Random Thoughts Thursday

WE FOUND A HOUSE!!!  And it is close to the canyon. I am thrilled.

I love sleep, especially eight hours right in a row. This love is one of the reasons that the baby stage is so challenging for me. One of the up sides, babies don't whine.

I saw this off of  a link on my sister-in-law's blog. It is awesome.

Remember the offer if you want to decorate my home....still good. I don't think most of you will understand the extreme stress it is for me to think about decorating my home. It is the complete opposite of fun for me.

I just finished Stephanie Nielson's memoir. So very good. But have a box of Kleenex handy.

Today in the car Savannah asked what tomorrow is. I told her it was Friday. She then asked if Friday was when the elephant's smash the pumpkins. It took ten minutes of conversation with both girls to realize she was asking if Friday was Thanksgiving, during which, at the zoo, they give the elephants pumpkins to smash..... One of the many reasons I love my girls.

My Socially Acceptable Addiction

"Hello. My name is Emily."

"Hello, Emily."

"And I am.....a reader."

"Emily, when did you start reading?"

"I've been reading since I was a child. I mean really it made sense. My parents are readers and so they had books all over our home, so I had the access. My mother even read books to us, before we could read ourselves, which they say is a risk factor, so it really was only a matter of time. But, as is common, my reading really took off in adolesense. In seventh grade, all of my friends moved away so I would go to the library every day and check out two books and have them read by the time I went to school the next day."

"Whoa."

"I know. It was nothing heavy, just Sweet Valley High, but Elizabeth and Jessica got me through that year until I made new friends. "

"So when did you feel like you became, you know, an addicted reader?"

"It came on gradually over my life. In childhood I would reread the same books over and over again. The Boxcar Children, Heidi, The Secret Garden, Anne of Green Gables, and Little Women. In high school it was the classics, Charles Dickens, Jane Austen, the Brontes. I actually took somewhat of a break in college because my reading was so closely tied to school that when I had free time books were the last place I looked, but during breaks I would always binge. After college, I started expanding past the classics that consumed me in high school and explored modern authors until I found my niche. Now, I read memoirs and fiction, mostly. But I've started even reading the newspaper (online of course). Reading impacts my sleep, I often stay up late to finish a book because I HAVE  to find out what happens!"

"We've been there. We know."

 I read when I eat (but only at lunch so no one will suspect.) I even started reading after I had my baby...in the hospital."

"No."

"Yes.I read when I nurse.  And sometimes my kids, who I know have been exposed to books now because of my behavior, will ask me to put my book down and pay attention."

"We understand."

"I avoid housework, especially laundry so I can read."

"We are here to help, what can we do?"

"Well, the reason I'm here is I'm almost done with the last book on my reading list.........So, do you have any recommendations?"

Random Thoughts Thursday

I think I mentioned in my last post that it isn't a good idea to go home shopping with a new baby....still true.

We put an offer on a house in the best neighborhood (we could afford) in our area. It is near my aunt's house and close to freeways, mountains, and a super short commute for Russ to work. We were optimistic, confident....and we didn't get it. Now we've put an offer in close to where my grandmother used to live.  We are slightly less optimistic and confident....and we have to wait until Monday to hear from the bank. Blast my impatient soul.

We showed the girls some pictures of the houses we are looking at buying and Savannah said, "But you can't fit the house in the trunk!" Bless that girl.

Nate is at the baby stage where he has no real schedule. The upside is he has slept like a dream as I've shuttled him around day after day looking at homes. The downside is he doesn't sleep well anywhere else.

I'm reading the latest Maisie Dobbs book that came out this month. Such a fun series!

As we've looked at homes I've realized (again) that home decoration is not my strength. So if it is yours and you want to decorate my house for me I'd be glad for the help. Once I get a house, that is.

Random Thoughts Thursday

I forgot my most important lesson from our vacation. I am NOT used to three kids quite yet and doubt we will be crazy daring enough to try another vacation any time soon.

If at all possible don't attempt to find a new house one month after you've had a baby. I'm just sayin'.

Videos like this have been floating around YouTube for awhile now, but this still made me smile. And I needed to smile today.

After finishing Downton Abbey I need a new "Nusing-the-Baby" show/series to watch. Preferably something I could rent from the library.

Sorry, the baby is crying...again. Gotta go.

Lessons from Spring Break

 Last week we had a much needed family vacation down south in  red rock country. We went to local hole-in-the-wall haunts and National Parks to enjoy weather that was warmer than here at home together as a family.

 1. Savannah can cross the stream and have a great time. Until she doesn't. Then the hike is over.

 2. Tie-dying brings out my inner-hippee.

 3. Savannah is an excellent rock climber. And lizard finder. And ant finder.

 4. Abbie can climb the rope on the steep cliff carved stairs with the help of  her dad. All moms on the premises, however, were having heart-failure.

 5. It is perfectly acceptable to wear new clothes hiking. They will get old eventually.

6. Free Junior Ranger Handbooks make National Parks more enjoyable for those with short attention spans, and little feet. Especially in cooler weather.

7. Celebrating Easter Sunday is a great thing to come home to.