If Refrigerators Could Talk...or Maybe They Can

I posted a picture of my fridge a month or so ago, but there's a refresher in case you forgot what it looks like.  I added some detail shots of what is on my fridge.  Do you use yours for a bulletin board, too?  It drives Darrel nuts to have so much stuff on it, but I love to have it covered with random things that remind me I'm a mother and make sure I don't forget my motherly duties: photos, love notes from the kids (I like to be reminded that deep down they do love me) works of art, soccer schedules, phone lists and invitations, to name a few. Also, it cuts down on the number of visible grimy handprints and makes for interesting reading for visitors. It's like a little billboard of what's going on at our house...and it's good for a cold drink, too.  I like things that are multi-functional.

A Brief History in Hair

And that's pretty much the long and short of it...with occasional bangs.

The Wood Store

Justin is a die-hard, tried and true, man's man.  Darrel took that first photo of him today putting a riding lawnmower through it's paces.  (If I can figure out how, I'll post the video he shot, too.) Darrel took the morning off work as a Mother's Day gift to me and spent some quality time with Justin at "the wood store", as Justin calls it, or more accurately, Justin Heaven.  Justin loves everything to do with building, home improvement, mechanical devices and yard care. He helps Darrel with any sort of project around the house and he sticks with every job he starts.

A few weeks ago he was asking me how the toilet flushed so, I pulled off the top of the tank and let him have a look inside.  You should have seen that face light up!  He asked me about all the parts and what they did (to my credit, I could name the float, chain and flapper).  He asked if he could touch the water after I explained that it was clean, but even with that explanation he still smirked like he was getting away with something by touching it. After a good long look, we closed it up and he went down for a nap, satisfied. Ever since then ( I did know what I was starting) he wanted to see it every time he flushed the toilet, but I limited it to one time a day. Darrel assisted him one of those times and introduced him to pulling up on the float so it would stop the tank from filling and then letting it go again.  (I won't take any responsibility if that thing breaks!)

Today Darrel had to put a new box around the sprinkling system valve in the back yard and Justin helped him out.  If I had thought about it I would have taken pictures of him digging in the dirt, finding worms and snails, but I didn't think of that 'til now.  Drat.  It was very cute, though. He kept stealing Darrel's big shovel and tried to convince him that he could dig with the little green plastic shovel.  Boy, I sure love that independent little guy!

Grace's Two Cents

Tonight Grace asked if she could put something on our blog, so here she is, folks:

I like  to  sing  in  stuff  like  my  1st  grade program  that  I   all ready  did  and  I   love to  sing. 

(Grace: "And ask Brooke to see this, Mom")

The Frugal Woman

These lovely irises are from my mom.  Thanks mom!  There's nothing like spring flowers to brighten one's day.  She is often leaving little surprises at my house after a shopping trip and occasionally they're flowers.  My mom drops off all sorts of other things, too.  Clothes and shoes for the kids are a favorite--you know, the kind on which I wouldn't ever spend money because they're either too expensive or not absolutely necessary.  My kids have way more clothes than they could ever need, but still they come.  She also brings lettuce (the Costco packages are just a little too big, but such a good deal who can pass it up?), fruit, car floor mats, swimsuits, and frozen chicken...to name a few. 

Now, one might wonder, why all these random things?  And if my kids already have enough stuff, why don't I just tell her to stop?  

You have to understand a little about my mom. She grew up in a family where money was tight and married into a family in the same situation.  My mother has always lived a frugal life.  I was raised shopping clearance sales, hunting for bargains at D.I. and scouring garage sales for exciting finds.  My mom, out of necessity, is also an excellent seamstress (Sadly, not passed on to me.  I get too impatient with a pattern, though I can manage baby quilts).  My younger sister and I always had coordinating dresses for Easter and Christmas and we loved it.  My mom made all my prom dresses and my wedding dress.  My mom is also a wonderful cook (this did get passed on, if I do say so myself) and makes most things from scratch.  I actually commented to my friends while on a cruise after high school that I was kind of tired of the food on the ship and was craving my mom's roast beef, potatoes and gravy. They thought it was hilarious that I would want a "home cooked" meal when I had all the gourmet food I could eat right there in front of me, and ice sculptures to boot. 

My parents' financial circumstances are somewhat reversed now that most of the kids have grown up and they both have full-time paying jobs. So, when my mom spots a cute dress for Grace or shirts for the boys (and still many great items found at garage sales...she never passes up a great deal and never will) and brings them by, I know it's her way of providing me with things she would have liked to have given to us when we were kids but couldn't afford and also her way of enjoying the freedom to buy something when she wants it.  Who doesn't like shopping when you actually have money you can spend? You can only get so much stuff for yourself.  I always prefer shopping for someone else. In addition, I know this is my mom's way of relieving some of the financial burden of her children, who, similar to my parents in years past, are pinching pennies, clipping coupons, and, yes, shopping at D.I. and garage sales. 

So whether or not my mom thinks that much about it every time she buys lettuce or flowers, I do, and I appreciate it.  Love, you Mom! Happy Mother's Day!