Wes's 2011 Reading Stats/List

I love a good story. It can be just recounting experiences with friends and family or watching a movie or reading books—but I especially love books. They are tiny packets of adventure that can be experienced even while juggling home, church, work, a toddler, house buying/moving, pregnancy (in a supporting role), etc.

I had quite a few reading adventures in 2011 due to a fair commute, a kindle book always on my phone, and an audible book in my ear. A wonderful free site called goodreads.com helped me track it all. Luckily I’m not nerdy enough to pivot the data and make a chart of what I have read this year . . .

Books read: 28
Average pgs per book: 428
Total page count: 11, 985

Time Is On My Side...Or Is It?

Maybe the Rolling Stones had it all wrong. I've been thinking a lot about time lately. When you have young children, everyone and I mean everyone (including strangers on the street) tell you how fast the time flies. How it feels like their 16 year olds were 16 months just yesterday, etc., etc. For me, right now, it doesn't necessary feel like time is flying, not at all really. It does feel like time is more definite than it used to be. Before we had kids, Wes and I might go on a vacation or go to an amazing restaurant or go kayaking and have a blast. We'd leave and say, "Wow, lets do that again sometime!" And that was completely possible, we could go and do those things again and have a pretty similar experience.

The thing with kids is that you can never really expect the same experience again. Whatever you do with them, its close to being the last time they'll do it in that way. They change so much, so quickly. It's never the same experience and you kind of mourn the loss of each phase. A year used to be nothing to me, Wes and I don't change much in a year. Scarlett changes in a month! She does more, says more, comprehends more everyday. Suddenly it feels like time marches on so strongly, so resolutely, so unforgivingly. Sometimes, I just want to say, Hey, wait a minute! I love her how she is right now! Can't I just hit a pause button and enjoy how when Wes is taking her to bed she waves good-bye so zealously to me all the way up the stairs and around the corner until she can't see me anymore or can't I rewind to when she was three months old and we'd carry her around in the Ergo and she'd sleep so peacefully and soundly right on our chests? Already, I can barely remember what that little roly poly body felt like against mine.

Absolutely, the last 20 months have not flown by, but they're done, they're over and I can feel it. Just look at Scarlett and see what 20 months of time passing by really looks like.

Scarlett Harris and the Great Pumpkin Patch

Yesterday, the Harris family got out of the house and went to get a pumpkin. We went to the same place we got our Christmas tree last year and will again this year. They put on a pretty good show of activities.

First things first, we went and got a snow cone (yes it is still warm enough in Houston for a snow cone) and chopped beef BBQ sandwich (a Texas specialty). Scarlett thought the banana flavored snow cone was the best.



Then we went and got in line to ride the train. Scarlett was very happy and patient.


Here's an attempt at a family picture. Scarlett refused to look at the camera so this was the best we could get.



Scarlett working on that snow cone.



Loading onto the train.



Scarlett really liked the train ride. She just sat quietly staring out at the fields of Christmas trees. One of which we'll be taking home with us in a month.



Here's an awesome hay bale they turned into a giant spider. You can see the Christmas trees growing behind us.



Scarlett inspected all of the pumpkins carefully...


Before finally choosing the perfect Jack-O-Lantern pumpkin. (more on that in a future blogpost)

New...Well, Actually OLD and Improved!

Okay, so I still do the couponing thing but Wes won't let me buy anymore deodorant, toothbrushes, toothpaste, razors, razor blades, body wash, ziploc bags...the list is endless. So, I spend much less time couponing as it's mostly with food items now. Moral of the story is...I needed a new hobby. So, I found one. Thrift store shopping. I buy something old, ugly, and unloved and I make it new (to me), beautiful, and appreciated. Wes has been helping as well which makes it even more fun. Here are a few of our finds.


What ARE these ugly brass and crystal lamps? I found these at a local thrift shop for $4 a piece, all of the electrical components still worked. Although, I had to take the whole lamp apart 3-5 times (it was a learning process). I am now an excellent lamp electrician. I feel confident that I could fix any lamp at your house that is not working for less than $5 and in about 10 minutes. My hard work was not in vain, take a look at them now!


Aren't they so beautiful and elegant looking?



This one, Wes actually found when we went to a Salvation Army store. We're going to make it our craft table, so we can keep the kitchen table cleared off from crafts such as spray painted lamps, building Catan boards, and Hagrid's Huts. Here it is in its dirty, just left the thrift store state.


It opens up with a hidden leaf that stays under the table to a huge 5' by 5' square. Otherwise its 3' by 5'.


We shined it up with Orange Glo (my favorite furniture polish) and it looks great. Although, I don't think its going to stay this color forever. I might make it my first painted furniture project. We'll see. Overall, not bad for $45! Good find Wes!



That's all for now, except here's a few of Scarlett (for the grandparents)!

CinderScarlett

Well, I figured now that I've been pooped on, peed on, barfed on, snotted on, etc...etc...it's time for her to start pulling her weight around here! (Which granted is only about 25 lbs.)