7 Quick Takes (202)

1) Happy Birthday to my wonderful husband! As our friend, Rachelle, so rudely graciously pointed out, he is now in his late 40's. The guy's got it good, though, as I am older than him and always will be. When we were first married I tried to use that to my advantage, thinking I knew better because I was older, but now I can't find one stinkin' way to make being older than him seem good. Boo.

He doesn't know it yet (I'm hoping he'll be reading this soon!), but I booked a night away for us tonight. We're meeting our kids and parents for dinner, then it's all us, baby, for 24 hours. Whoop!

Happy Birthday, babe. I love you. So, so much.

2) I've noticed a strange phenomena while folding clothes recently. Nearly ALL the t-shirts and socks I pull out of the dryer are inside out. I wanted to blame it on my kids and the way they take their clothes off, but I'm noticing it on everybody's clothes. How can that be? Is my washing machine doing it? My dryer? What is the probability that 90% of my t-shirts and socks are inside out? And do you know how ANNOYING that is?! Does anyone else have this problem and an accompanying solution?!

3) We helped my brother and sister-in-law move into their new house. I'm not sure we were much help as we were too distracted by their cutie patootie son! Isn't this a great shot of Miss Innocent One with her youngest cousin?
I wish I could capture the view this new house has. Any picture we took didn't do it justice. Their deck overlooks all their land and is spectacular. See if you can make it out behind the scary lady with the whacked out hair.
Apparently Kevin worked harder than the rest of us, as he looks just about ready to nod off with the baby.
Congratulations Jeff and Trisha! LOVE your new place!

4) I don't consider myself a real health nut, but I've been making some slight changes in our family's eating habits. A few years ago I stopped buying soda. I usually have plain tortilla chips on hand and sometimes Fritos, but rarely do I buy other kinds of chips, mostly because they are a temptation for me. I still buy sweet snacky junk, Little Debbies and cookies and the like, so it's not like I've gone off the deep end. I just avoid buying stuff I have a hard time saying no to. I figure I need to wean my family little by little, you know. Don't want a mutiny on my hands, unless it would cause someone else to make the dreaded Walmart run each week . . . hmmm . . . I may have to change my strategy and get ONLY healthy stuff.

ANYWAY, apparently I was feeling especially googly over my husband and his birthday, because on my grocery run this week, I found myself buying all kinds of stuff I normally don't. And he noticed.

Kevin (in utter disbelief): Cheetos?! You got Cheetos?

Me (trying to justify my lapse of judgment): It's your birthday week.

Kevin (moved): And you got me Cheetos?

I was feeling some guilt, like a food nazi or something, until I discovered my attempts to get our family to eat healthier (and not mind it) is working. After lunch I heard this.

Kevin: Cheetos aren't as satisfying as they used to be.

VICTORY! He won't eat whole wheat bread or brown rice, but now Cheetos are EH. One less cholesterol glob to worry about. Baby steps, I tell you. We're gonna get there.

5) Am I the only woman who feels a need to instruct her family on proper dishwasher loading technique? Look what I found when I opened the dishwasher after it had been run.
Do you see all that wasted space?!

I guess I shouldn't complain. At least they're doing it. I've never actually said anything to them about their horrible loading. Instead I choose to chide them in a public forum.

Yeah. That's better.

I'm such a putz. Psht.

6) I had the pleasure of speaking to a couple of MOPS groups this week on the subject of relationships. That topic gets my motor going, I tell you. We are a bunch of people who tend to hide away, protecting ourselves from possible hurt, but in the process we shut out the possibility of meaningful relationships. I feel like God's been specifically teaching me about this for at least six months. Every time I turn around something I hear or read adds another facet I haven't considered.

I used to think I was the only one sitting home wishing I had deeper friendships or the only one feeling not good enough or smart enough or skinny enough--you name it-- but I'm finding there's a lot of people doing the same thing. My heart hurts when I consider how many people are feeling alone when we don't have to. I've found some ways to move beyond, to escape the loneliness and pressure to be somebody. How I wish I could help others do the same.

Whoa, whoa, WHOA! What just happened there? Friday is supposed to be the goofy post, not the wistful, contemplative, help-me-out-here post. I think I need more sleep.

7) Here's a sign Ladies Man has found a way to move beyond his introverted tendencies as a child.

Me (as Ladies Man leaves the house): Are you going to be home by 4:00?

Ladies Man: I don't know, Mom. You know how I be . . . socializin'. . .

Oh yeah, that's how you GOT your name, child! Oh my.

That's all I got for today, people. I hope you enjoy your weekend as much as I plan to enjoy mine having my cute hubby all to myself. Can you hear me sighing? And wait, what is that noise coming from the kitchen?

Ladies Man: We have Cheetos?!

Maybe I am a food nazi.

Have a great weekend friends. Find more Quick Takes at Conversion Diary.