Room with a View

What smells like garbage, oil paint, a little bit of poop, old food, is covered in saw dust,... and is my favorite room in the house?  Yes friends, it's my garage.  It is where I run to when I need some "me" time, it's where I go for all things project related.  It houses my recent Craigslist finds until they are refinished and able to enter the house.  And it's where I get to control the radio.  Needless to say, that doesn't leave much room for the main purpose: housing our cars during storms or severe heat.  But that's why we buy used cars:).

So because I am trying to get the rest of the house clean and ready for a baby, the garage has not been left out of the cleaning spree.  But there is something deep down that doesn't really want it to be perfect.  I love my mess.  I love being able to access a paint can quickly and being able to break open the power sander on a whim.  I like not worrying if a car is in my way, or if I have to be done quickly because Kevin's car is coming home soon.  (NOTE: he lovingly parks outside because I've had a mess the entire summer in there - which I promise will change once winter hits).

So the garage may or may not get hit with the nesting bug.  I haven't decided yet.  And since I'm sitting on the couch writing instead of cleaning at the moment, it's not looking good for the clean votes.  Who says you have to stop projecting once a kid comes?  Frankly it is what keeps me sane when multiple stressers are right inside the garage door. So maybe I will keep it.  Maybe I will keep my "Kim Room."  Because when life gets crazy, nothing calms me down like a date with a paint brush, and my favorite talk radio. 

Preschool Days

Today was Callie's first day of the last year of Preschool.  So of course I forced all of the kids to sit right down and smile right up for some memories.  Getting three kids to look all in the same direction is challenging.  So here are the results from our photo shoot.

We decided later in the summer that the boys would sit this year out.  I had a break down when I saw the cost of sending all three to a private Christian preschool... and we figured that they would have enough entertainment at home with each other and a new baby.  Of course we will be reviewing our letters and numbers every day (wink wink).

And a double shout out to Cousin Lily and Aunt Sarah for outfitting Callie for the entire school year. She sure does love that heart shaped sweater!  (And to Uncle Phil for carting all of the clothes all the way from France).  We really do appreciate it.

Toes and Starbucks

If I was ever questioning whether or not little Callie was observant of me for the last four years, I got my answer today during a short little Mother/ Daughter date.  We were celebrating school starting tomorrow, and my attempt at helping her cope with the idea of being completely outnumbered by boys in about 5 days. 

We put the boys in the care of a sweet neighbor, and jetted off in our mini-van first to Starbucks (for a kids hot chocolate).. and then to the nail salon, for a new school year pedicure.  And as she waltzed right in, coffee cup in hand, and found her chair and foot bath, it was as if I was watching myself in current day.  The other (grown) women around her were very kind, as they too sipped on Starbucks.. and it only took a few seconds of directions for her to really get comfortable with the whole foot in/ foot out/ now scrub/ now paint procedure. 

The date ended with a quick trip to the mall to refill her hair bow bag, just in time for school.  We couldn't let those gorgeous blonde locks go un-accessorized this year.  And even though the original plan was to end with a huge outing of ear piercing.. once I saw Kevin's face after that suggestion, the idea was stopped cold.  I saw the fear in his eyes as he described to me how in his view, ear piercing led to make-up, dating, and marriage.  I tried to assure him that I didn't remember turning to blush soon after I got earrings, but I wanted to be on the same page.  So I think we compromised on age eight.  Or maybe 28.  Either one, Kevin's still not going to be ready for it.  Good thing there's only one girl in this brood of kids:).

Here's Callie living up the day. 

A Facebook Soapbox

Apparently it's that time of year again when women start to post random status updates on Facebook,  alluding to something other than what their actual meaning really is.

For example, one year it was posting a bra strap color, which was incredibly inappropriate for women to post when my husband was reading.  And the next year mentioned something about where you like to put your purse, that always ended up having a sexual innuendo, which again, entirely inappropriate when men are reading - and Christian women are posting.

I get that it is all in an effort to support Breast Cancer Awareness.  But here is my question.  How in the world did you support Breast Cancer by making a ridiculous post on Facebook, no less.  If you aren't opening the wallet, then don't bother to post.  It does no good, and it just appears immature. 
Seeing as this year is a post about being so many "weeks," and craving some type of food... is it really that  funny to tempt people into thinking your update is about an impending pregnancy? 

Maybe it's just a soapbox I should step down from.  It's Facebook, after all.  Not a headline in a political magazine or Journal.  But my beef will remain, espicially with professing Chrsitian women.  They seem unable to recognize the problem with compartmentalizing Facebook status updates with conflicting Biblical beliefs.  Let's all remember that in this new social networking erra that we live, a venue such as Facebook speaks just as much to our testimonies as our public and private lives do. 

And if you really want to support a cause... get involved or give money.  Posting words is not helpful.  Rather childish and immature.  Excuse the harsh tone, but this is my blog, and I can write what I want to.  (Or I might just be cranky with a huge belly). 

Summer Recap

With only two weeks to go until this blog gets bogged down with baby pictures, I thought that I would recap our summer here in good old Indiana.  What the Mitchell's have been up to, since everyone is super interested in our exciting life here (who let the funny girl in?). 

In summary, it's been crazy hot, humid, and I'm getting bigger by the day; a beautiful combination.  The kids are wild, crazy, and full of energy.  Which I have learned to harness through Blockbuster's kids program (endless movies for only $4.99/ month).   Thank you "movie store."  Kevin is busy with work, which is good, but has also been called to bat on a few housing projects, which I grately appreciate. 

We re-did the kids bath, just in time for our French exchange visitor:

Kevin tried his hand at mirror cutting on the side... but we decided he's better at lawyer-ing

Callie learned to actually swim, by herself, without floatation devices.  Thanks in part to an older cousin coming to visit... but also mostly to two weeks of private lessons from a handsome young swim teacher.  Who wouldn't like to learn with those circumstances?

The boys are almost full fledge potty trained (Jack's nap times are a work in progress).  But we can happily say that if they are outside, they know what to do.  And there's no tree that has been left out.

We got the baby's room ready, and the kids realized they would all like to regress to crib land again.  And I learned that if they are all in the crib.. they aren't getting into whatever I'm doing at the moment.  Double win for all.

No pictures on this, but we also frequented splash parks, zoos, and bounce houses with a vengence.  So not to worry, the kids have been entertained with stuff other than watching me paint endless amounts of surfaces. 

And that's our summer in review.  Callie starts school in a week, and I think we are all excited for a new fall - and of course a new member.

September 12th

... Is Kevin's parents anniversary, the date of the 9/12 project (for all you Glenn Beckers out there) and apparently a fitting day for us to have a kid.  So there it is.  We have a date.  Unless baby #4 decides that it's too late and comes earlier.  Which has never happened before, so I don't expect it to now.  And even though I've been painting up a storm the last few days, and have gone to bed with some major body soreness... I also keep in mind that I re-did a kitchen while pregnant with the boys.  And they were right on their scheduled date too.   Clearly, I have to do more than hunch over, bend over, and stretch to get babies out.  Running a marathon might do the trick, but seeing as I haven't run in over 7 months, that could be ugly.  And time consuming.  So I'll stick to painting.  And caulking.  And sanding. 

Amy Mathews... are you proud of me?

No You are Not my Neighbor

Here's a post for everyone who has been pregnant with more than one child already running around.  And it's to the people who stare, wide eyed at us, as we waddle through grocery stores, home improvement stores, or malls, obviously a bit more tired than normal, sometimes with our existing kids screaming as we go.   It's also for the general public who think it is their job to manage your child bearing desires, rudely asking if you are in fact "done" after current baby in belly is born. 

Mine happened this past weekend, as I was ordering ever so kindly in a McDonald's.  The crazy boys weren't even with me.. they were obeying in the potty with Kevin.  As I explained to the woman behind the counter that no, I was indeed not on my way to some parenting class or hospital tour, because this was number four.. been there done that before. She apparently then thought it her job to confirm that I was in fact "done" after this one.  I kindly responded, yet thought later how incredibly rude of a question that really was. 

Um, Ma'am, I hate to tell you this, but it's not really any of your business whether or not I chose to have one child, or 15 children.  Unless I land a TV reality show (which sometimes I feel like I'm in already)... it is my feeling that the world around me, besides my husband, and the doc who would be able to control things, have any right to ask. 

It's like someone telling you that they know you can't handle your life, so you better stop before you crash.  I should have returned and asked her what she made behind that counter, and if she was current on all of her bills.  Because it's that personal of an issue for a pregnant woman to be asked by a total stranger.  Friends have a right to ask.  They are friends.  Women talk about such things... to women that they know.

But if you, oh strange person in the store, who has given me the stink eye because my current children just knocked down a shelf... yes you.  You have no right to know whether or not I will be back in 5 years with 5 more children to destroy the rest of your store.  I just might.  Or I might call it a day after number 4 arrives.  Who knows?  I sure don't.  Which means that you sure won't either.  Have I made myself clear?
Thanks, now I would really like my cheeseburger and fries.  Because I'm pregnant.  And I'm pretty hungry.