Okay, Here Are Some Pictures

I'm sorry.  It's not that I've had so much more to do than usual.  There is the basement of course but it's not as if I'm the one down there on my hands and knees hammering nails.  It's just been one of those times when everything has kind of gotten away from me a bit.  I feel unorganized, forgetful, distracted, and most of all, tired.  You know those times when you just haven't found the sleep you need, or at least the sleep you can reasonably function on, you wake up groggy, can't get going, feel like you're playing catch-up all day . . .  I've just been in a slump.

{I must interject here--my sweet young women that I teach at church and truly enjoy were bemoaning the possibility of potentially waking up by 6:30 this Wednesday.  "Oh, we can't do it.  Six thirty, are you kidding.  Oh, I'll be so tired.  I just can't get up that early, I have to work at 2 that afternoon."  Wah wah wah.  I love these girls, I truly do, but I just had to tell them, I couldn't listen to it any longer.  Mind you, they where also required to be in bed by 10:00 Tuesday night, they were still getting a full 8 1/2 hours.  So I stepped up and spoke my mind (nicely of course) but I told them.  Seriously girls, you can't do it.  You're just too tired.  I'm sympathetic.  I really am.  I understand you have work, and school--except you don't have school, it's SUMMER--and you're family and friends.  I know you have a lot going on but come on.  You're too tired.  You're telling me this.  I am too tired.  And not just from a weekend of parties, not just because I had to get up by 8 to make it to church.  I haven't had a decent nights sleep in something like 6 YEARS!  Years, girls, years.  Not to mention staying up late to prepare lessons for you so come on, buck up, you can do it, because when you go home, nobody needs you, nobody is counting on you, you can go right to bed and not be disturbed. So please, please don't complain to me about sleep.}

Oh, I'm sorry, enough ranting.  I was nice.  They laughed.  I hope they understood I was not joking.  Anyway, so I'm tired.  Who isn't.  But unfortunately blogging has been preempted by the thought of a pillow.  I will try and get a quick post out now, but even though it's barely 9, I'm already to tired to make it at all interesting, clever, or witty, not that my posts are much of that anyway.  So here is a very sparsely worded, entirely unentertaining, down to business post.  The Basement Pictures:

(Although it is almost completely finished now, I took these before the carpet went in.  I can't bring myself to post more recent ones until everything is finished--have to keep a bit of surprise you know.)

Finished Storage Room

that little niche in the back only goes back a few feet.  It was just extra space I didn't want to waste--thought it would be perfect to hang winter coats or store big containers of water or something.

Bathroom:

those little tiles amongst the white are cobalt blue--I love 'em and I've got some green polka-dot towels to go in there.

Reading Nook:

That place where the freezer is will soon be occupied by three cute bean bags.  Opposite that wall are two book shelves.  And that handsome man in the back is our lovely contractor.  The two cutouts in the wall to the left of him look into the nook under the stairs that was made into a fun little play place. 

Play Area:

There is the little play space under the stairs, a closet against the back wall, the closet doors are sitting in the space where the slide will go, and a stage is built in the right corner.  The pictures hanging on the walls are big stickers I'm trying to figure out where to put.

Couch/TV Area:

self explanatory--couch and TV will go here

Craft Area:

This is the kids craft area--currently holding all the stuff we hauled out from the back storage room to do a little electrical work.  There are some cubbies and a short counter with a sink.  The window looks into my craft area--'cause I'm so crafty.  This way I can go in, shut the door to keep sticky hands out, but still keep an eye on kiddies.

So there you go, the basement.  I love it.  And as soon as I get it all done (soon I promise)  I'll post the final pics.

Salutations

Dear Basement Carpet,

Welcome to our home!  I know you had a bit of a rough introduction but the boys have been waiting so long and I was so excited for the four of you to meet.  I hope you didn't mind the immediate dashing back and forth across your cushy top.  And I'm sorry that in the first two minutes of our relationship Matthew kicked a scab on his ankle while running and has already scarred your lovely self with spatters of blood.  But I worked quickly, didn't I, to sponge it off, and dab you dry--good as new, don't you think?  Please forgive us.

But, my dear basement carpet that I already love, I hope you understand--I hope you understand that in choosing to be basement carpet, in choosing to be our basement carpet, you have not chosen a particularly easy life, but I can promise you it will be rewarding.  And we will love you.  But our love might be in ways you are not expecting.  We will not be showing our affection for you with holiday cocktail parties, or nights of gentlemen around pool tables and ladies chatting at a bar, or evening wine and cheese soirees; but, you will become an expert wrestler, gymnastics spotter, and tear absorber.  You will be witness to hundreds of precious children's comments, thousands of baby giggles, and umpteen exasperated parental moments. You will host countless parties, both planned and spontaneous.  You will be the foundation for every train set-up, Hot Wheels track, and imaginary jungle.  And you will be hailed by bare knees, tender palms, and in-coming noggins as the savior of all bumps and abrasions.  You will see us at our best and at our worst.  And I hope, when our time has come to part, that you will look back on your scars with fondness, and not think back to this very day wishing that you had rolled yourself right back into that white van as soon as you got a look in here and chosen job #2 in a nice quite retirement home.  I hope you will look at your own bumps and bruises, and remember the crazy boys who gave them to you, and know that you have been loved. 

Welcome to our family!

Omnipotent

Overheard in the garage as we are about to leave on a bike ride . . .

Me:  Matthew, hurry and run go to the bathroom.

Little Boy:  Mom, I don't have to pee.

Me:  Are you sure?

Little Boy:  Uh huh.

Me:  Listen, you can't even hold still to find your helmet.  Now run inside and go pee.

Little Boy:  I don't have to pee.

Me:  Yes you do.  Go pee.

{little boy runs inside}

Little Boy:  {yelled from inside the bathroom} Mom!  You where right!  I did have to pee!  You always know everything.

Me:  Yes.  That is why you should listen to me.

Little Boy:  How do you do that, Mom?!  You just know everything just like Jesus!

{The possibilities of his belief in this, my newly discovered omniscience, dance happily through my head and yet, I cannot bring myself to answer definitively in the affirmative}

Me:  Well, maybe not quite as much.  {I did wish the little boy to believe me all-knowing, but I did not wish to be struck down on the spot}. 

This Kid's Got Ideas

The other day Matthew was talking to me about growing older and asking how long until he turns 7, how long until he turns 12, and how long until he turns 19, etc.  I asked him if he knew what he can do when he turns 19.  He said no.  I explained, "You can go on a mission.  Daddy went on a mission, and Papa, and Uncle Steve, and Uncle Matt, and Uncle Phil."  "You know what I'm going to do when I turn 19 Mom?"  What honey?  "I'm going to go on vacation to Florida.  And go snorkeling, and ride the waves, and play in the sand.  And practice my surfing."

Yes.  We will revisit this later.

He also told me he has decided not to become a Policeman.  His reason:  "I would feel so sad when I have to put you in jail, Mom."  Thank you Little Moo.  He obviously has high goals for what I might become after he grows up and quits caring for me.

I am a #1

In answer to the last post's question--I'm a number one.  For several reasons I'm sure but here are the top two:

1. I hate confrontation.  I avoid it.  I pretend I don't know it's happening.  I run the other way.  Etc.  I will thank anyone, for telling me anything, and thank them happily, and then apologize for anything happily, if it avoids any kind of, um,  other people getting upset with me about stuff.
2. The other truth is, for better or worse, I am a fairly trusting mother.  I really do (probably without realizing it most times) trust that if I leave my kids on the playground while running another to the bathroom, or take my eye off two of them to help another down from a tree, that all the other mothers/fathers/nice people will notice if the boy I am not watching is about to tumble out off the climbing wall, or fall out of the grocery cart, or fall into deep water, and that said nice people will help the child I happen to be neglecting at the time.  Isn't that how we all get along with more than one kid?  I hope.  Please say it is.  At least I know I have stepped in more than once for other kids without thinking the worse of that mother knowing I have been or will be in the same situation at some time.

So, THANK YOU, to all you people who help me do my parenting.  Who notice my child in danger when I am tying another's shoe (or chatting with my friend--but that never really happens) and easily save them when I cannot.  But please don't mind if I joke about it later--like I had everything under control.

p.s.  Is it horrible that I actually had looked over the fence to check the depth of the water and was slightly more lax knowing that, if they did fall over, at least it was shallow enough that they could walk to the shore?

And one more thing, Marissa's comment would have made for one heck of a good story:

What about #4 - let your kid fall in and when the annoying white honkey runs over to the railing screaming "I TOLD YOU SO" you cold cock his honkey a-double-s right over the railing after your kid.  Then you say, "KICK DOWN WHITE BOY!  HOW YA LIKE ME NOW!"