Not a lot of posting going on here but I've got a good excuse!

The beginning of our summer has been nuts. A few weeks ago we got approved for a home improvement loan through our city. Thank goodness as there are several things, especially the roof, that need to be fixed. It has required multiple strangers coming to our home and we haven't even begun construction yet! We've had our field agent come to go over what we want done and whether it qualifies or not (so far everything does, but we do have a limit on the loan amount so a lot of stuff won't be done I'm sure). We've then had the Roto Rooter man out to inspect the sewer pipes and another gentlemen out to do lead testing. We have gotten some initial bad news; our sewer pipe is not in good condition and is constructed of a material that the city requires to be replaced, additionally the outside of the house tested positive for lead paint. The lead paint is not a biggie, if anything it could be good in that it could qualify us for another program that would pay to have the windows replaced and the exterior of the house repainted at minimal cost to us, freeing up money for the other loan for other things. The sewer pipe is the biggest problem as there is nearly 100 ft of pipe to be replaced that runs the entire length of our backyard and driveway. Two things worry me with this: how expensive it will be and the possibility of our chainlink fence getting destroyed. The backyard is no big deal, it needs to be dug up and redone anyway so this will just help us out in the long run on that project. But, we'll cross bridges when we arrive at them.

Now we wait for the work orders to be written up, then the bid process begins which means more strangers in and out of the house. Thankfully my parents live close by and we have lots of things we can do outside the house as strangers raise the boys anxiety levels to the "mom can't stand one more minute of this" level. I'm just hoping we can get work going before the end of the summer.

We had planned to start The Prairie Primer this summer, but that's officially on hold at this point. I don't want to start it just to have to stop due to the construction going on. I do plan to have the kids do their reading, writing, math and nature study anyway. We'll just have to see what happens.

The Silliness and her brothers

Katie is changing so much lately. As she nears her 4th birthday, her personality is really beginning to form. She's a LOT like her oldest brother, Joey, but more of her own individuality is coming through. I've taken to calling her The Silliness as she is so funny and silly and says things that make me giggle. She dances around the room, she doesn't walk. She sings more than talks. She is all girl. And having only had boys for 7 years before she came along, I'm not used to having such girliness around me. She's also very much a tomboy, she's as happy playing in the dirt as she is dressing up in princess costumes and tutus. She's comfortable with her hair done up in curls with mud smeared all over her hands and face. She's caught between 2 worlds and she loves it. I wouldn't have it any other way.

On that note, her's just a sampling of the comical things Katie and her brothers say:

Katie was furious that she was given 2 boxes of chicken mcnuggets in her happy meal instead of 1 box of chicken and a sleeve of fries. Jaysen kept telling her she's supposed to get chicken and she yells at him "No Jaysen, there are 2 boxes of ticken! See? 1, 2!" Suprise Jaysen, she knows how to count, lol!

Asked the kids what they want to get Mawmaw for her birthday. Jaysen's first suggestion was fabric for her work. ;) His second idea was chickens.
 Jaysen: How about chickens?
 Me: You mean real ones?
 Jaysen: Yeah, she likes chickens so lets get her a bunch of chickens.
 Yup, not going to happen buddy, lol! So I ask again what do they want to get her. Jaysen: What does she like? I don't know her that well!
 Yes, this child is going to make some unfortunate girl very unhappy in the future on her birthday, lol!

 

Katie: I just farted.
 Me: Thank you, I didn't need to know that.
 Katie: Sorry mom.
 Goofy kid.

 

Katie: I need Daddy.
 Me: Why do you need Daddy?
 Katie: Cause Daddy never helps me.
 Silly girl. ;)

 

Katie is scribbling all over her new magna-doodle saying "almost all done with my new masterpiece". Goofy girl. ;)

 

Jaysen just said "Mom, I'm glad you're not evil." Little does he know.....JUST KIDDING, LOL!!!!

 

Another funny one from Jaysen (while watching Rugrats All Grown Up): "Mom, did you know Tommy has a girlfriend at 10 years old?"
Me: "Yes and I'm not that wild about it being in the show."
Jay: "I didn't think people had girlfriends until 14."
Me: "If your dad has his way you won't have a girlfriend until you're 30."
Jay: "Maybe I won't have one until I'm 40. That's okay, I'm too young to have a girlfriend anyway."
LOVE that kid and his logic, rofl!