My Week In A Playpen

Hello Friends! It's been a while. Busy, busy, busy. It's sad that midnight seems, lately, to be the best time to write, but that's alright (as long as it doesn't become a habit.)

We enjoyed a wonderful and relaxing weekend with Jared's parents recently as they came down for a few days. They were kind enough to bear with us while our house was practically empty. We have been in the process of some renovations around the house, so it was nice to take a break and just visit for a few days (even if that meant without appliances and furniture.) The kids enjoyed seeing them, as it had been a while due to schedule conflicts and sickness. They are both doing really well and seemed to enjoy a weekend with the Babies.

On Saturday afternoon, we loaded up and headed out to Georgetown to San Gabriel Park. What a peaceful place. It had been some time since we had been out there, but it was still just as serene and beautiful. Hayden was all about trying new things on the playscapes and enjoyed seeing how fast he could run to get away from us! He ran, and ran, and ran. I wonder where he got inspiration to do such a thing.....

While we were there, the sun was just starting to think about setting, so I thought it would be an opportune time to do a little photography. The mellow light through the trees cast some amazing shadows, so I TRIED to capture some different things. I didn't get to many dirty looks, and I tried to be discrete about it, but I just began shooting at any subject that got in my merry way. Here is one that I really liked a lot. As we passed by this gigantic tree right on the river bank, I noticed a lady sitting at its base covered in an Indian blanket. As we passed, she flashed us a sweet smile and went about her thinking as she turned back to gaze at the river. All I could think about and wonder was what she was pondering, and what was it that made her choose that spot to relax and daydream. She looked so comfortable. I wish I could have gotten more of her in the picture, but I didn't want to be "all up in the business."

OK, on to the title of this entry. After several years of putting it on the back burner,we finally gave in and decided to redo our floors. After five years of dogs, 2.5 years of children and much adored company every weekend, our carpet finally had had enough (and frankly, we had to.) Do we keep calling the carpet cleaners? Do we buy large rugs to hide it? How about just taking care of it once and for all (I know, mob mentality.) I wanted to do some before and after pictures, but the floors were just so embarrassing that I didn't even want to look at the pictures while posting.

We decided to go with laminate wood floors in the hallway, the living and dining rooms, and tile in the bathrooms, entry and kitchen. It looks like brand new house! Jared did such a wonderful job picking out the colors! He is quite the decorator!

I have found out a ot about myself the last few days.....

The installers were supposed to be here on Monday, but due to inclement weather (for an inside job?,) they came on Tuesday. I thought I would be prepared to contain the kiddos, but I failed. Movies and snacks only go so far. The installers trapped us in one room while they tore up each corner room all at one time and worked their way towards us. There was literally NO WAY OUT! Now, I love spending time with my children more than anything in this world, but WOW! I felt like I was in a playpen with other children, covered up to my neck with toys, everybody needing to go potty all at once, and slobber with no rag to clean it up! I believe that at one point, every toy that the kids own was off the shelf and on the floor. We had watched every single movie that we own, read almost every book on the shelf, and made up silly songs about everything we could think of. Have you ever been totally and completely OUT OF IDEAS? Go outside, you say; there was no way to the door! Since the fridge was on the back porch (white trash, I know,) no way to get drinks (which we ran out of fairly early,) I just kept saying , "five more minutes, guys!" I know this will come back to haunt me later!

On Tuesday, Hayden's good buddy, Cade, came to play! This actually helped a ton because it occupied Hayden immensely. Cade seemed excited not to have to pick up when it was time to go home. I know he was probably wondering what he had gotten himself into by coming to Hayden's house to play. THANK GOD FOR CADE! We love you, Good Buddy!

I am by no means complaining. I truly enjoyed every minute of being in my "playpen." It just confirms for me that I

A: Don't do well in small spaces

B: Don't do well with any two kids crying at once

C: Can truly look back and laugh at almost any situation

D: Can always find somthing to use as a cleanup rag

E: Will do ANYTHING, and I mean ANYTHNG, to keep my Babies happy and contented

Tonight, as we were trapped, Jared made his way through with dinner! How sweet! As we all sat in Hayden's trashed room eating take out and watching Elmo for the sixty-fifth time today, Jared began to complain about being squashed. I just gave him the "Don't even start" glare. As we sat there on top of each other, I just looked at the three of them and thought how if I was ever confined to that "playpen" again, they were definately the three I would want to be confined with.

Good Night.