Well, then.

We switched cell phone providers a month and a half ago. My new cell phone drops calls constantly. The rest of the time people cannot hear me for the awful reception. Often I cannot dial out. I called to complain and they are sending me a new phone to see if that fixes the problem. Perfect.

Two hours later, an automated call asked me to push one if I was satisfied with their customer service, two if I was not. The reception was so fuzzy it wouldn’t recognize my selection. After three tries, I gave up and hung up. Fitting.

Don’t put all the eggs into one bucket…

…if Ruby’s carrying them to the house. “I won’t run, Momma. Can I carry the eggs?” We’ve been through this before. Running to the house with a bucket full of eggs makes for pre-scrambled eggs: dirty-style.

So I let her carry the eggs into the house from the chicken coop this morning.

One egg survived the trip.

But… she didn’t run.

Those clock hands are just so confusing. But I know what you mean anyway.

“Mom. Mom. Mom. Ruby’s asleep, and Charlotte’s asleep and you’re asleep and I don’t want to sleep, So what can I do? Sorry for waking you up though. You can take another nap after you tell me what I can do if you want to.”

“Thank you, Sterling. How about coloring a picture?”

“Or you could get me lunch.”

“What time is it?”

“Umm… maybe it’s 6 o’clock, or maybe it’s two o’clock.”

“One-thirty. Perfect. How about lunch?”

Ruby’s covered in bug bites. Sleep has been sporadic around here these last few nights. Thus the naps before lunchtime. But this was by far the best conversation I had all day.

I like your perspective.

Back when I was single (in my teens, mind you) I had this perfect ideal for who my husband would be, I didn’t pick thin. Nope, I wanted one bigger than me – by a lot. I did not have any desire to rival my husband for size – or worse yet, beat him hands down. But personality and values and beliefs trumped size – thankfully – and I married a man who barely outweighed me. And then I got pregnant. Six times. He didn’t leave me a whole lot of growing room before the inevitable happened. But Sterling informed me yesterday (after he asked how much I weighed and I told him that he must never, never ask a lady that question. And then I had to explain what a lady was.) that Daddy weighs lots more than me, because he’s bigger. I agreed – that must certainly be true. Blaine walked in right then, caught the gist of the conversation, and agreed Sterling was most certainly right. Wise man.

Have I ever mentioned I was going to marry a redhead? That didn’t work out so well either. I’d planned for a bunch of redheaded babies. But these blond ones are awfully cute. Turns out, God had different plans than I did – better ones for sure. I’m so glad. So thankful for my blond, thin husband. So thankful.

Happy Birthday, Liberty Skye.

Photo compliments of my parents. She’s celebrating her birthday in South Dakota!

Liberty is 8 years old. Happy birthday, Baby Girl. I love you.

Sewing machine: 6. Me: 0.

So the skirts flopped. I’m blaming it on my machine’s bobbin tension with the elastic thread. Mom’s bringing her machine down next week; we’ll try it again. Then we’ll all know: is it the machine, or is it me??? Shirring has gotten the better of me every time I’ve tried on my machine. 6 projects later. Makes me crabby.

Next up: Magenta diaper covers. Ruby was PENNDOT Ruby with her neon orange covers; Charlotte is going to be well camouflaged - in the raspberry patch. I just can’t leave well enough alone and go with pastels. Got the PUL in the mail today. Trying to get the house cleaned up so I can go sew. That’s why I’m sitting here, you know. Oh, that makes such sense.

Blaine’s on his way home. After yesterday and the skirts and the kids whining because I was paying more attention to the sewing machine than them… it’s a good thing it’s Friday and this week is almost over.

Poison ivy got the better of me last week and it’s still spouting about it’s victory. Ruby’s taken to grabbing the anti itch cream and smearing it on my legs when she sees me itch. So funny. Yet not.

Time to mop. There’s calamine lotion spilled on the floor. Wonder where on earth that came from?

My scrambled frame of mind right about now.

Blaine is traveling for work for a few days. Liberty and Eden are in South Dakota. Boy, does life feel strange right about now. It took three days to get enough dishes to fill the dishwasher. I’ve done 5 loads of laundry since Monday. Usually I’d be on #10 at least by now. Two of those loads were peed-on sheets from Charlotte wearing a paper diaper to bed when I know better. So we’re theoretically 3 loads in. So strange.

Sterling and Ruby are taking naps in my bed. Judging from the giggling going on, they are both having some very funny dreams. Or something else is going on in there besides sleep.

Blaine’s birthday was Tuesday. Sterling wanted to get him bubble gum. I said Daddy doesn’t like gum. He wanted to get him a wheelbarrow. I told him Daddy already has one. Sterling decided we should just get gum and a wheelbarrow for himself instead.

Liberty’s birthday is Sunday. She’ll be 8 and be celebrating in South Dakota. I’ve had the hardest time figuring out what to get her – for her late birthday party when she gets home. Growing up, not big enough for makeup, too big for toys. I’m still wondering how you parent an eight year old. Two is so much easier.

Eden asked if she could get another hole in her ears when she gets home. She looked indignant when I said no. Sterling told me he didn’t want me to have my nose pierced. I’d been debating taking it out anyway. Did that a week ago. He hasn’t noticed yet. I guess it was really bugging him. Blaine noticed after 5 days. Must have been bugging him too. Charlotte got her ears pierced this week. She noticed the moment they did it. Blaine noticed as soon as he saw her. Ruby’s excited that she and Charlie “match”. They gave Charlotte a sucker afterwards. This is the third time someone has given my 8, and before 7, month old a sucker. Starting to wonder if she looks two to everyone else or if I’m one of the few that wouldn’t give candy to a baby who still eats the majority of her calories in liquid form. She really liked the sucker. Still trying to get her white shirt white again.

I’m making this this afternoon. You know, while Sterling and Ruby talk in their sleep. I’ll let you know how that goes!