Too Many Balls Under My Car: Make Your Own Ball Storage System

My garage was being over-run with balls. Thousands of balls.

Well, maybe not thousands. But when I’m tripping over them constantly (or popping them with my car), it seems that way. Our giant garbage bag was overflowing.

Normally, come spring, I buy a BIG tote, drill holes in the bottom, and store the balls out by the playground.

But a bin still traps some stagnant water, yucky leaves and big old’ spiders. It also gets blown away in windy storms, cracks easily, and makes it harder for the boys to retrieve a particular ball without emptying the whole thing. Naturally, it is way too difficult to put them all back in before running off…

So, I decided to make something like what you see in Wal-Mart or the Grocery store.

Using some cedar scraps (rejects from a place that makes lattice), I screwed together a simple wooden frame.

Then, I drilled 1/4 inch holes at 5 and 1/2 inch intervals around the top and bottom.

Next, I began threading macramé yarn (stretchy, but strong) down through one hole and up through the next. (Tip: Wrap tape around two inches of the end of the string to make it easier to thread.)

I wove the string up and down along all four sides, and then took a separate piece and wove it back and forth across one end (the bottom). Only, in the next picture, the bottom is the top—for obvious reasons. :)

Though it would have been tempting to use it like this (oh, SO tempting, lol!), I turned it open side up, and put it next to the house.

Meet our new ball bin!

This post is linked to:

Check them out for more great ideas!

How ‘Bout a Game of Uno? Or a Good Book, Maybe?

The daffodils may be in full bloom outside, but the march winds are hanging on for dear life!  There are even snow flakes mixed in with the rain!

That’s o.k., we have a fire in the stove, a pile of movies, and a couple of our favorite games on hand to keep us entertained.  This is our newest Uno champ, by the way, playing against his dad.  :)

Four out of five of us are fighting some kind of chest cold, anyway. If it were nicer, we would be tempted to go out and finish up some yard work.  With our hacking, that probably wouldn’t be the best for our health.

So I look at this yucky weather as God’s permission to take a time out, craw under a blanket, and be totally, utterly, lazy.

I’m actually reading a book I’ve been looking forward to for months.  It’s the fourth book in Karen Kingsbury’s Sunrise Series,  entitled, Sunset. 

Set in and around Bloomington, Indiana, the series chronicles the Baxter family through all their ups and downs, trials and triumphs, joys and sorrows.  I love Karen Kingsbury’s work, and the fact that this series is set in my back yard makes it even more of a treat.

So while the boys are watching Indiana Jones, I’m going to go sneak away and read…at least until I fall asleep.

Happy Sunday to you!

My Youth is Calling… Long Distance!

My four-year-old has recently become a game-o-holic. 

Out of the depths of the closet, he has resurrected my childhood game of Cat’s Eye.

It was one of my FAVORITE games as a little girl.  I’ve never been able to part with it--even after all these years, not to mention a cross country move.

It’s big and clunky, makes a lot of noise, and takes up tons of room on the shelf.  But, it’s a keeper.

Do you remember it?  Please don’t tell me it was before your time.  I’m feeling old enough just trying to get comfortable on the floor to play it!

Growing up, my mom did tons of babysitting to make ends meet.  So we always had a houseful of kids, and shelves full of games and puzzles.  

The competition in Cat’s Eye is fierce.  Lol!  That’s why I love it!  The object is to be the first to fill your tray with the right colored marbles from the dispenser, add the black cat’s eye marble, and yell Cat’s Eye!

(Now you know what I’m doing between writing lofty posts.)

After a quick Google search this morning, the only place I can find Cat’s Eye is on EBay.  Can you believe it?  With all the old games getting a new lease on life, I can’t believe this one isn’t still being made in some form!

Guess I’ll just have to hold on to it for  my grandkids in, say, 30 years or so.  :)

What are some of your favorite childhood games???  I’d love to know what you saved that your kids are now playing with!

        

Check out these fun Friday Memes for more fun!

My Thrifty Finds

It has been a while since I checked out our Goodwill. But with the boys starting soccer soon, and the weather turning warmer, I needed to pick up some summer and sports practice outfits.

I found a bunch of Adidas and Starter pieces, as well as some plain old basketball type shirts and shorts, a couple of hoodies and two pairs of athletic pants! In all, there were 19 pieces and my total was still under $25! The boys were thrilled.

So thrilled, I had to send my 9 year old back to his bedroom this morning because he had put on FOUR of the shirts!

I understand choices are tough!! Lol! But I do the laundry…

As a bonus, I found four dinner plates and two bowls to restock my dwindling service. ($.50/pc.) Did I tell you I have three boys and there are often casualties in the kitchen??

The two pretty serving bowls were just for fun (at a dollar a piece) and they match some pretty blue vases like this one that I collect.

I love Goodwill!

You can check out some other Thrift Store Finds over at Homebody Holly’s place!

The Rest of the Thumping Bird Story

As you can see, my son’s big bad rubber snake (see his head on the right side of the feeder) had no effect on this crazy bird.  He continued to thump on the window…all the way through the weekend…

Until Tuesday. 

Then, strangely enough, all was quiet. 

Did he succumb to brain injury?

Did my husband find his mark while I was at the store Monday afternoon? (He didn’t mention it.)

Did one of my cats finally decide to stop lazing around?

I took just a moment of silence to contemplate the impact (pun intended) this bird has had on my life over the last three weeks, and then I was all about celebrating! 

I have SO missed the peace and quiet! (Not to mention being able to see out my windows without having  to look around this bird…or what he left behind.)

I think you guys were right.  If I could have found a way to distort his reflection on the window, he probably would have stopped thumping against it sooner.  But, thankfully, he has moved on to greener pastures, or shinier windows, as the case would be.

My nerves and I are just thankful, very thankful, he’s gone. 

I love my quiet house.  Sigh…

This post is linked to:  Thankful Thursday and Things I Love Thursday! Go see what others are thankful for and loving today!              

Save Time and Work While Adding Beauty!

When we moved into this house 6 years ago, it was a house in a field with only a handful of trees worth counting.  My husband soon set to work planting trees like a madman to the tune of several hundred pines, and dozens of ornamental and shade trees.

That’s all well and good until it's time to mow around them.  And guess who gets to do the lion’s share of that?  Yes, that would be me. 

When I’m in the zone, it’s every tree for itself.  For the first year or two, they had a pretty low survival rate. 

To make it easier to mow around the trees in our immediate yard, we took  to planting flowers at their bases. Or mulching rings around them.

In the picture above, you can see that one of my favorite flowers to plant at the bases of trees is the Black Eyed Susan.  Note, though, that my trees are still relatively small, and the flowers still get a healthy amount of morning and evening sun. 

I like to add in a few purple Irises for spring color.  This combination doesn’t even need mulch.  So if you already have bunches of  flowers which need to be divided, as I did, there will be nothing to buy!

The rings of bright pretty flowers are beautiful just the way they are!     

I started a few patches of Vinca Vine last year and I’m looking forward to seeing them fill in and show off some pretty purple blossoms.

My husband tucked in a few bulbs as well, which work beautifully at the base of more dense trees.  This way, by the time the tree leaves fill in, the flowers are pretty well spent anyway.

The trees are easier to mow around, and the flowers quickly crowd out the grass and weeds.  I love not having to go back and trim around each tree. 

More beautiful colors and less work throughout the summer means more time with my family.  That Works for Me! 

Don’t forget to check over at We Are THAT Family for more Works For Me Wednesday Tips!

Incidentally, now is a great time to be dividing and planting both Black Eyed Susans and Irises.

Upgrade Heaven

Meet my new computer!  New to me, that is.  It is so nice not to have to squint at a small dark screen.  I can slide the lap top (together with its base attachment) under my desk organizer and still have room to set the lightweight monitor on top of it.

It is wonderful to have more desk space!

My munchkin thinks so, too.  He now has room to sort his letter flashcards on the desk while I work.  I have a chest with cushions against the side of my desk which makes the perfect spot for him to sit while we work.  

And another bonus of the upgrade?

The boys get my old laptop, which is far better than what they were using to do their school research.  This, by the way was another “trash pick” that my husband was able to resurrect.

We’re shameless, I know.

Do you trash pick??  Be honest, now.  I’d love to hear about your finds, if you do!

Not Everything That’s New is Good

This is my first attempt to use Windows Live Writer to write and publish a post.  I decided to jump in and learn as I go.  I had wanted to try it for weeks.  But, it wasn’t compatible with my Windows 2000 operating system. 

This weekend, as a surprise, my husband presented me with a new laptop, complete with Windows XP (which IS compatible with Windows Live Writer), and an 18 inch monitor!  It is so much more than I could have ever asked for, and my eyes are LOVING the big screen.

You want to know the best part?  The laptop was free!!  It is made up of several different parts that he picked from a trash pile.  Yes, we are one big happy trash-pick in’ family.  And my Husband is one nifty computer whiz! 

But the computer isn’t the only thing that’s new around here.  We also picked up two loads of mulch, a mega lawn cart (which I’ll tell you about later), a brand new porch swing (LOVE it!), two new windows, and a double case of pink eye. 

Could have done without the pink eye, though.

Between seeing the doctor, picking up prescriptions, and disinfecting the house, my day just sped on by.  It wasn’t the most ideal of circumstances, but it did give my middle son and I some one-on-one time.  He says and does the funniest things sometimes.  He just cracks me up.  I’ll leave you with this…

Laughter is like changing a baby’s diaper—it doesn’t permanently solve any problems, but it makes things more acceptable for a while.

Barbara Johnson 

The Ultimate Blog Party 2009 Has Begun!

I almost forgot this party was going on! There are already tons of links over at Five Minutes For Mom which I'm dying to visit! So much so, that I'm finding it hard to discipline myself to get my own post done! lol!

If you haven't come from there, you might want to head over (after you visit with me, of course) and meet some new friends! That's what this party is all about!

In a nutshell, I'm a former teacher turned SAHM. We do Soccer and Basket Ball, and often have a yard full of neighborhood kids.

I'm married to a wonderful Christian man who grew up farming, became an engineer, and as a result, can fix almost anything! That's a good thing, because with 3 boys (11, 9, and 4), lots of things get broken!

Living on one income forces us to be frugal and creative. If I find something that works, or saves us money, I like to share it!

Like how to make Wind-Proof Umbrella Stands!

Or how to make a multi-purpose Soccer Wall!

Or how to make a Bird Feeder on the CHEEP!

On second thought, maybe you should skip the feeder. I've had a couple of weeks that are For the Birds...literally!!!

Some days, I share stories about our family, like my Sad, Happy Day.

Or my nine-year-old's Creative Costume Idea (which I wouldn't dream of adding a picture for), or his Tip for Taking Tests! (equally un-picture worthy!)

I'm not a born cook. But if I find an easy family-friendly recipe, I like to pass it along. Like my Honey Ginger Pork, or Peanut Butter Cookie Pops!

My oldest is just beginning his adventures in Orthodontics. I'll be chronicling the good, the bad and the ugly as he gets his Herbst in a few weeks. I would love to provide helpful information to other moms since there is just not enough out there on this appliance right now.

These are the types of things you'll find here. Keep in mind, I love to laugh, often at myself, and there is never a dull moment when you're raising boys!

I'm so glad you stopped by and hope I can return the visit! If you have the Google Friends Widget, add yourself as a follower to the right so others can find you from here. (This is new to me and I have precious few friends! LOL! Have pity on my self-esteem!) Or you can subscribe in a reader, which I thankfully have many more. My button for that is on the right, also.

There are lots of great prizes, too! It's hard to pick, but here are my favorites:

Kitchen Aid Artisan Stand MixerProvided by: Moms Who Think

$50 gift certificate to Target StoresProvided by: Shoot-Me-Now

$50 gift certificate to Target StoresProvided by: Agoosa - Funny Name, Sound Advice

And if my top three are chosen, I would be tickled with one of these (in order of preference):

22, 15, 68, 1, 103, 56, 134, 121, 114, or 72!

This Is For the Birds

For two weeks now, this cardinal has been flying into my window.

Thump(one thousand)...thump (one thousand)...thump (one thousand)...thump (one thousand)...thump.

For the first five minutes, you say, "Aaaaw, look at the cardinal. How funny!"

But after several hours, which turn into several days, the monotonous thumps can do something to you. It is subtle, but it's there.

Yet, while my four year old had transitioned quite quickly into yelling at him to stop, I was priding myself on my patience to endure the annoyance. (No small thing)

My husband had occasion to go in to work late on Monday, and therefore had his first chance to experience the bird's day job.

I had no sooner gotten back from taking the boys down to the bus stop and sat down at my computer, when I hear a BoWOOM!

By the time I bolted from my desk and headed towards the kitchen, my husband was just walking in through the door with his shotgun. His SHOTGUN!

Now far be it from me to make any judgement calls on the patience of my husband, but a SHOTGUN??? Jimmity Crickets!

"You didn't just shoot that bird did you??"

"No, I missed him."

"What on earth were you thinking? You don't just SHOOT the STATE BIRD while he's sitting on our feeder in broad daylight!"

My four year old had run outside to make certain the annoying little bird was indeed safe.

I was seriously thinking I needed to change the combination on our gun safe. . . maybe look into some kind of anger management class for my normally very level-headed husband.

The bird, however, was unaffected. TOTALLY unaffected. He was back banging on the window before we had even finished discussing the matter.

Only, now he was banging on back window...right next to my computer. Gee, thanks, Honey.

Eye-Yi-Yigh!

Thump (one thousand)...thump (one thousand)...thump (one thousand)...thump (one thousand)...thump (one thousand) ...thump...!

It's been a (LONG) full two weeks. The banging continues. The mating season or whatever in the world has got this bird throwing himself at our window has GOT to end soon, right???

I'm now thinking my husband might want to change the gun safe combination to keep the firearms out of MY hands. I'm a much worse shot and there are things out there which probably shouldn't be shot.

To make matters worse, his buddy Blue Bird came down the chimney yesterday to mock me.

I was just tickled (oh yeah) to have to figure out a way to get this pretty little conspirator out of the fireplace and outside without destroying the rest of the house in the process.

I need a vacation. A very long and quiet vacation.

A few hours on the gun range wouldn't hurt either.

Spring Is Moooving In!

Monday, we had the joy of seeing this new little guy just hours after he was born. Isn't he just the cutest thing?

This is the first of three new calves expected at our neighbor's place, just a short walk down the road. Although it was old hat for my older boys, to my youngest, it was amazing. We've taken several walks down since then.

Our neighbors promised to call when the next calf is born.

It reminds me of the calves we used to raise when I was little. We would go pick out three little calves at a time and bringing them home to our barn.

For a while, we would bucket feed them formula.

I can still smell the bucket of milk we would mix up in our laundry room to take out to the barn. It was fun to let them suck on a finger, or toe if it was sticking too far over the rail!

We raised them for beef, though I don't think I made the connection. If I had, I probably wouldn't have grown up liking beef!

My husband would love to raise a steer or two for beef. We have the land to support it, but I'm not totally on board yet. I think it would be tougher to trick myself now about where my roast comes from...

But the calf is darling! It almost makes me want to take him home. Almost.

Heavenly Fruit Dip

Fruit is a wonderful treat in and of itself. But couple it with this incredible dip, and you are sure to have a crowd pleaser. Whether or not you actually share it with a crowd is totally up to you.

I could eat the whole bowl!!

It is super duper easy and makes tons. I actually half it if I'm not taking it someplace to share. Otherwise, I WOULD eat the whole bowl!

The batch I have chilling in the fridge will receive a few drops of green food coloring for tomorrows festivities. :)

Ingredients:

2 8oz. packages of cream cheese

1 tub Cool Whip

1 Small jar of Marshmallow Fluff or Cream

1/4 Cup strawberry preserves

Mix all at room temperature, and then refrigerate.

It is wonderful with bananas, apples, and strawberries, but I won't tell if you eat it with a spoon.

For more great recipes and kitchen tips, check out Tempt My Tummy Tuesday and Tasty Tuesday! Don't forget to post your recipes and tips. I can't wait to see what's cooking!

Two Hoops For the Troops!

My four-year-old is now officially sleeping in his big boy bed. (Yeah!!) The Family Slumber Party in his room Friday night was a hit which all the boys enjoyed. We ate cake, read books, told stories and generally stayed up way past any of our bedtimes!

It made for a slightly sluggish Saturday, but we still managed to check off a few items from our to-do list. One job the boys were excited about was assembling a second basketball hoop.

Yes, a second hoop.

Our first had a tragic encounter with the snow plow this winter and I thought it was beyond repair. So I picked up a new one off of Craig's List.

Incidentally, before I get too far along, Craig's List is a super place to find all sorts of things (locally)--including basketball goals! And the service is free! I wish I had checked there before we bought or first goal several years ago. We probably could have saved some money!

Only, my husband (handy in welding among other things) WAS able to fix the old goal soon after we picked up the new one. Oh me of little faith!

I thought of re-selling the new one since it was still in the box. After all, I sold our crib in no time. But in the end, I gave in to the boys who wanted to keep it and have a two-hoop-court. Just a tad frivolous, if you ask me.

But, since we live in Indiana, and Basketball is BIG, it stands to reason that two hoops are better than one, right?

Also, when I think of the countless hours my brother and I spent shooting hoops in front of our barn, I have no problem believing that these hoops will see lots of use, too.

The boys already spend every free moment out there. Plus, they are itching to have a bunch of guys over to play a real game.

Now, I just need to stock up on drinks and snacks for the extra troops that are sure to make this a second home...

Sara's Art Print

Chickadee of A Familiar Path held a week's worth of give-aways last week, and guess what? I won one of them! This is the first give-away I have ever won and I'm really tickled with the gift.

It's a colorful print by Sara with the words, As for Me and My House, We Will Serve The Lord. She does wonderful work and I'm tickled to be getting one of her prints. I already have a spot picked out for it. :)

You can check out Sara's blog where she has many of her pieces on display, or visit her Etsy store! Maybe you'll find one that tickles your fancy!

Sorry, No Campfires in the Bedroom

We sold the crib last night.

When the nice gentleman came to pick it up, my husband and I helped him load it into his minivan, and then wished him well as he drove away.

Then, we stood there. In the middle of the driveway. Neither one of us sure what to feel, or what to say. I guess that's that. We finally meandered into the house, both of us lost in thought. It was the end of an era.

Last night was our first cribless night in almost twelve years.

The actual change-over of our "baby" to the toddler bed hasn't happened yet. For the last two weeks, he has been sleeping in a pack-n-play next to our bed so we could monitor his allergic reactions to an unknown antagonist.

But since he has been doing reasonably better with fewer attacks, we've decided tonight is the night.

We're having a camp out in his room. All five of us.

Can we roast the white things over the fire on the stick things that are very long?

No, honey. We can't have a campfire in the house. But we'll think of something else.

There are cots scattered 'round, a fiber optic glow light on the chest, a host of fun picture books for us to share, and chocolate cake in our tummies. Not sure that was a good idea. But it seemed we needed the cake to celebrate the moment.

We'll probably be up for hours yet. There will be giggling, and tickling, and as sure as I live and breath (unfortunately) there will be passing of gas.

But I'll not let this moment slip by uncelebrated just because Mommy is having a sentimental breakdown, or second thoughts about having served turkey for dinner before our family slumber party.

Nope. We're doing it up and having some fun. After I find my box of tissues (for when the lights go out) we're starting our party!

How to Keep Kids at Home More

Would you believe that before they left for school, my kids were already talking about where they want to GO this weekend??

And they are not even teenagers yet. . .

I'm not sure if that makes this quote more funny or less funny.

The best way to keep kids at

home is to make the home a

pleasant atmosphere...and to

let the air out of the tires.

Dorothy Parker

I wonder what my neighbors would think if they saw me letting the air out of my kids' bike tires today...

Work, Toil, and Blessing...Blessing?

When you see the flowers starting to peek out from their winter blanket of leaves, do you think of Spring cleaning? Do you itch to shake a rug and clean a window and blah, blah, blah, blah, blah?

I can't say I really get the itch. But it helps to be able to open a window and let the warm breezes in. Unfortunately, there are only cold winds today.

Nevertheless, I'm trying to make myself get a little Spring cleaning done and hating that I'm fizzling out so early in the afternoon.

I sat down to check my email when my desk calendar caught my eye. I'm often tempted to stuff it in a drawer, truth be told.

It is forever tossing out tidbits that prick my heart.

This is what it says.

That every man may eat and drink,

and find satisfaction in all his toil-

This is the gift of God.

Ecclesiastes 3:13

The Lord didn't burden us with work.

He blessed us with it.

Wow. I have to admit, I love to survey a job well done, but I don't often think of the work involved as a gift. Don't get me wrong, I'll hang in there and get-r-done, because I was brought up that way.

But thinking of it as a blessing? Mmmm, not so much.

I have a long way to go.

That's sobering considering I've been on the boys a lot lately to do their chores without the moans and groans and rolling of the eyes. Am I really any different when my mouth is quiet and my heart is moaning? Or when I procrastinate (and blog instead)??

My house isn't trashed. But there are always a thousand things I could be doing. My list is never ending, so I try not to feel guilty when I take a break, or spend time on the computer.

That isn't always easy. Especially when I tell my boys constantly that their work needs to be done before they go play.

How do you all do it? How do you find balance? Do you have a formula that works for you? How do you organize your day to fit everything in? I'm just curious.

Eyeball to Eyeball

Give a preschooler a magnifying lens and what do you get?

Some mighty tough scrutiny!! And let me just say, it's tough to think coherent thoughts with someone this close to you examining the facial features you didn't know you had.

I've heard that love looks through a telescope, not a microscope, and based on what he says he sees, I now know why! Sheesh!

Visit Five Minutes For Mom for more fun on this Wordless Wednesday!

About the Author

It has been a little over six months since I started blogging and I've been meaning to get around to an about link for a while. This is much harder than writing about my kiddos, so I've been pushing it off. But, anyway, here it goes!

I'm a forty-something mom to three boys (11, 9 and 4) which are as different as could be. I'm the wife of an incredibly patient guy who works as an engineer and happens to be wonderful father. He's definitely the better half.

We live in Central Indiana. But, I grew up in rural Pennsylvania. If you are curious about how we came to live in the land of corn fields, hogs, and tornadoes, you can read about it here. It's a fun story.

We mostly go east on vacations to see family and friends. But, someday, I'd love to go north and rent a cottage on Lake Michigan.

I spent a number of seasons in summer camp ministries, first as a staffer, then as a counselor, and eventually directing. So summer camps are dear to my heart, and I now enjoy sending my boys.

I have a degree in Elementary Education and treasure my years in the classroom.

I also have a degree in Bible, which is, sadly, no match for the questions a four-year-old can generate!

A perfect evening for me might include playing in the flower beds, working on a family project, taking a long walk with my husband, or playing soccer with my boys.

Other hobbies of mine include nagging (just kidding), reading, yard-saling, camping, wood working, and embarrassing my older sons. Oh, and did I mention blogging?

Although I thrive on organization, I am learning to live with a certain amount of chaos and confusion (which comes in buckets with a family of boys). My desk, however, is my space, and I guard it well!

I am a horrible speller.

I am a recovering Face Book addict.

I'm impatient, and a worrier, and lazy about cooking. When I'm frazzled, I can pop a gasket like no body's business. I am SO not perfect.

However, I am (thankfully) a child of the King, who loves me anyway, and He's not finished with me yet.

Trellis Facelift

The trellis on our front porch was becoming an eye-sore and the tattered rolling blinds we had hanging behind them were even worse. Both were badly weathered and faded.

What to do, what to do . . .

As for the blinds, they were beyond help. They had already been reversed once, and the edges were tattered from our Indiana wind. These were definitely ready for the curb.

Replacing them can wait till warmer weather. For now, the sun feels wonderful!

If we wanted to replace the trellis, we would have to cut back our Clematis, and I hated to lose all that growth and the shade the beautiful vines provided in season.

So we decided to see if we could do anything with what we had. That's always frugal, right?

We carefully sanded each bar, gently moving aside the vines. My husband hand sanded for a while. But I soon went for our little detail sander and cut the job time down considerably.

Once the black mildew was mostly gone and some better wood was exposed, I took a small trim brush and applied some cedar stain to match our siding.

We didn't have to buy new trellis and we were able to save the growth of the Clematis!

I'm so glad we took the time to try to fix the old!

This post is linked to Tackle It Tuesday (see what others are tackling!) and Talk About Tuesday.

A New Space For My "Baby"

I told you last Monday about my decision to finally graduate my littlest guy from his crib to a big boy bed. It really was a Sad, Happy Day! (you can click there to see what it looked like before).

But we're glad we did. As I said, he was way past ready, and I needed to let him grow up a little.

Since his room doubles as our guest room, and we often have overnight guests, it has never really been his own space.

We have a double bed in there, as well as a filing cabinet with a bunch of my teaching files, and those things really need to stay. But I wanted to make a special corner for him--a space that was all his.

Steps to a New Space

The first thing I did was to slide the double bed over closer to the far wall and put his bed under the window.

I covered his bed with a fun blanket I made using a piece of "roadway" fabric from Walmart. The underside is a fuzzy green fleece. In the middle, I sewed a piece of quilted mattress pad that had lost it's elastic. So it is a nice weight blanket.

I moved a bookshelf in from his brothers' room and filled it with our picture books. He loves books!

I added a wall shelf which I purchased on clearance at Kmart a while back. He'll need someplace to tuck all the special treasures little boys like to collect. Just hopefully not of the living variety!

I then relocated the framed Norman Rockwell puzzle of the little boy and his puppies, and the space was almost finished.

The last step was to do something with the really ugly pink carpet that came pre-stained by the previous owners.

A few small area rugs next to his bed, along with a bean bag, marked out his space, and made for a comfy place to sit and read stories!

I now have to kick his big brothers out of his room. They say it's because they want to read to their brother. (Mm-hmm.) It has nothing (of course) to do with the fact that it is clean, you can see the floor to walk on, and things are neat and inviting.

If they admitted that, then Mom might use it against them to point out what they could do to their own room. We couldn't have that.

Anyway, that's the makeover. Hope you enjoyed the tour!

Yoda and the Herbst:The Orthodontics Consultation

Yesterday, we took my oldest son to see an Orthodontist. He has, what his friends amiably call, buck teeth. Not only do his front teeth hang over his bottom teeth, they angle out.

We've known that we would need to do something, but were kind of waiting for all his baby teeth to come out. In this case, waiting may have made things worse. . .and harder to correct, as I'll explain.
Note to self: Always ask lots of questions and do your research!

No one in my family has had braces before, so all of this is new to us. My husband came, too, ready to listen with me to all the details.

The Office Visit

Let me just say first off, that that Dr. Henderson and his Treatment Coordinator (I won't use her name) were super nice, very patient, and straight forward. After examining his teeth and bite, Dr. Henderson explained that my son's lower jaw would need to be brought forward before we can talk about braces. And this should be done soon, so as to take advantage of any growth my son may have left to do.

It probably should have been done several years ago, while he was 7 or 8 and still growing like a weed. But, hopefully, there will be more growth, or the device may not work and surgery might be required. (I really should have packed some ant-acid tablets in my purse.)

I tried to listen closely, which was not easy since my four-year-old was totally engrossed by everything in the room. In fact, at several points, I had to rescue the teeth models because he was taking great pleasure in making "the skeleton teeth" eat Yoda. Actually, so was my older son, (and husband at times).

What is it they say? Boys don't grow up. . . just older?

The Herbst


Dr. Henderson explained that the first step in what he would like to do is apply a Herbst. (Isn't that an odd name?)

When the nice Treatment Coordinator showed us this model, I had to work at keeping my eyes from bugging out. This is what a Herbst looks like:

The boys thought Yoda should apply The Force. I was kind of thinking the same thing.

Although the side arms look like little hydraulic cylinders, they are actually free sliding. Once the device is fitted in the mouth, little shims will be clipped around the shafts (I think) every so often to force the lower jaw forward as it grows.

Remember, I am new to this, so I may not be saying things exactly right. I told the office staff that I would be writing about it, so if you are reading this, kind Treatment Coordinator, please feel free to correct me! :)


I watched my son's face during the discussion, and remarkably, I couldn't see the fear that I knew was churning just beneath the surface. But I knew it was there, because I was sure feeling it.


Did I tell you that my son has an incredibly STRONG gag reflex? He has lots of trouble with new textures, and an even harder time letting the dental hygienist past his lips.


I kept thinking, How on earth are we going to get him through this? How will he EVER adapt to having that huge thing in his mouth? How much is this going to cost?


Our Decision

It was a lot to think through. But we (my husband and I) felt we needed to go ahead and make the next appointment to take impressions.

Not that we felt totally relaxed about the process. It was more like we felt a resignation to prepare for battle because it needed to be done.

We understood all too well how huge this was going to be for our son. Not a thing about it is going to be easy.

We left pretty quietly. Each lost in our own thoughts.

When the boys asked for lunch, we stopped by Steak and Shake.

Yoda and the Storm Trooper got "Elvis" cars out of the deal, and we kind of had time to debrief.

It turned out to be the stress relief we all needed.

Now What?

The office staff gave us information about the process.

But what I really wanted was to talk with a family who has been there. . .and who has walked this road before.

So, I did a few Google Searches of the Herbst Appliance and came up with some frightful testimonies. I probably shouldn't have done that. O.K., it was a seriously dumb move.

I now have a whole new set of things to worry about . . . and attempt to give over to the Lord.

I'm so glad we serve a big God. (amen??) We are going to need His help getting our son through the next two months of adjustments and changes.



I'm giving this new journey we are setting out on its very own label. I have a suspicion that I'll have much more to chronicle over the next few weeks.

As I realized last night in my searches, there's not much out there as far as information for parents about to have a Herbst placed on their child. Not much positive in the way of actual experience, anyway.

There needs to be more.

If you, or someone you know has had experience with a Herbst, please let me know. Also, if you know of a place for parents to get help in preparing their child for one, please let me know!

Would you think us wimpy for wanting to find a Herbst support group??

You did WHAT??

Soon after we moved out here, my friend and old (make that former) neighbor, Lisa, clipped and sent this ad that had appeared in the local paper.

Note: I substituted fictitious name, address, and phone number for the real contact information. The poor guy was in enough trouble without someone like me posting it on the World Wide Web for all to giggle over.

Lost

Accidentally sold my wife's

CABBAGE SLICER during

Wernersville Yard Sale on May 3rd.

Desperately need it back!!!

(Was in her family 3 generations).

WILL PAY MANY, MANY

MORE TIMES WHAT IT WAS

SOLD FOR. . . we'll make a deal.

Call Doghouse Joe at 1-800-Idi-dbad

(100 Mud Lane)

Can't you just feel his pain????


Oh how I love Fridays. This morning, we're taking my oldest for his first orthodontist consultation. Oh joy! I'd much rather be reading all the funnies at Homesteader's Heart. But alas, they'll have to wait for later. . .Happy Friday, Everyone!

Fuzzy Spring!

I'm so excited to have caught these Pussy Willows at the right time. I'm worse than a little kid when it comes wanting to touch their fuzzy softness to my cheek.

Sigh.

We may still need a fire in the stove, but I'm so thankful Spring is coming!!

My four-year-old asked, by the way, "Are there little animals on those sticks?" :)

Links:

Things I Love Thursday

Thankful Thursday

and. . .

Lego Creation

Heh-hem, excuse the dirty little boy thumb, but my four-year-old just brought this to me and said in his best dramatic voice,

". . . And the number of the day is. . . FOUR!"

Oh my heart! He's a genius! lol! One more great Lego Creation for the books! And since I made such a big fuss over it and began to upload a picture for Wordless Wednesday, he has since brought me an E, Y, V, F, L, T, H, I, N, and U!

For those of you following his allergy saga, his hives are coming back with a vengeance and he is completely melting down. I'm putting my housework on hold to go read with him and calm him down until the antihistamine begins to help.

The search for a trigger continues. . .

Call Home!

The last week or so at Raise Them Up has looked for all the world like a page out of my son's book Cars and Trucks and Things That Go! by Richard Scarry. Don't you love that book? Every page is cluttered with crazy, funny and catastrophic events...all going on at the same time. And on every page, you HAVE to find Little Gold Bug.

That is SO us.

Mr. Scarry could write a new book: Richard Scarry's Raise Them Up! Only instead of looking for Gold Bug on each page, people could search through all our chaos and help us find what is giving my own Little Gold Bug allergic reactions.

We are still looking, and so far I've come up with nothing. But I'm determined to root it out, because he is still having "swelling up" spells that are, frankly, scary. (No pun intended)

Today, I'm beginning a journal of his every move. Nothing like setting reasonable goals. That should be a breeze with a four year-old-boy.

Besides cleaning, sorting and examining the ENTIRE house, I'm also trying to get his room changed over from baby to preschooler (you can read about my Sad Happy Day here.) . Not that he is sleeping in his own room. I have him camped out next to my bed so I can sleep with one eye on him.

Anyway, friends, this has been a long week, and it's only. . .Wednesday? How can that be?

During a low point, yesterday, I called my mom. At twelve hours away, she can do little but listen and pray. But she's still my mom, and my "go to" person when I get discouraged.

Calling home for me is more than just touching base. It's connecting, and tapping into a well of love and support when my own reserves are dry. Mom's are great!

That's why something Barbara Johnson wrote touched something deep inside. She wrote:

You are a child of God--

Call home.

The Father has loved us so much that we are called children of God.

1John 3:1

I really need to soak that in all over again.

God is always waiting, always ready, always loving--and always waiting for my call.

I still have lots on my list to do, but I needed to stop and call Home. And blog. They're right up there together on my list of priorities. :)

I'm tired and spent, and I need His strength, wisdom, patience to lug my bones back into our page from Mr. Scarry's book.

Calling Home (often) is what's Working For Me, today. Blogging doesn't hurt, either. You all have been a super encouragement, and I can't thank you enough!