some delicious homemade GF bread and took him a slice. He hated it. I found some GF seashell macaroni (family fave) and the smell made him gag and he wouldn't eat it.

I guess I take after my dad who really has no food issues. He eats anything. And for this I am grateful. I know that I can surely count on him as my main GF supporter at our family dinners. He will be eating all the gluten free crappy delicious food with me!

45 minutes

Me: I've really been wanting to get a short haircut so next haircut promise me you will talk me out of it?
Her: OK. So tell me what you like about your hair now. What is driving you nuts?
Me: I like it - just needs trimmed up. If I told you to cut it short next time how would you cut it?

Short explanation and visual of trendy, cute, short haircut.

Me: Just go ahead and cut it now.
Her: I think you should wait until next time. I'm not sure you're ready for such a change.
Me: I am. Really. I've been thinking about it for a long time.

And that is how I now have hair above my ears.

the art of creative parenting

You have to take parenting one day at a time. With a grain of salt. And at the same time - you have to be able to see into the future. How things may be one day if you don't nip it right now. Something else that I have found to be true is that you really shouldn't give any sort of parental advice until you are one yourself.

Things I used to think would bug me have turned out to be not so bad. ie: nose ring and tattoo. I've really found that neither is a big deal. THAT said I would prefer no more piercings or more tattoos And that would be a very, very strong preference. Are you listening, girls?

Conversation from last week.

Me: What if you meet somebody someday who is really conservative and has an issue with your tattoo.

Her: I would never like anybody like that! I will only like somebody who has MORE tattoos than me. (Sometimes, I SWEAR, I am talking to the 3 year old version of this child)

Later that week.....

Me: Promise me that you won't get any more tattoos until AFTER you graduate college? She did!

(I'm thinking of her counting some guy's tattoos making sure he has atleast 1 more than her. If she only has one- she only needs to find somebody with two. She can be perfectly content with a two tattoo kinda guy)

Would you like apricot jam with that ham string?

So yesterday I made several purchases.

Soy Milk. I don't drink milk except in my coffee. I'm trying to cut out milk products for a couple of months and then re-introduce them into my diet. However, I don't like the soy. So now I guess I need to start drinking my coffee black. UGH!

I also bought kosher salt. Only because I've read how good it is to cook with. Since I'm all into cooking these days I thought I'd give it a try.

My next purchase was my very own toaster. To avoid cross contamination. Which, I have found out, is a problem.

This morning, I pulled the toaster out of the box to make my tapioca (bread) toast and couldn't figure the dial out. So I plugged the toaster in and looked inside to see if the knob would make the bread pop out and there was a bunch of stuff in the bottom of the toaster. I thought it was cardboard from packaging so I unplugged the toaster and carried it to my sink to dump it out. Imagine my horror when I opened up the crumb tray to find actual bread crumbs! In my "brand new" toaster.

First thing - I can't have my sterile bread touching that gluten. I know. I know. I am a Nazi. Second thing - somebody USED the toaster and Wal-Mart put it right back on the shelf.

This really has really bugged me because I am trying to locate every morsel of gluten still in my diet. I would have used that toaster and never knew that a source of contamination was my new toaster.

And what if that toaster had been used as a meth lab. Or what if somebody chopped up their girlfriend and toasted part of her leg. I read the news. I know what goes on out there in the world.

I am just really disgusted right now.

I will not eat toast. For a long time. If ever.

day 9 of my ridiculous new healthy life

I dream about the day when food (mainly gluten) is not the subject of this blog. Today is not it.

All these fruits and veggies and whole foods are killing me.

What is the lesser of two evils? Damaged villi or gluten withdrawal-psychopath mad woman?

Miami Ink

What's a girl to do when she turns 18?

...and yet another page turner

"We read to know we are not alone." CS Lewis

Oh what comfort it brings my soul to know that somebody else is totally sick of rice cakes, too. AND has written a book about the subject!

Beyond Rice Cakes: A Young Person's Guide To Cooking, Eating & Living Gluten-Free

Mamma's got a brand new bag

What is currently in my Vera Bradley work tote:

• Rice Cakes
• Organic Peanut Butter
• Fresh Pineapple
• Grapes
• Strawberries
• Gluten Free Girl by Shauna James Ahern

Detox. Rehab. Day 8

Stuff that is making me crazy today!

• FAFSA and scholarship deadlines and tuition payments. And tuition payments. And tuition payments.
• My favorite pine tree-which is dead and has to be taken out . It is diseased. Too much Gluten. Celiacs.
• A 14 MPG SUV and $3.09 a gallon fuel to make it zoom. I am a broken record. I am a scratched CD. I am repeat on an I-Pod.
• Abe's perpetual state of bed head. He insists that he wants long hair. I am the adult. I am the adult. I am the adult.
• Insomnia - not because I'm not tired but because my problems seem to GROW when they hit my pillow. I will not worry. I will not worry. I will not worry.

18!

You finally decided to be born. 10 days late. In the middle of the night. Dad wasn't so excited to be getting woke up. When he finally got up he thought that he was going to shower before we left for the hospital. I think when he saw me, suitcase and keys in hand, he decided it may best to just skip the shower. We arrived at the hospital a little after 3:00 a.m. You were born shortly after 4:00 a.m. The first thing we noticed about you was the dimple in your chin. It is just as cute today as it was 18 years ago.

You slipped right into our routine. You were the absolute best newborn. Abby would pick you up and carry you around. She thought you were her little doll. By the time you were a toddler, though, things turned around. You would potty everywhere but the bathroom. You wrote on the walls and in books. You were a biter. If Wanda hadn't adored you so much, you would have been kicked out of her daycare many times. Most of the time you were sitting in her office (in trouble) when we came to pick you up.

Your shoes had to be tied just right. Your ponytails and braids had to be just so. Your quirky perfectionism drove me batty! Your constant meltdowns made us all crazy. You loved Barney. You always wanted to eat. You always seemed older than you were. You talked like an adult on your second birthday. You were always teachers pet.

When Abe was born you were like a second mommy to him. Actually, you were #1 mommy. I just fed him. You gave him baths. You changed diapers. You rocked him. You held him during his naps. Just the other night, when Abe was all snuggled in your bed, it brought back memories of when he was a newborn and you held him close. It made me a little sad.

All you ever wanted was to hang out with Abby and her friends. She looked at you as a pesky kid sister. Remember me telling you that someday you two would be best of friends?

You are my artist. You get that from your dad. I love how your mind works and the creative things you come up with. I also love the relationship you have with your friends. You are a great judge of character. They are blessed to call you friend.

I have enjoyed these past few years with you as a “grown up.” You are easy to be around. I know that you get tired of me wanting to hang out with you. I won’t apologize. I will take advantage of every cup of coffee, every walk, every gluten-free dinner, every late night talk, that I can.

You have challenged me to see the world differently. For that I am grateful. I admire your strong faith. I love your sweet temperament but mostly – I just love you for you. I am proud to be your mom.

Happy 18th birthday Annie Bananie (from outerspace....)

cliche'

• Ignorance is bliss. Life was so much easier before I knew about all my dietary requirements.
• Freak of Nature. That would be me.
• What you don't know can't hurt you. From what I know at this point, continual damage to the small intestine could lead to all sort of major complications later. AND I do want to feel good now.
• Focus on what I can eat and not what I can't. Really? That helps me forget about the Swedish Pancake Feed coming up at our church. And all the fresh bread sticks on the table at the Olive Garden. yada yada yada
• When in doubt - Go without. This, apparantly, is the national celiac motto. If you cannot verify ever single ingredient - don't chance it. That would have been helpful information BEFORE eating at Olive Garden.
• Against the grain. I'm going against the grain, alright.
• Beef. It's what for Dinner. Please hold all marinade and steak sauce.
• The best thing since sliced bread. That would be sliced TAPIOCO bread. Which happens to be what I enjoyed for breakfast this morning.
• You can't have your cake and eat it, too. Cake is stupid anyway. Who cares? I never really liked cake. It is overrated.

Yippee!

Our Girl Scout cookies came yesterday. I ordered them several weeks ago from the most adorable little Girl Scouts.

We got 2 boxes of delicious coconut and caramel gluten, 1 box of short bread gluten and 3 more boxes of even more delicious chocolate peanut butter and lemon gluten.

Have I mentioned that agitation is a symptom of Celiac? That is an obvious no-brainer.

Twinkies

Blue and Pink!

God won't be happy

Somebody better hurry and remove all that wheat from the communion bread.

attitude adjustment

Today is a happy day. We finally find out if our family tree is branching out with two boys. Two girls. Or a boy and a girl. I will post as soon as I hear the great news. Really - they are all great combo's. We will be thrilled no matter what.

This week has proved quite challenging in my world. Here is a list of things that have caused me to adjust my thoughts. Some are good and some are not-so-good.

1. My new sectional didn't fit down my stinkin' basement.
2. I have had no bread for 3 days.
3. I can't go to the annual Kiawana's Pancake Feed. Well - I can go I just can't eat.
4. Monday, I started to put different furniture in my office at work. Friday, it's still not finished.
5. I will never have another cinnamon roll on Saturday morning.
6. I have an hour-long massage to look forward to. Compliments of my great husband! (this is definitely an attitude adjustment)
7. Location of tattoo on soon to be 18 year old daughter.
8. Rice. It's what for dinner.
9. Friday movie night with the boys. Snuggling on the cozy new chaise. Oh wait! We don't have that anymore.
10. I can't have Brach's Royals. Finding these are like finding a needle in a haystack. I finally found them and now I can't eat them. FYI- All Brach's candy has gluten. So if you are wanting to cheer me up with a surprise- don't send Brach's. Send Rice, please.

Made in China

Well - we had our traditional family Valentine Dinner. Candle light. Soft music. Sweetheart napkins. Heart shaped confetti.

A couple of things, however, were not our tradition. One of them being that Annie was working so it was just me and the boys. Second, we didn't have heart shaped pizza. Frankly, I was way too tired to go out of town for this annual treat. What we had was spaghetti. And mine was gluten free. In case you are wondering what that means it means that it is spaghetti made out of rice. Rice! Next, was the big glass of red wine I had with my meal. It takes the edge off of all the rice. Abe mentioned that I told him I only had wine at weddings. I had to explain to him that was true. At weddings AND with rice. I'm just hoping and praying that I don't get tired of good old rice. Since it is makes up about everything that I have eaten the past 48 hours.

About now I am wondering what could be worse than Celiac Disease.

I can tell you that answer. Nothing.

Stupid wheat. Stupid barley. Stupid gluten. Stupid soy. Stupid everything else that is on the stupid list. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.

Cheese!

My niece, Sally Sue, just lost her first tooth. Toothless kids are my favorite kind of kids. Abe has been missing his top two since last September. OK. That is getting a little ridiculous.

I had forgotten how important loosing a tooth is for 5 year olds. Sally's big sister was practically in therapy in kindergarten because EVERYBODY had lost a tooth except for her. Abe was frustrated about not loosing a tooth as well.

We promised the little munchkins that their teeth, too, would fall out when the time was right.

And they did. My brother and I are so smart that way!

Just one of the many crises to be dealt with in raising kids these days.

whoops....

Rice Krispies actually have malt flavoring. They are officially off my approved foods list.

Snap Crackle Pop

I have been pursuing something for almost a year. Now that I have officially "acquired" it- I may be in over my head.

There is a lot of "happenstance" to my story. Last summer I happened across an article about a mother and her kids who couldn't eat pizza. Or pasta. Or bread. They were allergic to gluten. For some reason I found that very intriguing. I started doing research (AKA googling) and took some online tests and self diagnosed other family members as well as myself.

For months and months I have thought about just cutting gluten out of my diet. Except that I am horrible at reading labels. And it seemed that everything that I ate at every meal would have to be left off my plate. So that idea was shot down before it even began.

Then, I happened across a blog. The Gluten Free Girl. I took a link to yet another online test and wouldn't you know it? I had every symptom except two. One of those two is that I did not have a first-degree relative who had already been diagnosed.

I was sick and tired of literally feeling sick and tired and I couldn't get all of this stuff out my mind so I called my Doctor to see about having the blood work. That was the only way to found out if I was out of my mind.

I am sure the nurse thought I was a bit of a hypochondriac. She started out by asking me if I had a relative who had been diagnosed. I said no that I would be the one setting the curve for the family and that I was positive that three immediate family members would be right behind me for the tests. 15 minutes later she called me back and I had my appointment at the lab.

The results finally came in yesterday. Celiac Disease. Now I am wondering why on earth I ever wanted to confirm it? Here's the deal. It is a bigger deal than I thought. I had no idea.

My body thinks that gluten (the elastic protein in wheat, rye, barley, triticale, kamut, and spelt) is a toxin. So my body tries to attack the gluten but attacks the small intestine instead. The result of this is it leaves me feeling exhausted, anxious, and having terrible stomachaches and left untreated, can lead to colon cancer and other auto immune disorders such as diabetes and thyroid problems. It has recently been linked to Lymphoma.

Two years gluten free and my small intestine should be back to normal. So I went from thinking a piece of birthday cake now and again would be fine. The truth is that it will not be ok. I have to have a lifetime of gluten free food. ANY gluten would send my body back into a full-blown attack of the antibodies.

Today is day one of my gluten free diet and I'm starting a food journal. Honestly, it won't be near as hard as I thought.

Breakfast: Rice Krispies
Lunch: Rice Krispies
Dinner: Rice Krispies
Snack: Rice Krispies

De Ja Vu

Today was spring picture day at school. I had to really convince Abe it was OK to wear a button up shirt to school. It took some fancy parenting skills on my part - but I finally convinced him he wouldn't be "overdressed" for school. After the khaki pants episode last week, I didn't want to wake up this morning to drama so I totally took care of it last night.

After school, we had his parent-teacher conference. On the right hand corner of his progress report is his school picture from fall. Funny. He was wearing the same exact button up shirt in his fall picture that he had on today for his spring picture.

I asked him if he realized that he was wearing the same shirt for both pictures because, apparently, his mother has no idea what she is doing.

He looked at me and said, "I wondered why I felt such De Ja Vu all day."

Past Due

Eighteen years ago I was past my due date with Annie.

I know those dates are only estimates - but good grief - if they WERE accurate I was pregnant 25 extra days between the two girls. What is up with that? That is practically an entire month!

I suppose those girls of mine were worth the extra days of waiting. and waiting. and waiting.

We still have 10 days to celebrate the big day with baby sis and these days I'm glad for those extra days. It will take me every single one of 'em to get her to reconsider the body ink.

SOFA - A Four Letter Word!

What a day. Started out normal. Got worse as the day progressed.

I've been wanting new basement furniture for some time now. Before Christmas, we found a great deal on a reclining leather sectional. I'm not into leather. Or sectionals. But the price was great and it would have been wonderful in our basement. The furniture movers could not get the "wedge" to fit into our basement. Randy had the brilliant idea that he would remove the leather and unbolt the frame and then put it all back together again in our basement. Me, not being the risk taker, thought that was a little risky. So we returned it.

Today - by chance - I found the exact couch that I wanted. It was very cozy (not leather) and would seat many (and not a sectional). It was a sofa with a lounger (see picture) I loved it! It was two pieces - no wedge - and Randy said it would fit in our basement.

Today - by chance - I found somebody that would buy the couch I already have. We scraped enough cash up and went to get the new furniture.

I was excited. Happy. Pleased. No buyers remorse. Which, if you know me, NEVER happens. This was surely meant to be.

My brother so happily came to help with the couch swapping.

My brother is probably not speaking to me.

Old couch was a BOOGER to get out. We now have ceiling tiles that need replaced and walls that need repainted. My spirits were still up. The new cozy couch of my dreams would make it all worthwhile.

To make a long story short my brother-in-law showed up in the middle of the mess. Three grown men could not make my dream sofa fit. Couldn't get it down basement stairs. So - we returned new couch.

And then tonight - my brother and other brother (they must really love me or they are so looking forward to payback) came and shoved the old couch back down.

Plan B?

Take two Excedrin and go to bed.

Bitter Sweet

The last homecoming for these friends.

Happy Feet

10 happy things from this past week:

1. Full tank of gas with nowhere to go.
2. Impromptu coffee time with friends.
3. 2007 Income Taxes filed - with a refund - however small it may be.
4. 2007 Income Taxes filed for 17 year old daughter - even smaller refund!
5. College letter of acceptance finally arrived. No surprise but still a relief for the college bound freshman in my life.
6. Monopoly.
7. Super Bowl Party.
8. Snow Day.
9. Dollar movie and kiddy popcorn.
10. My organized pantry and the smell of fresh paint.

cousins

I have said it many times but I will say it again. Abe has been blessed with lots of wonderful cousins and they just keep coming!

School was out early today. Since I was home Monday AND Tuesday with the little guy - he got lucky and walked to his cousins for the afternoon.

I'm not so sure who was more excited. Sam & Henry or Abe!

Captain Underpants

Abe is still out of sorts. Oh! He is feeling fine now he is just cranky. With an attitude. I choose to blame it on the bug he just had.

This morning he woke up, to his own alarm clock, and got dressed. He put on the clothes that we laid out last night. Orange T-shirt. Blue GAP hoodie. Khaki pants.

When I saw him completely dressed and ready for school I asked him why he was so cranky. Wasn't it just yesterday that he was more than anxious to head back to school?

His head spun around (we have witnessed this head spinning on one of his sisters, too) and this is what he spouted:

I WOULD RATHER WEAR MY UNDERWEAR TO SCHOOL THAN THESE CHURCH PANTS!

Sweet Dreams

Psalm 4:8 I will lay down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.

Tonight was my small group night. We get together every week to help each other make it through the next week!

Recently, we have been discussing how powerful it is to pray scripture. One of the prayer requests was for calm and restful sleep. My friend was well equipped with three specific verses on sleep. One of them was Psalm 4:8.

As I opened up my Bible a neon pink note card caught my eye. It was from several years ago and I have no idea why I still had that thing in my Bible. I'm not one to have a bunch of stuff stuck in my Bible. I remember once Randy dropped his Bible at church and 52 bulletins and inserts and Sunday School worksheets and Bible Study lessons were everywhere. That is not me. My Bible is much neater. I had last weeks bulletin and some notes. Nothing from last month much less 4 years ago.

But there it was. In my hands. In my handwriting. It was a list of 4 women who were (and still are) near and dear to my heart. Each name had a verse that I had been praying just for them. My friend, in desperate need of sweet dreams, was on the note card.

Written beside her name was this: Psalm 4:8 I will lay down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.

An answer to prayer? I think so.

Some things never change

Get out of jail $50.00

Luxery Tax $75.00

Income Tax $200.00

Rent on Boardwalk (with two houses) $1400.00

Still being able to beat my baby brother - Priceless

...then Monday turned into Tuesday

First things first. Abe's conference wasn't yesterday. It is NEXT Monday! How do I get so confused? I may have gotten a few too many highlights in my hair.

Then - I sent little guy to school today. He said he was feeling good. He ate breakfast. Still felt good. We did decide to pack a lunch because the school lunch didn't sound yummy to him. I told him if he felt funny to call me and he could come home. He reassured me that he was fine. I reassured him that I was a phone call away.

Around 10:00 this morning the school secretary called work to let me know that Abe was in the office. Very low grade fever but feeling ill nonetheless.

My confession is this: I am a terrible horrible mommy. I HAD to finish the paperwork for our driver at work. He was heading out for the week and waiting on me to leave town. At 10:45 I arrived to pick up Abe. He was sitting in the office with his coat, hat, gloves, and backpack on. It broke my heart. He had gotten booted from the sick room. Somebody much sicker needed his spot so he was just sitting in the chair at the front of the office. Patiently waiting for me.

He looked at me and said, "I thought you would NEVER get here!"

I had to agree. Those were the longest 45 minutes of my life, too.

Rainy Days & Mondays....

Well, it's not raining but it IS Monday.

I woke up this morning to Abe being really cold and then really really hot and then - you can probably guess it - puking! He is such an awesome little guy, however. He made it into the bathroom. I still had a mess to clean up but it WAS in the correct room of the house.

Monday's are extremely crucial days for me to be in the office. In addition to this, it is the first of the month - my work load seems to double AND my boss is on vacation. Not a great day for me to take off with a sick little boy.

So - as most working parents do - we juggled. Randy came home late morning and I headed to work. After work I will attend his parent/teacher conference and then home to make dinner.

Honestly, it is days like this where I wish we were a stay at home mom and had nothing but my own family's schedule to worry about. Randy wishes that for himself, too.

I guess after all these years him and I are still the perfect match.

Two unemployed, welfare collecting, sit around drinking coffee all day, parents!

Saturday Nite

It's Saturday Nite and we ain't got nobody...except each other. So we put together Valentines.

After we had started our project - Randy asked me WHY would we go to all this work when we could have spent .99 and gotten store bought Valentines.


"WHY?" I asked him, "would Abe want to hand out .99 Batman Valentines when he could proudly give his friends these??"


And his teacher this cute candy bar?

Of course, Randy was already exausted from painting the pantry all weekend. And goofy from all those oil based paint fumes. But it looks awesome. I can't wait to move my entire stock of groceries from the dining room, dining room table and window seat back in! It's not completely finished - but here is a sneak peak.


I'm feeling like we had a pretty productive weekend. And it's not even Sunday yet!
Speaking of Sunday - Super Bowl Sunday - we finally got an invite to a party. My self esteem just went up a notch.

best intentions

I thought that we would do really cute, homemade Valentines for Abe's classmates as well as the 1st graders that Annie helps with.

I have had all the supplies for two weeks now. Have I started? No. Have I thought about them? Yes. Every day. Will they get finished before February 14? I hope so.

And then there is Annie's scrapbook. We surprised Abby with a scrapbook when she graduated and now Annie and I are getting ready to start hers. Poor girl. She has to help with her own surprise! Truth be told - I wouldn't attempt a scrapbook without her. Last weekend we finally purchased all the fun things to get going. Have we started? No. Have I thought about it? Yes. Every day. Will it be finished before her graduation in May? I certainly hope so.

Speaking of Annie - she still needs her passport for her cruise. We finally did get the picture taken. 7 days ago. That is as far as we've gotten. This is not entirely my fault. She has worked every day and so we will have to wait until she has a day off.

And then there is this weekend. When we moved into our house (exactly three years ago!) I fell in love with our pantry. I painted the walls Lime Green thinking it would be "fun."

Guess what? I am sick of "fun" and I used the "wrong" white paint on the shelves. I guess Randy was too busy renovating the entire rest of the house to supervise my paint choices and so for three years - the white paint has been flaking off the shelves. What that means is we have paint chips all over the floor and everytime I grab a can of veggies there are paint chips all over my kitchen.

Randy is "remodeling" my pantry this weekend. We are putting up beadboard and re-painting everything cloud white. I am so excited. I have purchased new canvas totes to organize things in. It is going to be amazing!

So now today I have to hurry home and empty the ENTIRE pantry before he gets home. Those are my strict orders from him. I have 6 months of canned goods, all of my crockpots, skillets, pasta cooker, steamer, bundt pans, baskets, tupperware, and a peg board full of stuff, to unload and pile into the dining room for a week.

Where do I come up with all these brilliant ideas?

The better question may be WHY do I come up with these brilliant ideas?