We sold the house!

I thought I would be sadder to say goodbye to our house, but our new house has a two car garage that is all mine, mine, mine. That joy overrides any sadness I have in leaving our designer kitchen. I now have a table saw, a skillsaw, a handsander, a scrollsaw, and birthday money with which I plan on buying an excellent router. The only complaint I have is that our new house has so many closets and storage that I don't need to make any divinely modern bookshelves. I have this love of spending money on materials to make things. Now I own about 100 yards of fabric that is just waiting to be sewn into stuff. It's a problem.
I'm happy to report that I did get Easter dresses made for the girls and they turned out sooooooo cute. Next time they wear them, I'll take a picture.

Though I love projects, renovating our old house, I was always pushing the kids away, telling them I was busy, they had to play by themselves, we'll go to the zoo/playground/pool another day, HURRY HURRY don't get distracted we're in a rush. In our new house, I have no projects with deadlines. One day last week, we went to the YMCA in the morning, then straight to the zoo, then nap for a long time, made sugar cookies with the kids when they woke up, then picnic dinner at the park with friends, right into bed. I loved it. I bought a kiddie pool and the kids have a blast in there. Axel and I played frisbee outside. Maggie and I had a good conversation about her favorite color and what Daddy does for work. Lucy is being snuggled and kissed and praised (and disciplined, she's a pistol) more than ever. I love our new house. And very unlike me, all of our organizing has been done in old diaper boxes, because I can't afford cute baskets and my house doesn't have to be cute because we're not showing it - and I love that my house doesn't HAVE to be cute, unless it fits into our budget/time restraints.
The only negative about the house is that the air conditioner is sub par. Today it was 90 and it will only get hotter. It's only up to 80 in the house, but that's my max. If the house can only be cooled 10 degrees, I'll be pretty cranky when its 110 outside. I'm pretty sure the landlord will fix it. He seems like a nice guy. I'll call him tomorrow.

A few funny things: Axel(age 4)can read - which is usually awesome, but sometimes is a hassle. The other day I put him in the front seat. Gasp! I know, but I was going about 10 blocks and I had my friend's baby with me and we still don't have a van, and 3 kids of our own, so I figured it was ok for 10 blocks. Well Axel said, "Mom, I can't be in this seat! It says the airbag could take my head off!" I tried to tell him it was ok and I'd be careful, but he remained unconvinced and frequently and urgently told me to slow down. At pre-school (I rotate with a few other moms) he learned about feelings and my friend printed out one of those sheets with all the faces showing different emotions with the emotions written underneath. Well there are about 100 on the page so of course she didn't look at every single one and Axel pointed to the paper and asked, "What does turned-on mean?" Ha! We even have to be careful when we're reading the news, because he can actually read that a gunman shot people in a bloody massacre. On the upside, he gives killer talks in primary.

Maggie(age 2)is getting very interested in the potty. And I am ready to stop buying diapers for her. We got a Dora potty and I'm gathering my strength and courage to begin potty training next week. I've got the chart, the stars, the m&m's, the elmo panties, the big prizes, still need to get the carpet cleaner. I am dreading it. She's sat on the potty many times, but has yet to produce anything in the potty. She's good at telling me after the fact and asking for a diaper change. Does anyone feel bad for me? I am dreading it. That's the wrong attitude, she'll probably sense it and hate the potty and scream when it's time to go. So, I'm actually looking forward to it. There'll be prizes and dancing - I love prizes and dancing. I can't wait!

Lucy (1 last week) fell asleep on me today at church. She's the only one of my children who have done that as a baby. It is so sweet. She is so loveable - animated, always wants to be in your lap, smart as a whip, understands just about everything, spits stuff out when I tell her 'caca', giggles wildly when Axel rough houses with her, is super tough about pain, and smiley all the time - except when she's not. She HATES to be put down and actually won't let you sit her down. She arches her back like crazy and screams so you have to lay her down. She cries and cries. If I take something away that she has in her hands she crazily flaps her arms and hits me in the face. I'm pretty sure now she does it on purpose to hit my face. What a stinker. Hit her Mama! That always pushes my button like crazy. My other kids learned pretty quickly it was in their best interest not to hit me, no matter how mad they were and how unfair I was. Lucy is a glutton for punishment, or just superstubborn, because she HATES time-out, she's smart enough to know she's in time-out because she hit Mama and was throwing a fit, and she still consistently hits me. I'm sure I can teach her not to hit, but I sure am not looking forward to the two's or teens. Yikes. Even Paul, who always gives our kids the benefit of the doubt, is concerned. However, her extra stinkiness is only in direct proportion to her extra delightfulness. She is irresistible and I love to be around her and close to her, she's just captivating. And she is fire and instant mood swings, and opinionated. She's destined to be super sexy and 6 feet tall. Heaven help all of us who love her.


And Paul is one of those guys who gets hotter as he ages. And he's really good to me. One example: Since we have had children (4.5 years) I consistently check-out of motherhood at social gatherings. I don't do it on purpose, I don't think, "Paul can watch the kids, I've done it all day." I just think, "Oh I love your new haircut, this is delicious pulled pork, can I watch your kids while you pack this week, lets get together and fix the zipper in your favorite skirt, yes we can change preschool day this week." On Memorial day we went to an excellent BBQ potluck with big pool and kiddie pools and slip and slide and all my favorite people. Paul had all the kids far away at a pool and I was at the tables chatting. Then he brought Maggie over, "Can you watch her for a minute." I don't think I said yes, but we did make eye contact, so I was supposed to watch her. Well somewhere in the middle she slipped off, I'm sure not far away and amongst all our friends, I'm sure she was fine. Paul came back, "Alisha, where's Maggie?!" "I don't know she was just here, she's not far." He disappeared in search of her. That was it. No rebuke or scolding or feeling dumped on. He just found her and brought her back to the pool and I chatted. I'm making him a cheesecake for that. Plus, it's that time again: the time when we go to Vegas to see Paul's family and they notice how thin he is and are concerned he doesn't eat enough, which he doesn't. So I'm fattening Hansel up.


And me, I ran the half marathon in Nashville, and loved it. Way fun. Next year either I or Paul will run it. One of us should. I want him to because it was so fun and good for the body and training for a half marathon probably extends your life at least one year. Plus, it would be way fun to cheer him on with the kids and we could make signs and stage ourselves at the hardest spots and tell him how incredible he is when he finishes. But if he can't, then I'll do it. My goal will be 1:45. I would be so proud of myself for that. I recommend a half marathon to everyone. It was sooooo much fun.